21ST CENTURY LITERATURE

FROM THE PHILIPPINES

AND THE WORLD
WHAT IS LITERATURE?
Literature is a body of written
works. The name has
traditionally been applied to
those imaginative works of
poetry and prose distinguished
by the intentions of their authors
and the
perceived aesthetic excellence of
their execution.
Literature may be classified
according to a variety of
systems, including language,
national origin, historical
period, genre, and subject
matter.
https://www.britannica.com/art/literature
WHAT IS 21 ST
CENTURY PERIOD?

The 21st century is the current

century of the Anno Domini era or
the Common Era, in accordance with
the Gregorian calendar. It began on
January 1, 2001, and will end on
December 31, 2100.
 WHAT IS IT?
•Our forefathers already had
their literature, which was
reflected in their customs and
traditions. They had their
alphabet even before they
were colonized.
The Spanish friars burned their
alphabet in the belief that they were
works of the devil or were written
on materials that quickly perished,
like the barks of trees, dried leaves,
and bamboo cylinders, which could
not have remained firm even if
efforts were made to preserve them.
Our unique geographic location is
the reason why we are rich.
 PRE-SPANISH LITERATURE - IS
CHARACTERIZED BY:

•Folk Tales- These are made up

of stories about life, adventure,
love, horror, and humor where
one can derive lessons. An
example of this is THE MOON
AND THE SUN.
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.
Folk Songs- These are 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. Examples of which
are Kundiman, Kumintang o
Tagumpay, Ang Dalit o Imno, Ang
Oyayi o Hele, Diana, Soliraning and
Talindaw.
 UNDERSTANDING LITERARY
HISTORY
• Literature in this period may be
classified as religious prose and
poetry and secular prose and
poetry.
 SPANISH INFLUENCES ON PHILIPPINE
LITERATURE
The first Filipino alphabet, called
ALIBATA, was replaced by the
Roman alphabet. Also, the
teaching of the Christian
Doctrine became the basis of
religious practices. European
legends and traditions brought
here became assimilated in our
songs, corridos, and moro-
 FOLK SONGS
It manifests the artistic feelings
of the Filipinos and shows their
innate appreciation for and love
of beauty. The examples are
Leron-Leron Sinta, Pamulinawen,
Dandansoy, Sarong Banggi, and
Atin Cu Pung Sing-sing.
 RECREATIONAL PLAYS
There were many recreational
plays performed by Filipinos
during the Spanish times.
Almost all of them were in a
poetic form such Cenaculo,
Panunuluyan, Salubong and
Zarzuela.
PERIOD OF ENLIGHTENMENT (1872-
1898)
In 19th Century, Filipino
intellectuals educated in
Europe called Ilustrados
began to write about the hitch
of colonization
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 AMERICAN REGIME (1898-
1944)
•Linguistically, Americans
influenced Filipino writers to
write using English language.
Jose Garcia Villa became
famous for his free verse.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF LITERATURE
DURING THIS PERIOD:
The languages used in writing were
Spanish and Tagalog and the
dialects of the different regions.
But the writers in Tagalog,
continued in their lamentations on
the conditions of the country and
their attempts to arouse love for
one’s native tongue and the writers
in English imitated the themes and
 THE JAPANESE PERIOD (1941-1945)
• Philippine Literature was
interrupted in its development
when another foreign country,
Japan, conquered the Philippines
between1941-1945. Philippine
literature in English came to a
halt. This led to all newspapers
not to be circulated in the
community except for TRIBUNE
Filipino Poetry during this
period The common theme of
most poems during the
Japanese occupation was
nationalism, country, love,
and life in the barrios, faith,
religion, and the arts.
 THREE TYPES OF POEMS EMERGED
DURING THIS PERIOD:
• a. Haiku- a poem of free verse that the
Japanese like. It was made up of 17
syllables divided into three lines and

• b. Tanaga – like the Haiku, is short, but

it had measure and rhyme.

