Long before the Spaniard and other foreigners

landed on Philippine shores, our forefathers already

had their own literature stamped in the history of our
race.
Our ancient literature shows our customs and
traditions in everyday life as trace in our folk stories,
old plays and short stories.
Our ancestors also had their own alphabet which
was similar to that of the Malayo-Polynesian
alphabet.
 Whatever record our ancestors left were either
burned by the Spanish friars in the belief that they
were works of the devil or were written on materials
that easily perished.

The Spaniards who came to the Philippines

tried to prove that our ancestors were really fond of
poetry, songs, stories, riddles and proverbs which
we still enjoy today and which serve to show to
generations the true culture of our people.
 a. LEGENDS
Legends are a form of prose the common
theme of which is about the origin of a thing,
place, location or name.

The events are imaginary, devoid of truth and

unbelievable.
Example: THE LEGEND OF TAGALOGS
 B. FOLK TALES
Folk tales are made up of stories about
life, adventure, love, horror and humor
where one can derive lessons about life.
Example: THE MOON AND THE SUN
 C. THE EPIC AGE
Epics are long narrative poems in which a series of
heroic achievements or events, usually of a hero, are
dealt with at length.
Example
• Bidasari-Moro epic
• Biag ni Lam-ang-Ilokano epic
• Maragtas-Visayan epic
• “Dagoy”at “Sudsod”-Tagbanua epic
• Indarapatra at Sulayman
 D. FOLK SONGS
Folk songs are one of the oldest forms of
Philippine literature that emerged in the pre-
Spanish period.

These songs mirrored the early forms of

culture.
Many of these have 12 syllables.
Example:
• Kundiman
• Kumintang o Tagumpay
• Ang Dalit o Imno
• Ang Oyayi o Hele
• Diana
• Soliraning
• Talindaw
 1. Epigrams
(Salawikain)
These have been customarily used and
served as laws or rules on good behavior by
our ancestors
These are like allegories or parables that
impart lessons for the young.
Example:
• Mankind must put an end to war, or
war will put an end to mankind
• It is better to light the candle than to
curse the darkness.
• Blessed are the peacemakers.
• Kung ano ang puno, siya ang bunga.
• Kung may tinanim, may aanihin.
 2. Riddles
(Bugtong)
These are made up of one or
more measured lines with rhyme and
may consist of four to 12 syllables
Example:
Three eyes I have,
all in a row; when the
red one opens, all
freeze.
 What animal walks
on all fours in the
morning, two in the
afternoon and three in
the evening?
 What gets
wetter and wetter
the more it
dries?
 I have a tail, and I have
a head, but I have no
body. I am NOT a snake.
What am I?
 At night they come
without being fetched.
By day they are lost
without being stolen.
What are they?
 What two words
have thousands of
letters in them?
What’s full of
holes but still
holds water?
What comes once in a
minute, twice in a
moment, but never in
a thousand years?
He has married many
women, but has never
been married. Who is
he?
Pronounced as one letter, and
written with three, two letters
there are, and two only in me.
I’m double, I’m single, I’m
black, I’m blue and gray. I’m
read from both ends and the
same either way. What am I?
 3. Chant (Bulong)
Used in witchcraft or enchantment.

Example:
Ikaw ang magnanakaw ng bigas ko
Lumuwa sana ang mata mo
Mamaga sana ang katawan mo
Patayin ka ng mga anito
Bari-bari apo, umisbo lang ti tao (Ilokano)
 4. Maxims
Some are rhyming couplets with
verses of 5, 6 or 8 syllables, each
line having the same number of
syllables.
Example:
• Pag hindi ukol,
Hindi bubukol.
• Nothing ventured,
Nothing gained.
• We promise according to our hopes,
and perform according to our fears.
 5. Sayings
(Kasabihan)
Often used in teasing or to
comment on a person’s actuations.
Example:
• Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan
ay hindi makararating sa paroroonan.
• Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man
healthy, wealthy and wise.
• Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
• Laugh and the world laughs with you, weep and
you weep alone.
• Its better to have loved and lost, than never to
have loved at all
 6. Sawikain
Sayings with no hidden meanings
Has a phrase that has a different
meaning than the literal meaning of
the phrase.
Example:
• Break a leg
• Give it a shot
• Have second thoughts
• Have a change of heart
• It cost an arm and a leg
• Piece of cake
• Call it a day