Philippine literature

Philippine literature is literature associated with the Philippines from prehistory, through its colonial
legacies, and on to the present.

Characteristics
The styles and themes used in Philippine literature were born from a combination of the country’s history,
mythology, culture, and foreign influences, evolving throughout different periods while also adopting common
writing philosophies and movements of the time.[1][2] Philippine literature encompasses literary media written
in various local languages as well as in Spanish and English.

According to journalist Nena Jimenez, the most common and consistent elements of Philippine literature is its
short and quick yet highly interpersonal sentences, with themes of family, dogmatic love, and persistence.[3] The
use of commas, conjunctions, and a variation of English known as Filipino-English or Taglish are also most
present in Philippine literature.[4][5] Many of these elements used by Filipino writers had an impact in the
history of literature as a whole.

Classical literature in Spanish during the 19th century

On December 1, 1846, the first daily newspaper, La Esperanza, was published in the country. Other early
newspapers were La Estrella (1847), Diario de Manila (1848) and Boletin Oficial de Filipinas (1852). The first
provincial newspaper was El Eco de Vigan (1884), which was issued in Ilocos. In Cebu City, El Boleaetín de Cebú
(The Bulletin of Cebu) was published in 1890.

On 1863, the Spanish government introduced a system of free public education that increased the population's
ability to read Spanish and thereby furthered the rise of an educated class called the Ilustrado (meaning, well-
informed). Spanish became the social language of urban places and the true lingua franca of the archipelago. A
good number of Spanish newspapers were published until the end of the 1940s. The most influential of them
being El Renacimiento, printed in Manila by members of the Guerrero de Ermita family.

Some members of the ilustrado group, while in Spain, decided to start a Spanish publication with the aim of
promoting the autonomy and independence projects. Members of this group included Pedro Alejandro Paterno,
who wrote the novel Nínay (first novel written by a Filipino)[6] and the Philippine national hero, José Rizal, who
wrote excellent poetry and his two famous novels in Spanish: Noli Me Tángere (Touch Me Not), and El
Filibusterismo.

Especially potent was La Solidaridad, more fondly called La Sol by the members of the propaganda movement,
founded on 15 February 1885. With the help of this paper, Filipino national heroes like José Rizal, Graciano
Lopez Jaena, and Marcelo H. del Pilar were able to voice out their sentiments.

Poetry and metrical romances

▪ Tanaga - Short poems consisting of four lines with seven syllables each that rhyme at the end of each line.
▪ Ladino poems – Were natives of first Tagalog versifiers who saw print: highly literate in both Spanish and
the vernacular.
 ▪ Corridos – Were widely read during the Spanish period that filled the populace's need for entertainment as
well as edifying reading matter in their leisure moments.
▪ Awit – Like corridos, these were also widely read during the Spanish period as entertaining, edifying,
reading manner in their leisure time. It is also a fabrication of the writers imagination although the characters
and the setting may be European. The structure is rendered dodecasyllabic quatrains.

Prose
The prose works of the Spanish Period consisted mostly of didactic pieces and translations of religious writings
in foreign languages.

Dramas

Religious

▪ Moriones – Refers to the helmets of participants dressed as Roman soldiers, their identities hidden behind
colorful, sometimes grotesque, wooden masks. Found only on the island of Marinduque, it is down during
Holy Week, culminating in a Passion play that adds the scene of Saint Longinus' conversion and martyrdom.
▪ Panunuluyan– The Tagalog version of the Mexican Las Posadas, and literally means "seeking passage".
Held during Christmastime but especially on Christmas Eve, it depicts Joseph and Mary' search for room at
the inn in Bethlehem. The actors playing the Holy Couple chant their pleas for lodging in slow, mournful
tones, while the innkeepers and householders would drive them away with haughty verses sang in dance-
like metre.
▪ Pangangaluwa – A practice formerly widespread during All Saints' Day which literally means for the soul[s],
it is analogous to the now-defunct English custom of Souling.
▪ Salubong – A ritual performed in the early morning of Easter Sunday a few hours after the Easter Vigil and
before the Easter Mass, dramatising the meeting between the resurrected Jesus and his mother. In its basic
form, the rite begins with two separate processions—one consists of males accompanying a statue of the
Risen Christ, the other of women with a statue of the Virgin Mary veiled in black. Both processions meet at
the churchyard, town plaza, or some other suitable area, where a girl, dressed as an angel, stands from a
scaffold or descends on a rope and sings the Regina Caeli. The angel then removes the black veil to the
sound of pealing bells and firecrackers, ending the penance and mourning of Lent.
▪ Senakulo – Essentially a Passion play, which depicts the passion and death of Jesus Christ. It is customarily
performed during Holy Week, and bears similarities to Mystery plays popular in medieval Europe.
▪ Santacruzan – Performed during the month of May, which reenacts Saint Helena's Finding of the True
Cross and serves as an expression of devotion to the Virgin Mary. The young women of a town, parish, or
village dress in formal gowns and bear attributes related to religious themes, such as titles of Mary, with the
last (often most beautiful) lady "Reyna Elena" representing the empress, and holding a crucifix, representing
the True Cross. Its May observance is due to the pre-1962 date for the feast of Roodmas.

