HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Long time before the Spaniards

and other foreigners landed onPhilippine
shores, our forefathers already had their
own literature stamped inthe history of
our race.
Our ancient literature shows our
customs and traditions in everyday
life as traced in our folk stories, old plays
and short stories.
Our ancient ancestors also had
their own alphabet which was
differentfrom that brought by the
Spaniards. The first alphabet used by
our ancestorswas similar to that of the
Malayo-Polynesian alphabet.
Whatever records our ancestors
left were either burned by theSpaniards
friars in the belief that they were works
of the devil or werewritten on materials
that easily perished, like the barks of
trees, dried leavesand bamboo cylinders
which could not have remained
undestroyed even ifefforts were made to
preserve them.
Other records that remained
showed folk songs that proved
theexistence of a native culture truly our
own. Some of these were passed on
byword of mouth till they reached the
hands of some publishers or printers
whotook interest in printing the
manuscripts of the ancient Filipinos.
The Spaniards who came to the
Philippines tried to prove that
ourancestors were really fond of poetry,
songs, stories, riddles and
proverbswhich we still enjoy today and
which serve to show to generations the
trueculture of our people.

The Pre-Spanish Literature is

characterized by
LECEADS
Are Iorms oI prose, the common theme oI
which is about the origin oI a thing,
place, location or name. The events are
imaginary, devoid oI truth and
unbelievable. Its aim is to entertain.
xample:
The Legend of the Tagalogs
In a certain wide region oI Luzon,
there was a village Irequented by young
men. Thetown was Iull oI trees, beautiIul
Ilowers and a river where clear waters
Ilowed. What attractedthe young men more
than the scenery was a beautiIul nymph- like
maiden.
The maiden was Maria and she had
lots oI suitors who came Irom aIar and who
IoughtIor her hand. But Maria remained
unconcerned and very choosy. Because she
was kind, hersuitors remained undaunted so
Maria thought oI a plan. She called all the
men together and toldthem, "You are all
good and kind and it is diIIicult Ior me to
choose one among you. Let medecide with a
test. "I'll marry the Iirst man who can bring
me a big, live and strong serpent,"
Maria said in iest.
The young men were dumbIounded.
AIter a while, the voice oI Ilog broke the
silence. "In
promise to bring you one, Maria. Eve iI I
have to risk my like, I'll bring you what you
wish.
Ilog was a man known Ior his bravery. He
leIt immediately to IulIill his promise.
The men whispered among
themselves. They were sure that Ilog would
never be able toreturn. They waited Ior a
long while but Ilog had not returned. Even
Maria was saddenedbecause she also grieved
the loss oI a man as brave and
accommodating as Ilog. AIter manyhours,
Ilog returned.They crowded to see how Ilog
would prove his bravery. Ilog held a
bigsnake by its nape and tail. While the men
were thus occupied, two Spaniards passed
by. Theirattention was caught not by what
Ilog held but by the beauty oI Maria.
"Maria," heroically called Ilog. "I've brought
you the serpent you wished Ior. What else
do you want me to do to make you happy?"
The Spaniards were startled. They
asked the people around where they were
and in whatplace they were in but nobody
paid attention Ior their attention were
Iocused on the snake and onMaria. When
Maria saw that the snake was still
struggling, she shouted.
"Taga, Ilog! Taga, Ilog!" (Cut, Ilog! Cut,
Ilog!) which she addressed to Ilog so he
would
cut the snake up again.
The two Spaniards, thinking that this was in
answer to their question repeated the words
TAGAILOG, TAGAILOG which later
became TAGAL
The Legend of Makahiya
Once the there lived a rich couple, Mang
Dondong and Aling Iska. They had a
twelve-
year old daughter whose name was Maria.
They loved their daughter so dearly.
Maria was a beautiIul and obedient
daughter. Industrious and kind, she made
herselIendeared to everybody.But shyness
was also one oI Maria`s distinct
characteristics. She was soshy that talking to
people posed a great burden to her. In order
to avoid encountering people, sheusually
locked herselI in her room.
Maria had a Ilower garden. The
Ilowers were beautiIul and know all over the
town. Shetook care oI the plants patiently
and tenderly. For the Ilower plants were her
source oI enioymentand happiness. One day
news spread that a group oI bandits raided a
nearby village. The banditskilled every man
they Iound and took their money oI the
residents.
The next day the bandits came to the
village where Mang Dondong and Aling
Iska andtheir daughter lived. Mang Dondong
noticed at once the arrival oI the bandits.
Fearing IorMaria`s saIety, he decided to hide
Maria in the garden, which he did. Aling
iska hid herselI in thehouse. She trembled
with Iear when she heard the bandits Iorcing
their way to the gate. Then sheprayed,
preparing herselI Ior whatever would
happen. 'Oh, my God! prayed Aling Iska,
'Savemy daughter.
Suddenly the door opened. The
bandits entered the house and hit Mang
Dondong on thehead. Mang Dondong lost
consciousness and Iell on the Iloor. Aling
Iska tried to escape but wasalso hit on the
head. The bandits ransacked every place in
the house. AIter taking the money
andiewelry, they searched Ior Maria. But
Maria was nowhere to be Iound. So the
bandits leIt thehouse to plunder another
village.
When Mang Dondong and Aling
Iska regained consciousness, the bandits leIt
already.They quickly ran to the garden to
look Ior Maria. But Maria was not there.
Again and again, theysearched every corner
in the garden but poor Maria could not be
Iound. 'My poor daughter!They took my
poor daughter! wept Aling Iska.
All oI a sudden mang Dondong Ielt
something that pricked his Ieet. To his
surprise, hesaw a tiny plant quickly closing
its leaves. It was the Iirst time he saw that
kind oI plant. He knelton his knees and took
a close look at the plant. Aling Iska did the
same. AIter looking at the plantIor a long
time, the couple came to the belieI that
theplant was Maria. For indeed maria had
beentransIormed by into a plant to save her
Irom the bandits.
Aling Iska wept uncontrollably and to Mang
Dondong`s amazement, every tear was
transIormed into a small and round rosy
Ilower oI the new plant they Iound in the
garden.
Since then Mang Dondong and Aling Iska
tended the plant with out most care.
They knew that the plant was, in
reality, their child Maria. And, like their
child, the plantwas very shy. So they called
the plant 'makahiya because it showed an
important characteristicoI Maria shyness
which in Tagalog means 'makahiya.

LK 1ALESmade up oI stories about liIe,

adventure, love, horror and humor where
one
derive lessons about liIe. These are useIul to
us because they help us
appreciate our environment, evaluate our
personalities and improve our
perspectives in liIe.
Example:
THE MOON AND THE SUN
(Tingguian Iolk tale)
In the olden days, like the moon, the
sun had also star children which were
yellowish incolor, very bright and very hot.
He star children oI the moon, however, were
reddish and cool.That moon was scared hat
his stars would wither and die iI they play
with the star children oI thesun. The moon
suggested to the sun that they kill their
children who were crowding the
heavenswith their number.
When the sun had killed her
children, the moon merely hid behind the
clouds. In theevening, when the clouds
Iaded, the moon stars appeared. This
angered the sun so he gave chaseto the
moon. Thus when he overtakes the moon,
we have the so-called eclipse. Every
morning,the kills the moon stars that he
catches.
Until now, this chase continues and because
the moon still continues to give birth to
stars,
these moon stars are still around.
EPICare long narrative poems in which a
series oI heroic achievements or events,
usually oI
a hero, are dealt with at length. Nobody can
determine which epics are the oldest
because in their translations Irom other
languages, even in English and Spanish.
Aside Irom the aIorementioned epics, there
are still other epics that can be read and
studied like the Iollowing epics:
a. Bidasari Moro Epic
b. Biag ni Lam-ang Ilokano Epic
c. Maragtas Visayan Epic
d. Haraya Visayan Epic
e. Lagda Visayan Epic
I. Hari sa Bukid Visayan Epic
g. Kumintang Tagalog Epic
h. Parang Sabir Moro Epic
i. 'Dagoy at 'Sudsod Tagbanua Epic
i. Tatuaang Bagobo Epic
k. Indarapatra at Sulayman

