Philippine Literature

During

American period
 Historical Background
• The Filipino Revolutionist won against the Spaniards who
colonized for more than 300 years.

• June 12, 1898 raised the Philippine flag as a symbol of our

independence. Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo was selected the first
president of the Philippine Republic but this was short lived
• The Filipino-American war resulted in the defeat of Gen.
Miguel Malvar in 1903.The peace movements started as early
as 1900.

• Many filipinos started writing again and the nationalism of the

people remain undaunted. Filipino writers went into all forms
of literature like news, reporting, poetry, stories, plays, essays,
and novels. Their writing clearly depicted their love of country
and their longings for independence
 In 1910
• A new group started to write in English.
• Hence, Spanish, Tagalog, the Vernacular and
finally, English, were the midiums used in
literature during this times.
• The writers in Tagalog continued in their
lamentations on the conditions of the
country and their attempts to arouse love for
one’s native tongue. The writers in English
imitated the themes and methods of the
Americans.
In 1920
 In 1933

• Footnote to youth
by Jose Garcia Villa.
THE ACTIVE AROUSAL IN THE FIELD OF LITERATURE STARTED TO
BE FELT IN THE FOLLOWING NEWSPAPER
 There were also plays written, included here
were the following:

• KAHAPON, NGAYON, AT BUKAS

(Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow)
written by Aurelio Tolentino
• TANIKALANG GINTO
• of Juan Abad
•
•
•
•
•
• MALAYA
• by Thomas Remigio
• WALANG SUGAT by
Severino Reyes
•
OPENING OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS
• Education became a very important issue
for the untied states colonial government,
since it allowed it to spread their cultural
values, particularly the english language, to
the filipino people. By 1901, public
education was institutionalized in the
Philippines, with english serving the
medium of instruction.
• The use of English as medium of instruction
introduced filipinos to Anglo-American of
thought, culture and life waysthat will be
embedded not only in that Literature produced
but also in the psyche of the country's educated
class. It was this educated class that would be
the wellspring of a vibrant Philippine Literature
in English.
CHARACTERISTICS OF LITERATURE DURING THIS
PERIOD.
A. Literature in Spanish
a.Cecilio Apostol- wrote "A RIZAL" and is considered the best poem in praise
of the hero of bagumbayan.
b. 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 "INVOCATION A
RIZAL"
c. Jesus Balmori - well- known for his pen name of Batikuling. He and Manuel
Bernabe participated in a debate on the topic - "REMEMBRANCE" and
"FORGRTFULNESS". He was elected poet Laureate in Spanish besting Manuel
Bernabe.
d. Manuel Bernabe - is a lyric poet. He was
more attractive to the public in a debate with
Balmori because of the melodious words he
used. He defended OLVIDO.

e. Clark M. Recto - he collected his poems in

the book entitled BAJO LOS COCOTEROS. One
of his writings dedicated to Rizal is "ANTE EL
MARTIR".
B. FILIPINO LITERATURE

a. Lope K. Santos - "Father of the National language Grammar",

he was also called "apo" of the tagalog writers. "BANAAG AT
SIKAT" was his masterpiece.
b. Jose Corazon de Jesus - known as huseng nature, he was also
called the poet of love in his time. "AG ISANG PUNONG KAHOY",
an elegy, is believed to be his masterpiece.
c. Valeriano Hernandez Pens - known as Tandang Anong, he
considers "NENA AT NENENG" his masterpiece.
d. Armando V. Hernandez -was dubbed
"Poet of the Laborers", his masterpiece is
"ANG PANDAY".

e Inigo Ed Regal ado - a popular story

teller, novelist and newspaper man. He
reach the peak of his success by the
"SUMPONG" of his pen.
 JULIAN CRUZ BALMACEDA CLASSIFIED THREE KINDS OF
TAGALOG POETS
1. Poet of the Heart (Makata ng Puso)
- These included Lope K. Santos, Eñigo Ed. Regalado, Carlos Gatmaitan,
Pedro Deogracias de Rosario, Ildefono Santos, A ado V. Hernandez,
Nemecio Carabana, and Mar Antonio.
2.Poets of life (Makata ng Buhay)
- led by Lope K. Santos, Jose Corazon de Jesus, Florentino Collantes,
Patricio Mariano.
3.Poets of the Stage (Makata ng Tanghalan)
- led by Aurelio Tolentino, Patricio Mariano, Severino Reyes, and Tomas
Remidio.
C. PHILIPPINE LITERATURE IN ENGLISH

• In a way, we can say that we can tracethe

beginnings of Philippine literature in English
with the coming of the Americans. For these
purpose, we can devide this period into three
time frames, namely:
 The Period of Re-Orientation 1898-1900

• English as literary vehicle came with the American occupation in

August 13, 1898 and as they say, a choice bestowed on us by
history.
• By 1900,, English came to be used as a medium of instruction in
the public schools. The American forces were recruited the first
teachers of English.
• By 1908, the primary and intermediate grades were using
English. It was also about this time when UP, the forerunner in
the use of English in higher education, was founded.
The Period of Emitation (1910-1924)
• By 1919, the UP College Folio published the literary
compositions of the first Filipino writers in English.
They were the pioneers in short story writing.

• They were then groping their way into imitating

American and British models wihch resulted in a
stilted, artificial ang unnatural style, lacking vitality
and spontaneity.
PERIOD OF SELF-DISCOVER AND GROWTH (1925-1941)

• By this time, Filipino writers have acquired the

mastery of english writing. They now confidently
ang competently wrote on a lot of subjects
although the old-time favorites of love and youth
persisted. They went into all sorts of writing like
the novel or the drama.