21st Century Literature from the
Philippines and the World
Literature
- imaginative/creative type of writing
- imaginative language that portrays human
thoughts, emotions, and experiences
- body of work that can be written or oral
- tells about the people and the world
- Literature is the mirror of life and reflection of
one’s culture
- reflect the daily lives of people
- has lasting artistic value: we consider literature
as part of our culture
- there are literary works that highlights beliefs,
practices, and values of a specific country/tribe
- Importance of Literature:
We are able to know and identify how people
lived before because literary works
during the pre-colonial period, Spanish colonial
era, and American colonial era are
still present up until this day.
• Derived from the Latin word “LITTERATURA”
• meaning “writing formed with letters.”
• Term to describe written and sometimes spoken
material.
• Most commonly refers to works of the creative
imagination including poetry, drama, fiction,
journalism, and in instances, song.
• Total of preserved writings belongings to a given
language or people.
• Consists of writings which interpret the meanings of
nature and life, in words of charm and power, touched
with the personality of the author, and in artistic
forms of permanent interest.
• Written record of man’s best thoughts and feelings.
• Gives us picture of life, not the picture that science
gives not the picture that is actually or historically
true, but picture that has its own kind of truth, a
truth that includes important elements that science,
from its very nature, is forced to leave out.
• Life is executed in an artistic pattern. It is into
harmonious and desired patterns of expression
• The written or printed productions of human mind
collectivity, which deals with themes of permanent
and universal interest, characterized by creativeness
and grace of expression, as poetry, fictions, essays,
etc., distinguished from works of scientific technical or
journalistic nature.
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21st Century Literature
- Refers to the new literary works created
within the year 2001-2100
- It deals with current themes and reflects the
technological culture
- Often breaks traditional writing
TWO (2) MAJOR DIVISIONS OF LITERATURE
I. PROSE
• Derived from the Latin word “PROSA” meaning
• “straightforward.”
• Writing that resembles everyday speech.
• does not have a metrical structure
TWO (2) DIVISION OF PROSE
1. FICTION
• Defined as a series of imagined facts which
illustrates truths about human life.
• Made up story from the author’s imagination.
• May be based on some facts or something
that happened to the author.
• Has beginning, middle, and end.
• Read for fun or entertainment.
TWO (2) TYPES OF FICTION
A. TRADITIONAL
• Stories that are passed down from person to
person.
FIVE (5) EXAMPLES OF TRADITIONAL FICTION
a. MYTH
• Pertaining to stories of Gods and Goddesses,
origin of the universe and the creation of
mankind.
• These stories usually reflect a culture’s
religious or other deeply held beliefs.
b. LEGEND
• Origin of places, things, plants, or animals.
• Stories known throughout a cultural group,
aboutmpeople and their actions or deeds they
perform to save their people or nation.
• Based on fact but also includes imaginative
material.
 21st Century Literature from the
Philippines and the World
c. FABLES SEVEN (7) EXAMPLES OF NON-FICTION
• Characters are animals that are given human a. DIARY
attributes. • Written account of a person’s experience.
• Kind of folklore in which a brief story is used to b. JOURNAL
teach a lesson about human nature. • Entries are more profound because they contain
• Aesop’s fables usually a fable ends with a moral• serious thoughts and reflections of the writer.
or lesson. c. BIOGRAPHY
d. PARABLES • Life story of a person which is a literary work
• Stories from the Bible with symbols. that gives the life account of a person written
• Biblical stories that are allegorical (symbolical). by another person.
• Short, didactic story that is meant to teach a d. AUTOBIOGRAPHY
moral. • Life story of a person which is a literary work
• Uses human characters in believable situations so where the author writes his own life account.
that the reader or listener feels able to relate. e. ESSAY
e. FAIRY TALE • Expository type of writing that contains the
• May feature folkloric character, enchantments, point of view of the writer on a given topic.
often involving farfetched sequence of events •or There are 6 types of essay, which are
poetic justice. persuasive, informative, narrative, expository,
• Sometimes there are talking animals or incidents descriptive, and argumentative
of magic in these stories. f. NEWS
• Reports of expected and unexpected events in
B. MODERN society and government and incidents in the
• More realistic and plausible. field of science, business, etc.
g. LETTERS
THREE (3) EXAMPLES OF MODERN FICTION • Written message which display aspects of an
a. SHORT STORY author’s psychological make-up and not
• Brief narrative that can be read in one sitting, immediately apparent in his more public writings
single plot, few characters, and the setting is • Prose from which by the force of its style and
limited. the importance of its statement becomes an
• Example is The Dead Stars. object of interest in its own right.