Secular

▪ Comedia – It is about a courtly love between, a prince and a princess of different religions, and highlights
concepts of colonial attitudes to Christian-Muslim relations.
▪ Duplo – A forerunner of the balagtasan. The performances consist of two teams; One composed of young
women called Dupleras or Belyakas; and the other, of young men called Dupleros or Belyakos.
▪ Karagatan – Comes from the legendary practice of testing the mettle of young men vying for a maiden's
hand. The maiden's ring would be dropped into sea and whoever retrieves it would have the girl's hand in
marriage.
History

Precolonial period
According to Filipino historian Teodoro Agoncillo, the ethnicity that had the richest history in terms of story-
telling were the Ilocano people, whose nomadic lifestyle in the highlands bred stories of adventures far moreso
than other Filipinos living in the lowlands. Ilocano used an improvised, versified, and at times impromptu, long
epic poem called a dallot, delivered and narrated in a song-like manner.[7] The most famous of these epics was
the Biag ni Lamang.[8]

Other forms of literature written by pre-colonial Ilocano were songs (kankanta), dances (salsala), poems
(dandaniw), riddles (burburtia), proverbs (pagsasao), and lamentations (dung-aw). Other traditional Filipino
epics by other ethnicities include the Hudhud ni Aliguyon of the Ifugao, Hinilawod of Panay, Ibalon from Bicol,
and Darangen of the Maranao.[9] During this time, different oral myths and folk tales were developed,
eventually leading to their imprinment and embeddement later on, such as Ibong Adarna, Bernardo Carpio,
Maria Makiling, and several creation myths.[8]

Spanish period
The Spanish colonization of the Philippine islands led to the introduction of
European literary traditions. Many of these were influenced heavily by the
Spanish language and the Catholic faith.[1] These traditions include poetry
such as tanaga, ladino, corridos, and awit; religious dramas such as
moriones, santacruzan, panunuluyan and senakulo; and secular dramas like
comedia, duplo, and karagatan.[2] Many Filipino authors rose to prominence
during this time, such as Francisco Balagtas, the author of Florante at Laura
(1838); and Huseng Sisiw, author of Singsing ng Pagibig. Balagtas's title,
which combines history, romance, and religion, became the premier Filipino
story taught in schools nationwide.[10]

On December 1, 1846, the first daily newspaper, La Esperanza, was published

in the country.[1] Other early newspapers were La Estrella (1847), Diario de
Manila (1848) and Boletin Oficial de Filipinas (1852). The first provincial
newspaper was El Eco de Vigan (1884), which was issued in Ilocos. In Cebu
City, El Boleaetín de Cebú (The Bulletin of Cebu) was published in 1890. One
of the most influential Spanish-language Filipino newspaper also include El
Renacimiento (1901), printed in Manila by members of the Guerrero de Noli Me Tángere is a novel
published by José Rizal that
Ermita family until the 1940s.[11]
sparked the Philippine Revolution
together with its sequel El
The Philippine Revolution brought a wave of nationalistic literary works.
filibusterismo.
Many writers were propagandists and revolutionaries; basically Filipino
nationalists who wanted changes for the betterment of the Filipino people, or
total independence from Spanish authority. These include the works of Ilustrados like Pedro Alejandro Paterno,
who wrote the first novel written by a Filipino, Nínay (1885);[12] Graciano López Jaena and later on by Marcelo
H. del Pilar, who edited and published the pro-Filipino newspaper La Solidaridad (1889);[13] and the Philippine
national hero, José Rizal, who wrote two famous novels in Spanish, Noli Me Tángere (1887) and El
Filibusterismo (1891).[14]

American period
The American occupation and eventual colonization of the Philippines paved the way for newer styles and
genres. Compared to the more rigid literature of the Spanish era, the American period saw the popularity of the
"free verse" in the Philippines, allowing for flexible poetry, prose, and other wordcraft.[2] The introduction of the
English language was also of equal importance, as it became one of the most common languages that Filipino
writers would use back then until today.

