PHILIPPINE LITERARY HISTORY

PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD
BC - 1564
BC - 1564
The pre-colonial period
Historical Background

 It happened before Spaniards claimed the Philippines in 1565.

 The pre-colonial Philippine archipelago was home to numerous kingdoms and sultanates.

 The society was organized in strict social classes, such as Datu, Maginoo, Maharlika, Timawa,
and Alipin.

 The items much prized in the islands included jars, which were a symbol of wealth throughout
South Asia, and later metal, salt and tobacco. In exchange, the people would trade feathers, rhino
horns, horn bill beaks, beeswax, bird's-nests, resin, and rattan.

 Works of literature were oral in nature—literature that has been passed on by word of mouth.

 Subjects of literary works were about life, its blessings, and its consequences; contained ideas
from birth to the grave.

 Its oral characteristic have the possibility for many alterations.

 Many Filipinos still admired pre-colonial literature despite of its many alterations.

 The living sources of pre-colonial literature were the local native town folk.

 Baybayin was the oldest writing system.

Indosphere
SINOsphere
Characteristics, forms, examples
A. ORAL LITERATURE
Forms:
1. Riddles
2. Proverbs/Maxims/Epigrams
3. Tanaga
4. Chants
5. Sayings
1. Riddles

 Known as Bugtong in Filipino

 Known as Tigmo in Cebuano
 A battle of wits among participants
 Involves reference to one or two images that symbolize the characteristics of an unknown objects
that is to be guessed
 Made up of one or more measured lines with rhymes and may consist of 4 to 12 syllables
Example in Cebuano
Baboy sa lasang, A wild pig of the forest,
Ang tunok puro lansang. Is covered with spikes.
Tubag: nangka Answer: jackfruit
Purpose of riddles
Riddles during pre-canonical Philippines were composed of five purposes (Pre Colonial Philippine
Literature, 2011):
1. To entertain: Before the advent of electricity, families would sit around the fire and the elders would
quiz the younger generation with riddles.
2. To educate: Riddles serve the function of passing down knowledge from one generation to the next.
They require thinking in order to solve them.
3. To titillate: Many old Filipino riddles contain “double entendre’ that were intended to amuse the men
and surprise the women. https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/double-entendre.html
4. To curse implicitly. A riddle could be made up against an enemy, rival town, or suitor.
5. To preserve the culture. Riddles communicate the old ways from one generation to the next.
2. Proverbs, epigrams, maxims

 Known as Salawikain or Sawikain in Filipino

 Known as Panultihon in Cebuano
 Short poems that have been customarily been used and served as laws or rules on good
behavior by our ancestors
 Allegories or parables that impart lessons for the young
 Often expressing a single idea, that is usually satirical and had a witty ending
 Maxims – rhyming couplets (5,6,8 syllables)

Salawikain
Filipino on Friendship
Ang matapat na kaibigan, tunay na maasahan.
(You will know a true friend in time of need.)
Mandaya on Virginity (Mandaya is the largest tribal unit in southeastern Mindanao.)
Yang ataog aw madugdug, di da mamauli.
(An egg once broken, will never be the same.)
Tausug on Secret Affairs (Tausug is an ethnic group that mainly lives in Jolo, Sulu.)
In lasa iban uba, di hikatapuk.
(Love and cough, cannot be hidden.)
Ilocano on Guilt (Ilocano or Iloko people mainly inhabit in northwestern Luzon.)
Ti agutak, isut nagitlog.
(He who cackles, laid the egg.)
Sawikain
Sawikain
Expressions Word-for-word translation Meaning
Kumukulo ang dugo Blood is boiling Is very angry
Isulat sa tubig Write on water Forget about it
Maxims
Expression
Pag hindi ukol, hindi bubukol.
Meaning
What is not intended for one will not bear fruit.
3. Tanaga

 A short poetic form that is the Filipino equivalent of Japanese Haiku

 Consists of four lines with seven syllables each with the same rhyme at the

end of each line (i.e., mono-rhyming heptasyllabic quatrain, or 7-7-7-7

syllabic verse, with an AABB rhyme scheme)

 The focus is to express insights and lessons in life and is more emotionally

charged than the proverb, thus, has affinities with folk lyric.
Example
Original Version (Filipino) Translation (English)
Tumatawag sa langit; To the heavens, I call out;
Hiling sana’y makamit… And I wish to ease my doubt...
Na tadhana’y makita — T’was my place I want to find —
Malimot pagdududa. While leaving all fears behind.
4. Chants

 Used in witchcraft or enchantments

 Known as Bulong Filipino
 Used by our ancestors to ask for permission from spirits or supernatural beings so as not to have
bad things happen to them

Example,
Tabi, tabi po, Ingkong
Makikiraan po lamang.
Witchcraft
Filipino version English translation
Ikaw ang magnanakaw ng Bigas ko, You stole my rice,
Lumuwa sana ang mga mata mo, May your eye bulge,
Mamaga sana ang katawan mo, And your body swell,
Patayin ka ng mga Anito. Be killed by the Anitos (gods).
5. Sayings

 Known as Kasabihan in Filipino

 Used in teasing or to comment on a person’s actuations

Examples,
1) Walang mahirap na gawa ‘pag dinaan sa tiyaga.
Nothing’s hard to do if you pursue it through perseverance.
2) Ang kaginhawaan ay nasa kasiyahan, at wala sa kasaganahan.
Well-being is in happiness and not in prosperity.
B. FOLK SONGS

 A form of folk lyric that is usually chanted—contain ideas on aspirations, hopes, everyday life and
expressions of love for loved ones and is bounded by learning of good morals
 Straightforward and not figurative in nature; often repetitive and sonorous, didactic and naïve

Sonorous: imposingly deep and full (“Sonorous,” 2020)

Forms
1. Lullabies
2. Drinking songs
3. Serenade
4. Songs of death
5. Religious songs
1. Lullabies

 Locally known as Hele or Uyayi

 Sung to put babies to sleep
 Content varies, but is usually sung by parents with ideas on how hard life is and how they hope
that their child will not experience the hardships of life

Dungdungwen Kanto (Ilocano)

For English translation of lyrics, visit this page:
https://www.mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=481
Watch this video:
Ili-ili Tulog Anay (Ilonggo)
Watch this video.
2. Drinking Songs

 Locally known as Tagay

 Sung during drinking sessions

3. serenade

 Locally known as Harana in Cebuano and in Filipino

 These are Courtship Songs used by young men to capture the heart of the girl they love

Visit these links to view an example of Harana and how and why it is done
4. Songs of death

 Locally known as Tagulaylay

 These are lamentations that contain the role of good deeds that the dead usually done to
immortalize his/her good image

5. Religious songs

 These are songs or chants that are usually given during exorcisms and thanksgiving during good
harvest
 Exorcism was usually done by Babaylans, or Philippine shamans (i.e. almost always women or
feminized men) were shamans of the various ethnic groups of the pre-colonial Philippines,
specialized in communicating, appeasing, or harnessing the spirits of the dead and the spirits of
nature.
  There were also various subtypes of Babaylan specializing in the arts of healing and herbalism,
divination, and sorcery.

c. FOLK TALES

 Locally known as “Mga Kwentong Bayan”, pre-canonical stories contained ideas about dealing
with the power of nature—personified, their submission to a deity—usually Bathala— and how
this deity is responsible for the blessings and calamities

 Pre-canonical Philippine folk tales also tackle about irresponsibility, lust, stupidity, deception, and
fallibility that eventually leads to the instilling of good morals

