CHAPTER II – The Development of

Philippine Literature

LESSON 1

Understanding the Value of Literature

LEARNING OUTCOMES
Define literature.
Identify genres of Philippine literature.
Enumerate the benefits from studying literature.
Use context clue skills to find the meaning of a
word.
Evaluate author’s purpose in writing.
BEFORE
READING

An Article by Bienvenido L. Lumbera

ABOUT THE ARTICLE

Literature is the verbal expression, oral or written, of the experiences of

the people as influenced by their history. The paper ‘Southeast Asian Literary
Traditions and the Philippines’ by Bienvenido Lumbera describes the significance
of establishing a linkage between literary traditions found in the Philippines and
the traditions described in its ASEAN neighbors. It advances the idea that the
oral literature of the Philippines, being indexical to the country’s ‘precolonial’ past
serves as an important vehicle in shaping cultural bridge with its ASEAN
neighbors, and in establishing a sense of identity and the national interest it represents
in the larger socio-political, cultural and economic landscapes.

CASS-DELL | Literature of the Philippines 1

MAKE CONNECTIONS

Why is it important to maintain national identity in the age of globalization?

We need to maintain our national identity to prove to the world that we are proud
of what we are and also globalization has been there from the start it possess
numerous challenges to our cultural traditions so we must keep and maintain
our national identity for the nation.

ANALYZE LITERATURE: Genres

In the study of Philippine literature, genres refer to the different forms and
classifications of literary pieces. Examples are riddles, proverbs, songs, myths,
epics and so on.

Riddle, which is bugtong in Tagalog, tigmo in Cebuano, paktakon in Ilonngo, is

folk speech from the precolonial times characterized as a mystifying, misleading,
or puzzling question posed as a problem to be solved or guessed.
e.g. Bibingka ng hari, hindi mo mahati.
(Rice cake of the king, that you cannot divide.)- Answer: water

Proverb expresses norms or codes of behavior, community beliefs. It generally

instills values by offering nuggets of wisdom in short, rhyming verse.
e.g. Lumilipas ang kagandahan, ngunit hindi ang kabaitan.

Song is a short lyric poem that is intended to be sung. It has that particularly
melodious quality required by a singing voice. E.g. Anak by Freddie Aguilar

Myth is a usually traditional story common to the members of a tribe, race, or

nation. It usually involves the supernatural and serves to explain natural
phenomena or suggest a religious or moral truth.
e.g. Tungkung Langit and Alunsina (A Panay-Visayan creation myth)

Folktale is an anonymous, timeless, and placeless story circulated orally among

a people. E.g. The Misadventures of Juan Tamad

Epic is a long narrative poem in elevated style recounting the deeds of a

legendary or historical hero. E.g. Biag ni Lam-ang (Life of Lam-ang), an Ilocano
epic.
USE READING SKILLS: The Author’s Purpose
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 Authors write with an aim or purpose in mind. The style of writing often
reflects the author’s purpose, which could be to entertain, to inform, to instruct, or
to persuade. As you read the article below, identify details related to the author’s
purpose and fill in the information in the Author’s Purpose Chart. An example has
been done for you.

Author’s Purpose Chart

Author’s Purpose: to inform

Details: My Evaluation: The author

The fact that, to this day, included this information to
epics continue to be emphasize to the readers the
collected among ethnic role of oral literature, specifically
groups is an indication epics, in performing cultural
of the deep roots of this identities. This information helps
literary form in various me understand why the author
cultural communities. asserts the idea that oral
literature translated in Filipino
language can serve as our
cultural bridge to other ASEAN
nations.
Author’s Purpose: to instruct

My Evaluation: The author emphasize that

Details: Songs take many forms, and once again, it is
singing lullaby to a child will help them
function that determines the occasion and the manner
entertain, put them to a peaceful sleep, and they
of the singing. Children have their own songs—
learn how to speak. It develops the physical
lullabies to put them to sleep, game songs to entertain
and mental state of a child, learn the basic
them, learning songs to initiate them into tasks
knowledge like letters, numbers, and some
appropriate for their age and physical development.
words appropriate for their age.

