LESSON 2

History of Philippine Literature

LEARNING OUTCOMES
Name the authors and literary works that shaped the
literary repertoire of the Philippines.
Sequence historical and cultural events in to show how
each period developed.

BEFORE READING

An Essay by Marlon T. Salvador

ABOUT THE ESSAY

The essay gives us an overview of how Philippine

literature shaped and was shaped by our country’s
cultural traditions and socio-political histories. It
outlines the journey of Philippine literature through
different periods: Precolonial era, Spanish colonial
period, American colonial period, Japanese colonial
period, Martial Law regime, and the Contemporary
period.

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MAKE CONNECTIONS

If you could go back in time, what time and place would you visit? Why?

If I could go back in time, definitely I’ll go back to the pre-colonial period.

Our Philippine literature before we were colonized is amazing because its
uniqueness catches the interest of the readers, even those tourists who visits here.
Whenever they hear our native or epic stories, they would listen attentively and be
amazed by it. Hearing our native stories makes us proud of our own literature,
which we don’t need to depend on our colonizers language just to be known in this
world. We have our own kind of ability and strength, and that is our literature.

ANALYZE LITERATURE: Literary Periods

Literary period is basically defined as a span of time for literature that shares
intellectual, linguistic, religious, and artistic influences. In Philippine context, describing
the evolving patterns of our literary heritage prompts us to recount also the socio-
cultural milieu that produced it in the process. Philippine historical and literary periods
are: Precolonial Period, Spanish Colonial Period, American Colonial Period, Japanese
Regime, Martial Law Period, and Contemporary Period.

Precolonial Period: The Philippines already had its own rich literary tradition, written
and oral, long before the Spaniards came. This oral literary tradition in particular plays a
crucial role in reproducing the structure of native society (Quiros, 2019).

Spanish Colonial Period: Literature during this period may be classified as religious
prose and poetry, and secular prose and poetry (Godinez-Ortega). This period also
includes literature produced by the Propaganda Movement.

American Colonial Period: The introduction of free public instruction for all children
of school age, and the use of English as medium of instruction in all levels of education in
public schools encouraged literary production during this period (Quindoza-Santiago).

Japanese Colonial Period: Philippine Literature was interrupted in its development

during this period. Philippine Literature in English came to a halt, and most publications
in English were stopped. The use of Filipino language was also mandated.

Contemporary Period: The flowering of Philippine literature in the various languages

continues especially with the appearance of new publications after the Martial Law
years and the resurgence of committed literature in the 1960s and the 1970s.
Commission on Higher Education mandated the teaching of Philippine Literature in all
tertiary schools in the country emphasizing the teaching of the vernacular literature or
literatures of the regions (Godinez-Ortega).

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USE READING SKILLS: Analyze Sequence of Events

Sequence of events refers to the order of events as they happen. As you

read the essay, keep track of the sequence of events by completing the Sequence
Map below. Draw the order of events as they are explained. Include a short
caption under each image.

Sequence Map

oral literature like epics

and folksongs were chanted

Doctrina Christiana In 1605, the poem May The Biag ni Lam-ang

was the first Bagyo ma’t may Rilim was the first recorded
publication of printing became the 1st literary epic in 1889.
press. work to be printed

Pedro Paterno wrote The Katipunan with its

The three priests
the first novel Ninay jn paper Kalayaan, was
martyr were put to
1885. created.
death in 1872.

Haiku became popular due to

The treaty of Paris
terminated the Spanish-
American war in 1899.
Thomasites arrived lack of paper during WWII.
in theCASS-DELL
Philippines.
| Literature of the Philippines 3
 DURING READING
An Essay by Marlon T. Salvador
Before the Spaniards came to the Philippines,
our forefathers had already their own
literature, which can be described as oral
because they were handed down by word
of mouth from one generation to another.
The vagrant Negritoes contributed songs
and superstitious beliefs. They did not have
a system of government unlike the Indons
who brought literary genres or forms like
folktales, epics, paganistic faith, and
legends. The Malays contributed the
baybayin, the syllabary with seventeen
symbols. They also brought legends,
folktales, the “balangay” system of
government, and the brief statements of
practical wisdom called proverbs which are
based on long experience about life.
Puzzles that usually consist of two lines that
rhyme called riddles are considered as the
early forms of poetry, which is now
developed in various forms that usually
appear in stanzas. Early drama, now
performed onstage, was in the form of
paganistic rituals led by babaylan, a priest
or priestess.
When the Spaniards set their feet on the
Philippine soil, they found out that
literature had been existing in two
forms: prose and poetry. The riddles, proverbs
and sayings were in the form of poetry , while
CASS-DELL | Literature of the Philippines
Analyze Literature
Literary Periods: Describe the kind of literature
produced in precolonial times. Identify also the
contributions of the Negritoes, Indons, and Malays
to the literary heritage of the Philippines.
Before the spaniards came to the
Philippines our forefathers, had already their
own literature which can be described as oral
because they were handed down by word of
mouth from one generation to another. The
vagrant Negritoes contributed songs and
superstitious beliefs. They did not have a
system of government unlike the Indons who
brought literary genres or forms like folktales,
epics, paganistic faith, and legends. The Malays
contributed the baybayin, the syllabary with
seveteen symbols. They also brought legends,
folktales, the "balangay" system of
government, and the brief statements of
practical wisdom called proverbs which are
based on long experience about life.
Culture Note
Riddle or bugtong abounds in many
ethnolinguistic groups in the Philippines.
Give one example of riddle from your
culture or group.
Visayan Riddle: “Kabayo ni Adan, dili
moka-on ug dili kabay-an.” - Kudkuran
The horse of Adan does not eat unless
someone rides on it. - Coconut grater
4

