Philippine Literature in English reveals the spirit of the Filipino.

Gradually this literature has learned to express the deepest of human experiences in words that create
memorable images.
HISTORICAL Background
1898- American forces occupy Manila
1900- On January 29
th
, Taal Volcano erupts, killing 1,300 people and destroying 13 villages.
1901. Civil government is inaugurated with Judge William H. Taft as governor.
1907: Establishment of the first Philippine Assembly. Sergio Osmea serves as the speaker from 1907-1922
1908- University of the Philippines was founded.
1909- Manuel L Quezon is appointed as Filipino Resident Commissioner to the United States.
1913-1931- Governor General Francis Burton Harrison initiates policy of Filipinizing the government.
LITERARY
1900- English becomes the official medium of instruction of all public schools.
1901- The Philippine Normal School was founded. Its purpose was to train Filipinos in the Art of Teaching so that
they could eventually take charge of elementary education.
1905- The Philippine Free Press was founded
1910- The College Folio is published at the University of the Philippines.
- This magazine printed the works of the first promising writers in English. These early selections were mostly
ghost stories or folk tales explaining natural phenomena.
1920- The Philippine Herald began publication. It was founded by Manuel L. Quezon and its magazine section
was edited by Paz Marquez Benitez.
1921- First Filipino novel in English, A Child of Sorrow, is written by Zoilo M. Galang.
First volume of essays in English, Life and Success, is published by Zoilo M. Galang.
1924- Philippine Education Magazine is started. It is later renamed Philippine Magazine.
1925- The Philippine Free Press offers a literary prizes.
1927- The writers club was founded at the University of the Philippines.
Si Pascual H. Poblete ( Ama ng Pahayagan)ay kinilalang mandudulang may maapoy na pagmamahal sa kalayaan ng bayan. Ginamit niya
ang kanyang panulat upang gisingin ang damdaming makabayan ng mga Pilipino. Siya ay isinilang sa Naic, Cavite noong Mayo 17, 1858.
Siya ay nagtapos ng Bachiller en Artes sa Liceo de Manila. Siya rin ang nagtatag ng mga pahayagang El Grito del Pueblo (Ang Tinig ng
Bayan), noong panahon ng mga Amerikano. Dahil sa pagtatanghal ng kanyang dulang Amor Patria, siya at ang mayari ng tanghalang
ginamit sa pagtatanghal ay nabilanggo, bagamat sila ay nakalaya rin. Siya ang nagtatag at naging patnugot ng pahayagang El Resumen.
Ginamit niya ito upang tuligsain ang mga katiwalian at pang-aaping ginagawa ng mga makapangyarihang Kastila na siyang naging dahilan
upang siya ay mausig at ipatapon sa Africa.
Rafael Palma (24 October 1874 24 May 1939) was a Filipino politician, newspaperman and Freemason. He wrote for the newspapers La
Independencia, El Nuevo Dia, and La Renacimiento. He later studied law while keeping his post as the editor of El Renacimiento, the most
influential newspaper in Manila during the Spanish colonial period.
Si Jaime Carlos de Veyra (4 Nobyembre 1864 7 Marso 1963) ay isang kilalang periodista, politiko at humawak ng ibat-ibang sangay ng
pamahalaan.Siya ang kauna-unahang naging Patnugot ng Surian ng Wikang Pambansa. Nanungkulan siya bilang Patnugot ng SWP sa loob
ng humigit-kumulang sa apat na taon mula 1937 hanggang 1941. Isa rin siya sa mga tagapagbalangkas at tagapagtatag ng wikang
pambansa nakikilala ngayon sa tawag na Filipino.
Nagsulat siya ng isang artikulo na nalathala sa The Tribune noong Disyembre 30, 1939. Ito ay isang sanaysay na kinapapalooban ng mga
katanungan sa mga nag-aalinlangan at tumututol na Tagalog ang maging batayan ng Wikang Pambansa.
Aurelio Valenzuela Tolentino (October 13, 1867 July 5, 1915) was a Filipino playwright and dramatist whose works at the turn of the
20th century depict his desire to see Philippine independence from its colonizers. Tolentino formed Junta de Amigos, a secret organization
composed of former Katipuneros to fight for independence from the Americans. On May 14, 1903 his now famous verse drama, Kahapon,
Ngayon at Bukas, premiered at Manila's Teatro Libertad. The script called for tearing of the American flag, which was seen by some
Americans in the audience. After the show, he was promptly arrested for sedition and rebellion.

