Assignment:

1. Various Dimensions of Philippine Literary History

The diversity and richness of Philippine literature evolved side by side with the country's
history. This can best be appreciated in the context of the country's pre-colonial cultural
traditions and the socio-political histories of its colonial and contemporary traditions.

Pre-Colonial Times

Owing to the works of our own archaeologists, ethnologists and anthropologists, we are
able to know more and better judge information about our pre-colonial times set against a bulk of
material about early Filipinos as recorded by Spanish, Chinese, Arabic and other chroniclers of
the past.

Pre-colonial inhabitants of our islands showcase a rich past through their folk speeches,
folk songs, folk narratives and indigenous rituals and mimetic dances that affirm our ties with
our Southeast Asian neighbors.

The Spanish Colonial Tradition

While it is true that Spain subjugated the Philippines for more mundane reasons, this
former European power contributed much in the shaping and recording of our literature.
Religion and institutions that represented European civilization enriched the languages in the
lowlands, introduced theater which we would come to know as komedya, the sinakulo,
the sarswela, the playlets and the drama. Spain also brought to the country, though at a much
later time, liberal ideas and an internationalism that influenced our own Filipino intellectuals
and writers for them to understand the meanings of "liberty and freedom."

Literature in this period may be classified as religious prose and poetry and secular prose
and poetry. Religious lyrics written by ladino poets or those versed in both Spanish and Tagalog
were included in early catechism and were used to teach Filipinos the Spanish language.
Fernando Bagonbanta's "Salamat nang walang hanga/gracias de sin sempiternas" (Unending
thanks) is a fine example that is found in theMemorial de la vida cristiana en lengua
tagala (Guidelines for the Christian life in the Tagalog language) published in 1605.

Another form of religious lyrics are the meditative verses like the dalit appended
to novenas and catechisms. It has no fixed meter nor rime scheme although a number are written
in octosyllabic quatrains and have a solemn tone and spiritual subject matter.

But among the religious poetry of the day, it is the pasyon in octosyllabic quintillas that
became entrenched in the Filipino's commemoration of Christ's agony and resurrection at
Calvary. Gaspar Aquino de Belen's "Ang Mahal na Passion ni Jesu Christong Panginoon natin
na tola" (Holy Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ in Verse) put out in 1704 is the country's earliest
known pasyon.
The American Colonial Period

A new set of colonizers brought about new changes in Philippine literature. New literary
forms such as free verse [in poetry], the modern short story and the critical essay were
introduced. American influence was deeply entrenched with the firm establishment of English as
the medium of instruction in all schools and with literary modernism that highlighted the writer's
individuality and cultivated consciousness of craft, sometimes at the expense of social
consciousness.

The poet, and later, National Artist for Literature, Jose Garcia Villa used free verse and
espoused the dictum, "Art for art's sake" to the chagrin of other writers more concerned with the
utilitarian aspect of literature. Another maverick in poetry who used free verse and talked about
illicit love in her poetry was Angela Manalang Gloria, a woman poet described as ahead of her
time. Despite the threat of censorship by the new dispensation, more writers turned up "seditious
works" and popular writing in the native languages bloomed through the weekly outlets like
Liwayway and Bisaya.

The Balagtas tradition persisted until the poet Alejandro G. Abadilla advocated
modernism in poetry. Abadilla later influenced young poets who wrote modern verses in the
1960s such as Virgilio S. Almario, Pedro I. Ricarte and Rolando S. Tinio.

While the early Filipino poets grappled with the verities of the new language, Filipinos
seemed to have taken easily to the modern short story as published in the Philippines Free Press,
the College Folio and Philippines Herald. Paz Marquez Benitez's "Dead Stars" published in
1925 was the first successful short story in English written by a Filipino. Later on, Arturo B.
Rotor and Manuel E. Arguilla showed exceptional skills with the short story.

The Contemporary Period

The flowering of Philippine literature in the various languages continue especially with
the appearance of new publications after the Martial Law years and the resurgence of committed
literature in the 1960s and the 1970s.

Filipino writers continue to write poetry, short stories, novellas, novels and essays
whether these are socially committed, gender/ethnic related or are personal in intention or not.

Of course the Filipino writer has become more conscious of his art with the proliferation
of writers workshops here and abroad and the bulk of literature available to him via the mass
media including the internet. The various literary awards such as the Don Carlos Palanca
Memorial Awards for Literature, the Philippines Free Press, Philippine Graphic, Home Life and
Panorama literary awards encourage him to compete with his peers and hope that his creative
efforts will be rewarded in the long run.

