QUARTER 1

21st Century Literature

Grade 11

Samantha Coleen I. Almero

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Study Schedule:

Week Lessons
Midterm
Week 1 and 2 Lesson 1 – GEOGRAPHIC,
LINGUISTIC, AND ETHNICA
DIMENSIONS OF THE
PHILIPPINES

Week 3 Lesson 2– COMPARE AND

CONTRAST VARIOUS 21ST
CENTURY GENRES FROM
THE EARLIER
GENRES/PERIODS

Week 4 Lesson 3– REPRESENTATIVE

TEXT FROM THE REGION

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Facebook Account: Samantha Coleen Almero
Mobile Number: 09476212248 (Smart) -Ma’am Sam

DISCLOSING MY PERSONAL INFORMATION IS STRICTLY

PROHIBITED.

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 LESSON 1
GEOGRAPHIC, LINGUISTIC, AND ETHNICA DIMENSIONS OF
THE PHILIPPINES

Introduction
Do you know that…. Our forefathers already had their own
literature which was reflected in their customs and traditions? They
had their own alphabet even before they were colonized. Their
alphabet was burned by the Spanish friars in the belief that they
were work of the devil or were written on materials that easily
perished, like the barks of trees, dried leaves and bamboo cylinders
which could not have remained undestroyed even if efforts were
made to preserve them. Other records that remained showed folk
songs that proved existence of a native culture truly on our own.
Some of these were passed on by word of mouth till they reached
the hands of some publishers or printers who took interest in
printing the manuscripts of the ancient Filipinos. Our unique
geographic location is the reason or having rich and varied.

Pre-Spanish Literature is characterized by

❖ Legends. Legends are form of prose. The common theme
which is about the origin of a thing, place, location or name.
the events are imaginary, devoid of truth and unbelievable.
Old Filipino customs are reflected in these legends.
❖ Folk Tales. Folk tales are made up of stories about life,
adventure, love, horror and humor where one can derive
lessons about life. These are useful to us because they help
us appreciate our environment, evaluate our personalities
and improve our perspectives in life. An example of this is
“the Moon and the Sun.”
❖ The Epic Age. Epics are long narrative poems in which a
series of heroic achievements or events, usually of a hero,
are dealt with a length. Nobody can determine which epics
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 are the oldest because in their translations from other
languages, even in English and Spanish.
❖ Folk Songs. Folk songs are one of the oldest forms of
Philippine Literature that emerged in the pre-Spanish
period. These songs mirrored the early forms of culture.
Many of these have 12 syllables. Examples of which are
Kundiman, Kumintang o Tagumpay, Ang Dalit o Imno, Ang
Oyayi o Hele, Diana, Soliraning and Talindaw.
❖ Other forms of Pre-Spanish Poerty
• Epigrams (Salawikain) is the oldest form of
Philippine Literature that emerged in the pre-
Spanish period. These songs mirrored the early
forms of culture.
• Riddles (Bugtong) or Palaisipan are made up of one
or more measured lines with rhyme and may consist
of four to 12 syllables. it is known as tigmo in
Cebuano, paktaton in Ilongo and patototdon in Bicol.
• Chant (Bulong) is used in witchcraft or enchantment.
• Maxims are rhyming couplets with verses of 5,6 or 8
syllables, each line having the same number of
syllables.
• Sayings (Kasabihan) are often used in teasing or to
comment on a person’s actuations.
• Sawikain (Sayings) are used to state lines with no
hidden meaning.

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 During these times, many changes occurred in the lived of
Filipinos
✓ Embraced the Catholic religion
✓ Changed their names
✓ Were baptized

Literature in this period may be classified as religious prose and

poetry and secular prose and poetry.

❖ Spanish Influences on Philippine Literature

• The first Filipino alphabet called ALIBATA was
replaced by the Roman alphabet.
• The teaching of the Christian Doctrine became the
basis of religious practices.
• The Spanish language which became the literary
language during this time lent many of its words to
our language.
• European legends and traditions brought here
became assimilated in our songs, corridos, and
moro-moros.
• Ancient literature was collected and translated to
Tagalog and other dialects.
• Many grammar books were printed in Filipino, like
Tagalog, Ilocano and Visayan.
• Our periodicals during these times gained a religious
tone.

❖ The First Books

• ANG DOCTRINA CRISTIANA (THE CHRISTIAN
DOCTRINE). This was the first book printed in the
Philippines in 1593 in xylography.

