PHILIPPINE

LITERATURE
21st Century Literature
-“littera”- letter
-symbols and pictures
-gives people insights into their
behavior and experiences
The Pre- Spanish
and Spanish Era
Literature
The Pre- Spanish
Period
BC- 1564
 Philippines was a prosperous land that consists of small
political units called barangays. In the pre-Spanish period,
Philippines was thalassocratic. Thalassocracy refers to a
type of government with primarily maritime realms. As it
was surrounded by huge bodies of water, it was only natural
that the Philippines thrived in maritime trade, particularly
with fellow Southeast Asian kingdoms, China, and Japan. In
fact, it was recognized as a major center of trade, with
merchants coming from different parts of Asia and visiting
the King of Sugbu (now Cebu) to seek permission to trade in
their waters.
Three distinct social classes:
maharlika (nobles)
timawa (freemen)
alipin (slaves)
-namamahay
-saguiguilid
Baybayin, the Filipino
Writing System before
Spanish Colonization

Source: IndioBravo.tumblr.com
Baybayin (from the Tagalog word baybay meaning
“to spell”) was the writing system used by Filipinos in
the Pre-Spanish period. It is derived from Brahmic
scripts of India. It was one of the writing systems
used in Southeast Asia.
A lot of people incorrectly name the ancient writing
system Alibata, but that was a term coined by Paul
Rodriguez Verzosa after the arrangement of letters
of the Arabic alphabet (alif, ba, ta, “f” having been
eliminated for easier pronunciation).
 MYTH
It was only natural that among the rich collection
of oral and written literature from the Pre-Spanish
period of the Philippines were the myths, traditional
or legendary stories which featured one or more
deities or demigods and explain some kind of
practice, rite, or phenomenon of nature. With the
exception of Muslims, Filipinos during pre-colonial
times believed in a lot of different deities.
 The Tagalogs, for instance, believe in the supreme deity called
Bathala being the creator of heaven and earth, and all living things.
Under Bathala are a pantheon of gods and goddesses. The good
deities are divided into three generations:

First Generation:
• Amanikable: the Tagalog god of the sea, he was originally
the god of hunters.
• Idiyanale: the goddess of labor and good deeds.
• Lakapati: the goddess of fertility
• Mapulon: the god of seasons and husband of Lakapati
Second Generation:
• Mayari: the goddess of the moon and one of the three daughters of Bathala by
a mortal woman.
• Tala: the goddess of the stars and sister of Mayari
• Hanan: the goddess of the morning; sister of Mayari and Tala
• Dumakulem: The son of Idiyanale, he’s the strong and agile guardian of the
mountains
• Anitun Tabu: the goddess of wind and rain, she was the sister of Dumakulem
• Anagolay: the goddess of lost things and wife of Dumakulem
Third Generation:
• Apolaki: the god of sun, he is the chief patron of warriors.
• Diyan Masalanta: the goddess of love, conception and childbirth. She’s the
youngest of all deities.
The Gods and
Goddesses of
Ancient Tagalog
 Other groups have their own pantheon of
gods and goddesses. The Visayans call their
supreme god Kaptan or Captan. The Bikolanos
believe in their supreme god called Gugurang.
The myths revolve around these deities, from
creation stories to how certain being came into
being. There were various creation stories from
various groups in the Philippines.
• Malakas at Maganda
One of the famous creation myths in
the Philippines was the story of the origin
of man, the story of Malakas (The Strong
One) and Maganda (The Beautiful One).
Epic
The epic refers to a long narrative poem
which tells of heroic deeds or events. It also
edify religious tales, animal stories, or
philosophical and moral theories.
An art depicting Lam-ang, the
hero of one of the great epics
from Pre- Spanish period that
are still known today.
• Biag ni Lam-Ang
One of the epics that were able to survive with the help of oral
transmission was Biag ni Lam-Ang (Life of Lam-Ang). It was said to be a
composite work of various poets who passed it from generation to
generation, and was first transcribed around 1640 by a blind Ilocano bard
named Pedro Bucaneg.