The first English novel written by a Filipino was The Child of Sorrow (1921) written by Zoilo Galang.[15] The
early writings in English were characterized by melodrama, unreal language, and unsubtle emphasis on local
color. Short stories also gained popularity during this period with many serials and stories published
independently or through newspapers. The most well-known was Manuel Arguilla and his anthology How My
Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife and Other Short Stories (1940), which won first prize in the
Commonwealth Literary Contest.

During this time, there was also a resurgence of interest in Filipino mythology and folklore, and many works
concerning them would be published, with the most well-known being the many anonymous stories about the
folk character Juan Tamad (1919).[16] The level of poetry in the Philippines had also risen, with poet Jose Garcia
Villa making impacts in poetry history for introducing the style of comma poetry and the "reversed consonance
rhyme scheme".[4]

Late 20th century

As the Philippines gained its sovereignty from America, patriotism once again became a central theme in
Filipino literature. Besides stories of Filipino mythology and history, there was also a boom in tales depicting the
simple life of the common Filipino.[17] These stories often took place in the countryside, and portrayed every day
Filipino activities like church-going, farming, courting, and cockfighting.

The most well-known example was the short story My Brother’s Peculiar Chicken by Alejandro Roces.[17] Other
prominent writers during the mid-20th century were Carlos Bulosan, Nick Joaquin, Bienvenido Santos, Lualhati
Bautista, and Rolando S. Rinio.[18][19] Carlos Bulosan, in particular, published the novel America Is In The
Heart (1946), which became one of the earliest glimpses and representations of the life of Asian-American
immigrants in the West.[20] F. Sionel Jose is also a similar author who tackled social injustice and elitism in his
Rosales Saga (1973-1984).[21]

It was around this period as well that the golden age of Filipino comics and sequential art emerged. Many
Filipino comic books, strips, and graphic novels soared in popularity, making names of artists like Mars Ravelo,
Francisco V. Coching, Carlo J. Caparas and Gilda Olvidado.[22] Later on, political and protest literature became
wildly present, especially during the Martial Law era. By this time, there became a focus on criticizing and
satirizing the current status of the Philippines rather than just celebrating the nation like those before it. These
works include the powerful Mga Ibong Mandaragit (1969) by Amado V. Hernandez and the Conjugal
Dictatorship (1976) by Primitivo Mijares.[23]

21st century
The rise of mass printing and digital technology led to better accessibility for Filipino authors who wanted to
publish their work. The internet had become a revolutionary tool for Filipino authors to reach readers outside of
the Philippines. Publishing houses like PSICOM flourished, and there was a rise in popularity of self-publishers
and websites like Wattpad.[24] The first title to achieve this was Danny R.’s webnovel Diary ng Pangit (2013).[25]

Around this time, several Filipinos began to dabble into current literary trends, tackling modern issues of
diversity and mental health, while also introducing international readers to Filipino culture. Two of the most
popular Filipino writers of the early 21st century include Rin Chupeco, who made a name for herself publishing
Young Adult fiction, many of which were inspired by Filipino mythology from Maria Makiling to the
Mangkukulam;[26] and Louis Bulaong, who is an important figure in the pop culture genre, and one who
popularized the use of international Filipino terms like “kilig” in his stories.[27]

The 21st century also saw the rise in popularity of many Filipina writers. One of the most famous is Ivy Alvarez, a
Filipino-Australian who gained acclaim for her collection of poets entitled Disturbance (2013), which contained
themes of domestic abuse.[3] Another writer is Yvette Fernandez, a children’s book author from Summit Media
whose books tackled history and morality. Other contemporary Filipina writers include Marites Vitug and Merlie
M. Alunan.

National Artists for Literature

The Order of National Artists of the Philippines is conferred to Filipinos with "exquisite contribution to
Philippine art". The artists are chosen by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (Philippines) and the
Cultural Center of the Philippines. The Order is given by the President of the Philippines.

Awardees of the National Artist of the Philippines Order, for Literature, include:[28][29]

▪ 1973 – Amado V. Hernandez, National Artist for Literature

▪ 1973 – Jose Garcia Villa, National Artist for Literature
▪ 1976 – Nick Joaquin, National Artist for Literature
▪ 1982 – Carlos P. Romulo, National Artist for Literature
▪ 1990 – Francisco Arcellana, National Artist for Literature
▪ 1997 – Rolando S. Tinio, National Artist for Theater and Literature
▪ 1997 – Levi Celerio, National Artist for Music and Literature
▪ 1997 – N.V.M. Gonzales, National Artist for Literature
▪ 1997 – Carlos Quirino, National Artist for Historical Literature
▪ 1999 – Edith L. Tiempo, National Artist for Literature
▪ 2001 – F. Sionil Jose, National Artist for Literature
▪ 2003 – Virgilio S. Almario, National Artist for Literature
▪ 2003 – Alejandro Roces, National Artist for Literature
▪ 2006 – Bienvenido Lumbera, National Artist for Literature
▪ 2009 – Lazaro A. Francisco, National Artist for Literature
▪ 2014 – Cirilo F. Bautista, National Artist for Literature
▪ 2018 - Ramón Larupay Muzones, National Artist for Literature
▪ 2018 - Resil Buagas Mojares, National Artist for Literature
▪ 2022 - Gémino Henson Abad, National Artist for Literature

See also
▪ Filipiniana Philippines portal
▪ List of Filipino writers
Literature portal
▪ Philippine literature in English
▪ Philippine literature in Spanish
▪ Cebuano literature
▪ Ilokano literature
▪ Hiligaynon literature
 ▪ Pangasinan literature
▪ Tagalog literature
▪ Waray literature

