21st Century Literature  FLORANTE AT LAURA – a literature classic by

Francisco Baltazar (also known as Balagtas).

WHAT IS LITERATURE?
Its Latin root literature or litteratura (derived itself from
littera: letter or handwriting) was used to refer to all
written accounts.
1. PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD
• The precolonial literature includes all literature
produced before the Spanish colonization.
• Based on oral traditions
• RIDDLES and PROVERBS are the simplest forms of
oral literature.
• Filipino riddle (palaisipan) that consists of two phrases
that rhyme. It uses symbolism to describe a specific
object, which the listener can guess by using his
imagination.
• A proverb is a brief, simple, and popular saying, or a
phrase that gives advice and effectively embodies a
commonplace truth based on practical experience or
common sense.
EXAMPLES:
Ibanag:
Y magattam ta ziga-c, ta pangurianan
Lubbe-c y pagayaya-c.
(One who waits patiently will be well rewarded.)
Ilocano:
Ti adda a bagas mo,
Isu iti apoyem.
(Cook only as much rice as you have.)
• Philippine folk narratives are varied and distinct. They
depict the people’s livelihood, customs, and traditions.
Folktale – This is a characteristically anonymous,
timeless, and placeless tale circulated orally among a
people.
a. Fable – This features animal characters or inanimate
objects that behave like people.
b. Legend – This is presented as history but is unlikely to
be true.
c. Myth – This is told to explain a belief, a practice, or a
natural phenomenon.
d. Epic – This narrative poem celebrates the adventures
and achievements of a hero.
• FOLK SONGS - they express the faith, joy, varied
hopes, and oddities of life.
* They reflect the various aspects of life and activities of
the ancient Filipinos.
* They are sung to lighten the cares of life or kill boredom.
 URBANA FELISA - by Modesto De Castro. During
1938, 19th century, it emerged in Europe during the
Renaissance
* Projecting the code of conduct in church at home,
in school, toward one’s fellowmen, mentors,
parents and God which has cleansing effect of
moral principles
 ANG PASYON - A narrative poem about life and
sufferings of Jesus in the hearts and mind of the
natives. The first Filipino writer is Fr. Gaspar Aquino
de Belen.
RECREATIONAL PLAYS
 TIBAG - Dramatic performance for the purpose of
manifesting devotion for the holy cross.
 CENACULO - Dramatic performance of the passion
and death of Christ
 MORO MORO - Also known as Comedia, an old
spanish play depicting Spain’s struggles against the
Moors, who at one invaded the Spain.
 ZARZUELA - The father of drama, a musical comedy
or melodrama three acts which death with men’s
passion and emotions like love, hate, revenge,
cruelty , avarice or some political problem.
 PANUNULUYAN - Philippine Christmas dramatic
ritual narrating the whole family’s search for a
place to stay in Bethlehem for Jesus Christ ‘s birth
through songs.
 SALUBONG - Dramatize s the reunion of the risen
Christ and his mother
 AWIT - Have measures of twelve syllables and
slowly sung to the accompaniment of a guitar or
banduria.
 CORRIDO - Have measures of eight syllables and
recited to a martial beat. ex. Ibong Adarna
 BALAGTASAN - A poetic joust or contest of skill in
debate on a particular topic.
DR. JOSE RIZAL – He wrote “To the Filipino Youth”
which encourages youth to speak up and be the “Hope of
Motherland.”
3. AMERICAN PERIOD

2. SPANISH PERIOD
• Spanish occupied Philippines in early 15th century.
• First Filipino alphabet is Alibata
• When Spanish colonized Philippines they changed
Alibata into Roman alphabet.

NOTABLE WORKS
 DOCTRINA CHRISTIANA – the first book printed
in the Philippines. Manila, 1593 by Lessing J.
Rosenwald. The book is printed in Gothic letters and
Tagalog.
 IBONG ADARNA - a mythical story, formed in
narrative song and poetry called corrido and it is
 considered a big part of the Philippine literature. It is
written by Jose dela Cruz a great poet who is also
known as Huseng Sisiw. It is about love, sacrifice and
fantasy.
 SELECTION:
DEAD STARS
by Paz Marquez Benitez
3. JAPANESE PERIOD
• Between 1941-1945, Philippine Literature was
interrupted in its development when we were again
conquered by another foreign country, Japan.
Philippine literature in English came to a halt.