• Aliguyon
This Ifugao epic follows the adventure of the hero Aliguyon, who fought an
epic battle with his arch-enemy Pumbakhayon. This epic is in the form of a
hudhud, which is a long tale that revolves around the heroes of native
Ifugao people, and is typically sung on special occasions. The story of
Aliguyon is traditionally sung at harvest time.
• Labaw-Donggon

This Visayan epic follows the adventures of Labaw Donggon, the son of the
goddess Alunsina and Datu Paubari, a mortal. His adventures include
slaying a giant with a hundred arms and facing the Lord of Darkness – all in
order to win various maidens.

• The Agyu

This is a Manobo/Ilianon tale, which was divided into three parts. It follows
the adventures of a hero whose people had been driven out of their land.
They go on a journey to Nalandangan, a sort of utopia where there are no
oppressors.
 Folk Songs
-a LYRICAL EXPRESSION created
according to REGION.

e.g Sitsiritsit and Bahay Kubo

 They have a wide range of folk
songs, for a variety of occasions.
Examples of these are Kundiman
(love song), Diana (wedding song),
Oyayi or Hele (Lullaby), and
Kumintang o Tagumpay (war song).
EPIGRAMS (SALAWIKAIN)
An epigram is a rhetorical device, a witty,
ingenious, or pointed saying that is tersely
expressed. They are memorable, brief,
interesting, and in the Philippines, they served as
laws or rules on good behavior by ancient
Filipinos. They are an expression of truths, ethics,
and good morals.
Examples:
Ang tao nga tamaran Waay isulod sa pinggan.

Ang patulog na tao

Sa kalan ito’y walang mailuto.

Kahit itago dahil apoy Kikintab lalo.

Riddles (Bugtong)
-a MYSTIFYING QUESTION and/or a
MIND PUZZLE intended to solved.

e.g “Isang balang malalim, punong puno

ng patalim”
Answer: Bibig
 Proverbs
-expression of WISDOM based on common and
real life experiences.
e.g
“Bago mo sabihin at gawin, makapitong iisipin.”
“Kung di uukol, di bubukol.”
 Tanaga
-a poem in QUATRAIN with seven syllables and
monorine.
ex. KAIBIGAN by Emelita Perez Baes
“Palay s’yang matino,
Nang humangi’y yumuko;
Ngunit muling tumayo,
Nagkabunga ng ginto.”
 Proverbs
-expression of WISDOM based on common and
real life experiences.
e.g
“Bago mo sabihin at gawin, makapitong iisipin.”
“Kung di uukol, di bubukol.”
Legend
-a story explaining ORIGINS of matters.