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 • Nuestra Señora del Rosario. It contains the
biographies of saints, novenas, and questions and
answers on religion.
• Libro de los Cuatro Postprimeras de Hombre (in
Spanish and Tagalog). This is the first book printed
in typography.
• Ang Barlaan at Josephat. This is the Biblical story
printed in the Philippines and translated to Tagalog
from Greek by Fr. Antonio de Borja.
• The Pasion. This is the book about the like and
sufferings of Jesus Christ. It is read only during Lent.
Urbana at Felisa.

❖ Folk Songs. Folk songs became widespread in the

Philippines. Each region had its national song from the
lowlands to the mountains of Luzon, Visayas, and
Mindanao. They truly manifest the artistic feelings of the
Filipinos. They show the Filipinos’ innate appreciation for
and love of beauty. The examples are Leron-Leron Sinta,
Pamulinawen, Dandansoy, Sarong Banggi and Atin Cu
Pung Singsing.

❖ Recreational Plays. There are many recreational plays

performed by Filipinos during the Spanish times. Almost all
of them were in poetic form.

• Tibag – the word tibag means to excavate. This ritual

was brought here by the Spaniard to remind the
people about the search of St. Helena for the Cross
on which Jesus died.
• Lagaylay – this is a special occasion for the
Pilareños of Sorsohon during Maytime to get
together.

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• The Cenaculo – this is a dramatic performance to
commemorate the passion and death of Jesus
Christ.
• Panunuluyan – this is presented before 12:00 on
Christmas Eve. This is a presentation of the search
of the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph for an inn wherein
to deliver the baby Jesus.
• The Salubong (or Panubong) – the Salubong is an
Easter play that dramatizes the meaning of the
Risen Christ and his Mother. It is still presented in
many Philippine towns.
• Carillo (Shadow Play) – this is a form of dramatic
entertainment performed on a moonless night during
a town first or on dark nights after a harvest.
• Zarzuela – considered the father of the drama; it is a
musical comedy or melodrama three acts which
dealt with man’s passions and emotions like love,
hate, revenge, cruelty, avarice or some social or
political probe.
• Sainete – this was a short musical comedy popular
during the 18th century. They were exaggerated
comedies shown between acts of long plays and
were mostly performed by characters from the lower
classes. Themes were taken from everyday life
scenarios.
• Moro-moro. Like the Cenaculom the Moro-moro is
presented also on a special stage. This is performed
during town fiestas to entertain the people and to
remind them of their Christian religion.
• Karagatan. This is a poetic vehicle of a socio-
religious nature celebrated during the death of a
person.
• Duplo. The Duplo replaced the Karagatan. This is a
poetic joust in speaking and reasoning. The roles are
taken from the bible and from proverbs and saying.
It is usually played during wakes for the dead.

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 • Balagtasan. This is a poetic joust or a contest of
skills in debate on a particular topic or issue. This is
replaced by the Duplo and is held to honor Francisco
“Balagtas” Baltazar.
• The Dung-aw. This is a chant in free verse by the
bereaved person or his representative beside the
corpse of the dead. No definite meter or rhyming
scheme is used.
• Awid and the Corrido. Some use these two
interchangeably because distinction is not clear.

Period of Enlightenment (1872-1898)

In 19th Century, Filipino intellectuals educated in Europe
called ilustrados began to write about the hitch of colonization.
The 300 years with Spaniards marked the longest colonial
period in the Philippine history. Due to the deed to see new hope in
the midst of multitude, the Filipino spirit reawakened when the 3
priests Gomez, Burgos, and Zamora were guillotined without
sufficient evidence of guilt.
➢ The Propaganda Movement (1872-1896)
This movement was spearheaded mostly by the
intellectual middle-class like Jose Rizal, Marcelo del Pilar;
Gacriano Lopez Jaena, Antonio Luna, Mariano Ponce, Jose
Ma. Panganiban, and Pedro Paterno.