References
1. Frank R. Blake American Anthropologist, New Series, Vol. 13, No. 3 (Jul. - Sep. 1911), pp. 449-457 JSTOR
(https://www.jstor.org/stable/659919)
2. The Literary Forms in Philippine Literature (https://iamteacherelena.com/the-literary-forms-in-philippine-literat
ure/?amp=1)
3. Jimenez, Nena. "5 Best Modern Filipino Writers" (https://archive.org/details/5-best-modern-filipino-writers).
Pinas. September 5, 2020
4. Pinoy Lit. "Jose Garcia Villa" (http://pinoylit.webmanila.com/filipinowriters/garvilla.htm). Retrieved
February 25, 2008.
5. "Escapist Dream by Louis Bulaong (A Retrospective)" (https://web.archive.org/web/20201029232925/https://
www.airtract.com/article/escapist-dream-by-louis-bulaong-a-retrospective--2792842978). Archived from the
original (https://www.airtract.com/article/escapist-dream-by-louis-bulaong-a-retrospective--2792842978) on
October 29, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
6. . S2CID 193200063 (https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:193200063). {{cite web}}: Missing or
empty |title= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)
7. History of the Filipino people (https://archive.org/details/historyoffilipin00teod) by Teodoro Agoncillo
8. Manuel, E. Arsenio (1963). "A Survey of Philippine Folk Epics" (https://asianethnology.org/downloads/ae/pdf/
a140.pdf) (PDF). Asian Folklore Studies. 22: 1–76. doi:10.2307/1177562 (https://doi.org/10.2307%2F117756
2). JSTOR 1177562 (https://www.jstor.org/stable/1177562).
9. Hawley, John Charles; Nelson, Emmanuel (2001). Encyclopedia of Postcolonial Studies (https://archive.org/d
etails/encyclopediapost00hawl). Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 177 (https://archive.org/det
ails/encyclopediapost00hawl/page/n187). ISBN 0313311927.
10. "K to 12 Gabay Pangkurikulum; FILIPINO; (Baitang 1 - 10)" (https://web.archive.org/web/20190214120244/ht
tps://www.deped.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Filipino-CG.pdf) (PDF). Department of Education (in
Filipino). May 2016. p. 159. Archived from the original (https://www.deped.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2019/0
1/Filipino-CG.pdf) (PDF) on February 14, 2019. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
11. Gregorio, Ferdinan S. (September 4, 2012). "In Defense of Freedom: Philippine Press Through the Ages" (ht
tp://nhcp.gov.ph/in-defense-of-freedom-philippine-press-through-the-ages/). National Historical Commission
of the Philippines. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
12. Matibag, Eugenio. "THE SPIRIT OF NÍNAY: Pedro Paterno and the First Philippine Novel" (http://journals.up
d.edu.ph/index.php/humanitiesdiliman/article/viewArticle/1986). Retrieved June 1, 2011.(Abstract (http://journ
als.upd.edu.ph/index.php/humanitiesdiliman/article/view/1986/1873))
13. "José Rizal and the Propaganda Movement" (http://countrystudies.us/philippines/10.htm). Retrieved
November 4, 2011.
14. "The life and works of Jose Rizal" (http://www.joserizal.com/). www.joserizal.com. Retrieved September 3,
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15. Elmer A. Ordoñez's Book Review, The Sunday Times/The Manila Times, March 14, 2004 (http://www.manilat
imes.com)
16. Anonymous (May 24, 2017). Búhay na Pinagdaanan ni Juan Tamad na Anac ni Fabio at ni Sofia: Sa
Caharian nang Portugal na Hinango sa Novela (https://books.google.com/books?id=IvXdswEACAAJ&q=juan
+tamad) (in Tagalog). CHIZINE PUBN. ISBN 978-1-374-87756-6.
17. Panitikan.com (http://www.panitikan.com.ph/nationalartistsforliterature/aroces.htm) Archived (https://web.arc
hive.org/web/20070809000736/http://www.panitikan.com.ph/nationalartistsforliterature/aroces.htm) August 9,
2007, at the Wayback Machine
18. Escabel, Gabrielle. "Representative Texts and Authors From Each Region in The Philippines" (https://www.s
cribd.com/presentation/529942432/21st). Scribd. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
19. Adame, Lyn (2021). "A Survey of Authors" (https://www.studocu.com/ph/document/university-of-southern-mi
ndanao/teaching-and-assessment-of-literature-studies/a-survey-of-authors-lecture-notes-in-eng-ed-312/3148
8947). University of Southern Mindanao.
20. "America Is in the Heart: A Personal History" by Carlos Bulosan (Introduction by Carey McWilliams) (http://w
ww.washington.edu/uwpress/search/books/BULAME.html) Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/201008230
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21. Jose, F. Sionil (July 30, 2003). "Sense of the City: Manila" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/3109
471.stm). BBC News. Retrieved June 14, 2007.
22. Macaraig, Mynardo. ‘KOMIKS’ INDUSTRY FIGHTS FOR SURVIVAL (http://planetphilippines.com/entertainm
ent/komiks-industry-fights-for-survival/), Planet Philippines (October 17, 2010).
23. Pineda, DLS (February 22, 2014). "So you think you love Marcos?" (http://www.philstar.com/supreme/2014/0
2/22/1292975/so-you-think-you-love-marcos). The Philippine Star. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
24. List of Well-Known Filipino Wattpad Authors (https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/78797.Filipino_Wattpad_
Stories_PUBLISHED)
25. "Panget's beautiful story" (http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/129469/pangets-beautiful-story). October 6, 2013.
Retrieved December 11, 2013.
26. northernplunder (October 5, 2018). "Spooky Q+A: Rin Chupeco" (https://northernplunder.wordpress.com/201
8/10/05/spooky-qa-rin-chupeco/). Northern Plunder. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
27. Hannigan, Carl (July 1, 2021). "Otaku Girl (Book Review): Where Memes and Literature Mix" (https://vocal.m
edia/geeks/otaku-girl-book-review-where-memes-and-literature-mix). Voice Media Group.
28. "List of National Artists of the Philippines" (https://web.archive.org/web/20230403221751/https://www.official
gazette.gov.ph/lists/national-artists-of-the-philippines/). Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines.
Archived from the original (https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/lists/national-artists-of-the-philippines/) on April
3, 2023. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
29. "Order of National Artists" (https://web.archive.org/web/20230509220004/https://ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-a
nd-arts/culture-profile/national-artists-of-the-philippines/). National Commission for Culture and the Arts.
Archived from the original (https://ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/culture-profile/national-artists-of-the-phi
lippines/) on May 9, 2023. Retrieved December 23, 2023.

External links
▪ Tagabawa-language texts at Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org/browse/languages/bgs)
▪ Literature PH (https://literature.ph)

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