21st Century Literature from the Philippines to
the World Blancas de San Jose and translated to Tagalos by
Precolonial Period (1564) – occurring or existing
before the beginning of the colonial rule.
Precolonial literature
- includes all literature produced before the
Spanish Colonization like chants, riddles,
proverbs, songs and folk narratives.
- Were all passed down from generation to
generation by word of mouth.
Philippine Folk Narratives
- varied and distinct
- depicts the people’s livelihood, customs and
traditions.
Philippine Folk Narratives:
o Folktales – characteristically anonymous
timeless and priceless tale circulated orally
among a people.
o Fable – features animals characters or
inanimate objects that behave like people.
o Legend – presented as history but is
unlikely to be true.
o Myth – told to explain a belief, practice or a
natural phenomenon.
o Epic – narrative poem that celebrates the
adventures and achievements of a hero.
Philippine epic are sung or chanted in
episodes. Features supernatural characters.
Spanish Colonial Period (1565- 1898)
Ladinos – natives who translate Spanish religious
instructional materials, eventually becoming fluent
in Spanish.
Fernando Bagongbanta – wrote “Salamat nang
walang hanggang/gracias de sin sempiternas”
which appeared in Memorial de la vida Cristiana en
lengua tagala (1605), a book containing basic
Catholic doctrines.
Gaspar Aquino de Belen – wrote “Ang Mahal na
Passion ni Jesu Christong Panginoon natin na tola”
(1704), the earliest version of pasyon.
Works not related to religion include:
Arte y reglas de la Lengua Tagala – written by Fr.
Tomas Pinpin in 1610.
Compendio de la Lengua Tagala – written by Fr.
Gaspar de San Agustin in 1703/
Vocabulario de la Lengua Tagala – first Tagalog
dictionary written by FrPedro de San Buenaventura
in 1613.
Vocabulario de la Lengua Pampanga – the first
book written in Pampango written by Fr Diego in
1732.
Vocabulario de la Lengua Bisaya – considered
Best Visayan language book. Written by Mataeo
Sanchez in 1711.
Arte de la Lengua Ilokana – first Ilocano grammar
book by Francisco Lopez.
Forms of Literature
1. Religious Literature – revolves around the
life and death of Jesus Christ.
o Komedya or moro-moro – native drama of
cloak and dagger that depicted the war
between Christians and Muslims, wherein
the former always wins. Poet Jose de la
Cruz (1746-1829) as a master of such art
form.
o Cenakulo – a very heavy drama depicting
the life, sacrifices, and death of Jesus
Christ. It was usually presented in an open
space and celebrated during the month of
March or April, depending upon the exact
date of the Holyweek.
2. Secular or Non-religious Literature –
revolves around tales of valiance and
adventure.
o Awit – these are the tales of chivalry where
a knight saves a princess.
o Korido – a metrical or tale that follows the
structure of poem.
3. Propaganda Literature – these were in the
forms editorials and news articles that
aimed to attack the Spanish rule.
o Florante at ni Laura (1838-1861)
Francisco Baltazar the master of traditional
Tagalog poetry.
 o Sampaguitas – written in 1880, the first
poetry collection in Spanish by a Filipino.
(Padre Paterno 1857 – 1911)
o Ninay – written in Spanish in 1885,
considered to be the first Filipino novel.
(Padre Paterno 1857-1911)
o El Filibusterimo & Noli Me Tangere –
written by Dr. Jose rizal, these novels
portray the corruption and abuse of the
Spanish officials and the clergy.
Leona Florentino
- Mother of Philippine Women’s Literature
- Wrote in the Spanish and Ilocano
languages.
- Twenty of her poems were preserved and
exhibited in Europe and were included in
the Encyclopedia International des Oeuvres
des Femme in 1889.
American Period (1900-1942)
America’s Influence In The Philippines
o Free Education
o Religious Freedom
o Language
o Clothing
o Food
Time Frames of Philippine Literature during the
American Colonization
1. Period of Re-orientation (1898-1910) – a
new language (English) is introduced.
2. Period of Imitation (1910-1925) – writers
imitated the themes and method of
Americans.
3. Period of Self Discovery (1925-1941) –
writers have acquired mastery of the
language and have become competent and
confident (poetry, short story, publications,
dramas)
Focus of the Educational System during the
American Period
Train Filipinos in the democratic way of life,
citizenship, moral character and fundamentals of
vocational education.
1901 – Philippine Normal University
1908 – University of the Philippines
Three Kind of Writers:
o Poets of the Heart (Makata ng Puso)
o Poets of Life (Makata ng Buhay)
o Poets of the Stage (Makata ng Tanghalan)
Plays Written During American Period
o Kahapon, Ngayon at Bukas by Aurelio
Tolentino
o Tanikalang Ginto of Juan Abad
o Malaya by Thomas remigio
o Walang Sugat by Severino reyes
Paz Marquez Benitez – considered as the first
Filipino modern shorts story writer in English.
Death Stars (1925)
Zoilo M. Galang - first Filipino Novelist in English.
A Child of Sorrow (1921)
Juan C. Laya – won first prize in the First
Commonwealth Literary Awards. His Native Soil
(1940)
Zarzuela - a melodrama with song and dances
that is intended to make the mass feeling towards
love, fear, gried, sorrow or any emotional reactions
sublime.
Napun, Ngeni at Bukas/ Kahapon, Ngayon at
Bukas
- An anti-imperialist play attacking the new
colonizer that time the Americans, while not
forgiving the old ones.
- First presented on May 14, 1903, its focus is
the triumph of Inang Bayan (motherland)
against her colonizers.
Aurelio Tolentino
- Revolutionist turned writer
- Father of the Tagalog drama
Japanese Period (1942-1944)
The Japanese Occupation
Japanese Invasion
o Japan attacks the Philippines
o Manila was declared as an open city
o Mac Arthur escapes to Australia
o Filipino and American troops retreat to
Bataan
Jose Laurel – president during Japanese
colonization.
Kalahating Siglo sa Talambuhay ng Kamalayan
(Ang 25 Pinakamabuting Maikling Kathang
Pilipino ng 1943)
- A collection of stories that won a contest
sponsored by the Japanese.
- Best works were compiled by the Liwayway
magazine editors.
“Kenkoy (comics) is the Philippines first true pop
icon. He is a ludicrous portrait of the Filipino…
pathetically trying but barely succeeding in keeping
up with his American mentors” – Nonoy Marcelo

