LESSON1.

Mapping the History of Philippine Literature

The word literature is derived from the Latin term litera which means letter. Some loosely interpret literature as
any printed matter written within a book, a magazine or a pamphlet.

Others define literature as a faithful reproduction of man’s manifold experiences blended into one
harmonious expression.

Because literature deals with ideas, thoughts and emotions of man, literature can be said to be the story of
man. Man’s loves, grief’s, thoughts, dreams and aspirations coached in beautiful language is literature.

In order to know the history of a nation’s spirit, one must read its literature.

MAPPING THE FEATURES OF PHILIPPINE LITERATURE

PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD

 Our ancient literature shows our customs and traditions in everyday life as traced in our folk stories,
old plays and short stories.

 Our ancestors also had their alphabet- similar of the Malayo-Polynesian.

 Whatever records our ancestors were either burned by Spanish friars or written on materials that
easily perished

 It is oral in nature and is full of lessons and ideas about life, its blessings, and its consequences.

 The verses were addressed to the ears rather than the eyes

 Verse composed and sung were regarded as group property

A. LEGENDS

* The Legend of the Tagalogs

B. FOLK TALES

* The Moon and the Sun (Tingguian folk Tale)

C. EPIC

* BIAG-Ni-Lam-Ang (Ilocano Epic)-Pedro Bukaneg

* Alim (Ifugao Epic)

D. FOLK SONGS

* Kundiman (Awit ng Pag-ibig/Song of Love)

* Kumintang o Tagumpay (War Song)

* Ang Dalit O Imno (Song to the God of the Visayans)

* Ang Oyayi O Hele (Lullaby)

 * Diana (Wedding Song)

* Soliraning (Song of the Laborer)

E. EPIGRAMS (Salawikain)

* Aanhin pa ang damo, Kung patay na ang kabayo

F. RIDDLES (Bugtong) or Palaisipan:

* Bungbong kung liwanag, Kung gabi ay dagat

Bamboo stem during the night

Answer: Mat

G. CHANT (Bulong)

H. SAYINGS (Kasabihan)

I. SAWIKAIN (Sayings with no hidden meanings)

COLONIAL PERIOD (1965-1898)

SPANISH PERIOD (1565-1898)

 It is an accepted belief that the Spanish colonization of the Philippines started in 1565 during the time
of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi.

 Spanish occupied Philippines in early 15th century. The First Filipino alphabet is Alibata-when Spanish
colonized Philippines they changed alibatas into Roman alphabet.

 Spanish banned the use of Alibata because they believed that it is a work of evil. So Spanish fully
introduced the Spanish literary language using many Spanish terms.

 The early printing press in the Philippines is run and monopolized by the Spaniards friars.

 During the Spanish colonization, Filipinos felt that they were being harassed by the Spaniards. Then the
Birth of the Propaganda movement and La Solidaridad.

 Filipinos embraced the Catholic religion, changed their names and were baptized

SPANISH INFLUENCES ON PHILIPPINE LITERATURE

 The first Filipino alphabet called ALIBATA was replaced.

 The teaching of the Christian Doctrine became the basis of religious practices.

 The Spanish language which became the literary language during this time lent many of its words to
our language.

 Ancient literature was collected and translated to Tagalog and other dialects

 Many grammar books were printed in Filipino, like Tagalog, Ilocano and Visayan.
  Our periodicals during these times gained a religious tone.