Themes of Pre-canonical phil. folk tales

1) Ceremonies to appease the deities
2) Pre-and-post apocalypse
3) Life and Death
4) Gods and Goddesses
5) Heroes and Heroines
6) Supernatural beings
7) Animals
Forms
1. Myths
2. Legends
3. Fables
4. Epics
1. Myths

 Tackle the natural to strange occurrences of the earth and how things were created with an aim
to give an explanation to things.
 There are many creation myths in Philippine mythology, originating from various ethnic groups;
for example,

1) the Story of Bathala

Click this link: http://winners.virtualclassroom.org/0914/asia/phi02.html
2) the Visayan Creation Myth
Click this link : https://www.aswangproject.com/visayan-origin-myth/
3) Ang Pag-aaway ng Dagat at Langit
Deities and Paradise

 There is presence of different deities, for example:

1. Bathala for the Tagalogs

2. Gueurang for the Bikolanos

 Paradise is known as Maca, while Hell is Kasanaaan

Mythical creatures
1) Aswang (vampire, ghouls) – appear at night to prey upon unwary travelers or sleeping people, with
particular liking for the taste of human liver
2) Dila – drawn to those who are ill, this spirit passes through the bamboo flooring or provincial houses
then licks the sick and dying to death
3) Diwata (fairies or nymphs) – can be male or female known for being astoundingly beautiful and ageless
and believed to bring blessings upon those who do good to the forests and mountains, and curses upon
those who harm them
Mythical creatures (cont...)
4) Dewende (goblins, elves dwarves) – believed to provide good fortune or foretell an ominous fate to
people
5) Tikbalang (demon horse) – a half-man and half-horse creature believed to travel at night to rape female
mortals
6) Mangkukulam (witch/wizard, sorcerers) – believed to cast evil spells to humans
To see the complete list of Philippine mythical creatures, visit this link:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_mythical_creatures
2. Legends

 Through legends, the natives understood mysteries around them

 Stories usually come with lessons that give credit to supernatural powers, supernatural
occurrences, and other out-of-this-world native imagination
 Examples,

1) The Legend of Maria Makiling

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YGNnW8ykmU
2) The Legend of Sampaguita
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNBDi20Nkf0
3. Fables

 Employ animals, plants, inanimate objects, or forces of nature as characters

 Narrates fantastic stories that deal with underworld characters, including but not limited to:

a) tiyanak - babies who died before receiving baptism rites and are believed to transform into evil spirits
and eat living victims;
b) aswang; and
c) kapre – or “Agta” in Cebuanos, they are filthy giants who like to smoke huge rolls of cigars
Examples
1) Ang Kuneho at ang Pagong
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-mM8Oxagn8
2) Si Juan Tamad
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xosv_OsOKKM
4. Epics
These are narratives of sustained length based on oral tradition revolving around supernatural events or
heroic deeds
Ifugao
1) Hudhud ni Aliguyon
- Tells a daring feat of Aliguyon as he battles his arch-enemy, Pambukhayon
http://florizaacido.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-story-of-hudhud-ni-aliguyon.html
Ilocos
2) Biag ni Lam-ang
- Tells the adventures of Lam-ang who exhibits extraordinary power at a very young age
https://www.aswangproject.com/mythical-heroes-of-philippines/
Bicol
3) Ibalon
- Tells the story of three Bicol heroes: Bantong, Baltog, and Handyong
https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Flh4.googleusercontent.com
%2F3sPXVlloP6io9zrkVFsntBZX_ZfVWEJUjdEH1lVxL8k0Bx8hNtBkSDiAIxMWeTQEOnqjf2bB-jKAHtixjN-
0nZQ3TzhkLA_Oa7TGA0sG41s7o_ybv5FM_4JhGBQ2RFGVuQ%3Ds412&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F
%2Fdocs.google.com%2Fdocument%2Fd%2F1JqUL4FMk7FpPW6TlUqnabMvQe2fF3-
oRq_MWSDSf7ts&tbnid=gKePWXEI4DafwM&vet=12ahUKEwiH4tS4tMfqAhUAy4sBHTTSCIcQMygFegUI
ARCxAQ..i&docid=_DpEqsjNPipPdM&w=412&h=309&q=ibalon
%20epic&safe=active&ved=2ahUKEwiH4tS4tMfqAhUAy4sBHTTSCIcQMygFegUIARCxAQ
Maranao
4) Darangan

 Tells the heroic adventures of a mythical hero, Darangan

 Darangan, which is written in Maranao (Maranaw) language narrates the heroic feats of the
Maguindanao people–highlighting the bravery and prowess of the skilled Moro warriors

https://pinoywritings.blogspot.com/2017/06/darangan-epiko-ng-maranaomaranao-epic.html
Panay
5) Hinilawod

 Considered the oldest and longest epic poem in Panay

 Tells the exploits of three Sulodnon demigod brothers: Labaw Donggon, Humadapnon, and
Dumalapdap

https://aangelmagno.wordpress.com/2013/09/17/the-anatomy-of-the-characters-of-hinilawod/
https://www.slideshare.net/MarienBe/3-phil-lit-hinilawod
Bagobo
6) Tuwaang
- Narrates the heroic deed of an attractive, bold, and strong man, Tuwaang
https://philippineculturaleducation.com.ph/tuwaang-ng-mga-manobo/
Kalinga
7) Ullalim
- A long chanted stories that tell the exploits of heroes
https://www.wikakids.com/filipino/epiko/ullalim-epiko-ng-kalinga/
https://prezi.com/aiytcgr_hj4-/ulalim/
Manobo
8) Agyu or Olahing
- Tells the heroic deeds of an immortal epic hero of the Manobo people of
Southern Philippines, Manobo
https://pinoycollection.com/agyu/
Subanon
9) Sandayo
  Sandayo is born through extraordinary circumstances as he fell out of the hair of his mother while
she was combing it on the ninth stroke.
 Sandayo led his people in the fight against invaders of their lands and waterways

https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/507147608040164930/
TAKEAWAY

 Works of pre-colonial Philippine literature were mainly oral, including but not limited to epics,
legends, songs, riddles, and proverbs.
 Our ancestors in pre-colonial era were pagans; hence, subjects of various forms of literature were
about gods and goddesses, spiritual/mythical creatures.

SPANISH COLONIZATION
PERIOD
1565 - 1863
OVERVIEW OF CONTRIBUTIONS OF SPANIARDS ON THE PHILIPPINE LITERATURE

 Alibata, the first Filipino alphabet, was replaced by the Roman alphabet.
 Introduced Spanish as the medium of communication.
 Spanish became the language of Philippine literature.
 The teaching of the Christian Doctrine became the basis of religious practices.
 Religious themes dominated the culture of the Christianize majority; but, the native oral literature,
whether secular or mythic-religious, continued (Spanish Colonial, 2017)
 Spaniards brought European legends and traditions and were assimilated in our songs, corridos,
and moro-moros.
 Works of ancient literature were collected and translated to Tagalog and other dialects.

CHARACTERISTICS, FORMS, EXAMPLES

Characteristics
1. Non-secular (Religious literature)

 Subjects revolved around the life and death of Jesus Christ.

2. Secular (Non-religious literature)

 Subjects revolved around tales of valiance and adventure.

FORMS OF non-SECULAR (RELIGIOUS) LITERATURE

1. Pasyon
2. Senakulo
3. Komedya
1. Pasyon

 The Pasyón is a Philippine epic narrative of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus
Christ. In stanzas of five lines of eight syllables each, the standard elements of epic poetry are
interwoven with a colorful, dramatic theme.