b. NOVEL Philippine Literary History

• Extended narrative that is divided into chapters. The Pre-Colonial Period
• Has one main plot and consists of sub plots. - Year range: early times up until 1564
• Could also have several settings divided into - “pre-colonial” before colonization
chapter. - literary period before the coming of the
Spaniards here in the Philippines
c. NOVELLA OR NOVELETTE - considered as the first and the longest literary
• Shorter than a novel, longer than a short story. history among other periods
- It is oral in nature and is full of lessons and
2. NON-FICTION ideas about life, its blessings, and its
• Retelling of actual people, places, or events. consequences.
• Based on provable facts. - It also contains ideas from birth to grave.
• Has table of contents. - Mostly oral
• Read for information to learn.

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• Retelling of actual people, places, or events. consequences.
• Based on provable facts. - It also contains ideas from birth to grave.
• Has table of contents. - Mostly oral
• Read for information to learn.

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 21st Century Literature from the
Philippines and the World
Oral Tradition
• what we have before that marks the birth of
literature in the Philippines
• This is where everything started.
• we also call this as Oral Literature– different
types of stories passed down by the word of
mouth
• stories could be myths, folktales, fables and
that is passed down orally
• before, it is their language of life and a way of
promoting tradition
• the common theme of this oral literature is life
• Here comes some time in the 13th century
where we were influenced by Malaysian-
Indonesianmculture leading us to discover the
writing system which we call Baybayin.
• Baybay– which means to spell ang that is the
writing system that they used before.
• when they learned how to write, the write
their story in a palm tree leaves and
Bamboo
Pre-Colonial Poetry
• Literature was principally oral inasmuch as
writing was not yet invented.
• Most of the works are concise and poetic
forms such as riddles and proverbs.
A. Bugtong (Riddle)
- relied on talinghaga or metaphor - which is a
guessing game of objects represented by other
objects.
- perplexing questions meant to be guessed or
solved
- puzzling statements and questions that require
you to observe, analyze, and imagine/think
- outside the box to provide answers to the
question/statement.
- Before, Filipinos used riddles for entertainment
purposes.
B. Salawikain (Proverb)
- were used to express pieces of wisdom or
beliefs that were important to local society.
- these are truth and wise sayings expressed in
a language that is popularly know
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- brief, simple, and direct to the point
statements that gives advice to people
- We call this one an “expression of
wisdom” – it is because these short
statements are from real
- Contains words of wisdom, it could talk
about prescribed forms of conduct or
statement concerning accepted behavior.
Note that some proverbs, although
expressed in various tongue, are
statement considered to be obviously
true.
- It was easier for ancient Filipinos to
master these short pieces and passed
them to the succeeding generations
- life experiences and are based on
common sense.
- They use this one to teach lessons to
everyone.
- Example of Proverbs:
“Bago mo sabihin at gawin, makapitong
isipin.”
“Nasa Diyos ang awa, nasa tao ang
gawa.”
C. Epiko (Epic)
- the major pre-colonial poetic form was
the epiko or epic. These are long,
episodic, chanted poems that told a
story that involved a local hero, history
- These were chanted orally at feasts and
rituals to inspire and entertain those
who listened.
- Long poem, typically one derived from
ancient oral tradition, narrating the
deeds and adventures of heroic or
legendary figures or the history of a
nation.