Folk Tales
-a FICTIONAL STORY told by ancient group of
people.
Spanish Colonial Era
1565- 1898
The Philippines is under Spanish colonialism for
three hundred years. The literature made during the
Spanish occupation were closely related to the
events of history in this particular period.
With the long duration of the Spanish occupation,
there has been significant influences in terms of the
Philippine culture as seen in clothes, arts, music,
literature and attitude of both Filipinos and Spanish
during that time.
 Doctrina Cristiana
 first religious book published in the Philippines on
July 15, 1593.
 written by Fr. Domingo Nieva and Fr. Juan De Palencia
 Written in two languages, namely Spanish and
Tagalog, this is also the first book written in Alibata
 The book contains the prayers and the regulations of
Christianity.
 Nuestra Senora Del Rosario
The second book published in the Philippines
written by Father Blancas de San Jose in 1602.
This contains the biographies of various saints,
novenas, and some common questions and
answers regarding the religion.
 Nuestra Senora Del Rosario
The second book published in the Philippines
written by Father Blancas de San Jose in 1602.
This contains the biographies of various saints,
novenas, and some common questions and
answers regarding the religion.
 Barlaan at Josaphat
Father Antonio de Borja wrote the third book
published in the country in Tagalog, from the
original work that was in Greek. This was
deemed as the first ever novel published in the
Philippines. Barlaan at Josaphat was translated
to Iloko in poetry form by Fr. Agustin Mejia.
 Urbana and Feliza
With the original title, Ang Pagsusulatan ng Dalawang Binibini
na si Urbana at si Feliza, this is one of the novels during the
Spanish period. It was written by Father Modesto de Castro
who was from Laguna. The story revolves around two sisters
exchanging letters and telling each other stories about their
lives, as Urbana is in Manila and Feliza is in Bulacan. The young
Feliza asks for advice from her older sister residing in Manila,
regarding proper conduct in different situations.
 KINDS OF
DRAMAS/ PLAYS
1. Senakulo – is the traditional depiction of
the events before and after Jesus Christ was
crucified. The story of this passion play was
based on the bible and is usually done on the
streets or in churches.
2. Duplo – aims to entertain the bereaved family
members after their loss. This is usually done around
9 in the evening after the late member of the family
was laid to rest.
3. Moro-moro – a type of drama/play that tells a
story full of adventures and wars. The comedy is
about the battle between the Spaniards and the
moros, who invaded Spain once.
4. Santacruzan – a ritual pageant/procession held on
the last day of Flores de Mayo throughout the
country. This religious/historical pageant depicts the
search for the Holy Cross of Queen Helena and her
son, Emperor Constantine.
5. Carillo – is a shadow play using puppets made
from cardboard. The narrator hiding behind the
screen stirs the story to life.
6. Panunuluyan – the Philippine version of a
Mexican tradition. The term translates to
“looking for lodging,” usually done on Christmas
Eve. In this event, the images of Mary and Joseph
from the church are brought around town,
accompanied by two singers.
7. Sarsuela – a comedy/melodrama,
accompanied by music with 3 parts, and mostly
conveys the intense and passionate feelings of
love, revenge, jealousy and loathing.
Some of the big changes, affecting Philippine Literature
while under the Spanish rule are the following (Villafuerte,
2009):
• The Roman alphabet became widely used over Alibata.
• Doctrina Cristiana has become the foundation of all
activities related to religion
• There are many Spanish words that were integrated
into our own language
• The myths and traditions of Europe became a part of
Philippine literature
PROPAGANDA MOVEMENT
The Filipino propagandists during this era
were known to possess the spirit of
nationalism, courage, intelligence, as
most of them were born from families
who can afford to send their kids to
renowned universities.
Graciano Lopez-Jaena
-writer of FRAY BOTOD which depects the abusive
and immortality of friars (Botod means botyok in
Filipino language, which means abig- bellied man)

-editor of LA SOLIDARIDAD, a newspaper that

seeks solution in both political and social issues in
a democratic way.
Marcelo H. Del Pilar
- Founder of DIARIONG TAGALOG:
known to be the MASTER OF
TAGALONG LANGUAGE.
- - joined other propagandists in 1888
and wrote promphlets ridiculing the
administration of the friars.
Francsico Baltazar
- known as BALAGTAS
- Writer of FLORANTE AT LAURA. In
which his description of the setting
ALBANYA reflected the tyranny of the
Spaniards.
Jose Rizal
-wrote the novels NOLI ME TANGERE (Touch
Me Not; Rizal’s work of heart) and EL
FILIBUSTERISMO (The Traitor; Rizal’s work of
mind)
-wrote MI ULTIMO ADIOS, SOBRE LA
INDOLENCIA DELOS FILIPINOS and FILIPINAS
DENTRO DE CIEN AŇOS
Antonio Luna
Known for his pen name, Taga-ilog, Luna was
known for his works criticizing the rule of
the government and the church. His
exceptional knowledge and skills in military
landed him the job as the general.
Andres Bonifacio
- Father of KATIPUNAN
- Writer of PAG-IBIG SA
TINUBUANG LUPA
Emilio Jacinto
- BRAINS of Katipunan
- wrote political essays using folk
language.