21 st Century Literature SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

from the Philippines and the World

I. Geographic, Linguistic and Ethnic Dimensions of Philippine

LITERATURE

• It is derived from the Latin word, “litera” which means “letter”.

• A body of written works.
• The name is often applied to those imaginative works of poetry and prose
distinguished by the intentions of their authors and the excellence of their
execution.
• The name is often applied to those imaginative works of poetry and prose
distinguished by the intentions of their authors and the excellence of their
execution.
• It is likened to a mirror
• It is an expression of man’s affection and imagination
• It presents Significant Human Experiences in varied forms (SHE)
• It is value-laiden
• It is an excellent source of truths and insights.
• It is something that is seen as a small version of something much larger
• It presents to us a microcosm, A WORLD IN MINIATURE.

Why study literature?

• To express one’s self
• To have access to one’s culture
• To recognize human dreams and struggles
• To develop mature sensibility and compassion for the condition of all creation
• To appreciate beauty
• To shape one’s own goals and values and clarify one’s own identity
• To develop wider perspective of events

Why study Philippine Literature?

• To better appreciate our literary heritage by tracing the great ideas from our
forefathers
• To understand our great and noble tradition in order to blend well with other
cultures
• To manifest deep concern for our own literature

21st century readers and writers need to:

 To develop proficiency with the tools of technology

 To build relationships with others to pose and solve problems collaboratively and
cross-culturally
 To design and share information for global communities to meet a variety of
purposes

Who are the 21st Century readers?

 They grew up using technology as a primary learning tool.

 They are capable of navigating and interpreting digital formats and media
messages.

HANDOUT NO. 1
21 st Century Literature SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
from the Philippines and the World

What is 21st Century Literature?

 new literary work created within the last decade

 written by contemporary authors
 deals with current themes and issues
 reflects a technological culture
 often breaks traditional writing rules
 emerging genres: IM and blog format books,  digi-fiction, doodle

THE DEVELOPMENT OF PHILIPPINE LITERATURE

Kahayon, A.H. and Zulueta C.A. Philippine Literature (Through the Years)

I. The Pre-Spanish Period

A. Long before the Spaniards and other foreigners landed on Philippine
shores, our forefathers already had their own literature stamped in the
history of our race.
B. Our ancient literature shows ours customs and traditions in everyday life
as traced in our folktales, old plays and short stories.
C. Our ancestors already had their own alphabet which was different from
that brought by the Spaniards. The first alphabet used by our ancestors
was similar to that of the Malayo- Polynesian alphabet.
D. Whatever records our ancestors left were either burned by the Spanish
friars in the belief that they were works of the devil or were written on
materials that easily perished, like the (a) barks of the tree (b) dried leaves
and (c) bamboo cylinders, which could have remained undestroyed even if
efforts were made to preserve them.
E. Other records that remained showed folk songs that proved the existence
of a native culture truly our own. Some of these were passed on by word
of mouth till they reached the hands of some publishers or printers who
took interest in printing the manuscripts of the ancient Filipinos.
F. The Spaniards who came to the Philippines tried to prove that ancestors
were really fond of poetry, songs, stories, riddles and proverbs which we
still enjoy until today and which serve to show to generations the true
culture of our people.
G. Pre- Spanish Literature is characterized by:
1. Legends
Legends are a form of prose of the common theme of which is about
the origin of a thing, place, location or name. The events are
imaginary, devoid of truth and unbelievable. Old Filipino customs are
reflected in these legends. Legends aim to entertain.
2. Folktales
Folktales are made up stories about life, adventure, love, horror and
humor where one can derive lessons about life. These useful to us
because they help us appreciate our environment, evaluate our
personalities and improve our perspectives in life.

HANDOUT NO. 1
21 st Century Literature SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
from the Philippines and the World

3. Epics
Epics are long narrative poems in which a series of heroic
achievements or events, usually of a hero, are dealt with at length.
Examples:
 Bidasari (Moro)
 Biag ni Lam-ang (Ilokano)
 Hudhod and Alim (Ifugao)
 Inadarapatra at Sulayman
4. Folk Songs
Folk song is one of the oldest forms of Philippine Literature that
emerged during the Pre-Spanish era. Many of these have 12 syllables.

Examples:
 Kundiman (Awit ng Pag-Ibig)
 Kumintang or Tagumpay (War Song)
 Ang Oyayi o Hele (Lullaby)

5. Epigrams, Riddles, Chants, and Sayings

a. Epigrams or salawikain have been customarily used and served as
laws or rules on good behavior by our ancestors.
b. Riddles or Bugtong or Palaisipan
c. Chant or Bulong is used in witchcraft or enchantment.
d. Sayings or Kasabihan which is often used in teasing or to
comment on a person actuations

II. The Spanish Period (1565- 1898)

During the long period of colonization of the Philippines by the Spaniards,

they have exerted a strong influence on our literature.
A. The first Filipino alphabet called ALIBATA was replaced by the Roman
alphabet.
B. The Spanish language became the literary language during this time
and lent many of its words to our language.
C. Europeans legends and traditions brought here became assimilated in
our songs, corridos and moro-moro.
D. Ancient literature was collected and translated to Tagalog and other
dialects.
E. Folk songs were still widespread in the Philippines and they truly
manifested the artistic feelings of the Filipinos. They show the Filipinos’
innate appreciation for and love of beauty. Here are some examples:

HANDOUT NO. 1
21 st Century Literature SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
from the Philippines and the World

 Leron-Leron Sinta (Tagalog)