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 The American Regime (1898-1944)
After having been colonized by the Spaniards, a new set of
colonizers brought about new changes in Philippine Literature.
Linguistically, Americans influenced Filipino writers to write using
English language. English as a medium of instruction was
introduced in the schools as intellectual language of education.
Jose Garcia Villa became famous for his free verse. Angela
Manalang Gloria used free verse in writing her poetry about illicit
love.
Alongside this development, writers in the provinces
continued to use vernacular language. Some of them are Lope K.
Santos, Valeriano Hernandez Pena and Patricio Mariano.
American’s influence was evident in the fusion of American pop
cultures and romantic tradition such as Edgar Rice Burroughs’

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Tarzan by F.P Boquecosa who also penned Ang Palad ni Pepe
after Charles Dicken’s David Copperfield.
➢ The active arousal in the field of literature started to be felt
in the following newspapers.
• EL NUEVO DIA (The New Day). Established by
Sergio Osmeña in 1900. The American censors
twice banned this and threatened Osmeña with
banishment because of his nationalistic writings.
• EL GRITO DEL PUEBLO (The Call of the Nation).
Established by Pascual Poblete in 1900.
• EL RENACIMIENTO (The Rebirth). Founded by
Rafael Palma in 1901.
➢ Plays written during the period
• KAHAPON, NGAYON, AT BUKAS (Yesterday,
Today, and Tomorrow) Written by Aurelio Tolentino
depicting the suppression done by the Americans
and their plan to colonize the Philippines.
• TANIKALANG GINTO of Juan Abad.
• MALAYA by Tomas Remigio.
• WALANG SUGAT by Severino Reyes.
➢ Characteristics of Literature during this period.
• During the first year of the American period, the
languages used in writing were Spanish and
Tagalog and the dialects of the different regions, but
Spanish and Tagalog predominated.
• The writers in Tagalog continued in their
lamentations on the conditions of the country and
their attempts to arouse love for one’s native tongue.
• The writers in English imitated the themes and
methods of the American.

The Japanese Period (1941-1945)

Between 1941-1945, Philippine Literature was interrupted in
its development when the Philippines was again conquered by
another foreign country, Japan. Philippine literature in English came
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to a halt. Except for the TRIBUNE and the PHILIPPINE REVIEW,
almost all newspapers in English were stopped by the Japanese.
➢ Filipino Poetry during this Period
The common theme of most poems during the Japanese
occupation was nationalism, country, love and life in the barrios,
faith, religion and the arts.

Three types of Poems emerged during this period. They were:

• Haiku – a poem of free verse that the Japanese like. It was

made up of 17 syllables divided into three lines. The first line
had 5 syllables, the second, 7 syllables, and the third, five.
The Haiku is allegorical in meaning, is short and covers a
wide scope in meaning.

The moon in the water;

Broken and broken again,
Still, it is there
Chōshū
(Trans. R. H. Blyth)

• Tanaga – like the Haiku, is short but it had measure and

rhyme. Each line had 17 syllables and it’s also allegorical
in meaning.

SANGGOL
(Emilita Perez baes)
Pag ang sanggol ay ngumiti
Nawawala ang pighati,
Pag kalong mo’y sumisidi
Ang pangarap na punyagi.
• Karaniwang Anyo (Usual Form)

The Filipino Short Story during the Japanese Period

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 • The field of the short story widened during the Japanese
Occupation. Many wrote short stories, among them were:
Brigido Batungbakal, Macario Pineda, Serafin Guinigindo,
Liwayway Arceo, Narciso Ramos, NVM Gonzales, Alicia
Lopez Lim, Ligaya Perez, and Gloria Guzman.

Philippine Literature in English (1941-1945)

• Because of the strict prohibitions imposed of the Japanese

in the writing and publishing of works in English, Philippine
literature in English experienced a dark period.

Poetry in English during this Period

• For the first twenty years, many books were published both
in Filipino and in English.

The New Filipino Literature during this Period

• Philippine Literature in Tagalog was revived during this

period. Most themes in the writings dealt with Japanese
brutalities, of the poverty of life under the Japanese
government and the brave guerilla exploits.

Period of Activism (1970-1972)

According to Pociano Pineda, youth activism in 1970-72
was due to domestic and worldwide causes. Activism is connected
with the history of our Filipino youth. Because of the ills of society,
the youth moved to seek reforms. Some continued to believe that
the democratic government is stable and that is only the people
running the government who are at fault. Some believed that
socialism or communism should replace democracy. Some armed

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groups were formed to bring down the democratic form of
government.

The Literary Revolution

The youth became vocal with their sentiments. They
demanded change in the government. This was manifested in the
bloody demonstrations and in the sidewalk expressions but also in
literature. Campus newspapers were written to show their protest.
They held pens and write on placards in red paint the equivalent of
the word MAKIBAKA (To dare!).

