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LITERATURE DURING THE AMERICAN PERIOD

After reading this information sheet, the students should be able to:
1. Identify the geographic, linguistic, and ethnic dimensions of Philippine literary
history during the American Colonization;
2. Identify representative texts, genres, and authors of the American period;
3. Appreciate the contributions of canonical Filipino writers to the development of
national literature;
4. Situate texts in the context of the region and the nation; and
5. Analyze the literary elements in the text.

LITERATURE DURING THE AMERICAN PERIOD

How the Evolution Unfolded?

At the dawn of the 20th century, American culture began to establish its firm grip on
the Filipino identity. Perhaps the most potent vehicle was the language that these new
colonizers brought: English. Adopted as the official medium of instruction in the public school
system, the English language brought a new dimension to our nation‘s collective
consciousness. This was clearly reflected in the literature produced during the American
colonial period.

Educational institutions and various publications were crucial to the growth of

Philippine literature in English. The 1901 arrival of 600 American teachers (more popularly
known as ―The Thomasites) heralded the spread of the American language and the literature
that would spring from it. The Philippine Normal College and the University of the Philippines,
institutions that the Americans helped establish, were at the forefront of cultivating these new
literary seeds. The UP Writers’ Club, established in 1927, continues to produce excellent
literature to the present day. In addition, outlets like ―Philippine Magazine‖ and ―College
Folio‖ (which became the present day ― Philippine Collegian‖) allowed Filipino writers to
express themselves creatively in the new language. Certainly, universities that were founded
earlier were not to be left behind. The University of Santo Tomas began publishing literary
works in English in the ―The Varsitarian‖ in 1928, while the Ateneo de Manila had ―The
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Ateneo Monthly‖ (established in 1922), ―The Guidon‖ (founded in 1926), and ―Wings‖
(which ran from 1931-1932). From the 1920s onwards, Philippine literature in English began
to gain momentum. The genres of poetry, fiction, drama, and essay saw remarkable growth.

Collections of poems in English included ―Never Mind and Other Poems‖ by Procopio
Solidum (1928), ―Filipino Poetry,‖ a Rodolfo Dato-edited anthology (1924), and ―Azucena‖
by Marcelo de Gracia Concepcion (1925). The next few decades attested to the emergence of
romanticism in our poetry. Works like ―My Wife‘s Hands‖ by Conrado Ramirez (1933), ―Day
on the Farm‖ by Luis Dato (1934), and ―Soledad‖ by Angela Manalang-Gloria (1935) were
excellent lyric poems about love.

In the 1940s, two collections of poetry were published by one of the chief figures of
modernism: Jose Garcia Villa. With his ―Have Come, Am Here‖ (1942) and ―Have Come, Am
Here; Volume Two‖ (1949), Villa made a clear statement about innovation, about toying with
the standards of English grammar and syntax. Villa even gained somewhat of a notorious
reputation among the powers-that-be in the University of the Philippines for some of his free
verse poems. Even so, Villa went on to influence generations of Filipino poets to push the
English language to its limits in their works. Of note, Villa‘s pioneering works in modernism
sharply contrasted with the purposiveness and didacticism of Spanish-era texts.

The rejection of traditional styles of writing poetry continued in the works of other
poets. In 1940, Rafael Zulueta de Costa won the Commonwealth Literary Contest with his
―Like the Molave and Other Poems.‖ Da Costa‘s poems established free verse firmly within
the Philippine poetic tradition. 1940 also marked the publication of Alejandro G. Abadilla‘s
―ako ang daigdig‖ – another trendsetting poem of the Philippine modernist strain. Abadilla‘s
poem is a testament to the blossoming of literature in the vernacular languages at the same time
that Philippine literature in English was booming.

When the novel was introduced to Philippine writers, it did not take long to bear fruit.
As a matter of facts, vernacular novels and English novels alike proliferated. Novels written in
the local languages include:
 ―Banaag at Sikat‖ by Lope K. Santos, 1906
 ―Anino ng Kahapon‖ by Francisco Laksamana, 1906
 ―Pinaglahuan‖ by Faustino Aguilar, 1907
 ―Ama‖ by Lazaro Francisco, 1927
 ―Doktor Kuba‖ by Fausto Galauran, 1933
 ―Ang Palad ni Pepe‖ by F.P. Boquecosa, 1937

Other prominent vernacular writers included Magdalena Jalandoni, Ismaelita Floro

Luza, Conrado Norada, and Susana de Guzman.

