The Pre-Colonial

ERA in
Philippine
Literature

Mary Ann P. Aletin

Instructor
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Background
Before the coming of the
Spaniards, Philippines had
its own literature. Most of
these literatures were
contributions of the
earliest settlers who came
from the neighboring
countries like Indonesia,
Malaysia, China, India
and Arabia.
The settlers spread out to the
different islands of the
Archipelago. It was
manifested in the existence of
literary works like epics,
origins, myths, fables,
folktales, folksongs, proverbs,
sayings, riddles, and stories in
almost all regions in the
country. These literatures were
orally transmitted from one
generation to another.
3
Baybayin or Alibata
(known in Unicode
as the Tagalog script) Baybayin comes from the
is a pre-Hispanic root word Baybay meaning
Philippine writing to spell. Baybayin literally
system that means “To spell”.
Baybayin and Alibata are
originated from the the same thing except that
Javanese script Old Alibata is the wrong term.
Kawi. Each It’s also been called Sulat
character, written in Tagalog but Alibata has
its basic form, is a stuck.
consonant ending
with the vowel “A”

4
LITERARY FORMS
LEGENDS

 Explain the origin

of things
 Usually very old
stories with little or
no evidence to
prove them
 Are often passed on
by word of mouth
and they are similar
to myths
MYTHS

 Philippine mythology is the body od

stories and epics originating from, and
part of, the indigenous Philippine folk
religions, which include various ethnic
faiths distinct from one another.
 An important genre of folk literature.
Together with legends & folktales, they
constitute the large group of folk
narratives in prose. A myth is “a sacred
narrative explaining how the world &
man came to be in their present form”
(Dundes, 1984:1)
 Gods & goddesses

EPICS
 A long, narrative poem
divided into distinct parts and
episodes bound together by a
common relationship to some
great hero, action and time.
a. Folk or popular epic – it
does not have a known
author but it evolved
gradually from the
people’s ancient tradition
b. Literary epic – it has a
distinct authorship
 Hudhud
 Alim
 Ibalon
 Bidasari (Moro)
 Biag ni Lam-Ang (Iloko)
 Maragtas (Bisaya)
 Haraya (Bisaya)
 Lagda (Bisaya)
 Hari sa Bukid (Bisaya)
 Kumintang (Tagalog)
 Parang Sabir (Moro)
 Dagoy at Sudsud (Tagbanua)
 Tatuang (Bagobo)
 Indarapatra & Sulayman (Moro)
 Bantugan (Moro)
Biag ni Lam-ang
Poem by Pedro Bucaneg
Biag ni Lam-ang is an epic story of the
Ilocano people from the Ilocos region of
the Philippines. It is notable for being the
first Philippine folk epic to be recorded in
written form, and was one of only two
folk epics documented during the
Philippines' Spanish Colonial period,
along with the Bicolano epic of
Handiong. It is also noted for being a folk
epic from a "Christianized" lowland
people group, with elements incorporated
into the storytelling
Indarapatra and Sulayman
A long, long time ago, Minadanao
was covered with water, and the sea
cover all the lowlands so that
nothing could be seen but the
mountains jutting from it. There
were many people living in the
country and all the highlands were
dotted with villages and
settlements. For many years the
people prospered, living in peace
and contentment.
 PROVERBS
It is a short saying that expresses a well-
known truth or fact.
1. A broom is sturdy because its strands are
tightly bound.
Filipino translation: Matibay ang walis,
palibhasa'y magkabigkis.
Lesson: People gain strength by standing
together.
2. While the blanket is short, learn how to
bend.
Filipino translation: Hangga't makitid ang
kumot, matutong mamaluktot.
Lesson: Learn how to adapt to your
environment and be satisfied with what you
have. If you have less in life, learn to be
frugal until you come to the point when you
can spare some money for a little bit of
luxury.
3. If you persevere, you will reap
the fruits of your labor.
Filipino translation: Pag may
tiyaga, may nilaga.
Lesson: They don't call them the
fruits of labor for nothing. Hard
work and perseverance are needed
to reach your goals. But if you
keep trying, one day you will
enjoy the results of your efforts.
4. If someone throws stones at
you, throw back bread.
Filipino translation: Kung pukulin
ka ng bato, tinapay ang iganti mo.
Lesson: Instead of looking for
revenge, show love and
forgiveness.
 RIDDLES

 has imagery which gives a

clear description of objects.
They enrich the imagination
and sharpen the senses.
 In a riddle, an image usually
becomes a metaphor.
Metaphor is a phrase or
sentence that shows
similarities between 2 things.
 Are generally poetic in form
and has one to four lines
divided into syllables.

https://sites.google.com/site/filipinoriddles/all-about-fi
lipino-riddles
 TANAGA Palay siyang matino
Nang humangi’y yumuko,
Casually boys contemplate,
Ngunit muling tumayo,
Carefully they cogitate,
Nagkabunga ng ginto.
what will they appreciate
when they're searching for a
English translation:
 A quatrain with seven syllables mate?
each with the same rhyme at the He’s a behave palay
end of each line (7-7-7-7) Will she need to cook and sew?
Who bowed when the wind blews
I suspect the answer's no.
 is an indigenous type of But stood up again
Filipino poem, that is used Will she need to use a wrench,
And bore gold.
traditionally in the Tagalog or speak Mandarin or French?
language - Ildefonso Santos
Need she work with quilting
 a mono-riming heptasyllabic
thread,
quatrain expressing insights and
lessons on life is "more or perform with brush or pen?
Ano man sa daigdig,
emotionally charged than the I think I'll say no again-
Maaaring magamit;
terse proverb and thus has if she pleases him in bed.
Ano mang masaisip, https://popularpoetryforms.blogspot.com/2014/03/t
affinities with the folk lyric.“
https://aboutphilippines.org/files/The-Literary-F Di sukat maiipit. anaga.html
orms-in-Philippine-Literature.pdf

- J.V. Panganiban
 FOLK SONGS
 are closely connected to the tribes of
early Filipinos. They are expressions
of culture, aspirations, and way of
life. Each tribe has its own songs
which are considered part of the
ancient rituals. Folk songs contribute
to the awareness of our cultural
identity and values. Ancient
Filipinos used metal bells ang gongs
to maintain the tempo and verses. In
most cases, the songs were
accompanied by dances.
 folk songs are a result of the culture
of the Philippines which is highly
influenced by history and the
blending of foreign persuasions and
its indigenous civilization. An
understanding of the history of
Philippine literature and folklore will
allow us to fully comprehend the
 Oyayi o ayayi – lullabies
 Diyona –nuptial/courtship songs
 Kundiman – love songs
 Kumintang – war/battle songs
 Soliranin – rowing songs
 Tikam – pandigmang awit na
pang-akit sa pakikihamok at
mayroon namang pagbati sa
bayaning nagtatagumpay
 Talindaw – boat songs
 Kutang-kutang – street songs
 Maluway – work songs
 Pananapatan – serenades
 Sambotani – victory songs
 Dalit – hymns
 Dung-aw – songs of death of the
Ilokanos
https://www.affordablecebu.com/load/literature/awiting_
bayan/22-1-0-956
References:
Lorenzo, Carmelita S. Ugat ng Panitikang Pilipino. Mandaluyong City: National Book Store, 2007.

Santiago, Erlinda M. et.al. Panitikan ng Pilipinas. Quezon City: Phil. Text

Book Publisher, 1954.

Viar, Orlandp M. Treasures of Philippine Regional Literatures. Manila: Rex Book Store, 2006.

https://www.pinoyedition.com/mga-alamat