Period of the New Society (1972-1980)

The period of the New Society started on September 21,
1921. The Carlos Palanca Awards continued to give annual awards.
Almost all themes in most writings dealt with the development or
progress of the country – like the Green Revolution, family planning,
proper nutrition, environment, drug addiction and pollution. The
New Society tried to stop pornography or those writings giving bad
influences on the morals of the people.

Filipino Poetry during the Period of the New Society

Poems dealt with patience regard for native culture,
customs and the beauties of nature and surroundings. Those who
wrote poetry during the period were: Ponciano Pineda, Aniceto
Silvestre, Jose Garcia Revelo, Bienvenido Ramos, Vicente
Dimasalang, Cir Lopez Francisco, and Pelagio Sulit Cruz.

The Play Under the New Society

In this period, old plays and dramas were revived like the
Tagalog Zarzuela, Cenaculo and the Embayoka of the Muslims
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which were presented in the rebuilt Metropolitan Theater, the Folk
Arts Theater, and the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Comics, Magazines, and Other Publications

During this period of the New Society, newspapers donned
new forms. News on economic progress, discipline, culture, tourism
and the like were favored more than the sensationalized reporting
of killings, rape and robberies. Filipinos before were hooked in
reading magazines and comics. Given below are some of the
examples.

Liwayway is a leading Tagalog weekly magazine published

in the Philippines since 1922. It contains Tagalog serialized novels,
short stories, poetry, serialized comics, essay, news features,
entertainment news and articles, and many others. In fact, it is the
oldest Tagalog magazine in the Philippines. Kislap is a well read ko
in the ’50, was a magazine of general interest: Movie, song, radio,
fiction, features. But its come-on was colored movie ads which
served as the magazine’s cover. The two became the outlets for
writers to publish their works in the new society period.

Period of the Third Republic (1981-1985)

After ten years of military rule and some changes in the life
of the Filipino which started under the New Society, Martial Rule
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was at last lifted on January 2, 1981. The Philippines became a new
nation and this; former President Marcos called “The New Republic
of the Philippines.”
➢ Filipino Poetry – Poems during this period of the Third
Republic were romantic and revolutionary. Writers wrote
openly of their criticism against the government. The
supplications of the people were coached in fiery, colorful,
violent, profane and insulting language.
➢ Filipino Songs – Many Filipino songs dealt with themes that
were really true-to-life like those of grief, poverty, aspirations
for freedom, love of God, of country and of fellowmen.
➢ Children’s Books – Among the well-loved forms of writing
which abounded during this period were those of children’s
stories. The Children’s Communication Center (CCC)
directed by poet and writer Virgilio S. Almario already.

Post-Edsa I Revolution (1886-1995)

History took another twist. Once more, the Filipino people
regained their independence which they lost twenty years ago. In
the span of four days from February 21-25, 1986, the so-called
People Power (Lakas ng Bayan) prevailed. Together, the people
barricaded the streets petitioning the government for changes and
reforms. Freedom became a reality – won through a peaceful,
bloodless and God-blessed revolution.

The State of Literature during this Period:

In the short span of the existence of the true Republic of the
Philippines, several changes already became evident. This is
noticed in the new Filipino songs, in the newspapers, in the
speeches, and even in the television programs.

• On Newspapers and other publications: Newspapers which

were once branded crony newspapers became instant

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 opposition papers overnight. This was true of BULLETIN
TODAY which became the opposition paper. The now crony
newspapers that enjoyed an overnight increase in
circulation were THE INQUIRER, MALAYA, and the
PEOPLE’S JOURNAL.

21st Century Period

Filipino writers continue to write
poetry, short stories, novellas, novels and
essay whether these are socially
committed, gender/ethnic related or are
personal in intention or not. Of course, the
Filipino writers have become more
conscious of their art with proliferation of
writers’ workshop here and abroad and the bulk of literature
available to him via mass media including internet.
The new trends have been used and introduced to meet the
need and taste of new generation. 21st Century learners are
demanded to be ICT inclined to complete globally so as the style
and format of writings as well. New codes or lingos are used to add
flavor in the literary pieces produced nowadays.

EXERCISES:
Activity 1:
Given below are the sample literary piece. For 5 points,
explain by providing real-life scenarios or situations.

____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
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____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________

Activity 2:
From Period of Activism to 21st Century Period, young
writers have contributed significance writings. Write the significant
literary historical events during those times.

