Various dimensions of Philippine literary history from Pre-colonial to Contemporary
(1838–1861), the most famous metrical
SPANISH OCCUPATION
a. Spanish Colonial Period (1521–1898)
 expeditions to the Philippines were sent by
Spain in the 16th century. In their conquest,
the Spaniards brought Christianity with
them. The clergy made a great impact on
faith, education, and government.
b. Through the Manila-Acapulco trade
(1565–1815)
 liberal ideas entered the country. Also, the
trade gave rise to a wealthier middle class.
Children in middle class families could then
be sent to Europe to get an education. Upon
their return, they brought European ideals of
liberty and freedom with them. Such ideals
would then give rise to Filipino nationalism.
Philippine Literature during the Spanish
Occupation
 The Spanish missionaries taught the gospel
through the native language, so they hired
natives to translate Spanish religious
instructional materials.
 Eventually, the natives became fluent in
Spanish and became known as ladinos.
 Ladinos mainly wrote devotional poetry.
 Two of them were Fernando Bagongbanta
and Gaspar Aquino de Belen.
 Bagongbanta wrote “Salamat nang walang
hanga/gracias de sin sempiternas,” which
appeared in Memorial de la vida cristiana en
lengua tagala(1605), a book containing basic
Catholic doctrines.
 On the other hand, de Belen wrote “Ang
Mahal na Passion ni Jesu Christong
Panginoon natin na tola” (1704), the earliest
version of pasyon.
 Also, the native drama called the komedya
or moro-moro was popular. It depicted the
war between Christians and Muslims,
wherein the former always wins.
 The poet Jose de la Cruz (1746–1829) was
a master of such art form.
 Native literature continued. Though the
Spaniards destroyed the written literature in
their effort to replace it with their own, the
oral tradition survived and flourished in
areas beyond the reach of the Spaniards.
FILIPINO WRITERS either wrote in Spanish or
in their own tongue or both.
1. Francisco Baltazar (1788-1862), the master
of traditional Tagalog poetry, became well-
known for his work Florante at Laura
romance of the country.
2. Pedro Paterno (1857–1911) wrote
Sampaguitas y poesias varias (1880), the
first poetry collection in Spanish by a
Filipino; and the novel in Spanish Ninay
(1885), considered to be the first Filipino
novel.
3. Jose Rizal (1861–1896), a prominent
ilustrado and the country’s national hero, is
famous for the novels Noli Me Tangere and
El Filibusterismo. These novels portray the
corruption and abuse of the Spanish
officials and the clergy.
4. Andres Bonifacio (1863–1897), the founder
of the Katipunan, wrote the poem “Pag-ibig
sa Tinubuang Lupa.” This poem appeared in
the Kalayaan, the official newspaper of the
Katipunan, in March 1896.
5. Leona Florentino (1849–1884), known as
the “mother of Philippine women’s
literature,” was a poet in both Ilocano and
Spanish. Twenty of her poems were
preserved and exhibited in Europe. The
poems were included in the Encyclopedia
International des Oeuvres des Femme in
1889.
AMERICAN OCCUPATION (1898–1940)
 The US established a civil government in
1901.
 Free public education was introduced and
English was the medium of instruction.
 In 1934, President Roosevelt signed a bill
making the Philippines a commonwealth.
On May 14, 1935 Manuel L. Quezon was
elected president.
LITERARY WORKS PRODUCED
 The production of literary works in English
is the direct result of the American
colonization of the Philippines.
 The first collection of poetry in English is
Filipino Poetry (1924), edited by Rodolfo
Dato.
 The short story “Dead Stars” (1925) by Paz
Marquez Benitez is considered as the first
Filipino modern short story in English.
 A Child of Sorrow (1921) by Zoilo M.
Galang is the first Filipino novel in English.
The novel His Native Soil (1940) by Juan C.
Laya won first prize in the First
Commonwealth Literary Awards in 1940.
 Filipino writers in English during the
apprenticeship period (1900–1930) imitated
American writing.
  The poet Fernando Maramag writes in the - include all literary works written and published in
Romantic tradition in his sonnet “Moonlight the Philippines from 1946.
on Manila Bay” (1912). Filipino fictionists
 After World War II, the Philippines had to
copied Sherwood Anderson, William
deal with the economy and the need for
Saroyan, and Ernest Hemingway.
rehabilitation and reconstruction of
 Jose Garcia Villa used the Anderson pattern.
infrastructures.
Manuel Arguilla and N. V. M. Gonzalez
- There was political, economic, and
were influenced by Anderson and
social confusion, as well as great
Hemingway.
poverty, and these issues found their way
 Francisco Arcellana was influenced by
into the short stories and novels during
Saroyan.
that time.
JAPANESE OCCUPATION (1941–1945) During the postwar period, Filipino writers
got their inspiration from American teachers
  On December 8, 1941, the Japanese
and were able to learn their techniques,
attacked Manila.
which also helped in mastering the English
 On January 2, 1942, Japanese occupied
language.
Manila. They set up a Council of State in the
 Writers wrote fiction that focused on
country and started propaganda to remold
courageous deeds as well as the sacrifices
the Filipinos.
and suffering in the lives of Filipinos.
 In October 1943 the Japanese declared the
o common for writers to write about
Philippines “independent.”
the experiences of the Filipino
 On September 20, Jose P. Laurel was elected
people under the Spanish and
president.
American rule and the Japanese
 MacArthur and his Allied forces returned to
Occupation.
the country in 1944.
o Other subjects and themes
 They landed on Leyte on October 20, and
include: :1.) religious faith 2.)
the biggest naval battle in history ensued.
superstitions 3.) fantasy 4.) social
 The Japanese surrendered formally on
problems 5.) poverty 6.) politics 7.)
September 2, 1945.
nationalist 8.) immorality.
LITERARY WORKS PRODUCED
Literary Works
 During the occupation, publications were
 Philippine literature flourished even more
censored by the military.
during the postwar and contemporary
 Also, Tagalog was declared an official
period.
language (together with Nihonggo).
o Writers were able to produce short stories,
 In effect, Philippine literature in English
novels, essays, and poems that continue to
came to a halt. Some Filipino writers then
be read by Filipinos today.
turned to writing in Filipino.
Examples: Some works written in the
 The Tagalog short story reached its maturity
postwar and contemporary period are:
during the period.
1. May Day Eve by Nick Joaquin,
 The best works were compiled by the
1947
Liwayway magazine editors in Ang
2. Waywaya by F. Sionil Jose, 1983
Pinakamabuting Maikling Kathang Pilipino
3. We Filipinos Are Mild Drinkers
ng 1943, which came out in 1944.
by Alejandro Roces, 1948
 It is a collection of stories that won a contest
4. The Return by Edith L. Tiempo
sponsored by the Japanese.
5. History and Philippine Culture
 The top four stories were
by Horacio de la Costa, 1965
1. “Lupang Tinubuan” by Narciso G.
6. Without Seeing the Dawn by
Reyes,
Stevan Javellana, 1947
2. “Uhaw ang Tigang na Lupa” by
Liwayway Arceo,
3. “Nayon at Dagat-dagatan” by N. V. M.
Gonzalez, and
4. “Suyuan sa Tubigan” by Macario
Pineda.
Post-war and Contemporary Literature