Philippine Literature

Part I – The Historical

Background of
Philippine Literature
 Chapter 1

Introduction to the Study

of Literature
Definition of Literature:

The word literature is derived from the Latin

term litera which means letter. It has been
defined differently by various writers.

Some loosely interpret literature as any

printed matter written within a book, a
magazine or a pamphlet. Others define
literature as a faithful reproduction of man’s
manifold experiences blended into one
harmonious expression.

Because literature deals with ideas, thoughts

and emotions of man, literature can be said to
be the story of man. Man’s loves, griefs,
thoughts, dreams and aspirations coached in
beautiful language is literature.
In order to know the history of a nation’s
spirit, one must read its literature. Hence it is,
that to understand the real spirit of a nation,
one must “trace the little rills as they course
along down the ages, broadening and deepening
into the great ocean of thought which men of
the present source are presently exploring.”

Brother Azurin, said that “literature expresses

the feelings of people to society, to the
government, to his surroundings, to his
fellowmen and to his Divine Creator.” The
expression of one’s feelings, according to him,
may be through love, sorrow, happiness,
hatred, anger, pity, contempt, or revenge.
For Webster, literature is anything that is
printed, as long as it is related to the ideas
and feelings of people, whether it is true, or
just a product of one’s imagination.

In PANITIKING PILIPINO written by Atienza,

Ramos, Salazar and Nazal, it says that “true
literature is a piece of written work which is
undying. It expresses the feelings and
emotions of people in response to his
everyday efforts to live, to be happy n his
environment and, after struggles, to reach
his Creator.”
Why We Need to Study Philippine Literature

We can enumerate many reasons for studying

literature.

Here are but a few:

We study literature so that we can better

appreciate our literary heritage. We cannot
appreciate something that we do not
understand. Through a study of our
literature, we can trace the rich heritage of
ideas handed down to us from our forefathers.
Then we can understand ourselves better and
take pride in being a Filipino.
Like other races of the world, we need to
understand that we have a great and noble
tradition which can serve as the means to
assimilate other cultures.

Through such a study, we will realize our

literary limitations conditioned by certain
historical factors and we can take steps to
overcome them.

Above all, as Filipinos, who truly love and

take pride in our own culture, we have to
manifest our deep concern for our own
literature and this we can do by studying the
literature of our country.
Of Philippine Literature in English and Time
Frames

It can be said that Philippine literature in

English has achieved a stature that is, in a
way, phenomenal since the inception of
English in our culture.

Our written literature, which is about four

hundred years old, is one of slow and
evolutionary growth. Our writers strove to
express their sentiments while struggling with
a foreign medium. The great mass of literature
in English that we have today is, indeed, a
tribute to what our writers have achieved in
the short span of time. What they have written
can compare with some of the best works in
the world.
Much is still to be achieved. Our writers
have yet to write their OPUS MAGNUMS.
Meanwhile, history and literature are slowly
unfolding before us and we are as witnesses
in the assembly lines to an evolving literary
life.

Time frames may not be necessary in a study

of literature, but since literature and history
are inescapably related it has become
facilitative to map up a system which will aid
us in delineating certain time boundaries.
These time boundaries are not exactly well-
defined; very often, time frames blend into
another in a seeming continuum. For a
systematic discussion of the traditions,
customs, and feelings of our people that can be
traced in our literature, we shall adopt certain
delimitations.

These time frames are:

Time Frames of Philippine Literature in English

Different opinions prevail regarding the stages

that mark the development of Philippine
literature in English. Let us take the following
time frames for purpose of discussion:
1. The Period of Re-orientation: 1898-1910
2. Period of Imitation: 1910-1925
3. Period of Self-Discovery: 1925-1941
4. Japanese Period: 1941-1945
5. The Rebirth of Freedom: 1946-1970
6. Period of Activism: 1970-1972
7. Period of the New Society: 1972-1981
8. Period of the Third Republic: 1981-1985
9. Contemporary Period: 1986
 Literature and History

Literature and history are closely

interrelated. In discovering the history of a
race, the feelings, aspirations, customs and
traditions of a people are sure to be included . .
. and these feelings, aspirations, customs and
traditions that are written is literature. History
can also be written and this too, is literature.
Events that can be written down are part of true
literature. Literature, therefore, is part of
history.
Literature and history, however, also have
differences. Literature may be figments of the
imagination or events devoid of truth that
have been written down, while history is made
up of events that really happened.

Literary Compositions that Have Influenced

the World.
Among them are:

1. The Bible or the Sacred Writings

2. Koran
3. The Iliad and the Odyssey
4. The Mahab-harata
5. Canterbury Tales
6. Uncle Tom’s Cabin
7.The Divine Comedy
8.El Cid Compeador
9. The Song of Roland
10. The Book of the Dead
11. The Book of the Days
12. One Thousand and One Nights or The
Arabian Nights

General Types of Literature

Literature can generally be divided into two

types; prose and poetry.
Prose consists of those written within the
common flow of conversation in sentences and
paragraphs, while poetry refers to those
expressions in verse, with measure and rhyme,
line and stanza and has a more melodious tone.

I. PROSE

There are many types of prose. These include

the following:

a. Novels. A long narrative divided into

chapters and events are taken from true-to-life
stories.
Example:WITHOUT SEEING THE DAWN by
Stevan Javellana

b. Short story. This is a narrative involving

one or more characters, one plot and one
single impression.

Example:THE LAUGHTER OF MY FATHER by

Carlos Bulosan

c. Plays. This is presented on a stage, is

divided into acts and each act has many
scenes.
Example: THIRTEEN PLAYS by Wilfredo M.
Guerrero

d. Legends. These are fictitious narratives,

usually about origins.

Example: THE BIKOL LEGEND by Pio Duran

e. Fables. These are also fictitious and they

deal with animals and inanimate things who
speak and act like people and their purpose is
to enlighten the minds of children to events
that can mold their ways and attitudes.

Example: THE MONKEY AND THE TURTLE

f.Anecdotes. These are merely products of
the writer’s imagination and the main aim is
to bring out lessons to the reader.

Example:THE MOTH AND THE LAMP

g.Essay. This expresses the viewpoint or

opinion of the writer about a particular
problem or event. The best example of this
is the Editorial page of a newspaper.

h.Biography. This deals with the life of a

person which may be about himself, his
autobiography or that of others.
Example: CAYETANO ARELLANO by Socorro
O. Albert

i. News. This is a report of everyday events in

society, government, science and industry, and
accidents, happening nationally or not.

j. Oration. This is a formal treatment of a

subject and is intended to be spoken in public.
It appeals to the intellect, to the will or to the
emotions of the audience.

II. POETRY

There are three types of poetry and these are

the following:
A. Narrative Poetry. This form describes
important events in life either real or
imaginary.
The different varieties are:
1. Epic. This is an extended narrative about
heroic exploits often under supernatural
control.
Example:THE HARVEST SONG OF ALIGUYON
translated in English by Amador T.
Daguio
2. Metrical Tale. This is a narrative which is
written in verse and can be classified either
as a ballad or a metrical romance.
Examples: BAYANI NG BUKID by Al Perez
HERO OF THE FIELDS by Al Perez
3. Ballads. Of the narrative poems, this is
considered the shortest and simplest. It has a
simple structure and tells of a single incident.
There are also variations of these: love ballads,
war ballads, and sea ballads, humorous, moral,
and historical or mythical ballads. In the early
time, this referred to a song accompanying a
dance.

B. Lyric Poetry. Originalaly, this refers to that

kind of poetry meant to be sung to the
accompaniment of a lyre, but now, this applies
to any type of poetry that expresses emotions
and feelings of the poet. They are usually
short, simple and easy to understand.
1.Folksongs (Awiting Bayan). These are short
poems intended to be sung. The common
theme is love, despair, grief, doubt, joy, hope
and sorrow.

Example: CHIT-CHIRIT-CHIT

2.Sonnets. This is a lyric poem of 14 lines

dealing with an emotion, a feeling, or an idea.
These are two types: the Italian and the
Shakespearean.

Example: SANTANG BUDS by Alfonso P.

Santos
3.Elegy. This is a lyric poem which
expresses feelings of grief and melancholy,
and whose theme is death.

Example:THE LOVER’S DEATH by Ricaredo

Demetillo

4.Ode. This is a poem of a noble feeling,

expressed with dignity, with no definite
number of syllables or definite number of
lines in a stanza.

5. Psalms (Dalit). This is a song praising

God or the Virgin Mary and containing a
philosophy of life.
6.Awit (Song). These have measures of twelve
syllables (dodecasyllabic) and slowly sung to
the accompaniment of a guitar or banduria.

Example: FLORANTE AT LAURA by Franciso

Balagtas

7.Corridos (Kuridos). These have measures of

eight syllables (octosyllabic) and recited to a
martial beat.

Example: IBONG ADARNA

C. Dramatic Poetry

1.Comedy. The word comedy comes from

the Greek term “komos” meaning festivity or
revelry. This form usually is light and
written with the purpose of amusing, and
usually has a happy ending.

2.Melodrama. This is usually used in

musical plays with the opera. Today, this is
related to tragedy just as the farce is to
comedy. It arouses immediate and intense
emotion and is usually sad but there is a
happy ending for the principal character.
3.Tragedy. This involves the hero
struggling mightily against dynamic forces;
he meets death or ruin without success and
satisfaction obtained by the protagonist in a
comedy.

4.Farce. This is an exaggerated comedy. It

seeks to arouse mirth by laughable lines;
situations are too ridiculous to be true; the
characters seem to be caricatures and the
motives undignified and absurd.

5.Social Poems. This form is either purely

comic or tragic and it pictures the life of
today. It may aim to bring about changes in
the social conditions.
Exercises

1. Deals with ideas, thoughts, and emotions

of man. It is said to be the story of man.

2. Literature as a faithful reproduction of

man’s manifold blended into one
harmonious expression.

3-5. Three reasons why do we need to study

Philippine Literature.

6. Written by Harriet Beecher Stowe of the US.

This depicted the sad fate of slaves; this
became the basis of democracy later on.
7. This was written by Confucius of China. This
became the basis of Roman Calendar.

8. This deals with the life of a person which

may be about himself, his autobiography or
that of others.

9.These have been the source of myths and

legends of Greece. They were written by
Homer.

10.This is a lyric poem of 14 lines dealing with

an emotions, a feeling, or idea.
 Chapter 2
The Pre-Spanish Period
Historical Background

Long before the Spaniard and other

foreigners landed on Philippine shores, our
forefathers already had their own literature
stamped in the history of our race.

Our ancient literature shows our customs

and traditions in everyday life as trace in our
folk stories, old plays and short stories.

Our ancestors also had their own alphabet

which was different from that brought by the
Spaniards. The first alphabet used by our
ancestors was similar to that of the Malayo-
Polynesian alphabet.
Whatever record our ancestors left were either
burned by the Spanish friars in the belief that
they were works of the devil or were written on
materials that easily perished, like the barks of
trees, dried leaves and bamboo cylinders which
could not have remained undestroyed even if
efforts were made to preserve them.