THE FIRST BOOKS:

1. ANG DOCTRINA CRISTIANA (THE CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE 1593)-

FR. JUAN DE PLACENCIA AND FR. DOMINGO NIEVA (first printed book in XYLOGRAPHY)

2. NUESTRA SEÑORA DEL ROSARIO- FR. BLANCAS DE SAN JOSE IN 1602

3. LIBRO DE LOS CUATRO POSTPRIMERAS DE HOMBRE- first book printed in typography

4. ANG BARLAAN AT JOSEPHAT-(FIRST Tagalog novel published in the Philippines even if it is only a
translation).

5. THE PASION- a book about the life and sufferings of Jesus Christ. It is read only during lent.

6. URBANA AT FELISA- a book by Modesto de Castro

7. ANG MGA DAKIT KAY MARIA (Psalms for Mary)- Fr. Mariano Sevilla

FOLK SONGS:  SARONG BANGGI (BICOL)

 LERON-LERON SINTA  ATIN CU PUNG SINGSING (KAPAMPANGAN)

 PAMULINAWEN (ILOKO) DRAMA:

 DANDANSOY (BISAYA)  BAKIT BABAE ANG NAGHUHUGAS NG

PINGGAN

RECREATIONAL PLAYS: 5. THE MORO-MORO

1. TIBAG 6. KARAGATAN

2. LAGAYLAY 7. DUPLO

3. THE CENACULO 8. BALAGTASAN THE DUNG-AW

4. THE SALUBONG (OR PANUBONG) 9. THE AWIT AND KORIDO

SPANISH PERIOD (1565-1898)

PERIOD OF ENLIGHTENMENT (1872-1898)

 After 300 years of passivity under Spanish rule, the Filipino spirit reawakened when the 3 priest
Gomez, Burgos and Zamora (GOMBURZA) were guillotined without sufficient evidence of guilt.

 Spaniards were unable to suppress the tide of rebellion among the Filipinos. The once religious spirit
transformed itself into one of nationalism and the Filipinos demanded changes in the government and
in the church.
 THE PROPAGANDA MOVEMENT (1872-1896)

A. JOSE RIZAL (JOSE PROTACIO RIZAL MERCADO ALONZO Y REALONDA

Pen names: Laong Laan and Dimasalang

His works:

* NOLI ME TANGERE-gave spirit to the propaganda movement

* EL FILIBUSTERISMO- sequel to the Noli

* MI ULTIMO ADIOS

* SOBRE LA INDOLENCIA DE LOS FILIPINOS-essay

* A LA JUVENTUD FILIPINA- a poem Rizal dedicated to the Filipino youth studying in UST.

* JUNTO AL PASIG- written by Rizal when he was 14 years old

GRACIANO LOPEZ JAENA

Works:

1. FRAY BOTOD

2. LA HIJA DEL FRAILE and EVERYTHING IS HAMBUG

3. HONOR EN PILIPINAS

4. INSTITUCION NG PILIPINAS

MARCELO H. DEL PILAR

Pen names: (Plaridel, Piping Dilat, Pupdoh and Dolores Manapat)

1. PAG-IBIG SA TINUBUANG LUPA (LOVE OF COUNTRY)

2. KAIINGAT KAYO (Be Careful)

3. DASALAN AT TOCSOHAN (Prayers and Jokes)

4. ANG CADAQUILAAN NG DIOS (God’s Goodness)

5. SAGOT NG ESPANYA SA HIBIK NG PILIPINAS

ANTONIO LUNA (Tagailog)

1. NOCHE BUENA (CHRISTMAS EVE) 3. POR MADRID (For Madrid)

2. LA TERTULIA FILIPINA (A Filipino Conference 4. LA CASA DE HUESPEDES (The Landlady’s

or Feast) House)

MARIANO PONCE- (Tikbalang, Kalipulako, and Naning)

1. PAGPUGOT KAY LONGINOS (The beheading of Longinus)

 2. SOBRE FILIPINOS (About Filipinos)

PEDRO PATERNO

1. NINAY

2. A MI MADRE

3. SAMPAGUITA Y POESIAS VARIAS

PERIOD OF ACTIVE REVOLUTION (1896-1898)