Author’s Purpose: to entertain

Details: Myths and folktales are for both young My Evaluation: Many folktales and myths have
and old, for these help them understand their been entertaining people both young and old. For
environment and relationships with one another, the past years many stories have been made up
and they allow them to cope with mundane within every Filipino community. These folktales
problems and with the mysterious and myths strengthens the peoples relationship
and environment, they help each other to solve
and the threatening.
problems and mysteries that had been wandering
around.

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PREVIEW VOCABULARY

Key Words and Words and Definition Practice

Phrases Phrases in Context
Read each key Read to see how the Write down what Practice using the
word and rate it key word or phrase you think the word key words and
using this scale: can be used in a or phrase means. phrases by
① I don’t know sentence. Then use a completing the
this word or dictionary to check following
phrase at all. your definition. sentences.
② I’ve seen this
word or phrase
before.
③ Know this word
or phrase and use
it.

form Narrative, lyric, and The shape and Song is a form of

[ˈfȯrm] dramatic are forms of structure of lyric poetry that…
noun poetry. something as
① ② ③ distinguished
from its material.
rudimentary You need to have at Very imperfectly One rudimentary
ru· di· men· ta least a rudimentary developed or function of
· ry understanding of represented. computer is …
[ ˌrü-də-ˈmen-tə- technology before you
rē] can upload a video on
adjective that website.
① ② ③
sophisticated Some sophisticated Deprived of native The encryption
so· phis· ti· ca programs require that or original codes being used
t· ed passwords contain simplicity. by criminals are
[sə-ˈfi-stə-ˌkā-təd] letters and numbers. incredibly
adjective sophisticated
① ② ③ and …

Legacy A monumental legacy Something Ferdinand

leg· a· cy in astronomy is transmitted by or Magellan’s
[ ˈle-gə-sē] Galileo’s telescopic received from expedition in 1522
noun observations of the ancestor. left a legacy of …
① ② ③ heavens.

contextualize Module writers must To place Teacher Lea

con· tex· tu· a contextualize texts something such contextualizes the
l· ize [kən-ˈteks- and genres to as word or stories in her
chə-wə-ˌlīz] enhance the students’ activity. module to…
verb learning processes.
① ② ③

contemporary Contemporary artists Happening, Online platforms

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con· tem· po· were selected to paint existing, or living are now used to
rary [kən-ˈtem-pə- the museum’s ceiling. during the same publish
ˌrer-ē] period of time. contemporary
adjective poetry because…
① ② ③

heritage Though he was proud Property that It can be exciting

her· i· tage of his Italian heritage, descends to an to explore your
[ ˈher-ə-tij] he really had never heir. heritage and …
noun visited the country.
① ② ③

globalization The process of The development Not everyone has

glob· al· i· za· globalization is the of an increasingly been benefiting the
tion [ˌglō-bə-lə- profound economic integrated global same from
ˈzā-shən] change of the current economy marked globalization and
noun era. especially by free technological
① ② ③ trade, free flow of change
capital, and the because …
tapping of
cheaper foreign
labor markets.

decolonize To decolonize a To free from There is a need to

de· col· o· niz territory is easier than colonial status. decolonize our
e to decolonize our practices if we
[dē-ˈkä-lə-ˌnīz] consciousness. want to…
verb
① ② ③

precolonial Precolonial Filipinos Occurring or An example of

pre· co· lo· ni made good armor for existing before an precolonial
al use in the battlefield, area undergoes weapon is …
[ˌprē-kə-ˈlō-nē-əl] and swords were an colonization.
adjective important part of
① ② ③ native weaponry.
Link The presentation of A connecting Her Youtube video
[ˈliŋk] the past is linked to structure. links important
verb all forms of image stories from …
① ② ③ consciousness and
manipulation.

identity In fostering our The distinguishing You can show your

i·den·ti·ty Filipino identity, we character or appreciation of
[ ī-ˈden-tə-tē] must devote ourselves personality of an your Filipino
noun to our studies and the individual. identity through…
① ② ③ appreciation of
history, culture, and
literature.