Other records that remained showed folk songs

that proved existence of a native culture truly
our own. Some of these were passed on by
word of mouth till they reached the hands of
some publishers or printers who took interest
in printing the manuscripts of the ancient
Filipinos.
The Spaniards who came to the Philippines
tried to prove that our ancestors were really
fond of poetry, songs, stories, riddles and
proverbs which we still enjoy today and
which serve to show to generations the true
culture of our people.

Pre-Spanish Literature is characterized by

A. LEGENDS. Legends are a form of prose

the common theme of which is about the
origin of a thing, place, location or name.
The events are imaginary, devoid of truth
and unbelievable. Old Filipino customs are
reflected in these legends. Its aim is to
entertain. Here is an example of a legend is
THE LEGEND OF THE TAGALOGS.
B. FOLK TALES. Folk tales are made up of
stories about life, adventure, love, horror and
humor where one can derive lessons about life.
These are useful to us because they help us
appreciate our environment, evaluate our
personalities and improve our perspectives in
life. An example of this is THE MOON AND
THE SUN.

C. THE EPIC AGE. Epics are long narrative

poems in which a series of heroic
achievements or events, usually of a hero, are
dealt with at length. Nobody can determine
which epics are the oldest because in their
translations from other languages, even in
English and Spanish. We can only determine
their origins from the time mentioned in the
said epics.
Aside from the aforementioned epics, there are
still other epics that can be read and studied
like the following epics.

a. Bidasari-Moro epic
b. Biag ni Lam-ang-Ilokano epic
c. Maragtas-Visayan epic
d. Haraya-Visayan epic
e. Lagda-Visayan epic
f. Hari sa Bukid-Visayan epic
g. Kumintang-Tagalog epic
h. Parang Sabir-Moro epic
i. “Dagoy” at “Sudsod”-Tagbanua epic
j. Tatuaang-Bagobo epic
k. Indarapatra at Sulayman
l. Bantugan
m. Daramoke-A-Babay – Moro epic in
“Darangan”

D. FOLK SONGS. Folk songsare one of the

oldest forms of Philippine literature that
emerged in the pre-Spanish period. These
songs mirrored the early forms of culture.
Many of these have 12 syllables. Here are the
examples:

a. Kundiman
b. Kumintang o Tagumpay
c. Ang Dalit o Imno
d. Ang Oyayi o Hele
e. Diana
f. Soliraning
g. Talindaw

OTHER FORMS OF PRE-SPANISH POETRY

E. Epigrams, Riddles, Chants, Maxims,

Proverbs or Sayings

1. Epigrams (Salawikain). These have been

customarily used and served as laws or rules on
good behavior by our ancestors. To others,
these are like allegories or parables that impart
lessons for the young.
2.Riddles (Bugtong) or Palaisipan. These are
made up of one or more measured lines with
rhyme and may consist of four to 12 syllables.

3.Chant (Bulong). Used in witchcraft or

enchantment.

4.Maxims. Some are rhyming couplets with

verses of 5, 6 or 8 syllables, each line having
the same number of syllables.

5.Sayings (Kasabihan). Often used in teasing

or to comment on a person’s actuations.

6. Sawikain (Sayings with no hidden meanings)

Exercises

1. The first alphabet used by our ancestors

was similar to that of the .

2. What does Maria shouted to Ilog so that he

would cut the snake?

3. In certain wide region of Luzon, there was a

village frequented by young men. This town
was full of trees, beautiful flowers and a
river where clear waters flowed. What
attracted the young men more than the
scenery?
4. The writer of BIAG-Ni Lam-Ang

5. Also known as Lullaby

6. These have been customarily used and
served as laws or rules on good behavior by
our ancestors

7. Sayings with no hidden Meanings

8. Some are rhyming couplets with verses of

5,6, or 8 syllables, each lines having the
same number of syllables.

9. Used in witchcraft or enchantment.

10. These are med up of one or more measured

lines with rhyme and may consist of four to
twelve syllables.
 Chapter 3
The Spanish Period (1565-1898)
 Historical Background

It is an accepted belief that the 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. This spurt continued
unabated until the Cavite Revolt in 1872. The
Spaniards colonized the Philippines for more
than three centuries.

During these times, many changes occurred in

the lives of Filipinos. They embraced the
Catholic religion, changed their names, and
were baptized.
 Their lifestyles changed too. They built
houses mad of stones and bricks, used
beautiful furniture like the piano and used
kitchen utensils. Carriages, trains and boats
were used as means of travel. They held
fiestas to honor the saints, the pope and the
governors. They had cockfights, horse races
and the theater as means of recreation.

This gave rise to the formation of the

different classes of society like the rich and
the landlords. Some Filipinos finished
courses like medicine, law, agriculture and
teaching. Many Filipinos finished their
schooling already had been established.
•
A. SPANISH INFLUENCES ON PHILIPPINE
LITERATURE

Due to the long period of colonization of the

Philippines by the Spaniards, they have
exerted a strong influence on our literature.

1.The first Filipino alphabet called ALIBATA

was replaced by the Roman alphabet.

2.The teaching of the Christian Doctrine

became the basis of religious practices.

3.The Spanish language which became the

literary language during this time lent many of
its words to our language.
4.European legends and traditions brought
here became assimilated in our songs,
corridos, and moro-moros.

5.Ancient literature was collected and

translated to Tagalog and other dialects.