 Pamulinawen (Ilokano)
 Dandansoy (Bisaya)
 Sarong Banggi (Bicol)
 Atin Cu Pung Singsing (Kapangpangan)
F. Characteristics of writings during this time:
1. It has two distinct classifications: religious and secular.
a. Religious Literature - Religious lyrics written by ladino poets
or those versed in both Spanish and Tagalog were included in
early catechism and were used to teach Filipinos the Spanish
language. (See the recreational plays for examples in letter G.)
b. Secular (non-religious) Literature
 Awit – These are colorful tales of chivalry made for
singing and chanting.
Example: Ibong Adarna
 Korido – It is metrical tale written in octosyllabic
quatrains.
Example: Florante at Laura by Francisco Baltazar
c. It introduced Spanish as the medium of communication.
G. The literary genres that came about at the onset of this era were in
the form of recreational plays.
1. Tibag
This ritual was brought here by the Spaniards to remind the people
about the search of St. Helena for the cross on which Jesus died.
2. The Cenaculo
This is a dramatic performance to commemorate the passion and
death of Jesus Christ.
3. Panunuluyan
This is a presentation of the Search of the Virgin Mary and St.
Joseph of an inn where to deliver baby Jesus.
4. The Salubong
The Salubong is an easter play that that dramatizes the meeting of
the Risen Christ and his mother.
5. Carillo
It is a shadow play and it is a form of entertainment on a moonless
night during a town fiesta.
6. The Zarzuela
This is considered as the father of the drama. It is a musical
comedy which dealt with man’s passions and emotions like love,
hate, revenge, cruelty or some social or political problem.
7. Moro- Moro
This is performed during town fiestas to entertain the people and to
remind them of their Christian religion.
8. Karagatan
It’s a poetic vehicle that socio-religious in nature.
9. Duplo
It’s a poetic joust in speaking and reasoning. The roles are taken
from the bible and proverbs and sayings. It replaced Karagatan.

HANDOUT NO. 1
21 st Century Literature SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
from the Philippines and the World

10. The Balagtasan

This replaced Duplo. This is a poetic joust of skills in debate on a
partucliar topic or issue and is held in honor of Franciso “Balagtas”
Baltazar.
11. Dung-aw/Taghoy/ Panambitan
It is a chant of free verse by a bereaved person or his
representative beside the corpse of the dead.

The Period of Enlightenment (1872- 1898)

1. After 300 years of passivity under the Spanish rule, the Filipino
spirit reawakened when the 3 priests Gomez, Burgos and Zamora
were guillotined without sufficient evidence.
2. The Spaniards were unable to suppress the tide of rebellion among
the Filipinos.
3. The once religious spirit transformed itself into one nationalism and
the Filipinos demanded changes in the government and in the
church.
4. Characteristics of this period:
a. planted seeds of nationalism in Filipinos
b. language shifted from Spanish to Tagalog
c. addressed the masses instead of the “intelligentsia”
5. It also paved the way to the following movements:
a. The Propaganda Movement. It aimed to seek changes and
reforms and gave rise to the following propagandists:
 Jose Rizal
 Marcelo H. Del Pillar
 Graciano Lopez Jaena
 AntonioLuna
 Mariano Ponce
 Pedro Paterno
 Jose Ma.Panganiban

b. Revolutionary Movement. The Filipinos did not get reforms

demanded by the propagandists. The government turned deaf
ears to these petitions; oppressions continued and the church
became even more oppressive to the Filipinos.
Here are some notable writers during this time:
 Andres Bonifacio
 Emilio Jacinto
 Apolinario Mabini
 Jose Palma

6. Literary Forms
a. Propaganda Literature - Reformatory in objective
i. Political Essays – satires, editorials and news articles were
written to attack and expose the evils of Spanish rule
1. Diariong Tagalog – founded by Marcelo del Pilar

HANDOUT NO. 1
21 st Century Literature SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
from the Philippines and the World

2. La Solidaridad – whose editor-in-chief is Graciano

Lopez-Jaena
b. Political Novels
i. Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo – Jose Rizal’s
masterpieces that paved the way to the revolution
c. Revolutionary Literature – more propagandistic than literary as it is
more violent in nature and demanded complete independence for
the country
i. Political Essays – helped inflame the spirit of revolution
ii. Kalayaan – newspaper of the society, edited by Emilio
Jacinto
d. Poetry
i. True Decalogue – Apolinario Mabini
ii. Katapusang Hibik ng Pilipinas – Andres Bonifacio
iii. Liwanag at Dilim – Emilio Jacinto

REFERENCES
st
Chua, R.G. (2016). 21 Century Literature from the Philippines and the World. Makati
City: DIWA Learning Systems

Croghan SJ, Richard V. (1975). The Development of Philippine Literature in English.

Quezon City: Alemar-Phoenix Publishing House

Fosdick, Carolyn, Tarrosa (1954). Literature for Philippine High Schools. New York:
Macmillan Company.

SIGLIWA, “Salubungin ang (bagong) Daluyong ng mga Agos sa Disyerto, Agosto

20,2019, https://panitikanatbp.wordpress.com/2009/08/20/salubungin - ang-
bagong-daluyong-ng-mga-agos-sa-disyerto

Velasco, Nel, “CNF Figures of Speech and Literary Devices, February 26, 2020.
https://versozanelson.blodspot.com/

Balud, A.et.al.(2020).21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World Quarter
1-Module 1: Geographic, Linguistic and Ethnic Dimensions of Philippine
Literary History from Pre-Colonial to the Contemporary.Cainta, Rizal:
Department of Education-Region IV-A Calabarzon

Uychoco, M.(2016).21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World.Quezon
City: Rex Book Store

HANDOUT NO. 1