HANDOUTS IN 21ST CENTURY LITERATURE FROM THE PHILIPPINES AND THE WORLD

What is Literature?
It was derived from litteratura which means writing, from litteratus, which means learning. It
covers both oral and written forms of works which manifest expressive or imaginative quality,
nobility of thoughts, timelessness, and lastly, universality. It takes significant human experiences
as its main subject.
History of the 21st Century Literature
The variety and abundance of Philippine literature evolved even before the colonial periods.
Folk tales, epics, poems and marathon chants existed in most ethno linguistic groups that
were passed on from generation to generation through word of mouth. Some of these pre-
colonial literary pieces showcased in traditional narratives, speeches and songs are Tigmo in
Cebuano, Bugtong in Tagalog, Patototdon in Bicol and Paktakon in Ilonggo. Philippine epics
and folk tales are varied and filled with magical characters. They are either narratives of mostly
mythical objects, persons or certain places, or epics telling supernatural events and bravery of
heroes, customs and ideologies of a community.
Philippine Literary Periods

 Pre Colonial Period (900-1521)

In this period you can recall the primitive simplicity of life. Streams, rivers, forests, cave, and
other fertile areas served as inhabitants for Filipinos where they also do agriculture for their
survival. They worship the moons, stars, caves, mountains, rivers, plants and trees. They only
believe in Bathala, since we were not yet influenced by any other belief. The systems of writing
are baybayin and alibata. Literature during pre-colonial period is in two forms, oral and written.
Oral Literature
a. Chant (KANTA)
It is used in witchcraft and enchantment. While, ambahan is a traditional poetry of Hanuno
Mangyans of Oriental Mindoro which teaches lesson about life. It is recited by parents to
educate their children by the youth expressing their love, by the old to impart experiences,
or by the community in tribal ceremony.
(Slideshare.net/mobile/jessacerbito…)
b. Balagtasan
This is a Filipino form of debate done in verse. The term is derived from the surname of
Francisco Balagtas, the author of Filipino epic Florante at Laura.
Written Literature
a. Riddles or Bugtong
These are effective ways to inculcate the ability of logical thinking of a child.
Ex. Ako ay may kaibigan, kasama ko kahit saan. (answer: anino/shadow)
 
b. Epigrams or Salawikain
It reflects the hidden meaning through the good lines. It provides good values.
Ex. Ang bulsang laging mapagbigay, hindi nawawalan ng laman.
c. Poems or Tanaga
These are common forms of poetry which has quatrain with 7 syllables each with the same
rhyme at the end of each line. It also expresses insights and lessons in life.
 
E.g. Tag-init ni IIdefonso Santos
 
Alipatong lumapag
Sa lupa, nagkabitak
Sa kahoy, nalugayak
Sa puso, naglagablab
 The Spanish Colonial Period (1565-1897)
Literary Influences During Spanish Colonization
 
a. Christian Doctrine or Doctrina Cristiana
The first book ever printed in the Philippines in 1593 by the Dominican press.
b. Libro de la Lengua Tagala
Written by Fernando Bagongbanta. Tagalog translations to the Spanish lines, still the
superiority of the Spanish Language.
c. Pasyon
Influenced by the Spanish contexts of Christianity, at least they embodied several Filipino
sentiments and values (the feeling of Filipino mother towards a suffering son).

Filipino Writers in Spanish Who Became Conscious for the Search for Freedom
a. Pasyon Dapat Ipag-alab ng Puso by Marcelo H. Del Pilar expressed his rebellious writing
style was identified.
b. Pascual Poblete’s Patnubay sa Binyagan associated Filipino’s struggle for independence
with Jesus’ life.
c. Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo made very powerful contributions
among the Filipinos to the introduction of rejecting Spanish rule.
d. The narrative poems Awit and Corrido talked about world of royals, warriors and lovers
(the basic concept in Florante at Laura.
e. Komedya. Francisco Baltazar’s Florante at Laura embodied the concept of colonization
and oppression which gave voice to their revolutionary action towards freedom.

