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I. What is literature?
 It is derived from its Latin root “littera” which means letter or handwriting.
 Most generically, it is anybody of written works. More restrictively, literature writing is considered to
be an art form, or any single writing deemed to have artistic or intellectual value, often due to
deploying language in ways that differ from ordinary usage.
 It is a form of human expression that includes both oral and written accounts.
 These are writings having excellence of form or expression and expressing ideas of permanent or
universal interest.

II. What are the two types of literature?

A. Prose
 is a type of literature that possesses ordinary syntax and natural speech rather than the rhythmic
structure; in which regard, along with its measurement in sentences rather than lines, it differs
from poetry.
 Is an ordinary writing made up of sentences and paragraphs, without any metrical (or rhyming)
structure. It applies a natural flow of speech and ordinary grammatical structure.
 includes novels, short stories, essays, letters, editorials, articles, journals etc.
B. Poetry
 a type of literature in which the expression of feelings and ideas is given intensity by the use of
distinctive style and rhythm.
 It is literature in meter form. It is a form of written word that has pattern and rhythm and rhyme
 includes sonnets, haiku, epic, tanaga, etc. which are collectively known as poems
 an imaginative awareness of experience expressed through meaning, sound and rhythmic
language choices so as to evoke an emotional response.

III. Philippine Literary History

The diversity and richness of Philippine literature evolved side by side with the country’s history.
This can best be appreciated in the context of the country’s pre-colonial cultural traditions and the socio-
political histories of its colonial and contemporary traditions.
The average Filipino’s unfamiliarity with his indigenous literature was largely due to what has been
impressed upon him: that his country was “discovered” and, hence Philippine “history” started only in
1521.So successful were the efforts of the colonialists to blot out the memory of the country’s largely oral
past that present-day Filipino writers, artists, and journalists are trying to correct this inequity by recognizing
the country’s wealth of ethnic traditions and disseminating them in schools and in the mass media.
The rousing of nationalistic pride in 1960’s and 1970’s also helped bring about this change of
attitude among a new breed of Filipinos concerned about the Filipino identity.
-CHRISTINE F. GODINEZ-ORTEGA

A. Pre-colonial Period (Early Times – 1564)

The pre-colonial period in Philippine literature refers to the years before the coming of the
Spaniards. It is the period of the Philippine literary history considered to be the longest. Long time before the
Spanish and other foreigners landed on Philippine shores, our forefathers already had their own literature
stamped in the history of our race.
Our ancient literature shows our customs and traditions in everyday life as traced in our folk stories,
folk songs, folk narratives and other short stories. In the olden days, when the first teacher of children were
their own parents, they taught their children to acquire cherished values like honesty, charity, bravery, etc., by
telling them stories like legends, myths, and folktales. It is so that during this period, oral forms of literature
dominated.
Alibata – the first Filipino alphabet that was changed to Roman alphabet during the Spanish
colonization.

3 FORMS OF LITERATURE:

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a. ORAL LITERATURE
 Riddles (bugtong) – battle of wits among participants. It is called Tigmo in Cebu,
Paktakon in Ilongo and Patotdon in Bicol.
 Proverbs (salawikain) – wise sayings that contain metaphors which are also used as food
for thought
b. FOLK TALES - made up of stories about life, adventure, love, horror, and humor where
one can derive lessons about life
 Myths – explain how the world was created, how certain animals possess certain
characteristics, why some places have waterfalls, volcanoes, mountains, flora
and fauna
 Legends – explain the origin of things
 Fables – used animal characters and allegory
 Fantasy stories
– deal with the underworld characters such as tiyanak, aswang, kapre, and so on
 Epics – these are narratives of sustained length based on oral tradition revolving
around supernatural events or heroic deeds
Examples: Biag ni Lam-ang (Ilocano), Hinilawod (Panay), Kudaman
(Palawan), Darangen (Maranao), Ibalon (Bikol)

c. FOLKSONGS – one of the oldest forms of Philippine literature that emerged in the Pre-
Spanish period
 Hele/Oyayi – lullaby
 Ambahan (Mangyan) – about human relationships and social entertainment
 Kalusan (Ivatan) – work songs
 Tagay (Cebuano and Waray) – drinking song
 Kanogan (Cebuano) – song of lamentation for the dead