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 LESSON 2
COMPARE AND CONTRAST VARIOUS 21 ST CENTURY
GENRES FROM THE EARLIER GENRES/PERIODS

Each literature genre has distinct sub-genres, structure and

elements. Study the table below:

Genres and Sub-genres of Literature: Elements and

Structure
Genre Sub-genre Elements Structure
Poetry • Lyric Rhyme, meter, Written in
(sonnet, figurative devices, lines and
ode, elegy), symbolism stanzas
• dramatic 2 lines –
(soliloquy, couplet
monologue, 3 lines –
dialogue), tercet
and 4 lines –
• narrative quatrain
(epic) 5 lines –
cinquain
6 lines –
sestet
7 lines –
septet
8 lines –
octave
Fiction • Fantasy, Plot, characters, Written in
(stories • folklore, theme, setting, paragrap
that did • mystery, point-of-view, hs
not • suspense or literary devices
happen thriller,
in reality) • historical
fiction,
• science
fiction,
• romance

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Nonfictio • Biography, Plot, characters, Written in
n (factual • references theme, setting, paragrap
stories, (encyclope point-of-view, hs
with real dia, literary devices
characte dictionary,
rs and thesaurus),
setting) • autobiograp
hy
• narrative
(memoir,
testimonio)
• periodicals
(newspaper
s,
magazines,
journal that
are written
regularly)
Drama Tragedy, comedy • literary The script
element serves as
(script the text
• technical and it is
element performe
(scenery, d before
make-up, an
costume, audience
lights, and
sound
• performan
ce element
(acting,
character
analysis,
character
motivation
…)

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Modern Literary Genres:
1. Illustrated Novel – this is a story full text and illustrated
images. 50% of its narrative is presented without words.
Here, the reader must interpret its images to comprehend
the story.
2. Digi-fiction – is a triple media literature; book, movie/video,
internet/website. In order to get the full story, students must
engage in navigation, reading, viewing, in all three formats.
3. Graphic novel – is a narrative work in which the story is
conveyed to the reader using a comic form. The term is
employed in broad manner, encompassing non-fiction
works and thematically linked short stories as well as
fictional stories across a number of genres.
4. Manga – a Japanese word for comics. It is used in the
English-speaking world as a generic term for all comic
books and graphic novels originally published in Japan.
Manga is considered an artistic and storytelling style. The
term “Ameri-Manga” is sometimes used to refer to comics
created by American artists in a manga style.
Manga usually follows the traditional style as found in
Japan. Japanese Manga is to be read from the right side to
the left, opposite of traditional American books. Not only do
you read the pages from right to left, but you also read the
panels and text from right to left.
In America, this traditional Japanese style distinguishes
Manga from other graphic and illustrated texts.
5. Doodle-fiction – the author incorporates doodle writing,
drawings and hand written graphics in place of traditional
font. Drawings enhance the story, often adding humorous
elements that would be missing if the illustrations were
omitted.
6. Text-take novels – these are narrative written in blogs,
email, IM, and messaging format.

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EXERCISE:
Give examples of Doodle Fiction, Manga, and Graphic
Novel and write the similarities and differences using the compare
and contrast Graphic organizer. Do this on a 1/8 illustration board.

GRAPHIC ORGANIZER

Difference in Difference in
Similarities
terms of Structure terms of Elements

Doodle

(Insert (Insert (Insert

example/picture) example/picture) example/picture)

Manga

(Insert (Insert (Insert

example/picture) example/picture) example/picture)

Graphic Organizer

(Insert (Insert (Insert

example/picture) example/picture) example/picture)

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 LESSON 3
REPRESENTATIVE TEXT FROM THE REGION
The country’s rich repertoire of literary masterpieces may be
rooted from the diverse cultural heritage of the Filipino people. From
the mighty roar of the uplanders from the North to the fiery
temperament of the lowlanders from the South, the Filipinos have
produced varied texts that speak of the collective experiences of a
people that have gone through difficulties, triumphs, struggles,
successes, armed conflicts, bloodless revolutions, and others that
resonated loud and clear in the whole of the Philippine archipelago.

Text No. 1: A Taste of Philippine Poetry

Located in the northwest of Luzon, the IIocos Region or
Region 1 is comprised of four provinces namely: Ilocos Norte, Ilocos
Sur, La Union and Pangasinan. It is bordered to the west by the
turbulent South China Sea, to the east by the Cordillera
Administrative Region, the northeast and southeast by Cagayan
Valley and the south by Central Luzon. Most of the inhabitants of
the Ilocano homeland is concentrated along a narrow coastal plain
and because of geographical boundaries, these people often
experience heavy rains and tumultuous typhoons especially during
rainy seasons.