- Examples of epic are Biag ni Lam-Ang of
the Ilocos, Alim and Hudhud of Ifugaos,
Kumintang of Tagalogs, Ibalon of the
Bicolanos, Maragtas of Visayans, and
Indarapata and Sulayman of
Maguindanaos
 21st Century Literature from the
Philippines and the World
Pre-colonial Prose and Narratives • As to our stories/literature, Filipinos are more
Prose– stories during pre-colonial period into spirits and mythological creatures but
Spanish
1. Myth • priests believed that these stories about
- charters of myth: mythological creatures, gods, mythical creatures are about spirits, rituals
and goddesses about devils. And
- they use myths to explain an unexplainable • so, they instructed the natives to destroy
events like thunder and lightning them.
- created to explain unexplainable events before.• In the Spanish colonial period, mythological
2. Fables creature stories are not being practiced
- characters of fable are animals anymore.
- stories contain values that we want to teach • Spanish priests prohibited them from reading
children as well as people these kinds of stories.
3. Legends (Alamat) ○ That means, during this time, literary works are
- stories of origins of something all about Religions and Christianity– that is also
- teaches us lessons ○ one of their motives in colonizing the Philippines
which is to convert Filipinos to Christianity.
Awit (song) • This time, everyone was told to undergo
- Uyayi (lullaby) baptism.
- Soliranin - song for travelers • Natives are called as Indio’s
- Kumintang - song for war • Latinos refer to Filipinos who are fluent in both
- Maluway - song for collective labor Spanish and Tagalog.
- Kundiman - song for courtship • The Spanish colonizers, particularly the Spanish
friars, whose mission was to spread Christianity
SPANISH COLONIAL PERIOD exerted all efforts to convert natives int
• In the year 1965, King Philip of Spain officially Christians and to destroy all things indigenous
colonized the country and that’s the start of is a part of their agenda.
the • Started conversion by printing religious
• Spanish colonization here in the Philippines. materials.
• Take note: Spanish colonial period started in • Doctrina Cristiana is first being the Catholic
the year 1565 to 1898 and that is the total of book of prayers and doctrines.
333 years • Pasyon by Gaspar Aquino de Belen and Mariano
• of colonization. • Pilapil, depicting the death of Jesus Christ,
• And that made a lot of changes in our literature. celebrated
• In this period, Spaniards really want to teach during Holy Week by the way of Pabasa.
Filipinos Spanish because they want the poems In this period, the poet Francisco Baltazar made
•
and a name for himself the immortal allegorical work,
• their writings to play a major role in society. Florante at Laura.
• They also changed our writing system from • Propagandists battled for reforms and
Baybayin to Roman Alphabet. assimilation written in Spanish, and published
○ during this period, they are using the Roman their articles in the newspaper called La
Alphabet in writing Solidaridad. Noli, El Fili, Graciano Lopez Jaena’s
Fray’s Botod, Del Pilar’s Dasalan at Tocsohan.

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 21st Century Literature from the
Philippines and the World
Spanish Colonial Poetry
- More focused on religion
Religious Works:
1. Doctrina Christiana (Ladinos 1593)
2. Pasyon (1703) Gaspar by Aquino De Belen
- Narrative poem: a poem that tells a story which
consists of 5 line stanzas with 8 syllables per line.
- Pasyon is a narrative story about the life of Jesus.
- covers/more focused on the suffering, death, and
resurrections of Jesus Christ.
- Ang Mahal na Pasyon ni Hesu Kristo nating na Tola
written by Caspar Aquino De Belen.
- This literary work was originally written in 1703 but
was approved and published in the year 1704.
3. Awit (Metrical Romance)
- narrative poem telling a story with 12 syllables per
line and in a stanza are 4 lines
- when its delivered, it comes with a musical
accompaniment (guitar and bandurria) and when its
recited, it is slow
- Also used to express adoration to the Blessed Virgin
Mary.
Example: Florante at Laura by Fransisco Balagtas
4. Korido (Metrical Romance)
- opposite of awit
- narrative poem that consists of 8 syllables per line
and 4 lines per stanza.
- it is delivered with a faster rhythm
- Example: Ibong Adarna
Spanish Colonial Drama
5. Senakulo - dramatization of pasyon
6. Komedya - a drama about the battles of Christians
and Muslims
7. Sarswela/Zarzuela - a PH theatrical play with songs
and dances.
