21st CENTURY LITERATURE FROM THE C.

SUGGESTIVENESS
PHILIPPINES AND THE WORLD
Course Title: 21st Century Literature from the Philippines
and the World
General Description: This course aims to engage
students in critical study and appreciation of 21st Century
Literature from the Philippines and the World
encompassing their various dimensions, genres,
elements, structures, contexts, and traditions.
Course Description: Study and appreciation of literature
of the world originally written in the 21st century.
o this quality is associated with emotional power of
literature (move us deeply, stir our creative
imagination, giving and evoking vision above and
beyond ordinary life.
D. SPIRITUAL VALUE
o brings out moral values which make us better
persons-the capacity to inspire
E. PERMANENCE
o a great work of literature endures
o can be read again and again as each reading
gives fresh delight and new insights and open
new worlds of meaning and experience

LITERATURE F. UNIVERSALITY
o Literature (“litera” which means letter) o Good literature is timeless and timely-forever
o Deals with ideas, thoughts and emotions of a relevant in term of its theme and conditions
man- thus it can be said that the literature is the
DIVISIONS OF LITERATURE
story of man. (Kahayon, 1998, p.5-7)
o The best way to understand human nature fully PROSE POETRY
and to know a nation completely is to study Form Written in Written in stanza or
literature, (Garcia, et al, 1993, p.3) paragraph form verse form
o Literature offers an experience in which we
Language Expressed in Expressed in
should participate as we read and test what we ordinary language metrical, rhythmical
read by our own experience and figurative
o Literature is our life’s story including its struggles, language
ideas, failures, sacrifices and happiness.
Appeal To the intellect To the emotion
o The ability to judge literature is based on the
application of certain recognizable standards of Aim To convince, Stir the imagination
good literature. inform, instruct, and set an ideal of
imitate and reflect how life should be
- ARTISTRY
- INTELLECTUAL VALUE
- SUGGESTIVENESS LITERATURE HIGHLIGHT 1: PERSONA, MASK OR
SPEAKER AND THEME
- SPIRITUAL VALUE
o The persona, mask, or the speaker is the voice
- PERMANENCE that talks to the readers in poetry. It is important
- UNIVERSALITY for readers to understand that in most cases, the
persona or speaker is not the author unless of
A. ARTISTRY course, it is an autobiographical poem. The
o quality which appeals to our sense of beauty persona is a creative invention of the writer
which serves as a mouthpiece of his/her ideas or
B.INTELLECTUAL VALUE feelings.
o a literary stimulates thought o A theme is a central truth about life exemplified
o fundamental truths about life and human nature in the text. It refers to the message, idea or
insight revealed in a literary selection. The
theme is not supposed to be confused with a
moral lesson which though didactic or instructive
 in nature, has the tendency to focus only on
ethical or moral values in a selection.
“My Mommie Dearest”
By Jeanne Lim
o As a mother, she is somewhat a disciplinarian.
God, she’s so mean. She will not even stop to
listen to reasons.
o Her children are all selfish. They have nothing to
say about her. Usually, people believe that
biblical names are given to children so that they
will be good when they grow up. Others believe
that children are gifts from God; so it’s a kind of
thanking and praising God with their names.
o The main conflict has something to do with who
is going to let their mother told them that she will
not stay with any of them. Instead, she will stay in
a hotel.
o It is okay to be poor when you are young
because you can still take care of yourself but to
be old and poor is a lonely world because
nobody wants to take care of an old and poor
person.
o It was not valid because according to their
mother, “It was the only way she knew how” and
“I raised you the way I thought was right.”
Besides as one can see, her children grew into
becoming better persons and citizens.
CHARACTER
o Moral agents of an action
o The author reveals the nature of a character by
using vivid description, dialougue, and through
the reactions of other characters regarding what
s/he says and do
o The major characters – Protagonist and
Antagonist
o The minor characters – Foil, Confidant, and
Background
CHARACTERIZATION
o Author’s technique in giving life to the characters
o Round – undergoes transformation in the story
o Flat – remains static and unchanging in the story
Blog/ Weblog
o Blog is another word for web blog which consists
of posts or entries displayed a reverse order
wherein the most recent post appears first in the
site. Generally interactive in nature, any visitor
may leave a message or comment regarding the
content of the blog thereby strengthening social
relations and networks. Literary texts, online
diaries, critiques, personal commentaries and
instructional resources may find their way in the
weblog.
TEXT REVIEW
o Filipinos are generally obsessed with beauty
contests, which is why a beauty titlist in
local,national or international contests is often
treated as a hero. Discuss Realuyo's take on Pia
Wurtzbach's 2015 Miss Universe feat.
o How difficult it is, according to Pia, joining the
Binibining Pilipinas thrice, "When you were the
only one who could see your star consistently
shine.
o Why does Realuyo say that "Humility has
become so rare in our age of tribal nationalism?"
Do you agree with his observation?
o How does Pia demonstrate grace and humility in
losing? How can a pageantry of glitter and
glamour be transformed into a pageantry of
virtues and human decency?
o Explain "Kindness is more important than
ambition. The crownn can wait, a human touch
can't"
THE BLOG
Dear Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, Miss Universe 2015,
Confidently Beautiful, With a Humble Heart
By Bino A. Realuyo
What a humbling experience to watch your circuitous
path toward the Miss Universe crown. It is easy to get lost
in your triumph, easier even to fail to see the message. It
is easy to participate in the glory of winning, especially
yours, especially retrospectively, although none of us will
ever know what it was really like for you making an
attempt for the Miss Philippines crown three times, how
those years must be like when you were the only one
who could see your star consistently shine. However, in
the coming year that you will wear your crown and your
dream, we need to remind those of us who waited for
forty-two years for this moment not get blinded by the
glitter of gems, but to remain focused on the
transformative power of your humble story.
Humility has become so rare in our age of tribal
nationalism. When Filipinos say they waited for 42 years
for another Miss Universe crown, we didn’t expect it to
turn into a global telenovela switched on the moment the
wrong winner was announced. As I write this, the fires are
still burning in the heart of those who couldn’t simply
translate “defeat” or “grace” into their native languages,
but instead resorted to spewing hateful and highly
personal online sound bytes. The tribal conversations
quickly left the deeply human and traumatic realm of
public humiliation and entered a dark mob-like online rant
about how Colombia deserved a back-to-back win, and
expectedly made a downward spiral into conspiracy
theories. It is disturbing how quickly the global village
showed its ugly horn, unable to recognize the truth in the
story from the fantasy of wishful thinking.
The message of winning humbly is lost on many of us.
Even more, the idea of resilience in the face of numerous
defeat. If anyone understands how to transcend the
agony of losing, it is you, the breadwinner of your family
since you were 11 years old.
For the last three years that I have tried, people are
laughing at me and saying that I was trying too hard. And
my answer is yeah, I really am trying hard. I try my
hardest because this is what I want.
Indeed, there is grace and humility in losing, and you
demonstrated that for the few minutes that you were the
Miss Universe First Runner-up. You called it, destiny, and
gently surrendered to your fate as second best.
Fortunately, the universe had a better plan for you. Even
when you were ultimately declared the true winner, your
hesitant walk to the front stage was one full of sympathy
and tenderness for the other woman who was humiliated
in front of millions by Steve Harvey’s humanly error. Even
with the crown on your head, you made an attempt to
comfort the suffering Miss Colombia, risking
being ignored or rejected by the other scorned
candidates. For you, kindness is more important than
ambition. The crown can wait, a human touch can’t.
Amid the ruinous noise, you humbly reached out to Miss
Colombia by publicly apologizing for an error that wasn’t
even yours to own. And Miss Colombia somehow
managed to post pictures on her Instagram of herself
winning the Miss Universe crown, considering public
testament by one of the judges, Perez Hilton, that you
were the unanimously voted first placer.
Before you even start your Miss Universe voyage, your
legacy in humility is already being written. Never mind
those who doubted you, never mind those who are still
bashing you online, never mind the latinas who still think
winning Miss Universe is their birthright, never mind the
obstacles that you have yet to face in the coming years,
we, the Pianatics, are here to do our part in
our bayanihan. You have reminded us in the past twenty-
four hours to search within and elevate our human values
against angry mobs. You have transformed a beauty
pageant of glitter, appearances, and high-heeled logic
into a pageantry of virtues and human decency. You have
taught us already to never give up on our dreams and
move forward with grit. You are showing the world what it
means to be a daughter of the global village, and how
she must carry herself on the ashes of controversy. But
most of all, your triumph is embedded in your humility, a
message so desperately needed in a global village that
keeps getting battered by hubris, impulsive reactions, and
lack of self-awareness.
Pianatically Yours,
Bino A. Realuyo
“Dear Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, Miss Universe
2015”
By Bino Realuyo
o Realuyo has shown a lot of pride, admiration,
and respect towards Pia Wurtzbach’s winning the
Miss Universe Pageant in 2015.
o It was indeed very difficult for Pia joining the
Binibining Pilipinas thrice since she was up
against the people who did not believe in her.
The bashing and insult challenged her the most
into becoming Miss Universe
o At this time of Tribal Nationalism, humility is
really rare since so many people would like to
show others that they are really the best while
some have become proud once crowned with
success.
o She readily accepted her defeat or gently
surrendered to her fate being called the
1strunner-up. When Steve Harvey apologized for
the error committed when he announced the
wrong winner, Pia had shown compassion and
empathy to the dethroned winner. She even
apologized for that error she herself didn’t
commit.
 o Kindness is the only word that doesn’t hurt. It is
encompassing . It goes beyond the word itself. It
is therefore more important than ambition
because it can become everyone’s ambition. If
one lives in kindness and peace, everything will
follow. The crown can wait because your chance
to have it will always be there, but human touch
can’t for it will pass.

o Winners never quit, quitters never win.

FIRST MONTHLY TEST POINTERS IN

21ST CENTURY LITERATURE
FROM THE PHILIPPINES AND THE WORLD
o Literature
o Prose
o Poetry
o Standard of good literature:
1. Artistry
2. Intellectual Value
3. Suggestiveness
4. Spiritual Value
5. Permanence
6. Universality

o My Father’s House by Cirilo Bautista

1. Literature Highlight
2. Theme
3. Persona, mask, or the speaker

o My Mommie Dearest by Jeanne Lim

1. Literature Highlight
2. Character
3. Characterization
4. Round
5. Flat

o Dear Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, Miss Universe

2015, Confidently Beautiful, With a Humble
Heart: By Bino A. Realuyo
1. Literature Highlight
2. Blog/Weblog