21st Century Literature

WHAT IS LITERATURE?
Its Latin root literature or litteratura (derived itself from
littera: letter or handwriting) was used to refer to all
written accounts.
1. PRE - COLONIAL PERIOD
• The precolonial literature includes all
literature produced before the Spanish colonization.

Based on oral traditions

• RIDDLES and PROVERBS are the simplest forms of
oral literature.
• Filipino riddle (palaisipan) that consists of two phrases
that rhyme. It uses symbolism to describe a specific object,
which the listener can guess by using his
imagination.
• A proverb is a brief, simple, and popular saying, or a
phrase that gives advice and effectively embodies a
commonplace truth based on practical experience or
common sense.
EXAMPLES:
Ibanag: Y magattam ta zigac, ta pangurianan
Lubbe c y pagayaya
(One who waits patiently will be well rewarded.)
Ilocano:
Ti adda a bagas mo,
Isu iti apoyem.
(Cook only as much rice as you have.)
• Philippine folk narratives are varied and distinct. They
depict the people’s livelihood, customs, and traditions.
Folktale
–This is a characteristically anonymous,
timeless, and placeless tale circulated orally among a
People.

a. Fable
–This features animal characters or inanimate
objects that behave like
people.
b. Legend
–This is presented as history but is unlikely to
be true.
c. Myth
–This is told to explain a belief, a practice, or a
natural phenomenon.
d. Epic
– This narrative poem celebrates the adventures
and achievements of a hero.
•
FOLK SONGS
- they express the faith, joy, varied
hopes, and oddities of life.
* They reflect the various aspects of life and activities of
the ancient Filipinos.
* They are sung to lighten the cares of life or kill boredom.

2. SPANISH PERIOD
• Spanish occupied
Philippines in early 15th century.
•
First Filipino alphabet is Alibata
• When Spanish colonized Philippines they changed
Alibata into Roman alphabet
.
NOTABLE WORKS
DOCTRINA CHRISTIANA
–the first book printed
in the Philippines. Manila, 1593 by Lessing
J. Rosenwald. The book is printed in Gothic letters and
Tagalog.
IBONG ADARNA
-a mythical story, formed in
narrative song and poetry called corrido
and it is
considered a big part of the Philippine literature
. It is written by Jose dela Cruz a great poet
who isalso known as Huseng Sisiw
. It is about love, sacrifice and fantasy.
FLORANTE AT LAURA
–
a literature classicby
Francisco Baltazar (also known as Balagtas)
.
URBANA FELISA
-by Modesto De Castro.
During 1938, 19th century, itemerged in Europe during the
Renaissance
*
Projecting the code of conduct in church at home,
in school, toward one’s fellowmen, mentors,
parents and God which has cleansing effect of moral principles
ANG PASYON
-A narrative poem about life
and
sufferings of Jesus in the h
earts and mind of the
natives
.
The first Filipino writer is Fr. Gaspar Aquino de Belen
.
RECREATIONAL PLAYS
TIBAG
- Dramatic performance for
the purpose of
manifesting devotion for the holy cross.
CENACULO
-Dramatic performance
of the
passion
and death of
Christ
MORO MORO
-
Also known as Comedia
,
an old spanish play
depicting Spain’s struggles against the
Moors, who
at one invaded the Spain.
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.
PANUNULUYAN
-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
-Dramatize s the reunion of the risen
Christ and his mother

AWIT
- Have measures of
twelve syllables and
slowly sung to the accompaniment
of a guitar or
banduria.
CORRIDO
- Have measures of eight syllables and
recited to a martial beat.
ex. Ibong Adarna
BALAGTASAN
- A poetic joust or contest of skill in
debate on a particular topic.
DR. JOSE RIZAL
– He wrote “To the Filipino Youth”
which encourages youth to speak up and be the “Hope of
Motherland.”