WEEK

2
HANDOUT NO. 2 for 21st CENTURY LITERATURE FROM THE PHILIPPINES AND THE WORLD

MELC 1: Writing a close analysis and critical interpretation of literary texts and doing an adaptation of these require from the learner the ability
to identify: b. representative texts and authors from each region (e.g. engage in oral history research with focus on key personalities from the
students’ region/province/town)

LESSON 2: Identifying Representative Texts from the Regions

REGION 4 A CALABARZON

CALABARZON is composed by the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon; the acronym is derived from the first two
letters of every province that composes it.
The region is located in southwestern Luzon, just south and east of Metro Manila and is the second most densely populated region.
CALABARZON and MIMAROPA were previously combined together as Southern Tagalog, until they were separated in 2002 by virtue of Executive
Order No. 103. Executive Order No. 246, dated October 28, 2003, designated Calamba City as the regional center of CALABARZON. The largest
city of CALABARZON Region and the second highly-urbanized city is Antipolo City, with Lucena City being the first.
Source: https://philippinescities.com/region-4a-calabarzon-2/

FAMOUS LITERARY WRITERS

JOSE P. RIZAL (Laguna)

“On June 19th 1861, the Mercado Family
from the town of Calamba in the province of
Laguna in the Philippines, happily greeted the
birth of their newest member — a baby boy born
as the seventh child to proud parents Francisco
Rizal Mercado y Alejandro and Teodora Alonso
Realonda y Quintos. They named the bouncing
baby boy Jose Protasio Rizal Mercado.”
Later in his life, Jose changed the course of
Philippine history. His two famous novels became
an eye-opener for many Filipinos. These literary
pieces chronicle the abuses of the Spaniards
particularly the friars.
Source: https://www.joserizal.com/

Image Source: quedank.com

ALEJANDRO G. ABADILLA (Cavite) Known as the Father of Modern

Tagalog Poetry, Abadilla protested against
romanticism commonly present in
Philippine poetry.
Abadilla is the poet behind the poem
“Ako ang Daigdig” which signals the birth
of modern poetry in Philippine Literature.
It created a stir among his contemporaries
not only because of the content but also
the form which makes use of free verse.
Abadilla who was born in Salinas, Cavite
on March 10, 1906.
Aside from being a poet, AGA is also a
novelist.
Image and Text Source: https://philippineculturaleducation.com.ph/abadilla-alejandro/
Source: https://www.slideshare.net/kiichigoness/ako-ang-daigdig-11611019

CLARO M. RECTO (Batangas) Claro M. Recto Jr. February 8, 1890-

October 2, 1960) was a Filipino
statesman, jurist, poet and one of the
foremost statesmen of his generation. He
is remembered for his nationalism, for
“the impact of his patriotic convictions on
modern political thought”.

Recto is a known poet, playwright,

essayist. He published a book titled Bajo
los Cocoteros (Under the Coconut Trees
1911) while he was still a student in UST.

Image and Text Source: Source: https://calabarzonliteraturedelights.blogspot.com/2017/03/literature-delights-batangas.html Source: https://quotesgram.com/jose-rizal-quotes-in-

tagalog/
CONTEMPORARY WRITERS FROM CAVITE

MARS RAVELO

Mars Ravelo (October 9, 1916 –

September 12, 1988) was a Filipino
comic book cartoonist and graphic
novelist who created Darna, Dyesebel,
Captain Barbell, Lastikman, Bondying,
Varga, Wanted: Perfect Mother, Hiwaga,
Maruja, Mariposa, Roberta, Rita, Buhay
Pilipino, Jack and Jill, Flash Bomba, Tiny
Tony, and Dragonna among others.

Source: Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_Ravelo Source: https://www.lambiek.net/artists/r/ravelo_mars.htm

EFREN R. ABUEG

Efren Reyes Abueg (born 3 March 1937 in

Tanza, Cavite) is a well-known and recognized
Filipino-language creative writer, editor,
author, novelist, short story writer, essayist,
fictionist, professor, textbook writer, and
anthologist in the Philippines. He graduated
from Manuel Luis Quezon University with a
degree in Commerce.
One of his notable works is the short story
“Ang Kamatayan ni Tiyo Samuel.”

Image and Text Source: https://calabarzonliteraturedelights.blogspot.com/2017/03/literature-delights-cavite.html Image Source: https://prezi.com/38smucp0ais1/kamatayan-ni-tiyo-

samuelni-efren-abueg/

EROS ATALIA

Eros S. Atalia is a Filipino author, professor

and journalist from Cavite City, Philippines who
wrote several books including the Palanca
Award-winning 'Tatlong Gabi, Ekupaskibas' (lit.
Three Nights, Three Days) in 2013 and Ang
Ikatlong Anti-Kristo' (lit. The Third Antichrist) in
2017. His book 'Ligo Na U, Lapit Na Me'
(published in 2009) was adapted into film in
2011. He is a faculty member at the University
of Santo Tomas, and was a resident at the
International Writing Program of the University
of Iowa. Atalia also co-founded the defunct
local newspaper Responde Cavite, where he
also served as an editor.

Source: https://scrollbooks.wordpress.com/ Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eros_Atalia Source: http://visprintpub.blogspot.com/2011/12/eros-atalias-

wag-lang-di-makaraos.html

BALUT VENDOR
EROS ATALIA

Alas-kuwatro na. Maya-maya lang, magliliwanag na. Kaunti na lang ang kulang. Matatapos niya rin ang kanyang reaction paper. Binubuo niya na sa isip niya ang huling puntos
na gusto niyang isulat. Pinapapak ng lamok ang kanyang binti’t hita, pero ayaw niyang kumilos baka mawala ang kanyang konsentrasyon.
Nang may sumigaw ng “Balut! Balut!”
Mahina pa naman. Pero habang tumatagal ay palakas nang palakas. “Balut! Balut!”
Gusto niya sanang sigawan ito pero alam niyang naghahanapbuhay lang ito. Nasaan ang katarungan? Social Justice pa naman ang topic ng kanyang isinusulat.
“Balut! Balut! Balut!” sumungaw ito sa kanyang bintana. Isinenyas ang dala nitong balut.
Umiling siya. Sunod-sunod na iling. Umalis ang magbabalut. Papalayo ang tinig nito. Pahina nang pahina. Nilingon niya ang magbabalut. Unti-unti na itong papalayo sa kanyang bintana.
Nanlamig ang buo niyang katawan. Doon niya naalala na, nasa second floor nga pala siya ng kanilang bahay.

Other prominent literary writers from Cavite are:

Rogelio “Ka Roger” Ordonez who was Pascual H. Poblete (May

born in September 24, 1940 in Alapan, 17, 1857—February 5,
Imus. He was one of the authors of the 1921) was a Filipino writer
and feminist, remarkably
iconic Tagalog literature anthology Mga
noted as the first translator
Agos sa Disyerto in the 1960s. He was a
of Dr. José Rizal's novel Noli
contributor to Liwayway Magazine, Pilipino
Me Tangere into the Tagalog
Free Press, Asia-Philippines Leader, language.
Pilosopong Tasyo, Diario Uno and Pinoy
Weekly.