6.Many grammar books were printed in

Filipino, like Tagalog, Ilocano and Visayan

7.Our periodicals during these times gained a

religious tone.
B. THE FIRST BOOKS

1. ANG DOCTRINA CRISTIANA (THE CHRISTIAN

DOCTRINE). This was the first book printed in
the Philippines in 1593 in xylography. It was
written by Fr. Juan de Placencia and Fr.
Domingo Nieva, in Tagalog and Spanish. It
contained the Pater Noster (Out Father), Ave
Maria (Hail Mary), Regina Coeli (Hail Holy
Queen), the Ten Commandments of God, the
Commandments of the Catholic Church, the and
Seven Mortal Sins, How to Confess, the
Cathecism. Three old original copies of this
book can still be found at the Vatican, at the
Madrid Musem and at the US Congress. It
contains only 87 pages but costs $5,000.0.
2. Nuestra Señora del Rosario. The second
book printed in the Philippines was written by
Fr. Blancas de San Jose in 1602, and printed at
the UST Printing Press with the help of Juan de
Vera, a Chinese mestizo. It contains the
biographies of saints, novenas, and questions
and answers on religion.

3.Libro de los Cuatro Postprimeras de Hombre

(in Spanish and Tagalog). This is the first book
printed in typography.

4.Ang Barlaan at Josephat. This is a Biblical

story printed in the Philippines and translated
to Tagalog from Greek by Fr. Antonio de Borja.
It is believed to be the first Tagalog novel
published in the Philippines even if it is only
a translation. The printed translation has
only 556 pages. The Ilocano translation in
poetry was done by Fr. Agustin Mejia.
5. The Pasion. This is the book about the
life and sufferings of Jesus Christ. It is read
only during Lent. There were 4 versions of
this in Tagalog and each version is according
to the name of the writer.
These are the Pilapil version (by Mariano
Pilapil of Bulacan, 1814), the de Belen
version (by Gaspar Aquino de Belen of Bat. in
1704), the de la Merced (by Aniceto de la
Merced of Norzagaray, Bulacan in 1856) and
the de Guia version (by Luis de Guia in
1750).
Critics are not agreed whether it is the Pilapil or
the de la Merced version which is the most
popular.

6.Urbana at Felisa. A book by Modesto de

Castro, the so called Father of Classic Prose in
Tagalog. These are letters between two sisters
Urbana at Felisa and have influenced greatly the
behavior of people in society because the letters
dealt with good behavior.

7.Ang Mga Dalit kay Maria (Psalms for Mary). A

collection of songs praising the Virgin Mary.
Fr. Mariano Sevilla, a Filipino priest, wrote this
in 1865 and it was popular especially during the
Maytime “Flores de Mayo” festival.
C. LITERARY COMPOSITIONS

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

rules of the Tagalog language). Written by
Fr. Blancas de San Jose and translated to
Tagalog by Tomas Pinpin in 1610.

2.Compendio de la Lengua Tagala

(Understanding the Tagalog language).
Written by Fr. Gaspar de San Agustin in
1703.

3.Vocabulario de la Lengua Tagala (Tagalog

vocabulary). The first Tagalog dictionary
written by Fr. Pedro de San Buenaventura in
1613.
4.Vocabulario de la Lengua Pampanga
(Pampanga vocabulary). The first book in
Pampanga written by Fr. Diego in 1732.

5.Vocabulario de la Lengua Bisaya (Bisayan

vocabulary). The best language book in Visayan
by Mateo Sanchez in 1711.

6.Arte de la Lengua Ilokana (The Art of the

Ilocano language). The first Ilocano grammar
book by Francisco Lopez.

7.Arte de la Lengua Bicolana (The Art of the

Bicol language). The first book in the Bicol
language and written by Fr. Marcos Lisbon in
1754.
D. FOLK SONGS. Folk songs became
widespread in the Philippines. Each region had
its national song from the lowlands to the
mountains of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Folk songs truly manifest the artistic feelings

of the Filipinos. They show the Filipinos’
innate appreciation for and love of beauty. The
examples are Leron-Leron Sinta, Pamulinawen,
Dandansoy, Sarong Banggi and Atin Cu Pung
Singsing.

E. RECEREATIONAL PLAYS. There are many

recreational plays performed by Filipinos
during the Spanish times. Almost all of them
were in poetic form. Here are examples:
1.Tibag – the word tibag means to excavate.
This ritual was brought here by the Spaniard
to remind the people about the search of St.
Helena for the Cross on which Jesus died.

2.Lagaylay – this is a special occasion for

the Pilareños of Sorsogon during Maytime to
get together.

As early as April, the participating ladies are

chosen and sometimes, mothers volunteer
their girls in order to fulfill a vow made
during an illness or for a favor received.
In some parts of Bicol, a different presentation
is made but the objective is the same – praise,
respect and offering of love to the Blessed Cross
by St. Helen on the mound she had dug in.

3. The Cenaculo – this is a dramatic

performance to commemorate the passion and
death of Jesus Christ. There are two kinds: the
Cantada and Hablada. In the Hablada the lines
are spoken in a more deliberate manner
showing the rhythmic measure of each verse
and the rhyming in each stanza and is more
dignified in theme; the Cantada is chanted like
the Pasion.
The Cenaculo is written in octosyllabic verse,
with 8 verses to the stanza. The full length
versions take about 3 nights of staging.
Performers come in costumes with wigs and
performers are carefully chosen for their
virtuous life. One performs the role of Jesus
Christ and another the role of the Virgin
Mary. Many famous Cenaculo players come
from the Tagalog regions although there are
also those from Ilocos, Pampanga, Bicol and
both Sibulanon and Hiligaynon.

4. Panunuluyan – this is presented before

12:00 on Christmas Eve. This is a
presentation of the search of the Virgin Mary
and St. Joseph for an inn wherein to deliver
the baby Jesus.
5.The Salubong (or Panubong) - The Salubong
is an Easter play that dramatizes the meeting
of the Risen Christ and his Mother. It is still
presented in many Philippine towns.

