REVIEWER IN 21ST CENTURY
LITERATURE
PRE-SPANISH LITERATURE
Legends - form of prose with with the
common theme being about the origin of a
thing, place, location, or name of something.
Folk Tales - stories about life, adventure,
love, horror, and humour, where one can
derive lessons about life (moral lessons).
Epics - long narrative poems in which a
series of heroic achievements or events,
usually of a hero, are dealt with at length.
Folk Songs - one of the oldest forms of
Philippine literature that emerged in the
Pre-Spanish period.
PERIOD OF ENLIGHTENMENT
The Filipino spirit was reawakened after
300 years of Spanish rule when three
priests, Gomez, Burgos, and Zamora,
were unjustly guillotined on February 17,
1872 for supporting Filipinos and being
accused of being traitors and aiding in the
revolution
Three Martyr Priests:
- Mariano Gomez
- José Burgos, and
- Jacinto Zamora
The Propaganda Movement (1872 - 1896)
Dr. Jose Rizal Works:
- Noli me Tangere: meaning “touch
me not” talks about the abuse
suffered by the Filipino at the hands
of friars (prayle) and the spanish
government.
- El Filibusterismo: “The Reign of
Greed”. Shows the violence that
people are willing to do to achieve
freedom from the spaniards as seen
in the characters Simoun and the
other revolutionaries.
- Mi Ultimo Adios: “My Last Farewell”,
Rizal's poetic tribute, his last farewell
to the country he loved so much
before his execution
- Sobre la lndolencia de los Filipino
- Filipinas Dentro de Cien Años
Marcelo H. Del Pilar works:
- Pagibig sa Tinubuang Lupa
- Kaingat Kayo (Be Careful)
- Dasalan at Tocsohan (Prayers and
Jokes
- Ang Cadaquilaan ng Dios (God’s
Goodnes)
- Sagot sa Espanya sa Hibik ng
Pilipinas
Graciano Lopez Jaena works:
- Ang Fray Botod (Friar Botod): The
priest in “Fray Botod” uses religion to
exploit and oppress his subjects. A
man of vast and morally
questionable appetites, he takes
advantage of his position to pursue
everything from drunkenness and
gluttony to exploitative relationships
with young girls. The titular character
neglects his parish duties, pursues
gambling, threatens and punishes
college students arbitrarily, treats
workers barbarously, and generally
conducts business in a wholly
corrupt fashion.
 - La Hija del Fraile Example of American Regime Poetry - God
- Everything is Hambug said “I made a Man” by Jose Garcia Villa
- Talumpating Pagunita kay Kolumbus
(An Oration to Commemorate
Columbus)

AMERICAN REGIME
Historical Background:
- Filipino Revolutionaries won against
Spaniard’s colonization for more than 300
years.
- On June 12, 1898, the Philippine flag was
raised as a symbol of independence. Young
general Emilio Aguinaldo was selected as
the first President of the Philippine but it
didn’t last long.
- Peace movements was started in early
1900 and Filipino-american war resulted
Publication - American regime saw the
after the defeat of Gen. Miguel Malvar in
introduction of new newspapers published
1903.
mostly by American journalists. This was
- Filipino writers started writing again and
organized through the efforts of Manuel L.
thenationalism of Filipinos remain
Quezon, who later became the President of
audacious and went into all forms of
the Philippine Commonwealth.
literature like novels, essays, plays,
Examples of Newspapers:
poetry and news reporting. Their writings
- The Manila Times (1898)
portrays their independence and love for the
- The Bounding Billow and Official
country.
Gazette (1898)
- Manila Daily Bulletin (1900)
Themes:
- Philippine Free Press (1908)
- Lamentations on the conditions of
the country
Short Stories - an example of short story
- Love for one’s native tongue
during the American Regime is “Footnote to
- Imitation of Amrican themes and
Youth” by Jose Garcia Villa”
methods in writing

Poetry:
Literature that evokes a concentrated
imaginative awareness of experience or a
specific emotional response through
language chosen and arranged for
its meaning, sound, and rhythm.
Drama - written work hat tells a story Jose Ma. Hernandez
through action and speech and is meant to - Panday Pira
be acted on stage. Example: Walang Sugat Clodualdo del Mundo
by Severino Reyes - Bulaga
Julian Cruz Balmaceda
JAPANESE PERIOD - Sino ba kayo?
From 1941 to 1945. Philippine literature in - Dahil sa anak
English came to a halt because of the - Higante ng patay
Japanese. English literature faced a very
dark period as Tagalog literature was Short Stories:
favored by the Japanese Government - Lupang Tinubuan (Narciso Reyes)
- Uhaw Ang Tigang Na Lupa
Poetry: (Liwayway Arceo)
Haiku - composed of three lines with five, - Lunsod Nayon at Dagat-dagatan
seven, five syllables. Typically about nature (N.V.M. Gonzalez)
Examples:
PERIOD OF NEW SOCIETY
1. TUTUBI There was a heavy focus on development
hilamo’y tabak... and government projects such as Green
ang bulaklak, nanginig! Revolution, Nutrition, Stopping Pollution,
sa paglapitmo. and etc.

2. ANYAYA Plays and Theater:

ulilang damo The government wanted to revive traditional
sa tahimik na ilog Filipino plays such as:
halika, sinta. - Cenaculo (showing the life and
death of Jesus Christ)
Tanaga - consists of four lines that rhyme - Tagalog Zarzuela
with seven to nine syllables - Embayoka of Muslims
Example: To creat a place where to perform these
newly revived plays, the government
PALAY created new theatres such as the:
Palay siyang matino, - Cultural Center of the Philippines
Nang humangi’y yumuko (CCP)
Nguni’t muling tumayo - Folk Arts Theater
Nagkabunga ng ginto - Old Metropolitan Theater

Karaniwang Anyo - a conventional, usual, Publications:

and common form of poetry. An example of Kislap Magazine - This magazine
this is “Ang Pag-ibig” by Teodoro Gener commonly shows and talks about the stars,
divas, celebrities, and other famous people
Filipino Playwrights: during the time
Francisco Soc Rodrigo
- Sa Pula, Sa Puti
Liwayway Magazine - similar to Kislap in
the sense that it’s main focus is the showbiz
happenings of the time. However, Liwayway
also included and serialized several short
stories, novels, essays, comics, articles,
and other things into their magazine.
Leading tagalog weekly magazine at the
time
Television:
Many telenovelas back then continue to
emplo the same cliches we see today such
as poor main protagonists, complex family
relationships, lovers with different social
status, important characters having
amnesia, and many more.
Examples:
- Gulong ng Palad
- Flor de Luna
Movies:
“Maynila: Sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag” or
Manila: In the Claws of the Night is a 1975
film made by critically-acclaimed director,
Catalino Ortiz “Lino” Brocka. This film of his
is regarded to be one of the best Filipino
films in history and was even part of the
Criterion Masters’ Collection. As for the plot
of the film, it is about a man from the
province named Julio Madiaga who
ventures into the city of Manila in order to
find new opportunities and reunite with his
past love, Ligaya Paraiso. Instead of finding
opportunities, love, and a better life, Julio is
forced to faced the harsh reality that Manila
is not the shining city of hope he dreamed it
to be.
Themes of the movie include:
- Greed
- Hardwork
- Trouble of City Life
- Abuse of Power, and more
Poetry:
“Charts” by Dr. Cirilo F. Bautista
Charts
The graphics by which the calculus is borne
to prescribe the signsand pathway of the
mind
none can unlock with statistics or bind
to metal currency like fish and corn;
for neither time bomb nor flagman can scorn
the sure numerals the gnomon has signed.
Be a dryad, a glyptic seeing or blind,
the calculus will wound you with its horn:
so fine a machine can demolish the art
we raise against the phalanx it employs,
the human tactics we plot on our chart
melt before its argument like plastic toys
dolmen, alar, crude, tied to the womb like
sex,
it is the saviour that comes with an ax.
Books:
An example of book during this period was
“The Conjugal Dictatorship” by Primitivo
“Tibo” Mijares. An interesting fact about the
author that is crucial to the development
and making of this book was that Primitivo
Mijares was actually the media advisor of
former president Ferdinand Marcos during
the time of Martial Law. In summary, the
book is an exposé on the Marcos Regime
and what happened during this time from
the viewpoint of someone close to the
dictator.
PERIOD OF THIRD REPUBLIC
Literature during this period was heavily
inspired by the assasination of Benigno
“Ninoy” Aquino and the Justice for Aquino,
Justice for All (JAJA) movement
Media:
The media during this time was full of
boycotts and lawsuits. Mosquito Press or
small presses that pestered the government
were also rampant. The people also
preferred red news or news about killings or
crime.
- Newpapers: Tiktik, Playboy Scene,
Sakdal
- Radio: Radio Veritas
- Mosquito Press: Malaya, WE Forum
- Croney Newpapers: Daily Bulletin,
News Herald, Daily Express
Movies:
- Karnal
- Moral
Both Karnal and Moral are films talking
about the problems that people face in life.
The both of them have very feministic
themes, especially in Moral, with many
scenes showing woman empowerment and
independence. Filipino’s love for sex films
was also unabated during this time period
Ishmael Bernal - A Filipino director, film
maker, and spreenwriter. Notable works of
him include Nunal sa Tubig (1976), Manila
By Night (1980), Relasyon (1982), and
Himala (19982)
Poetry:
During this time, poetry was revolutionary
and and openly criticized the current
government. It even used insultive and even
profane language. Example:
“Uod” by Rodolfo S. Pangilinan
Isang subong kanin sa lipaking palad
Ang tiititigan ng matang malungkot
‘sang kimis na awa na magiging lunas
Sa nanghapding sa pamamaluktot.
‘nahan Bathala ang iyong kalinga.
‘Sang yayat na pisngi
Ang dinadaluyan ng namuong
Luhang hindi masawata
Mga labing mamad at tiim na bagang
Ang naghihimagsik sa pagdaralita
O nahan ang tunay
Na batas ng buhay.
Isang pinggan tigib at saganang hapag
Ang buong ganang pinagsasaluhanng mga
nilikhang kung saan nabuhay at saan
nanggaling ay hindi malaman
O bayan kong sinta... Ikaw ba’y akin pa?
Lyric Poem / Songs:
- Bayan Ko by Coritha and Eric
- Pilipino by Freddie Aguilar
Prose/Short Stories:
These stories commonly show the
symbolism of what was happening to the
country at the time. Using many symbolisms
was frequent as to avoid suspicion from
governments as seen in the examples
below
Examples:
- The Crown Jewels of Heezenhurst
- The Emperor’s New Underwear
POST EDSA REVOLUTION
The EDSA Revolution is also known as the
Yellow Revolution because supporter tied
yellow ribbons to themselves
Songs:
- Bayan Ko by Freddie Aguilar: The
original version of this song was a
poem made by Jose Corazon de
Jesus and the music by Constancio
de Guzman
Newspapers:
By June 12, 1986, 19 dailies (newpapers
that publish daily were circulating. They
were written in either English or Tagalog
commonly.
Examples:
- Manila Bulletin
- Tempo
- Philippine Daily Inquirer
Short Stories:
- Geyluv
This short story by Honario Bartolome de
Dios was unique compared other works
during the time because it did not talk about
the happenings during the revolutions. The
plot is about the close friendship and love
story between Mike, an attractive
Manila-based journalist, and Benjie, a gay
project director of a non government
organization. Another unique aspect about
this story is that it switches between the
POV of the two characters.
Writer’s Organizations:
- UMPIL (Unyon ng mga Manunulat
sa Pilipinas)
- PANULAT (Pambansan Unyon ng
mga Manunulat)
- GAT (Galian sa Arte at Tula)
Films:
- Ora Pronobis
This film is made by Catalino Brocka and
translates to “pray for us” or “fight for us” in
1989. The plot of the film revolves the
Orapronobis group, a cult with military
power that abuses and takes control over
the citizens of a place called Santa
Filomena. The films shows the atrocities
done by the cult such rape, mass killings,
corruption, and more which is very
reminiscent of the happenings during the
Marcos Regime. In the movie, there is also
a very heavy theme of branding protestors
and even regular civilians as rebels or
terrorists to justify killing them, something
commonly done during martial law and still
prevalent even today. The films protagonist
is a man named Jimmy Cordero, an
ex-priest turned revolutionary that sees the
horrors that happened in Santa Filomena
and becomes a revolutionary again after the
death of his son due to the Orapronobis cult
leader, Komander Kontra.
Poems:
A Grain of Dreams
by Domingo D. Landicho
When I went to the Hemmingway Farm that
sunlit day,
Amidst an ocean of brownish stalks of corn,
I remembered the plight of peasants in my
native land.
One day, they came to the city of power
Where the mighty are sheltered in splendor;
Throngs of humanity in the sun,
Chanting the voices of the soil to the palace,
Singing the song of hope so long unheard.
Give us a piece of land to till,
Give us a piece of land to plant:
A grain of corn and a grain of rice
That we may harvest a grain of dreams.
But lo! A valley of shots thundered
Orchestrated symphony of the elite's gun,
Angered by the voices of the earth
Singing a song of hope long dead
Disturbing a tranquil slumber.
Before the day was over, the street was
littered
With body of the dead whose only crime
Is to dream for a little share of God's wealth,
Possessed by the wanton avarice of few.
 When I left the Hemming way Farm as
sunset loomed,
I saw the fleeting shadows of peasants in
my native land.
Singing a song of hope for grain and
dreams
Amidst the brownish stalks of the unharvest
corn
In my native land.