21 CENTURY

ST

LITERATURE FROM
THE PHILIPPINES
AND THE WORLD
GRAPHIC, LINGUISTIC, AND ETHNIC DIMENSIONS OF
PHILIPPINE LITERARY
HISTORY
Competency 1A: Identify the geographic,
linguistic, and ethnic dimensions of Philippine
literary history from pre-colonial to the
contemporary times, EN12Lit-Ia-21
At the end of this lesson, the learners are expected to:
1. define literature from the point of view of various
writers;
2. understand literature from pre-colonial to
contemporary periods; and
3. make a graphical timeline focusing on how the
literatures for each literary period proliferated.
What is literature?
The word literature is derived from
the Latin term litera which means
letter.
•It has been defined differently by
various writers
1. Literature expresses the feelings of
people to society, to the government, to
his surroundings, to his fellowmen, and
to his Divine Creator. (Brother Azurin)
2. Literature is anything that is printed
as long as it is related to the ideas and
feelings of the people, whether it is true,
or just a product of one’s imagination.
(Webster)
3. “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 in his environment
and, after struggles, to reach his Creator”
(PANITIKANG FILIPINO)
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 Panitikang Pilipino written by Atienza, Ramos,
Salazar and Nazal, it is said 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 in his environment
and, after struggles, to reach his Creator.”
Philippine Literature is a diverse
and rich group of works that have
evolved side by side with the
country’s history.
•Literature had started with fables
and legends made by the ancient
Filipinos long before the arrival of
Spanish influence.
•The main themes of Philippine
literature focus on the country’s pre-
colonial cultural traditions and the
socio-political histories of its colonial
and contemporary traditions.
 LITERARY
HISTORY/EVOLUTION OF
THE PHILIPPINES
1. Pre-Colonial Period

•The evolution of Philippine literature

depended on the influences of colonization and
the spirit of the age.
•The first Filipino alphabet called
ALIBATA was replaced by the
Roman alphabet.
•Indigenous Philippine
literature was based on
traditions and customs of a
particular area of the country.
•Philippines is an archipelago country,
consisting of several islands, (7,107 islands
to be exact), and each of those islands has
its specific cultures and traditions, bearing a
different set of native literature.
•Ancient literatures were written on the
perishable materials like dried leaves,
bamboo cylinders, and barks of the trees.
•Literatures were handed down to us through
the word of mouth.
There were two literary forms during the pre-colonial
period:
A. Written literatures
Examples:
a. Riddles or Bugtong. These are effective ways to
inculcate the ability of logical thinking to a child.
•b. Epigrams or Salawikain. It
reflects the hidden meaning
through the good lines. It
provides good values.
c. Poems or Tanaga. These are common
forms of poetry which has a quatrine
with 7 syllables, each with the same
rhyme at the end of each line. It also
expresses insights and lessons in life.
B. Oral literatures
Examples:
a. Chant. It is used in witchcraft and enchantment while
ambahan is a traditional poetry of Hanunoo Mangyans of
Oriental Mindoro which teaches lesson about life. It is recited
by parents to educate their children by the youth expressing
their love, by the old to impart experiences, or by the
community in tribal ceremony.
(slideshare.net/mobile/jessacerbito…)
b. Balagtasan .This is a Filipino form of
debate done in verse.
The term is derived from the surname of
Francisco Balagtas, the author of Filipino
epic Florante at Laura.
2.The Spanish Colonial Period (1565-1897)
Sixteenth Century was the start of the deprivation
of the indigenous Philippine literature. Spanish
colonial government finally came into the scene.
They were able to manipulate literature by
monopolizing it under the religious orders.
•Literature evolves mainly on the
themes of Spanish/ European
culture and, of course, the Roman
Catholic religion.
Literary Influences during Spanish
colonization