8. Salubong - performed during Easter morning
depicts the moment where the recent Christ met his
mother
9. Panunuluyan - presented before 12:00 on Christmas
eve
- performed during Filipinos preparing for the
midnight mass
- reenactment of Joseph and Mary search for a
suitable place for Mary to give birth to Jesus
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AMERICAN PERIOD
• Started in 1899–1945
What are the significant contributions
of the Americans in our Literature?
1. The Public school system– it was
America’s biggest contribution in our
country because this time, education
was made free.
➢ This system influenced our literature
because by then, we will learn how to
read and write especially with the use
of the English language.
2. Adoption of the American language– this
was also the time where English was
chosen as the second language of the
Philippines; it is used for instruction and
the used language during this time.
3. Thomasites– they are American soldiers
who came here in the Philippines to
become our teachers.
➢ They are the first teachers of the
Filipinos and aside from teaching the
Filipinos, part of their mission was also
to build classrooms in every place they
were assigned.
➢ America deployed 530 Thomasites–
composed of 365 males and 165 females,
the first batch that were deployed in
the year 1901.
➢ Their mission is to teach Filipinos and to
create or build classrooms to any place
where they would be assigned.
➢ In the following year, 1902, the American
teachers also followed here in the
Philippines and there were a total of
1074 Thomasites.
• They introduced the public-school system
and English language.
• Established Philippine Normal School in 1901
and University of the Philippines in 1908,
both of each were run by American
government.
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 21st Century Literature from the
Philippines and the World
• Thomasites were the first English teachers. DRAMA
Filipinos learned the language and used it. - "A Modern Filipino" by Araullo & Castillejo (1st PH
• Philippine Literature in English was born. play in English)
• Writers increased in number because of freedom ESSAY
of expression and freedom of the press. - "Life & Success" by Zoilo Galang (1st PH book of
• Establishment of guilds or organizations, Poets, essays in English)
Essayists, and Novelists (PEN). The giving of
incentives in a form of awards to outstanding
writers JAPANESE COLONIAL PERIOD
• This period is the most productive not only
because of the number of authors but also with • Writing activities in English stopped with the
the number of publishing companies involved in coming of the Japanese
this field, literature in various genres were • They attacked not only the soldiers but also the
considered world class. civilians
• The 2 clashing school of thought, first the art • For this reason, writers stopped wielding pens and
for art’s sake dictum, Jose Garcia Villa which started wielding guns
treats literary pieces as art objects subject to • Nihongo or nippongo was introduced, as well as
aesthetic appreciation. Second the art for their arts and literary forms.
society’s sake dictum, Salvador Lopez which • Filipinos were acquainted with ikebana where the
treats literature as instruments to effect social art of flower arrangement, origami, tempura, and
change. sushi which is their cru, and haiku.
• Haiku is a short descriptive poem about nature
4. “Scholars” and “pensionados”– There are three 5-7-5 syllables.
levels of education, the one that we follow up
until right now, the elementary, secondary, and
the tertiary. Martial LaW Period
• These practices were introduced during the
American Colonial period and are still utilized up • Under the presidency of the previous presidents,
until now. Philippine writers enjoyed greater liberty in terms
• If there are students that will show excellence of content and style.
during classes/academically, they will be sent to • September 21, 1972 is the implementation of
the US where they will continue with their Martial Law. Their freedom was suppressed.
studies and become an expert in their desired or • Only government publications continued to see
chosen profession. Once they graduate, they will print, the rest were discontinued.
have to go back here in the Philippines either to • Anti-government publication proliferated in the
teach or to work in government offices
• form of underground publication led by Malaya.
• Those scholars bought in the US are called
• The lives of oppositionist writers were controlled
“scholars” or “pensionados” because the
by the state.
government will shoulder their education and all
they have to do is to be there and study hard. • Some of them whose works were found subversive
were silenced by means of summary execution,
Famous Works
- "A Child of Sorrow" Zoilo Galang (1st PH novel
written in English)
- "Dead Stars" Paz Marquez Benitez (1st successful
PH short story written in english) + some says
it has a perfect plot

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