B. Spanish Colonization Period (1565-1898)

After the Spaniards succeeded in in 1565 to break the last good organized resistance, a long
period of Spanish influence followed. The Spaniards ruled the country, brought the Christian religion to
the country and were responsible for a lot of colonial and religious buildings throughout the country.
Spanish occupied Philippines in early 15th Century. The Spanish colonization period has two
distinct classifications – religious and secular.
1. Religious Literature – religious lyrics written by Ladino poets or those versed in both
Spanish and Tagalog were included in early catechism
a. Pasyon – long narrative poem about the passion of death of Christ
b. Senakulo – dramatization of the Pasyon, it shows the passion and death of Christ

2. Secular Literature – non-religious literature

a. Awit – colourful tales of chivalry made for singing and chanting.
Example: Florante at Laura by Francisco Baltazar
b. Korido – metrical tale written in octosyllabic quatrains.
Example: Ibong Adarna
c. Prose Narratives – written to prescribe proper decorum

NATIONALISTIC/PROPAGANDA AND REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD (1864-1896)

Literary Forms under this period include propaganda literature and revolutionary literature.
1. Propaganda Literature – reformatory in objective
a. Political Essays – satires, editorials, and new articles were written to stick and expose
the evils of Spanish rule
Examples:
Diariong Tagalog (1882)
La Solidaridad (1888)
b. Political Novels
Examples:

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Noli Me Tangere (1887)

El Filibusterismo (1891)

2. Revolutionary Literature – more propagandistic than literary as it is more violent in

nature and demanded complete independence for the country
a. Political Essays – helped inflame the spirit of revolution
 Kalayaan (1896) – a newspaper of the Katipunan which means “independence
and solidarity” edited by Emilio Jacinto
b. Poetry
 Hibik ng Pilipinas (1896) – Andres Bonifacio
 Liwanag at Dilim (1896) – Emilio Jacinto
 The Decalogue (1898)

C. American Colonization Period (1901 – 1946)

A new set of colonizers brought about new changes in Philippine literature. New literary forms
such as free verse (in poetry), the modern short story and the critical essays were introduced. American
influence was deeply entrenched with the firm establishment of English as the medium of instruction in
all schools and with literary modernism that highlighted the writer’s individuality and cultivated
consciousness of craft, sometimes at the expense of social consciousness.
Philippine literary production during American Period was spurred by two significant
developments in education and culture. One is the introduction of free public education for all children of
school age and two, the use of English as medium of instruction in all levels of education in public
schools.
Many Filipinos started writing again and the nationalism of the people remain undaunted.
Filipino writers went into all forms of literature like news reporting, poetry, stories, plays, essays and
novels. Their writings clearly depicted their love of country and their longings for independence.
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 as it has given birth to modern Philippine
writing in English.
Poetry in all languages continued to flourish in all regions of the country during the period. The
Tagalogs, hailing Francisco F. Balagtas as the nation’s foremost poet invented the Balagtasan in his
honor. The Balagtasan is a debate in verse, a poetical joust done almost spontaneously between
protagonists who debate over the pros and cons of an issue.
Among the more popular fictionists who emerged during the period are two women writers,
Liwayway Arceo and Genoveva Edroza Matute, considered forerunners in the use of “light” fiction, a
kind of story telling that uses language through poignant rendition. Matute’s “Akoý Isang TInig” and
Arceo’s “Uhaw ang Tigang na Lupa” have been used as models of fine writing in Filipino by Teachers of
composition throughout the school system.

D. Japanese Colonization Period (1946-1960)

Philippine literature was interrupted in its development when we were again conquered by
another foreign country, Japan. Philippine literature came to a halt. Almost all newspapers in English
were stopped by the Japanese except for the Tribune and the Philippine Review.
During this time, there was no freedom of speech and of the press.Tagalog was favoured by the
Japanese military authority and writing in English was consigned to a limbo. They were able to influence
and encourage the Filipino in developing the vernacular literature. The only Filipino writers who could
write freely were those who were living in the United States. So, Filipino literature was given a break
during this time. Filipino literature also experienced renewed attention because writers in English turned
to writing in Filipino.

