PRE-COLONIAL

PERIOD
PRESENTED BY:
LABRADOR, ENGRAN JAMES
E. MASICAP, SARAH JANE L.

MANALO, REX ANGELES V. MEERA, KEEMPEE A.

MANALO, REY ANGELES V.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

• Philippines had their own literature before the Spaniards and other
foreigners landed in our country. The ancient literature reflects on the
customs and traditions of Filipinos before that can be traced trough the
folk stories, old plays, and short stories.
• While pre-Spanish Filipinos did not have formal schools, they were taught
reading and writing in their homes. The children of school age were
taught in their homes by their mother, who, in the Filipino homes even
today, were the first teachers. The fathers trained their sons to be
warriors, hunters and fishermen.
There are more than a hundred languages and dialects that exist in the country today. Of
these, eight are considered major languages, namely:

1. Sugbuhanon (cebuano) • 5. Hiligaynon (ilonggo)

2. Tagalog • 6. Kapangpangan

3. Iloko • 7. Magindanaw

4. Pangasinan • 8. Samarnon (waray-waray)

They are sister-languages and belong to one family of languages called Austronesian or
Malayo-Polynesian.
When the Spaniards set foot on Philippine soil, they found the Filipinos
writing in their native syllabary or alphabet. The philippine alphabet is
called syllabary because every letter is pronounced as a syllable. The tagalog
script was called baybayin, sometimes erroneously called alibata. It
considered of three vowels and fourteen consonants, whith a total of 17
letters. The writing system was horizontal, from left to right.
Filipinos are considered born musicians. They play several musical instruments although
they have not studied music formally. The natives of Cebu played instruments made of
bamboo and wood like a stringed instrument called the kudyapi. Among the Negritos of
Zambales and Bataan, the favorite musical instrument was the bansic (a sort of a flute) and
the gangsa (a kind of guitar).

The Ilocanos have their musical instrument like the kutibeng (a sort of guitar with five
strings). They also have dances. Among the bisayans, the favorite was the balitaw and
dandansoy. The ancient Filipinos from all regions had dances and songs for all occasions.
BANSIK
GANGSA
KUDYAPI
KUTIBENG
• The art of the earliest Filipinos may be
seen in their tools and weapons. These
tools were at first rough, but as time went
on, the Filipinos began to polish them.
Later, beads, amulets, bracelets and other
ornaments were used to improve their
appearance.
• The Spaniards who came to the Philippines tried to prove that our
ancestors were really fond of poetry, songs, stories, riddles and proverbs
which we still enjoy today and which serve to show to generations the
true culture of our people.
LEGENDS

Legends are a form of prose the common theme of which is about the origin of a thing,
place, location or name. The events are imaginary, devoid of truth and unbelievable. Old
Filipino customs are reflected in these legends. Its aim is to entertain.
Examples:
1. Why the Sea is Salty 2. The legend of mount 3. King Arthur and the Round
makiling Tale
FOLKTALE
Folk tales are made up of stories about life, adventure, love, horror and humor where one
can derive lessons about life. These are useful to us because they help us appreciate our
environment, evaluate our personalities and improve our perspectives in life. 
Examples:
1. The Turtle and the 2. Ang Pambihirang Buhok 3. Lakas and the Manilatown
Fish (Anthony D. Robles)
Monkey (Paul Galdone) ni Lola (Rene O. Villanueva)
EPIC AGE

Epics are long narrative poems in which a series of heroic achievements or events, usually
of a hero, are dealt with at length. Nobody can determine which epics are the oldest
because in their translations from other languages, even in English and Spanish. We can
only determine their origins from the time mentioned in the said epics.
EPIC AGE

Aside from the aforementioned epics, there are still other epics that can be read and studied
like the following epics.

Examples:
1. Biag ni Lam –Ang – 2. Indarapatra at Sulayman 3. Maragtas – Visayan
Ilokano Epic – Mindanao Epic Epic
FOLK SONGS

Folk songs are one of the oldest forms of Philippine literature that emerged in the pre-
Spanish period. These songs mirrored the early forms of culture. Many of these have 12
syllables.
Examples:

A. Kundiman
Kundiman is a genre of traditional Filipino love songs. The lyrics of the Kundiman are
written in Tagalog. The melody is characterized by a smooth, flowing and gentle rhythm
with dramatic intervals. Kundiman was the traditional means of serenade in the Philippines.
FOLK SONGS

B. Kumintang o Tagumpay
Kumintang or Tagumpay is a type of folk song that tackles war or fighting.
C. Ang Dalit o Imno

Dalit is a native Filipino folk song with single rhyming. It is usually religious, written
specifically for the purpose of worship and prayer, and is usually addressed to a god or a
prominent figure. It consists of 48 stanzas with 4 verses and has 8 syllables.
D. Ang Oyayi o Hele

Oyayi or Hele is a song that helps babies to sleep. A Filipino term for lullaby.
FOLK SONGS

E. Diona
Diona is a native form of poetry and song consisting of 7 syllables in each verse, 3 verses in
each stanza with single rhyme. It usually sung during weddings.
F. Solinaring

Soliranin is a type of folk song that often sung or sung while boating or a song for workers.

G. Talindaw

Talindaw is a sea faring song. It is basically a Filipino Boating song that it's natives sing
while on the sea.
OTHER FORMS OF PRE-SPANISH
POETRY
1. Proverbs (Salawikain)
These have been customarily used and served as laws or rules on good behavior by our
ancestors. To others, these are like allegories or parables that impart lessons for the young.
Example:
“Kung may tiyaga, may nilaga”
“Ang buhay ay parang gulong minsan nasa ibabaw ka at minsan naman ay nasa ilalim”
OTHER FORMS OF PRE-SPANISH
POETRY
2. Idioms (Sawikain)
A phrase or a fixed expression that has a figurative, or sometimes literal, meaning. An
idiom's figurative meaning is different from the literal meaning.
Example:
“Butas ang bulsa”
“Ilaw ng tahanan”
OTHER FORMS OF PRE-SPANISH
POETRY
3. Sayings (Kasabihan)
It is a statement that dispenses guidance or speaks the truth in simple and easy to understand
phrases. Additionally, any shortly written or spoken remark that is memorable due to its
meaning or style is referred to as a saying.
Example:
“Walang umaani ng tuwa, na hindi sa hirap nagmula.”
“Kung walang katahimikan, walang pagsulong ang bayan.”
OTHER FORMS OF PRE-SPANISH
POETRY
4. Riddles (Bugtong)
These are made up of one or more measured lines with rhyme and may consist of four to 12
syllables.
Example:
“Balong malalim, puno ng patalim” – Mouth
“Dalawang batong itim, malayo ang nararating”
OTHER FORMS OF PRE-SPANISH
POETRY
5. Chant (Bulong)
It is the rhythmic speaking or singing of words or sounds, often primarily on one or two
main pitches called reciting tones.
Example:

Ikaw ang magnanakaw ng Bigas ko,

Lumuwa sana ang mga mata mo,

Mamaga sana ang katawan mo,

Patayin ka ng mga Anito.

OTHER FORMS OF PRE-SPANISH
POETRY
6. Maxims
Some are rhyming couplets with verses of 5, 6 or 8 syllables, each line having the same
number of syllables.
Example:
Pag Hindi ukol,
Hindi bubukol.
ACTIVITY

Fill in the Blanks.

1.The first alphabet used by our ancestors was similar to that of the _______________________.
2. ___________ are a form of prose the common theme of which is about the origin of a thing, place, location or
name
3. ___________ are made up of stories about life, adventure, love, horror and humor where one can derive lessons
about life.
4. ___________ are long narrative poems in which a series of heroic achievements or events, usually of a hero, are
dealt with at length.
5. ___________ are one of the oldest forms of Philippine literature that emerged in the pre-Spanish period. These
songs mirrored the early forms of culture.
ACTIVITY

Identify the following:

1. These have been customarily used and served as laws or rules on good behavior by our ancestors. To others,
these are like allegories or parables that impart lessons for the young.

2. These are made up of one or more measured lines with rhyme and may consist of four to 12 syllables.

3. Used in witchcraft or enchantment.

4. Some are rhyming couplets with verses of 5, 6 or 8 syllables, each line having the same number of syllables.

5. Often used in teasing or to comment on a person’s actuations.

ACTIVITY

Enumerate the following:

1. – 4. Literary forms of pre-colonial period.

5. – 10. Other forms of pre-Spanish poetry.