• Except for the Tribune and the Philippine Review,

Pillars, Free Philippines, and Filipina, almost all
newspapers in English were stopped by the Japanese.

• During this time, there was no freedom of speech and of

the press.

• Victoria Abelardo has described Filipino writing during

the Japanese occupation as being pessimistic and bitter.
• There were some efforts at escapist literature, but in
general, the literary output was minor and insignificant.
Because of strict censorship, few literary works were
printed during the war years.
2. TANAGA
- like the haiku, it is short, but has measure and rhyme.
Each line has seventeen syllables and is also allegorical in
meaning.

• The weekly Liwayway was placed under strict

surveillance until it was managed by a Japanese named
Ishiwara
• The only contact with the outside world was done with
utmost secrecy through the underground radio program
called “Voice of Freedom”.

• Tagalog was favored by the Japanese military authority

and writing in English was rejected.
Japanese were able to influence and encourage the
Filipino in developing the vernacular literature.
• The only Filipino writers who could write freely were
those who were living in the United States.
Most writers and authors were lead to either go
underground or write in Tagalog.
• So, Filipino literature was given a break during this
period. Filipino literature also experienced renewed
attention because writers in English turned writing in
Filipino.
• The drama experienced a lull during the Japanese period
because movie houses showing American films were
closed.
- The big movie houses were just made to show stage
shows. Many of the plays were reproductions of
English plays to Tagalog.
-The translators were Francisco Soc Rodrigo, Alberto
Concio, and Narciso Pimentel.
3. KARANIWANG ANYO (Usual Form)
– the usual and common form of poetry
• CARLOS PALANCA MEMORIA AWARDS
FOR LITERATURE -known to be the most prestigious
and longest-running award-giving body in the field of
literature.
• In 1950, the Palanca Awards were instituted to recognize
the finest writers of the country.
4. THE LATE 20TH CENTURY
• THE REBIRTH OF FREEDOM (1946-1970)
• The Americans returned in 1945. Filipinos rejoiced and
guerillas who fled to the mountain joined the liberating
American Army.
• On July 4, 1946, the Philippines regained freedom and
the Filipino flag waved joyously alone. The chains were
broken.

