WELCOME

STUDENTS!
Good Morning
Stem 1
STORY STARTER
Sandaang Damit
by Fanny Garcia
Guide Questions:
1. If you were one of the poor girl's classmates,
what would you feel about the situation of the poor
girl? Why?
2. If you were given a chance to write the ending
of the story, what would it be and why?
 Lesson 1:
Dimensions of Philippine
Literary History from
Pre-Colonial to
Contemporary Period and
Literary Forms
Learning Objectives:
Identify the geographic, linguistic, and ethnic dimensions
01 of Philippine literary history from pre- colonial to the
contemporary

02 Identify representative texts and authors from each region

Value the contributions of local writers to the

03 development of regional literary traditions

Appreciate the contributions of the canonical Filipino

04 writers to the development of national literature
Lesson 1.1
Three Periods in the
Literary History of the
Philippines
 Three Periods in the Literary
History of the Philippines
Post-Colonialism

Pre-Colonialism Colonialism
PRE-COLONIALISM
(BC to 1564)
 • The early literary forms
of the Philippines were
epics, legends, riddles
and proverbs which
were told and retold by
Pre-Colonialism the natives.
• The literature of the pre-
colonial Filipinos bore
the marks of the
community.
Pre-Colonialism
• Filipinos manages to preserve laws, legend,
songs and epics by inscribing them on barks
of trees, palm leaves and bamboos.
• Some of the literary forms have managed to
survive the war and tropical disasters because
they retained in the common minds and were
later reduces to permanent forms.
 Literary Forms

Myths Ancient
Riddles Chants Tanaga Ambahan and Metrical Folk Songs
Legends Tales
 What’s harder to
catch the faster you
run?
What belongs to you
but is used most by
other people?
What word begins and
ends with an E but
only has one letter?
 You throw away the
outside and cook the
inside; then you eat
the outside and throw
away the inside. What
is it?
 Literary Forms

Epigrams/ Myths Ancient

Riddles Maxims/ Chants Tanaga Ambahan and Metrical Folk Songs
Proverbs Legends Tales
 Examples
Proverbs or Salawikain
● Ang matapat na kaibigan, tunay na maasahan
● You will know a true friend in time of need.
Epigrams or Sawikain
● Kumukulo ang dugo – “blood is boiling’ = is very angry
● Isulat sa tubig – ‘write on water” = forget about it

Maxims
● Pag hindi ukol, hindi bubukol
- What is not intended for one will not bear fruit.
 Literary Forms

Epigrams/ Myths Ancient

Riddles Maxims/ Chants Tanaga Ambahan and Metrical Folk Songs
Proverbs Legends Tales
• Chants (bulong)
Used in witchcraft and/or enchantment

• Tanaga
A quatrain expressing insights and lessons in life.
Example:
“Tahak ng tingin, tulak
ng sulyap, yakap, lapat
ng titig sa balikat
hatak pa, kindat, hakat”
 Literary Forms

Epigrams/ Myths Ancient

Riddles Maxims/ Chants Tanaga Ambahan and Metrical Folk Songs
Proverbs Legends Tales
Ambahan
• Traditional poetry of the Hanunoo Mangyans of
Oriental Mindoro which is normally inscribed on
bamboo using a pre-Colonial syllabic writing
system called Surat Mangyan
• Usually chanted
• Teaches lesson about life
• Recited by parents to educate their children, by
youth to express their love, by the old to impart
experiences, or by the community in tribal
ceremonies.
Ambahan
• on some occasions like burial rites, the ambahan is
used for entertainment.
Sugot nga maaw kunman
Tangdayan no ma-amban
Sabungan no manuywan
Impad las yami daywan
Hanggan buhok timbangan
Hanggan balod pangdan
Bugkat di way yamungan
Bilang dayi bunlagan
Kang magpahalimbaw-an
Ga bugtong ti bilugan
 Literary Forms

Epigrams/ Myths Ancient

Riddles Maxims/ Chants Tanaga Ambahan and Metrical Folk Songs
Proverbs Legends Tales
Myths and Legends
• Explain how the world was created, how animals
possess certain characteristics, why some places
have volcanoes, mountains etc.

