MAPPING OUR

LITERARY PAST
"Great literature is simply language charged
with meaning to the utmost possible degree.“
Ezra Pound
PRE-COLONIAL
LITERATURE
PRE-COLONIAL LITERATURE
Oral Literature
● Salawikain or proverb:
Wisdom or beliefs important to Filipinos
It presents practical observations and philosophy of everyday life that are written usually in
a rhyming scheme. It is obviously meant to entertain while teaching basic skills in surviving local
life
○ Kung ano ang puno, siya ang bunga
○ Kung walang tiyaga, walang nilaga

Mandaya on Virginity
Yang ataog aw madugdug, (An egg once broken,)
Di da mamauli. (Will never be the same.)

Tausug on Secret Affairs Ilocano on Guilt

In lasa iban uba, (Love and cough,) Ti agutak, (He who cackles
Di hikatapuk. (Cannot be hidden.) Isut nagitlog. (Laid the egg.)
PRE-COLONIAL LITERATURE
Oral Literature

● Sawikain or idioms are group of words that are used as a common expression
whose meaning is not deducible from that of the literal words. It usually contains
the culture of a groupof people that contains social and literal meaning.

○ Umaalon and dibdib- kinakabahan

PRE-COLONIAL LITERATURE
Oral Literature
● Bugtong or riddle are like proverbs with one main difference; they demand an answer
and are use to test the wits of those who are listening to them. It also uses Talinghaga or
a metaphor to give clues to the answer
○ Heto na si Kaka, bubuka-bukaka
○ Sa araw ay bungbong, sa gabi ay dahon

Bisaya
Baboy sa lasang, (A wild pig of the forest,)
Ang tunok puro lansang. (Is covered with spikes.)
Answer: Nangka (Jackfruit)

Meranaw Chabacano
Sominub lawiyan, (It dived,) Tagia que tagia, (You keep on slashing it,)
Mbowat lawitan. (It rose.) Hende ta penetra. (But it does not penetrate)
Answer: Ragum (Needle) Answer: Agua (Water)
PRE-COLONIAL LITERATURE
Folk Songs
These are folk lyrics that are usually chanted. They usually contain ideas on aspirations,
hopes, everyday life and expressions of love for loved ones. It is bounded by the learning of
good morals. Unlike the previous form it is easy to undestand because it is straightforward
and not figurative in nature.

● Lullabies- these is locally known as the Hele. These are sung to put to sleep babies. The
content varies, but usually, parents sing these with ideas on how hard life is and how they
hope that their child will not experience the hardships of life.
● Drinking Songs- these are locally known as Tagay and are sung during drinking
sessions.
● Love Songs- to many Filipinos, these are known as the Harana. It can also be called
Courtship Songs and are used by young men to capture the heart of the girl that they
love.
● Religious Songs- are songs or chants that are usually given during exorcisms and
thanksgiving during good harvest.
● Songs of Death- are lamentations that contain the roll of good deeds that the dead has
usually done to immortalize his or her good image.
PRE-COLONIAL LITERATURE
Folk Tales (Mga Kwentong Bayan)

These are stories of native Filipinos. It deals with the power of nature- personified,
their submission to a deity- usually Bathala- and how this deity is responsible for
the blessings and calamities.These also tackle about irresponsibility, lust,
stupidity, deception, and fallibility that eventually leads to the instilling of good
morals.

Usual Themes: • Ceremonies needed to appease the deities.

• Pre and Post apocalypse
• Life and Death
• Gods and Goddesses
• Heroes and Heroines
• Supernatural beings
• Animals
PRE-COLONIAL LITERATURE
● Myths- these tackle the natural to strange occurences of the earth and how
things were created with an aim to give an explanation to things.
○ There is Bathala for the Tagalogs and the Gueurang for the Bikolanos.
○ Paradise is known as Maca, while Hell is Kasanaaan
Ex. The Story of Bathala Ang Pag-aaway ng Dagat at Langit

● Legends- through legends, the natives uderstood mysteries around them.

These stories usually come with a moral lesson that give credit to supernatural
powers, supernatural occurences, and other out-of- this-world native
imagination. Ex. Legend of Maria Makiling and The Legend of the Sampaguita

● Fables- are short or brief stories that cater the children of the native Filipinos
and are usually bounded by good manners and right conduct. These stories
use animals as characters that represent a particular value or characteristic.
Ex. Ang Kuneho at and Pagong Si Juan Tamad
PRE-COLONIAL LITERATURE
● Epics- long, episodic narrative, chanted poems normally with an epic
hero and his adventures, with supernatural creatures and spirits.
Usually narrate during feasts. These contain encounters of fighters,
stereotypical princes or heroes that save a damsel in distress.

Ex. Hinilawod Darangen, one of the best epics of the Philippines from
Negros

The Hinilawod epic shows how our Filipino ancestors

have relied on their familial relations and bravery to
get them through any situation. Nowadays, relying on
strong family ties and friendships is still one of the
best ways to get through an difficult situation that
you may encounter in your daily life
 Baybayin in
tagalong means
“to spell”.
 SPANISH
COLONIAL
LITERATURE
The Spanish Period
The start of the Philippine's more colorful history took place in
March 6, 1521 when Ferdinand Magellan docked on the shores

of Homonhon.

