THE JAPANESE PERIOD (1941- 1945)

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND FIRST THREE PRIZES WHO WON THE BEST

WRITINGS IN 1945:
 Between 1941-1945, Philippine Literature was
interrupted in its development when the Philippines 1. Narciso Reyes (Lupang Tinubuan)
was again conquered by another foreign country 2. Liwayway Arceo (Uhaw Ang Tigaw Na Lupa)
Japan. 3. NVM Gonzales (Lunsod Nayon at Dagat-
 Philippine literature in English came to a halt. Except Dagatan)
for the TRIBUNE and the PHILIPPINE REVIEW
D. PHILIPPINE LITERATURE IN ENGLISH
almost all newspapers in English were stopped by the
Japanese. Because of the strict prohibitions imposed by the
 Juan Laya who used to write in English turned to Japanese in the writing and publishing of works in English,
Tagalog because of the strict prohibitions of the Phil. Literature in English experienced a dark period.
Japanese regarding any writing in English. The Those few who dared to write did so for their bread and
weekly LIWAYWAY was placed under strict butter or for propaganda.
surveillance until it was managed by a Japanese
named Ishiwara. Writings that came out during this period were journalistic
in nature and what literary output there was hardly
A. TAGALOG POETRY DURING THE JAPANESE negligible. Writers felt suppressed but slowly, the spirit of
PERIOD nationalism started to seep into their consciousness. While
some continued to write, the majority waited for a better
3 TYPES OF POEMS EMERGED DURING THIS PERIOD
climate to publish their works.
1. Haiku – a poem of free verse that the Japanese like. It
was made up of 17 syllables divided into three lines. The Noteworthy Authors of the Japanese Period
first line had 5 syllables, the second, 7 syllables, and the
third, five. The Haiku is allegorical in meaning, is short and  Carlos P. Romulo
covers a wide scope in meaning.  Salvador P. Lopez
 Leon Ma. Guerrero
2.Tanaga – like the Haiku, is short but it had measure and
 Raul Manglapuz
rhyme, has 4 lines, each line has 7 syllables.
 F.B. Icasino – Wrote essays in the Philippine Review
3. KARANIWANG ANYO (USUAL FORM)- it is the
common form of poetry  Nick Joaquin
 Fred Ruiz Castro – wrote few poems
B. TAGALOG DRAMA DURING THE JAPANESE  Carlos Bulosan
PERIOD
Carlos Bulosan’s works
The drama experienced a lull during the Japanese period -The Laughter of My Father (1994)
because movie houses showing American films were -The Voice of Bataan (1943)
closed. The big movie houses were just made to show -SIX FILIPINO POETS, 1942, among others.
stage shows. Many of the plays were reproductions of
English plays to Tagalog. Alfredo Litiatco published With Harp and Sling and in
1943, Jose P. Laurel published Forces that Make a Nation
The translators were: Great.
 Francisco Soc Rodrigo The Commonwealth Literary Awards gave prizes to
 Alberto Concio meritorious writers.
 Narciso Pimentel. Those who won were:
1. Like the Molave – by Rafael Zulueta da Cosa (Poetry)
They also founded the organization of Filipino players
2. How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife – by
named Dramatic Philippines.
Manuel E. Arguilla (Short Story)
3. Literature and Society – by Salvador P. Lopez (Essay)
A few of playwriters were:
4. His Native Soil – by Juan Laya (Novel)
1. Jose Ma. Hernandez – wrote PANDAY PIRA
President Manuel L. Quezon’s autobiography THE GOOD
2. Francisco Soc Rodrigo – wrote SA PULA, SA PUTI
FIGHT was published posthumously.
3. Clodualdo del Mundo – wrote BULAGA (an expression
in the game Hide and Seek).
Radio broadcasts echoed the mingled fear and doubts in
4. Julian Cruz Balmaceda – wrote SINO BA KAYO? DAHIL
the hearts of the people.
SA ANAK, and HIGANTE NG PATAY.
Other writers of this period were:
C. The field of the short story widened during the
-Juan Collas (1944)
Japanese Occupation. Many wrote short stories.
-Tomas Confesor (1945)
AMONG THEM WERE: -Roman A. de la Cruz
• BRIGIDO BATUNGBAKAL -Elisa Tabuñar
• MACARIO PINEDA
• SERAFIN GUINIGUNDO
• LIWAYWAY ARCEO
• NARCISO RAMOS
• NVM GONZALES
• ALICIA LOPEZ LIM
• LIGAYA PEREZ
• GLORIA GUZMAN