 The entirety of the text is chanted during the Lenten season and particularly Holy Week, and is a
popular Filipino Catholic devotion.

 Watch a four-minute video to know more about Pasyon. Copy and paste this link to a browser:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMMeJYBm8bM
https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/858006166488140936/
2. Senakulo

 Senakulo, derived from the Spanish word cenáculo which means the “place where Jesus Christ
celebrated the Last Supper with his disciples.”, is a play or re-enactment depicting the life and
passion of Jesus Christ (Senakulo, 2019).

 Watch a sample re-enactment of the life and death of Jesus Christ by copying and pasting this
link to a browser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCRULxECayo

https://www.catholicsandcultures.org/philippines-pampangas-good-friday-crucifixions-tourist-attraction
3. Komedya

 Komedya, a theatrical tradition by Filipinos, sometimes comes in a form of singing, describes

conflicts between Christians and Muslims, and was used by the Spanish to promote Christianity
in the Philippines (Suavillo, 2020).
 It is brought to the Philippines for entertainment, likewise, to spread the Christian faith.

Forms of Komedya
1. Religious Komedya, usually seen during church celebrtaions, portrays the life of Christ or any saint.
2. Secular Komedya is a form of entertainment usually performed at the local fiestas. A well-known
example of Secular Komedya is Santacruzan - a story that portrays the search for the Holy Cross by
queen Elena of the Roman Empire and her son, Emperor Constantine.
FORMS OF secular (NON-RELIGIOUS) LITERATURE
1. Awit
2. Korido
3. Prose narratives
1. Awit

 The awit is a Filipino poem written in dodecasyllabic (i.e.12-syllable) verse called plosa, following
the pattern of rhyming stanzas established in Pasyon.
 Subjects of awit are tales of chivalry where a knight saves a princess.
 One influential work in the awit form is Florante at Laura, an 1838 narrative poem written by
Francisco Balagtas.

https://ericpgranada.wordpress.com/2016/01/07/2224/
https://www.wattpad.com/370052669-florante-at-laura-kabanata-18-paalam
2. Korido

 Korido is the generic name for Philippine romances.

 It is a metrical romances in octosyllabic (i.e. 8 syllables) verse called hakira.
 Odulia de Guzman's "Ibong Adarna" is a well-known example of korido.

https://www.google.com/search?
safe=active&q=ibong+adarna&tbm=isch&chips=q:ibong+adarna,g_1:drawing:kQARVvAhCU4%3D&usg=
AI4_-kTH4a-Wp_6BXfNXTdAVgF81Wx3o8g&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjZpP-WxsnqAhXCxosBHf-
BAucQgIoDKAB6BAgKEAQ&biw=652&bih=696#imgrc=U7VdWk6tqEjpCM&imgdii=S-UXy3BDsC2dQM
AWIT vs KORIDO

 Both the korido and awit are refereed to as narrative poetry.

Florante at Laura Ibong Adarna
Kung siya mong ibig na ako'y magdusa, (12 syllables) Oh, Birheng kaibig-ibig, (8 syllables)
Langit na mataas aking mababata; (12 syllables) Ina naming nasa langit; (8 syllables)
Isagi mo lamang sa puso ni Laura, (12 syllables) Liwanagan yaring isip, (8 syllables)
Ako'y minsan-minsang mapag-aalala. (12 syllables) Nang sa layo'y di malihis. (8 syllables)
3. Prose Narratives

 Prose Narratives are written to prescribe proper decorum

 A good example of a prose narrative is the "Pagsusulatan ng Dalawang Binibini na si Urbana at

Feliza", written by Presbitero Modesto de Castro in 1864.

 Copy and paste this link to a browser to watch a summary of de Castro's Urbana and Feliza:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJXr--A5kQI
https://sarisaringkwentoatbp.wordpress.com/2014/10/15/urbana-at-feliza/
PROPAGANDA /REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD
1864 - 1896
CHARACTERISTICS

 Planted seeds of nationalism in Filipinos; hence, contents of literary works are more violent and
demand complete independence from Spain
 Language shifted from Spanish to Tagalog
 Addressed the masses instead of the intelligentsia.

Note:
During Spanish colonization, highly educated people or intellectuals who were regarded as possessing
culture and influential influence were called intelligentsia.
FORMS
1. Propaganda literature
2. Revolutionary literature
PROPAGANDA LITERATURE

 Reformation is the main objective of propaganda literature.

 Works of literature come in a form of political essays, satires, editorials, and news articles.
 The subjects of literary works aimed to attack and expose the evil deeds or maltreatment of
Spaniards to the natives.
 Some well-known examples of propaganda literature were (1) Diariong Tagalog and (2) Noli Me
Tangere and El Fillibusterismo.
 The brains or the triumvirate behind the works of propaganda literature were Graciano Lopez
Jaena, Marcelo G. del Pilar, and Dr. Jose Rizal.

1. Diariong Tagalog

 Written in Sapnish and Tagalog, it was the first bilingual newspaper in the Philippines founded by
Marcelo H. del Pilar on August 1 , 1882.
 Del Pilar was found dead sitting, still trying to write, in Barcelona, Spain, on on July 4, 1896.
 del Pilar publicly denounced Spanish maladministration of the Philippines through Diariong
Tagalog; his attacks were mostly directed against the friars whom he considered to be mainly
responsible for the oppression of the Filipinos (Alas, 2018).
https://plaridel302.org/about-us/marcelo-h-del-pilar/
2. Noli Me Tangere

 Translated as touch-me-not, Noli Me Tangere is a political novel written by Dr. Jose Rizal to
describe perceived inequities of the Spanish Catholic friars and the ruling government.
 Copy and paste this link to a browser to know more about Noli Me Tangere:
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/291131/noli-me-tangere-touch-me-not-by-jose-
rizal/9780143039693/readers-guide/

Graciano López Jaena

 Graciano López y Jaena (pseudonym: Diego Laura) was a Filipino journalist, orator, reformist,
and the founder and first editor of the newspaper La Solidaridad
(http://msc.edu.ph/centennial/solidaridad.html)
 His notable literary works were (1) Ang Fray Botod, (2) La Hija del Fraile, and (3) Everything is
Hambug.

1. Ang Fray Botod

 Exposing how greed, ambitious, and immoral some friars were was Graciano Lopez Jaena's main
intention of writing the "Ang Fray Botod".
 Fray introduces the stereotypical Spanish friar who uses religion as a tool for oppressing others in
order to satiate his appetite for food, money and women.
 Fray Botod illustrates the vile character of the friar through various situations including but not
limited to having immoral relationships with young girls called canding-canding, threatening and
punishing some students from the University of Manila, neglecting his duties as a parish priest in
favor of gambling, conducting his business unfairly, and barbarously punishing an Indio laborer
who failed to work at his estate for three days because of his sick wife. (Buenconsejo, 2020)

https://altiahgravino.blogspot.com/2019/07/review-of-fray-botod.html
2. La Hija del Fraile and Everything is Hambug

 Translated as The Daughter of a Friar and Everything is Mere Show, respectively, these works of
literature exposed the tragedy of marrying Spaniards.

