GE-117: PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
Kamille Mae Bollozos
Lesson 5: Philippine Literature During American
Regime
Historical Background (1990-1942; 1943-1946)
 American colonization began in 1898 when Spain
ceded the Philippines to America
 Filipino resistance to American colonization ended
on July 4, 1902, through Roosevelt's
announcement
 Acculturation of Filipino into American life began
affecting literature in the Philippines
American Regime Influences
1. New Language
 Americans went into extensive effort to propagate
American English Language.
 American textbook in English were used in schools.
 English: the language of the era
2. Egalitarian Public-School System
 Added factor for the linguistic change.
 University of the Philippines was established (1908)
 The Philippine Collegian: Outlet to produce
literature by student and faculty.
3. The Mushrooming of Newspapers and Periodicals
 a driving force in the development of Philippine
Literature in English
 Ex.:
(1) The Philippine Review (1916)
(2) The Philippine Nat'l Weekly (1917)
(3) The Citizen (1918)
(4) The Philippine Republic (1923)
 The College Folio
- First student publication of the state university
and contained better production of Filipino
writers in 1920
 The Filipino People by Manuel Quezon: Published
some poem, stories, essays in English by Filipino
students in America.
 The Philippine Free Press: First magazine that gave
serious attention to development of short stories.
4. Period Of Imitation, Changes In Content And Style
 writers imitate models both from England and the
United States (Hemingway, O.Henry, Saroya, etc)
 the literary technique was criticized by famous
English professors but did not deal on the contents
5. Steady Growth In Form
 Novel Writing by Filipino writers (A child of
sorrow, The Filipino Rebel, The winds of April)
 Filipino Short Stories in English (edited by Jose
Garcia Villa)
 Filipino Love Stories by Paz Marquez Benitez
(1927)
 Footnote to Youth by Jose Garcia Villa
“Filipino writers had acquired the mastery of English
writing. They known confidently and competently wrote on
a lot of subjects although the old-time favorites of love and
youth persisted.”
The Fence
A short Story by Jose Garcia Villa
Jose Garcia Villa (August 5, 1908 - February 7, 1997)
 A Filipino Poet, literary critic, short story writer and
painter
 National Artist for Literature (1973)
 Guggenheim Fellowship in Creative Writing
 He is known as comma poet
 He introduced the reverse consonance rhyme
scheme.
Characters of the Story
 Aling Biang
- Unforgiving woman who was betrayed by her
husband with her neighbor
 Aling Sebia
- Aling Biang's neighbor who has not seen a
feeling of remorse having caught with her
neighbor's husband
 Iking
- Aling Bing's son who wanted his mom to
reconcile with their neighbor
 Aling Sebia'S Daughter
- A girl who is good in playing guitar that made
Iking fall in love
 Aling Biang'S Husband
- A man who left unsettled with his wife
Setting of the Story
 A desolate place where 2 nipa huts are the only
visible house
 The Occupants are distant and cold toward each
other
 Their attitudes reflect the remoteness and
emptiness of their location
Overview of the Story
The story revolves around Aling Biang whose heart
was hardened by the betrayal, hurt, and emotions she felt
when her neighbor and her husband slept together one night,
thus a fence has been built. This also caused her to forbid her
sickly child from making any connections with their neighbor's
family. But her son, Iking longed for attention and company,
he eventually resisted from her mother's rules when he saw
the girl from thee neighborhood, but he could not do more as
he was very sick. Aling Biang did not notice how her fences
was hurting her son's soul.
Prime teaching of the Story: The importance of Forgiveness
 GE-117: PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
Kamille Mae Bollozos
Lesson 6: Dead Stars  Foreshadowing
by Paz Marquez Benitez  is a literary device that writers utilize as means
to indicate or hint to readers something that is
to follow or appear later in the story
Paz Marquez Benitez (March 3, 1894 - November 10, 1983)  This can heighten a reader’s enjoyment of a
 a Filipino educator who authored the first modern literary work, enhance the work’s meaning, and
Filipino literature written in English. the reader make connections with other
 Outstanding teacher in UP’s English department literature and literary themes.
from 1916 – 1951.  Function in Literature
 She became an influential figure to many Filipino 1) Foreshadowing functions as means of focusing
writers in the English language a reader’s attention and/or setting up
 founded “Woman’s Home Journal” – first women’s anticipation of a narrative revelation or plot
magazine in the country twist
2) It primes reader’s emotions and expectations
 Mother of the Philippine Literature written in English for something to be revealed.
Language
 2 Types
(1) Direct (overt) Foreshadowing
Literary Devices (How do authors convey the messages  The story openly suggests an impending
they intend to the readers?) problem, event, or twist.
 Literary device/s refer/s to the typical structure/s  Usually accomplished through the
used by writers in their works to convey his or her characters’ dialogue, a prophecy, or even
messages in a simple manner to the readers. a prologue.
 Literary devices help readers to appreciate, interpret
and analyze a literary work (2) Indirect (covert) Foreshadowing
 Examples:  The story hints at an outcome by leaving
 Symbolism subtle clues throughout the story
 Figurative Language  Readers likely won’t realize the meaning
 Frame Story of the clues until they witness the
 Motif foreshadowed event.
 Epigraph