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 DURING
READING

An Article by Bienvenido L. Lumbera

THE ORAL LITERATURE OF THE FILIPINOS

Philippine oral literature comes in many forms [ˈfȯrm] noun, classification

and many languages. The forms range from the or types

simplest to the most complex, depending on their

functions within the community. The most
rudimentary are the riddles and the proverbs, ru·di·men·ta·ry [ ˌrü-də-ˈmen-
tə rē] adjective, basic or
which function principally as vehicles for fundamental
familiarizing the younger members of the
community with their immediate environment
and for instructing them on the basic values which Analyze Literature
the older members of the community hold in
common. Songs take many forms, and once again, Genres: Enumerate the various
it is function that determines the occasion and forms of Philippine oral literature
the manner of the singing. Children have their and the functions they serve.
own songs—lullabies to put them to sleep, game Riddle and Proverb- it teaches the
songs to entertain them, learning songs to initiate
community the basic values.
them into tasks appropriate for their age and
physical development. The adults have songs for Song- determines the manner
courtship, worship, work and entertainment. and occasion of the singing.
Myths and folktales are for both young and old, Myth and Folktales- it helps the
for these help them understand their community to understand their
environment and relationships with one
environment and relationship.
another, and they allow them to cope with
Epic- it says there deep roots as a
mundane problems and with the mysterious
and the threatening. cultural community.
___________________________
The lengthiest and most sophisticated form so· phis· ti· cat· ed
of Philippine oral literature is the epic. As of 1994, [sə-ˈfi-stə-ˌkā-təd]
thirty epics have been recorded, published or adjective, complex,
elaborate

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translated out of supposedly a hundred,”
according to the most recent review (Epics).
The fact that, to this day, epics continue to be
Analyze Literature
collected among ethnic groups is an indication
of the deep roots of this literary form in various Genres: What special
cultural communities. These epics are treasured function does an epic serve?
by the community as bearers of identity and
It’s serves as their identity,
preservers of values and traditions which bind
preserves the traditions and
the members.
values from their ancestors.
______________________
______________________
The cultural legacy that oral literature leg· a· cy [ ˈle-gə-sē] noun,
represents demands to be incorporated into inheritance, something
transmitted by or received from
the literary component of the curriculum for
an ancestor or from the past
Philippine schools. Unfortunately, this legacy is
hardly accessible even to the most assiduous
student of Philippine literature in the form Note the Facts
which will allow it to claim a place in literary
studies. The epics, in particular, are in many What makes it difficult for oral
different languages, many of these only beginningliterature such as epics to be
to be described by linguists. This means that, incorporated into the literary
even after they have been recorded and
component of the curriculum
transcribed, translation into a language accessible
to many and reflective of the artistic genius of the for Philippine schools?
original remains a problem. The problem is the language
because many epics have
It must be noted that, traditionally, the language different languages and
of research in the Philippine academe is
Philippine schools use English
English. This already poses a problem in the
as their medium._
proper contextualization of a literary work
which is intricately woven into the cultural ________________________
fabric of the community. Producing a reasonably ________________________
accurate rendition of the oral work into an
English version further complicates the problem. con· tex· tu· al· ize
The English version often serves only as some kind [kən-ˈteks-chə-wə-ˌlīz]
verb, to place something
of crib, guiding the reader through the in a particular context
difficulties in the proper understanding and which may provide
important clues about the
appreciation of the text. No wonder, teachers its social and cultural
of Philippine literature have often recoiled from meaning.

CASS-DELL | Literature of the Philippines 7

a presentation of oral literature as part of their
courses. If they themselves cannot derive
enjoyment from the texts that are available for
their use, what can they expect from students who
see the epics as even more alien than Beowulf,
and the language into which they have been as
more impenetrable than Anglo-Saxon itself.

With English as the medium of instruction in the

Philippine educational system, the likelihood is
remote that pleasurable translations of Filipino
oral lore will form part of the literature our students
are taught to appreciate. The contemporary con· tem· po· rary
student will continue to be suckled on the works [kən-ˈtem-pə-ˌrer-
of Filipino writers in English, both young and old, ē]adjective, modern,
relating to present time
for these are the works that have familiar subject
matter and “artistic” language. Because much of our
literature is in the “unexciting” and often “clumsy”
English of scholars, young Filipinos have been effectively
cut off from a valuable part of their literary
her· i· tage [ ˈher-ə-
heritage, a heritage that can make them proud tij]noun, tradition, something
of their past and give them a secure sense of handed down from one's
ancestors or the past
identity as a people. Fortunately, there are
literature teachers who have kept up with the
times and have come to recognize the loss of the
past that the omission of oral literature from their
courses has occasioned. These teachers have now
begun to devise ways and means of restoring
oral literature to the history of Philippine
literature through videos and live performances.