Marcelo del Pilar

 Born Marcelo Hilario del Pilar y Gatmaitán in Bulacán on August 30, 1850, del Pilar was a Filipino
writer, lawyer, journalist, and freemason.
 Del Pilar, better known by his pseudonym Plaridel, along with José Rizal and Graciano López
Jaena, became known as the leading lights of the Reform Movement in Spain.
 He was the co-founder of Diariong Tagalog and the first editor of La Solidaridad.
 His notable literary works include but not limited to (1) Caiingat Cayo, (2) Dasalan at Tocsohan,
and (3) Ang Cadaquilaan ng Dios.

1. Caiingat Cayo

 Translated as Be Careful in English, del Pilar wrote this humorous and sarcastic essay using a
pseudonym Dolores Manapat to refute Fr. José Rodriguez's Cuestiones de Sumo Interés
(Questions of Supreme Interest).
 Fr. Rodriguez criticizes the morality of the author of Noli Me Tángere, tha is, Dr. Jose Rizal.

http://elibro.tripod.com/beware.html
http://nicov-haypaskonanaman.blogspot.com/2012/01/dasalan-at-tocsohan-by-marcelo-h-del.html
2. Dasalan at Tocsohan

 Translated as Prayerbook and Teasing Game, Dasalan at Tocsohan is a satire on the friar's
hypocrisy, licentiousness and greed, which consists of parodies of the Sign of the Cross, the Act
of Contrition, the Lord's Prayer, the Hail Mary, and the catechism.
 Rizal considers this as a model of classical prose and an excellent example of Tagalog humor,
wit, and sarcasm.

Example 1
Ang Amain Namin
(a satire version of "Our Father")
Amain naming sumasakumbento ka, sumpain ang ngalan mo, malayo sa amin ang kasakiman mo, kitlin
ang leeg mo dito sa lupa para nang sa langit. Saulan mo kami ngayon nang aming kaning iyon inaraw-
araw at patawanin mo kami sa iyong pag-ungal para nang pag papatawa mo kung kami nakukuwaltahan;
at huwag mo kaming ipahintulot sa iyong manunukso at iadya mo kami sa masama mong dila. Amen
(Razon, 2014)
Example 2
Ang Aba Ginoong Barya
(a satire version of "Hail Mary)
Aba ginoong Barya, nakapupuno ka nang alkansya; ang Prayle sumasainyo. Bukod ka niyang pinagpala’t
pinahihigit sa lahat, pinagpala naman ang kaban mong mapasok. Santa Barya Ina nang Deretsos,
ipanalangin mo kaming huwag ahitan ngayon at kami ay ipapatay. Siya nawa…
3. Ang Cadaquilaan ng Dios

 Ang Cadaquilaan ng Dios or God’s Goodness was published in Barcelona.

 It was also like a catheticism sarcastically aimed against the parish priests but also contains a
philosophy of the power and intelligence of God and an appreciation for and love for nature.

Dr. Jose Rizal

 José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda was a Filipino nationalist and polymath during
the tail end of the Spanish colonial period of the Philippines.
 His political novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo paved way to revolution.

https://owlcation.com/humanities/jose-rizal
Noli Me Tangere

 In this book, he courageously exposed the evils in the Spanish-run government in the Philippines.

REVOLUTIONARY LITERATURE

 Works of revolutionary literature are more propagandist than literary as it is more violent in nature
and demanded complete independence for the country.
 Notable writers were Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto, Apolinario Mabini, and Dr. Jose Rizal.

Andres Bonifacio

 Andres Bonifacio (pseudonym: Agapito Bagumbayan) was born to Santiago Bonifacio and
Catalina de Castro, a Spanish mestiza, in Tondo, Manila on November 30, 1863.
 He supplemented his low education through reading and self-study. Among the books he read
were Rizal's novels, the lives of presidents, Victor Hugo's Le Miserables, the ruins of Palmyra,
 and the French Revolution. Those books prodded his spirit of rebellion and gave him impulse to
organize the Katipunan.
 Aguinaldo's men executed him in the mountains of Maragondon, Cavite on May 10,1987.
(Philippine Heroes and Pen Names, 2012)
 He authored the (1) Katungkulang Gagagawin ng mga Anak ng Bayan" and "Ang Dapat Mabatid
ng mga Tagalog".

http://knowledgereference.blogspot.com/2012/07/philippine-heroes-and-pen-names.html#:%7E:text=He
%20wrote%20articles%20for%20La,%2C%20on%20August%2019%2C%201890.&text=Pedro
%20Paterno%20(Justo%20Desiderio%20Magalang,poet%2C%20writer%2C%20and%20peacemaker.
Katungkulang Gagawin ng mga anak ng Bayan

 Katungkulang Gagagwin ng mga Anak ng Bayan, or "Obligations of our Countrymen", outlined

the Decalogue of the obligations and principles and values that should guide every member of the
organization.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/govph/11079279443
Ang Dapat Mabatid ng mga Tagalog

 Ang Dapat Mabatid ng mga Tagalog, or What the Tagalogs Should Know, is an essay that
outlines the basic tenets of Bonifacio's ideas on nationalism.

http://www.kasaysayan-kkk.info/kalayaan-the-katipunan-newspaper/andres-bonifacio-ang-dapat-mabatid-
ng-mga-tagalog-c-march-1896
Emilio Jacinto

 Emilio Jacinto (pseudonym: Dimas-Ilaw) was born on December 15,1875 in Trozo, Manila.to
Mariano Jacinto and Josefa Dizon. Because of hard life, he was forced to live with her uncle, Don
Jose Dizon and enrolled at the San Juan de Letran College; then he transferred to the University
of Santo Tomas where he took up law.
 At the start of the Philippine Revolution in the year 1896, Emilio gave up his studies and joined
the Katipunan. The bad experiences he had with his Spanish classmates, his readings about the
Spanish injustices, and the sufferings of the Filipino people made a mark in his heart, leading him
to go against the will of his loved ones and become a katipunero.
 Jacinto established his secret headquarters in the hills of Majayjay. There he contacted the
malignant malaria which caused his death on April 6, 1899. He was only 24 years old.
 Liwanag at Dilim was one of his notable works.

(Philippine Heroes and Pen Names, 2012)

Liwanag at Dilim
Liwanag at Dilim, or Light and Darkness, is a collection of essays on different subjects like freedom, work,
faith, government, and love of country.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nccaofficial/18260917309
Apolinario Mabini

 Apolinario Mabini y Maranan (pseudonym: Dimlas-ilaw), born on July 23, 1864 to Inocencio
Mabini and Dionisia Maranan in Tanauan,Batangas, was a Filipino revolutionary leader, educator,
lawyer, and statesman who served first as a legal and constitutional adviser to the Revolutionary
Government, and then as the first Prime Minister of the Philippines upon the establishment of the
First Philippine Republic. He is regarded as the "utak ng himagsikan" or "brain of the revolution".
(“Apolinario Mabini,” 2020)
 One of his remarkable writings was El Desarollo y Caida de la Republica Filipina.
Dr. Jose Rizal

 The national hero, was born in Calamba, Laguna on June 19, 1861 to Francisco Mercado Rizal
and Teodora Alonso. Rizal went on to Ateneo Municipal de Manila and finished Bachelor of Arts
with highest honors on March 23, 1876 at the University of Santo Tomas. He studied and finished
medicine at Central University of Madrid in 1885, took up graduate studies in France, and
became a linguist and learned Greek and Latin.
 He returned to the Philippines in June 1892 and founded La Liga Filipina, a forum for Filipinos to
express their hopes for freedom from Spanish rule.
 Rizal was arrested as a revolutionary and imprisoned in Fort Santiago on July 6,1892. On July 14
he was exiled to Dapitan.
 Rizal was executed by a firing squad on December 30,1896 at Bagumbayan (now Luneta) at the
age of 35. On the eve of his execution,Rizal wrote his most famous poem Mi Ultimo Adios (My
Last Farewell).

