HUM2 REVIEWER
2ND GRADING, 2ND SEMESTER
● Major Historical Events that
Shaped 21st Century Philippine
Literature
● Philippine National Artists in
Literature
● Overview of Philippine Literature
by Region
● Overview of 21st Century
Regional Philippine Literature
● WHAT IS 21ST CENTURY
LITERATURE?
- consists of written works of
various genres (poetry, drama,
fiction/prose, nonfiction, media)
printed and published from the
start of the new millennium up to
the present.
HISTORICAL EVENTS THAT
INFLUENCED 21ST CENTURY
PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
1. Jose Rizal’s Revolutionary Ideals
through his novel Noli Me
Tangere (The Social Cancer in
English)
They say that the pen is mightier than
the sword and Rizal’s 1889 novel Noli
Me Tangere was the impetus that turned
Philippine society upside down.
2. The Execution and Death of
National Hero Jose Rizal
On December 30, 1896 after five years
of trial and exile, the entire nation
witnessed the execution of Jose Rizal in
Luneta by firing squad.
3. Martial Law
On September 21, 1972 by virtue of
Proclamation Order 1081, then Pres.
Ferdinand E. Marcos placed the entire
country under Martial Law rule.
● WHAT IS A FILIPINO NATIONAL
ARTIST IN LITERATURE?
- The form and content of their
writings created a sense of
nationhood or instilled
nationalism
- Pioneered a unique style of
creative expression in the literary
arts that inspired younger
generations of writers
- Displayed consistent excellence
in the quality of their works
- Gained recognitions and awards
from prestigious national or
international literary institutions
● WHO SELECTS THE FILIPINO
NATIONAL ARTIST IN
LITERATURE?
- Panel of literary experts
- Commissioners of the National
Commission on Culture and the
Arts (NCCA)
- Board of Governors of the
Cultural Center of the Philippines
(CCP)
- President of the Republic of the
Philippines

NATIONAL ARTISTS OF THE
PHILIPPINES IN LITERATURE
1. Amado V. Hernandez (1973) was
born in Hagonoy, Bulacan but
grew up in Tondo, Manila. His
poems and novels written purely
in the Filipino mother tongue
tackle issues of the poor and
working class.
2. Jose Garcia Villa (1973) was
also a Manileño, from Malate’s
Singalong St.; he was known
here and abroad as the “master
of the comma poem” a unique
style he created.
3. Nick Joaquin (1976), a versatile
Filipino from San Juan, was a
journalist, poet, novelist,
historian, playwright, scriptwriter
and biographer. But it was his
mysterious and suspense- filled
novels that became his
trademark style like the featured
book on the left.
4. Carlos P. Romulo (1982), a 4’ 11”
son of Camiling, Tarlac was a
WW2 soldier, UN diplomat and
foreign affairs secretary under
eight Philippine presidents. He
wrote 18 books, mostly memoirs
about him, Douglas McArthur,
Pres. Quezon and especially
Russian Andre Vishinky
5. NVM Gonzales (1997), a native of
Romblon island, was a poet,
essayist, novelist and teacher
who depicted with his pen the
Filipino spirit in rural and urban
settings. Besides the book
featured on the left, his other
works also focus on nature like
The Bamboo Dancers, The Winds
of April, Seven Hills Away and
Work in the Mountains.
6. Edith Tiempo (1999), who hails
from Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
was a poet, a novelist, a literary
critic, a teacher and the only
female National Artist for
Literature. Her masterpieces are
famous for her use of vivid
metaphors and vibrant
description that are fluid and not
burdened with trite details.
7. F. Sionil Jose (2001) is a native
of Rosales, Pangasinan. He often
gleans local legends and epics
from his hometown as well as
from the Ilocos region to include
in his short stories and novels.
His works are also consistent in
depicting the themes of class
struggle, colonialism, social
justice and national sovereignty.
WHAT IS REGIONAL
●
LITERATURE?
Regional literature (also known
as local color) pertains to any
written literary genre that
emphasizes characters, dialect,
customs, topography and other
features indigenous or native to a
specific region.

