Pre- Colonial Literature

What is the Pre-colonial literature?

Due to the colonization of the Philippines by the Spanish, it has
lost a lot of the rich history the Philippines has to offer. But the
Philippines still maintained a lot of its history through oral
transmission which was the primary mean that preserved
Philippine literature.

There 10 different types of literature that was passed down and

still used to this day:

Riddles
What are Riddles?
Riddles is a set of questions or statement you ask that hides a
mysterious or amusing answer.

Example of Riddles

1. Balong malalim, puno ng patalim (A deep well full of

knives) - answer: Bibig (Mouth)

2. Araw-araw namamatay, taun-taon nabubuhay (It dies every

day, then lives every year) - answer: kalendaryo (calendar)

3. Abot na abot ng tingin, hindi mo naman marating (Just

within range of sight, yet unreachable) - answer: Langit (Sky)

4. Narito na si Katoto, may dala-dalang kubo (Here is Katoto,

carrying a nipa-hut on his back) - answer: Pagong (Turtle)

5. Dalawang katawan, tagusan ang tadyang (Two bodies with

ribs, exposed) - answer: Hagdan (Ladder)
Proverbs
What are Proverbs?
Proverbs or salawikain are sayings which prescribes the norm,
imparts a lesson, or reflects standard norms, tradition, and
beliefs in the community. Proverbs are also more serious in
nature because they teach about proper behavior.

Examples of Proverbs:

1. Bawasan ang salita, dagdagan ang gawa.

Meaning; More action fewer words.

2. Walang karapatang mamili ng handog, Ang nanghihingi lang

sa kapwa ng limos
Meaning: Beggars can’t be choosers.

3. Ang tao’y nakikilala sa gawa. At hindi sa salita.

Meaning: A person is known by his actions not by his words.

4. Ang lahat ng bagay ay may katapusan.

Meaning: Everything has an end.

5. Kung anong ama, siyang anak.

Meaning: Like father, like son.

Sawikain
What are Sawikain?
Sawikain are idiomatic expressions. These are piles of words
that has a different meaning or hidden meaning.

Examples of Sawikain
1. Bilang na ang araw
Meaning: a person is about to die
Sentence: Bilang na ang araw ni Lolo Pedro.

2. Nagsusunog ng kilay
Meaning; A person that is studying hard
Sentence: Nagsusunog ng kilay si Nena gabi-gabi upang
pumasa sa pagsusulit sa 21st century literature.

3. Parang aso’t pusa

Meaning: Two person that always fights
Sentence: Parang aso’t pusa si Gen at Kiko.

4. Haligi ng tahanan
Meaning: A father
Sentence: Palagi naming maasahan ang aming haligi ng
tahanan.

5. Itaga sa bato
Meaning: Remember this clearly
Sentence: Itaga mo sa bato, yayaman rin ako

Epics
What are Epics?
Epics are the most prominent literacy genre of the pre-colonial
period. Epics are typically about the extraordinary deeds of a
legendary hero.

Example of Epics
Hudhud ni Aliguyonc (Ifugao)
In the mountainous regions of Northern Luzon, a
hudhud is a long tale sung during special occasions. This
particular long tale is sung during harvest. A favorite topic of
the hudhud is a folk hero named Aliguyon, a brave warrior.

Biag ni Lam-ang (Iloko/Ilocano)

This story is about a boy named Lam-ang and his two
magical pets. As the story goes, Lam-ang tried to avenge his
dead father by killing all the people at the tribe of Igorot. After
his return he tried to Ines Kannoyan, she was impressed by
Lam-ang’s strength and decided to marry him, unfortunately he
died but later was resurrected by magic.