the legends, fables and folktales were in
prose. The conquerors destroyed written
literature in perishable materials because
they believed that these were the handicraft
of evil. Later, the printing press was set up
and Doctrina Christiana was the first output
in 1593. The pasyon, which relates the life
and death of Christ, was used to replace
the old epics. The most popular of this type
was Gaspar Aquino de Belen. There also
born forms of metrical romance of
European origin, namely: awit and corrido,
examples of which are the Florante at Laura
and Ang Alamat ng Ibong Adarna.
The first printed literary work in Tagalog
was the poem May Bagyo Ma’t May Rilim
(1605) while the first known published
prose was in the form of letter, the
Ang Pagsusulatan ng Dalawang Binibini
na sina Urbana at Feliza by Modesto de
Castro. Meanwhile, the first recorded epic
(only in 1889) was the Biag ni Lam-ang
among the Christian Ilokos. They noticed
that Filipinos were fond of plays so they
began to stage the Cenaculo, which depicts
the life and passion of Christ; the
Santacruzan, which portrays Reyna Elena’s
search for the cross where Christ died;
and others.
In 1872, the three priest-martyrs were
executed. From then, a clamor for change
against Spanish abuses began to bloom.
The event anchored the launching of the
Propaganda Movement in Spain that aimed
to clarify issues, denounce abuses and
injustices, and refute accusations. Its
newspaper La Solidaridad became the organ
that projected the views of the group where
essay found its place. Meanwhile, in 1885,
Pedro Paterno published the first novel
CASS-DELL | Literature of the Philippines
Note the Facts
What literary genres or forms
became popular during the Spanish
Colonial Period?
Popular literary forms are
Prose and Poetry. Riddles, proverbs,
and sayings belong to poetry
whereas the legends, fables, and
folktales were in the prose.
Analyze Literature
Literary Periods: Name authors and
their literary works during Spanish
Colonial Period.
1. Modesto de Castro - "Ang
Pagsusulatan ng
Dalawang Binibini na sina Urbana at
Feliza
2. Pedro Paterno- Ninay
3. Dr. Jose P. Rizal - "Noli Me Tangere"
and "El
Filibusterismo"
4. Marcelo H. Del Pilar - "Dasalan at
Tocsohan"
5. Juan. Der de Plasencia- "Doctrina
Christiana"
6. Francisco Balagtas -"Florante at
Laura"
7. Jose Dela Cruz- "Ang Alamat ng
Ibong
Adarna"
8. Pedro Rucaneg- "Biag ni Lam-ang"
9. "Pasyon" by Gaspar Aquino de Belén
10. An unknown Tagalog - May Bagyo
Ma’t
5
Ninay which awakened national
consciousness. It became the precedent for
Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere and its sequel, the
El Filibusterismo. Marcelo H. del Pilar’s
Dasalan at Tocsohan is considered as his
most daring work against the friars.
Use Reading Skills
Analyze Sequence of Events
Use the Sequence Map to write five
events that occur on this page. Write
each event in a complete sentence.

When Rizal was captured and exiled in

Dapitan, the Katipunan was formed with
its paper Kalayaan where Katapusang Note the Facts
Hibik ng Pilipinas and Pag-ibig sa
What poems were published by the
Tinubuang Lupa were printed to campaign Katipunan during the Spanish Colonial
for freedom. Period?

“Katapusang Hibik ng Pilipinas”

In 1899, the Spaniards formally turned and” Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa”
over the Philippines under the governance
of America in conformity with the Treaty
of Paris. The first group of American
teachers known as Thomasites who were Note the Facts
aboard a ship named Thomas, arrived and
What event ended Spanish
brought changes to the educational system. Rule in the Philippines?
Hence, Filipino writers began writing in
English because The Philippine Free Press The Katipunan was formed
(1905) and the College Folio (UP school organ, with its paper Kalayaan.
1910) had been circulated.

The outbreak of the World War II caused the Analyze Literature

scarcity of paper. In this period, the haiku Literary Periods: Which literary
became popular because it does not need much period is considered the Golden Age of
space for it only contains three lines and a total Filipino literature where in writing in
of seventeen syllables. English was prohibited and writers in
Filipino and in vernacular languages
The Declaration of Martial Law in 1972 greatly flourished?
affected literature. From this period to the
present, writers and different artists continue to Japanese Colonial Period,
flourish with the aim of bringing social reform
and subscribing to freedom of expression.
All this just proves that the history of a nation
affects its literature.