a.Christian Doctrine or Doctrina Christiana was

the first book ever printed in the Philippines in
1593 by the Dominican press.
•b.Libro de la Lengua Tagala by
Fernando Bagongbanta. Tagalog
translations to the Spanish lines, still
the superiority of the Spanish language.
c. Pasyon influenced by the Spanish
contexts of Christianity, at least they
embodied several Filipino sentiments and
values (the feeling of Filipino mother
towards a suffering son).
Filipino writers in Spanish became conscious of
the search for freedom

a. Pasyon Dapat Ipag-alab ng Puso by Marcelo

H. del Pilar expressed his rebellious writing style.
•b. Pascual Poblete’s Patnubay sa
Binyagan associated Filipinos’
struggle for independence with Jesus’
life.
c. Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo made very powerful
contributions to the Filipinos in the
introduction of rejecting Spanish rule. He also
influenced the succeeding writers.
•d. The narrative poems Awit and
Corrido talked about the world of
royals, warriors and lovers (the basic
concept in Florante at Laura).
e. Komedya. Francisco Baltazar’s
Florante at Laura embodied the
concept of colonization and
oppression which gave voice to their
revolutionary action towards freedom.
3. The American Colonial Period (1898-
1945)
• Philippine literature in Spanish was
starting to lose its track on the first decade.
• The poems of Fernando Ma. Guerrero
(Crisalidas), Balmori’s Se deshojo la Flor novel,
and many others which discussed revolution and
sentiments for patriotism and reform proved that
Philippine literature was used to claim freedom
from the colonizers.
• Even if Philippine literature was in
English, the preservation of the
content of Filipino experiences was
achieved.
• Short story writers in English like Manuel
Arguilla in his “A Son is Born,” was one of the
foundations of the Philippine literature, not in Tagalog
or in Spanish, but during this time, in English. Poetry
in English was also founded.
• Sarzuela was overpowered by the English drama.
4. The Contemporary Period (1946 to present)
• This period started during the rebirth of freedom
in 1946 to present. The Americans returned in
1945. Filipinos rejoiced and the guerrillas that fled
to the mountain joined the liberating American
Army. On July 4, 1946, the Philippines regained
its freedom and the Filipino flag waved joyously
alone. The chains were broken.
The State of Literature during this Period
The early post-liberation period was
marked by a kind of “struggle of mind and
spirit” posed by the sudden emancipation
from the enemy, and the wild desire to see
print.
a. Heart of The Islands (1947) – a collection of poems by
Manuel Viray
b. Philippines Cross Section (1950) – a collection of
prose and poetry by Maximo Ramos and Florentino Valeros
c. Prose and Poems (1952) – by Nick Joaquin
d. Philippine Writing (1953) – by T.D. Agcaoili
e. Philippine Havest – by Amador Daguio
f. Horizons Least (1967) – a collection of works by the professors of
UE, mostly in English (short stories, essays, research papers, poem and
drama) by Artemio Patacsil and Silverio Baltazar. The themes of most
poems dealt with the usual love of nature, and of social and political
problems. Toribia Maño’s poems showed deep emotional intensity.
g. Who Spoke of Courage in His Sleep – by NVM Gonzales
h. Speak Not, Speak Also – by Conrado V. Pedroche
i. Other poets were Toribia Maño and Edith L. Tiempo, Jose Garcia
Villa’s Have Come, Am Here has won acclaim both here and abroad
The New Filipino Literature during this Period
• Philippine literature in Tagalog was revived during
this period. Most themes in the writings dealt with
Japanese brutalities, of the poverty of life under
the Japanese government, and the brave guerilla
exploits.
a. Period of Activism (1970-1972)
• Many young people became activists to ask for changes
in the government. In the expression of this desire for
change, the writings of some youth were keen and were
fired with nationalism in order to emphasize the
importance of their petitions.
The Literary Revolution

• The youth became completely rebellious during this period.