• c. Karaniwang Anyo- (Usual Form)

 PHILIPPINE LITERATURE IN ENGLISH
(1941-1945)
Because of the strict prohibitions
imposed by the Japanese in the
writing and publishing of works
in English, Philippine literature in
English experienced a dark
period. For the first twenty
years, many books were
published both in Filipino and in
•In the New Filipino Literature,
Philippine literature in Tagalog
was revived during this period.
Most themes in the writings
dealt with Japanese brutalities,
the poverty of life under the
Japanese government, and the
brave guerilla exploits.
 PERIOD OF ACTIVISM (1970-1972)
•According to Pociano Pineda,
youth activism in 1970-72 was
due to domestic and worldwide
causes. Because of the ills of
society, the youth moved to
seek reforms.
•The Literary Revolution The
youth became vocal with their
sentiments. They demanded a
change in the government. It
was manifested in the bloody
demonstrations and the
sidewalk expressions and also
in literature.
 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.
Poems dealt with patience, regard
for native culture, customs, and
the beauties of nature and
surroundings. 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. Filipinos before
were hooked in reading
magazines and comics.
 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. The
Philippines became a new nation,
and this, former President Marcos
called “The New Republic of the
Philippines.”
Poems during this period of
the Third Republic were
romantic and revolutionary.
Many Filipino songs dealt with
themes that were true-to-life
like those of grief, poverty,
aspirations for freedom, love
of God, country and
 POST-EDSA 1 REVOLUTION (1986-
1995)
History took another twist. Once
more, the Filipino people regained
their independence, which they lost
twenty years ago. In four days from
February 21-25, 1986, the so-called
People Power (Lakas ng Bayan)
prevailed. In the short span of the
existence of the real Republic of
the Philippines, several changes
•It was noticed in the new
Filipino songs, newspapers,
speeches, and even in the
television programs. The now
crony newspapers that enjoyed
an overnight increase in
circulation were THE INQUIRER,
MALAYA, and the PEOPLE’S
JOURNAL.
 21ST CENTURY PERIOD
• The new trends have been used and
introduced to meet the needs and
tastes of the new generation. 21st
Century learners are demanded to
be ICT inclined to compete with the
style and format of writing as well.
New codes or lingos are used to add
flavor in the literary pieces
produced nowadays.
 ACTIVITY 2. THINKER’S VIEW
•Directions: Given next, is a
sample of a Filipino Folktale
in the Pre-Spanish Period.
Answer the questions that
follow.
 THE SUN AND THE MOON
(TINGGUIAN FOLK TALE)
In the olden days, like the moon, the sun
had also star children which were
yellowish in color, very bright and very
hot. The star children of the moon,
however, were reddish and cool. That
moon was scared that his stars would
wither and die if they play with the star
children of the sun.
 The moon suggested to the
sun that they kill their
children who were crowding
the heavens with their
number. When the sun had
killed her children, the moon
merely hid behind the clouds.
 In the evening, when the clouds
faded, the moon stars appeared.
This angered the sun so he gave
chase to the moon. Thus, when
he overtakes the moon, we have
the so-called eclipse.
Every morning, the sun kills the
moon stars that he catches. Until
now, this chase continues and
because the moon still
• 1. What is the concern of the
moon regarding his stars?
• 2. Why does the moon anger the
sun?
• 3. What particular phenomenon is
described in the Filipino Folktale?
 WHAT I HAVE LEARNED
1. Pre-Spanish Literature is
characterized by Legends,
Folk Tales, The Epic Age, and
Folk Songs
•2. The Propaganda Movement
(1872-1896) 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.
•3. In the American Regime,
Americans influenced Filipino
writers to write using the
English language. English as
a medium of instruction was
introduced in the schools as
the intellectual language of
education.
•4. In the Period of Activism,
campus newspapers were
written to show their protest.
They held pens and wrote on
placards in red paint the
equivalent of the word
MAKIBAKA (To dare!).
•5. Period of the New Society
poems dealt with patience,
regard for native culture,
customs, and the beauties of
nature and surroundings.
•6. The period of the Third
Republic was romantic and
revolutionary.

•7. Post EDSA I noticed in the

new Filipino songs, in the
newspapers, in the speeches,
and even in the television
 WHAT I CAN DO
•Task 1. As a grade 11 Filipino
learner, in what way can you
show a sense of adaptability
to the diverse Philippine
Literary History? State your
answer in a 2-3 paragraph
essay.
(1 WHOLE YELLOW PAD)
THE END