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Text No. 2: A Taste of Tagalog
Essay
More popularly known now as
the CALABARZON referring to the
provinces of Cavite, Laguna,
Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon, Region
IV-A is home to Tagalog-speaking
people in the Philippines. Recognized
all over the country for their bravery
and fearlessness in battles,
CALABARZON has participated actively in the country’s fight for
freedom and democracy. It is home to many a Philippine hero
foremost and among them are: Rizal of Laguna, Mabini of
Batangas, Aguinaldo of Cavite.
The blog you are about to read is a critical essay about the
power of the Filipino language in combatting colonial mentality and
commercialism. Discover how some of the prominent writers of the
Region like Efren Abueg, Rogelio Ordoñez, Edgardo Reyes,
Dominador Mirasol and Rogelio Sikat compiled their written
works in the vernacular to prove that the Tagalog short story could
stream once again into the parched desert-like state of the Filipino
state of mind.

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 20 Aug 2009 by SIGLIWA
Salubungin ang (Bagong) Daluyong ng mga Agos sa Disyerto

SA PANAHONG tila natutuyuan ang mga linang ng

panitikan noong gitnang bahagi ng dekada ’60, dumaloy ang mga
akda nina Efren R. Abueg, Dominador B. Mirasol, Rogelio L. Ordo-
ñez, Edgardo M. Reyes at Rogelio R. Sikat, sa aklat katipunang
Mga Agos sa Disyerto.
Unang buhos ng daluyong ay noong 1964 at isang dekada
ang lumipas, muling umalon at binasa ang namimitak na lupain ng
panitikang Filipino nang mailimbag ang ikalawang edisyon ng Mga
Agos sa Disyerto noong 1974.
Huling sargo ng daluyong ng Agos ay 16 na taon ang
nakararaan, nang lumabas ang ikatlong edisyon nito noong 1993.
Ngayon, sa panahong sampu isang pera ang patakbuhing
literaturang patuloy na lumuluoy sa diwa at kaluluwa ng mga
Pilipino, muling nagbabanta ang pagbugso ng mga Agos sa
Disyerto.

Pananalamin sa tubig ng katotohanang panlipunan

Sinalamin ng 25 akdang isinama sa Agos (na 20 lamang

noong ika-2 edisyon) katotohanang umiiral sa lipunan. Binigyang
mukha ng mga ito ang kalagayan ng karaniwang tao, maging ang
pingkian ng kapangyarihan at karumaldumal na karalitaan at
kawalanghiyaang umiiral sa ating lipunan.
Nilaro ng mga akda ang emosyon at kaisipan, na bagaman
ginagawa na noon, hindi ganoong kahantad.

Mga Ariel at Cleofe sa Pilipinas sa kuwento ni Abueg

Amor vincit omnia, sabi ng matandang kasabihang Latin—

hahamakin ang lahat, maging ang umiiral na mga patakarang
panlipunan, sa ngalan ng pagibig at ito ang tila ibig patunayan ng
akda ni Abueg na Sa Bagong Paraiso.
Magkalangkap, at hindi mapaghihiwalay, ang laman at ang
puso, ang libog at ang pagibig; ito ang nalaman nina Cleofe at Ariel
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nang pangahasan nilang lasapin ang bawal na bunga at
magsupling ito, sa kuwento ni Abueg na Sa Bagong Paraiso.
Sabi ng pamosong sikoanalistang si Sigmund Freud, ang
pagnanasa ang isa sa pinakamalakas na emosyong maaaring
maramdaman ng isang tao.
Aniya pa, ang seksuwal na pagnanasa’y nararanasan ng
isang tao mula sa kanyang pagkabata hanggang sa kanyang
pagtanda. Tila ito ang binaybay ng istorya ni Abueg.
Sa ngayon, maraming Cleofe at Ariel sa mga kabataang
Pilipino. Dahil ayon nga sa Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality
Survey (2003) 23 porsiyento ng kabataang Pinoy, ang tumitikim ng
ipinagbabawal na bunga, gaya nang sinasabi sa istorya ni Abueg.