This was proven not only in the bloody demonstrations and
in the sidewalk expressions but also in literature. Campus
newspapers showed rebellious emotions. The once
aristocratic writers developed awareness of the society.
They held pens and wrote on placards in red paint the
equivalent of the word MAKIBAKA (To dare!).
Writing During the Period of Activism
• The irreverence for the poor reached its peak during this
period of the mass revolution. It was also during this
period that Bomba films that discredit our ways as
Filipinos started to come out.
b. Period of the New Society (1972-1980)

• The period of the New Society started on September 21, 1972. The
Carlos Palanca Awards continued to give annual awards. Almost all
themes in most writings dealt with the development or progress of
the country–like the Green Revolution, family planning, proper
nutrition, environment, drug addiction and pollution. The New
Society tried to stop pornography or those writings giving bad
influences on the morals of the people. All school newspapers were
temporarily stopped and so with school organizations.
Filipino Poetry during the Period of the New Society

• Themes of most poems dealt with patience, regard for

native culture, customs and the beauties of nature and
the surroundings.
The Play under the New Society
• The government led in reviving old plays and dramas,
like the Tagalog Zarzuela, Cenaculo and the Embayoka
of the Muslims which were presented in the rebuilt
Metropolitan Theater, the Folk Arts Theater and the
Cultural Center of the Philippines.
Radio and Television
• Radio continued to be patronized during this period. The
play series like Si Matar, Dahlia, Ito Ang Palad Ko, and
Mr. Lonely were the forms of recreation of those without
television.
Filipino Films
• A yearly Pista ng mga Pelikulang Pilipino (Yearly Filipino Film
Festival) was held during this time. During the festival which lasted
usually for a month, only Filipino films were shown in all theaters
in Metro Manila.
1. Maynila…Sa Mga Kuko Ng Liwanag written by Edgardo Reyes
and filmed under the direction of Lino Brocka. Bembol Roco was the
lead role.
2. Minsa’y Isang Gamu-Gamo, Nora Aunor was the principal
performer here.
3. Ganito Kami Noon…Paano Kayo Ngayon led by
Christopher de Leon and Gloria Diaz.
4. Insiang: by Hilda Koronel
5. Aguila: led by Fernando Poe Jr., Jay Ilagan and
Christopher de Leon
Comics, Magazines and other Publications
• In this period of the New Society, newspapers donned
new forms. News on economic progress, discipline,
culture, tourism and the like were favored more than the
sensationalized reporting of killings, rape and robberies.
c. Period of the Third Republic (1981-1985)
After ten years of military rule and some changes in
the life of the Filipino which started under the New
Society, Martial Rule was at last lifted on January 2,
1981.
1. Filipino Poetry - Poems during this period were
romantic and revolutionary. Writers wrote openly of their
criticism against the government. The supplications of the
people were coached in fiery, colorful, violent, profane
and insulting language.
2. Filipino Songs - Many Filipino songs dealt with
themes that were really true-to-life like those of grief,
poverty, aspirations for freedom, love of God, of country
and of fellowmen.
d. Rebirth of Freedom (1986-present)

• History took another twist. Once more, the Filipino people

regained their independence which they lost twenty years
ago. In the span of four days from February 21-25, 1986,
the so-called People Power (Lakas ng Bayan) prevailed.
Together, the people barricaded the streets petitioning the
government for changes and reforms.
• Newspapers and Other Publications. Newspapers
which were once branded crony newspapers became
instant opposition papers overnight. This was true of
BULLETIN TODAY which became the opposition
paper.
Books. The Philippine revolution of 1986 and the fire of
its spirit that will carry the Filipinos through another
epoch in Philippine history is still being documented just
as they have been in the countless millions who
participated in body and spirit in its realization.
 ASSIGNMENT 1- TO BE
PRESENTED
a. Riddles or Bugtong. –Group 1
b. Epigrams or Salawikain – Group 2
c. Poems or Tanaga – Group 3
d. Chant- Group 4
e. Balagtasan – Group 5
f. Pasyon- Group 6
g. Komedya (Francisco Baltazar’s Florante at Laura )- Group 7