WHAT IS CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE?

 Written after world war II through the current day

 Works of contemporary literature reflect a society's social and/or political viewpoints, shown
through realistic characters, connections to current events and socioeconomic messages
 writers are looking for trends that illuminate societal strengths and weaknesses to remind
society of lessons they should learn and questions they should ask.

Contemporary literature began in the 1940s or so. A few of its qualities:

 Reality-based stories with strong characters and a believable story;

 Well-defined, realistic, highly developed characters in realistic, sometimes harsh environments;
 Often the stories are character driven;
 The literature is ironic and reflects current political, social and personal issues;
 May reflect a personal cynicism, disillusionment and frustration;
 Facts are questioned as are historical perspectives;
 Often presents two contradictory arguments;
 The literature may reflect a growing skepticism in the existence of God as well as distrust or lack
of faith in traditional institutions

Manuel L. Quezon (1935-1944) and Jose P. Laurel(1943-1945) – presidents after world war II

Contemporary Literature in the Philippines

 Filipino writers continue to write poetry, short stories, novellas, novels and essays whether
these are socially committed gender, gender/ethnic related or are personal in intention or not.
 has become more conscious of his art with the proliferation of writers workshops here and
abroad and the bulk of literature available to him via the mass media
 Award during this period:
 Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature
 the Philippines Free press
 Philippine Graphic
 Home Life and Panorama literary awards
 Macario Pineda – “Ginto ng Makiling” – first work of note that appeared after the second war
 Stevan Javellana – “Without Seeing the Dawn”; Edilberto Tiempo –“watch the night” – talks
about war experience
 Amado Hernandez – “Luha ng Buwaya” (1963) – struggle between the oppressed peasantry and
the class of politically powerful landlords.
- “ Mga Ibong Mandaragit” (1969)- deals with the domination of Filipinos
by American industry

TIMELINE OF CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE IN THE PHILIPPINES

THE REBIRTH OF FREEDOM (1946-1970)

 Philippines regained freedom
 Filipinos learned to express themselves more confidently but post-war problems beyond
language and print-like economic stability, the threat of new ideas and mortality.
  They indulged in more militant attitude in their reporting which bordered on the
libelous so the tones and themes of the writings turned to the less pressing problems of
economic survival.

President during this time:

1. Sergio P. Osmena (1944-19646)

2. Manuel Roxas (1946-1948)
3. Elpidio Quirino (1948-1953)
4. Ramon Magsaysay(1953-1957)
5. Carlos P. Garcia (1957-1961)
6. Diosdado P. Macapagal (1961-1965)
7. Ferdinand Marcos(1965-1986)
 New Filipino Literature during this period:
 Philippines literature in Tagalog was revived.
 Themes in the writings dealt with Japanese brutalities, of the poverty of life
under the Japanese government and the brave guerilla exploits.
 Newspapers and magazine publications were re-opened.
 Tagalog poetry acquired not only rhyme but substance and meaning.
 Short stories had better characters and events based on facts and realities and
themes were more meaningful.
 The people’s love for listening to poetic jousts increased more than before and
people started to flock to places to hear poetic debates.
 Literature – struggle of mind and spirit
 Poetry
- Love of Nature
- Social and Political Problems
o Prose and Poems – Nick Joaquin
o Have Come, Am Here – Jose Garcia Villa

Authors during this time:

1. Stevan Javellanas – “Without Seeing the Dawn”

 Tells the experiences of war during the japanese
occupation
2. Francisco Arcellana – Pen Penthalogy of Short Stories
3. Kerima Polotan - novel “The Hand of the Enemy”
4. Luis V. Teodoro – short story “The Adversary”
5. S.P. Lopez – “For Freedom and Democracy”
6. Hernando Abaya – “Betrayal in the Philippines”

Ferdinand Marcos(1965-1986) - president during period activsim to third republic

PERIOD OF ACTIVISM (1970-1972)

 Youth activism in 1970-72 was due to domestic and worldwide causes.
 Young people became activists to ask for changes in the government.
 The writings of some youth who were fired with nationalism in order to emphasize the
importance of their petitions.
 Writers who were imprisoned were true nationalists and heroes of their time.
  A. SEED OF ACTIVISM
 The seeds of activism resulted in the declaration of Martial Law in 1972.
 The revolution against the powerful forces in the Philippines can be said to be
the monopoly of the youth in whose veins flow the fire in their blood.
 B. PERIOD OF BLOODY PLACARDS
 Youth became completely rebellious during this period and including in
literature.
 Wrote on placards the word Makibaka (to dare)
 Literature of the activists reached a point where they stated boldly what should
be done to effect these changes.