REGIONAL LITERATURE IN THE
PHILIPPINES
1. Ilocano Literature
✧ Pedro Bucaneg is known as “the
father of Ilocano poetry and
literature”. This blind poet like
Homer produced an epic for his
obra maestra Biag ni Lam-ang
(illustrated on the left).
2. Pampanga Literature
✧ Amado M. Yuzon’s poem
collection written in the local
Kapampangan dialect "Salitang
Paca-Versu” has earned him
accolades here and abroad, such
as the 1959 poet laureate of the
Philippines, 1956 "Who's Who in
America", the "International
Who's Who in Poetry", and a
Nobel Prize nomination.
3. Tagalog Literature
✧ Francisco Baltazar, a Bulakeño
poet who earned for his duplo
verses and corrido lyrical
metrical romance Florante at
Laura the following titles: “father
of Tagalog literature”, “the prince
of Tagalog poets” and
“Shakespeare of the Philippines”.
4. Bicol Literature
✧ Mariano Perfecto = this governor
of Camarines during the
American era was likewise a
great writer of Bicolano/Visayan
novenas, poems, short dramas
and translations. He is also
credited for creating the first
Bicolano newspaper the An
Parabareta. For all of these,
earned the titles of “father of
Bicolano literature” and “father
of Visayan literature”.
5. Cebuano Literature
✧ Vicente Sotto was a Filipino
senator from Cebu during the
Commonwealth period is also
known as the “father of modern
Cebuano literature”. He
established the first Cebuano
newspaper Ang Suga in whose
maiden issue he wrote the first
Cebuano published short story
“Maming”. The first Cebuano
stage play Elena was likewise
written, directed and produced
by him.
6. Ilonggo (Hiligaynon) Literature
✧ Magdalena Jalandoni was a
woman writer from Jaro, Iloilo
who was born in 1896 and died in
1978; hence the time span of her
works range from the Spanish,
American to Japanese
occupation of the country. She is
regarded as the most prolific
writer in the Hiligaynon language
and these are some of her works:
Ang Mga Tunoc Sang Isa Ca
Bulac (The Thorns of a Flower),
Ang Matam-is Kong Pagkabata
(My Sweet Childhood) and Ang
Guitara (The Guitar).

WHAT IS 21ST CENTURY
●
REGIONAL PHILIPPINE
LITERATURE?
21st Century Regional Philippine
Literature refers to any written
literary genre emphasizing
characters, dialect, customs, and
topography native to a specific
region in the country written, printed
and published from the start of the
new millennium up to the present
time.
21ST CENTURY REGIONAL PHILIPPINE
LITERATURE
1. Victor Dennis T. Nierva (Bicol)
was born in 1980 and is a native
of Naga City. At age 27, he
published his first book in 2007
“Antisipasyon asin iba pang
Rawitdawit sa Bikol asin Ingles”
2. Cecilia Manguerra Brainard
(Cebu), although born in the post
WW2 era, continues to be a
productive writer of the new
millennium. Her works for the
21 century includes: Magdalena
st
(2001 novel);
3. Melchor F. Cichon (Iloilo), whose
2001 Aklanon haiku with English
translations "Siniad-Siad nga
Kaeangitan/Strips of Heaven”
was recognized with the Gawad
Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas
by the Unyon ng mga Manunulat
sa Pilipinas
4. Candy Quimpo Gourlay (Davao)
was born in Davao City but now
residing in the United Kingdom.
In 2010, her debut novel Tall
Story won the 2011 Europe
Crystal Kite Award and the 2012
Philippine National Children’s
Book Award.
5. Marivi Soliven (Manila), who is
now based in San Diego, USA,
wrote a novel entitled The Mango
Bride which was released
internationally by the global
publisher Penguin Books in 2013.
✧ Jose Wendell Capili
✧ Carljoe Javier
✧ Raissa Claire U. Rivera
• All three are graduates of the
Creative Writing Dept. of UP
Diliman and have been awardees
of the Carlos Palanca Memorial
Award and other prestigious
literary recognitions.
• They usually write about
contemporary youth issues like
gender and class, virtual
technology, love, science fiction
and popular culture.