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An Overview of Philippine Literature
An Overview of Philippine Literature
Literature
ACTIVITY 1
Pre-colonial period
mostly of oral traditions
not because early Filipinos did not have system of writing yet but due
to the unavailability of printing materials
ancestors had literature for recreation
as chants, proverbs, songs, and folk narratives
CHANTS
were sung for people to express themselves and to show how they related to each other. Songs were sung to
educate the young, comfort the bereaved, ask for rain and on joyful occasions.
EXAMPLE
Lullabyes love songs
Ili-ili (Ilongo) panawagon and balitao (Ilongo) bayok (Maranao)
harana or serenade (Cebuano)
work songs
kalusan (Ivatan) the mambayu, a Kalinga rice-pounding song;
soliranin (Tagalog rowing song) or the verbal jousts/games like the duplo popular during wakes.
drinking songs
tagay (Cebuano and Waray);
narrative song
kissa among the Tausug of Mindanao,
the parang sabil, uses for its subject matter the exploits of
historical and legendary heroes
FOLK NARRATIVES
Tells a story about the origin of things but often involve Gods,
Goddesses, and other mythological creatures.
Philippine mythology is very diverse. However, there are certain
similarities, such as the belief in
Heaven (kaluwalhatian, kalangitan, kamurawayan),
Hell (impiyerno, kasamaan)
Human soul (kaluluwa).
MYTHS
EXAMPLES:
Bathala (Tagalog)
Lumawig (Igorot)
How the Moon and the Stars Came to Be (Bukidnon)
Origin (Bagobo)
LEGENDS
These refers to stories that tells about the exploits and adventures of a hero
The most valuable form of ancient/post colonial literature
Examples:
Biag ni Lam-ang (Ilocos)
Ibalon (Bicol)
Hudhud and Alim (Ifugao)
The maiden of the buhong sky (Mindanao)
COLONIAL PERIOD
common themes and subject mostly tackle about oppression, religion, freedom, or anything that
reflects the experiences of Filipino people under the colonizers
SPANISH PERIOD
Started in 1565 during the time of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, first Spanish governor-
general, lasted for 333 years
emphasis on morality and religion
common in literary forms such as Corrido, Pasyon, and Cenaculo
production of printed materials started but it was mostly of religious purposes and
themes
First published book in the country – DOCTRINA CRISTIANA
Filipinos started to write about oppression, corruption, and other social ills such as in
the works of Dr. Jose P. Rizal entitled Noli Me Tangere and its sequel El Filibusterismo
AMERICAN PERIOD
between 1941-1945
freedom of expression was uncommon
Filipino writers in the Philippines were forbidden to write anything
against the government and only those who were in exile had the
privilege to do so
short stories written in the vernaculars flourished in the country
POST COLONIAL PERIOD
o period after the rebirth of freedom in the Philippines up to the present.
o One of the most unforgotten and controversial periods during this era
is having Martial Law during the Marcos regime
ACTIVITY
Match the literary theme on SET A to the exact period when it was written from SET B.
1. sense of nationalism; oppression A. Pre-colonial Period
2. heroic deeds; nature; supernatural B. Early Spanish Period
3. morality; religion C. Revolutionary Period
4. poverty; injustice; activism; social issues D. American Period
5. longing for independence; E. Japanese Period
social justice and consciousness F. Post-colonial Period
Some famous literary works in the Philippines are listed below. Identify to which type or genre each literary
work belongs.