 Flashback DEAD STARS

 are interruptions that writers do to insert past A short story by Paz Marquez-Benitez
events, in order to provide background or
context to the current events of a narrative. Characters of the Story
 Dream sequences and memories are methods 1) Alfredo Salazar
used to present flashbacks - The 30-year-old bachelor son of Don Julian. He falls in
 Function in Literature love with Julia as he was about to get married to his
1) Aid character development fiancée.
 Diving into a character’s past is a way for
writers to convey background information 2) Esperanza
that supports the main storyline. - She is the fiancée/wife of Alfredo Salazar. Esperanza is
2) Incorporate different time periods. an impassionate woman with a strong will and
 Flashbacks break up the chronological principles.
flow of a story, making it more interesting 3) Julia
and realistic - She is the sister-in-law of Judge Dal Valle and the love
3) Make readers more connected to the affair of Alfredo.
characters.
 Effective flashbacks provide a deeper Minor Characters of the Story
insight into who a person is  Don Julian
 Flashback helps audience feel empathy  Carmen
and make sense of the antagonist’s  Judge Del Valle
behavior  Calixta
4) Can explain the current conflict  Vicente
 Flashing back can help a reader better  Brigada Samuy
understanding why and how the
protagonist got into the situation that’s
driving the plot and the reasons behind the
main conflict.
 GE-117: PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
Kamille Mae Bollozos
Setting of the Story
 Calle Real, House of Judge del Valle,
Lesson 7: The Mats
 Sta. Cruz, House of Don Julian in Tanda, by Francisco Arcellana
 House of Don Julian
Francisco Arcellana (September 6, 1916 - August 1 2002)
 A Filipino writer, poet, essayist, critic journalist and
Overview of “Dead Stars”
teacher.
 Received his Ph.D. degree in U.P (1939)
“Dead stars” is a short story about an over-thirty
 Pioneered the development if the short story as a
years old bachelor, Alfredo Salazar who was about to get
lyrical prose-poetic form.
married to his fiancee, Esperanza. His love and passion for his
 The pride of fiction is "that it is able to render truth,
fiancee started getting fade as he was attracted to another
that is able to represent reality".
woman names Julia Salas. As Alfredo knew that his family
 National Artist for Literature (1990)
would disprove his desire of having another woman, he
 Received two international scholarship grants to
unwantedly married Esperanza and started his own family.
study at lowa writing Center.
Later, after eight years, to his surprise, he recognized that he
 Brigadier General Hanz Menzi Professional Chair in
no more feel attracted to her anymore. He compared his love
Creative Writing in University of the Philippines
for her to dead stars, his memory of a long way to get a girl he
 Works: Selected Short Stories (1965), Storymaster
thought he loved.
5 (1973), Philippine PEN Anthology of Short Stories
(1962)
Themes in “Dead Stars”
 FORBIDDEN LOVE:
Characters of the Story
 Forbidden love is only apparent and curses and
disturbs the person until a person realizes his or 1) Mr. Angeles (Jaime) - the head of Angeles Family
her faults. 2) Emilia (Miling) - wife of Mr. Angeles
3) Children of Mr. and Mrs. Angeles
 RESPONSIBILITY:
 Marcelina
 He forgets his responsibility towards his to-be
 Jose
wife, even after eight years he still thinks of Julia  Antonio
until he realizes that Julia has changed herself.  Juan
 Jesus
Symbolisms in the Story  Susanna
 Alfredo - symbolizes human flaws.  Alfonso
 Dead Stars - symbolize the love or relationship of 4) Dead Family members
Julia and Alfredo  Josefina,
 Esperanza - symbolizes the virtue of marriage  Victoria
 Concepcion

