Lesson Heart
Lesson Heart
Lesson Heart
The word literature is derived from the Latin term litera which means letter. Some loosely interpret literature as
any printed matter written within a book, a magazine or a pamphlet.
Others define literature as a faithful reproduction of man’s manifold experiences blended into one
harmonious expression.
Because literature deals with ideas, thoughts and emotions of man, literature can be said to be the story of
man. Man’s loves, grief’s, thoughts, dreams and aspirations coached in beautiful language is literature.
In order to know the history of a nation’s spirit, one must read its literature.
PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD
Our ancient literature shows our customs and traditions in everyday life as traced in our folk stories,
old plays and short stories.
Whatever records our ancestors were either burned by Spanish friars or written on materials that
easily perished
It is oral in nature and is full of lessons and ideas about life, its blessings, and its consequences.
The verses were addressed to the ears rather than the eyes
A. LEGENDS
B. FOLK TALES
C. EPIC
D. FOLK SONGS
E. EPIGRAMS (Salawikain)
Answer: Mat
G. CHANT (Bulong)
H. SAYINGS (Kasabihan)
It is an accepted belief that the Spanish colonization of the Philippines started in 1565 during the time
of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi.
Spanish occupied Philippines in early 15th century. The First Filipino alphabet is Alibata-when Spanish
colonized Philippines they changed alibatas into Roman alphabet.
Spanish banned the use of Alibata because they believed that it is a work of evil. So Spanish fully
introduced the Spanish literary language using many Spanish terms.
The early printing press in the Philippines is run and monopolized by the Spaniards friars.
During the Spanish colonization, Filipinos felt that they were being harassed by the Spaniards. Then the
Birth of the Propaganda movement and La Solidaridad.
Filipinos embraced the Catholic religion, changed their names and were baptized
The teaching of the Christian Doctrine became the basis of religious practices.
The Spanish language which became the literary language during this time lent many of its words to
our language.
Ancient literature was collected and translated to Tagalog and other dialects
Many grammar books were printed in Filipino, like Tagalog, Ilocano and Visayan.
Our periodicals during these times gained a religious tone.
FR. JUAN DE PLACENCIA AND FR. DOMINGO NIEVA (first printed book in XYLOGRAPHY)
4. ANG BARLAAN AT JOSEPHAT-(FIRST Tagalog novel published in the Philippines even if it is only a
translation).
5. THE PASION- a book about the life and sufferings of Jesus Christ. It is read only during lent.
7. ANG MGA DAKIT KAY MARIA (Psalms for Mary)- Fr. Mariano Sevilla
1. TIBAG 6. KARAGATAN
2. LAGAYLAY 7. DUPLO
After 300 years of passivity under Spanish rule, the Filipino spirit reawakened when the 3 priest
Gomez, Burgos and Zamora (GOMBURZA) were guillotined without sufficient evidence of guilt.
Spaniards were unable to suppress the tide of rebellion among the Filipinos. The once religious spirit
transformed itself into one of nationalism and the Filipinos demanded changes in the government and
in the church.
THE PROPAGANDA MOVEMENT (1872-1896)
His works:
* MI ULTIMO ADIOS
* A LA JUVENTUD FILIPINA- a poem Rizal dedicated to the Filipino youth studying in UST.
Works:
1. FRAY BOTOD
3. HONOR EN PILIPINAS
4. INSTITUCION NG PILIPINAS
PEDRO PATERNO
1. NINAY
2. A MI MADRE
* HULING PAALAM
EMILIO JACINTO
1. KARTILYA NG KATIPUNAN
2. LIWANAG AT DILIM
3. A MI MADRE
4. A LA PATRIA
APOLINARIO MABINI
2. EL DESAROLLO Y CAIDA DE LA REPUBLICA PILIPINA (The Rise and Fall of the Philippine Republic)
JOSE PALMA
1. HERALDO DE LA REVOLUCION
2. LA INDEPENDENCIA
3. LA REPUBLICA PILIPINA
4. LA LIBERTAD
AMERICAN REGIME (1898-1941)
Philippine literary production during the American Period in the Philippines was spurred by two
significant developments in education and culture. One is the introduction of free public instruction for
all children of school age and two, the use of English as medium of instruction in all levels of education
in public schools.
Free public education made knowledge and information accessible to a greater number of Filipinos.
Those who availed of this education through college were able to improve their social status and joined
a good number of educated masses who became part of the country’s middle class.
During the first year of the American period, the languages used in writing were Spanish and Tagalog
and the dialects of the diferent reions, but Spanish and Tagalog predominated.
LITERATURE IN SPANISH
Writers in Spanish were wont to write on nationalism like honoring Rizal and other heroes.
Works:
FILIPINO LITERATURE
WRITERS:
“POET OF LOVE”
TAGALOG DRAMA:
6. SEVERINO REYES- Father of the Tagalog Drama and author of the immortal WALANG SUGAT
7. AURELIO TOLENTINO- Luhang Tagalog (his masterpiece) & Kahapon, Ngayon at Bukas
PERIOD:
From the American forces were recruited the first teachers of English.
