Lyceum Northwestern University

Tapuac District, Dagupan City

Ventura, Dranyl Eve C. November 4, 2021

BSED-English III

Pre-Colonial Literature

The pre-colonial literature includes all literature produced before the Spanish
colonization like chants, proverbs, songs, and folk narratives. These were all passed down from
generation to generation by word of mouth. Philippine folk narratives are varied and distinct.
They depict the people’s livelihood, customs, and traditions.

1. RIDDLES (BUGTONG)
 Made up of one or more measured lines with rhymes and may consist of 4 to 12
syllables.
 Showcase the Filipino wit, literary talent, and keen observation of the surroundings.
 Involves reference to one or two images that symbolize the characteristics of an
unknown object that is to be guessed

Purpose of Riddles
 a. To entertain. Living in remote areas, before the advent of electricity, families
would sit around the fire and the elders would quiz the younger generation with
riddles.
b. To educate. Riddles serve the function of passing down knowledge from one
generation to the next. They require thinking in order to solve them.
c. To titillate. Many old Filipino riddles contain double entendres that were intended
to amuse the men and shock the women.
d. To curse, without expressly cursing. A riddle could be made up against an enemy,
rival town, or suitor.
e. To preserve the culture. Riddles communicate the old ways from one generation
to the next.

Examples:

 Ate mo, ate ko, Ate ng lahat ng tao. (My sister, your sister, everyone's sister)

Answer: Atis- because the sound of “ate” is similar to the word “atis” which is a
kind of fruit.
 Dalawang batong itim, malayo ang nararating.
Answer: Eyes- because eyes is a stone-like black color.
 Limang puno ng niyog, isa’y matayog.
Answer/Sagot: Daliri (Fingers)

Isang prinsesa, punong-puno ng mata.

Answer/Sagot: Pinya (Pineapple)

Nang hatakin ko ang baging, nagkagulo ang mga matsing.

Answer/Sagot: Kampana (Large Bell)

2. PROVERBS (Salawikain)
 Short poems that have been customarily been used and served as laws or rules on
good behavior by our ancestors.
 Filipino proverbs, or salawikain, echo the values of the Philippines. Though they
have been retold and passed down from one generation to another, and the
values and lessons they impart to us still hold true to this day.

Examples:
 Ang matapat na kaibigan, tunay na maaasahan. - - -You will know a true friend
in time of need.

 A broom is sturdy because its strands are tightly bound.

Tagalog: Matibay ang walis, palibhasa'y magkabigkis.

Explanation: People gain strength by standing together.

 While the blanket is short, learn how to bend.

Tagalog: Hangga't makitid ang kumot, matutong mamaluktot.

Explanation: If your blanket is too short to cover you completely with your
legs straight, bend them so that you fit. In other words, learn how to adapt to
your environment and be satisfied with what you have. If you have less in
life, learn to be frugal until you come to the point when you can spare some
money for a little bit of luxury.

 If you persevere, you will reap the fruits of your labor.

Tagalog: Pag may tiyaga, may nilaga.

 Explanation: They don't call them the fruits of labor for nothing. Hard work
and perseverance are needed to reach your goals. But if you keep trying, one
day you will enjoy the results of your efforts.

3. MYTHS AND LEGENDS

 derived from Philippine folk literature, which is the traditional oral literature of the
Filipino people. This refers to a wide range of material due to the ethnic mix of the
Philippines.

 There are many different creation myths in Philippine mythology, originating from

various ethnic groups.

a. Story of Bathala

b. Visayan Version

c. The legend of Maria Makiling

Presence of Different Deities

Ex. Bathala (Lakambakod)

Mythical Creatures

a. Aswang
b. Dila
c. Diwata
d. Dwende
e. Tikbalang
f. Mangkukulam

Ancient Metrical Tales

  Ifugao- hudhod from Aligayon

 Ilocos- Biag-ni Lam-Ang

 Bicol-Ibalon

 Mindanao- Darangan

 Panay-Hinilawod

 Bagobo-Tuwaang

 Kalinga-Ulaliim

 Manobo-Agyu o Olahing

 Subanon-Sandayo

Aliguyon-the exploits of Aliguyon as he battles his arch-enemy, Pambukhayon

Biagni Lam-Ang-tells of the adventuresvof Lam-Ang who exhibits extraordinary

powers at a very early age.

Ibalon-the story of three Bicol heroes: Baltog, Handiong, Bantiong

Hinilawod-oldest and longest epic poem in Panay.The exploits of three Sulodnon

demigod brothers, LabawDonggon, Humadapnon and Dumalapdap of ancient
Panay

Examples:

The Creation (An Igorot Myth)

 There are Philippine versions of the creation myth. The Igorot’s story tells that
Lumawig the Great Spirit created people. On the other hand, the Tagalog
story tells that the first man and woman came from a bamboo.

Origin of Man

The creation of man in myths follows immediately after the creation of the
world.  Philippine myths explain the origin of the first people on earth in three
ways: (1)  man came to earth from heaven/skyworld; (2) the first man and
woman emerged fully formed from two nodes of a piece of bamboo, from
two stumps of banana plant, hatched from two eggs of a bird; and (3) they
were created by a god and his helpers out of earth or some other material.

