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
Lesson 6: Dead Stars
by Paz Marquez Benitez
Paz Marquez Benitez (March 3, 1894 - November 10, 1983)
 a Filipino educator who authored the first modern
Filipino literature written in English.
 Outstanding teacher in UP’s English department
from 1916 – 1951.
 She became an influential figure to many Filipino
writers in the English language
 founded “Woman’s Home Journal” – first women’s
magazine in the country
 Mother of the Philippine Literature written in English
Language
Literary Devices (How do authors convey the messages
they intend to the readers?)
 Literary device/s refer/s to the typical structure/s
used by writers in their works to convey his or her
messages in a simple manner to the readers.
 Literary devices help readers to appreciate,
interpret and analyze a literary work
 Examples:
 Symbolism
 Figurative Language
 Frame Story
 Motif
 Epigraph
 Flashback
 are interruptions that writers do to insert past
events, in order to provide background or
context to the current events of a narrative.
 Dream sequences and memories are methods
used to present flashbacks
 Function in Literature
1) Aid character development
- Diving into a character’s past is a way for
writers to convey background information
that supports the main storyline.
2) Incorporate different time periods.
- Flashbacks break up the chronological
flow of a story, making it more interesting
and realistic
3) Make readers more connected to the
characters.
- Effective flashbacks provide a deeper
insight into who a person is
- Flashback helps audience feel empathy
and make sense of the antagonist’s
behavior
4) Can explain the current conflict
- Flashing back can help a reader better
understanding why and how the
protagonist got into the situation that’s
GE-117: PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
Kamille Mae Bollozos
driving the plot and the reasons behind the
main conflict.
 Foreshadowing
 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
 This can heighten a reader’s enjoyment of a
literary work, enhance the work’s meaning, and
the reader make connections with other
literature and literary themes.
 Function in Literature
1) Foreshadowing functions as means of focusing
a reader’s attention and/or setting up
anticipation of a narrative revelation or plot
twist
2) It primes reader’s emotions and expectations
for something to be revealed.
 2 Types
(1) Direct (overt) Foreshadowing
- The story openly suggests an impending
problem, event, or twist.
- Usually accomplished through the
characters’ dialogue, a prophecy, or even
a prologue.
(2) Indirect (covert) Foreshadowing
- The story hints at an outcome by leaving
subtle clues throughout the story
- Readers likely won’t realize the meaning
of the clues until they witness the
foreshadowed event.
DEAD STARS
A short story by Paz Marquez-Benitez
Characters of the Story
1) Alfredo Salazar
- The 30-year-old bachelor son of Don Julian. He falls in
love with Julia as he was about to get married to his
fiancée.
2) Esperanza
- She is the fiancée/wife of Alfredo Salazar. Esperanza is
an impassionate woman with a strong will and
principles.
3) Julia Salas
- She is the sister-in-law of Judge Dal Valle and the love
affair of Alfredo.
Minor Characters of the Story
 Don Julian
 Carmen
 Judge Del Valle
 Calixta
 Vicente
 Brigada Samuy
 GE-117: PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
Kamille Mae Bollozos

Setting of the Story Lesson 7: The Mats

 Calle Real, House of Judge del Valle,
 Sta. Cruz, House of Don Julian in Tanda,
 House of Don Julian
Francisco Arcellana (September 6, 1916 - August 1 2002)
Overview of “Dead Stars”
“Dead stars” is a short story about an over-thirty
years old bachelor, Alfredo Salazar who was about to get
married to his fiancee, Esperanza. His love and passion for his
fiancee started getting fade as he was attracted to another
woman names Julia Salas. As Alfredo knew that his family
would disprove his desire of having another woman, he
unwantedly married Esperanza and started his own family.
Later, after eight years, to his surprise, he recognized that he
no more feel attracted to her anymore. He compared his love
for her to dead stars, his memory of a long way to get a girl he
thought he loved.
by Francisco Arcellana
 A Filipino writer, poet, essayist, critic journalist and
teacher.
 Received his Ph.D. degree in U.P (1939)
 Pioneered the development if the short story as a
lyrical prose-poetic form.
 The pride of fiction is "that it is able to render
truth, that is able to represent reality".
 National Artist for Literature (1990)
 Received two international scholarship grants to
study at lowa writing Center.
 Brigadier General Hanz Menzi Professional Chair in
Creative Writing in University of the Philippines
 Works: Selected Short Stories (1965), Storymaster
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
1) Mr. Angeles (Jaime) - the head of Angeles Family
disturbs the person until a person realizes his or
2) Emilia (Miling) - wife of Mr. Angeles
her faults.
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  PLACE : House of Angeles Family
Language  TIME : Set Before World War II, started in the
 Inspiration to the later generation to write their own afternoon and revolves in the evening.
stories in the English language
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
 GE-117: PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
Kamille Mae Bollozos
 Importance of Grieving and Moving on

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.
Lesson 8: God Said, 'I Made A Man'
5. RESOLUTION/DENOUEMENT - The resolution is the end By Jose Garcia Villa
of your story where you can tie up the final loose ends and
bring your story to its happy or tragic ending God said, "I made a man When God created man, man
Out of clay— was nothing but clay. But with
But so bright he, he spun man’s own efforts he
Himself to brightest Day 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

Then spoke he the man of gold: Man clarifies his intention, by

AUSCULAPIUS ‘I will not explaining that he desires
Murder thee! I do but nothing but to discover the
Measure thee. Hold Thy peace.’ 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