The Filipinos were then called “Ladinos”, meaning they were

latinized.

Filipinos were called two things. One is the “Taga-Bayan”, while

the other is the “Taga-bukid” or “Taga-bundok”. A person who is a
Taga-bayan is considered urbane and civilized and were in easy
range of the church and state. A person who is a Taga-bundok or
Taga-bukid is called a Bruto Salvage (Savage Brute) or Indio and
were the ones who lived far from the center of the Spanish power.
SPANISH COLONIAL LITERATURE
Religious Literature
Revolves around the life and the death of Jesus Christ. Forms of Religious
Literature:

Pasyon- it is about the passion (journey and suffering) and the death of Jesus
Christ.
Senakulo- it is the re-enactment of the Pasyon.

Moro-moro or Komedya- it depicts the European society through love and fame,
but can also be a narrative about a journey, just like Dante Alighieri's Divine
Comedy. It is also considered religous, because it usually depicts the battle
between the Christians and the Saracens or the Moros.

Tibag- dramatic re-enactment of St. Helena’s search for the Holy Cross.

Duplo or Karagatan- are native dramas that are connected to Catholic mourning
rituals and harvest
SPANISH COLONIAL LITERATURE
Secular or Non- Religious Literature

Revolves around tales of valiance and adventure. Forms of Secular or

Non-Religious Literature:
● Awit- these are tales of chivalry where a knight saves a princess.

○ Florante at Laura is a good example.

● Korido- is a metrical tale or a tale that follows the structure of a
poem.
● Zarzuela- are musical comedies or melodrama that deal with the
elemental passions of human beings
● Prose Narratives- are easy to understand instructional materials that
in a literary light that teaches Filipinos on proper decorum.
Pagsusulatan ng Dalawang Binibini na si Urbana at Feliza (1864) is a
good example.
SPANISH COLONIAL LITERATURE
Propaganda Literature
These were in the forms of satires, editorials, and news articles that aimed to
attack the Spanish Rule.

The propaganda trinity is composed of

● Dr. Jose Rizal,

● Marcelo H. Del Pilar, and
● Graciano Lopez Jaena.

Examples:
Graciano Lopez Jaena
Ang Fray Botod- One of his works written in Jaro, Iloilo in 1876, six years after the
Cavite Revolt attacking the friars in the Philippines. He exposed how some of the
friars were greedy, ambitious and immoral.
LA HIJA DEL FRAILE (The Child of the Friar) and EVERYTING IS HAMBUG
(Everything is mere show)- Here Jaena explains the tragedy of marrying a
Spaniard.
SPANISH COLONIAL LITERATURE
Marcelo H. Del Pilar
● KAIINGAT KAYO (Be Careful)- a humorous and sarcastic dig in answer to Fr.
Jose Rodriquez in the novel NOLI of Rizal, published in Barcelona in 1888. He
used Dolores Manapat as pen-name here.
● DASALAN AT TOCSOHAN (Prayers and Jokes)- similar to a cathecism but
sarcastically done against the parish priests, published in Barcelona in 1888.
Because of this, del Pilar was called “filibuster.” Done in admirable tone of
supplication and excellent use of Tagalog.
● ANG CADAQUILAAN NG DIOS (God’s Goodness)- published in Barcelona, it
was also like a cathecism sarcastically aimed against the parish priests but
also contains a philosophy of the power and intelligence of God and an
appreciation for and love for nature.

Dr. Jose Rizal NOLI ME TANGERE- his was the novel that gave spirit to the
propaganda movement and paved the way to the revolution against Spain. In this
book, he courageously exposed the evils in the Spanish-run government in the
Philippines.
SPANISH COLONIAL LITERATURE
Revolutionary Literature
● These are exposes that sparked revolution and resistance in the
hearts of Filipinos.

Examples:

Andres Bonifacio

Katungkulang Gagawin ng mga Anak ng Bayan (Obligations of our

Countrymen) – an outline of obligations just like the Ten
Commandments, hence, it is likewise called Ang Dekalogo.

Ang Dapat Mabatid ng mga Tagalog (What the Tagalogs should Know) –
an essay outlining the basic tenets of Bonifacio’s ideas on nationalism.

Pag-Ibig sa Tinubuan Lupa

SPANISH COLONIAL LITERATURE
Emilio Jacinto Liwanag at Dilim (Light and Darkness) – a collection of
essays on different subjects like freedom, work, faith, government and love
of country. Apolinario Mabini El Desarollo y Caida de la Republica Filipina
(The Rise and Fall of the Philippine Republic) – this essay highlights the
establishment of the Philippine republic and its subsequent doom due to
disunity among the Filipinos

Dr. Jose Rizal El Filibusterismo– This is a sequel to the NOLI. While the
NOLI exposed the evils in society, the FILI exposed those in the government
and in the church. However, the NOLI has been dubbed the novel of society
while that of FILI is that of politics.
SPANISH COLONIAL LITERATURE
● Publications El Heraldo de la Revolucion (Herald of the Revolution) –
printed the decrees of the Revolutionary Government, news and
works in Tagalog that aroused nationalism. This is the Official
Newspaper of the Revolutionary Government of Aguinaldo.