3 types of poems that emerged during this period:

a. Haiku – a poem of free verse that the Japanese liked. It is made up of seventeen syllables
divided into three lines. The first line has five, the second – seven and the third –
five. It is allegorical in meaning, short and covers a wide scope in meaning.
b. Tanaga – like the Haiku, it is short, but has measure and rhyme. Each line has seven
syllables and is also allegorical in meaning.
c. Karaniwang Anyo (Usual Form) – the usual and common form of poetry

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E. Contemporary Period (1986 – Present)

The flowering of Philippine Literature in various languages continue especially with the
appearance of new publications after the Martial Law years and the resurgence of committed literature in
1960s and the 1970s.
Filipino writers continue to write poetry, short stories, novellas, novels and essays whether these
are socially committed, gender/ethnic related or are personal in intention or not.
Of course the Filipino writer has become more conscious of his art with the proliferation of writer
workshops here and abroad and the bulk of literature available to him via mass media including the
internet.
With the new requirement by the Commission on Higher Education of teaching of Philippine
literature in all tertiary schools in the country emphasizing the teaching of the vernacular literature or
literatures of the regions, the audience for Filipino writers is virtually assured. And, perhaps, a national
literature finding its niche among the literatures of the world will not be far behind.

IV. Representative Authors from the Different Regions of the Philippines

The table below presents the current regional division of the Philippines. Samples of 21 st century
Filipino authors associated with each region are listed below. The writer’s association with that region is
established in two ways: it is the writer’s birthplace or the writer settled in that region. Please be reminded
that the names of writers here are merely a fraction of 21 st century Filipino writers. Many of our new writers
are still waiting to have their works published, circulated, and read.

NCR (National Capital Region – Metro Manila) – it is made up of the following cities: Manila, Caloocan,
Las Piñas, Makati, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Quezon City, Pasay, Pasig,
Parañaque, San Juan, Taguig, Valenzuela, and Pateros.
 Writers associated with this region: Michael M. Coroza, Jessica Zafra, Charlson Ong, Norman
Wilwayco, Ana Marie Villanueva-Lykes, Janet B. Villa, Naya Valdellon, Rosmon Tuazon, Lourde
de Veyra
Region 1 (Ilocos Region) – includes Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, and Dagupan City
 Writers associated with this region: Paul B. Zafaralla, Santiago B. Villafania, Cles B. Ramabaud,
Jan Marc Austria, Ariel S. Tabag
Region 2 (Cagayan Valley Region) – includes Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino
 Writers associated with this region: Jun Lisondra
CAR (Cordillera Administrative Region) – includes Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga-Apayao,
and Mountain Province
 Writers associated with this region: Ma. Luisa Aguilar-Cariño, Dion Micahel Fernandez, Rachel
Pitlogay, Chinee Sanchez-Palatino, Charisse Acquisio
Region 3 (Central Luzon Region) – Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales
 Writers associated with this region: Virgilio Almario, Rolando F. Santos, D.M. Reyes, Danton
Remoto, Mark Anthony Cayanan
Region 4-A (CALABARZON) – Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon
 Writers associated with this region: Joel M. Toledo, Frank G. Rivera, Jimmuel C. Naval
Region 4-B (MIMAROPA) – Occidental Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro, Marindoque, Romblon, and
Palawan
 Writers associated with this region: Jose Dalisay Jr.
Region 5 (Bicol Region) – This comprises Masbate, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Catanduanes,
and Sorsogon
 Writers associated with this region: Merlinda Bobis, Ricardo Lee, Victor Dennis Tino Nierva,
Rizaldy Manrique, Jasmin Badong Llana, Marne L. Kilates, Estelito Baylon Jacob, Kristian Sendon
Cordero, Alvin Yapan, Richard Madrilejos
Region 6 ( Western Visayas Region) - Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, and Iloilo
 Writers associated with this region: Felino Garcia Jr., John Iramil Teodoro, Alice Tan Gonzales,
Mark Anthony Grejaldo, Alain Russ Dimzon, Melchor F. Cichon, Genevieve L. Alsenjo, John
Edision Tondares, John Carlo Tiampong, John Barrios, Isidro Cruz
NIR (Negros Island Region – Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental
 Writers associated with this region: Isabel D. Sibullen, Jean Lee C. Patindol, Ian Rosales Casocot,
Roger Garcia, Karlo Antonio Galay David, Rosario Cruz-Lucero, Marrianne Villanueva
Region 7 (Negros Island Region) – Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental
 Writers associated with this region: Michael Obenieta, Jeneen R. Garcia, Lawrence Lacambra Ypil,
Rene Amper, Marjorie Evasco, Marcel Navarra, Godofredo Roperos, Joshua Cabrera, Januar Yap,
Corazon Almerino, Adonis Dorado, Gerard Pareja, Delora Sales, Ulysses Aparece, Ronald
Villavelez, Cathy Viado