Juan Abad y Domingo (February 8, 1872 - December 24, 1932) was a Filipino printer turned playwright and journalist whose main
contribution to Filipino theater was his patriotic plays: the zarzuela Ang Tanikalang Guinto (The Golden Chain), and Isang Punglo ng
Kaaway, the former which, caused his arrest and trial. Some authors credit Abad with the introduction of symbolism to Tagalog drama,
[1]
a
claim which is still to be proven; although he may have been one of the first Tagalog dramatists to use symbolism in their plays.

Severino Reyes (February 12, 1861 September 15, 1942) was a Filipino writer, playwright, and director of plays. He used the pen
name Lola Basyang.
[1][2]
He was nicknamed "Don Binoy". Reyes is known as the "Father of Tagalog Plays" and as the "Father of the
Tagalog Zarzuela.
Si Tomas A. Remigio (1867-1916), isang katipunero at bayani, ay gumagamit ng sagisag-panulat na Malingap at isa sa mga naging
tagapayo ni Andres Bonifacio. Dahil sa sila ay nagkaroon ng hindi pagkakaunawaan, umalis si Remigio sa Katipunan at nagtatag ng sarili
niyang organisasyon, ang Binhi ng Payapa, na may layuning palayain ang mga mamamayan mula sa pagkaalipin.
Cecilio Apstol was a Filipino poet. His poems were once used to teach the Spanish language under the Republic Act No. 1881. Miyembro
siya ng editorial staff ng pahayagan ni Heneral Antonio Luna na La Independencia.
Si Epifanio de los Santos ay isang manananggol, mamamahayag, mananalaysay (historian), musikero, pintor, kritiko, manunulat, pilosopo
("philosopher") at masugid na kolektor ng mga antique. Itinatag ni Don Panyong (tawag sa kanya) at ng kanyang kaibigang si Clemente
Zuluetaang pahayagang La Libertad sa Malabon. Naging editor din siya ng unang rebolusyonarong pahayagang La Independencia. Sa
pagsusulat sa pahayagang ito ay ginamit niya ang sagisag na G. Solon.
Si Fernando Maria Guerrero ay isinilang noong Mayo 30, 1873. Siya ay anak nina Lorenzo Guerrero, isang kilalang pintor at guro ng
Sining at Clemencia Ramirez, na may likas na hilig sa musika. Nagtapos siya ng abogasya sa Unibersidad ng Santo Tomas. Ang
pinakamagagaling na tula ni Fernando ay tinipon sa isang aklat na pinamagatang Crisalidas (Mga Higad).
Si Jess Balmori (isinilang sa Ermita, Manila noong Enero 10, 1887) ay isa sa mga maaalam sa pampanatikan sa salitang Espanyol. Siya
ay nag-aral sa Collegio de San Juan de Letran at sa University of Santo Tomas, kung saan siya ay nanguna sa Panitikan. Siya ay ikinasal
kay Dolores Rodriguez.
Si Manuel Hernandez Bernabe ay mamamahayag, pulitiko, makata at mambibigkas sa wikang Kastila at Latin. Isinilang siya
noongPebrero 17, 1890. Anak siya nina Timoteo Bernabe at Emilia Hernandez.
Sa Ateneo de Manila siya nagsimulang mag-aral at nagtapos sa Unibersidad ng Santo Tomas. Siyam na taon lamang siya nang magsimula
siyang magsulat ng mga berso sa wikang Kastila at sa gulang na labing-apat ay bumibigkas na sa wikang Latin. Si Bernabe ang binigyan ng
taguring Hari ng Balagtasan sa Wikang Kastila.
Kilala bilang Don Claro, siya ay isinilang siya sa Tiaong, Tayabas (ngayon ay Quezon) noong Pebrero 8, 1890 subalit lumaki
sa Lipa, Batangas. Ang kanyang mga magulang ay sina Claro Recto Sr. at Micaela Mayo, kapwa taga-Batangas.
Adelina Gurrea Monasterio (1896-1971), a native of La Carlota, Negros Oriental, was a Hispano-Filipino editor and poet, whose
significant body of work in the Spanish language is only now being recognized in her native country.
Si Alejandro G. Abadilla ay makata, sanaysayista, at kuwentista. Si Abadilla, na tinawag ni Pedro Ricarte na ama ng makabagong
tulang Tagalog, ay sinalungat ang labis na romantisismo sa panitikang Tagalog at de-kahong paggamit ng tugma at sukat sa tula.
Tumulong siya sa pagpupundar ng Kapisanang Panitikan, upang isulong ang simulaing labanan ang di-lumalagong panitikang Tagalog.