PHILIPPINE

LITERATURE
(The Spanish Period)
Historical Background

Spanish colonization of the Philippines

started in 1565 during the time
MiguelLopez de Legaspi. (they colonized
Philippines for 333 years.)
Literature flourished during his time.
Changes in the lives of the Filipinos
They embraced the Catholic religion.
They changed their names
They were baptized.
They built houses made of stones and bricks.
They 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 theatre as
means of recreation.
A. Spanish Influences on Philippine
Literature
The first Filipino alphabet called ALIBATA was
replaced by the Roman alphabet.
The teaching of the Christian Doctrine became the
basis of religious practices.
The Spanish language which became the literary
language during this time lent may of its words to
our language.
European legends and traditions brought here
became assimilated in our songs, corridos and
moro-moros.
Ancient literature was collected and translated to
Tagalog and other dialects.
B. The First Books
 ANG DOCTRINA CRISTIANA
First book printed in the Philippines in 1593 in xylography.
Written by Fr. Juan de Palencia (Tagalog) and Fr. Domingo Nieva
(Spanish)
It contained the following:
Pater Noster (Our Father)
Ave Maria (Hail Mary)
Regina Coeli (Hail Holy Queen)
Ten Commandments of God
Commandments of the Catholic Church
Seven Mortal Sins
How to Confess
Catechism
 Nuestra Señora del Rosario
The second book printed in the Philippines
written by Fr. Blancas de San Jose in 1602.
Printed at the UST Printing Press with the
help of Juan De Vera.
It contains the biographies of saints,
novenas, and questions and answers on
religion
 Libro de los Cuatro Postprimeras de Hombre
The first book printed in typography.
 Ang BARLAAN at JOSEPHAT
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’s only
a translation.
C. Literary Genres
 Poetry
The Pasyon – commemoration of
Christ’s agony and resurrection at
Cavalry.
Example: “Ang Mahal Na Pasion Ni Jesu
Christong panginoon Natin Na Tola” by
Gaspar Aquino de Belen in 1704
 Metrical Romances (Awit At Korido)
Awit – fabricated from writer’
imagination, set and characters are
Europeans, refer to chanting.
“Florante at Laura” by Francisco Baltazar
Korido – usually based on European
legends or tales, refer to narration.
“Ibong Adarna”, “Historia Famoso ni
Berbardo del Carpio”
 Folk songs
Folk songs became widespread in the
Philippines. They truly manifest the
artistic feelings of the Filipinos. They
show the Filipinos’ innate appreciation for
love and beauty.
Examples of which are:
Leron-Leron Sinta (Tagalog)
Pamulinawen (Iloko)
Dandansoy (Bisaya)
Sarong Banggi (Bicol)
Atin Cu Pung Singsing (Kapampangan)
 Prose
 Urbana at felisa.
 A book by Modesto de Castro, the so-
called Father of classic prose in Tagalog
 These are letters between two letters
Urbana and Felisa.
 It has influenced greatly the behaviour of
people in society because the letters dealt
with good behavior.
D. Literary Writers & Their Works

 Dr.Jose P. Rizal (Laong Laan and

Dimaslang)
Mi Ultimo Adios (My Last Farewell),
Sobre La Indolencia De Los
Filipinos (On The Indolence of The
Filipino), A La Juventud Filipina (To
The
Filipino Youth), Junto Al Pasig (Beside
The Pasig River)
Noli me tangere and El filibusterismio
 Marcelo H. Del Pilar (Plaridel, Pudpoh,
Piping Dilat, Dolores Manapat)
Pag-ibig Sa Tinubuang Lupa,
 Kaiingat Kayo,
 Dasalan at Tocsohan,
Sagot sa Espanya sa Hibik ng Pilipinas
 Graciano Lopez Jaena
founded La Solidaridad
Fray Botod, La Hija Del Fraile ang
Everything is Hambug
 Mariano Ponce (Kalipulako, Tikbalang,
Naning)
Ang Alamat ng Bulacan.
 Sobre Filipinos
 PedroPaterno
Ninay (1st social Novel in Filipino)
Sampaguitas y Poesias Varias
(Sampaguita and Varied Poems)
 AndresBonifacio
Ang Dapat Mabatid ng Mga tagalog
Katungkulang gagawin ng Mga Anak ng
Bayan
Huling Paalam
 EmilioJacinto
Brain of the Katipunan
Editor of Kalayaan (Katipunan’s
Newspaper)
Kartilya ng Katipunan
Liwanag sa Dilim
A La Patria
 ApolinarioMabini
Sublime Paralytic
Brain of Revolution
El Verdadero Decalogo
Sa Bayang Pilipino
 JosePalma
Best known as the author of the lyrics of
the national anthem.
E. RECREATIONAL PLAYS
 Tibag
Tibag means “to excavate”.
 It reminds us about the search of St.
Helena for the Cross on which Jesus died.
 Lagaylay
A special occasion for the Pilarenos of
Sorsogon during Maytime to get together.
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.
 The Cenaculo
A dramatic performance to commemorate
the passion and death of Jesus Christ.
 Panunuluyan
Presented before 12:00 on Christmas Eve.
A presentation of the search of the Virgin
Mary and St. Joseph for an inn to deliver
baby Jesus.
 TheSalubong (or Panubong)
An Easter play that dramatizes the
meeting of the Risen Christ and His
Mother.
 Carillo (Shadow Play)
A form of a dramatic entertainment
performed in 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.
Various names:
Carillo – Manila, Rizal, Batangas and
Laguna
TITRES- in Ilocos Norte, pangasinan,
Bataan, capiz and Negros
TITIRI- Zambales
GAGALO/ KIKIMUT – Pampanga and
Tarlac
ALIALA – La Union
 The Zarzuela
Considered as the “father of the drama”
A musical comedy or melodrama in three
acts which dealt with man’s passions an
demotions like love, hate, revenge ,
cruelty, avarice or some social or political
problem.
 The Sainete
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.
 MORO MORO
Performed during town fiestas to entertain the
people and to remind them of their Christian
religion.
The plot is usually the same that of 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.
 Balagtasan
This is poetic joust or a contest of skills in
debate on a particular topic or issue.
 The Dung Aw
A chant in free verse by a bereaved person
beside the corpse of the dead.
No definite meter or rhyming scheme is used.
The person is chanting it freely recites in
poetic rhythm according to his feeling,
emotions and thoughts. It is personalized and
usually deal with the life, sufferings and
sacrifices of the dead and includes apologies
for his misdeeds.
THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS 