1ST
ST
LESSON 1: PHILIPPINE LITERARY HISTORY
FROM PRE-COLONIAL TO CONTEMPORARY
PERIOD
Essence and Significance of Literature
1. Literature (the origin of the term – litera, which means letter)
deals with man's ideas, thoughts, and emotions – thus, it can be
said that literature is the story of man. (Kahayon, 1998, p. 5-7);
literature comes from the French phrase "belles letters," which
means beautiful writing. (Baritugo, et al. 2004, p 1)
2. Through literature, we learn the innermost feelings and thoughts
of people – the most authentic part of themselves; thus, we
understand not only of others but, more importantly, of ourselves
and of life itself. (Garcia, et al, 1993, p.4)
3. Literature is one of the seven arts (i.e., music, dance, painting,
sculpture, theatre, and architecture). As such, literature is an
innovative product of creative work, which is form and beauty.
(Nuggets, 2004, p.2)
4. Critical analysis - is a careful examination and evaluation of a
text, image, or other work or performance while Close reading is a
deep analysis of how a literary text works; it is both a reading
process and something you include in a literary analysis paper,
though in a refined form.
Dimensions of Philippine Literary History
1. Geography- the study of places and the relationships between
people and their environments
2. Language- a system of conventional spoken, manual (signed), or
written symbols by which individuals express themselves
3. Ethnicity- a notion that refers to social entities sharing real or
putative ascriptive features like a common origin or cultural-
linguistic legacy which assumedly command special collective
commitment, as well as their retention and transmission.
Division of Literature
All literature falls under two main divisions: (Nuggets, 2004, p.8)
PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD (_B.C. to 1564)
Our knowledge of pre-colonial times in the Philippines has
been enriched by the works of archaeologists, ethnologists, and
anthropologists, and by records of early Filipinos from Spanish,
Chinese, Arabic, and other chroniclers.
Before the arrival of the Spaniards, Filipinos had their own
civilization , which was partly influenced by Malay settlers and
partly by the new environment. Despite Westernization and
modernization, their customs, traditions, government, and way
of life have survived to the present day.
Their rich past is evident in their folk speeches, songs,
narratives, rituals, and dances, which are similar to those of
their Southeast Asian neighbors. The Philippines has a diverse
SEMESTE |21 Century literature
and R tradition
abundant literary that evolved even before the
colonial period, including folk tales, epics, poems, and
marathon chants that were passed down orally from generation
to generation.
These works showcase magical characters, describe mythical
objects, persons, and places, and tell of supernatural events and
the bravery of community heroes, customs, and ideologies.
Literary forms
1. RIDDLE (Bugtong) - A mysterious, misleading, or puzzling
question posed as a problem to be solved or guessed. Gives an
enigma.
Ex: Apat sa umaga, dalawa sa tanghali, tatlo sa gabi (It has four
legs in the morning, two in the afternoon, and three in the evening.)
Answer: Human
2. CHANTS (Bulong) - Used in witchcraft or enchantment.
Ex: “Tabi tabi po, makikiraan lamang po”
3. PROVERBS (Salawikain) - A brief popular epigram or maxim.
Short poems that have customarily used and served as laws or rules
on good behavior by our ancestors.
Ex: Hangga’t makitid and kumot, matutong mamaluktot. (While
the blanket is quick, learn how to bend.) & Pag may tiyaga, may
nilaga. (If you persevere, you will reap the fruits of your labor.)
4. FOLK SONGS - A song that originates in traditional popular
culture. Form of lyric that expresses hope, aspiration, and
lifestyles.
Ex: Uyayi – lullaby
Kundiman – melancholic love song
Komintang – war song
Kalusan – work song
Harana – serenade
Kanogan – song of lamentation for the dead
5. FOLK TALES
Myths - A usually traditional story of ostensibly historical events
that serves to unfold part of the world view of people or explain a
practice, belief, or natural phenomenon.
Ex: The Gods and the Goddesses (Iloko) How the Moon and the
Stars Came to be (Mindanao) & Why the Dead Come Back No
More) Ifugao
Legend - Explaining the origin of things. One popularly regarded
as historical although not verifiable.
Ex: The Legend of Coconut Tree
Fables - Used animal characters and allegory.
Ex: The Hare and the Tortoise
EPICS - A long narrative poem in elevated style recounting the
deeds of a legendary or historical hero. Revolving around
supernatural events or heroic deeds.
Ex: Biag ni Lam-Ang, Aliguyon or the Hudhud & Labaw
Donggon
THE SPANISH REGIME (1565-1863)
Spain's subjugation of the Philippines had mundane reasons, but their
influence on the country's literature was significant. They introduced religion,
institutions, and theatre, which enriched the languages and brought komedya,
senakulo, sarswela, playlets, and drama. Spain also introduced liberal ideas
and internationalism, which influenced Filipino intellectuals and writers to
understand the meanings of "liberty and freedom."
The Spanish colonization of the Philippines began in 1565, led by Miguel de A. Literary Forms
Legazpi, the first Spanish Governor-General. This period saw the 1. Propaganda Literature - Reformatory in objective.
flourishing of literature, which can be categorized as either religious or secular a. Political Essays – satires, editorials, and news articles
prose and poetry. The literature of this era primarily focused on religious were written to attack and expose the evils of Spanish
themes due to the Christianization of the Philippines by the Spaniards. rule

A. Took on a Religious Character Ex: Diariong Tagalog – founded by Marcelo del Pilar &
● Christianization of the Philippines La Solidaridad – whose editor-in-chief is Graciano
● Introduced the first printing press Lopez-Jaena
● Doctrina Christiana – the first published book (1593)

b. Political Novels
B. Literary Output
● Catechisms
● Confession Manuals Ex: Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo – Jose
● Grammar Books Rizal’s masterpieces that paved the way to the
● Dictionaries revolution

Poems in Spanish and Tagalog were written by "Ladinos" who 2. Revolutionary Literature – more propagandistic than
were both well-versed in both languages literary as it is more violent in nature and demanded complete
Both can
independence for be
thesung or chanted.
country.
a. Ex: Florante at Laura
Political Essays – helped – Mostinflame
Famous Awit
the spirit of
● Pasyon – the most popular form of religious literature A long revolution
narrative poem about the passion and death of Christ Ang Mahal na
Pasyon ni Jesu Cristong Panginoon Natin – Gaspar Aquilino de
Belen’s well know pasyon. Ex: Kalayaan – newspaper of the society, edited by
Emilio Jacinto
● Sinakulo/Cenakulo – a dramatization of the pasyon A play on
the passion and death of Christ performed during the holy week b. Poetry

● Two Popular Narrative Poems

Ex: True Decalogue – Apolinario Mabini, Katapusang
❖ Awit Hibik ng Pilipinas – Andres Bonifacio & Liwanag at
❖ Korido Dilim – Emilio Jacinto

⮚ The last of the 19th century saw a new breed of writer.

FILIPINO WRITERS either wrote in Spanish or
in their own tongue or both
1. Francisco Baltazar, the master of traditional Tagalog poetry, became well-
known for his work Florante at Laura (1838–1861), the most famous metrical
romance of the country.
⮚ A strong feeling of nationalism was the main agenda of this literary period.
⮚ This period is divided into two groups: the Propaganda and the Revolution
(Rizal, Lopez Jaena &Del Pilar).

2. Pedro Paterno wrote Sampaguitas y poesias varias (1880), the first poetry ⮚ At the close of the 19th century, the revolutionists took over and there was a
collection in Spanish by a Filipino, and the novel Ninay (1885), considered to shift not only in languages (from Spanish to Tagalog) but in the audience or
be the first Filipino novel. readers from the "intelligentsia" to the masses. (Balabar, 1989, p.25)

3. Jose Rizal, 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 Spanish officials and the clergy.
4. Andres Bonifacio, 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, 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 Encyclopaedia
International des Oeuvres des Femmes in 1889.
6. Gaspar Aquino de Belen was a Filipino poet and translator of the 17th
century, known for authoring a 1704 rendition of the Pasyon, a famous poetic
narrative of the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus, which has circulated
in many versions.
7. Jose de la Cruz was the foremost exponent of the Komedya during his
time. A poet of prodigious output and urbane style, de la Cruz marks a turning
point in that his elevated diction distinguishes his work from folk idioms.
⮚ Bonifacio, Jacinto, and Mabini were the prominent revolutionary writers
⮚ This period was truly significant because it produced literature that was
realistic and truly Filipino. (Balabar, 1989, p.26)
⮚ Jose Palma - was a Filipino poet and soldier. He was on the staff of La
Independencia at the time he wrote Filipinas, a patriotic poem in Spanish. He
also wrote the Himno Nacional Filipino (The Philippine National Anthem)
composed by Julian Felipe which was originally entitled, Marcha Magdalo.
THE UNITED STATES COLONIAL RULE (1910-
1930, 1920-1945)
American influence was deeply entrenched with the firm establishment of
English as the medium of instruction in all schools and with literary
modernism that highlighted the writer’s individuality and cultivated a
consciousness of craft, sometimes at the expense of social consciousness.
● Literature (in three languages) flourished
(Reading, writing, speaking)

THE NATIONALISTIC PERIOD (1864-1896) ⮚ Spanish

⮚ English
⮚ Filipino
Characteristics
1. Planted seeds of nationalism in Filipinos ● May be divided into two periods:
2. The language shifted from Spanish to Tagalog
3. Addressed the masses instead of the “intelligentsia” 1. The Period of Apprenticeship
⮚ Paz Marquez Benitez – “Dead Stars”
⮚ Paz Latorena – “The Small Key”
⮚ Jose Garcia Villa – "Footnote to Youth"
⮚ Zoilo Galang – “Child of Zorrow”
2. The Period of Emergence - Before the war and the Japanese Occupation -
Noted Short Story Writers - Highly influenced by Western literary trends like
Romanticism and Realism. - Short Stories – the most prevalent literary form -
Jose Garcia Villa – earned the international title “Poet of the Century”
3. The Period of Emergence
- Before the war and the Japanese Occupation
- Noted Short Story Writers
- Highly influenced by Western literary trends like Romanticism and Realism.
- Short Stories – the most prevalent literary form
- Jose Garcia Villa – earned the international title “Poet of the Century”
⮚ Manuel E. Arguilla
⮚ Arturo Rotor
⮚ N.V.M. Gonzales
⮚ Francisco Arcellana
⮚ Bienvenido N. Santos
Other Famous Authors:
● Fernando Ma. Guerero – he collected the best of his poem in a book called
Crisalidas, and one of the poems written in this book was “Inovacion A Rizal”
● Manuel Bernabe – is a lyric poet, he was more attractive to the public in a
debate with balmori because of the melodious he used.
● Lope K. Santos – “Father of the National Language Grammar”, he was also
called“apo” of the tagalog writers. “Banaag at Sikat” was his masterpiece.
● Jose Corazon de Jesus – known as huseng batute, HE was also called the
poet of lovein his time.
● Inigo Ed Regaldo – a popular storyteller, novelist, and newspaperman. He
reached the peak of his success by the “sumpong” of his pen.
THE JAPANESE OCCUPATION (1942-1944)
During this occupation, publications were censored by the military. Also,
Tagalog was declared an official language (together with Nihonggo). In effect,
Philippine literature in English came to a halt. Some Filipino writers then
turned to writing in Filipino. The Tagalog short story reached maturity during
this period. The best works were compiled by the Liwayway magazine editors
in Ang Pinakamabuting Maikling Kathang Pilipino ng 1943, which came out
in 1944. It is a collection of stories that won a contest sponsored by the
Japanese.
The top four stories were
1. “Lupang Tinubuan” by Narciso G. Reyes,
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.
● This literary period broke away from tradition, especially among the tagalog
poets. Instead of writing in the Balagtas tradition (rhetorical, verbose,
figurative), poets wrote in simple language and free verse.
● This was a bountiful harvest in poetry, fiction, and the field of drama and
essay. (Balabar, 1989, p.27)
● Poets wrote in simple language and free verse (Ako ang Daigdig by
Alejandro Abadilla)
A. War Years (1942-1944)
1. Tagalog poets broke away from the Balagtas tradition and instead wrote in
simple language and free verse
2. Fiction prevailed over poetry
a. 25 Pinakamabuting Maikling Kathang Pilipino (1943) – a compilation of
the short story contest by the military government
Ex: Suyuan sa Tubigan – Macario Pineda, Lupang Tinubuan – Narciso Reyes
& Uhaw ang Tigang na Lupa – Liwayway Arceo
B. Period of Maturity and Originality (1945-
1960)
1. Bountiful harvest in poetry, fiction, drama, and essay
2. Filipino writers mastered English and familiarized themselves with diverse
techniques
3. Literary “giants” appeared
a. Palanca Awards for Literature
Ex: Jose Garcia Villa, Nick Joaquin, NVM Gonzales, Bienvenido Santos,
Gregorio Brillantes & Gilda Cordero Fernand
b. National Artist Awards
Ex: Jose Garcia Villa & Nick Joaquin
THE CONTEMPORARY PERIOD (1960- PRESENT)
Philippine literature in various languages has flourished, with new
publications after the Martial Law years and the rise of committed literature in
the 1960s-70s. Filipino writers continue to write poetry, short stories, novellas,
novels, and essays, both socially committed and personal. The Filipino writer
has become more conscious of their art with the proliferation of writing
workshops and the availability of literature through mass media, including the
internet. Literary awards encourage competition and creative efforts. The new
requirement by the Commission on Higher Education for the teaching of
Philippine literature in all tertiary schools in the country ensures an audience.
There is hope that national literature will find its place among the literature of
the world.
● Upheavals in Nation's History - first quarter storm of the Seventies
● Martial Law Years
● Assassination of Ninoy Aquino
● Merging these three traditions
⮚ Oral Lore – Ethnic Tradition
⮚ Spanish Tradition
⮚ American Colonial Tradition
● Literary Expressions - Give responses to the historical and political forces
that have shaped Philippine society since the pacific war.
Characteristics
1. Martial Law repressed and curtailed human rights, including freedom of the
press
2. Writers used symbolisms and allegories to drive home their message, in the
face of heavy censorship
3. Theater was used as a vehicle for protest, such as the PETA (Phil.
Educational Theater Association) and UP Theater.
4. From the eighties onwards, writers continue to show dynamism and
