TIMELINE OF THE PHILIPPINE LITERATURE

Pre-Colonial Period
Early Times-1564
The first period of the Philippine literary history is the longest. Long time before the
Spaniardslanded on Philippine shores, our forefathers already had their own literature
stamped in the history of our race.

RIDDLES (bugtong)- battle pf wits among participants. It is called Tigmo in Cebu,

Paktak in Ilonggo ,and patotdon in Bicol.

PROVERBS (salawikain)- wise sayings that contain a metaphor used to teach as a food
for thought.

TANGA- one stanza poems consisted usually of four lines with seven syllables, all lines
rhyming.

FOLK SONGS- one of the oldest forms of Philippine literature that emerged in Pre-
Spanish period
A. Hele- lullaby
B. Ambahan (Mangyan)- about human relationships and social entertainment
C. Kalusan (Ivatan)- work songs
D. Tagay (Cebuano and Waray)- drinking song
E. Kanogan (CEbuano)- song of lamentation for the dead
FOLK TALES MYTHS- explain how the world was created, how certain animals possess
certain characteristics, why some playes have waterfalls, volcanoes, mountains, flora,
and fauna.
LEGENDS- explain the origins of things.
FABLES- used animal characters and allegory
FANTASY STORIES- deal with underworld characters such as tiyanak, aswang, kapre,
and so on.
EPICS- these are narratives of sustained length based on oral tradtion revolving
around supernatural events or heroic deeds
Example: Biag ni Lam-and (Ilocano)
FOLK TALES- made up stories about life, adventure, love, horror, and humor where
one can derive lessons about life.
SONGS- a composition for voice and voice performed by singing.
Kundiman- is a filipino love song traditionally sung by a man wooing the woman of
his dream.
1. Leron Leron Sinta- the songs depicts humbleness.
2. Sarung banggi- a kundiman which means “one night” or “one evening” in Bicol.
RELIGIOUS DRAMA- setting forth events recorded in the Bible or moral lessons to be
drawn from religious teaching.
A. Panunulayan- a Philippine Christmas dramatic ritual.
DRAMA- enacted in front of live audiences. It is also known as a play.
A. Why Woman Wash the Dishes- this is filled with humor and antiques.
WRITTEN LITERATURE- short stories and poetry
SHORT STORIES- a brief work of literature
POETRY- an imaginative awareness of experiences expressed through meaning, sound,
and rhythmic language.

NOTABLE FILIPINOS DURING SPANISH COLONIZATION PERIOD IN PHILIPPINE

LITERATURE
JOSE DELA CRUZ(1746-1829)- he was a foremost exponent of the komedya during his
time.
FRANCISCO BALTAZAR-(1788-1862)- he was popularly called Balagtas, he is the
acknowledged master of traditional tagalog poetry.