Reconnecting Asia with Southeast Asia

Three years before the new millennium, in

this conference, the Philippines is being asked
glob· al· i· za· ti
to link up with the literary traditions of Southeast on [ˌglō-bə-lə-ˈzā-shən]
Asia. In the so-called “era of globalization,” noun, the expansion of
many businesses into
isn’t the Philippines taking a rather belated
markets throughout the
step toward what is then a necessary retrieval of world

CASS-DELL | Literature of the Philippines 8

its non-Western past? And isn’t the effort
altogether anachronistic at this time when we are
being enticed to “abolish national boundaries”
in the name of “global competitiveness”?

Contemporary Filipinos lost not only a good part

of their literary legacy when English was installed
as the language of instruction in Philippine
schools; they also lost a cultural bridge that would
have firmed up their relations with their neighbors.
Reclaiming its place in the culture of Southeast Asia de· col· o· nize [dē-
cannot be too late, if Filipinos will recognize that ˈkä-lə-ˌnīz] verb, to free
from colonial status
the decolonization of their consciousness is a
process which remains to be completed.
[ˈliŋk] verb, to couple or
The oral literature which will link them once connect by or as if by a link
again to Southeast Asia allows the Filipinos a
“precolonial” past which is still recoverable.
That past is a special weapon it can be wield pre· co· lo· nial [ˌprē-kə-ˈlō-
nē-əl] adjective, existing or
in resisting neocolonial hegemony that occurring before an area
“globalization” proposes to legitimize and undergoes colonization
naturalize. Globalization, with the IMF and
the World Bank behind it, proposes to erase Use Reading Skills
national boundaries purportedly to ease
commercial intercourse among peoples of the Evaluate the author’s
world. Doubtless, this is going to take place purpose.
and it will be to the advantage of strong Evaluate the author’s
economies. Unstable economies, and these purpose for writing about
are common in Asia, Africa and Latin America, globalization and the need for
will have to stand up to the aggressive, rich the Philippines, as a country
with unstable economy, to
industrialized countries in order to survive in recover its precolonial past
the globalized international economic order. through its oral literature.
In devising a strategy for survival, it is never Record your evaluation in
too late for a people to gear itself toward a your Author’s Purpose Chart
provided above.
struggle. The Philippines, through its oral
literature, has a “precolonial” past which is
Note the Facts
still recoverable. To recover that past, it needs
a native language that will allow it to make its What language is proposed
oral literature a living part of its contemporary by the author to be used in
culture. That language is Filipino, so the reclaiming Philippine oral
literature?
CASS-DELL | Literature of the Philippines 9
Filipino_________________
______________________
struggle for a native language that will also be
the language of instruction in the educational
system is part and parcel of recovering the past.
In a globalizing world, even as English is held
up as the global language, it may seem
paradoxical that the Philippines which has
been educating its youth through the medium
of English, must be urged to shift to its
national language.

To be able to maintain a firm hold on a sense of

identity and the national interest it represents,
the Philippines needs Southeast Asia. At the i·den·ti·ty [ ī-ˈden-tə-tē]noun,
The set of characteristics by
outset, it may seem that it is only a literary which a person or group is
tradition that it stands to recover in linking up definitively recognizable or
with the cultures of its neighboring countries. known
However, in the context of a period when “nation”
is claimed to be on the way to obsolescence, the ob· so· lete [ˌäb-sə-ˈlēt]
Philippines needs a sense of region that adjective, no longer in use
will give it a larger identity when globalization
begins to eat away national identities.
Reconnecting with Southeast Asia fortifies the Use Reading Skills
Filipino by giving him a past that colonial Evaluate the author’s
Education had closed off to him. purpose

Why does the author assert

that the Philippines needs
Southeast Asia in the era of
globalization? Write your
ideas in the Author’s Purpose
Think and Reflect Chart.