● La Independencia (Independence) – an independent newspaper

founded and edited by General Antonio Luna.

● La Republica Filipina (The Philippine Republic) – a private newspaper

edited by Pedro Paterno.

● La Libertad (Liberty) – another private newspaper edited by Clemente

Zulueta.
1900-1942
The
AMERICAN
Period
The American Period
● The Philippines had a great leap in Education and Culture.

● The use of English alongside Filipino was practiced.

● The Philippines Public School system was introduced.

● Free public instruction was given to the Filipinos.

The American Period
● The literature during the American period was considered as imitative
of American model. Instead of asking the students to write originals,
students ended up following the form of American poets.

Free Verse: poetry that does not Rhyme or have a regular meter

New Criticism: formalist movement in literary theory that dominated

American Criticism in the 20th Century emphasized close reading
(careful sustained interpretation of a brief passage) of a piece of poetry
(taking it as an autonomous self-referential self-contained aesthetic
object.)

Angela Manalang Gloria and Jose Garcia Villa pushed new ideas in both
form and content , challenging established conventions.
The American Period

● 1. Poetry- poetry under the American rule still followed the style of the
old, but had contents that ranged from free writing to societal
concerns under the Americans.

● Poetry Jose Corazon de Jesus (1832-1896) popularly known as

“Batute,” created his own generation with his first book of poems.

○ Mga Gintong Dahon (1920)- were poems pre-occupied with such

non- traditional themes as passion-slaying, grief-induced,
insanity, and lover’s suicide.
○ Sa Dakong Silangan (1928)- returned to the awit form, retelling
the history of Philippines under Spain, the coming of the U.S
under the guise of friendship to take over from Spain
The American Period

● 2. Drama- was usually used in the American period to degrade the

Spanish rule and to immortalize the heroism of the men who fought
under the Katipunan.

● Other successful sarsuwelas:

○ Hindi Aco Patay (1903) by Juan Matapang Cruz
○ Kahapon, Ngayon at Bukas (1903) by Aurelio Tolentino- is an
allegorical presentation of the history of the nationalist struggle
and how the U,S. frustrated the Philippine revolution.
○ Tanikalang Guinto (1902) by Juan Abad
○ (1872-1932)- is about Liwanag and K’Ulayaw, lovers who stand
for freedom and the Filipino.
The American Period
3. Remake Novels- took up Dr. Jose Rizal's portrayal of social conditions
by colonial repression.

● Remake Novels Gabriel Beato Francisco (1850-1935)- is best known

for his trilogy of Fulgencia Galbillo (1907), Capitan Bensio (1907),
Alfaro (1909), depicting the 30 years of colonial repression by the
Spanish rule.

● Inigo Ed. Regalado (1888-1976)- Madaling Araw (1909) was his first
novel showing the complex interrelations of issues and people in
contemporary Philippine society.

● Juan Lauro Arsciwals (1889-1928)- Lalaking Uliran o Tulisan (1914),

allusion to the colonial law that branded Filipino patriots as bandits.
 1941-1945
The JAPANESE
Period
The JAPANESE Period

1941-1945 The JAPANESE Period

1946- 1985 The REPUBLIC

The Japanese Period and the Republic

● The Philippine literature came into a halt.

● The use of the English language was forbidden, and the use of
the Filipino language was mandated under the Japanese rule.
● For some this was a problem, but to most writers, it was a
blessing in disguise.
● Almost all news papers were stopped except for some.
● Filipino literature was given a break during this period. Many
wrote plays, poems, short stories, etc. Topics and themes
were often about life in the provinces.
The JAPANESE Period

Literary Forms

1. Poetry
● Poetry The common theme of most poems during the Japanese
occupation was nationalism, country, love, and life in the barrios,
faith, religion and the arts.
2. Fiction
● Fiction The field of the short story widened during the Japanese
Occupation. Many wrote short stories.

3. Drama
● Drama The drama experienced a lull during the Japanese period
because movie houses showing American films were closed. The big
movie houses were just made to show stage shows. Many of the
plays were reproductions of English plays to Tagalog.
The JAPANESE Period

4. Newspapers
● Newspapers Writings that came out during this period were
journalistic in nature. Writers felt suppressed but slowly, the
spirit of nationalism started to seep into their consciousness.
While some continued to write, the majority waited for a better
climate to publish their works.

5. Essays
● Essays were composed to glorify the Filipinos and at the same
time to figuratively attack the Japanese.
LITERATURE
OF THE
PHILIPPINES
TODAY
21st Century Literature

In the 21st centruy Philippines, there are a lot of

literary innovations that are adapted and created by
Filipinos. Nowadays, even those who do not have any
significant literary background make their own way
using the freedom that they have to write and to
express. There are a lot of new forms from the basic
genres of literature; thus, proving how far the literature
in the Philippines has gone and how far it will go on
from here.
Unique Cultural landscape
Different languages and
traditions determined
by geographical and
lingustic regions.