The Spanish Period

(1521- 1898)

Two Classifications of Literature during the Spanish

The arrival of Ferdinand Magellan on the shores
Period
of Homonhon in March 16, 1521 spelled a new era for
the Philippines. It has then become a Spanish colony. Oral literature was “Christianized” where it could not be
Imposition of the Spanish monarchy and the Roman suppressed or eradicated, but very little of it saw print.
Catholic Religion, along with the arrival of the Spanish
power was to spread Christianity. In this era, folklore 1. Religious Literature
and other oral traditions were falsified as religion was
a. Pasyon- It is a narrative poem about passion and the
used as reason to justify what has been the long belief
death of Jesus Christ.
system of the Filipino natives. During this time,
conversion was their main purpose, but reading the Gaspar Aquino de Belen – first Filipino literary artist,
Bible was not allowed, and only the priest was allowed whose work bore the signs of conscious design and
to read from it. The priests were the representatives of careful composition. His prominent work is the Ang
power. Even though this was the situation, the Spanish Mahal na Passion ni Jesu Christong Panginoon Natin
occupation sparked many brilliant minds to come up (1704) and was a treasured Christian narrative poem
with their own written literature that was now written. intended to replace the epic poems of the pagan past
Spanish was also introduced as the mode of and sung to a fixed melody
communication. Reading, writing, and arithmetic were
taught in catechetical schools. b. Senakulo- It is the re-enactment or the dramatization
of the passion of Christ.
Ladinos – “Latinized” is anyone who could read and
write in any of the Latin languages. c. Komedya – drew its plot from medieval Spanish
- Pedro Bukaneg (the Ilokano poet to whom the ballads about highborn warriors and their colorful
published version of Lam-ang is often attributed) adventures of love and fame, providing Filipinos with a
- Tomas Pinpin (the printer, author of the glimpse of an idealized European society.
manual titled Ang Librong Pag-aaralan ng mga Tagalog
ng Wikang Castilla) 2. Secular or Non- Religious Literature
- Fernando Bagongbanta (a contributer to the
Memorial de la vida Cristiana) a. Awit- Tales of Chivalry (high respect of men for
women). Usually portrays a knight saving a princess or
the like.
Two Classifications of Filipinos during the
Spanish Period Florante at Laura – in the form of awit, is a poem that
relates the story of two lovers who are parted by the
Taga-bayan – Filipinos who were within easy reach of
the power of the Church and State political intrigues fomented by an evil member of the
- urbanized and civilized royal household of Albania.

Taga-bukid or Taga-bundok – Filipinos who kept their b. Korido- a metrical (a piece of literature that has a
distance from the colonial administrators measurement for aesthetic purposes) tale.
- Brutos salvages (savage brutes)
- Indio c. Prose Narratives- written to instruct readers on
proper decorum.
Nationalistic Propaganda and Revolutionary Literature 2. Francisco Baltazar (1788-1862) popularly known as
(1864-1896) Balagtas:

These works of literature planted the seed of  A short farce (La India Elegante el Negrito
nationalism in the hearts of every Filipino. During this Amante, n.d.)
period, the language was slowly shifting from Spanish to  A full length komedya (Orosman at Zafira,
Tagalog and the works of literature were addressed to ca,1857-60)
the masses instead of addressing only the elite.  And a well-known awit (Pinagdaaanang Buhay
ni Florante at ni Laura sa Cahariang Albania, ca.
1. Propaganda Literature- its objective is to reform. a. 1838)
Political Essays and Political Novels- are composed of
satires, editorials, and news articles that aim to attack Example:
and expose the corrupt Spanish rule.
Orosman at Zafira – is a three-part play about the
2. Revolutionary Literature assassination of Mahamud, sultan of Marruecos and
father of Zafira, and the consequent moral and civil
a. Political Essays- these entries were exposes that fired disruptions that culminate in the disintegration of
up the Philippine revolutionary movement into a time the family of the family of the usurper Bousalem,
bomb waiting to explode. grand pasha of Tendenst and father of Abdalap and
Orosman.
Prominent Produce during the Spanish Period
The Growth of a Nationalist Consciousness
1. Doctrina Christiana (1593) – first book ever published
in the Philippines by the Dominicans. Other religious -A royal decree in 1863 opened new horizons to the
congregation put up their respective presses early in the emergent middle class when it provided for a
17th century. complete educational system consisting of
elementary, secondary and collegiate level.
2. May Bagyo Ma’t May Rilim
- written by an anonymous author Pedro Paterno (1857-1911) – put up a collection of
- produced by the friar-lexicographer Francisco
his Spanish poems under the title Sampaguitas.
Blancas de San Jose
- published in Memorial de la vida Cristiana Examples:
(1605)
- uses turbulent nature imagery to affirm  Sampaguitas marked the beginning of
Christian heroism
national consciousness among the Filipino
intelligentsia
Prominent Authors during the Spanish Period  Ninay (1885) which insisted on
“nationality,” is the first Filipino novel ever,
1. Modesto de Castro – was a native priest who lived in it tells of the young woman Ninay who dies
the first half of the 19th century, notable for his of heartbreak brought on by separation
sermons in Tagalog. from his sweetheart Carlos and aggravated
by the loss of her parents.
Example:
Jose Rizal (1861-1896) – was sensitive to the forces that
Pagsusulatan ng Dalawang Binibini na si Urbana at
were building up in the Philippine society as the clamor
Feliza (1864)
– a popular book of manners is de Castro’s lasting for reforms was met with repression that in turn
contribution to the history of literature. generated a more insistent clamor for change.

Examples:
  Noli Me Tangere (1887) – tells about the young -Gregoria de Jesus who addresses her deceased
man Ibarra who, having obtained a university husband Andres Bonifacio, poignant in its recollection of
education in Europe, comes home to the details of her married past that are now reminders of
Philippines full of the zeal and idealism of a her bereavement.
dedicated reformist. It marks the first time
The writings of the intelligentsia involved in the
realism as a literary concept entered
Propaganda Movement and, later, of the leaders of the
Philippines writing.
 El Filibusterismo (1891) is a sequel to the Noli Revolution of 1896 trace the emergence of the Filipino
Me Tangere where a mysterious stranger is people. The self-conscious literature that this
bent on hastening the downfall of the colonial emergence brought fourth marks the beginning of a
regime, employing the double tactic of abetting truly Filipino literature.
the corruption of friars and civil officials
through money on one hand, and on the other
instigating an armed rebellion among the
masses. 
 A las Flores de Heidelberg and Ultimo Adios –
represent two different modes ―
conversational and sonorous.

The Propaganda Movement (1872-1896) – issues

had to be clarified, abuses and injustices
denounced, accusations refuted, future actions laid
out.

Examples:

 La Solidaridad (1889-1895) a newspaper

that served as the organ that would project
the views of the movement founded.
 Marcelo H. del Pilar (1850-1896) – was
well-versed in the art of poetic jousting
called duplo before he assumed the post of
editor of La Solidaridad. He is especially
effective as a parodist.

 Andres Bonifacio (1863-1896) and Emilio

Jacinto (1875-1899) – used Tagalog to
advantage as a tool for organizing the
masses.

Under the less constricting socio-political atmosphere

in the latter half of the 19th century, early literary pieces
by women surfaced, all of them poems. Some of the
women authors were:

-Leona Florentino, whose opinions and married life

departed from the moral and social expectations of the
period.