El Filibusterismo

 El filibusterismo, also known by its alternative English title The Reign of Greed, is the second
novel written by Philippine national hero José Rizal. It is the sequel to Noli Me Tángere and, like
the first book, was written in Spanish. It was first published in 1891 in Ghent, Belgium.
 Filibusterismo was written in dedication to the three martyred priests Mariano Gomez, Jose
Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora, whose deaths left an indelible mark in his mind. Like Noli Me
Tangere, Fili aims at enlightening the society, at bringing the Filipinos closer to the truth.

PUBLICATIONS
1. El Heraldo de la Revolucion
2. La Independencia
3. La Republica Filipina
4. La Libertad
1. El Heraldo de la Revolucion

 El Heraldo de la Revolucion or Herald of the Revolution is the official bilingual newspaper of the
Revolutionary Givernment of Aguinaldo published in Mandaluyong.
 Printed the decrees of the Revolutionary Government, news and works in Tagalog that aroused
nationalism.
 El Heraldo de la Revolución began semiweekly publication in September, continuing until fighting
broke out between the Americans and Aguinaldo's forces on February 4, 1899 (The Library of
Congress, 2010).

https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/564990715729614262/
2. La Independencia

 An independent newspaper founded and edited by General Antonio Luna.

 Antonio Narciso Luna de San Pedro y Novicio Ancheta, regarded as one of the fiercest generals
of his time, succeeded Artemio Ricarte as the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines.
 La Independencia first published the Spanish lyrics of the Philippine National Anthem titled
"Filipinas" written by Jose Palma.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/28098727@N00/24307880403
3. La Republica Filipina
  La Republica Filipina or The Philippine Republic is a private newspaper hoped to achieve national
unity under a democratic Philippine Republic, edited by Pedro Paterno.
 Pedro Alejandro Paterno y de Vera Ignacio, born in Manila on February 27, 1858 and died on
April 26, 1911, was a statesman, poet, writer, and peacemaker. He was the negotiator/mediator
of the Pact of Biak-na-Bato; helped prepare the Malolos constitution. He used Justo Desiderio
Magalang as his pen name when he wrote Ninay, the very first Filipino novel written in Tagalog.
(Philippine Heroes and Pen Names, 2012)

Wikipedia. (2020, June 11). Pedro Paterno [Photograph]. Wikipedia.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedro_Paterno
Cloma, L. (2016, August 4). Constitucion Politica de la Republica Filipina [Photograph].
Https://Www.Flickr.Com/Photos/28098727@N00/29181379144.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/28098727@N00/29181379144
4. La Libertad

 La Libertad or Liberty was another private newspaper that was established in June 20, 1898
shortly after the Philippine independence was declared.
 It was considered to be the first newspaper to have exercised its press freedom under the
Philippine republic and, in turn, published mainly articles under the theme of nationalism.
 It operated in an abandoned printing press in an orphan asylum in Malabon, Rizal previously
owned by Augustinian friars. Its editorial staff was headed by Clemente J. Zulueta. (Philippine
Press History, 2015)

https://philippinepresshistory.wordpress.com/tag/clemente-zulueta/
AMERICAN PERIOD
1910 - 1945
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

 Americans defeated Spaniards in Spanish-American war.

 Philippine literary production was spurred by two significant developments in education and
culture: (1) the introduction of the free public instruction for all children of school age, and (2) the
use of English as medium of instruction in all levels of education in public schools (Santiago,
2015).
 Spanish and Tagalog and the vernaculars were the languages used in writing during the first
years in American colonization; but Spanish and Tagalog were the predominated languages.
 In 1910, a new group started to write in English; hence, Spanish, Tagalog, and the vernaculars
and English were the media used in literature.
 The literature was considered as imitative of American model. Instead of asking the students to
write originals, students ended up following the form of American poets.

Historical Background (cont...)

 Writers during the American Period drew ideas from the Propaganda Movement and the
Revolutionary Movement to encourage the Filipinos to continue to fight against the U.S.
Colonialism.
 The literary genres that flourished during the American Period were poetry, sarswela, short story,
and the novel.

1. Poets of the Heart (Mga Makata ng Pag-ibig)

1. Lope K. Santos
2. Inigo Ed. Regalado
3. Carlos Gatmaitan
4. Pedro Gatmaitan
5. Jose Corazon de Jesus
6. Cirilo Panganiban
7. Deogracias del Rosario
8. Ildefonso Santos
9. Amado V. Hernandez
10. Nemecio Carabana
11. Mar Antonio
FORMS
1. poetry
2. drama (sarswela)
3. remake novels
4. short story
A. POETRY

 Poetry was written in the three languages - Filipino, Spanish, English, and in the different dialects.
 Julian Cruz Balmaceda, a popular writer, dramatist and critic classified these poets based on the
poems that they wrote. They are classified as: poets of the Heart, Poets of Life, and Poets of the
Stage (American Period, 2016).

2. Poets of Life (Mga Makata ng Buhay)

1. Lope K. Santos
2.. Jose Corazon de Jesus
3. Florentino Collantes
4. Patricio Mariano
5. Carlos Gatmaitan
6. Amado V. Hernandez
3. Poets of the STage (Mga Makata ng Entablado)
1. Aurelio Tolentino
2. Patricio Mariano
3. Severino Reyes
4. Tomas Remigio
Jose Corazon de Jesus

 José Corazón de Jesús (November 22, 1896 – May 26, 1932), also known by his pen name
Huseng Batute, was a Filipino poet who used Tagalog poetry to express the Filipinos' desire for
independence during the American occupation of the Philippines, a period that lasted from 1901
to 1946. (Wikipedia)
 His first books of poem were "Mga Gintong Dahon" and "Sa Dakong Silangan".

Mga Gintong Dahon

 Mga Gintong Dahon were poems pre-occupied with such non-traditional themes as passion-
slaying, grief-induced, insanity, and lover's suicide in the 1920s.

Sa Dakong Silangan
Returned to the awit form, Sa Dakong Silangan retells the story of the Philippines under Spain, the
coming of the U.S. under the guise of friendship to rake over from Spain.
B. DRAMA

 It was during the early American period that the sarswela gained popularity. Most of the sarwelas,
if not all, are directed against the American imperialists.
 The works of Severino Reyes ("Walang Sugat") and Patricio Mariano ("Anak ng Dagat") are
equally remarkable sarwelas during the period. Here are the other noted sarswelistas: Aurelio
Tolentino, Juan Abad, Juan Matapang Cruz, and Juan Crisostomo Sotto.
 In Tagalog drama, Severino Reyes and Hermogenes Ilagan criticized the Spanish Moro-moro
and showed that dramas can be powerful vehicles for propagation of Filipino values for the
audiences. Aside from these values, these dramas were extensively used as a way to promote
nationalism as well.

Dramatists
The popular dramatists during this period include:

 Severino Reyes was called the “Father of Tagalog Drama.” His immortal play, “Walang Sugat”
was his masterpiece.
 Aurelio Tolentino was deemed the “Father of Kapampangan Drama.” His work, “Luhang Tagalog”
was his masterpiece and his “Napon, Ngeni at Bukas” was a translation of his other masterpiece,
“Kahapon, Ngayon at Bukas.”
 Hermogenes Ilagan was a dramatist who founded the group Campaña Ilagan, presenting many
dramas in Central Luzon.
 Patricio Mariano wrote the play entitled “Ninay.” His masterpiece was “Anak ng Dagat.”
 Julian Cruz Balmaceda was a playwright who wrote “Bunganga ng Pating.”