Setting of the Play

 First ever Filipino short story written in the English
Language  PLACE : House of Angeles Family
 Inspiration to the later generation to write their own  TIME : Set Before World War II, started in the
stories in the Engish language afternoon and revolves in the evening.

Synopsis of “The Mats”

Mr. Angeles' homecoming celebration from his occasional
trips out of town had never been more different than his
homecoming from the south. Aside from the things that he
usually bring home, he carried with him extraordinary
sleeping mats from a mat weaver whom he met during his
trip. He made each sleeping mats personalized for everybody.
However, it surprised them when they found the extra mats
that Mr. Angeles bought for their loved ones who already
passed away.

Themes in"The Mats"

 Importance of remembering departed loved ones
 Importance of Grieving and Moving on
 GE-117: PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
Kamille Mae Bollozos
Elements of a Plot

1. EXPOSITION - This usually occurs at the beginning of a

short story. Here the characters are introduced. We also
learn about the setting of the story. Most importantly, we are
introduced to the main conflict (Main Problem)

2. RISING ACTION - This part of the story begins to develop

the conflict (s). A building of interest or suspense occurs.

3. CLIMAX - This is the turning point of the story. Usually,

the main character comes face to face with a conflict. The
main character will change in some way.

4. FALLING ACTION - Start of resolving conflicts and

subplots. Conflicts that arose as a result of the climax can
start being resolved here.

5. RESOLUTION/DENOUEMENT - The resolution is the end

of your story where you can tie up the final loose ends and
bring your story to its happy or tragic ending
Lesson 8: God Said, 'I Made A Man'
By Jose Garcia Villa

God said, "I made a man
Out of clay—
But so bright he, he spun
Himself to brightest Day
When God created man, man
was nothing but clay. But with
man’s own efforts he
developed himself into our
civilized state

Till he was all shining gold, God seems to be surprised

And oh,
He was lovely to behold!
But in his hands held he a bow
Aimed at me who created
Him. And I said,
‘Wouldst murder me
Who am thy Fountainhead! '
at the human behavior of
questioning the existence
of God, in what seems to be
controversial language and
manner
Then God questions man
about the reason of what God
thinks is slaying him

AUSCULAPIUS
Then spoke he the man of gold:
‘I will not
Murder thee! I do but
Measure thee. Hold Thy peace.’
Man clarifies his intention, by
explaining that he desires
nothing but to discover the
concept of God, out of
curiosity.

And this I did. At the end, the poet seems

But I was curious to approve of the necessity
Of this so regal head. of thinking, and that reason
‘Give thy name! '—‘Sir! Genius.'" is the way to reach God.
This approval can be seen
through the usage of
‘Genius’.
Theme
 Relationship of humans to God.
 Selflessness of God
 The human’s attitude to question the existence of God
or even overpower Him