1. ANDRES BONIFACIO (Father of the Filipino Democracy) (Father of Katipunan)

* ANG DAPAT MABATID NG MGA TAGALOG

* KATUNGKULANG GAGAWIN NG MGA ANAK NG BAYAN

* PAG-IBIG SA TINUBUANG LUPA

* HULING PAALAM

EMILIO JACINTO

1. KARTILYA NG KATIPUNAN

2. LIWANAG AT DILIM

3. A MI MADRE

4. A LA PATRIA

APOLINARIO MABINI

1. EL VERDADERO DECALOGO (The True Decalogue or Ten Commandments)

2. EL DESAROLLO Y CAIDA DE LA REPUBLICA PILIPINA (The Rise and Fall of the Philippine Republic)

3. SA BAYANG PILIPINO (To the Filipino Nation)

JOSE PALMA

1. HIMNO NACIONAL FILIPINO (THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL ANTHEM)

NEWSPAPERS DURING THE REVOLUTION:

1. HERALDO DE LA REVOLUCION

2. LA INDEPENDENCIA

3. LA REPUBLICA PILIPINA

4. LA LIBERTAD
 AMERICAN REGIME (1898-1941)

 Philippine literary production during the American Period in the Philippines was spurred by two
significant developments in education and culture. One is the introduction of free public instruction for
all children of school age and two, the use of English as medium of instruction in all levels of education
in public schools.
 Free public education made knowledge and information accessible to a greater number of Filipinos.
Those who availed of this education through college were able to improve their social status and joined
a good number of educated masses who became part of the country’s middle class.
 During the first year of the American period, the languages used in writing were Spanish and Tagalog
and the dialects of the diferent reions, but Spanish and Tagalog predominated.

THREE TYPES OF WRITING DURING THIS PERIOD:

1. LITERATURE IN SPANISH 2. LITERATURE IN FILIPINO 3. LITERATURE IN ENGLISH

LITERATURE IN SPANISH

 The inspiration of our Filipino writers was Rizal

 Writers in Spanish were wont to write on nationalism like honoring Rizal and other heroes.

 Works:

* CECILIO APOSTOL- A RIZAL(To Rizal)

* FERNANDO MA. GUERRERO- INVOCACION A RIZAL (A Call to Rizal)

* JESUS BALMORI- Pen name: Batikuling

* CLARO M. RECTO- Ante El Martir! (Before the Martyr)

FILIPINO LITERATURE

1. POETS OF THE HEART (MAKATA NG PUSO)

2. POETS OF LIFE (MAKATA NG BUHAY)

3. POETS OF THE STAGE (MAKATA NG TANGHALAN)

WRITERS:

1. LOPE K. SANTOS- “FATHER OF NATIONAL LANGUAGE GRAMMAR)

“APO” OF THE TAGALOG WRITERS BANAAG AT SIKAT was his masterpiece

2. JOSE CORAZON DE JESUS- Pen name: Huseng Batute

“POET OF LOVE”

“ANG ISANG PUNONG KAHOY” (A Tree)-his masterpiece “PAG-IBIG”

3. AMADO V. HERNANDEZ- dubbed as Makata ng mga Manggagawa (Poet of the Laborers)

4. VALERIANO HERNANDEZ PEÑA- Nena at Neneng (his masterpiece)

5. IÑIGO ED. REGALADO

TAGALOG DRAMA:

6. SEVERINO REYES- Father of the Tagalog Drama and author of the immortal WALANG SUGAT

7. AURELIO TOLENTINO- Luhang Tagalog (his masterpiece) & Kahapon, Ngayon at Bukas

8. PATRICIO MARIANO- Ninay and Anak ng Dagat (Son of the Sea)

9. JULIAN CRUZ BALMACEDA- BUNGANGA NG PATING

PHILIPPINE LITERATURE IN ENGLISH

PERIOD:

1. THE PERIOD OF RE-ORIENTATION: (1898-1910)

2. THE PERIOD OF IMITATION: (1910-1925)

3. THE PERIOD OF SELF-DISCOVERY: (1925-1941)

PERIOD OF RE-ORIENTATION (1898-1910)

 1900, English came to be used as a medium of instruction in the public schools.

 From the American forces were recruited the first teachers of English.