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Region 8 (Eastern Visayas Region) – Bohol, Cebu, and Siquijor

 Writers associated with this region: Voltaire Oyzon, Timothy R. Montes, Darylle Delgado
Region 9 ( Zamboanga Peninsula) – Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay,
Zamboanga City, and Isabela
 Writers associated with this region: Mig Alvarez Enriquez, Servando D. Halili Jr.
Region 10 (Northern Mindanao Region) – Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao
Oriental, and Davao Occidental
 Writers associated with this region: Candy Gourlay, Miguel Lizada, Salud M. Carrido, Margarita
Marfori, Ricky Villafuerte
Region 11 (Davao Region or Southern Mindanao Region) – Compostella Valley, Davao del Norte,
Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental,and Davao Occidental
 Writers associated with this region: Candy Gourlay, Miguel Lizada, Salud M. Carrido, Margarita
Marfori, Ricky Villafuerte
Region 12 (SOCCSKSARGEN or Central Mindanao Region) – South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan
Kudarat, Sarangani, and General Santos
 Writers associated with this region: Christine Godinez-Ortega, Jaime Ann Lim
Region 13 (Caraga Region) – Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and
Dinagat Islands
 Writers associated with this region: Joey Ayala, Tia Lacambra-Ayala
ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) – Basilan (except Isabela City), Lanao del Sur,
Maguindanao, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi
Writers associated with this region: Steven Prince Patrick C. Fernandez, Mehol K. Sadain, Therese P.
Abonales, Minalang K. Barapantao Jr.

SOURCE: Beyond Borders (Reading Literature in the 21st

Century) by Ma. Gabriela P. Martin, Alona U. Guevarra, Emar Ivery Del Campo, and Ma.
Soccorro Q. Perez
V. Comparison Between Earlier Literary Genres and 21st Century Literary Genres
A. Earlier Literary Genres:
1. Traditional Poetry
2. Novels
3. Plays
4. Epics
5. Short Stories
6. Folk Narratives
7. Proverbs
B. 21ST Century Literary Genres:
1. Hypertext - is a genre of electronic literature, characterized by the use of hypertext links that provide
a new context for non-linearity in literature and reader interaction. The reader typically chooses links
to move from one node of text to the next, and in this fashion arranges a story from a deeper pool of
potential stories.
2. SMS - stands for Short Message Service and is also commonly referred to as a "text message".

3. Emails - is a method of exchanging messages between people using electronics.

4. Blogs- A website, similar to an online journal that includes chronological entries made by individuals.
The word blog was derived from the combination of the word web and log.
5. Flash fiction - It is a style of fictional literature of extreme brevity. There is no widely accepted
definition of the length of the category. It could range from a word to a thousand.
6. Illustrated Novel - Generally, 50% of the narrative is presented without words. The reader must
interpret the images in order to comprehend the complete story.
7. Scifi - It is a genre of speculative fiction dealing with imaginative concepts such as futuristic science
and technology, space travel, faster than light travel, parallel universe and extraterrestrial life.
8. Chik lit - It is a fiction which addresses issues of modern womanhood, often humorously or
lightheartedly, It typically features a female protagonist whose womanhood is heavily thematized in
the plot.