BIAG NI LAM-ANG
Namongan (Lam-ang`s Mother) and
Don Juan (Lam-ang`s Father) had recently
beenuniIied in marriage. Shortly aIter,
Namongan became pregnant and Don Juan
perIormed thevarious tasks needed to
prepare Ior the birth. Don Juan sets out to
engage into a Iight with thecheckered
Igorots. Namongan gives birth to a baby boy
who is able to speak and requests to
benamed Lam-ang. At nine months, Lam-
ang discovers that his Iather, Don Juan, has
been goneand sets out to search Ior him.
Lam-ang brings various magic
stones on his iourney as well as weapons.
Eventually,Lam-ang encounters an Igorot
gathering and learns that his Iather was
killed and head severed.Lam-ang then
engages into battle and wins the Iight with
the Igorots oI the various Igorot townsand
villages. Lam-ang then returns home and
achieves various tasks, such as cleaning the
barn,washing his hair, and deIeating the
crocodile. Lam-ang then determines that he
would like tovisit Dona Ines Kannoyan oI
Kalanutian and attempt to court her.
Dona Ines Kannoyan is
described as a 'perIect woman who has
many suitors.She is the daughter oI
Unnayon. Against the wishes oI his mother,
Lam-ang travels to Kalanutianto meet
Kannoyan. During his iourney he encounters
two people, a man named Sumarang, a
mankilled by Lam-ang who shared the same
task as Lam-ang, and Saridaadan, a woman
Lam-angignores. Upon arriving in
Kalanutian, Lam-ang observes various
suitors oI Kannoyan. Theanimals Lam-ang
travel with create a disturbance and
thereIore achieves Kannoyan`s attention.
Lam-ang Iinds that Kannoyan has
been expecting him and moves on to meet
the parents.Lam-ang asks Ior the permission
to marry Kannoyan. Kannoyan`s parents
allow it only iI Lam-ang is capable oI
producing the same wealth the Iamily
possess. Lam-ang proves his prosperityand a
wedding is planned. Lam-ang travels home
to prepare Ior the wedding and returns
toKalanutian with his mother, townspeople,
and wedding supplies. Lam-ang and
Kannoyan getmarried in a church on a
Monday and a celebration takes place
shortly aIter. The townspeople oIthe bride
and groom, as well as the Iamily members,
travel on the two ships oI Lam-ang to Lam-
ang`s home town where another chain oI
Iestivities take place.
AIterward, Kannoyan`s parents
leave Kannoyan to live with Lam-ang and
the couplebegins their lives together. The
town head delegates a task to Lam-ang in
which he must Iish Iorraring. Lam-ang
attains a premonition oI an incident in which
the berkakan, a monster Iish,consumes his
entire body.
The premonition also includes an
omen in which, 'a dancing staircase and the
kasuuranbreaking into pieces.
Undoubtedly, the premonition and omen
become true, and Lam-ang isdevoured by a
berkakan. Kannoyan has seen the omen and
searches Ior a diver to locate thebones oI her
husband. Kannoyan brings the animals oI
Lam-ang to the bones and the whiterooster,
hen, and hairy dog perIorm a ritual on the
bones which bring Lam-ang back to liIe.

LK SACS
Iolk songs are one oI the oldest Iorms oI
Philippine literature that emerged
In the Pre-Spanish period. These songs
mirrored the early Iorms oI
culture. Many oI these have 12 syllables.
Examples:
KUNDIMAN
(Awit ng Pag-ibig Songs oI Love)
Noong unang panahon nung ako ay bata pa,
Natisod mo na ay di pa alintana,
Nang ako ay lumaki at maging dalaga,
Tila sa Wari ko y may pagbabanta pa.
Pagsinta mo sa akin ay di ko tatanggapin
Pagka`takong ito ay alangan sa tingin,
Ako ay mahirap, pangit pa sa tingin,
ANG DALIT O IMNO
(Song to the God OI the Visayans)
Puamanaog-pumanaog
Si Mansilatan
Saka si Badla ay bababa,
Mamimigay ng olakas,
Pasayawin ang mga Baylan,
Pagligiran ng mga Baylan.
KUMINTANG O TAGUMPAY
(War song)
Ang nuno nating lahat
Sa kulog di nasisindak,
Sa labanan di naaawat,
Pinuhunang buhay, hirap,
Upang tayong mga anak,
Mabuhay ng mapanatag.
ANG OYAYI O HELE
(Lullaby)
Matulog ka na bunso
Ang tatay mo ay malayo
Hindi nya tayo masundo
Pagkat ang daa`y maputik at mabalaho.
DIANA
(Wedding Song)
Umawit tayo at ipagdiwang
Ang dalawang pusong ngayon ay ikakasal
Ang daraanan nilang landas
Sabuyan natin ng bigas
SOLIRANING
(Song oI the Laborer)
Hala gaod tayo, pagod ay tiisin
Ang lahat ng hirap pag-aralang bathin
Kahit malayo man, kung ating ibigin,
Daig ang malapit na ayaw lakbayin.
Kay pagkasawing palad ng lanak sa hirap,
Ang bisig hindi iunat
Di kumita ng pilak.

EPICRAMS (Salawikain)these have been

customarily used and served as laws or rules
on
good behavior by our ancestors. To others,
these are like allegories
or parables that impart lessons Ior the
young.
Examples:
'May tainga ang lupa, may pakpak ang
balita.
'Kahit saang gubat, ay mayruong
ahas.
'Walang lumura sa langit na di sa
kanyang mukha nagbalik.
'Bago ka bumati ng sa ibang uling,
uling mo muna ang iyong pahirin.
'Ang umaayaw ay di nagwawagi, ang
nagwawagi ay di umaayaw.
"Although beauty may be skin deep,
many have drowned there."
RIDDLES (Bugtong or Palaisipan)
These are made up oI one or more measured
lines with rhyme and may consist oI
4 to 12 syllabes.
Examples:
Hiyas na puso, kulay ginto, mabango
kung amuyin, masarap kung kainin.
(mangga)
Nanganak ang birhen, itinapon ang
lampin. (saging)
May langit, may lupa, May tubig,
walang isda.(niyog)
Buhok ni Adan, hindi mabilang.(ulan)
Nagsaing si Hudas, kinuha ang tubig
itinapon ang bigas. (gata ng niyog)
hLLp//wwwscrlbdcom/doc/26364271/hlllppl
neLlLeraLurereSpanlsherlod