Philippine Literature: A Timeline

What is Literature
Literature is a word used to describe written and spoken materials (at times). Originally from the
Latin word litera meaning “letters”, literature most commonly mean works of the creative
imagination. This includes poetry, drama, fiction, non-fiction, and in some occasions, journalism.

To put it simply, literature symbolizes the culture and tradition of a language or a group of people.
Many have tried to define the concept on precise terms but the accepted definition of literature
has been constantly changing, just like life continuously changes.

For many, the word literature suggests a higher art form; merely putting words on a page doesn’t
necessarily equate to creating literature. A canon is the accepted body of works for a given author.
Some works of literature are considered canonical, that is, culturally representative of a genre
(poetry, prose, or drama)
Why to we need to study Literature?
Five Reasons to Study Literature
1.Literature improves communication skills.

2. Literature teaches you about yourself

3.Literature teaches about the past.

4.Literature cultivates wisdom and a worldview.

5.Literature entertains

Five Reasons to Study Literature

https://www.aop.com/blog/five-reasons-to-study-literature
I. Pre-Colonial Period (B.C. – 1564)

. Characteristics

1. Based on oral tradition

2. Crude on ideology and phraseology

3. Consisted of both written and oral literature

4. Language of oral literature was the language of daily life.

5. Earliest alphabet (Alibata), of Asokan origin, consisted of 17 letters (3 vowels + 14

consonants).
I. Pre-Colonial Period (B.C. – 1564)

B. Literature
1. Oral Literature
a. Bugtong (Riddles) – a puzzling question to be solved or guessed.
b. Salawikain (proverbs) – witty sayings using metaphors aimed at teaching
virtues.
c. Tanaga – a mono-riming heptasyllabic quatrain expressing insights and
lessons.(consisting of or having seven syllables and four lines of verse
I. Pre-Colonial Period (B.C. – 1564)
2. Folk Songs
a. Hele/ Uyayi – a lullaby
b. Kumintang – a war song
c. Harana – serenade
d. Diona/Ihiman – wedding song
e. Talindaw – boating song
f. Balitaw – love song
I. Pre-Colonial Period (B.C. – 1564)
3. Folk Tales

a. Myths – explain how the world was created and other phenomena

b. Legends – explain the origin of things

c. Epics – narratives revolving around supernatural events or heroic deeds

C. Notable Works

1. Biag ni Lam-ang – an epic centered on the life and adventures of Ilocos folk hero named
Lam-ang

2. Hinilawod – an epic from Panay which recounts the exploits of three Sulodnon demigod
brothers (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Hfq_AiAFDE)
Independent Activity/Assignment Deadline : October 16,2020
Watch and be inspired by the video attached below and follow the following instruction

1. Make an illustration/drawing /collage of the moral lesson that you depict from it.

2. Write your explanation and elaborate your answer by citing from your own experience or
others. At the bottom part of your work.

3. Maximum 5 sentence only

4. Post the picture of the drawing/ collage on our official page/ closed page.

1.The Grasshopper and the Ants | Aesop's Fables Series |

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1i6mbw6_2IU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Hfq_AiAFDE
II. Colonial Period (1565-1863)
A. Characteristics
1. It has two distinct classifications: religious and
secular.
2. Spanish became the medium of communication.
3. The alibata was replaced by the Roman script.
4. The Filipinos were introduced to an education
system.
II. Colonial Period (1565-1863)
B. Literature

1. Early colonial literature was limited to religious topics.

2. Filipinos were introduced to religious materials such as prayer books, novenas,

doctrines, crucifixion, and the lives of saints.

3. The once highly imaginative folk narratives were replaced by sober and religious
writings.

4. Poetry developed in form and structure but the religious undertones were evident
II. Colonial Period (1565-1863)
5. The epics were overshadowed by the emergence of awit (heroic poem) and the corrido
(legendary religious poem).

