21st Century Lit.

#1
Literature is a term used to describe written and sometimes spoken material. It is derived from the Latin word
literatura meaning "writing form with letters". Literature refers to works of the creative imagination, including
poetry, drama, fiction, non-fiction, and sometimes, journalism. Literature represents that culture and tradition of
a language or a people. Literature allows us to step back in time and learn about life on earth from the ones who
walked before us.
Now that we are done defining the word "literature", we will now discuss how literature evolved in the
Philippines. There are four periods in Philippine Literature. Let us start with the pre-colonial literature and
Spanish colonial literature.
Philippine Pre-Colonial Literature
There are variety and abundance of Philippine literature evolved even before the colonial periods which are the
folk tales, epics, poems and marathon chants existed in most ethno linguistic groups that were passed on from
generation to generation through word of mouth.
Tales are associated with the Spanish conquest and also took part in the country's rich cultural heritage. Some of
these pre-colonial literary pieces showcased in traditional narratives, speeches and songs are tigmo in Cebuano,
bugtong in Tagalog, patototdon is Bicol and paktakon in Ilongo. Philippine epics and folk tales are varied and
filled with magical characters.
They are either narratives and mostly mythical objects, persons or certain places, or epics telling supernatural
events and bravery of heroes, customs and ideologies of a community.
Here are the descriptions and other forms of literature that were passed on by the early Filipinos to today's
generation.
Proverbs are practical observations and philosophy of everyday life that are written usually in a rhyming
scheme. This is also to entertain while teaching basic skills in surviving local life. In Filipino it is being called
as salawikain.
Example: "kung ano ang puno, siya ang bunga" "kung walang tiyaga, walang nilaga"
Riddles are like proverbs with one main difference. Here, they demand an answer and are used to test the wits
of those who are listening to them and it requires an answer. In Filipino it is Bugtong.
Example: Heto na si kaka, bubuka-bukaka.
Folksongs are beautiful songs that are informal expressions of our ancestors' experiences in life. These range
from courtship which they sing in a harana or a serenade for a girl, to lullabies, harvests, funerals, and others.
Example: Serenade for a girl, Lullabies and Funerals
Tales are stories of origin for certain places, their names, and their creation. These are also known as myths and
legends. They usually are used to explain certain events or phenomena in our ancestors' lives that cannot be
explained by the limited practical kind of science they knew back then. Some examples are origins of mountains
such as Mount Makiling or Mount Arayat, or legends of great heroes like Bernardo Carpio.
Example: Origin of Mount Makiling Origin of Mount Arayat
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Epics are long-winded poems about a hero and his adventures and misadventures. It usually tells of a male hero
who is born with all leasing qualities that your ancestors like in a person and who also has superhuman
capabilities. One of the famous epic in the Philippines is from Ilocos which is Biag ni Lam Ang.
Example: Biag ni Lam Ang
Spanish Colonial Philippine Literature
When the Spaniards came, there was an immediate shift on the focus of Literature. It became centered on the
Christian faith, and the stories about natural phenomena suddenly became all about the lives of saints and other
religious hymns. Slowly, Philippine literature started to emulate the traditional Spanish ways of themes and
forms in writing, including the repetitive plots and obvious shadowy characters. Despite these changes,
Filipinos will found a way to make Spanish literature to their own. Different forms or kinds of literature as
follows:
Spanish Colonial Literature focused on the society and culture as reflected and affected by the Catholic faith.
Up until now, this kind of influence still reigns true in Filipino society, as the Philippines is one of the largest
remaining Catholic countries in the world in terms of population.
Corrido is a popular narrative song and poetry that forms a ballad. The songs are often about oppression,
history, daily life for peasants, and other socially relevant topics.
Awit is a type of Filipino poem, consisting of 12-syllable quatrains. It is also sung and used in religious
processions.
Pasyon is a Philippine epic narrative of the life of Jesus Christ, focused on his Passion, Death, and Resurrection.
In stanzas of five lines of eight syllables each, the standard elements of epic poetry are interwoven with a
colourful, dramatic theme.
Cenaculo is a Lenten play that depicts events from the Old and New Testaments related to the life, sufferings,
and death of Christ. The senakulo is traditionally performed on a proscenium-type stage with painted cloth or
paper backdrops that are called telon.
Moro-Moro refers to a type of folk drama performed in villages throughout the Philippines, usually during
fiestas. Although each village's moro-moro is a little different in terms of treatment, all are full of romance and
melodrama, and the highpoint is always a battle between Muslims and Christians.
Carillo this is a form of dramatic entertainment performed on a moonless night (shadow play) during a town
fiesta or on dark nights after a harvest.
Tibag means 'to excavate". It reminds us about the search of St. Helena for the Cross

