21st Century Literature from the

Philippines and the World

we’re here
 Learning Content

Unit 1 : 21st Century Philippines Literature from the Regions

Module 1: Mapping Literacy Past, Present and Future
Module 2: Poetry and the Archipelago
Module 3: The Landscape of Philippine Fiction
Module 4: In an Ocean of Emotions: Philippine Drama
Module 5: Archipelagic Life, or Creative Nonfiction
Module 6: Remapping of Philippine Literature through Criticism
Module 7: Looking Beyond: The Future of Philippine Literature
Module 8: Finding the Literary Space within You
Literature
: written works such as poems, plays and novels) that
Are considered to be very good to have lasting performance

: books, articles, etc., about a particular subject

: printed materials (such as booklets, leaflets, and brochures

That provide information about something

An art of undying expression of dreams, emotions,

aspirations., and etc
What is 21st Century Literature?
Written by contemporary authors
Deals with current issues and reflects technological features
Often breaks traditional writing rules
Emerging genres like IM and blog format books, digi-fiction, doodle fiction and graphic
novels.
 Periods of Philippine Literature

Spanish
Philippine American
Colonial Nationalistic Japanese Contempo
Precolonial Colonial
Philippine Period Occupation rary
Literature Period
Literature Period
 Hindi pari, hindi hari
nagdadamit ng sari-sari.
 Pre Colonial Period
• It was marked by our ancestors’ daily observations about life,
explanations for natural phenomena, and beginnings of rituals.
• Paper was not yet invented.
• Oral Literature
Forms of Literature:
a. Riddles – battle of wits among participants.
b. Proverbs – practical observations and philosophy of everyday life.
c. Folk Songs – expresses the hopes and aspirations.
courtship, lullabies, harvests, funerals and others.
d. Folk tales - are stories of origin of certain places, names and creation.
Myths – a story that was told in an ancient culture to explain a
practice, or belief.
Legends – a famous or important person who is known for doing
something extremely well.
Fables – used animal characteristics in allegory.
e. Epics – a long-winded poems about a hero and his adventures and
misadventure. (Biag ni Lam-ang)
74,211,896
Whoa! That’s a big number, aren’t you proud?
 Spanish Colonial Period
• Spanish Colonial literature focused
on the society and culture as
reflected by the Catholic faith. Up
until now, this kind of influence still
reigns true in Filipino society, as the
Philippines is one of the largest and
longest remaining Catholic Country
in the world in terms of population.
Religious Literature:
a. Pasyon – a narrative poem
about the life of Jesus Christ.
b. Cenaculo – is the
dramatization of passion of
Christ.
Secular Literature:
a.Awit – colorful tales of chivalry made for
singing and chanting. (Ibong Adarna)
b.Corrido – religious narrative form that usually
details the lives of saints or history of a
tradition. (Florante at Laura)
c.Carillo – shadow play.
d.Moro – moro – blood and thunder melodrama
depicting conflict between Christians and
Muslims.
13
 Nationalistic / Propaganda and
Revolutionary Period

Planted seeds of nationalism in Filipino.

Language shifted from Spanish to
Tagalog.
Addressed the masses instead of the
“intelligentsia”
Literary Forms:
1. Propaganda Literature - Reformatory in
objective.
A. Political Essays – satires, editorials and news
articles were written to attack and expose
the evils of Spanish rule.
i. Diariong Tagalog – founded by Marcelo del
Pilar.
ii. La Solidaridad – whose editor-in-chief is
Graciano Lopez-Jaena
 B. Political Novels
i. Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo – Jose
Rizal’s masterpieces that paved the way to the
revolution
2. Revolutionary Literature – more propagandistic
than literary as it is more violent in nature and
demanded complete independence for the country
a. Political Essays – helped inflame the spirit of
revolution.
Kalayaan – newspaper of the society, edited by Emilio
Jacinto.
Youth must triumph . . Now.
Afterwards, it will be fine.
Jose Garcia Villa

17
 American Colonial Period
A period of apprenticeship.
Filipino imitated English and
American models.
Poems written were amateurish
and mushy,
which phrasing and
diction is awkward and artificial.
a. Short Stories
i. Dead Stars – Paz Marquez Benitez
ii. The Key – Paz Latorena
iii. Footnote to Youth – Jose Garcia Villa
b. Novels
i. Childe of Sorrow – first novel in English,
by Zoilo
Galang
 Japanese Occupation

Tagalog poets broke away

from the Balagtas tradition
and instead wrote in simple
language and free verse
Fiction prevailed over
poetry.
A. 25 Pinakamabuting Maikling Kathang
Pilipino (1943) – compilation of theshort
story contest by the military government
i. Suyuan sa Tubigan – Macario Pineda
ii.Lupang Tinubuan – Narciso Reyes
iii.Uhaw ang Tigang na Lupa – Liwayway
Arceo
B.Period of Maturity and Originality (1945-
1960)
1.Bountiful harvest in poetry, fiction, drama
and essay
2.Filipino writers mastered English and
familiarized themselves with diverse
techniques
3.Literary “giants” appeared
Contemporary Period

1.Martial Law repressed and curtailed

human rights, including freedom of
the press

2. Writers used symbolisms and

allegories to drive home their
message, at the face of heavy
censorship
3.Theater was used as a vehicle for
protest, such as the PETA (Phil.
Educational Theater Association) and
UP Theater.

4.From the eighties onwards, writers

continue to show dynamism and
innovation