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 AFTER READING

Name: Roveeh Rose M. Laurito Subject: LIT 111

Yr/Cr/Sec: 3 BSN B Date: February 27, 2022

READING CHECK

A. Circle the letter of the correct answer.

1. Which of the following is considered the earliest form of drama in

Philippine literary history?
A. folksongs C. cenaculo
B. rituals D. legends

2. Which historical and literary period in the Philippines is considered the

Epic Age?
A. Precolonial C. American
B. Spanish D. Contemporary

3. Which of the following is the Christian epic which talks about the life and
suffering of Christ?
A. pasyon C. bodabil
B. cenaculo D. awit

4. Which of the following is NOT a product of the Spanish period?

A. Doctrina Christiana C. Footnote to Youth
B. Dasalan at Tocsohan D. Urbana at Feliza

5. Who among the following propagandists used the pen name Plaridel?
A. Marcelo H. del Pilar C. Jose P. Rizal
B. Pedro Paterno D. Graciano Lopez Jaena

6. Which of the following is NOT a work of Jose Rizal?

A. Noli Me Tangere C. Sa Aking Mga Kabata
B. El Filibusterismo D. Ninay

7. Who wrote Katapusang Hibik ng Pilipinas and Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa?

A. Marcelo H. del Pilar C. Pedro Paterno
B. Andres Bonifacio D. Apolinario Mabini

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8. Who among the following are the first American teachers in the
Philippines?
A. Dominicans C. Thomasites
B. Augustinians D. Jesuits

9. Which of the following did NOT emerge during the Pre-Spanish period?
A. Haiku C. Proverbs
B. Folksongs D. Riddles

10. Which of the proverbs does NOT talk about hypocrisy?

A. She seems to be a saint, but her heart is naughty.
B. The ant is where the sugar is.
C. When she turns her back she looks like a virgin, but when she faces you
she looks like a ‘sigbin’.
D. It is hard to wake a person who pretends to be asleep.

B. Identify the period of Philippine literature which is characterized by items 1-

10. Write the letter on your answer on the space provided before each number.

A. Precolonial B. Spanish C. American D. Japanese E. Contemporary

___A__1. Literature was handed down by word of mouth.

___B__2. Pre-colonial epics were changed.
___B__3. First work of prose was written.
___C__4. Short story flourished.
___B__5. There were metrical romances.
___B__6. There were religious and rebellious literatures.
___D__7. The short poem of three lines was known.
___D__8. Liwayway magazine was under strict supervision.
___E__9. Filmmaking has become the most popular art form.
___E__10. There are vast literary works in different literary forms.

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Name: Roveeh Rose M. Laurito Subject: LIT 111
Yr/Cr/Sec: 3 BSN B Date: February 27, 2022

USE READING SKILLS: Analyze Sequence of Events

1. Review the Sequence Map you created. Briefly retell the sequence of events in
writing as they occur.
When the Spaniards came in the Philippines, oral literature, including
epics and folktales, was chanted. They were destroyed by the invaders because
they believed written literature made of perishable materials was Satan's
creation. As a result, a printing press was created, and Doctrina Christiana was
published for the first time in 1593. In 1605, the poem May Bagyo Ma't Rilim
became the first Tagalog literary work to be printed, although its author
remained unknown. The Biag ni Lam-ang, on the other hand, were the first
Christians to be chronicled. In 1872, the three priests-martyrs were executed.
Since then, there has been a wave of requests for change in response to Spanish
abuses. In 1885, Pedro Paterno wrote the first novel Ninay, which sparked
widespread interest.
When Rizal was apprehended and imprisoned in Dapitan, the Katipunan
was created with the publication of Katapusang Hibik ng Pilipinas and Pag-ibig
sa Tinubuang Lupa. Under the Treaty of Paris, the Spaniards formally handed up
the Philippines to America in 1899. The arrival of the first group of Thomasites,
or American teachers, changed our educational system in the Philippines.
Filipino writers began writing in English as a result of the widespread
publication of The Philippine Free Press (1905) and the College Folio (UP school
organ, 1910). Meanwhile, due to a scarcity of paper during WWII, haiku became
increasingly popular.

2. After looking into the events that shaped Philippine literary landscape, we may
find that we have become a society of various or heterogeneous traditions. Is this
an advantage or disadvantage? Explain your answer.
Actually even the Philippines was occupied by many countries I can be
said that there is so many things that could had good happens. We've collected a
diverse range of cultures, traditions, and knowledge from various settlers. So, I
can say that it is an advantage to our Philippine literary landscape of having that
heterogeneous tradition. With these various traditions, we can realize how this
positively shapes our society and identities or nationalism. I believe that this will
not only make our literary field diverse but the Philippines as well. I’m not saying
that we should been occupied by others but my point of view is we had a lot of
knowledge that we got from them.
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