Walang Sugat

 Walang Sugat (1902)- is a sarsuwela (drama in the form singing) drawn from the period of
Revolution, depicting the cruelty and corruption of friars and the heroism of the soldiers of the
Katipunan.

https://charlottejoana.weebly.com/blog/walang-sugat-ni-severino-reyes
Hindi Aco Patay

 Hindi Aco Patay (I am not Dead) is a sarswela presented at a local theater on May 8, 1903.
 The play talks about the love between Karangalan (honor) and Tanggulan (defender, patriot) and
their opposition to Macamcam (the American Government). (Drama and Sedition, 2009)

Tanikalang Guinto

 Tanikalang Guinto (Golden Chain), written by Juan Abad, was first performed on July 7, 1902.
The play talks about love and oppression. Ligaya (light, spirit of independence) is forbidden to
see her love Kaulayaw (sweetheart, Filipino hero) by her uncle Maimbot (greedy; the American
government). Maimbot then gives Ligaya a golden chain which symbolizes his control over her.
 American Government found Tanikalang Guinto as seditious and Juan Abad was sentenced to
two years in prison and was fined $2000 on May 10, 1903. He was out on bail and wrote another
play, Isang Punlo ng Kaaway (An Enemy Bullet). He was then arrested a second time on May 8,
1904.

(Drama and Sedition, 2009)

C. NOVEL
  Although written in a borrowed language (i.e. English), novels written during American Era
dwelled on Filipino customs and traditions (Santiago, 2015).
 Notable novelists include but not limited to Juan Cabreros Laya, Maximo Manguiat Kalaw, Gabriel
Beato Francisco, Iñigo Ed. Regalado, and Juan Lauro Arsciwals.

1. Juan Cabreros Laya

 His Native Soil, a novel written in English by Juan Cabreros Laya in 1941, contained discourses
on cultural identity, nationhood and being Filipino.

https://www.biblio.com/book/his-native-soil-juan-cabreros-laya/d/720184909
2. Maximo Manguiat Kalaw

 The Filipino Rebel: A Romance of American Occupation in the Philippines, a novel written by
Maximo Manguiat Kalaw and was published in 1891, analyzed American occupation in the
Philippines and its effects on the country.
 Specifically, the author examines the political system of the colonial Philippines and lays bare the
inherent corruption in a system that pretends to be democratic, while still under American control.

(McMahon, 2004)
3. Gabriel Beato Francisco

 Gabriel Beato Francisco is best known for his trilogy of (1) Fulgencia Galbillo, 1907; (2) Capitan
Bensio, 1907; and (3) Alfaro, 1909 — all these depicted the 30-year-occupation-and-repression of
the Spaniards to the Filipinos.

4. Iñigo Ed. Regalado

 Madaling Araw ("Dawn") is a 1909 Tagalog-language novel written by Filipino novelist Iñigo Ed.
Regalado. The 368-page novel was published in Manila, Philippines by the Aklatang J. Martinez
(J. Martinez Library) during the American period in Philippine history (1899-1946) (Wikipedia).
 This novel shows the complex interrelations of issues and people in contemporary Philippine
society.

5. Juan Lauro Arsciwals

 One of the remarkable masterpeices of Juan L. Arsciwals was Lalaking uliraán ó Tulisan?, an
allusion to the colonial law that branded Filipino patriots as bandits.

D. SHORT STORY

 In fiction, the period of apprenticeship in literary writing in English is marked by imitation of the
style of storytelling and strict adherence to the craft of the short story as practiced by popular
American fictionists. Early short story writers in English were often dubbed as the Andersons or
Saroyans or the Hemingways of Philippine letters. Leopoldo Yabes in his study of the Philippine
short story in English from 1925 to 1955 points to these models of American fiction exerting
profound influence on the early writings of story writers like Francisco Arcellana, A.E. Litiatco, Paz
Latorena.

 When the University of the Philippines was founded in 1908, an elite group of writers in English
began to exert influence among the culturati. The U.P. Writers Club founded in 1926, had stated
that one of its aims was to enhance and propagate the “language of Shakespeare.” In 1925, Paz
Marquez Benitez short story, “Dead Stars” was published and was made the landmark of the
maturity of the Filipino writer in English. Soon after Benitez, short story writers began publishing
stories no longer imitative of American models. Thus, story writers like Icasiano Calalang, A.E.
 Litiatco, Arturo Rotor, Lydia Villanueva, Paz Latorena , Manuel Arguilla began publishing stories
manifesting both skilled use of the language and a keen Filipino sensibility.

(Santiago, 2015, para. 6-7)

 Short story as a literary genre was brought along by the Americans. Filipinos readily adopted
short story because as a form of relaxation and entertainment, it proved to be worthwhile for one
can read such in just a short while. There were even Filipino (Tagalog) and other vernacular
versions of them. By and large, short stories began to be published in various school newspapers
and periodicals including but not limited to UP Collgee Folio, The Philippine Herald, and the
Philippine Education magazine. Popular short story writers include but not limited to Lope K.
Santos, Patricio Mariano, and Rosauro Almario (American Period, 2016).

DEad Stars
Dead stars is a short story by Paz Marquez Benitez, written in 1925. The story is basically a compilation
of the complicated circumstances that every man has to go through in life. Alfredo was torn between
doing what is right and what is in his heart. Alfredo Salazar is a lawyer and the main character in the
story. He is the love of the life of Esperanza. They have been together for four years and meant to get
married in May. Their relationship in the beginning was full of enthusiasm, full of love and happiness. But
like other long term relationships, their feelings for each other changes as time goes by. Esperanza was
beautiful, elegant, reserved, and distinctly not average type of a woman. She loves her Alfredo so much
and trusted him with her whole heart. After their four years of engagement, Alfredo thought of finding his
real wants. When Alfredo tried to do some neighboring with his dad Don Julian, he met Julia Salas, their
neighbor's sister-in-law. She was just a visitor in town and been there for only six weeks. They found
good company between themselves and as they knew it, it became a weekly habit for Alfredo to visit her
after every Sundays mass. Julia is the average type, not so beautiful but still it interests Alfredo so much.
As they grew their new friendship, Alfredo found new happiness and starts to fall for her.
http://rosemunoz.blogspot.com/2015/01/dead-stars-by-paz-marquez-benitez.html#:~:text=The%20short
%20story%20%22Dead%20Stars,that%20pertains%20to%20forbidden%20love.&text=In%20the%20story
%20dead%20stars,his%20fianc%C3%A9e%20of%20four%20years.
https://csphilippineliterature.wordpress.com/dead-stars-2/
How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife

 How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife” by Manuel Estabillo Arguilla scanned the scenery
as well as the folkways of Ilocandia (Santiago, 2015).

THE JAPANESE PERIOD

1941 - 1945
Historical background

 The writers stop wielding pens and started wielding guns.

 They introduce Nipponggo and their literary arts and forms, such as Ikebana, Origami, and
Tempura and Sushi.
 Works of literature during this period were poetry, fiction, drama, newspapers, and essays.

Arts and Cuisine

Ikebana, or "arranging flowers" or "making flowers alive", is the Japanese art of flower arrangement.

 Tempura is a Japanese cuisine made of fish, shellfish, or vegetables, and fried in batter.
 Sushi is a Japanese cuisine consisting of small balls or rolls of vinegar-flavored cold cooked rice
served with a garnish of raw fish, vegetables, or egg.