6.Carillo (Shadow Play) – this is a form of

dramatic entertainment performed on a
moonless night during a town fiesta or on dark
nights after a harvest. This shadow play is
made by projecting cardboard figures before a
lamp against a white sheet. The figures are
moved like marionettes whose dialogues are
produced by some experts.

The dialogues are drawn from a Corrido or Awit

or some religious play interspersed with songs.
These are called by various names in different
places:
 Carillo in Manila, Rizal and Batangas and
Laguan; TITRES in Ilocos Norte, Pangasinan,
Bataa, Capiz and Negros; TITIRI in Zambales;
GAGALO or KIKIMUT in Pampanga and
Tarlac; and ALIALA in La Union.

7. The Zarzuela – considered the father of

the drama; it is a musical comedy or
melodrama three acts which dealt with
man’s passions and emotions like love, hate,
revenge, cruelty, avarice or some social or
political proble.
•
8. The Sainete – this was a short musical
comedy popular during the 18th century. They
were exaggerated comedies shown between
acts of long plays and were mostly performed
by characters from the lower classes. Themes
were taken from everyday life scenarios.

F. 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. The plot is usually the
same that of a Christian princess or a
nobleman’s daughter who is captured by the
Mohammedans. The father organizes a rescue
party where fighting between the Moros and
the Christians ensue.
The Mohammedans are defeated by some
miracle or Divine Intercession and the
Mohammedans are converted to Christianity.
In some instances, the whole kingdom is
baptized and converted. One example of this
is Prinsipe Rodante.

G. KARAGATAN. This is a poetic vehicle of a

socio-religious nature celebrated during the
death of a person. In this contest, more or
less formal, a ritual is performed based on a
legend about a princess who dropped her ring
into the middle of the sea and who offered
here hand in marriage to anyone who can
retrieve it.
A leader starts off with an extemporaneous
poem announcing the purpose. He then spins
a “lumbo” o “tabo” marked with a white line.
Whoever comes in the direction of the white
line when the spinning stops gets his turn to
“go into the sea to look for the ring.” This
means a girl will ask him a riddle and if he is
able to answer, he will offer the ring to the
girl.
H. DUPLO. The Duplo replace the Karagatan.
This is a poetic joust in speaking and
reasoning. The roles are taken from the Bible
and from proverbs and saying. It is usually
played during wakes for the dead.
I. THE BALAGTASAN. This is a poetic joust or
a contest of skills in debate on a particular
topic or issue. This is replaced the DUPLO and
is held to honor Francisco “Balagtas” Baltazar.
J.THE DUNG-AW. This is a chant in free verse
by a bereaved person or his representative
beside the corpse of the dead. No definite
meter or rhyming scheme is used. The person
chanting it freely recites in poetic rhythm
according to his feelings, emotions and
thoughts. It is personalized and usually deals
with the life, sufferings and sacrifices of the
dead and includes apologies for his misdeeds.

K.THE AWIT and the CORRIDO. Some use

these two interchangeably because distinction
is not clear.
Exercises

1. The first spanish governor-general in the

Philippines.

2-3 What are the changes occured in the lives

of the Filipinos during the Spanish
Period?

4. The first Filipino Alphabet.

5. This was the first book printed in the

Philippines in 1593 in xylography.

6. This is a book about the life and sufferings

of Jesus Christ.
7. A book by Modesto de Castro, the so-called
Father of Classic Prose in Tagalog

8. This is a presentation of the search of the

Virgin Mary and St. Joseph for an inn
therein to deliver the baby Jesus

9. This is a short musical comedy popular

during the 18th century.

10. It is a personalized and usually deal with

the life, sufferings and sacrifices of the
deed and includes apologies for his
misdeeds
 Chapter 4
The Period of Enlightenment
(1872-1898)
Historical Background

After 300 years of passivity under Spanish

rule, the Filipino spirit reawakened when the
3 priests Gomez, Burgos and Zamora were
guillotined without sufficient evidence of
guilt. This occurred on the 17th of February.
This was buttressed with the spirit of
liberalism when the Philippines opened its
doors to world trade and with the coming of
a liberal leader in the person of Governor
Carlos Maria de la Torre.

The Spaniards were unable to suppress the

tide of rebellion among the Filipinos.
The once religious spirit transformed itself
into one of nationalism and the Filipinos
demanded changes in the government and in
the church.

A. The Propaganda Movement (1872-1896)

This movement was spearheaded mostly by

the intellectual middle-class like Jose Rizal,
Marcelo del Pilar; Graciano Lopez Jaena,
Antonio Luna, Mariano Ponce, Jose Ma.
Panganiban, and Pedro Paterno. The
objectives of this movement were to seek
reforms and changes like the following:
1.To get equal treatment for the Filipinos and
the Spaniards under the law.

2. To make the Philippines a colony of Spain.

3. To restore Filipino representation in the

Spanish Cortes.

4.To Filipinize the parishes.

5.To give the Filipinos freedom of speech, of

the press, assembly and for redress of
grievances.
B. Highlights of the Propaganda Movement

There were three principal leaders of the

Propaganda movement. They were Jose P.
Rizal, Marcelo H. del Pilar and Graciano
Lopez Jaena. Here are highlights about them
and what they have done for our country.

DR. JOSE P. RIZAL

Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado Alonzo y

Realonda was born on June 19, 1861 at
Calamba, Laguna. His first teacher was his
mother Teodora Alonozo. He studied at the
Ateneo de Manila, started medicine at UST
and finished at the Universidad Central of
Madrid. He also studied at the University of
Berlin, Leipzig and Heidelberg.
He died by musketry in the hands of the
Spaniards on December 30, 1896 on charges of
sedition and rebellion against the Spaniards.
His pen-name was Laong Laan and Dimasalang.