The Maiden of the Buhong Sky (an epic of Manuvu hero,

"Tuwaang")

The Maiden of the Buhong Sky" is one of the many

songs about the Manuvu hero, "Tuwaang". In 1,417 lines, the
song narrates how Tuwaang comes to the assistance of a
mysterious maiden from the skyworld and how in the end he
takes her and his people to the country of Katuusan, the "land
without death

Tulalang Slays the Dragon (of the Ilianen Manobo of North

Central Cotabato)
"Tulalang”, the Ilianen Manobo epic hero, lived on the
side of the banks of the Kulaman River in the Arakan Valley.
He is the immortal ancestor of the Ilianen Manobo (an ethnic
minority group in North Central Cotabato). He gets his name
from the heron, Telaweng ("Ardeidae") and is therefore
nicknamed "Bird of the Grassy Plain" and later "Heron-Bird of
the Kulaman River"
Kudaman (Palawan)
"Kudaman" is an epic of Palawan. It is dramatization of
nature and social life, a validation of the beliefs, ethics, way of
life to Palawan culture. The complete epic is composed of six
songs. It takes seven nights to perform the epic. The first night
is used to introduce the epic; each of the six songs takes a night
to perform. The hero Kudaman appears after the introductory
chant.

Legends
What are Legends?
Legends are a form of prose explaining the origins of a thing,
place, or location. The events are imaginary devoid of truth,
and unbelievable.

Example of Legends

Ang Alamat ng Araw at Gabi

Noong unang panahon, liwanag lang ang mayroon, ang
mag asawang Adlaw at Bulan ang nagbibigay liwanag mula sa
kalangitan. Biniyayaan sila ng maraming anak, at sila ang mga
tala at bituin, kung kaya't lalong nagliwanag sa kalangitan.
Ngunit nagkaroon ng matinding pag aaway ang mag asawa na
nauwi sa hiwalayan. Pinapili nila ang kanilang mga anak kung
kanino sila sasama, sumama ang mga tala at bituin sa kanilang
inang si Bulan sapagkat mas mabait ito. Simula noon, mag
isang nagbibigay ng liwanag sa kalangitan si Adlaw, at sama-
samang nagtutulong sa pagpapaliwanag ng kalangitan ang mga
mag iinang Bulan, mga tala at bituin.

Mother Mountain
In one of the islands in Batanes, a widow lived with her
two daughters who only wanted to play the whole day. The
only thing that the mother asked of her daughters was to have
supper ready by the time she got home from working in the
fields. One night, when she got home and her daughters were
nowhere to be seen, she made dinner herself. When the girls
returned and saw their mother busy in the kitchen, they decided
to play some more. The mother could not take it anymore and
calmly walked away from their house. Though the girls
eventually followed her, it was already too late. The mother had
taken the shape of a mountain, now called Mount Iraya.

Ang Alamat ng Pina

Mahal na mahal ni Aling Rosa ang anak niyang si Pina,
inaalagan niya itong mabuti at hindi pinapagawa ng gawaing
bahay upang hindi mapagod. Ngunit nais baguhin ni Aling
Rosa ang ugali ni Pina, nais niyang turuan ito sa gawaing
bahay, ngunit ayaw ni Pina.

Dahil sa pagtatrabaho at mag isang gumagawa ng

gawain bahay ay nagkasakit ng malubha si Aling Rosa at hindi
na makabangon pa sa kinahihigaan. Kaya pinakiusapan niya si
Pina na magluto para hindi sila magutom. Masama ang loob na
sinunod iyon ni Pina, gumawa siya ng gawaing bahay. Ngunit
nag sawa sa kakaluto at kagagawa sa gawaing bahay si Pina.
Isang araw, siya ulit ang magluluto at hindi niya mahanap ang
sandok, tinanong niya iyon sa kaniyang Ina, inutusan siya ng
Ina na bumaba at baka nahulog sa ilalim ng bahay, masama ang
loob, ngunit sinunod iyon ni Pina, sinabi ni Aling Rosa na sana
ay tubuan si Pina ng maraming mata upang makita ang
hinahanap niya. Ilang oras na ang nagdaan ngunit hindi pa rin
bumabalik si Pina sa bahay.