Origami is the Japanese art of folding paper into decorative shapes and figures.
Forms
1. poetry
2. fiction
3. drama
4. newspapers
5. essays
A. POETRY

 The common theme of most poems during the Japanese occupation was nationalism, country,
love, and life in the barrios, faith, religion and the arts.
 Specifically, they introduced the following poetic forms: Haiku, Tanka, and Senryu.
 The arrival of the Japanese brought about one good aspect to the Philippines, and that was the
prohibition of Philippine literature in English, which had a favorable effect on a diminishing
Tagalog Literature (E. P. Santiago, 2005).

1. Haiku

 Haiku is a descriptive poem about nature, consisting of 17 syllables; specifically, 5 syllables in the
first line, 7 in the second line, and 5 in the third line (i.e. 5-7-5 syllabic pattern).
 The first noted Filipino poet to write haiku was Gonzalo K. Flores, also known as Severino
Gerundio, an avant-garde poet during the Japanese period.
 Here are some of his haiku (i.e. tutubi, anyaya), along with translations, published in Liwayway,
June 5, 1943.

Tutubi
Original Translation
tutubi dragonfly
hila mo’y tabak… (5 syllables) pulling your sword...
ang bulaklak, nanginig! (7 syllables) the flower, trembled!
sa paglapit mo. (5 syllables) as you approached.
Anyaya
Original Translation
anyaya invitation
ulilang damo lonely grass
sa tahimik na ilog by the silent river
halika, sinta. come, my dear
2. Tanka

 The tanka is a thirty-one-syllable poem, traditionally written in a single unbroken line. A form of
waka, Japanese song or verse, tanka translates as "short song," and is better known in its five-
line, following the 5-7-5-7-7 syllbic pattern.
 Example,

Araw na mulat
Sa may gintong palayan
Ngayong taglaags
Di ko alam kung kelan
Puso ay titigil na.
3. Senryu

 Senryu is a three-line poem similar to only the structure of haiku.

 The subject of senryu is human nature, and the tone is satirical and ironical.
 Example,

Baseball is tempting
As I stare out the window
Across my math book.
B. FICTION

 The field of the short story widened, and many more writers wrote short stories.

C. DRAMA

 The drama experienced a lull during the Japanese period because movie houses showing
American films were closed. The big movie houses were just made to show stage shows. Many
of the plays were reproductions of English plays to Tagalog.

D. NEWSPAPERS

 Writings that came out during this period were journalistic in nature. Writers felt suppressed but
slowly, the spirit of nationalism started to seep into their consciousness. While some continued to
write, the majority waited for a better climate to publish their works.

E. ESSAYS

 Essays were composed to glorify the Filipinos and at the same time to figuratively attack the
Japanese.

THE REPUBLIC
1946 - 1985
HisTORical Background

 Works of literature were true-to-life, like those of grief, poverty, aspirations for freedom, and love
of God, countrymen, and the country itself.
 Writers wrote openly of their criticism agains the governemnt. The supplciations of people were
coached in fiery, colorful, violent, profane, and insulting language.
 Poems during this period were romantic and revolutionary.

Forms
1. short story
2. poetry
3. lyric poems
4. novels
5. play
6. speeches
Notable Authors and Their Works
1. Alberto Florentino
2. Kerima Polotan-Tuvera
3. Macario Penida
4. Genoveva Edroza-Matute
5. Lazaro Francisco
6. Amado V. Hernandez
7. Alejandro Abadilla
8. Emmanuel Torres
1. Alberto Florentino

 Alberto Florentino is a playwright who wrote the famous play "The World Is an Apple".
 Subjects of his play were about the everyday scenario of commoner's life and the struggles of
Filipino.

2. Kerima Polotan Tuvera

 A renowned and highly respected fictionist, essayist, and journalist, Tuvera's works received
among the highest literary distinctions of the Philippines.
 Subjects of her literary works contained some very poignant stories about women and their
search for self-image that a male-dominated society would deny them.

3. Macario Pineda

 Macario Pineda, a Tagalog fictionist who excelled in the authentic evocation of the Philippine
countryside, is known for his short stories "Suyuan sa Tubigan".

4. Genoveva Edroza Matute

 Genoveva Dizon Edroza-Matute is a short story writer known for her "Kuwento ni Mabuti", which
has been cited as the most anthologized Tagalog language short story.

5. Lazaro Francisco

 Lazaro Francisco is a Filipino novelist and a recipient of Philippine National Artist for Filipino in
2009.
 Subjects of his novels include romance, class tensions, tenancy issues, and agrarian unrest.
 Some of his notable novels include:

Bayang Nagpatiwakal (1932): the author presented his analytical powers on alien control of Philippine
economy - a direct confrontation with the central problem of the colonized Filipino people;
Ilaw sa Hilaga (1948): an allegory of the Philippines under the economic domination of foreign business;
and
Maganda Pa ang Daigdig and Daluyong (1956): these two novels took another look at the agrarian unrest
and the vexing problem of land reform which had flared up in the late 1940s.
6. Amado Vera Hernandez

 Amado Vera Hernandez, commonly known as Amado V. Hernandez, was a Filipino writer and
labor leader who was known for his criticism of social injustices in the Philippines and was later
imprisoned for his involvement in the communist movement.
 Subjects of his novels were mostly about reflections of the political and economic troubles in the
1950s.
 Some of his remarkable literary works include but not limited to:

Luha ng Buwaya (1962): depicted the plight of peasantry and how exploitation by the landlords taught
Filipinos to fight for their rights;
Isang Dipang Langit (1961): subjects were about romance and social concern; and
Bayang Malaya (1969): a long narrative poem about crusading newspaperman who becomes guerrilla
fighter, a labor leader, and then a political prisoner.
7. Alejandro Abadilla

 Alejandro G. Abadilla, commonly known as AGA, was a Filipino poet, essayist and fiction writer.
Critic Pedro Ricarte referred to Abadilla as the father of modern Philippine poetry, and was known
for challenging established forms and literature's "excessive romanticism and emphasis on rhyme
and meter".
 Some of his notable literary works include:

Ako ang Daigdig: signaled the outbreak of a revolt; and

Piniling Mga Tula: crystallized Abadilla's gospel regarding society and individual.
8. Emmanuel S. Torres

 Emmanuel Torres is poet, art critic, professor of English and Comparative Literature at the
Ateneo de Manila and curator of its art museum.
 Torres’ works on art include St. Joseph the Worker Chapel (1968), The Drawings of Ang Kiukok
(1976), Jeepney (1979), and Kayamanan: 77 Paintings from the Central Bank Collection (1981).
Awarded often at the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature, his poems have been
collected in Angels and Fugitives (1966), Shapes of Silence (1972), and The Smile on Smokey
Mountain & Other Poems (1991).

Angels and Fugitives (1966): subjects were about anguish and loneliness
Shapes of Silence (1972): this book contained poems that talked about social realities of the time
CONTEMPORARY PERIOD
1960 - PRESENT
Overview

 Contemporary literature or 21st Century Literature per se, is anything that was written and
published in the year 2000s. It is a bit too early to give a definite and elaborate description of the
21st century literature in the Philippines and the world. It is possible, however, to approach
contemporary literature as a reaction to and dialogue with existing forms of expressive culture. As
we engage in technology more and more, we create and discover more existing forms of
expressive culture as well. We have a wide range of resources through the Internet and this gave
opportunities to people, especially the youth, to begin writing and expressing their thoughts,
ideas, and feelings. (Cruz, 2015)

Overview (Cont....)

 The idea is to create an e-book reading application, as e-books are becoming in demand during
that time, however, the founders thought that it would be time consuming to maintain their own
catalog, so they decided to let the community decide what they want to read, and they can also
upload their works and content into the application. This had made it possible for the youth to
read more and to start creating their own compositions. It has become a network. (Cruz, 2015)

GENRES/FORMS
1. Creative Non-fiction
2. Science Fiction
3. Speculative Fiction
4. Flash Fiction
5. Six-Word Flash Fiction
6. Digi-Fiction
7. Doodle Fiction
8. Graphic Novels
9. Illustrated Novels
10. Text-Talk Novels
11. Hyper Poetry
12. Spoken Poetry
13. Mobile Text Tula
14. Chick Lit
15. Blog
(Gacusan, 2018; Ocay, 2017)
https://www.queensu.ca/artsci_online/courses/culture-and-technology
1. Creative Nonfiction

 Creative nonfiction can be an essay, a journal article, a research paper, a memoir, or a poem; it
can be personal or not, or it can be all of these.
 Some of the creative nonfiction in the Philippines include but not limited to:

1. The Cardinal’s Sins, the General’s Cross, the Martyr’s Testimony, and Other Affirmations by Gregorio
C. Brillantes;
2. Manananggal Terrorizes Manila and Other Stories by Jessica Zafra; and
3. Sapay Koma by Jhoanna Lynn Cruz
2. Science Fiction

 Science fiction a genre of speculative fiction dealing with imaginative concepts such as futuristic
science and technology, space travel, time travel, faster than light travel, parallel universe and
extraterrestrial life.
 It often explores the potential consequences of scientific and other innovations and has been
called a “literature of Ideas”.
 Manalastas, “Turtle Season” by Timothy R. Montes, “Sidhi” (“Intensity” or “Strength”) by Yvette Uy
Tan, and “Niche” by Catherine Rose Torres (just to name a few) were very well written and have
greatly expanded the canon of Philippine Science Fiction (Ocampo, 2017).

3. Speculative fiction

 Also known as dystopian, supernatural fiction, weird fiction, superhero fiction, apocalyptic/post-
apocalyptic, and fantastical fiction

 Speculative fiction is a type of story that deals with observations of the human condition but offers
the experience through a different lens…and challenges us to see what tomorrow could be like or
what the mythic past of our imagination actually is. (Cruz, 2015)

 It encompasses all the stories that are removed from the reality that we are currently living in.

 Some of the speculative fiction in the Philippines are:

1. Smaller and Smaller Circles by FH Batacan;

2. Sink by Isabel Yap; and
3. The Secret Origin of Spin-Man by Andrew Drilon
4. Flash fiction

 Flash fiction goes by many names, including microfiction, microstories, short short stories, very
short stories, sudden fiction, postcard fiction and nanofiction.

 While it can be difficult to pinpoint an exact definition of flash fiction based on word count,
consideration of several of its features can help provide clarity, like its brevity, length, background
and purpose.

 Some of the flash fiction in the Philippines are:

1. 100 Kislap, by Abdon M. Balde Jr.;

2. Karapote: Antolohia Dagiti 13 a Nasuerte A Sarita, by Ariel S. Tabag
5. Six-Word Flash Fiction

 Six-word flash fiction is a short story, containing six words only.

6. Digi-Fiction

 It is a literary experience that combines three media: book, movie/video, and Internet websites.
 In order to get the full story, students must engage in navigation, reading, viewing, in all three
formats.

(Gacusan, 2018b)
7. Doodle Fiction

 Literary presentation where the author incorporates doodle writing and drawings, and handwritten
graphics in place of traditional font.
 Drawing enhances the story, often adding humorous elements that would be missing, if the
illustrations were omitted.

8. Graphic Novels

 The ‘graphic novel’ has existed as an art form arguably from the time our species learned how to
paint. However, the term has only been in use since the 1960’s, and though it’s often a hotly
debated issue, it’s generally accepted that a graphic novel is a longer work or collection of works
presented in ‘comics’ style. In other words, it is a narrative in comic book format.

 Some of the graphic novels in the Philippines are:

1. The Mythology Class (Nautilus comics) by Arnold Arre

2. Light (Anino comics) by Rob Cham
3. Sixty Six (Anino comics) by Russell Molina
4. Maktan 1521 by Tepai Pascual
9. Illustrated Novels

 The story in illustrated novels is presented through texts and illustrated images.
 Fifty percent of the narrative is presented without words; thus the reader must interpret the
images in order to comprehend completely the story. However, some illustrated novels may
contain no text at all.
 Textual portions are presented in traditional form.

10. Text-Talk Novels

  Text-talk novels are stories told almost completely in dialogue simulating social network
exchanges through IM, SMS, and email.

Gacusan, 2018, slide 23)

11. Hyper Poetry

 Hypertext poetry and hypertext fiction are new genres of literature that use the computer screen
as medium, rather than the printed page. The literary works rely on the qualities unique to a
digital environment, such as linked World Wide Web pages or effects such as sound and
movement.

 Hypertext “poetry” can consist of words, although not necessarily organized into lines and
stanzas, as well as, sounds, visual images, movement or other special effects. Although the
poem may be dazzling with sounds, perhaps of a lawnmower, while the words “mowing,” “stop,”
“Sunday,” and “morning” float across your computer screen in pseudo-three-dimensional letters,
one will have been hard pressed to identify the use of any formal poetics. (Cruz, 2015)

 t is usually found online, through CD-ROM and diskette versions exist. The earliest examples
date to no later than the mid 1980s.

 To view an example of hyper poetry, copy this link and paste it to a browser:
http://writing.upenn.edu/epc/ezines/brink/brink02/medical.html

12. Spoken Poetry

 Spoken poetry, per se, is an oral art that focuses on the aesthetics of word play and intonation
and voice inflection.

Voice inflection most often refers to the pitch and tone patterns in a person's speech: where the voice
rises and falls (“Inflection,” 2020).
13. Mobile phone text tula
Maayos pinalaki
Nag-aral nang mabuti
Trabaho aya maganda
Namuhay nang payapa.
Ang buhay na ganito
Ay lahaty ay may gusto
Pero dahil matakaw
Maraming ninanakaw
Nagdusa ang marami
Bayan naging madumi
Pangarap ay nasira
At dahil lang sa pera

 A cell phone novel, or mobile phone novel is a literary work originally written on a cellular phone
via text messaging. This type of literature originated in Japan, where it has become a popular
literary genre. However, its popularity has also spread to other countries internationally.
 Chapters usually consist of about 70-100 words each due to character limitations on cell phones.
It consists of 4 lines with 7 syllables each.

14. Chick lit

  Chick Lit is a fiction “consists of heroin-centered narratives that focus on the trials and tribulations
of their individual protagonists”.

 The genre often addresses issues of modern womanhood – from romantic relationships to female
friendships to matters in the workplace – in humorous and lighthearted ways.

 Some of the chick lit in the Philippines are:

1. Spotlight New Adult by Mina V. Esguerra

2. Tall Story by Candy Gourlay
3. All’s Fair in Blog and War by Chrissie Peria
15. Blog

 A blog (shortening of “weblog”) is an online journal or informational website displaying information

in the reverse chronological order, with latest posts appearing first. It is a platform where a writer
or even a group of writers share their views on an individual subject.