His books and writings:

1. NOLI ME TANGERE. This was the novel

that gave spirit to the propaganda movement
and paved the way to the revolution against
Spain.

In this book, he courageously exposed the evils

in the Spanish-run government in the
Philippines.
The Spaniards prohibited the reading of this
novel but a lot of translations were able to
enter stealthily in the country even if it means
death to those caught in possession of them.

The NOLI gave Philippine literature the

immortal characters Maria Clara, Juan
Crisostomo Ibarra, Elias, Sisa, Pilosofong
Tasio, Doña Victorina, Kapitana Maria, Basilio
and Crispin, Rizal had a powerful pen in the
delineation of these characters.

2. EL FILIBUSTERISMO. This is a sequel to

the NOLI.
While the NOLI exposed the evils in society,
the FILI exposed those in the government
and in the church. However, the NOLI has
been dubbed the novel of society while that
of FILI is that of politics.

3. MI ULTIMO ADIOS (My Last Farewell).

This was a poem by Rizal while he was
incarcerated at Fort Santiago and is one that
can compare favorably with the best in the
world. It was only after his death when his
name was affixed to the poem.
4.SOBRE LA INDOLENCIA DE LOS FILIPINOS
(On the Indolence of the Filipinos). An essay on
the so-called Filipino indolence and an evaluation
of the reasons for such allegations.

5.FILIPINAS DENTRO DE CIEN AÑOS (The

Philippines within a Century). An essay predicting
the increasing influence of the US in the
Philippines and the decreasing interest of Europe
here. Rizal predicted that if there is any other
colonizer of the Philippines in the future, it would
be the US.

6. A LA JUVENTUD FILIPINA (To the Filipino

Youth). A poem Rizal dedicated to the Filipino
youth studying at UST.
7. EL CONSEJO DE LES DIOSES (The
Council of the Gods). An allegorical play
manifesting admiration for Cervantes.
8. JUNTO AL PASIG (Beside the Pasig River).
Written by Rizal when he was 14 years of
age.
9. ME PIDEN VERSOS (You asked Me for
Verses); 1882 and A LAS FLORES DE
HEIDELBERG (To the Flowers of Heidelberg).
Two poems manifesting Rizal’s unusual
depth of emotion.
10. NOTAS A LA OBRA SUCESOS DE LAS
FILIPINAS FOR EL DR. ANTONIO DE MORGA
(Notes on Philippine Events by Dr. Antonio
de Morga): 1889
11.P. JACINTO: MEMORIAS DE UN
ESTUDIANTE DE MANILA (P. Jacinto: Memoirs
of a Student of Manila) 1882

12.DIARIO DE VIAJE DE NORTE AMERICA

(Diary of a Voyage to North America)

MARCELO H. DEL PILAR

Marcelo H. del Pilar is popularly known for his

pen name of Plaridel, Pupdoh, Piping Dilat and
Dolores Manapat. He was born at Cupang, San
Nicolas, Bulacan on August 30, 1850.
His parents were Julian H. del Pilar, noted
Filipino writer and Biasa Gatmaita. His
brother was the priest Fr. Toribio del Pilar who
was banished to Marianas in 1872. Because
there were many children in the family,
Marcelo gave up his share of his inheritance
for his other brothers and sisters.

Marcelo started schooling at the school of Mr.

Flores and then transferred to that of San Jose
before UST. His last year in law school was
interrupted for 8 years after he had quarrel
with the parish priest during a baptism at San
Miguel, Manila in 1880.
 He established the Diariong Tagalog in 1883
where he exposed the evils of the Spanish
government in the Philippines and in order
to avoid the false accusations hurried at him
by the priests. To avoid banishment, he was
forced to travel to Spain in 1888.

He was assisted by Fr. Serrano Laktaw in

publishing a different Cathecism and Passion
Book wherein they made fun of the priests.
They also made the DASALAN AT TOCSOHAN
and KAIINGAT KAYO taken from the word
IGAT, a kind of snake fish caught in politics.
•
Upon his arrival in Spain, he replaced
Graciano Lopez Jaena as editor of LA
SOLIDARIDAD, a paper which became the
vehicle thru which reforms in the government
could be worked out. This did not last long
for he got sick and even to reach Hong Kong
from where he could arouse his countrymen.
He died of tuberculosis in Spain but before he
died, he asked his companions to tell his wife
and children that he was sorry he wasn’t able
to bid them goodbye; to tell others about the
fate of our countrymen and to continue
helping the country.
 Plaridel has truly earned a niche in the
history of our nation. Even today, countless
streets have been named after him. The
former Kingwa has been named Plaridel, the
Malolos High School is now Marcelo H. del
Pilar High School and above all, his
patriotism and bravery will remain alive in
our memories.

Writings of Marcelo H. del Pilar

1. PAGIBIG SA TINUBUANG LUPA (Love of

Country). Translated from the Spanish
AMOR PATRIA of Rizal, published on August
20, 1882, in Diariong Tagalog.
•
2.KAIINGAT KAYO (Be Careful). A humorous
and sarcastic dig in answer to Fr. Jose
Rodriquez in the novel NOLI of Rizal, published
in Barcelona in 1888. He used Dolores Manapat
as pen-name here.
3.DASALAN AT TOCSOHAN (Prayers and
Jokes). Similar to a cathecism but sarcastically
done agains the parish priests, published in
Barcelona in 1888. Because of this, del Pilar
was called “filibuster.” Done in admirable tone
of supplication and excellent use of Tagalog.
4.ANG CADAQUILAAN NG DIOS (God’s
Goodness). Published in Barcelona, it was also
like a cathecism sarcastically aimed against the
parish priests but also contains a philosophy of
the power and intelligence of God and an
appreciation for and love for nature.
5. SAGOT SA ESPANYA SA HIBIK NG
PILIPINAS (Answer to Spain on the Plea of
the Filipinos). A poem pleading for change
from Spain but that Spain is already old and
weak to grant any aid to the Philippines.
This poem is in answer to that of
Hermenigildo Flores’ Hibik sa Pilipinas (A
Plea from the Philippines).