on which Jesus died. The Cenaculo is a dramatic performance to commemorate the passion and death of Jesus
Christ.
Duplo or Karagatan are narrative dramas that are connected to catholic mourning rituals and harvest
celebrations.
Zarzuela is a Spanish lyric-dramatic genre that alternates between spoken and sung scenes, the latter
incorporating operatic and popular songs, as well as dance. There is also a strong tradition in the Philippines
where it is also known as sarswela/sarsuela.
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ESSENTIAL UNDERSTANDING
 Precolonial literature of the Philippines was marked by your ancestors' daily observations about life,
explanations for natural phenomena, and beginnings of rituals.
 It functions as an explanation for society and culture as they know it to be.
 Spanish Colonial literature focused on the society and culture as reflected and affected by the catholic
faith.
 Up until now, this kind of influence still reigns true in Filipino society, as the Philippines is one of the
largest remaining Catholic countries in the world in terms of population.
#2
As.we look back to our last Suhay, we have tackled the different forms or kinds of literature from Pre-
colonial and Spanish colonial literature. For this week, we will discuss the Philippine poetry and other
literary genres that were shared orally.
Poetry is probably the most sophisticated of all literary genres. Your Filipino ancestors, through oral
tradition, shared epics, proverbs, riddles, and folksongs in poetic form with a specific formal scheme in
which they strictly followed. Local poetic identity has been continually transformed by the different
colonizers who have stayed in the country and the continued fascination with languages such as English,
Filipino, Visayan, Bikolano and so much more. Yet, poetry is still the chosen genre of many local writers,
for it offers a uniqueness that other genres may not achieve, the opportunity to see the world anew, with
every single written word.
Philippine Poetry: It’s Form, Language, and Speech
 Senses and images are used by the writer to describe his/her impressions of his/her topic or object of
writing. The writer uses carefully chosen and phrased words to create an imagery that the reader can see
through his or her senses.
Visual Imagery is what the writer wants to see taste
Olfactory Imagery is what the writer wants to Tactile Imagery is what the writer wants to feel
smell Auditory Imagery is what the write wants to
Gustatory Imagery is what the writer wants to hear

 Diction is another important element in Filipino poetry. In fact, Filipino writers are very careful of the
way they write the words they use to form their poems. It is the denotative and connotative meaning of
the words in a sentence, phrase, paragraph, or poem.
 Rhyme Scheme is the way the author arranges words, meters, lines, and stanzas to create a coherent
sound when the poem is read out loud. It may be formal or informal, depending on the way the poem
was written by the poet.
These are emphasized in this canonical poem,"Gabu", one of the most widely read local poems in
English by Carlos Angeles.
Close Reading of Filipino Poetry
Before we proceed to your tasks, let us try to know the concept of organic unity. The coricept of organic
unity was established by the new criticism school.
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To understand the organic unity of a poem, you must use the process of close reading. So what is Close
Reading? Close reading is a way for you to analyze the poem by carefully reading and rereading a text until
you håve found its interpretation.
When you close read a poem, what must you look for? Context of the poem – when it was written, the
setting in which it was written, the reason what it was written.
ESSENTIAL UNDERSTANDING
 The country’s poetry reflects your history as a Filipino and may also explore the possibilities of the
Filipino’s future culture and society.
 Even in a progressive country like the Philippines, there is still racial prejudice. You may see examples
of these every day in your life without being aware of it.
 Your awareness will help you to understand what a student like you can do to a combat this kind of
social issue.