Acquisition of Culture and the Origin of Fire

After the creation of man, he has to have fire to keep his surroundings warm
and to use for his own needs.  How fire was brought to man is explained in
different stories.  Many believed that fire came to man as a gift from the gods
or that it was stolen from a giant as it was told in the folktale Biag ni Lam-ang
(life of Lam-ang) of the North.

LEGENDS

A legend in literature is a traditional story or group of stories told about

a particular person or place. Formerly the term legend meant a tale about a
saint. Some legends are the unique property of the place or person that they
depict.

Examples:

The Flood Story (A Legend of Bukidnon) – There are different Filipino

legends of the great flood. The story of Bukidnon, for instance, tells that a
huge crab caused the water to rise by going into the sea. On the other hand,
the Igorot story tells that the sons of Lumawig the Great Spirit caused the
flood.
 Why does fish have scales? (The girl who turned into a Fish) – This classic
legend tells the story of a girl who turned into a fish. Furthermore, this also
contains other classic Philippine legends based on watery tales.

Mother Mountain – The story of “The Mother Mountain” narrates the life of a
widow who lived with her two daughters. However, these daughters wanted
nothing but to enjoy themselves and play. Because of this, major
consequences occurred leading to the mother turning into a shape of a
mountain called “Mt. Iraya”.

The Story of the Piña – This Philippine legend tells the story of how the
Pineapple fruit got so many eyes.

The Legend of Bulkang Mayon – The Mayon Volcano is one of the most
beautiful volcanoes in the world. Additionally, its almost-perfect conical
shape has become the stuff of legends.

4. EPICS

The Filipino word for ‘epic’ is epiko from the Spanish. Philippine epics are lengthy
narrative poems based on oral tradition. The verses were chanted or sung while being
passed from generation to generation before being written on paper. The plots of their
stories revolve around supernatural events and heroic deeds.

Examples:

Biag ni Lam-ang – This Ilocano epic tells the adventures of Lam-ang, a man with supernatural
powers. He goes to war at nine-months- old and seeks the killers of his father. He embarks on a
quest with his animal friends and meets his future wife, Innes Kanoyan. He is swallowed by a fish
and resurrected from death by his animal friends.

Hinilawod – This epic is of the Sulod, a group of people living in the mountains of central Panay.
It tells the story of three very strong men, namely, Labaw Donggon, Humadapnon, and
Dumalapdap. They are the sons of Datu Paubari, the ruler of Halawod, and the goddess Alunsina.
The exploits of each son concerns beautiful women that he wants to have as a wife.

Darangan – This Maranao epic depicts the adventures of a brave warrior named Bantugan. He
owns a magical sword protected by a spirit. After a battle, he rests and accidentally falls into the
 water. A crocodile finds him and brings him to the enemies. He fights, regains his strength, and
wins the war.

5. FOLKTALES

This is a characteristically anonymous, timeless, and placeless tale circulated orally

among a people. 

Examples:

The Monkey and the Turtle is a perfect example of folktale short story written by
Philippine national hero Jose Rizal. The story focuses on the monkey and turtle who
started as friends. They both saw a floating banana plant on the water. They thought
of splitting it so they could plan it. The monkey chose the upper part of the plant for
he thought it was better. Meanwhile, the turtle got the bottom part with the roots so he
grew an abundant plant. Since the turtle couldn’t climb the tree to get the fruits, he
asked the monkey to get it for him. Instead, the monkey betrayed the turtle and ate
every fruit. The turtle planned a revenge to him which ended to the monkey’s death.
The friends of the monkey also planned a revenge but they did not win over the turtle.

The Necklace and the Comb tells the story of Inday who adored her necklace and
comb. She was given these as family heirloom during her sixteenth birthday. She
would keep with her the necklace and comb even while working so to avoid spoiling
them, she put those on the cloud. Her necklace and comb went up later on with the
sky. Time came, the comb became the quarter moon and then the necklace turned into
the stars.

6. FOLKSONGS

 a form of folk lyric which expresses the people’s hopes, aspirations, and lifestyles
 repetitive and sonorous, didactic and naïve
 traditional songs and melodies inspired by the reaction of the people to their
environment

Examples:
 Magtanim ay di biro Planting is not a joke") is a popular Tagalog folk
song composed by Felipe de León.The song represents the struggles and
difficulties of the life of farmers, how one needs to twist and bend to plant rice
around the whole day, with no opportunity to sit and to stand.

Dandansoy The song entails how Dandansoy’s lover tells him goodbye as she
goes back home to the “Payaw”. However, she is giving Dandansoy a chance
to prove his love.

In the second line, Dandansoy is being warned that if he would chase after the
girl, he shouldn’t bring water. This is because if he gets thirsty, there’s already
a well where he could drink from.

uyayi – lullaby

komintang – war song

kundiman – melancholic love song

harana – serenade

tagay – drinking song

mambayu – Kalinga rice-pounding song

subli – dance-ritual song of courtship /marriage

Tagulaylay- songs of the dead