Examples:
Story of Bathala
The legend of Maria Makiling
 Literary Forms

Epigrams/ Myths Ancient

Riddles Maxims/ Chants Tanaga Ambahan and Metrical Folk Songs
Proverbs Legends Tales
Ancient Metrical Tales
• Ifugao – Hudhud ni Aliguyon
• Ilocos – Biag ni Lam-ang
• Bicol – Ibalon
• Mindanao – Daragan
• Panay – Hinilawod
• Bagobo – Tuwaang
• Kalinga – Ullalim
• Manobo – Agyu or Olahing
• Subanon - Sandayo
Ancient Metrical Tales
• Aliguyon
The exploits of Aliguyon as he battles his arch-enemy,
Pambukhayon
• Biag ni Lam-Ang
Tells of the adventures of Lam-Ang who exhibits
extraordinary powers at a very early age.
• Ibalon
The story of three Bicol heroes: Baltog, Handiong, Bantiong
• Hinlawod (oldest epic poem of Panay)
The exploits of three Sulodnon demigod brothers,
LabawDonggon, Humadapnon and Dumalapdao of ancient
Panay
 Literary Forms

Epigrams/ Myths Ancient

Riddles Maxims/ Chants Tanaga Ambahan and Metrical Folk Songs
Proverbs Legends Tales
Folk Songs

• A form of folk lyric which

expresses the people’s hope,
aspirations, and lifestyles
• Traditional songs and melodies
• Inspired by the reaction of the
people to their environment
Folk Songs
• Uyayi – lullaby
• Komintang – war song
• Kundiman – melancholic love song
• Harana – serenade
• Tagay (Cebuano/Waray) – drinking song
• Mambayu – Kalinga rice-pounding song
• Subli – dance-ritual song of courtship/marriage
• Kanogan (Cebuano) – song of lamentation for
dead
 Literary Forms

Epigrams/ Myths Ancient

Riddles Maxims/ Chants Tanaga Ambahan and Metrical Folk Songs
Proverbs Legends Tales
COLONIALISM
 COLONIALISM

Spanish American Japanese

Period Period Period
(1565 to 1898) (1898 to 1940) (1941 to 1945)
 Spanish Period
• Spanish occupied Philippines in early
15th century. The First Filipino alphabet
is baybayin – when Spanish colonized
Philippines they changed it into Roman
Alphabet.
• Spanish banned the use of Baybayin
because they believed that it is a work
of evil. So, Spanish fully introduced the
Spanish literary language using many
Spanish terms.
 Spanish Period

• The European literature was brought

by the Spaniards and are assimilated
in Filipino songs and indigenous
themes.
• The early printing press in the
Philippines is run and monopolized
by the Spaniards friars.
 Spanish Period

• During Spanish colonization, Filipinos

felt that they are being harassed by
the Spaniards. Then the birth of
Propaganda Movement and La
Solidaridad.
• Then Filipino fought and introduced
Tagalog to be the nationalist
movement.
 Spanish colonization of the Philippines
started in 1565 during the time of
Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, the first
Spanish governor-general in the
Philippines. Literature started to flourish
during his time. The spurt continued
unabated until the Cavite Revolt in
1872.
 Spanish Influences on the
Philippine Literature
1. Baybayin
2. Christian Doctrine
3. Spanish language became the literary language this time
4. European legends and traditions
5. Ancient literature was collected and translated to
Tagalog
6. Grammar books were printed in Filipino
7. Religious tone
 The First Books

1. Ang Doctrina Cristiana (The Christian Doctrine)

2. Nuestra Señora del Rosario
3. Libro de los Cuatro Postprimera de Hombre
4. Ang Barlaan at Josephat
5. The Pasion
6. Urbana at Felisa
7. Ang mga Dalit kay Maria (Psalms of Mary)
 Literary Compositions

1. Arte y Reglas de la Lengua Tagala (Art and Rules of the

Tagalog language)
2. Compendio de la Lengua Tagala (Understanding the
Tagalog language)
3. Vocabulario de la Lengua Tagala (Tagalog vocabulary)
4. Vocabulario de la Pampanga (Pampanga vocabulary)
5. Vocabulario de la Lengua Bisaya (Bisayan vocabulary)
6. Arte de la Lengua Ilokana (The Art of the Ilocano language)
7. Arte de la Lengua Bicolana (The Art of the Bicol Language)
 Folk Songs

• Leron-Leron Sinta (Tagalog)

• Pamulinawen (Iloko)
• Dandansoy (Bisaya)
• Sarong Banggi (Bicol)
• Atin Cu Pung Singsing (Kapampangan)
 Recreational Plays

• There were many recreational plays performed by

Filipinos during the Spanish times. Almost all of them
were in poetic form.
1. CENAKULO
Dramatic performance of the passion and death of
Christ.
2. ZARZUELA
The father of drama, a musical comedy or
melodrama three acts which death with men’s passion
and emotions like love, hate, revenge, cruelty, avarice or
some political problem.
3. LAGAYLAY
A special occasion for the pilareños of Sorsogon
during maytime to get together.
4. TIBAG
Dramatic performance for the purpose of
manifesting devotion for the holy cross.
5. PANULUYAN
Philippine Christmas dramatic ritual narrating the
whole family’s search for a place to stay in Betlehem for
Jesus Christ’s birth through songs.
6. SALUBONG
Dramatizes the reunion of the risen Christ and his
mother.
7. CARILLO
A form of dramatic entertainment perform of a moonless
night during a town fiesta or on darknights after a harvest.
8. SAINETE
A short musical comedy popular during the 18th century.
They were exaggerated comedy shown between acts plays and
were mostly performed by characters from the lower.
9. THE MORO-MORO
Like the Cenaculo, the Moro-Moro is presented also on a
special stage. This is performed during town fiestas to entertain
the people and to remind them of their Christian religion.
Example: “Prinsipe Rodante”
10. KARAGATAN
This is a poetic vehicle of a socio-religious nature
celebrated during the death of a person.
11. DUPLO
The duplo replaced the Karagatan. This is a poetic joust
in speaking and reasoning.
12. THE BALAGTASAN
This is a poetic joust or a contest of skills in a debate on
a particular topic or issue.
13. THE DUNG-AW
This is a chant in a free verse by a bereaved person or
his representative beside the corpse of the dead.
American Period
 Literature under
American Colonial Period
Beginning of
Tagalog Romantic Philippine
Short Stories
Novel Poetry Literature in
English
 Tagalog Novel

• A novel is a long prose

narrative that describes
fictional characters and
events in the form of
sequential story usually. A
Tagalog novel is a novel
written in, of course,
Tagalog.
 Tagalog Novel
• Banaag at Sikat is one of the
first literary novels written by
Filipino author, Lope K.
Santos in the Tagalog
language in 1906. As a book
that was considered as the
“Bible of working class
Filipinos”, the pages of the
novel revolves around the
life of Delfin, his love for a
daughter of a rich landlord.
 Romantic Poetry

• The dominant theme of

Romantic poetry: the filtering
of natural emotion through
the human mind in order to
create art, coupled with an
awareness of the duality
created by such a process.
 Romantic Poetry
Pag-Ibig
by Jose Corazon De Jesus

JOSE CORAZON DE JESUS

- A Filipino poet who used Tagalog poetry to express
the Filipinos’ desire for independence during the American
occupation of the Philippines, a period that lasted from 1901
to 1946. He is best known for being the lyricist of the Filipino
song Bayan Ko.
 Short Stories

A brief work of literature,

usually written in a narrative
prose. A classic definition of a
short story is that one should
be able to read it in one
sitting.
Beginning of Philippine
Literature in English

Philippine literature in English by

1901, public education was
institutionalized in the Philippines,
with English serving as the medium of
instruction. That year, around 600
educators in the S. S. Thomas to
replace the soldiers who had been
serving as the first teachers.
Beginning of Philippine
Literature in English

“How My Brother Leon Brought

Home a Wife”
A story about an occasion that would
be a big day in the life of any family,
that one of the sons of the family
brings home the woman he intends to
marry. The story is told in the first
person by Leon’s younger brother.
JAPANESE
PERIOD
1941-1945
Japanese Period
• Philippine Literature was interrupted in
its development when we are again
conquered by another foreign county,
Japan.
• Philippine literature in English came to a
halt.
• Except for the Tribune, and the
Philippine Review, Pillars, Free
Philippines, and Filipina, almost all
newspapers in English were stopped by
the Japanese.
• During this time, there was no freedom
of speech and of the press.
• Victoria Abelardo has described Filipino
writing during the Japanese occupation
as being pessimistic and bitter.
• There were some efforts at escapist
literature, but in general, the literary
output was minor and insignificant.
Because of strict censorship, few literary
works were printed during the war
years.
• Tagalog was favored by
the Japanese military
authority and writing in
English was consigned to
a limbo.
• Japanese were able to
influence and encourage
the Filipino in developing
the vernacular literature.
• The only Filipino writers
who could write freely
were those who were
living in the United
States.
• Most writers and authors
were led to either go
underground or write in
Tagalog.
• So, Filipino literature was
given a break during this
period.
• Filipino literature also
experiences renewed
attention because writers
in English turned to
writing in Filipino.
 Filipino Drama
• The drama experiences a lull during the Japanese
period because movie houses showing American
films were closed.
• The big movie houses were just made to show stage
shows. Many of the plays were reproductions of
English plays to Tagalog.
• The translators were Francisco Soc Rodrigo, Alberto
Concio, and Narciso Pimentel. They also founded
the organization of the Filipino players named
Dramatic Philippines.
A few of the playwriters were:

1. Jose Ma. Hernandez – wrote PANDAY PIRA

2. Francisco Soc Rodrigo – wrote SA PULA, SA PUTI
3. Clodualdo del Mundo – wrote BULAGA (an
expression in the game Hide and Seek)
4. Julian Cruz Balmaceda – wrote SINO BA KAYO? ,
DAHIL SA ANAK, and HIGANTE NG PATAY.
 FILIPINO POETRY
• Three types of poems emerged during this period.

HAIKU
- poem of free verse that the Japanese liked. It
is made up of seventeen (17) syllables divided into
three (3) lines. The first line has five, the second –
seven and the third – five. It is allegorical in meaning,
short and covers a wide in meaning.
 FILIPINO POETRY
TANAGA
- like the haiku, it is short, but has measure and
rhyme. Each line has seven syllables and is also
allegorical in meaning.

KARANIWANG ANYO (Usual Form)

- the usual and common form poetry
 FILIPINO SHORT STORIES
• The field of the short story widened during the
Japanese Occupation. Many short stories were
written.
• Some of the authors were:
Brigido Batungbakal Liwayway Arceo
Serafin Guinigindo NVM Gonzales
Narciso Ramos Ligaya Perez
Alicia Lopez Lim
Gloria Guzman
Macario Pineda
• The best writings in 1945 were selected by
a group of judges composed of:

Francisco Icasiano
Jose Esperanza Cruz
Antonio Rosales
Clodualdo del Mundo
Teodoro Santos
• Noteworthy writer of the period was Carlos
P. Romulo who won the Pulitzer Prize for
his bestsellers

• I SAW THE FALL OF THE PHILIPPINES

• I SEE THE PHILIPPINES RISE
• MOTHER AMERICA AND MY BROTHER
AMERICANS
• Journalist include Salvador P. Lopez, Leon
Ma. Guerrero, Raul Manglapuz and Carlos
Bulosan
• Nick Joaquin produces THE WOMAN
WHO LOOKED LIKED LAZARUS, Fred Ruiz
Castro wrote a few poems.
• LITERATURE AND SOCIETY by Salvador P.
Lopez (essay)
• HIS NATIVE SOIL by Juan Laya (Novel)
• President Manuel L. Quezon’s
autobiography THE GOOD FIGHT was
published posthumously.
• Other writes of this period were Juan Collas
(1944), Tomas Confesor (1945), Roman A.
de la Cruz and Eliza Tabuñar)
POST -COLONIALISM
(1946-1985)
PEOPLE POWER
(LAKAS NG BAYAN)
Philippine Literature on the 21st Century
• A theme such as patience, native culture, customs, the
beauty of nature, and surroundings are used for poems.
Realities about exploitation and injustice were also
prevalent.

• Writers this period look back and get ideas and

inspiration from the previous writers, they use the past as
a tool for the future. Technology also gives a great
impact on the writers’ imagination.
PRE-COLONIAL TIMES
folk SPANISH COLONIAL TRADITION
speeches, writings on AMERICAN PERIOD
songs, liberty and new literary CONTEMPORARY
narratives, freedom; forms like proliferation of
indigenous religious and free verse, art through
rituals and secular modern workshops,
mimetic prose and short story publications,
dances poetry and critical literary
essays awards, mass
media, etc.
PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
IN THE 21ST CENTURY
“At the turn of the last century, American
English have been established as the
medium of instruction in our public school
system, we began to write in English, but
sooner than later, we wrought from it.”

-Dr. Geronimo Abad (2012)

Let Your Light Shine!