PHILIPPINE LITERATURE DURING SPANISH PERIOD

March 16, 1521 - The year when the Spanish Colonizers came with Ferdinand Magellan.
Miguel Lopez de Legazpi - He is the first Spanish governor general.

NOTES ON SPANISH COLONIZATION

• The Conquistadors rendered all system writings inoperable.

• The Spanish colonial strategy undermined native oral tradition
• RELIGION- the use of faith to substitute the existing tradition.
Story of the Passion of the Christ
Church Doctrines

Doctrina Christiana – it was the first printed book in 1593.

- Prayer book
Ladinos – bilingual natives
- published their own book with devotional poetry.
Ladino - Judaeo-Spanish, also known as Ladino, a language primarily spoken among Sephardic Jews, and in
particular a written form of Judaeo-Spanish used in Sephardic religious texts, secular literature, and songs
1704 - The year when the Roman Alphabet was introduced.

TYPES OF LITERATURE DURING THE SPANISH COLONIZATION

1. Religious Literature - Religious lyrics written by ladino poets or those versed in both Spanish and Tagalog were
included in early catechism and were used to teach Filipinos the Spanish language.
a. Pasyon – long narrative poem about the passion and death of Christ. The most popular was “Ang Mahal na
Passion ni Jesu Cristong PanginoonNatin” by Aquino de Belen.
b. Senakulo – dramatization of the pasyon, it shows the passion and death of Christ
2. Secular (non-religious) Literature
a. Awit - colorful tales of chivalry made for singing and chanting.
Example: Ibong Adarna
b. Korido – metrical tale written in octosyllabic quatrains
Example: Florante at Laura by Francisco Baltazar
c. Prose Narratives – written to prescribe proper decorum.
Examples: Modesto de Castro's "Pagsusulatan ng Dalawang Binibini na siUrbana at si Feliza" and Joaquin
Tuason's "Ang Bagong Robinson" (The New Robinson) in 1879.

INFLUENCE OF SPANISH TO PHILIPPINE LITERATURE

• ALIBATA
• Christian Doctrine
• Spanish language became the literary language this time
• European legends and traditions
• Ancient literature was collected and translated to Tagalog
• Grammar books were printed in Filipino
• Religious tone
ALIBATA

FOLK SONGS

• Leron-Leron Sinta (Tagalog)

• Pamulinawen (Iloko)
• Dandansoy (Bisaya)
• Sarong Banggi (Bicol)
• Atin Cu Pung Singsing (Kapampangan)

RECREATIONAL PLAYS

There were many recreational plays performed by Filipinos during the Spanish times. Almost all of them were in
poetic form.

• SENAKULO
Dramatic performance of the passion and death of Christ.
• ZARZUELA
The father of drama, a musical comedy or melodrama three acts which death with men’s passion and emotions
like love, hate, revenge, cruelty, avarice or some political problem.
• LAGAYLAY
A re-enactment of the discovery of the Holy Cross by St. Helena which is sang and danced. It is performed for
ninenights with a novena to the Holy Cross.
• TIBAG
Dramatic performance for the purpose of manifesting devotion for the holy cross.
• PANULUYAN
Philippine Christmas dramatic ritual narrating the whole family’s search for a place to stay in Bethlehem for
Jesus Christ‘s birth through songs.
• SALUBONG
Dramatizes the reunion of the risen Christ and his mother.
• CARILLO
A form of dramatic entertainment performs on a moonless night during a town fiesta or on dark nights after a
harvest.
• SAINETE
A short musical comedy popular during the 18th century. They were exaggerated comedy shown between acts
plays and were mostly performed by characters from the lower class.
• 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.
Example: “Prinsipe Rodante”
• KARAGATAN
This is a poetic vehicle of a socio-religious nature celebrated during the death of a person.
• BALAGTASAN
This is a poetic joust or a contest of skills in debate on a particular topic or issue.