MISSION:

You will discuss Philippine Literary History.

Specifically, this module will help you to:

✓ identify the Philippine literary history from pre-colonial to the contemporary period.

✓ appreciate literary writers and their works through a change analysis.

LOOKING BACK:

Literature, in its broadest sense, is any written work.

Etymologically, the term derives from

Latin litaritura/litteratura “writing formed with letters,” although some definitions include spoken or sung texts. More restrictively, it spoken or sung texts. More
restrictively, it is writing that possesses literary merit.
Literature has two common forms: the Prose & Poetry. In Prose, it can be classified according to whether it is fiction or non-fiction. It can be further distinguished
according to major forms such as the novel, short story or drama, and works are often categorized according to historical periods or their adherence to certain
aesthetic features or expectations (genre).

The Philippines has a unique cultural topography. Due to its archipelagic state, people have created countless languages/dialects and traditions determined by

their geographical and linguistic regions. The early literary pieces in the Philippines depicted the early culture, traditions, beliefs and lifestyle.

Our country practices regionalism literature that emphasizes on the culture, dialects, and other features particular to a specific region. Each region has a particular

literary piece, using its own language and presenting its own culture.

Philippine literature developed simultaneously & significantly influenced by its interesting history. Our early stories, songs and poems were greatly anchored
to the experiences of our ancestors; thus, history and culture is a foundation of literature. The richness of the country’s history is reflected in its literary pieces.

This characteristic enhances the diversity and richness of our literature that is mainly oral in nature. However, most written literature was destroyed during the

Spanish period and Spanish became the customary language in literature.

Philippine literature from the Pre-colonial to the 21st Century period.

Period Literary Genre Authors Examples of Literary Works Theme

Any members
Precolonial of the
• Riddle, Literary contents during
Literature community Guman (Subanon);
• Proverbs, this period were about the
(BC to 1564) can be a poet, singer, or a Darangen (Maranao);
• Chants, creation of the world,
storyteller as long as he Hudhud (Ifugao);
• Myths, origin of things, daily
Includes all kinds of literature knew the language and Lam-ang (Ilocano),
• Folks life
produced by our native conventions of the forms. Hinilawod(Sulod),
• Songs, experiences, and events
ancestor before any Literature was passed down Kudaman (Palawan),
• Epic within the community.
colonization. through storytelling from
one person to another.

• Christian • Francisco Baltazar

• Doctrines, (1788-1862)
Spanish Colonial Literature • Senakulo, Ang Mahal naPasyon ni JesuCristong
The literature during the
(1565 to 1898) • Pasyon, • Pedro Paterno Panginoon natin
early period contained
• Awit, (1857-1911)
religious doctrines, and
Includes all kinds • Komedya, Florante at Laura
Christian and European
of literature produced during • Prose • Jose P. Rizal Naangawan A Cablaaw (A Rather
Tradition.
the Spanish colonization. • Narratives, Humorous Greeting)
• Grammar • Leona Florentino
• Dictionaries (1849-1884)
 Novels & Stories:
Jose Rizal Noli Me Tangere
El Filibusterismo
Graciano Lopez Jaena Fray Botod
As the revolutionary
Pedro Paterno Ninay
period arise propaganda
Revolutionary Literature
and revolutionary
(1897 -1898) Newspapers:
literature sprung up.
Revolutionary Lit. Marcelo h. Del Pilar Diaryong Tagalog
Includes all kinds of literature Graciano Lopez Jaena La Solidaridad
Language used in writing
produced in defiance against Propaganda Lit. Emilio Jacinto Kalayaan
shifted from Spanish to
Spanish Rule
Tagalog.
Poetry:
Violent in nature and
Katapusang Hibik ng Pilipinas
demanded independence.
Andres Bonifacio Pagibig sa tinubuang Lupa
Ang Dapat Mabatid ng mga
Tagalog

• Paz Marquez Benitez Dead Stars

• (1894- 1983)

American Colonial Literature Writers explored a lot of

Zoilo M. Galang Child of Sorrow
(1898 to 1940) • Poetry, Short subjects but the theme of
(1895-1959))
• Story, love and youth persist.
Includes all kinds of literature • Publications, They had also acquired
Fernando Maramang Moonlight on Manila Bay
produced during the • Drama mastery of English
(1893-1936)
American colonization. writing.

• Jose Garcia Villa Footnote to Youth

• (1908-1997)
 Macario Pineda Suyuan sa Tubigan
(1912-1950)

Japanese Colonial Literature

Narciso Reyes Lupang tinubuan
(1941 to 1945) • Haiku, The theme during this
(1914-1996)
• Tanaga, period was nationalism,
Includes all kinds of literature • Filipino life in the barrio, faith,
Liwayway Arceo Canal De lea Riana
produced during the Japanese Drama love, religion, and arts.
(1924-1999)
colonization.

