Japanese Era Group 2

literature
 JAPANESE ERA LITERATURE

 The Japanese has invaded the Philippines in the 8th of December, 1942. the Japanese forces landed on
Lingayen Gulf. Clark Air base and Nichols Field were some of the first landmarks that the Japanese attacked.
The Japanese occupied manila on the 2nd January 1942.

 Philippine literature delivered in English were halted by the reigning colonizers, Newspapers, with the
exception of Tribune and the Philippine Reviews, Pillars, Free Philippines and Filipina, almost all newspapers
in English have been ordered by the Japanese to stop its operation.

 Freedom of speech was unknown during this regime. This censorship has brought only a few literacy works
printed. Thus, Philippine Literature has halted.

 However, with their influence, they have instilled and reinforce the importance of loving one’s motherland. It
was believed that this colonization gave rise to the golden years of short stories. The use of the English
Language was prohibited during this era so the use of Tagalog in communication and writing was made
mandatory, due to the orders of the Japanese.
 Gonzales (1982) has described short stories written in this era as “commonly with a nationalistic voice but at
the same time, careful not to let the colonizer know “. In addition, writers have emphasized the life during the
regime, the sadness and the suffering. Nicasio (1972) described some of the words depicting the urban life
during that time: the scarcity in basic necessities and even common dicencies. Some works even tell the lives
of people in the provinces, the guerrilla, the Hulk and others.

SHORT STORIES
 Liwayway, which was under the Japanese management (Manila Simbun-Sya), is the magazine that recognized
the brilliant minds behind literacy works of the era. Writers like Antonio B.L. Rosales and Clodualdo del
Mundo have used this as an instrument to convey their desires to other writers.

 Together with Jose Esperanza Cruz, Agustin Fabian, Arsenia Afan, Francisco Icasiano, Buenaventura, Medina
and Teodorico Santos, Rosales and Del Mundo aided in Bringing “Ang 25 Pinakamabuting Maikling Kathang
Pilipino ng 1943” to life. (Abadilla,1967) some of the stories included in the collection are the following:
• Lupang Tinubuan – Narciso G. Reyes (First Prize)
• Uhaw Ang Tigang na Lupa – Liwayway A. Arceo (Secoond Prize)
• Lungsod Ngayon at Dagat-dagatan – N.V.M. Gonzales (Third Prize)
• Suyuan Sa Tubigan – Marcario Pineda
• May Umaga pang Daratal – Serafin C. Gunigundo
• Sumisikat pa and Araw – Gemiliano Pineda
• Paghihintay – Emilio Aguilar Cruz
• Dugo at Utak – Cornelio S. Reyes
• Mga Yabag na Papalayo – Lucila A. Castro
• Tabak at Sampaguita – Pilar R. Pablo
• Madilim pa ang Umaga – Teodoro A. Aguncillo
• Ikaw, Siya at Ako – Brigado C. Batungbakal
• May Uling sa Bukana – Teotimo C. Buhain
• Bansot – Aurora I. Cruz
• Unang Pamumulaklak - Hernando R. Ocampo
• Ibon Mang May Layang Lumipad – Amando S. Pagsanja n
• Sinag sa dakung Silangan - Macario Pineda
• Mga Diyos – Justiniano del Rosario
• Luad – Gloria Villaraza
POETRY
 The most common forms of poetry during the Japanese era are the following:
 Haiku, as describe by the dictionary, is “an unrhymed verse form of Japanese origin having three lines
containing five, seven, and five syllables respectively.”

TUTUBI (Dragonfly) by Gonzalo K. Flores

Hila mo’y Tabak
Ang bulaklak nanginig
Sa paglapit mo.

(You’re pulling a saber

The flowers shivered
When you Approached.)
 Tanaga, like haiku, is short but has measure and rhyme. This consist of the four lines with seven syllables
each, with each line ending with a rhyme.
PALAY by Ildefonso Santos (Liwayway, Oktubre 10, 1943)

Palay siyang matino

Nang humangi’y yumuko,
Ngunit muling tumayo.
Nagkabunga ng ginto.

(He’s a behaved palay

Who bowed when the wind blew
But stood up again
And bore gold.)

 Usual Form, as the name suggests, is the usual and common form of poetry that follows the common
structure.
NOVEL
 unlike in the previous eras, most novels weren’t published because of the scarcity in paper. Stevan Juvellana
From Iloilo wrote his first and only novel in English called “The Lost Ones” which depicted the era after the
Japanese invaded the Philippines. It became one of the best selling novels praised by numerous publication
such as the New York Times. Some other notable works from Filipinos during this era are the following:
 Tatlong Maria by Jose Esperanza Cruz
 Pamela by Adriano P. Adriatico
 Magandang Silang by Gervacio Santiago
 Lumubog Ang Bituin by Isidro Zanaga Castillo

PLAYS
 When the Japanese burned the copied of movies made during the American regime, playwrights made their
reappearance. Their works are shown on big theaters such as Avenue, Life and Manila Grand Opera House.
 One such work is Panday Pira, a play written by Jose Ma. Hernandez, which tells the story of an Indio
blacksmith from Pampanga who was recognized to be the first Filipino who made a cannon.

 Francisco Soc Rodrigo wrote the famous one act play called Sa Pula Sa Puti which was first performed on
stage on September 1939 at the Manila Metropolitan Theater by the University of the Philippines Dramatic
Clubs. This was originally written in English but was eventually revised by the author before translating it
to Tagalog. The story is a comedy portraying people’s weaknesses, in this case, the lead character’s
addiction to gambling or specifically, in cockfights.

 Other notable plays are the following

 Bulaga by Clodualdo del Mundo
 Sino ba Kayo?, Dahil sa anak and Higante ng Patay by Julian Cruz Balmeceda
Members:
Roslyn Ramboyong
John David Cubid
Arabella Daenier Pascual
Jonel Orpilla Jr.
Jerome Obias
Ashley Campillos
Cezar corporal
John Michael junio