6. DUPLUHAN…DALIT…MGA BUGTONG (A
poetical contest in narrative sequence,
psalms, riddles). A compilation of poems on
the oppression by the priests in the
Philippines.
7.LA SOBERANIA EN PILIPINAS (Sovereignty
in the Philippines). This shows the injustices
of the friars to the Pilipinos.

8. POR TELEFONO (By Telephone)

9.PASIONG DAPAT IPAG-ALAB NG PUSO NG

TAONG BABASA (Passion that should arouse
the hearts of the readers)

GRACIANO LOPEZ JAENA

(1856-1896)
A most notable hero and genius of the
Philippines, Graciano Lopez Jaena was born on
December 18, 1856 and died on January 20,
1896.
The pride of Jaro, Iloilo, he won the
admiration of the Spaniards and Europeans.
He is a known writer and orator in the
Philippines. He wrote 100 speeches which
were published by Remigio Garcia, former
bookstore owner in Manila Filatica and which
are still read up to no by modern Filipinos.

Lopez Jaena left the Philippines in 1887 with

the help of Don Claudio Lopez, a rich uncle,
in order to escape punishment form his
enemies and arrived at Valencia, the center
of the Republican movement of the
Spaniards. He gained the acquaintance of
the high officials like Piy Margall, Morayta,
Moret, Castelar, and Salmeron.
From Valencia, he moved to Barcelona where
he established the first magazine LA
SOLIDARIDAD. This later became the official
voice of the Association Hispano de Filipinas (a
Filipino-Spanish Association) composed of
Filipinos and Spaniards who worked for
reforms in the Philippines. Because of this,
Jaena successfully showed the Spaniards and
the people of the world how a newspaperman
can introduce changes in law and reforms
towards a better life and progress.

Jaena, although he didn’t become a professor,

was also a teacher in a sense to his friends and
relatives in the Philippines.
Like Antonio Maria Regidor, Tomas G. del
Rosario and Felipe Calderon, he stood for the
separation of church and state for free
education, better government and schools,
freedom of worship and for an independent
and free university.

He sided with Rizal in the controversy

between Rizal and del Pilar over who should
head the Association Hispano de Filipinas in
Madrid. He returned to the Philippines to
ask for donations to continue a new
government called El Latigo Nacional or
Pambansang Latigo. He sold the rights of La
Solidaridad ot del Pilar who had become a
lawyer and had brought in money from his
sojourn in Spain.
Graciano Lopez Jaena died in a charity
hospital in Barcelona on January 20, 1896,
eleven months before his best friend Rizal was
shot at the Luneta on December 30, 1896.

A. The Works of Graciano Lopez Jaena

1. ANG FRAY BOTOD (Friar Botod). One of

his works written in Jaro, Iloilo in 1876, six
years after the Cavite Revolt attacking the
friars in the Philippines. He exposed how
some of the friars were greedy, ambitious and
immoral.
2.LA HIJA DEL FRAILE (The Child of the
Friar) and EVERYTING IS HAMBUG
(Everything is mere show). Here Jaena
explains the tragedy of marrying a Spaniard.

3.SA MGA PILIPINO...1891… A speech

which aimed to improve the condition of the
Filipinos to become free and progressive.

4. TALUMPATING PAGUNITA KAY

KOLUMBUS (An Oration to Commemorate
Columbus). A speech he delivered in Madrid
on the 39th anniversary of the discovery of
America
5.EN HONOR DEL PRESIDENTE MORAYTA DE
LA ASSOCIACION HISPANO FILIPINO 1884.
Here he praised Gen. Morayta for his equal
treatment of the Filipinos.

6.EN HONOR DE LOS ARTISTAS LUNA Y

RESURRECCION HIDALGO. A sincere
expression of praise for the paintings of
Hidalgo on the condition of the Filipinos under
the Spaniards.

7.AMOR A ESPAÑA O A LAS JOVENES DE

MALOLOS (Love for Spain or To the Youth of
Malolos). The theme is about how girls were
taught Spanish in schools and whose teachers
were the governors-general of the place.
8.EL BANDOLERISMO EN PILIPINAS (Banditry
in the Philippines). Jaena refuted the existence
of banditry in the Philippines and of how there
should be laws on robbery and other reforms.

9.HONOR EN PILIPINAS (Honor in the

Philippines). The triumphant exposition of
Luna, Resurrecion and Pardo de Tavera of the
thesis that intellect or knowledge gives honor
to the Philippines.

10.PAG-ALIS SA BUWIS SA PILIPINAS

(Abolition of Taxes in the Philippines)

11.INSTITUCION NG PILIPINAS (Sufferings of

the Philippines). Jaena refers here to the
wrong management of education in the
Philippines 1887.
B. OTHER PROPAGANDISTS

ANTONIO LUNA

Antonio Luna was a pharmacist who was

banished by the Spaniards to Spain. He joined
the Propaganda Movement and contributed his
writings to LA SOLIDARIDAD. Most of his
works dealt with Filipino customs and others
were accusations about how the Spaniards ran
the government. His pen name was Tagailog.
He died at the age of 33 in June 1899. He was
put to death by the soldiers of Aguinaldo
because of his instant rise to fame which
became a threat to Aguinaldo.
Some of his works are:

1. NOCHE BUENA (Christmas Eve). It

pictured true Filipino life.

2. SE DEVIERTEN (How They Diverted

Themselves). A dig at a dance of the
Spaniards where the people were very
crowded.

3. LA TERTULIA FILIPINA (A Filipino

Conference or Feast). Depicts a Filipino
custom which he believed was much better
than the Spanish.
4.POR MADRID (For Madrid). A
denouncement of Spaniards who claim that the
Philippines is a colony of Spain but who think
of Filipinos as foreigners when it comes to
collecting taxes for stamps.

5.LA CASA DE HUEPEDES (The Landlady’s

House). Depicts a landlady who looks for
boarders not for money but in order to get a
husband for her child.
MARIANO PONCE
Mariano Ponce became an editor-in-chief,
biographer and researcher of the Propaganda
Movement. He used Tikbalang, Kalipulako, and
Naning as pennames. The common themes of
his works were the values of education. He
also wrote about how the Filipinos were
oppressed by the foreigners and of the
problems of his countrymen. Among his
writings were:
1. MGA ALAMAT NG BULACAN (Legend of
Bulacan). Contains legends, and folklores of
his native town.

2.PAGPUGOT KAY LONGINOS (The Beheading

of Longinos). A play shown at the plaza of
Malolos, Bulacan.

3. SOBRE FILIPINOS (About the Filipinos)

4.ANG MGA PILIPINO SA INDO-TSINA (The

Filipinos in Indo-China)

PEDRO PATERNO
Pedro Paterno was a scholar, dramatic,
researcher and novelist of the Propaganda
Movement.
He also joined the Confraternity of Masons
and the Asociacion Hispano-Pilipino in order
to further the aims of the Movement. He
was the first Filipino writer who escaped
censorship of the press during the last day of
the Spanish colonization.

The following were a few of his wrtings:

1.NINAY. The first social novel in Spanish

by a Filipino.
2.A MI MADRE (To My Mother). Shows the
importance of a mother especially in the
home.
3.SAMPAGUITA Y POESIAS VARIAS
(Sampaguitas and Varied Poems). A
collection of his poems.
 JOSE MA. PANGANIBAN

Jose Ma. Panganiban hid his identity behind his

penname JORMAPA. He was also known for
having photographic mind. He was a member
of a number of movements for the country.
Some of his writings were:

1. ANG LUPANG TINUBUAN (My Native Land)

2. ANG AKING BUHAY (My Life)
3. SU PLANO DE ESTUDIO (Your Study Plan)
4. EL PENSAMIENTO (The Thinking)
C. Period of Active Revolution (1896-1898)
Historical Background
The Filipinos did not get the reforms
demanded by the propagandists. The
government turned deaf ears to these
petitions; oppression continued and the church
and the government became even more
oppressive
intentions ofto thewere
Spain Filipinos.
reversed byThe good
the friars
who were lording it over in the Philippines.

Because of this, not a few of the Filipinos

affiliated with the La Liga Filipina (a civic
organization suspected of being revolutionary
and which triggered Rizal’s banishment to
Dapitan). Like Andres
Jacinto, Apolinario Mabini, Bonifacio, Emilio
Jose Palma, and
Pio Valenzuela decided that there was no other
way except to revolt.
The gist of literature contained mostly
accusations against the government and was
meant to arouse the people to unite and to
prepare for independence.

D. Highlights of the Active Revolution

The noted leaders of this period were Andres

Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto and Apolinario
Mabini. These are their contributions to our
country.
 ANDRES BONIFACIO

Andres Bonifacio is best known as the Father of

Filipino Democracy, but more than others, as
the Father of the Katipunan because he led in
establishing the Kataas-taasan, Kagalang-
galanga Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan
(KKK).

Andres Bonifacio came from a poor family and

it is said that what he learned he got from the
school of experience.

He was a voracious reader and among those he

loved to read which aroused his revolutionary
spirit were the NOLI and the FILI of Rizal.
He joined the La Liga Filipina founded by
Rizal in 1892. He established the Katipunan
which triggered the spirit of freedom
especially when Rizal was banished to
Dapitan, Mindanao.

Bonifacio is better known as the great

Revolutionary rather than a writer but he
also wrote things which paved the way for
the revolution and which also became part of
our literature. Among his works were:
1. ANG DAPAT MABATID NG MGA TAGALOG
(What the Tagalogs Should Know)

2.KATUNGKULANG GAGAWIN NG MGA ANA NG

BAYAN (Obligations of Our Countrymen). This
is an outline of obligations just like the 10
commandments of God.

3.PAG-IBIG SA TINUBUAN LUPA (Love of One’s

Native Land). A poem with a title similar to
that of Marcelo H. del Pilar.

4. HULING PAALAM (Last Farewell). A

translation of Mi Ultimo Adios of Rizal in
Tagalog.
 APOLINARIO MABINI

Apolinario Mabini is known in literature and

history as the Sublime Paralytic and the
Brains of the Revolution.

EMILIO JACINTO

Emilio Jacinto was the intelligent assistant

of Andres Bonifacio in the establishment of
the Katipuna. He is called the Brains of the
Katipunan. He edited Kalayaan (Freedom) a
Katipunan newspaper. Bonifacio withdrew
his writing of the Kartilya in deference to
Jacinto’s work as secretary of the Katipunan.
His Kartilya was the one followed by the
members of the organization. Here are few
of his writings: