Pre-

Colonial
Literatur
Lesson 2

e
• Colonization
- “spirit of age”
•Filipinos possessed a
culture of their own even
before the coming of the
Spaniards.
 The diaries of Fr. Chirino
attest to the historical facts
that the inhabitants were
civilized people, possessing
their systems of writing,
laws and moral standards
in a well system of
government.
 They did not have an
organized system of
education.
 Informal education is
practiced. Education was
oral, practical, and hands-
on.
 - Children developed and
enhanced their physical
function by fishing, hunting
and carpentry.
- Housekeeping, weaving
and handicrafts making were
taught for the females.
 Maragtas
Code
• Maragtas Code was written
by Datu Sumaktel of Panay.
- this focuses on the penalty
for those who are lazy.
 Code of
Kalantiaw
•Baybayin is
the historical
way of writing.
- It is consists
of 17 letters.
• Baybayin were taught to
the children and are written
in perishable materials.
 Hundreds of languages and
dialects are believed to have
spoken by ancient Filipinos.
 The eight dialects were:
Tagalog
Iloko
Pangasinense
Kapampangan
Sugbuhanon
Hiligaynon
Samarnon
Maguindanaw
Early Filipinos had
both written and oral
literature.
 Written
Literature
 Riddles
 Proverbs
(Salawikain)
Epigram
 Poems
 Folksongs
 Epic
 The early Filipino had a
wealth of lyric poetry.
Their songs and music
reflected all aspects of
their lives.
 They had songs and
music to celebrate victory
in war, for food harvest,
for religious ritual, and
even for death and burial.
 There are around 20
known Filipino epics,
these include:
Biag Ni Lam-ang of the
Ilocano, Hudhud and Alim
of the Ifugao, Ibalon from
Bicol, and Bantugan of the
Maranaw.
 Oral
Literature
 Chants
e.g. Ambahan
& Balagtasan
 Pre colonial prose
narratives were myths,
legends, folktales, and
epics.
 Pre-colonial literature was both
existentialist and functional.
-- The legend and the folk
narratives became vehicles in
expanding natural phenomena,
at the same time becoming
forms of social control.
-- Gods and heroes were ready
made symbols or models for
behavioral emulation and
values formation.
Characteristi
cs of
Pre-Colonial
Literature
1. Pre-colonial literature
practices the art of
storytelling called oral
tradition.
2. It follows these common
themes:
a. Nature
b. Supernatural events
c. Bravery of heroes
d. Customs and
ideologies
3. Philippine pre-colonial
literature was considered
their truth.
4. Philippine pre-colonial
literature have plots that
are generally shorter.
5. Language is full of
melody and rhythm.