Hinanap siya ni Aling Rosa at ipinagtanong sa mga

kapit-bahay, ngunit walang nakakita kay Pina. Kinabukasan,
nakita ni Aling Rosa ang tumutubong halaman sa sulok ng
kanilang bakuran na ang bunga ay parang isang ulo na
maraming mata, at naalala niya ang sinabi niya sa anak niya na
sana ay tubuan ito ng maraming mata. Napaiyak si Aling Rosa
at iniisip na ang tumubong halaman sa kanilang bakuran ay ang
anak niyang si Pina. Simula noon, inalagaan niyang mabuti ang
halaman at tinawag itong Pinya.

Uvigan at Bugan
Matapos gawin ang daigdig ginawa ni Mak-no-ngao,
ang pinakadakilang diyos ng Ifugao ang unang lalaki. Tinawag
niya itong Uvigan. Gusto niyang maging maligaya si Uvigan
kaya ibinigay niya dito ang buong daigdig. Ngunit malungkot
pa rin si Uvigan. Inisip ni Mak-no-ngao na kailangan ni
Uvigan ng kasama kung kaya’t ginawa niya si Bugan ang
unang babae. Natuwa si Uvigan. Simula noon ay namuhay
nang tahimik at masaya sina Uvigan at Bugan.

Ang Alamat ng Sampalok

Noong unang panahon, may tatlong prinsipeng ubod ng
sama. Sila ay sina Prinsipe SAM, Prinsipe PAL at Prinsipe
LOK. Dahil magkakaibigan ay magkasundo silang tatlo sa lahat
ng bagay. Lalo na sa kasamaan.
Sila rin ay mapang-api lalo na sa mga mahihirap. Kahit
sa mga matatanda, walang respeto ang mga prinsipe. Dahil dito,
sila ay nilagyan ng sumpa ng isang engkantada.
Lumubok ang mga mata ng prinsipe at may tumubong
puno na napaka-asim ng bunga. At simula noon, tinawag ang
bagong puno na “Sampalok”

Myths
What are Myths?
Is a narrative that describes the origin of basic elements
and assumptions of a culture. Myths usually tells a story about
the creation of the world, how the humans and animals were
created.

Examples of Myths

The Children of the Limokon

Mandaya (Mindanao)
In the very early days before there were any people on
the earth, the limokon (a kind of dove) were very powerful and
could talk like men though they looked like birds. One limokon
laid two eggs, one at the mouth of the Mayo River and one
farther up its course. After some time, these eggs hatched, and
the one at the mouth of the river became a man, while the other
became a woman.
 The man lived alone on the bank of the river for a long
time, but he was very lonely and wished many times for a
companion. One day when he was crossing the river something
was swept against his legs with such force that it nearly caused
him to drown. On examining it, he found that it was a hair, and
he determined to go up the river and find whence it came. He
traveled up the stream, looking on both banks, until finally he
found the woman, and he was very happy to think that at last he
could have a companion.

They were married and had many children, who are the
Mandaya still living along the Mayo River.

Mag-Asawang Tubig
In the olden days, there was a small town in which a
few farmers' families lived. Among them was the couple
known as Ba Imo and Ba Sinta. They were well liked and
respected in that place, for although they were well off, they
were humble and generous.

One day Bathala put them to the test. A beggar in

tattered clothes came to their house and asked for lodgings.
The couple very hospitably welcomed their guest and even
joined him for a meal at their table. To the great amazement of
the couple, although they had been eating for some time, the
food at the table did not decrease. Realizing that their guest
was God, the couple knelt before him and prayed. The old man
blessed them. In their prayer, the couple asked that they may
die at the same time, so that neither of them would experience
grief and loneliness which would surely happen if one of them
died first.

God granted the wish of the couple. They died at the

same time and were buried in adjoining graves. Not long
afterwards, a brook sprang from their graves. This later grew
and grew until it became a river, which was named Mag-
asawang Tubig in memory of the loving couple.

The Flood Story (Bukidno/Mindanao)

 A long time ago there was a very big crab which
crawled into the sea. And when he went in, he crowded the
water out so that it ran all over the earth and covered all the
land.

Now about one moon before this happened, a wise man

had told the people that they must build a large raft. They did as
he commanded and cut many large trees, until they had enough
to make three layers. These they bound tightly together, and
when it was done, they fastened the raft with a long rattan cord
to a big pole in the earth.

Soon after this the floods came. White water poured out
of the hills, and the sea rose and covered even the highest
mountains. The people and animals on the raft were safe, but
all the others drowned.

When the waters went down and the raft was again on
the ground, it was near their old home, for the rattan cord had
held.

But these were the only people left on the whole earth.

The Gods and the Goddesses

Cabalangegan was a formerly a jungle at the edge of the
river Abra. On the far side of the river were mountains, high
and steep. On these mountains lived an old man named Abra,
the father of Caburayan. The old man controlled the weather.
It is said that the river Abra was covered by a gathering of
water vapor at night, and during the days, it was always bright
with sunlight.

At that time Anianihan, God of Harvests, was in love with

Caburayan, goddess of healing. Her mother, Lady Makiling,
knew about their mutual attraction, but Abra did not know it
because the three were afraid to tell him since he might punish
them as he disapproved of Anianihan. Abra wanted his
daughter to marry either Saguday, God of the wind, or
Revenador, God of thunder and lightning. This being so,
Anianihan took Caburayan from her home. Abra wept a great
deal. He sent Lady Makiling away after beating her.

When Abra was alone, he wept day and night till Bulan,
God of peace and calm, came. Though Bulan was there to
brighten Abra's spirits, Abra did not stop weeping. He could
not express his anger. He begged the other gods to bring back
his daughter.

One day the sun, eye of Amman, shone so brightly that

the water of the river Abra was excessively heated. Smoke rose
from the the river. Soon, thick, black clouds began to darken
the sky. Then Saguday sent the strongest wind until the crowns
of the trees brushed the ground. The god Revenador sent down
the largest strings of fire. The heaviest rains fell. All these
frightful events lasted seven days. The river Abra then rose and
covered the trees. There rose a vast body of water until only
the highest part of the mountain could be seen. It looked like a
back of a turtle from a distance. This was the spot where Abra
lived.

On the seventh day, Abra heard a cry. He also heard a

most sorrowful song. Abra dried his tears and looked around,
but he saw no one. He was determined to find Maria Makiling,
his grandchild. He did not find her, for the cries of the baby
stopped.

The search for the baby lasted three full moons but to
no avail, and the poor old man returned to his home very sad.
He lost all hope; his wits were gone. At that time Maria
Makiling was under the care of the fierce dog Lobo, who was
under a god of the Underworld. He had been punished by the
other gods, and that is why he looked like a fierce dog. He was
sent down to do charity.

How the Moon and the Stars Came to Be

Bukidnon (Mindanao)
 One day in the times when the sky was close to the
ground a spinster went out to pound rice. Before she began her
work, she took off the beads from around her neck and the
comb from her hair, and hung them on the sky, which at that
time looked like coral rock.

Then she began working, and each time that she raised
her pestle into the air it struck the sky. For some time she
pounded the rice, and then she raised the pestle so high that it
struck the sky very hard.

Immediately the sky began to rise, and it went up so far

that she lost her ornaments. Never did they come down, for the
comb became the moon and the beads are the stars that are
scattered about.

Fables
What are Fables?
Fables are short stories with animals as characters that act like
humans but still maintain their animal traits. The story contains
moral that is meant to teach lessons about relationships.

Ang Unggoy at Buwaya

This fable is all about friendship and trust.

Si Pagong at si Matsing
This fable wrote by Jose Rizal as a wake-up call to the filipinos
and expose the mistreatment of Filipinos in the hands of
Spaniards.
Ang kalabaw at ang Suso

Isang araw sa tabi ng ilog naliligo si kalabaw at nakita

niya si pagong. Sinabi niya ritong napaka bagal nito, kaya
hinamon siya ni pagong ng karera. Tumakbo si kalabaw at
sumigaw "pagong" upang malaman kung nasaan na si pagong,
ngunit may sumagot na ibang pagong, sa pag aakalang iyon ang
parehong pagong ay tumakbo ulit ito. Tinawag niyang muli si
Pagong, at may ibang pagong na naman ang sumagot, tumakbo
siya muli, nagpatuloy siya sa pagtakbo hanggang sa mamatay

Si Langgam at si Tipaklong
Sa pagsisimula ng kwento, Si Langgam ay matiyagang
nag-iipon ng mga makakain niya sa panahon ng tag-ulan.
Madalas siyang tuksuhin ni Tipaklong na madalas nakikita
namang nagsasaya at naglalaro sa damuhan sapagkat siya ay
laging gumagawa at walang panahon na makapagsaya.

Subalit sa pagdating ng panahon ng tag-ulan, naging

maginhawa si Langgam dahil sa kanyang pagsisikap
samantalang kaawa-awa naman ang lagay ni Tipaklong
sapagkat wala itong masilungan at makain.

Sa huli, lumapit si Tipaklong kay Langgam upang

humingi ng tulong. Siya ay tinulungan naman ni Langgam na
naging ugat upang magbago si Tipaklong.

The Monkey and the Crocodile

One day, a Monkey saw a macopa tree full of fruits

stood by a river. He climbed it and ate all the fruits, after he
finished, he climbed down, he wants to cross the river, but he
can't. He saw a crocodile and asked it for a favor. Then the
crocodile agreed. The monkey told him that he wants to go to
the other side of the river, the crocodile said to him to sit on his
back, and he'll get him there with all his heart. The monkey sat
firmly on a crocodile's back. When they reached the middle of
the stream, the crocodile laughed and said "you foolish
monkey, I'll eat your kidneys and liver" the monkey became
nervous and said "I'm glad you mentioned the matter. I thought
myself that you might be hungry, so I have prepared my liver
and kidneys for you. Unfortunately, I left them hanging in the
macopa tree. Let's go back and I'll get them for you." The
crocodile thought that the monkey is telling the truth, so he
returned around and swamed back. When they got near the
river, the monkey jumped onto the land and climbed up the
tree. The crocodile realized what happened and said, "I'm a
fool."

Courtship songs
What are Courtship songs?
Courtship is the practice of singing romantic love songs,
reciting poems, writing letters, and gift-giving. This happens
between a male and female, where the male will try to woo the
female into being in a relationship with him.

Example of Courtship songs:

 O’ Ilaw
O Ilaw Lyrics

O, Ilaw
sa gabing madilim
Wangis mo'y
bituin sa langit

O, tanglaw
sa gabing tahimik
Larawan mo Neneng
nagbigay pasakit

Tindig at magbangon
sa pagkagupiling
Sa pagkakatulog
na lubhang mahimbing

Buksan ang bintana

at ako'y dungawin
Nang mapagtanto mo
ang tunay kong pagdaing
Ang Tangi Kong Pag-ibig Lyrics

Ang tangi kong pagibig

ay minsan lamang
Ngunit ang
yung akala
ay hindi tunay

Hindi ka lilimutin
Magpakailan pa man
Habang ako
ay narito
at may buhay

Malasin mo’y nagtiis

ng kalungkutan
Ang buhay ko’y
unti-unti
na pumapanaw

Wari ko ba’y sinta

Ako’y mamatay
Kung di kita ang
kapiling
habambuhay
Serenades
What are Serenades
Serenade is a piece of music sung or played in the open air,
typically by a man at night under the window of his lover.

Example of Serenades

Manang Biday

Manang Biday, ilukat mo man

‘Ta bintana ikalumbabam
Ta kitaem ‘toy kinayawan
Ay, matayakon no dinak kaasian
Siasinnoka nga aglabaslabas
Ditoy hardinko pagay-ayamak
Ammom ngarud a balasangak
Sabong ni lirio, di pay nagukrad

Dungawin Mo, Hirang

Dungawin mo, hirang, ang nananam bitan

Kahit sulyap mo man lamang iyong idampulay
Sapagkat ikaw lamang ang tanging dalanginan
Ng puso kong dahil sa 'yo'y nabubuhay
Lullabies
What are lullabies?
Lullabies are quite and gentle songs sung to a child to send a
child to sleep. The songs are typically sung by the mother of
the child.

Example of Lullabies

Sa Ugoy ng Duyan

Sana'why di nagmaliw ang dati kong araw

Nang munti pang bata sa piling ni nanay
Nais kong maulit ang awit ni inang mahal
Awit ng pag-ibig habang ako'why nasa duyan
Sana'why di nagmaliw ang dati kong araw
Nang munti pang bata sa piling ni nanay
Nais kong maulit ang awit ni inang mahal
Awit ng pag-ibig habang ako'why nasa duyan

Sa aking pagtulog na labis ang himbing

Ang bantay ko'why tala, ang tanod ko'why bituin
Sa piling ni nanay, langit ay buhay
Puso kong may dusa sabik sa ugoy ng duyan
Sana'why di nagmaliw ang dati kong araw
Nang munti pang bata sa piling ni nanay
Nais kong maulit ang awit ni inang mahal
Awit ng pag-ibig habang ako'why nasa duyan
Sa aking pagtulog na labis ang himbing
Ang bantay ko'why tala, ang tanod ko'why bituin
Sa piling ni nanay, langit ay buhay
Puso kong may dusa sabik sa ugoy ng duyan
Nais kong matulog sa dating duyan ko, inay
Oh! Inay

Ili-ili Tulog Anay

Ili-ili tulog anay

Wala diri imong nanay
Kadto tienda bakal papay
Ili-ili tulog anay
Mata kana tabangan mo
Ikarga ang nakompra ko
Kay bug-at man sing putos ko
Tabangan mo ako anay
Ili-ili tulog anay
Wala diri imong nanay
Kadto tienda bakal papay
Ili-ili tulog anay
 Dandansoy

Dandansoy bayaan ta ikaw

Pauli ako sa payaw

Ugaling kon ikaw hidlawon
Ang payaw imo lang lantawon

Dandansoy kon imo apason

Bisan tubig di magbalon

Ugaling kon ikaw uhawon
Sa dalan magbubon-bubon

Oyayi

Kay lamig na ng gabi sa ilang

Habang ang bituin ay nag-aabang
Giliw ko sa 'king sinapupunan
Kay lapit Mo nang isilang
Aming pakikipagsapalaran
Upang makahanap ng tahanan
Abot-abot ang kaba sa dibdib
Kay lapit Mo sa panganib
Oh, giliw kong Anak
Tupad na pangarap ko
Pagsilay Mo sa ating mundo
 Maging tahanan ng mahirap
At puso Mo'y tanggulan ng aba
Sa kapaguran ng 'Yong amain
Ang disyertong pilit niyang bagtasin
Animo'y walang patid ang lawak
Buhay nati'y kanyang hawak (buhay nati'y kanyang hawak)
Oh, giliw kong Anak
Tupad na pangarap ko
Pagsilay Mo sa ating mundo
Maging tahanan ng mahirap
At puso Mo'y tanggulan ng aba
Liwanag ng unang pasko
Hesus, bituin ng mundo
Oh, giliw kong Anak
Tupad na pangarap ko
Pagsilay Mo sa ating mundo
Maging tahanan ng mahirap
At puso Mo'y tanggulan ng aba
Kay lamig na ng gabi sa ilang
Habang ang bituin ay nag-aabang
Giliw ko sa 'king sinapupunan
Kaunting tiis na lang
Tahanan nati'y daratnan