21ST CENTURY LITERATURE FROM THE PHILIPPINES
AND THE WORLD UNIVERSITY OF MAKATI
LESSON 4: HIGHER SCHOOL NG UMAK
PHILIPPINE ORAL LORE
Time Started : ___________
Time Ended : ___________
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the end of this lesson, the students should be able to:
engage in oral history research with focus on key personalities from the students’ region/province/town and
value the rich oral lore of the Pre-colonial literature that bares our identity.
INTRODUCTION/KEY POINTS
The variety and abundance of Philippine literature evolved even before the colonial periods. Folk tales, epics,
poems and marathon chants existed in most ethno linguistic groups that were passed on from generation to
generation through word of mouth. Tales associated with the Spanish conquest also took part in the country’s rich
cultural heritage. Philippine Pre-colonial Literature. Some of these pre-colonial literary pieces showcased in
traditional narratives, speeches and songs are tigmo in Cebuano, bugtong in Tagalog, patototdon is Bicol and
paktakon in Ilongo. Philippine epics and folk tales are varied and filled with magical characters. They are either
narratives of mostly mythical objects, persons or certain places, or epics telling supernatural events and bravery
of heroes, customs and ideologies of a community- Philippine Pre-colonial Literature.
KNOWLEDGE BOOSTER (CORE CONTENT)
1. Proverbs - Filipino proverbs, or salawikain, echo the values of the Philippines. Though they have been retold
and passed down from one generation to another, and the values and lessons they impart to us still hold true
to this day.
a. A broom is sturdy because its strands are tightly bound.
Matibay ang walis, palibhasa'y magkabigkis.
b. While the blanket is short, learn how to bend.
Hangga't makitid ang kumot, matutong mamaluktot.
2. Epics - The Filipino word for ‘epic’ is epiko from the Spanish. Philippine epics are lengthy narrative poems
based on oral tradition. The verses were chanted or sung while being passed from generation to generation
before being written on paper. The plots of their stories revolve around supernatural events and heroic
deeds.
21ST CENTURY LITERATURE:
PHILIPPINE ORAL LORE
A. Bicol Epic Poetry:
THE IBALON- It’s much like the story of Adam and Eve. It also narrates the adventures of the heroes of
Ibalon.
B. Visayan Epic:
THE MARAGTAS CHRONICLES OF PANAY- It explains the origin of the Filipinos and the story of ten
Datus from Borneo who landed in Panay Island.
C. Mindanao Epic:
DARANGAN- The Epics from Mindanao were very recently put into writing and it’s very much like
story of Greek Mythology.
ABM & LANGUAGES DEPARTMENT
21ST CENTURY LITERATURE:
PHILIPPINE ORAL LORE
D. Igorot Epic:
HUDHUD/ALIGUYON- In general, the Hudhud of the Ifugao is chanted only in four different
occasions—harvesting of rice, weeding of rice, funeral wakes, and bone-washing rituals. Hudhud ni
Aliguyon is specifically included in the genre called Hudhud di Page or Hudhud di Ani, meaning
Hudhud for Harvest in the Fields.
E. Ilokano Epic:
BIAG NI LAM-ANG- is the hero of one of the most popular Philippine folk epics, Biag ni Lam-ang (Life
of Lam-Ang). The Biag ni Lam-ang, from the people of the northern Philippines, is said to be the only
complete epic from a Christianized Philippine indigenous group. Exhibiting a mixture of Spanish and
indigenous cultures, the earliest written record of the epic was in 1889. There are at least ten versions
of the epic.
3. MYTHS - any invented story, idea, or concept, imaginary thing or person; mythical stories often contain
heroes or deities and explain a practice, rite, or natural phenomenon.
ABM & LANGUAGES DEPARTMENT
21ST CENTURY LITERATURE:
PHILIPPINE ORAL LORE
A.THE STORY OF BATHALA
Bathala was worshipped as a minor deity, represented by a small
image which they always carried for good luck; according to the Bicol
grammar of Mark of Lisbon (1628, 61) "they say it was an anito that
brought good luck to one it accompanied". Thus if a man was never hit by
objects thrown at him, he was said to be batalaan.
4. LEGENDS - a collection of stories about an admirable person or significant event, non-historical and
unverifiable, yet handed down from tradition and accepted as historical;
A.THE LEGEND OF SAMPAGUITA-
There were two lovers who vowed to be faithful and loyal to each other
forever. The woman was so stunning and graceful. Her red lips and rosy
cheeks matched her beautiful eyes. Many men of her age were dying
to win her heart.
ASSESSMENT/ACTIVITY
Directions: Create/Write at least three Proverbs in a modern way or 21ST Century style. Explain your proverbs
in three sentences.
POOR FAIR GOOD EXCELLENT
CATEGORY SCORE
3 4 6 10
State the Proverb Proverb is not Proverb is Proverb is Proverb is stated
stated. unclear. stated as title or in the title and in
in paragraph. the paragraph
Title may be OR
missing. Proverb is stated
in the paragraph
but contains a
title that relates
to the Proverb
ABM & LANGUAGES DEPARTMENT
21ST CENTURY LITERATURE:
PHILIPPINE ORAL LORE
Coherence/ Organization is Organization is
Logical
Clear No discernable clear. Some clear. Some
progression of
organization organizdation. transtions are transtions are
details with a
Transitions are present, while present, while
clear structure
not present. others are others are
that enhances the
either either proverb and
inappropriate inappropriate
creates a vividly
or missing. or missing.
clear
explanation.
Mechanics Poor. More than Fair. Three to Good. Only one Excellent - No
four errors. four errors. to two errors. errors
SELF-CHECK (SELF-ASSESSMENT)/ INSIGHT
Directions: Answer the corresponding terms by giving some examples from your region/provinces.
1. PROVERBS - _______________________________________________________________________
2. MYTHS - ___________________________________________________________________________
3. LEGENDS - _________________________________________________________________________
4. EPICS - ____________________________________________________________________________
REFERENCES
https://www.tagaloglang.com/philippine-literature/filipino-epics/
https://www.kapitbisig.com/philippines/english-version-of-epics-mga-epiko-the-ibalon-from-the-bikol-
region_1182.html
https://libreamarkjoseph.wordpress.com/2015/07/20/maragtas/#:~:text=July%2020%2C%202015-
,%E2%80%9CMARAGTAS%E2%80%9D,rulers)%20that%20settled%20from%20Borneo.&text=Soon%
2C%20they%20have%20reached%20the,with%20the%20natives%20called%20Aetas.
https://www.kapitbisig.com/philippines/bilingual-tagalog-english-version-of-epics-mga-epiko-
darangan-an-epic-of-maranao-bilingual-tagalog-english-version_791.html
http://www.philsites.net/folklore/stories/heroism1.html
https://www.tagaloglang.com/biag-ni-lam-ang-buod/
ABM & LANGUAGES DEPARTMENT