Do you think recovering our oral literature through our national language
Filipino is our best strategy for establishing our sense of identity as Filipinos
and for our survival in the era of globalization? Explain.

We Filipinos should establish our national identity by recovering our national

language which is Filipino. This language is very sacred because it
represents the legacy of the Philippine history the colonization and
decolonization that we suffered must stop, it is time we Filipinos must
possess the real national identity that we can be proud of and we raise our
CASS-DELL | Literature of the Philippines 10
 AFTER READING

Name: Aivelene A. Pacia Yr/Cr/Sec: 1DVM-A

Subject: Lit 111 Date: 08/24/21

READING CHECK

Circle the letter of the correct answer.

1. Which of the following is NOT true about literature?

A. It is one of the ways people in the community shape their own worlds,
and value their traditions.
B. It speaks of life—emotions, situations, and ideas.
C. It orients and guides the young.
D. It devalues the cultural fabric of the community where it comes from.

2. Which of the following oral literary genre is in rhyming verse and expresses
norms and community beliefs?
A. folktale C. riddle
B. proverb D. myth

3. Which of the following literary genre begins with the line, “In the beginning,
the earth was dark…”?
A. spic C. creation myth
B. Song D. folktale

4. Which of the following is a long narrative poem that talks about the
adventures of a hero?
A. song C. folktale
B. epic D. myth

5. What determines the occasion and manner of singing of a song?

A. function C. style
B. artistic conventions D. central idea

6. What value does the following proverb teach?

“You will not know what is coming unless you make a trip.”

CASS-DELL | Literature of the Philippines 11

 A. intelligence C. initiative
B. guilt D. industry

7. What value does the following proverb teach?

“Natutuwa kung pasalop. Kung singili’y napopoot.”(Full of good cheer while
borrowing a measure of rice. Full of wrath when you ask him to pay it back.)
A. honesty C. loyalty
B. responsibility D. understanding

8. Which of the proverbs is NOT about alertness?

A. If you want a chance, be quick in moving.
B. If the chicken is not on guard, the eagle sweeps upon it.
C. If you can spot the quarry, you are the winner.
D. Not all that glitters is gold.

9. According to the article, what makes the reading of our literature unexciting
and less meaningful?
A. the subject of the literary pieces
B. the function of the literary piece
C. English as the medium of translation and instruction
D. the rich symbolisms and creative expressions used in the literature

10. Members of a tribe or race can have common myths which serve varied
purposes, EXCEPT:
A. trace a portion of their history C. suggest a religious or moral truth
B. explain natural phenomena D. predict future calamities.

VOCABULARY CHECK

Circle the letter of the correct answer.

1. “Mundane matters such as paying bills and shopping for food do not interest
her.” What does mundane mean?
A. ordinary C. exceptional
B. noble D. unique

2. “The Benedictines have been best known as educators and as preservers of

antique texts.” What does preserver mean?
A. A person that destroys something
B. A person who maintains something in its original form
C. A person who exacts punishment or in return for an injury.
CASS-DELL | Literature of the Philippines 12
 D. A person that mends or repairs something.

3. “Jake was an assiduous student, commonly spending fourteen hours a day

among his books.” What does assiduous mean?
A. careful C. passive
B. weird D. diligent

4. “Voters legitimize the government through the election of public officials"

Which is NOT a meaning of legitimize?
A. make official C. make legal
B. nullify D. validate

5. “It sounds paradoxical: the events that made the universe habitable were
catastrophic.” Which is NOT a meaning of paradoxical?
A. temporary C. incongruous
B. Inconsistent D. inconsistent

USE READING SKILLS: Evaluate Author’s Purpose

1. Review your Author’s Purpose Chart. Why did the author write this article?
The author writes this article to show people about his opinion that

involves every Filipino. Filipino’s should claim their own national identity,

that we don’t need to be coward to show the world that we can stand on

our own. We need to open larger identity so that we can compete to other

Southeast Asian countries.

2. How do the details and information included in the article enhance the
author’s purpose?

The details and information the author include in the article, portrays as

supporting evidences to prove the point of the article. It enhances the

information because the readers can understand the article very well and

it has all the details that the audience want to read.

CASS-DELL | Literature of the Philippines 13