innovation
5. Daring or controversial choice of subject matter very innovative in structure
and style influence of different –isms and literary trends from the West
characters have become more three-dimensional characters, plot structure, and
narrative techniques are more complex
Writers of the Contemporary Period
1. Lualhati Bautista - Dekada '70, Bata, Bata, Pa'no Ka Ginawa?, and ‘GAPÔ.
2. Linda Ty Casper - DreamEden and the political novels Awaiting Trespass,
Wings of Stone, A Small Party in a Garden, and Fortress in the Plaza.
3. Ingrid Chua-Go - The Bag Hag Diaries and her society blog, Manila Social
Diary.
4. Gilda Cordero-Fernando - The Butcher, The Baker and The Candlestick
Maker (1962) and A Wilderness of Sweets (1973). These books have been
compiled and reissued later as Story Collection (1994)
5. Nick Joaquin - The Woman Who had Two Navels (1961), La Naval de
Manila and Other Essays (1964), A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino (1966),
Tropical Gothic (1972), A Question of Heroes (1977), Joseph Estrada and
Other Sketches (1977), Nora Aunor & Other Profiles (1977)
6. Alejandro Roces – My Brother’s Peculiar Chicken
7. Bienvenido Santos - The Praying Man (1982), The Man Who (Thought He)
Looked Like Robert Taylor (1983), What the Hell for You Left Your Heart in
San Francisco? (1987)
The contemporary Period is classified into two
categories:
I. POST EDSA LITERATURE (1986- ____)
There is an emerging critical orientation that draws its concerns and insights
from literary theorizing current in England and the United States. Post-EDSA
publishing has been marked by adventurousness and a willingness to gamble
on "non-traditional" projects. The declining prestige of New Criticism, whose
rigorous aesthetic norms previously functioned as a Procrustean bed on which
Filipino authors and their works were measured, has opened a gap in the
critical evaluation of literary works. Post-EDSA publishing has been marked
by adventurousness, and a willingness to gamble on "non-traditional' projects.
culture as plural, and questioning conventions. Writing by women continues to
flourish, with feminist stances questioning male-centered viewpoints.
Women's own voices are now better represented in literature, allowing for
more diverse characters.
Philippine literature has evolved with technology and globalization, resulting
in a more cosmopolitan and consumerist attitude. Regional writings have
gained recognition, and writers are no longer limited to writing in a single
language. Many now write in both English and Filipino, and translations
between different Philippine languages are becoming more common. This has
expanded the vessels containing Philippine literature to include many different
languages across the archipelago.
What about the English being written? Trinidad Tarrosa Subido coined the
phrase "language of [our] blood." Dr. Gemino H. Abad has used it as a
framework in his three anthologies on Philippine poetry in English.
He said that we have colonized English and have made it our own, and the
poems are now "wrought from English."
It is no longer the very proper English from the old textbooks or the
Americanese in books copyrighted in New York. It is now a language filtered
by our regional languages and by mass media—printed, seen, broadcast—as
well as shaped by social media, the fragmentation of text language, sound
bites, anime, graphic novels, and cosplays (costume plays).
The internet has also made Filipino writers less insular or old-fashioned. Bob
Ong started a blog, "Bobong Pinoy," and parlayed it into bestselling books.
Other blogs have become popular books and even box-office-hit movies, i.e.,
Ang Diary ng Panget. Celebrities are now supposedly writing, while radio
anchors are turning their zany scripts into books. Senator Miriam Defensor
Santiago’s book, Stupid is Forever, is the doyenne of them all; it has been the
bestselling book since December.
Teenagers can upload their stories on Wattpad, watch them 15 million times,
and now get contracts for a TV series or a romance film. Ghost stories are
selling, and so are children’s books and graphic novels. Young-adult novels
are being written for a generation on the run (or with eyes glued to their
gadgets).

● Dominant concerns are demonstrated by the writer's output and the direction
towards which literary studies are tending.

● Developing trust towards the retrieval and the recuperation of writing in

Philippine languages other than Tagalog.

● Essays work cooperatively and responsibly in today's global village.

- Coping with Challenges

- Instructional Essay
- Personal Narratives
- Factual Recounts
- Personal recounts

Famous Authors and their works

● Ang Pinakahuling Kwento ni Huli (The Very Last Story of Huli) – Lilia
Quindoza Santiago

● The Execution – Charlson Ong

● Kabilang sa mga Nawawala (Among the Disappeared) – Ricardo Lee

● Geyluv – Honorio De Dios

● Jose Dalisay, Jr. – Oldtimer and Other Stories, Killing Time in a Warm
Place, The Island

II. 21 st Century Literature (2001- present)

In the 21st century, there have been many literary innovations in the
Philippines. Even those without a significant literary background are
expressing themselves through writing. Philippine writing has taken a new
turn, with works being sensitive to gender, alluding to technology, showing