 1908, the primary and intermediate grades were using English. It was also about this time when UP,
the forerunner in the use of English in higher education, was founded

 Writers of this period were still adjusting to the newfound freedom

 They were adjusting to the idea of democracy, to the new phraseology of the English language and to
the standards of the English literary style.

 Not much was produced during this period and what literature was not produced was not much of
literary worth. The first attempts in English were in two periodicals of this time:

* EL RENACIMIENTO: founded in Manila by Rafael Palma in 1901

* Philippines Free Press: established in Manila in 1905 by R. McCullough Dick and D. Theo Rogers

 1907, Justo Juliano’s SURSUM CORDA which appeared in the Renacimiento was the first work to be
published in English
 THE PERIOD OF IMITATION (1910-1924)

 By 1919, the UP College Folio published the literary compositions of the first Filipino writers in English.
They were the pioneers in short story writing. They were then groping their way into imitating
American and British models which resulted in a stilted, artificial and unnatural style, lacking vitality
and spontaneity.

SHORT STORIES

 DEAD STARS by PAZ MARQUEZ BENITEZ- written in the early 1920’s stand out as a model of perfection
in character delineation, local color, plot and message.

 The UP College Folio was later replaced by the PHILIPPINE COLLEGIAN

PERIOD OF SELF-DISCOVERY AND GROWTH (1925-1941)

 By this time, Filipino writers had acquired the mastery of English writing. They now confidently and
competently wrote on a lot of subjects although the old-time favorites of love and youth persisted.
They went into all forms of writing like the novel and the drama.

 Jose Garcia Villa, the first to break away from the conventional forms and themes of Philippine poetry
placed the Philippines on the literary map with the publication of his books in the US

 The commonwealth Literary Contest awarded first prize to How My Brother Leon Brought Home A
Wife by Manuel Arguilla

JAPANESE PERIOD (1941-1945)

Except for the TRIBUNE and the PHILIPPINE REVIEW, almost all new newspapers in English were stopped
by the Japanese.

 Writers in English turned to writing in Filipino.

 Juan Laya who used to write in English turned to Filipino because of the strict prohibitions of the
Japanese regarding any writing in English.

 The weekly LIWAYWAY was placed under strict surveillance until it was managed by a Japanese named
Ishiwara.

 Common themes of poems: nationalism, country, love, life in the barrios, faith, religion and the arts

THREE TYPES OF POEMS

 HAIKU- a poem of free verse that the Japanese liked. It was made up of 17 syllables divided into three
lines. The first line had 5 syllables, the second, 7 syllables, and the third, five. The Haiku is allegorical in
meaning, is short and covers a wide scope in meaning.

 TANAGA- like the Haiku, is short but it had measure and rhyme. Each line had 17 syllables and is also
allegorical in meaning.
 KARANIWANG ANYO (Usual form)- like those mentioned earlier in the beginning chapters of this book.

HAIKU

TUTUBI

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

FILIPINO DRAMA

1. JOSE MA. HERNANDEZ- wrote PANDAY PIRA

2. FRANCISCO SOC RODRIGO- wrote sa PULA, SA PUTI

3. Clodualdo del Mundo- wrote BULAGA

4. JULIAN CRUZ BALMACEDA- wrote SINO BA KAYO?

 DAHIL SA ANAK  HIGANTE NG PATAY

PHILIPPINE LITERATURE IN ENGLISH (1941-1945)

 Because of the strict prohibitions by the Japanese in the writing and publishing of works in English,
Philippine literature in English experience a dark period. The few who dared to write did so far for their
bread and butter or for propaganda.