Carlos P. Romulo – “ I saw the fall of the Lupang Tinubuan

Philippines, I see them rise, and my mother - Won 1st place in Ang Pinakamabuting
America, and may brother Americans” Maikling Kathang Pilipino ng 1943, the
Leyte – Douglas McArthur landed. Japanese sponsored literary contest.
- Danding, the main character, went to his
Bataan – biggest battle father’s province. He met and connected
with his relatives.
December 8, 1941 – Japanese adopted the Manila
Liwayway Arcee – won 2nd place in Ang
January 2, 1942 – attack the Manila Pinakamabuting Maikling Kathang Pilipino ng 1943
for her story ‘Uhaw ang Tigang na Lupa’
October 1943 – declared the Philippines as
independent Three types of poems emerged during this
period
1944 – return of McArthur
o Haiku – a poem of free verse made up of
September 2, 1945 – Japanese surrender
seventeen (17) syllables divided into three
October 20 – Philippines and Japan’s biggest (3) lines of 5-7-5 syllables.
battle. o Tanaga – the Filipino version of the haiku
was introduced. Has 17 syllables divided
McArthur Douglas – 5 star general (American) into 3 lines.
o Usual form – the usual and common form
News Paper/ Magazine During Japanese Period
of poetry.
o Philippine review
Tanaga and Haiku sample
o The Tribune
o Free Philippines Tagalog English
Tutubi Dragonfly
Tagalog was favored by the Japanese military Hila mo’y -5- You pull a
authority and writing in English was consigned to a tabak, saber,
limbo. Ang bulaklak -7- The flower is
nanginig, shivering,
The weekly Liwayway (magazine) was placed Sa paglapit mo. -5- Moment you
under strict surveillance until it was managed by a approached.
Japanese named Ishiwara.

We Filipinos are Mild Drinker

Alejandro R. Roces

Datu – carabao of Alejandro

Americans – Joe

Types of Drinks:

o Whiskey
o Rum
o Brandy
o Tequila
o Gin
o Champagne
o Saki
o Vodka

Pine tree – symbolizes American because it goes

straight up to the sky like a skyscraper.

Coconut tree – symbolizes Philippines because it

starts up to the sky but then its leaves sway down
to earth, as if remembering the land that gave it
birth.

Calamansi w/ Salt – chaser

Lambanog – drink extracted from the coconut tree.

On schooling

Renato De Guzman Rosales

Spanish and Tagalog

Without Seeing the Dawn

Carding – Lucia’s husband

Lucia – carding’s wife

Crisostomo – Lucia’s children to Japanese.

Day – peace and happiness

Night – nightmare