The first Philippine novel in English (Zoilo Galang‘s ―A Child of Sorrow)

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was published in 1921. Two decades later, Juan C. Laya won first prize in the Commonwealth
Literary Awards with his novel ―His Native Soil.

The legacy of Philippine short stories in English also had its beginning during the
American colonization. 1925 saw the publication of Paz Marquez Benitez‘s ―Dead Stars.‖
This was the first successful Philippine short story in English. Another milestone occurred in
1927, when the first collection of Philippine short stories in English written by one of author
was published: Jose Villa Panganiban‘s ―Stealer of Hearts.‖ In 1933, ―Footnote to Youth‖
by Jose Garcia Villa, an excellent poet and fictionist, followed. In 1930s bore witness to the
brilliance of Manuel Arguilla and Arturo Rotor. Other prominent short story writers included
Paz Latorena, Amador Daguio, and Loreto Paras Sulit.

As was the case with poetry, works of short fiction in English shared the limelight with
those written in the vernacular languages. Patricio Mariano and Valeriano Hernandez Pena
wrote sketches (which went by the Tagalog term ―dagli‖) that had a nationalistic flavour.
Deogracias A. Rosario earned the name ―Father of the Tagalog Short Story‖ with his own
patriotic works like ―Greta Garbo.‖ Two notable collections of vernacular short stories
were ―Mga Kuwentong Ginto,‖ edited by Alejandro G. Abadilla and Clodualdo del Mundo
(1936) and ―50 Kuwentong Ginto ng 50 Batikang Kuwentista,‖ edited by Pedrito Reyes (1939).

In the field of drama, the seeds were planted in 1915 with the publication of ―A Modern
Filipino, the first Philippine play in English by Araullo and Castillejo.

Remarkably, three former UP Presidents had legacies of excellent drama writing. Carlos
P. Romulo wrote ―Sons for Sale, ―The Ghost, and ―The Real Leader. Jorge Bocobo published four
plays in his literature collection ―The Radiant Symbol.‖ Vidal Tan gained fame with Rizal- inspired
plays.

From 1922-1931, nearly 40 plays were produced or published in the Philippines. It was
not surprising that these plays echoed cries for independence from the American colonizers.
The next 10 years were dominated by an all-time great in Philippine Literature: Wilfredo Ma.
Guerrero. He helped the Philippine theatre scene reach new heights.

The essay genre was also dominated by English writers. Just as he was a pioneer in
fiction. Zoilo Galang broke new ground with essays as well. In 1921, Galang published ―Life
and Success, the first Philippine book of essays in English. Then, in 1933, several writers
contributed their essays to the collection ―Dear Devices, Being a First Volume of Familiar
Essays. The writers who were among the pioneers of Philippine essay, included Federico
Mangahas, Jose A. Lansang, and Ariston Estrada. In 1937, Alfredo Q. Gonzalez published ―The
Call of the Heights, a laudable single-author collection.

Other famous essay writers of the American colonial period included:

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 Mauro Mendez
 Maria Kalaw-Katigbak
 Alfredo Gonzalez
 Crostino Jamias
 Antonio Estrada
 Josefa Estrada
 Pura Santillan-Castrence
 Francisco B. Icasiano
 A.E. Litiatco
 Amado Dayrit

Notably, literary criticism also emerged during the American colonial period. Manuel
A. Viray was among the most notable critics, aside from being a poet and fictionist himself. Jose
Garcia Villa provided his own criticism in his ―Roll of Honor.‖ In 1940, Salvador P. Lopez
published ―Literature and Society, an essay collection which included a piece with the same title.
In a titular essay, Lopez argued that literary writers have a role to play in social development. To
this day, the passion and brilliance of Lopez‘s critical essay is unparalleled.

What is even more notable is that Lopez‘s idea of writers’ social responsibility is in
stark contrast with another prominent school of thought: the ―art for art‘s sake movement
pioneered by Jose Garcia Villa. The strains of this literary debate are still felt in the present
day. Indeed, the Lopez-Villa dichotomy is a remarkable legacy of Philippine literature during
the American colonial period.

In a paragraph form, compare and contrast the Philippine literature during the
Spanish Period and American Period. What are your insights about the literature during the
two periods?

*Additional activities may be given on the discretion of the teacher.

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Outputs vary.

Contemporary Literature: 21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the
World K to 12 Compliant Textbook for Senior High School
Simoun Victor D. Redoblado
Published in 2017 by Brilliant Creations Publishing, Inc.