Lesson 8: Literary Periods
FABLES
of Philippine Literature
PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD
(early times 1564)
Oral Literature
- marks birth of literature in
the Philippines; myths, folks,
narratives to be sung were
passed down orally
- serves to be their language
of life and their way of
promoting cultural heritage
bc it was based on their
community and real-life
experiences.
- Oral in nature and is full of
lessons and ideas about life,
its blessing & consequences
BAYBAYIN
-17 symbols (3 vowels, 14
consonants)
-original written language of
the Philippines. Before the
Spanish ruled in the PH
Forms of Literature During
the Pre-colonial Era
1. PRE-COLONIAL POETRY
- meant to be recited in a
manner of songs and chants
a. PROVERBS (Salawikain)
- expressions of wisdom
based on common sense and
real life experiences
- truths and wise sayings
expressed in a known
language
b.TANAGA
- poem in quatrain containing
7 syllables each line with a
monorhyme
c. FOLK SONG
- a form of lyrical expression
created by people according
to their region
d. RIDDLES (Bugtong)
- a game in the form of a
mystifying question and a
mind puzzle to be solved.
- ex: Isang balong malalim,
punong-puno ng patalim.
(A deep well that is full of
chisels)
2. PROSE NARRATIVES
- gives an explanation about
certain natural phenomenon
-stories of mythological
creatures, legends and
humans with supernatural
power transmitted orally and
preserved as region’s history
a. EPIC
- long narrative poem about
quests and exciting
adventures of a hero with
unusual strength and power
b. MYTH
- story of gods and goddesses
told using a traditional
language explaining
mysteries, beliefs, and
cultural practices
c.
- stories that teach human
values with animals as major
characters w human qualities
d. LEGENDS
- explains origins handed
down from the past and
passed to diff generations;
not scientifically proven
e. FOLKTALES
- imaginative narrative story
told by an ancient group
Literature During the
Spanish Colonial Period
(1565-1897)
- lit is classified as religious
prose and poetry and secular
prose and poetry
- Christianity was introduced
& spread; Spanish was
taught bc they want their
poems and writings to play a
major role in society
- Alibata (first Filipino
alphabet) was replaced by
the Roman alphabet
- Metrical romances
Ibong Adarna by Jose dela
Cruz and Florante at Laura by
Francisco Baltazar wr famous
-Pasyon and cenaculo
religious texts, recount the
passion and death of Jesus
-Comedia/moro-moro
form of dramatization
Important Contributions of
the Spanish Period
-spread of Christianity
-dramatization home & stage
- Dominicans' introduction of
printing
- Doctrina Christiana as the
first published book written
by Fray Juan de Plascencia
Propaganda Period under
the Spanish Colonial Period
(1872-1896)
-the Illustrados (fil
intellectuals educated in
Europe) began to write
articles about the negative
impacts and effects of
colonization in the country
- Political novels "Noli Me
Tangere" and "El
Filibusterismo“ of Rizal
helped usher in the PH
revolution resulting in the
downfall of the Spanish
regime, and, at the same
time had national
consciousness among
Filipinos
- Graciano Lopez-Jaena
introduced La Solidaridad
and became the first editor-
in chief
- Andres Bonifacio wrote
“Pag-ibig Sa Tinubuang
Lupa” to show patriotism
and love 4 the country
The Important
Contributions Of
Propaganda Period
- Exposed the abuses of the
Spaniards through writing
- Prepared the Filipinos to
fight against the Spaniards
Revolutionary Period under
the Spanish Colonial Period
(1872-1896)
-The Katipunan (KKK) of
Andres Bonifacio led the
revolt against the Spanish
Empire as inspired by Dr.
Jose Rizal.
- Andres Bonifacio and
Apolinario Mabini wrote
nationalistic writings in
Tagalog.
-Rizal was sentenced to
death by firing squad.
- Emilio Aguinaldo won
against Andres Bonifacio
The Important
Contributions of the
Revolutionary Period
-Literatures expressed the
love of country through
nationalistic themes which
paved the way to
independence.
- The poem "Filipinas" by
Jose Palma became the text
of Philippine National
Anthem.
- The Filipinos' struggles
against the Spaniards
ended
Literature During the
American Colonial Period
(1898-1945)
-The English alphabet was
introduced.
- English; the medium of
instruction in public school
- New literary form; free
verse in poetry, modern
short story, critical essay;
writers were innovative and
poets focused on love, life,
playwriting
- newspapers, magazines,
writers’ associations
Japanese Period under the
American Colonial Period
(1942-1945)
-English was prohibited
- Humor was the general
mood and tone of that
contradicted with horrors
experienced by the Filipinos
due to the abuses of the
Japanese
- Haiku, an unrhymed poem
with 17 syllables divided
into 3 lines was introduced
The Third Republic after
World War II (1945-1972)
-The clamor for social
change continued as
revealed by the novels of
Amado V. Hernandez
- Comics and tagalog
romances in series
- Filipinos were -Poems were romantic
continuously influenced by
and revolutionary.
Americans
-Writers wrote openly
Literature under Martial
against their criticism in the
Law (1972-1985)
government
-The Declaration of Martial
- Filipino song themes:
Law (Proclamation No.
grief, poverty, aspirations
1081) on September 21,
for freedom, love of God, of
1972, stifled the creativity
country and of fellowmen
of most writers
The Age of Globalization
- preferred to write in
(1995 – present)
trivial matters for them not
to be killed -The period of
technological migrants,
- common themes:
Generation Z, and the
patience, regard for native
millennials.
culture, customs and the
beauty of nature/ - Oral, printed, and
surroundings technological transmission
of literature
- News on economic
progress, discipline, - “textual” graphic novel,
culture, tourism prose novel serialized in
blogs, hypertextual poem,
- Despite being silenced,
eBook, flash fiction, urban
some writers continued
legend, chick lit,
writing and these are
speculative fiction, and
Bienvenido Santos, F. Sionil
creative non-fiction,
Jose, Gregorio Brillantes,
Wattpad
and Nick Joaquin, and even
the Filipino expatriate - Readers become part of
Carlos Bulosan texts
Under the EDSA Democracy - literature available to
(1986-1994) mass media including the
internet
-Reinstitution of
democratic processes and a
strong economy

- dismantling of martial law

and its repressive measure

has made the writers feel
free again to write on all
sorts of topics