Panahon na muling padaluyin ang Agos

Sa panahong muling nararanasan ang katuyuan sa linang

ng panitikang Pilipino, dahil na rin sa pamamanginoon sa diyos ng
komersiyalismo, gaya nang sinabi ni Lumbera noong 1993,
umaasam ang maraming mulat at uhaw ang pag-iisip sa muling
pagdaloy ng Mga Agos sa Disyerto.
Hindi himod sa pundilyo, ang pahayag; isa itong
katotohanan, sa abang palagay, nalalaman ng lahat bagaman
patuloy na itinatanggi ng karamihan.
Patuloy na nararahuyo ngayon sa panitikang nagkakandili
nang hindi malulunok na mga ilusyon, nakasentro sa libog at
pagkamakasarili, ang maraming mambabasa.
Panahon na para muling padaluyin—hindi—dapat
pasarguhin ang agos. At hayaang paglawain nito ang uhaw at
namimitak na linang ng panitikang Pilipino at nang sa gayon, hindi
ito maging disyertong katatagpuan ng mga kalansay, mga siit, ng
damong tuyo at naghihingalong Oasis na hindi man lamang
makatighaw ng pagkauhaw ng puso, isip at kaluluwa ng isang Juan
de la Cruz.

Antipulo, Rizal | Agosto 20, 2009

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The Power of Language
The blog above is a persuasive essay that focuses on the
potent capacity of a national language to arouse patriotism and love
of country in its people. Despite the numerous advantages of
knowing how to communicate in the English language, a Filipino
must not be confused in knowing when, where, and how to use his
native tongue.

Encountering Regional Literature

The different regions in the Philippine have a variety of
literature that reflects the growth of a nation rich in socio-cultural
and historical experiences. Their way of life, their tradition, their
language, and their belief in a Supreme Being that subsumes all of
creation are mirrored in the myriad of literary pieces that developed
alongside their own history.

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EXERCISES:
Activity 1: Essay Type (10 points each)
1. In what ways can you as a Filipino reader be affected by such
works (short stories in Tagalog) that endeavor to open the minds of
people on socio-political and moral issues confronting the country?
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
2. Is it still important to read, write, and learn in our national
language? Why or why not?
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________

Activity 2: Discuss
Five Brothers, One Mother
Taurus St., Cinco Hermanos, Marikina

The Marikina house wasn’t finished yet, but with an

ultimatum hanging over our heads, we had no choice but to move
in. Just how unfinished the house was becoming bruisingly clear on
our first night. There was no electricity yet, and the windows didn’t
have screens. There were mosquitoes. I couldn’t sleep the whole
night. My sister slept on a cot out in the upstairs hall instead of her
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room downstairs, maybe because it was cooler here. Every so often
she would toss and turn, waving bugs away with half-asleep hands.
I sat beside her and fanned her. She had worked the next day. In
the morning someone went out and bought boxes and boxes of
Katol.
Work on the house would continue, but it remains unfinished
eight years later. All the interiors, after a few years of intermittent
work, are done. But the exterior remains unpainted, still the same
cement gray as the day we moved in, though grimier now.
Marikina’s factories aren’t too far away. The garden remains
ungreened; earth, stones, weeds, and leaves are where I suppose
bermuda grass will be put down someday.

In my eyes the Marikina house is an attempt to return to the

successful Green meadows plan, but with more modest means at
one’s disposal. The living room of the Cinco Hermanos house
features much of the same furniture, a similar look. The sofa and
wing chairs seem at ease again. My mother’s growing collection of
angel figurines is the new twist. But there is less space in this room,
as in most of the rooms in the Marikina house, since it is a smaller
house on a smaller lot.

The kitchen is carefully planned, as was the earlier one, the

cooking and eating areas clearly demarcated. There is again a
formal dining room, and the new one seems to have been designed
for the long narra dining table, a lovely Designs Ligna item, perhaps
the one most beautiful piece of furniture we have, bought on the
cheap from relatives leaving the country in a hurry when we still
were on Heron Street.

