MIDDLE PERIOD

- The period of Philippine literature during the years 1930 – 1960. Literature in English during
this period rapidly improved, especially in the areas of essays, short stories, and poetry.
- Filipino writers in English began by mastering vocabulary, learning the mechanics of grammar,
and imitating established Western writers.
- Indeed, the early period of Philippine Literature in English was a time of learning by trial and
error.
- But by 1925 the extent and quality of writing had greatly improved. Perhaps, it is wrong to say
that the early period ended in 1930. For it really faded out around the mid 20s and the middle
period of Philippine Literature began somewhere in the early 30s. The transition was gradual
and it overlapped.
FORMS OF LITERATURE
 Essay - an analytic, interpretative, or critical literary composition usually much shorter and less
systematic and formal than a dissertation or thesis and usually dealing with its subject from a
limited and often personal point of view.
 Short Story - brief fictional prose narrative that is shorter than a novel and that usually deals with
only a few characters. Form of Philippine literature which showed the most rapid development
during the Middle period.The quality and depth of short story writing also developed rapidly during
the Middle Period.
 Poetry - literature that evokes a concentrated imaginative awareness of experience or a specific
emotional response through language chosen and arranged for its meaning, sound, and rhythm.
The poetry of the Middle Period developed slowly. The experiences of war during the Middle
Period of literature seemed to add wider vision and greater depth to Filipino poetry in English.
THEMES OF LITERATURE
Essay:
 Capture Filipino life and culture
 Stress Social Consciousness
 Art and Literature
 Literature and Society
 Themes of nationalism, politics and literary criticism.
Short Stories:
 Stories about farm life and city life, the problems of society, and human hardships
 Depicts the hardships of the poor
 Allegories of cultural and moral situations in Philippine History
 Themes such as Loneliness, self-discovery, and hope amidst suffering.
Poems:
 Romantic in character (1930s)
  Themes of injustice and oppression
 Experiences of war
DESCRIPTION OF ITS CONTEXT
 The literatures were in the form of published works
 Themes were mostly about the life and problems of the people in the society
 Literary works also included the theme of nationalism and experiences during World War II.
 Prominent language of the literary works during this era was English.
 Few literary works were written because of the war conditions and censorship.
Middle Period (unknown dates):
- Manuel E. Arguilla wrote excellent stories about the people of Nagrebcan in ‘How My Brother
Leon Brought a Wife’ and Other Stories. (short story)
- Delfin Fresnosa vividly depicted the hardships of the poor. (short story)
- In his short stories Nick Joaquin included allegories of cultural and moral situations in
Philippine history. He frequently recreated the past to show its relevance and value for the
present. (short story)
- Under the influence of Salvador P. Lopez, some poets like R. Zulueta da Costa became more
conscious of their environment and dealt with themes of injustice and oppression. (poetry)
- Jose Garcia Villa continued to lead the way for all poets with his creative innovations. (poetry)
1930s:
- Salvador P. Lopez led the school of writers who stressed social consciousness. (essays)
- Others following the view of Jose Garcia Villa wrote on art and literature. (essays)
- Early didactic stories and romantic tales quickly gave way to stories about farm life and city life,
the problems of society, and human hardships. (short story)
- most poetry was still romantic in character. (poetry)
- Angela Manalang Gloria emerged as a promising poet. She published her works in Poems just
before World War II. (poetry)
1932:
- Jose Garcia Villa's "Untitled Story" was selected by Edward J. O'Brien in New York for
inclusion in the Best Short Stories of 1932. (short story)
1933:
- Scribner's published Villa's Footnote to Youth and Other Tales. (short story)
- "The Fence," also by Villa, was included in O'Brien's Best Short Stories of 1933. (short story)

1940:
- Salvador P. Lopez expressed his views on Literature and Society (essays)
1941:
- Francisco B. Icasiano, “Mang Kiko”, wrote ‘Horizons from my Nipa Hut’ which included
humorous essays which revealed a deep sympathy for the common people. (essays)
1942-1945 (Japanese Occupation):
- Essays improved in literary style but their content was severely limited by the Japanese
censors. (essays)
- Essayists again turned to themes of nationalism, politics, and literary criticism. (essays)
- Few poems were written because of the war conditions and censorship. (poetry)
1946:
- Poems written by a few poets living in the mountains that managed to write verses were
published by Juan L. Raso in ‘Guerilla Flower’. (poetry)
1951:
- Jose Del Castillo's “Antiphonal Earth: Coins of Song” was published in London. (poetry)
1952:
- Joaquin's book Prose and Poems (1952) was voted by a panel of critics led by Leonard Casper
as the most distinguished book in fifty years of Philippine Literature in English. (short story)

1950s (1954-1956):
- In Children of the Ash-Covered Loam and Other Stories (1954) and A Season of Grace (1956),
Nestor Vidali Mendoza Gonzalez dealt with such basic themes as loneliness, self-discovery,
and hope amidst suffering. (short story)
- Ricaredo Demetillo published “Diplomat” and Other Poems. “No Certain Weather” in 1956
and “La Viain” 1959. (poetry)
1958:
- An important national writers conference was held to discuss the role of Filipino writers in
society. (essays)
- A Chapter of International Pen was inaugurated in the Philippines with Alfredo T. Morales as
its first president. (essays)

1930 – 1944: ‘Leopoldo Yabes’

- “…the most productive of distinctive work in the half century of Filipino writing in English.”
“The Veronicans”
- Led by Francisco Arcellana and inspired by Jose Garcia Villa
- The writers chose this name because they wanted their work to bear the imprint of Christ’s
face.
“The Bachelorettes”
- Group of women writers
- Among their number were Teresa Arzaga, Luisa Barrera, Sally Barrera, Nelly X. Burgos, Olivia
Calumpang, Corazon Juliano, Carmen Perez, and Trinidad L. Tarrosa.
- “Both groups explored new dimensions in literary forms. Some of their work appeared in the
quarterly Expression and in The Leader, which was edited by Federico Mangahas.”
Philippine Commonwealth Government’s establishment on July 4, 1935:
- Encouraged writers to freely search for a national identity.