NOTEWORTHY WRITER:

1. CARLOS P. ROMULO who won the Pulitzer Prize for his bestsellers-

I SAW THE FALLL OF THE PHILIPPINES

I SEE THE PHILIPPINES RISE

MOTHER AMERICA AND MY BROTHER AMERICANS

2. NICK JOAQUIN- THE WOMAN WHO LOOKED LIKE LAZARUS

3. RAFAEL ZULUETA DA COSTA- LIKE THE MOLAVE

4. MANUEL E. ARGUILLA- HOW MY BROTHER BROUGHT HOME A WIFE (Short Story)

THE REPUBLIC (1946-1985)

1. THE REBIRTH OF FREEDOM (1946-1970)

2. PERIOD OF ACTIVISM (1970-1972)

3. PERIOD OF THE NEW SOCIETY (1972-1980)

4. PERIOD OF THE THIRD REPUBLIC (1981-1985)

 THE REBIRTH OF FREEDOM (1946-1970)

4 Journalists had their day. They indulged in more militant attitude in their reports which bordered on
the libelous. Gradually, as normality was restored, the tones and themes of the writings turned to the
less pressing problems of economic survival.

Some Filipino writers who had gone abroad and had written during the interims came back to publish
their works.

THE REPUBLIC (1945-1985)

PERIOD OF ACTIVISM (1970-1972)

 Because of the ills of society, the youth moved to seek reforms. Some continued to believe that the
democratic government is stable and that it is not only the people running the government who is at
fault.

 Some believed that communism should replace democracy.

 Many young people became activists to ask for changes in the government

 Many young activists were imprisoned in military camps together with rebel writers.

THE REPUBLIC (1945-1985)

PERIOD OF THE NEW SOCIETY (1972-1980)

 Started on September 21, 1972

 Almost all themes in most writings dealt with the development or progress of the country- like the
Green Revolution, family planning, proper nutrition, environment, drug addiction and pollution.

 The military government established a new office called the MINISTRY OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS that
supervised the newspapers, books, and other publications.

 The government took part in reviving old plays like the CENACULO, The ZARZUELA, and the EMBAYOKA
of the Muslims.

 CULTURAL CENTER OF THE PHILIPPINES, FOLK ARTS THEATER AND METROPOLITAN THEATER

 Those sent abroad promoted many Filipino songs.

POPULAR TELEVISION PLAYS

 * GULONG NG PALAD, FLOR DE LUNA, and ANA LIZA

 * SUPERMAN and TARZAN

FILIPINO FILMS

 * MINSA’Y ISANG GAMU-GAMO- Nora Aunor was the principal performer

 * AGUILA- led by Fernando Poe

THE REPUBLIC (1945-1970)

PERIOD OF THE THIRD REPUBLIC (1981-1985)

 Martial rule was at last lifted on January 2, 1981

 Former senator Benigno S. Aquino Jr., the idol of the masses, whom they hoped to be the next
president, was brutally murdered on August 21, 1983

 After the Aquino assassination, the people’s voices could no longer be contained. Both the public and
private sectors in government were chanting, and shouting; women and men and the youth became
bolder and their voices were raised in dissent.

FILIPINO SONGS:

 LABAN NG BAYAN KO- composed by Coritha and Freddie Aguilar and this was sung by Coritha during
the National Unification Conference of the Opposition in March, 1985. Also sung during the
Presidential Campaign Movement for Cory Aquino to inspire the movement against Marcos in February
1986.

 Freddie Aguilar revived the song BAYAN KO which was written by Jose Corazon de Jesus and C. de
Guzman during the American Period

PHILIPPINE FILMS DURING THIS PERIOD

 The yearly Festival of Filipino Films continued to be held during this period. The people’s love for sex
films also was unabated. Many producers took advantage of this at the expense of public morality.

FILIPINO SONGS:

 LABAN NG BAYAN KO- composed by Coritha and Freddie Aguilar and this was sung by Coritha during
the National Unification Conference of the Opposition in March, 1985. Also sung during the
Presidential Campaign Movement for Cory Aquino to inspire the movement against Marcos in February
1986.

 Freddie Aguilar revived the song BAYAN KO which was written by Jose Corazon de Jesus and C. de
Guzman during the American Period

PHILIPPINE FILMS DURING THIS PERIOD

 The yearly Festival of Filipino Films continued to be held during this period. The people’s love for sex
films also was unabated. Many producers took advantage of this at the expense of public morality.