1908, the primary and intermediate grades were using English. It was also about this time when UP,
the forerunner in the use of English in higher education, was founded
They were adjusting to the idea of democracy, to the new phraseology of the English language and to
the standards of the English literary style.
Not much was produced during this period and what literature was not produced was not much of
literary worth. The first attempts in English were in two periodicals of this time:
* Philippines Free Press: established in Manila in 1905 by R. McCullough Dick and D. Theo Rogers
1907, Justo Juliano’s SURSUM CORDA which appeared in the Renacimiento was the first work to be
published in English
THE PERIOD OF IMITATION (1910-1924)
By 1919, the UP College Folio published the literary compositions of the first Filipino writers in English.
They were the pioneers in short story writing. They were then groping their way into imitating
American and British models which resulted in a stilted, artificial and unnatural style, lacking vitality
and spontaneity.
SHORT STORIES
DEAD STARS by PAZ MARQUEZ BENITEZ- written in the early 1920’s stand out as a model of perfection
in character delineation, local color, plot and message.
By this time, Filipino writers had acquired the mastery of English writing. They now confidently and
competently wrote on a lot of subjects although the old-time favorites of love and youth persisted.
They went into all forms of writing like the novel and the drama.
Jose Garcia Villa, the first to break away from the conventional forms and themes of Philippine poetry
placed the Philippines on the literary map with the publication of his books in the US
The commonwealth Literary Contest awarded first prize to How My Brother Leon Brought Home A
Wife by Manuel Arguilla
Except for the TRIBUNE and the PHILIPPINE REVIEW, almost all new newspapers in English were stopped
by the Japanese.
Juan Laya who used to write in English turned to Filipino because of the strict prohibitions of the
Japanese regarding any writing in English.
The weekly LIWAYWAY was placed under strict surveillance until it was managed by a Japanese named
Ishiwara.
Common themes of poems: nationalism, country, love, life in the barrios, faith, religion and the arts
HAIKU- a poem of free verse that the Japanese liked. It was made up of 17 syllables divided into three
lines. The first line had 5 syllables, the second, 7 syllables, and the third, five. The Haiku is allegorical in
meaning, is short and covers a wide scope in meaning.
TANAGA- like the Haiku, is short but it had measure and rhyme. Each line had 17 syllables and is also
allegorical in meaning.
KARANIWANG ANYO (Usual form)- like those mentioned earlier in the beginning chapters of this book.
HAIKU
TUTUBI
FILIPINO DRAMA
Because of the strict prohibitions by the Japanese in the writing and publishing of works in English,
Philippine literature in English experience a dark period. The few who dared to write did so far for their
bread and butter or for propaganda.
NOTEWORTHY WRITER:
1. CARLOS P. ROMULO who won the Pulitzer Prize for his bestsellers-
4 Journalists had their day. They indulged in more militant attitude in their reports which bordered on
the libelous. Gradually, as normality was restored, the tones and themes of the writings turned to the
less pressing problems of economic survival.
Some Filipino writers who had gone abroad and had written during the interims came back to publish
their works.
Because of the ills of society, the youth moved to seek reforms. Some continued to believe that the
democratic government is stable and that it is not only the people running the government who is at
fault.
Many young people became activists to ask for changes in the government
Many young activists were imprisoned in military camps together with rebel writers.
Almost all themes in most writings dealt with the development or progress of the country- like the
Green Revolution, family planning, proper nutrition, environment, drug addiction and pollution.
The military government established a new office called the MINISTRY OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS that
supervised the newspapers, books, and other publications.
The government took part in reviving old plays like the CENACULO, The ZARZUELA, and the EMBAYOKA
of the Muslims.
CULTURAL CENTER OF THE PHILIPPINES, FOLK ARTS THEATER AND METROPOLITAN THEATER
Former senator Benigno S. Aquino Jr., the idol of the masses, whom they hoped to be the next
president, was brutally murdered on August 21, 1983
After the Aquino assassination, the people’s voices could no longer be contained. Both the public and
private sectors in government were chanting, and shouting; women and men and the youth became
bolder and their voices were raised in dissent.
FILIPINO SONGS:
LABAN NG BAYAN KO- composed by Coritha and Freddie Aguilar and this was sung by Coritha during
the National Unification Conference of the Opposition in March, 1985. Also sung during the
Presidential Campaign Movement for Cory Aquino to inspire the movement against Marcos in February
1986.
Freddie Aguilar revived the song BAYAN KO which was written by Jose Corazon de Jesus and C. de
Guzman during the American Period
The yearly Festival of Filipino Films continued to be held during this period. The people’s love for sex
films also was unabated. Many producers took advantage of this at the expense of public morality.
FILIPINO SONGS:
LABAN NG BAYAN KO- composed by Coritha and Freddie Aguilar and this was sung by Coritha during
the National Unification Conference of the Opposition in March, 1985. Also sung during the
Presidential Campaign Movement for Cory Aquino to inspire the movement against Marcos in February
1986.
Freddie Aguilar revived the song BAYAN KO which was written by Jose Corazon de Jesus and C. de
Guzman during the American Period
The yearly Festival of Filipino Films continued to be held during this period. The people’s love for sex
films also was unabated. Many producers took advantage of this at the expense of public morality.