Upstairs are the boys’ rooms. The beds were the ones
custom-made for the Green meadows house, the same ones we’d
slept in since then. It was a loft or an attic, my mother insisted, which
is why the stairs had such narrow steps. But this "attic," curiously
enough, had two big bedrooms as well as a wide hall. To those of
us who actually inhabited these rooms, the curiosity was an
annoyance. There was no bathroom, so if you had to go to the toilet
in the middle of the night you had to go down the stairs and come
back up again, by which time you were at least half awake.
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 Perhaps there was no difference between the two houses
more basic, and more dramatic, than their location. This part of
Marikina is not quite the same as the swanky part of Ortigas we
inhabited for five years. Cinco Hermanos is split by a road, cutting
it into two phases, that leads on one end to Major Santos Dizon,
which connects Marcos Highway with Katipunan Avenue. The other
end of the road stops at Olandes, a dense community of pedicabs,
narrow streets, and poverty. The noise – from the tricycles, the
chattering on the street, the trucks hurtling down Marcos Highway
in the distance, the blaring of the loudspeaker at our street corner
put there by eager-beaver barangay officials – dispels any illusions
one might harbor of having returned to a state of bliss.
***
The first floor is designed to create a clear separation
between the family and guest areas, so one can entertain outsiders
without disturbing the house’s inhabitants. This principle owes
probably more to my mother than my father. After all, she is the
entertainer, the host. The living room, patio, and dining room – the
places where guests might be entertained – must be clean and
neat, things in their places. She keeps the kitchen achingly well-
organized, which is why there are lots of cabinets and a deep
cupboard.
And she put them to good use. According to Titus, the
fourth, who accompanied her recently while grocery shopping, she
buys groceries as if all of us still lived there. I don’t recall the
cupboard ever being empty.
That became her way of mothering. As we grew older and
drifted farther and farther away from her grasp, defining our own
lives outside of the house, my mother must have felt that she was
losing us to friends, jobs, loves – forces beyond her control.
Perhaps she figured that food, and a clean place to stay, was what
we still needed from her. So, over the last ten years or so she has
become more involved in her cooking, more attentive, better. She
also became fussier about meals, asking if you’ll be there for lunch
or dinner so she knows how much to cook, reprimanding the one
who didn’t call to say he wasn’t coming home for dinner after all, or

31
the person who brought guests home without warning. There was
more to it than just knowing how much rice to cook.
I know it gives her joy to have relatives over during the
regular Christmas and New Year get-togethers, which have been
held in our house for the past half decade or so. She brings out the
special dishes, cups and saucers, platters, glasses, bowls, coasters
and doilies she herself crocheted. Perhaps I understand better why
her Christmas decor has grown more lavish each year.
After seeing off the last guests after the most recent
gathering, she sighed, "Ang kalat ng bahay!" I didn’t see her face,
but I could hear her smiling. My father replied, "Masaya ka naman."
It wasn’t a secret.

Sundays we come over to the house, everyone who has

moved out, and have lunch together. Sunday lunches were always
differently esteemed in our household. Now that some of us have
left, I sense that my siblings try harder than they ever did to be there.
I know I do. I try not to deprive my mother the chance to do what
she does best.
When we were little, my siblings and cousins, we spent
Sundays there. I learned how to ride a bicycle on the long driveway.
We played tennis on a neighbor’s court after climbing the back wall.
In the grassy front yard, we played baseball, and I hit the first
homerun in that tiny ballpark. We fished for star apples with long
bamboo sticks, picked dewy santan, got caught in the thorny
bougainvillea bushes retrieving errant pingpong balls. The last time
I passed by the lot the house had been torn down.
My father would have been thirteen when he moved into it;
he was over sixty when he and his brothers and sisters let it go. It
made sense to sell it, but I wonder if anything was bargained away
in the transaction. He had lost his parents years before. Was losing
the house a final orphaning?
***
Is this the last one? Am I here for good? Or should I keep
the boxes and packing tape handy? Houses provided us the
necessary certainties – somewhere to come home to where you’d

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find your family, your things, a hot dinner, a bed or a good couch.
Write to me here. Call me at this number. But I’ve changed a
dresses and phone numbers enough times to know better. Perhaps
that’s what houses are really about: the fundamental uncertainty of
life, the slowly learned fact that the reference points by which we
draw our maps and chart our course are ever shifting, and a life’s
cartography is never quite done.
I count my blessings, the ghosts of houses past included.

Questions:
1. What does a house mean to someone? What does a home?
What is the difference?
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____________________________________________________
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____________________________________________________
2. What is the role of a mother in a home? How does this role
change when the children are all grown-up and have their own lives
to lead?
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
3. What forces a family to leave their homes? What happened to
the family in the story?
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
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4. What fond recollection does the speaker have in his house? Why
do you say so?
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
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____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
5. Does the third to the last paragraph amusing on the part of the
speaker? What did he say about a house? Do you agree with him?
Why or why not?
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____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________

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