 The American Colonial Period (1989-1945)

Literature during American Colonial Period
The poems of Fernando Ma. Guerrero (Crisalidas), Balmori’s Se Deshojo la Flor novel,
and many others discussed revolution and sentiments for patriotism and reform proved that
Philippine literature was used to claim freedom from the colonizers.
Even if Philippine literature was in English, the preservation of the content for Filipino
experiences was achieved.
Short story writers in English like Manuel Arguilla in his “A Son is Born,” was one of the
foundation of the Philippine literature, not in Tagalog or Spanish, but during this time in
English. Poetry in English was also founded.

 Japanese Colonization Period (1941-1945)

This time English writers turned into Filipino writers. Filipinos wrote plays, poems, and
short stories. Common topics for their writings are nationalism, country, love, and life in the
barrios, faith, religion, and the arts.

Types of Literature Emerged During This Period

a. Poem
HAIKU – consists of 17 syllables (5-7-5)
b. Filipino drama
c. Filipino short story
d. Philippine Literature in English
Famous Play Writers
1. Jose Ma. Hernandez – wrote PANDAY PIRA
2. Francisco Soc Rodrigo – wrote SA PULA, SA PUTI
3. Clodualdo del Mundo – wrote BULAGA (an expression in the game Hide and Seek).
4. Julian Cruz Balmaceda – wrote SINO BA KAYO?, DAHIL SA ANAK, and HIGANTI NG
PATAY

 Contemporary Period (1946-Present)

 Heart of the Islands (1947) – a collection of poems by Manuel Viray.

 Philippines Cross Section (1950) - a collection of prose and poetry by Maximo
Ramos and Florentino Valeros
 Prose and Poems (1952) – by Nick Joaquin
 Philippine Writing (1953) - by T.D. Agcaoili
 Philippine Havest - by Amador Daguio
  Horizons Least (1967) – a collection of works by the professors of UE, mostly in
English (short stories, essays, research papers, poem and drama) by Artemio
 Who Spoke of Courage in His Sleep – by NVM Gonzales
 Speak Not, Speak Also - by Condrado V. Pedroche
 Other poets were Toribia Maño and Edith L. Tiempo, Jose Garcia Villa

Literature Of Each Region

 Tagalog
Those who use this type of literature are coming from Southern Luzon, Central Luzon and Metro
Manila or NCR. Among the Southern Tagalog provinces are Cavite, Batangas, Laguna,
Quezon, Aurora, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Palawan and some towns
of Rizal province.
Tagalog region is the birthplace of a rich tradition of Philippine culture in language,
politics, economy and literature. Few of the famous writers in this region are Francisco Balagtas
Baltazar, Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Apolinario Mabini, Emilio Jacinto, Marcelo H. Del Pilar,
Jose P. Laurel, Claro M. Recto, Amado V. Hernandez, and Lope K. Santos.
It is a blending of the elements of Spanish, American and Filipino culture. It is the
harmonious blending of the native and foreign elements.
Ex.: Isang Dipang Langit by Amado Hernandez
 Cebuano
Poetic forms of Cebuano literature are garay (verses), harito (shaman’s prayers), tigmo
(riddles), and panultihan (proverbs), as described by the Jesuit Francisco Alzina (1668). The
generic form of poetry in this region is balak, characterized by the presence of enigma or
metaphor called balaybay or sambingay.
Most of the poems are sung, like the occupational songs and lullabies. The balitaw is an
extemporaneous poetic debate between man and woman that is sung and danced
simultaneously. Spontaneous versifying is highly valued, also illustrated in a dramatic form
called kulilising hari, a variant of the Tagalog duplo, that is usually performed at funeral wakes.
Another important influence of the Spanish period is found in the plays called linambay (known
also as moromoro because of its anti-Muslim theme).
 Ilocano
It is one of the most colorful regional Filipino literatures. It is one of the most active tributaries to
the general Philippine literature next to Tagalog, Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Bikol, and
Pangasinense. Prior to the Spanish colonial period, the Ilocano literature is purely alive in form
of written and oral literature. Ilocano literature was heavily influenced by Spanish poetry.
Ex.: Biag ni Lam-ang
 Hiligaynon
It is the lingua Franca of the West Visayas in Central Philippines. West Visayas is composed of
the provinces of Iloilo, Capiz, Antique, and Aklan on the island of Panay; the western half of the
island of Negros, and the new island.
Purely oral, West Visayas literature before the coming of the Spaniards was in Kinaray-a which
must have been the language in folk literature of the ten Bornean datus.