6. Early forms of Philippine drama during the Spanish colonial period were the duplo and
the Karagatan.

7. More popular dramas were later introduced such as the cenaculo (reenactment of life
and sufferings of Christ), the moro-moro (a play about the conflict between Christians and
Muslims), and the zarzuela (music comedy).
II. Colonial Period (1565-1863)
C. Notable Works
1. Gaspar Aquino de Belen’s “Ang Mahal na Passion ni Jesucristong Panginoon
Namin”, an outstanding Christian narrative poem intended by the religious
authorities to replace the heathen epics.

2. Bernardo Carpio – a myth about the legendary strongman of Montalban.

3. Ibong Adarna – a corrido about the mythical bird with healing powers and the
three brothers in the quest for the magical bird.

4. Florante and Laura – an awit on the struggle and love of the Duke Florante
and Princess Laura of Albania.
III. Revolutionary Period (1864-1910)
. A. Characteristics

1. Planted seen of nationalism.

2. Language shifted from Spanish to Tagalog.

3. Addressed the masses instead of the elitesa

III. Revolutionary Period (1864-1910)
B. Literature
1. Propaganda Literature – reformatory in objective
a. Political essays – Satires, editorials and news articles were written
to expose the evils of Spanish rule.
b. Political novels – Rizal’s novels were meant to awaken the minds
of the Filipinos.

2. Revolutionary Literature – more propagandistic than literary in nature

a. Political essays helped inflame the spirit of revolution.
b. Poetry – poems of the period focus on love for the country.
III. Revolutionary Period (1864-1910)
C. Notable Works
1. Diariong Tagalog founded by Marcelo H. del Pilar

2. La Solidaridad – the famous publication by the propagandists

3. Noli me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, two novels written by jose

Rizal that paved the way to the revolution.

4. El Verdadero Decalogo (The True Decalogue) Apolinario Mabini’s

literary masterpiece which aims to propagate nationalism
IV. Post-Colonial Period – American Regime (1910-1912)
A. Characteristics
● 1. English was introduced in the second decade of the 20th Century.
● 2. Literary works were written in three languages – Tagalog, Spanish
and English.
● 3. More Filipino writers emerged and free verses, plays and critical
essays.
● 4. Philippine literature became commercialized in the 1920’s when
weekly magazine Liwayway and Bisaya published stories.
● 5. Most literary works centered on nationalism, love for country, sense
of belongingness, loss of identity, and heroism.
IV. Post-Colonial Period – American Regime (1910-1912)

B. Period of Apprenticeship (1910-1912)

● 1. Filipino writers imitated English and American models.
● 2. Poems written during the period were amateurism and mushy.

C. Period of Emergence (1920-1942)

● 1. Highly influenced by Western literary trends like Romanticism and
Realism.
● 2. Literary works were carefully and intelligently crafted.
IV. Post-Colonial Period – American Regime (1910-1912)

D. Notable Works
● 1. Child of Sorrow by Zoilo Galang, the first Philippine novel in
English.
● 2. Dead Stars by Paz Marquez Benitez, the first short story in English
written in the country
● 3. Footnote to Youth by Jose Garcia Villa, one of the early short
stories during the period which tackles a delicate subject matter on
teenage marriage.
● 4. Ninay, the very first Filipino novel written in Tagalog
V. Japanese Occupation (1942-1945)

A. Characteristics

1. Tagalog writers started to write in simple language and free verse.

2. Fiction prevailed over poetry.
3. The Japanese censured all publications, except Tribune and
Philippine Review.
4. The Japanese language Nipponggo was introduced but not well-
embraced by Filipinos
V. Japanese Occupation (1942-1945)
B. Literature
1. Writers were exposed to new literary forms such as Haiku and Tanka.
a. Haiku – a free verse of Japanese origin, with 17 syllables divided into three lines (5-7-5).
b. Tanka – similar to Haiku but with 31 syllables divided into five lines (5-7-5-7-7)

2. Many Filipino writers wrote plays, poems, short stories, etc. in Tagalog and other
vernacular language.

3. Topics and themes were often life in the provinces to escape Japanes control and
censorship.
C. Notable Works
1. Suyuan sa Tubigan by Macario Pineda
2. Lupang Tinubuan by Narciso Reyes
3. Uhaw ang Tigang na Lupa by Liwayway Arceo
VI. Liberation Period (1945-1960)
A. Characteristics
● 1. Filipino writers mastered English and
familiarized themselves with diverse literary
techniques.
● 2. Bountiful harvest in poetry, fiction, drama and
essay.
● 3. Journalistic and literary criticism emerged.
VI. Liberation Period (1945-1960)
B. Literature
● 1. Literary “giants” appeared like Nick Joaquin, NVM Gonzales, Bienvenido Santos, and
Gilda Cordero Fernando among others.
● 2. Literary guilds and awards were established to honor outstanding works.
● 3. Common themes focused on search for identity, homesickness, rural life and
conditions in rural community.

C. Notable Works
● 1. Wedding Dance by Amador Daguio which dwells on love and marriage among local
ethnic people.
● 2. Children of the City by Amadis Ma. Guerrero which centers on an abandoned child in
the streets of Manila.
● 3. The Day the Dancers Came by Bienvenido Santos which talks about homesickness
of an expatriate
VI. Liberation Period (1945-1960)
B. Literature
● 1. Literary “giants” appeared like Nick Joaquin, NVM Gonzales, Bienvenido Santos, and
Gilda Cordero Fernando among others.
● 2. Literary guilds and awards were established to honor outstanding works.
● 3. Common themes focused on search for identity, homesickness, rural life and
conditions in rural community.

C. Notable Works
● 1. Wedding Dance by Amador Daguio which dwells on love and marriage among local
ethnic people.
● 2. Children of the City by Amadis Ma. Guerrero which centers on an abandoned child in
the streets of Manila.
● 3. The Day the Dancers Came by Bienvenido Santos which talks about homesickness
of an expatriate
VI. Liberation Period (1945-1960)
A. Characteristics
1. The declaration of Martial Law repressed Filipino writers to write
delicate subject matters, particularly about prevailing crisis during the
period.
2. Writers used symbolisms and allegories to drive home their message.
3. Theater was used as a vehicle for protest such as the PETA and UP
Theater.
4. Campus newspapers showed rebellious emotions.
5. Bilingual education was initiated in public and private schools.
6. From 80’s onward, writers continued dynamism and innovation.
VI. Liberation Period (1945-1960)
B. Literature
1. The irreverence for the poor reached its peak during this period.
2. The Carlos Palanca Awards continued to give annual awards to literary masterpieces.
3. Almost all themes in most writings dealt with the development of progress of the country.
4. Themes of most poems dealt with patience, regard for native culture, customs, and the
beauties of nature and surroundings.
5. The government led in reviving old plays and dramas.

C. Notable Works
1. Dekada 70 by Lualhati Bautista which focuses on the life of Filipinos during the Martial
Law regime
2. The Rosales Saga by F. Sionil Jose
3. The Flowers of May by Francisco Arcellana
VII. The 21st Century (1960-1999)
A. Characteristics
1. Themes have changed from sentimentalized romanticism to a more realistic
and naturalistic delineation.
2. Gay and lesbian literature came out.
3. Strong feminist tendencies are evident.
4. More social problems tackled.
5. TV and films have become more popular.

B. Literature
1. Daring and controversial choice of subject matter.
2. Very innovative in structure and style.
3. Influence of different-isms and literary trends from the West. 4. Characters,
plot structure and narrative techniques are more complex
VII. The 21st Century (1960-1999)

C. Notable Works

1. Ladlad by Danton Remoto chronicles the lifestyle of gays and dilemma they
encounter in life.
2. Women Loving: Stories and a Play by Jhoanna Lynn Cruz, an anthrology of
lesbian-themed stories.
3. Twisted Series by Jessica Zafra, a collection of essays about current events,
technology, and life in the society.