With the new requirement by the Commission on Higher Education of teaching of

Philippine Literature in all tertiary schools in the country emphasizing the teaching of the
vernacular literature or literatures of the regions, the audience for Filipino writers is virtually
assured. And, perhaps, a national literature finding its niche among the literatures of the world
will not be far behind.
 2. Canonical Authors and Works of Philippine National Artists in Literature

1.) Francisco "Franz" Arcellana

• The Flowers of May
• Death in a Factory
• Divided by Two

2.) Virgilio S. Almario

• Ang Makata sa Panahon ng Makina
• Balagtasismo Versus Modernisismo
• Walong Dekada ng Makabagong Tulang Pilipino

3.) Cirilio F. Bautista

• Summer Suns
• Words and Battlefields

4.) Carlos P. Romulo

• Mother America
• The United
• I Walked With Heroes

5.) Jose Garcia Villa

• Have Come, Am Here

6.) Amado V. Hernandez

• Bayang Malaya
• Isang Dipang Langit
• Luha ng Buwaya

7.) Nick Joaquin

• Manila
• The Woman Who Had Two Navels
• Rizal in Saga
• Almanac for Manileños

3. Name of authors and their works

Jessica Hagedorn

Best known for her 1990 novel Dogeaters, Jessica Hagedorn was born and raised in the
Philippines and relocated to San Francisco in her teens. Hagedorn’s ethnic heritage is a mix of
Spanish, Filipino, French, Irish, and Chinese. Dogeaters, which won the American Book Award
and was a finalist for the National Book Award, shines a light on the many layers of Filipino
society, especially the American influence prevalent in the entertainment industry. Hagedorn is
also a poet and playwright. Her first play, Mango Tango, was produced by Joseph Papp in 1978,
the same year she moved to New York, where she currently lives with her daughters.
Sionil Jose

A writer deeply concerned with social justice, F. Sionil Jose’s novels have been
translated into 22 languages, and he’s one of the most widely read Filipino authors. Sionil
Jose’s Rosales Saga is a five-volume work that follows the Samson family and their changing
fortunes over a 100-year timeframe. Sionil Jose’s books are especially illuminating for anyone
interested in provincial life in the Philippines, the revolution against Spain, and the framework of
the Filipino family. His anti-elitist views have made him a somewhat unpopular author within
the Philippines, but Sionil Jose’s works are among the most highly acclaimed internationally of
any Filipino writer. He won the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Literature in 1980.

Nick Joaquin

Winning the National Artist award for Literature, Nick Joaquín is probably the most
esteemed writer the Philippines has produced. Joaquin came from a well-educated family and
was published at the early age of 17. After winning a scholarship in a nationwide essay contest,
he left the Philippines to study in Hong Kong. On his return to Manila he worked for many years
as a journalist, and his highly intellectual writing raised the standards of journalism in the
country. Joaquin’s book, The Woman With Two Navels is essential reading in Philippine
literature. However many of his short stories, such as “May Day Eve,” are extremely accessible
and enjoyable for those new to the Philippines.

Merlinda Bobis

Award-winning writer Merlinda Bobis started off as a painter, but grew into a writer as
“painting with words was cheaper.” Bobis’ books, short stories, and poems tell of lesser-known
aspects of Filipino life, often from a strong feminist stance. One of her most well-known
novels, Fish-Hair Woman, describes a romance between a young village woman and an
Australian soldier in the middle of a harrowing conflict that threatens the entire province. The
Australian called it a “superb novel” that “maintains its tragic intensity throughout.” Bobis has
also won the international Prix Italia award for her play Rita’s Lullaby and the Steele Rudd
Award for her short story “White Turtle.”

Jose Dalisay Jr.

Jose Dalisay Jr. writes a popular online column where he’s more commonly known by
his pen name, Butch Dalisay. Dalisay was imprisoned during Martial Law, and his experiences
from this portion of Philippine history are brought to life in his first novel, Killing Time in a
Warm Place. His second novel, Soledad’s Sister tackles the plight of overseas Filipino workers,
and was shortlisted for the Man Asian Literary Prize in 2007. Within the Philippines, Dalisay has
won 16 Palanca Awards, the country’s highest prize for literature.
Luis Francia

Award-winning author Luis Francia has lived in New York for decades, but his
experiences of growing up in the Philippines continue to shape the stories he tells the world. The
poet, author, and teacher emigrated to the U.S. after finishing college, where he wrote and co-
edited the Village Voice newspaper for more than 20 years. His memoir Eye of the Fish: A
Personal Archipelago won a PEN Open Book Award and an Asian American Literary Award.
Amitav Ghosh, author of The Glass Palace, described Francia’s memoir as “a hugely readable
travelogue and an indispensable guide to a fascinating and richly varied archipelago.”

Jose Rizal

The Philippines’ national hero was also a prolific writer, poet, and essayist. Jose Rizal’s
two novels, Noli me Tangere and El Filibusterismo were social commentaries that sharply
revealed the injustices of Spanish colonization while praising the Filipino in his most natural
state. The novels, which are surprisingly wry and romantic, crystallized the growing anti-Spanish
sentiment and were banned within the Philippines. The execution of Jose Rizal at 35 years old
set off the Philippine Revolution and paved the way for the country’s independence. Even
without these dramatic events, Rizal’s books and his final poem, “Mi Ultimo Adios,” stand on
their own literary merit, and have influenced scores of Filipino writers since.