N.V.M. Gonzales Lunsod Nayon

(1915-1999)
• Protest Ponciano Pineda Ang Mangingisda
• Literature, (1927- 2009)
Late 20th Century Literature • Proletarian A theme such as patience,
(1972-1985) • Literature, Aniceto Silvestre Malaya native culture, customs,
• Prison (1998-1983 the beauty of nature, and
Includes all kinds of literature Literature, surroundings are used for
produced during the • Circumvention Bienvenido Ramos May Tibok and poems. Realities about
Martial Law • Literature (1934-2012) Puso ng Lupa exploitation and injustice
were also prevalent.
Jose Y. Dalisay
(Born 1954) Soledad’s Sister
 • Creative non-
fiction Carlo J. Caparas Panday
• Hyper poetry
• Mobile Texttula Gilda Olvidado Sinasamba Kita Writers this period look
21st Century Literature • Chick Lit back and get ideas and
• Speculative inspiration from the
(2001-Present) Bob Ong ABNKKBSNPLAko?!
Fiction previous writers, they use
• Flash Fiction the past as a tool for the
Includes all kinds of literature
• Blog Genevive L. Asenso Lumabay ng Dila future. Technology also
produced in the 21st Century.
• Graphic Novels gives a great impact on
• Digi Fiction Danton Remoto Geyluv the writers’ imagination.
• Manga
• Doodle Fiction

SUMMARY:
Philippines is rich with literature which has existed long before it was colonized by different countries like Spain, America and Japan. It
shows the customs and traditions of our ancestors. It also expresses the feelings about love, happiness, griefs, thoughts and even sentiments of
the Filipinos during the time when we were already under the Spanish government, American and Japanese government. It is closely
interrelated with our history. But not all literature are true to history because we have fiction and non-fiction. Fictions are just mere
imagination of the writers like the stories of creation shared in this module. Non-fictions are stories which really happened like the story of the
9/11 in New York in early 20th century.
Our literature has evolved. During the Pre-Colonial Period, Literature was written using our own alphabets and dialects of the different
provinces of the country and others were shared orally by their parents and passed on from one generation to the next generation which we
call it folktales. The Spaniards proved that our ancestors we were fond of poetry, songs, stories, riddles and proverbs. We have many stories
about legends like how a certain place got its name. There were also heroic stories about saving a woman or saving a village which we call it as
epic stories.
Then came the Spaniards. We were under the Spanish government for more than 3 centuries. We were taught with Roman alphabets
and Catholic religion. Many Filipinos were converted, so our literature has religious tone. We have stage plays about the passion and death of
Jesus Christ and poems orally delivered during Lenten season. But we have Balagtasan in Tagalog, a poetic debate on particular issue. We also
Corrido and Awit which are long narrative stories.
When the Americans came after the Spaniards, more Filipinos were inspired to write not only using the dialects from the different
provinces as the medium, but also in English language. Most of the works of literature were published because we already have periodicals.
Added to the different genres was the essay, formal and informal essays.
The last to invade our country was the Japanese. They introduced short poems which are called Haiku and Tanaga.
And now in this 21st century. Everybody can be a writer in any way we want. We can express our feelings and deliver it through
writing in different platforms through Internet. There is no more observance of rhymes, syllabications or medium used. It can be spread right
away. All are considered correct because freedom of expression nowadays is well emphasized.

NOTE TO PONDER:
• Precolonial Literary Period also known as the era of oral literature. Literature spread during this period through word-of-mouth pass
from generations to other generations.
• During Spanish Colonial Literary Period literary works are greatly influenced by Spanish teaching or Christian doctrines.
• English as a medium of writing widely flourished during the American Literary Period.
• Throughout the Japanese Literary Period publications were military censored.
• Under the Martial Law literature produced were about exploitation and injustice.
• While during the 21st Century Literary Period writers used unconventional techniques in writing.
References:
Books

• Lumbera, Bienvenido, & Lumbera, Cynthia Nograles,

PHILIPPINE LITERATURE A History and Anthology,
2005, Anvil Publishing Inc.

• Martin, Maria Gabriela P., Guevarra, Alona U., Del Campo, Emar Ivery,
ENGLISH COMMUNICATION ARTS AND SKILLS Beyond Borders,
Reading Literature in the 21st Century,
2016, The Phoenix Publishing House

• Fronoza, Wenifreda R., De Guia, Lani G., & Bautista, Richard R.,
The Philippines, and the World 21st Century Literature,
2017, Trinitas Publishing Inc.