• A few of the playwriters were:
1. Jose Ma. Hernandez – wrote PANDAY PIRA
2. Francisco Soc Rodrigo – wrote sa PULA, SA PUTI
3.Clodualdo del Mundo – wrote BULAGA (an expression
in the game Hide and Seek).
4. Julian Cruz Balmaceda – wrote SINO BA KAYO?, DAHIL
SA ANAK, and HIGANTE NG PATAY.
• Three types of poems emerged during this period.
– a poem of free verse that the Japanese liked.
1. HAIKU - It is made up of seventeen (17) syllables
divided into three (3) lines. The first line has five, the
second – seven and the third – five. It is allegorical in
meaning, and covers a wide scope in meaning.
• The dramatic political scene of our country in the late
20th century shaped the literature at this time.
• Philippine writers reacted to oppression, censorship, and
changes in government.
• In the last 3 decades of the 20th century, the political
landscape of the Philippines was a key influence on the
literary produced.
• In particular, the experiences of the Filipinos during the
Marcos regime had shaped the literary texts that our
writers produced.
• Both vernacular works and English texts abounded.
The 1987 constitution identified Filipino and English as
the two official languages of the country.
• Amado Hernandez named National Artist for Literature
published “Bayang Malaya.”
This narrative poem recalls the Japanese occupation
through the eyes of proletariat characters.
Just as Hernandez was establishing the hallmark for poets
for Filipino, his contemporaries who wrote in English
began to focus as well on issues in society.
• Ruben Cuevas published “Prometheus Unbound”, an
anti-Marcos poem that found its way in a magazine
supporting the dictatorship.
• Certainly, the dictatorship recognized the power of
literature to open the minds of the Filipinos.
Publications like “Philippine Free Press” and “Philippine
Graphic” were shut down consequently. Even so, our
writers came up with an underground literature movement
that continued to express the voice of dissatisfaction.
• The social themes of Philippine fiction heightened in the
1970s.
Featuring stories by Fanny Garcia, Epifanio San Juan Jr.,
and Ricardo Lee, “Sigwa” cried foul against social
injustice.
Despite the government’s censorship, there were outlets
for protest fiction that endured. Among these outlets were
“Kamao,” “Dare to Struggle,” and “Ulos.”
• SELECTION:
 “Apo on the Wall” by BJ Patino
* Apo in Ilocano language means “master” or “sir”
• PERIODS (1986-1999)
• History took another twist. Once more, the Filipino
people regained their independence which they lost
twenty years ago.
• In the span of four days form February 21-25, 1986, the
so-called People Power (Lakas ng Bayan) prevailed.
Together, the people barricaded the streets petitioning the
government for changes and reforms.
• After the dictatorship, the short story and novel in
English continued to flourished.
Essayists were prolific in several outlets: magazines,
newspapers and anthologies.
Tapping into his field experiences as a journalist, Nick
Joaquin (Quijano del Manila) published books like
“Reportage on Politics and Other Essays.”
• The Palanca Awards have continued to bring the best of
our country’s finest writers. With recognition now being
extended to more literary forms (like children’s literature
and vernacular texts).
• Today, Philippine literature is highly dynamic and
colorfully diverse. A plethora of genres reflects the
abundance of local cultures across the archipelago.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
THE DIVERSITY OF PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
LESSON 1: ILOCANO LITERATURE
One of the most vibrant Filipino Literatures throughout
the ages.
Ilocano regions are also one of the most active
tributaries in the Philippine Literature next to Cebuano,
Bikol, Hiligaynon, Pampagainense, and Tagalog.
Purely alive in form of written and oral literature.
The ancient Ilocano poets expressed themselves in folk
and war songs.
Dallot, an improvised, versified and impromptu long
poem delivered in a sing-song manner.
When Spaniards arrived in Ilocos Norte in 1572, it took
a toll in Ilocano Literature
During the Spanish Era, Ilocano poetry was heavily
influenced by Spanish Poetry.
The earliest known written Ilocano poems were the
romances translated from Spanish by Francisco Lopez.
Lopez was an Augustinian friar who published his
Iloko translation of the Doctrina Christiana (first book
published in the Philippines by Cardinal Bellarmine) in
1621
PEDRO BUCANEG - first known Ilokano poet,
"Father of Ilokano Poetry and Literature“ blind since
childhood. He wrote Biag ni Lam-ang.
19th CENTURY
Leona Florentino- “National Poetess of the
Philippines” “Ilocana Mother of Filipino Poetry”. Her
poems appeared too syrupy for comfort and too
sentimental to the point of mawkishness. Also, utterly
devoid of form.
SELECTION: FOLK SONGS
1. MANANG BIDAY
2. PAMULINAWEN is the name of the lady this
song is being sung to.
LESSON 2: BICOLANO LITERATURE
Has its roots in orally transmitted poems and mythical
narratives that reflect the history of the people.