21ST LITERARY GENRES EARLIER LITERARY GENRES

Follows no traditional conventions for Follows a set of traditional conventions for
STRUCTUR writing. writing.
E

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Written Literature -Electronic Literature Oral Literature – Written Literature

TRADITIO
N

SHORT STORY
 is a work of fictional narrative prose with a few characters, limited setting, and a single major event.
 is meant to be read in a single sitting.

ELEMENTS OF THE SHORT STORY:

1. CHARACTER - is a person/animal who takes part in the action of a short story or other literary work
2. SETTING - setting provides the locale (place) and period (time) of the short story
3. PLOT - is the series of events which leads to a climax, or high point of interest
4. POINT OF VIEW - is the way in which the story is narrated. It is the vantage point, the writers use to
tell the story
5. THEME - the message of the story to the readers

VI. Literary
Devices Used in Poetry
A. Imageries – mean to use figurative language to represent objects, actions, and ideas in such a way that it
appeals to our physical senses. Usually it is thought that imagery makes use of particular words that
create visual representation of ideas in our minds. The word “imagery” is associated with mental pictures.
However, this idea is but partially correct. Imagery, to be realistic, turns out to be more complex than just
a picture.
Examples:
1. It was dark and dim in the forest.
2. The children were screaming and shouting in the fields.
3. He whiffed the aroma of brewed coffee.
4. The girl ran her hands on a soft satin fabric.
5. The fresh and juicy orange is very cold and sweet.

B. Symbolisms – are the use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities, by giving them symbolic meanings
that are different from their literal sense. Symbolisms can take different forms. Generally, it is an object
representing another, to give an entirely different meaning that is much deeper and more significant.

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C. Figures of Speech - also known as figurative language, it creates figures (pictures) in the mind of the
reader or listener. These pictures help convey the meaning faster and more vividly than words alone. We
use figures of speech in "figurative language" to add colour and interest, and to awaken the imagination.
Figurative language is everywhere, from classical works like Shakespeare or the Bible, to everyday
speech, pop music and television commercials. It makes the reader or listener use their imagination and
understand much more than the plain words. Figurative language is the opposite of literal language.
Literal language means exactly what is says. Figurative language means something different to (and
usually more than) what it says on the surface.
Figures of Speech Based on Comparison
1. Simile – a type of comparison between things or objects by using “as”, “like”, and “seems”.
Examples:
My heart is like a singing bird
Whose nest is in a water’d shoot;
My heart is like an apple tree
My heart is like a rainbow shell…

2. Metaphor – is comparing two unlike objects or things, which may have some common qualities,
without the use of like, as, and seems.
Examples:
You ain’t nothing but a hound dog.
Love is a battlefield.
Baby, you’re a firework.
I’m a titanium.

3. Personification – the attribution of human nature or character to animals, inanimate objects, or

abstract notions especially as a rhetorical figure.
Examples:
The ocean heaved a sigh.
The sun smiled at us.
The trees are dancing in the gentle breeze.

4. Apostrophe – In literature, apostrophe is a figure of speech sometimes represented by an

exclamation, such as “Oh”. A writer or speaker, using apostrophe, speaks directly to someone who is
not present or is dead, or speaks to an inanimate object.
Examples:
Oh! Stars and clouds and winds, ye are all about to mock me.
stranger of the future!

Figures of Speech Based on Association

1. Metonymy – the substitution of the name of an attribute or adjunct for that of the thing meant.
Examples:
The pen is mightier than the sword.
The crown has granted amnesty to all prisoners charged with minor offenses.
Roald Dahl is read by people of all ages.

2. Synecdoche – a figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa.
Examples:
I bought myself a new set of wheels to travel to work every day.
India won the ICC World cup in 2011.
He hired some extra hands for help.

Figures of Speech Based on Sound Effects

1. Onomatopoeia – The formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named.
Examples:
The car beeps after the dark.
Tick, tock.. only the sound of the clock can be heard inside the room.

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The telephone rings.

2. Alliteration – The repetition of consonant sounds, especially at the beginning of words.

Examples:
“She sells seashells by the sea-shore.”
“Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.”

3. Assonance - is the figurative term used to refer to the repetition of a vowel sound in a line of text or
poetry. The words have to be close enough together for the repetition to be noticeable.
Examples:
The light of the fire is a sight. (repetition of the long i sound)
Go slow over the road. (repetition of the long o sound)

Figures of Speech Based on Contrast/Opposing Ideas

1. Antithesis – a rhetorical device in which two opposite ideas are put together in a sentence to achieve
a contrasting effect.

Examples:
"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." - Neil Armstrong.
It’s better to reign in hell, than serve in heaven.

2. Chiasmus - is the reversing the order of words in the second of two parallel phrases. This rhetorical
device is also referred to as reverse parallelism, antimetabole or syntactical inversion.

Examples:
"Never let a fool kiss you--or a kiss fool you." - Never Let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool
You
You forget what you want to remember, and you remember what you want to forget.
But many that are first shall be last and the last shall be first. - Matthew 7:6

3. Paradox – a statement that appears to be absurd or self-contradictory but is actually valid or true.

Examples:
What a pity that youth must be wasted on the young.” – George Bernard Shaw
Wise fool
Truth is honey, which is bitter.

4. Irony – a situation that is strange or funny because things happen in a way that seems to be the
opposite of what you expected.
Examples:
The minister of law and justice got arrested over a fake law degree.
The women and child development Minister of Delhi is sacked for secretly filming a woman
in objection state and violating her privacy.

Figures of Speech Based on Emphasis

1. Hyperbole is the liteprary term used for exaggeration. When authors use hyperbole, they do not
mean for their statements to be taken literally-they are exaggerating the facts for effect.
Examples:
My father drives 1,000 miles per hour!
I ate a ton of food for dinner.
Mom, if I don't get some dinner soon, I will starve to death!
I don't think a herd of elephants would be as noisy as this class is today!

2. Understatement – to say that (something) is smaller, less important, et., than it really is.
Examples:
Having your leg broken is somewhat painful.
Bill Gates is financially secure.
Buying a new Audi will set you back a few bucks.

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3. Anaphora – the repetition of a word or phrase at the very beginning of successive phrases, clauses,
or sentences.
Examples:
What lies behind us, and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.
--RW Emerson

4. Epistrophe – the repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive phrases, clauses, or
sentences.
Examples:
Democracy is the government of the people, by the people, and for the people.
When I was a kid, I thought as a kid, I understand as a kid, and I spoke as a kid.

5. Rhetorical Question – a question posed to provoke a thought rather than to generate an answer. This
type of question is generally asked just for effect or to lay emphasis on some point. It may have an
obvious answer or no answer at all.
Examples:
It’s too hot today, isn’t it?

6. Litotes – an ironic understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of the

contrary.
Examples:
This ice cream is not bad!
Drawing a long bow is no mean feat.
He is hardly an Einstein.

Pun – (there’s no broad category to which this figure of speech belongs) a humorous way of using a
word so that more than one meaning is suggested. This can use multiple meanings of the same word
(homonyms) or different meanings of similar sounding words (homophones).
Examples:
As a successful pilot, her career has – no pun intended -- really taken off.
I was struggling to figure out how lightning works. Then, all of a sudden, it struck me.

VII. CONTEXT
Context - anything beyond the specific words of a literary work that may be relevant to understanding the
meaning. Contexts may be economic, social, cultural, historical, biographical, etc.
A. TYPES OF CONTEXT:
1. Biographical Context - same as authorial context. Biographical context places a particular literary
work within the context of the author’s life. Consider the circumstances under which the literary work
was written. While exploring biographical context, useful sources include biographies of the author,
autobiographies or memoirs by the author or by people who knew him or her, and critical works that
give close attention to the author’s life.
2. Linguistic Context - discourse that surrounds a language unit and helps to determine its
interpretation.
3. Sociocultural Context - it is evident when literary works respond in some way to the society in
which they were written, and most often (though not always) that response takes the form of
criticism. Sociocultural context is about how a particular literary work depicts society. Sources you
might investigate include works (books and articles) of history or sociology that talk about the
strengths, weaknesses, and changes occurring in the society during the period in which the literary
work is set, and critical works that emphasize the connection between the society and the literary
work.
4. Historical Context – looks into the world behind the text

VIII. LITERARY WORKS OF FILIPINO AUTHORS

Scope note and definition: The following links are composed of selected articles, novels, poems, short
stories and other creative and/or academic publications of some of the great Filipino authors of the 20 th
Century.

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A. Lualhati Bautista – an awardee of Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards. She is known for novels that were
adapted for movies such as “Bata, Bata, Paano Ka Ginawa?” in 1998 and Dekada ’70 in 2002.
Some works:
1. Ang Hukom – written in Tagalog, the story revolves around the judge, the assistant and the
verdict.
2. Seven Short Stories – Compilation of some of the writings of Lualhati Bautista.

B. Nestor Vicente Madali Gonzalez – the first recipient of the Commonwealth Literary Contest in 1940.
He received the National Artist Award in 1997.
Work:
 The Happiest Boy in the World (From the Book Seven Hills Away) – situated in the island
of Mindoro, it is a short story that talks about provincial life.

C. Nick Joaquin – also known under his pseudonym “Quijano de Manila”. He is so far the most
distinguished Filipino writer in English writing. He was awarded as the National Artist for Literature in
1973.
Some works:
1. Culture and History (Excerpt) – In the last chapter of this book, Nick Joaquin tries to attest that
there is a Filipino identity.
2. BUSINESSWORLD (Philippines): Weekender: Portrait of Vivian Velez as stage actress – This
article features the play, Larawan, and an interview with Vivian Velez
3. May Day Eve (Excerpt) – one of the best short narratives that believed to pioneer the literary
style called “magic realism”.

D. Francisco Sionil Jose – Francisco founded the Philippine Chapter of PEN, an international organization
for writers. Aside from the National Artist Award, he also obtained the Ramon Magsaysay Award for
Journalism, Literature and Creative Communication Arts.
Some works:
1. A Call For Revolution – a critique that challenges the credibility of EDSA Revolution and the
Filipino society
2. Graduation – a teenager accounts the eagerness and dread of leaving his hometown

E. Bienvenido Lumbera – a critic, librettist, and poet. Beny created famous musical plays such as the
“Tales of the Manuvu and Rama Hari” at “Hibik Nina Viktoria Laktaw”.
1. Eulogy of Roaches – The analogous poem that depicts the roaches of the public.
2. Agunyas sa Hacienda Luisita – A poem that commemorates the massacre executed by the
Ampatuan Family in 2009.
3. Ang Ating Bagong Panatang Makabayan – pledged by the protestors in 2008, it sardonically
condones corruption
4. Paggunita sa Pamamaslang – A poem about the massacre executed by the Ampatuan family in
2009.
5. Toward a National Literature – originally a speech, it was delivered by the Lumbera himself to
an assembly of writers
6. Tribute to Alex Remolino – A poetry dedicated by Bienvenido Lumbera to his friend.

F. Alejandro Roces – Anding won the Best Short Story award for “We Filipinos are Mild Drinkers” in the
United States. He received the Rizal Pro Patria, one of the highest recognitions given by the Republic of
the Philippines. As a nationalist, he was known for promoting Ati-atihan, Moriones and Peñafrancia
Festivals, to name a few.
1. I Wrote as I Wrote – Roces bids farewell in this last article published in Philippine Star.
2. My Brother’s Peculiar Chicken –The humorous short tale was featured in Martha Foley’s Best
American Stories.
3. We Filipinos are Mild Drinkers – A funny short story set during World War II.

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G. Edith Tiempo – She is the only female among the recipients of the National Artist Award in Literature.
1. Bonsai – A poem surreally written about love.
2. The Black Monkey – Thought typically short for a short story, the baffling plot and intricate
details contribute well.

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