Mariano Perfecto is the first Bikolano writer who
published Bikola newspaper, he was also responsible for
the development of the first printing press named
“Imprenta de Nuestra Senora de Peñafrancia”
It was dominated by religious writing at that time, there
was another movement that emerged to give a spicy flavor
to the literature.
Protest Drama became a form of expressing the
people’s growing resentment of the Spanish rule
Indeed, writers of dramatic forms abounded across the
Bicol region. “Comedia” writers such as Sabas Armenta,
Juan Alvarez Guerra and Juan Miraflor have protest plays
credited to their names.
The Dramatic Genre of the “Corridor,” popular among
the Tagalog-seeking folk, was adapted into local
“Bikolcorrido” (with “Mag-amang Pobre” being popular
example)
Luis G. Dato – Day on the Farm
Marne L. Kilates – A Cloud Named Looking- for-You
Damiana Ligon Eugenio – Ang Duwende
- Mother of Philippine folklore
LESSON 3: CEBUANO LITERATURE
Refers to literary works written in Cebuano, a language
widely spoken in Southern Philippines
Majority of Cebuano writers are from the Visayas and
Mindanao region
Poetic Forms of Cebuano Literature:
“balak” (which contains a “balaybay” or metaphor)
“tigmo” (riddles)
“panultihon” (proverbs)
“garay” (verses)
Improvised poetry was present in the dramatic genre of
the “kulising Hari”
Visayan Folktale: The Santo Niño of Cebu
Visayan Poetry: Usahay: A Visayan Love Song
LESSON 4: ILONGGO LITERATURE
The Lingua Franca of the West Visayas in Central
Philippines is called Hiligaynon.West Visayas is
composed of the provinces Iloilo, Capiz, Antique, and
Aklan on the Island of Panay
Hiligaynon is spoken in Iloilo City
Kinaray-a or Hiraya is the other language of West
Visayas
The Northern Towns of Negros Occidental speak
Cebuano or Sugbuanon, the lingua franca of Central
Visayas.
The province of Aklan speaks Aklanon which, like
Hiligaynon, developed from Kinaray-a.
West Visayan literature before the coming of Spaniards
was a Kinaray-a which must have been the language in
folk literature of the Ten Bornean datus who, to the folk
account of the Maragtas, got the island of Panay from the
Aboriginal Ati in Exchange for a headgear of gold and a
necklace that touched the ground.
Folk Literature ranges from brief riddles, proverbs,
ditties, rituals chants to elaborate love songs, tales and
extensive epics.
A poem is called Binalaybay
A tale is the Asoy or Sugilanon
Ilonggo Folktale – The Story of the First Durian
Western Visayas – Ilonggo Folklore – Hinilawod
LESSON 5: EASTERN VISAYAS LITERATURE
Literature written in Waray and Cebuano by writers
from the region
Earliest accounts of East Visayan literature sate back
1668 when a Spanish Jesuit by the name of Fr. Ignatio
Francisco Alzina documented the poetic forms such as:
candu, haya, ambahan, canogon, bical, balac, siday, and
awit. He also described the susumaton and posong, early
forms of narrative.
Balac, a poetic love joust between man a woman.
According to Cabardo, the balac retained its form even as
it took new names and borrowed aspects of the languages
of the colonizers.
According to Cabardo, the balac retained its form even
as it took new names and borrowed aspects of the
languages of the colonizers.
* During the Spanish Period, the balac was called the
Amoral
* During the American Occupation, it was renamed
ismayling, a term derived from the English word “smile”
According to a literary investigator, in certain areas of
Samar, the same balac form of ismayling has been
reinvented to express anti-imperialist sentiments where
the woman represents the motherland and the man, the
patriot who professes his love of country.
Visayas Poetry: Flowers of May
Like a Joke that Seems True
Carlos A. Angeles: The Least Miracle
LESSON 6: SOUTHERN MINDANAO
LITERATURE
Southern Mindanao is composed of Compostela
Valley, Davao Del Norte, Davao Del Sur and Davao
Oriental.
Conpostela Valley is mainly agricultural while the
eastern part is mostly mountainous.
Natural Attractions include cold springs, cascading
falls, butterflies and exotic wildlife.
White sand beaches include Copiat Island.
Mansakas, the indigenous natives in Compostela
Valley, are known for their native dances, tribal jewelry,
and unique musical instruments
Davao Del Norte has 32 rivers including the Agusan
River
It is home to various cultural minorities inclusing the
Mnadaya, Nansaka and Dibbaon Tribes, tha Maragusan
Mansaka at San Mariano, the Dunggas Muslim Village
and Aeta settlements at Kapalong.
Natural sites include the Islands of Talicud, Ligid and
Palma Gil, and the Caliclic and Talicud Caves.
Davao City is the Center of Travel and Trade in the
Southern Philippines, known for the Exotic Fruit Durian,
the Waling-waling orchid, the Philippine Eagle and Mt.
Apo, the highest peak in the country.
Davao Del Sur is rich in Agriculture and farms which
includes fish farms an kiblawan in Santa Maria
A prawn and cocoa plantation in Malita
A sugar mill in Magonoy
A coconut desiccating plant in Santa Cruz
A fruit farm in Mt. Carmel nursery in Bansalan
Mindanao Poetry/Story: A Story of the Orphan Girl