Authors during this time:

1. Rolando Tinio – poetry collection “Rage and Ritual” “Sitsit sa Kuliglig”

2. Rogelio Mangahas – poem “Mga Duguang Plakard”
3. Virgilio S. Almario – peotry collection “Palipad Hangin”
4. Cirilio F. Bautista – short story “The Ritual” “The Archipelago”
5. N.V.M Gonzales – poetry “The Tomato Game”
6. Virginia R. Moreno – Batik Maker and other Poems”
7. Jose F. Lacaba – “Days of the Disqiuet”, “Nights of Rage”

PERIOD OF NEW SOCIETY

 The period of the New Society started on Sept. 21, 1972. The Carlos Palanca Awards
continued to give annual awards.
 Almost all themes in most writings dealth with the development or progress of the
country – like the Green Revolution, family planning, proper nutrition, environment,
drug addiction and pollution. The New Society tried to stop pornography or those
writings giving bad influences on the morals of the people. All school newspapers were
temporarily stopped and so with school organizations.
 Filipino poetry during the period of the new society themes of most poems dealth with
patience, regard for native culture, customs and the beauties of nature and
surroundings.
 The play under the new society, the government led in reviving old plays and drams, like
Tagalog Zazuela, Cenaculo, and the Embayoka of the Muslims.
 Radio continued to be patronized during this period. The play series like SI MATAR,
DAHLIA, ITO AND PALAD KO, and MR. LONELY were the forms of recreation of those
without television.
 A yearly Pista ng mga Pelikulang Pilipino ( yearly Filipino Film Festival) was held during
this time.
 During this period of the new Society, newspapers donned new forms. News on
economic progress, discipline, culture, tourism and the like were favored more than the
sensationalized reporting of killings, rape and robberies.

Literary forms during this time:

1. Filipino Poetry
2. Play
3. Radio and Television
4. Filipino Films
 5. Comics, Magazines and other Publications

Authors during this time:

1. Antonio Enriquez – short story “Spots on their wings & other stories”
2. Gregorio C. Brillantes – short story “The Cries of Children on an April afternoon in the
year 1957”
3. Leoncio P. Deriada – “The day of the locusts”
4. Alfred A. Yuson – “ Romance & Faith on Mt. Banahaw”
5. Ricardo Demetillo – play “ The heart of the empitiness is black”
6. Rolando S. Tinio – play “A life in the Slums”
7. Cirilio F. Bautista – poetry “Charts”, “Telex Moon”

PERIOD OF THE THIRD REPUBLIC (1981-1985)

 After 10 years of military rule and some changes in the life of the Filipino which started
under the New Society, Martial Rule was at last lifted on Janaury 2, 1981.
 Poems during this period of the third Republic were romantic and revolutionary. Writers
wrote openly of their criticism against the government.
 Many Filipino songs dealt with themes that were reality true-to-life like those of grief,
poverty, aspirations for freedom, love of God, of country and of fellowmen.
 The yearly Festival of Filipino Films continued to be held during this period. The people’s
love for sex films was unabated.
Authors during this time:
1. Jessie B. Garcia – “In Hog Heaven”
2. Luning Bonidacio – “The Party Hopper”
3. Jesus Q. Cruz – “In these Hollowed Halls”
4. Jose Dalisay Jr. – “Heart Island”, “Old Timer”
5. Susan S. Lara – “The Reprieve”
6. Conrado De Quiros – “The Hand of God”
7. Isagani Cruz – “Age of Ninoy”

PERIODS (1986-1999)
 Once more, Filipino people regained their independence which they lost 20 years ago.
 Newspapers which were once branded corny newspapers became instant opposition
papers overnight.
 The Philippine revolution of 1986 and the fire of its spirit that will carry the Filipinos
through another epoch in Philippine History is still being documented
MODERN LITERATURE
 A portion of early modern Philippine literature was written during the American period,
most often as an expression of post-Hispanic nationalism by those who had either been
uneducated in Spanish or had lived in the Bisaya-speaking cities, and whose principles
entered in conflict with American cultural trends.
Wattpad - is an Internet community for readers and writers to publish new user-generated
stories in different genres, including classics, general fiction, historical fiction, non-fiction,
poetry, fanfiction, spiritual, humor, and teen fiction.
Sample of Wattpad Stories & Authors:
1. She’s Dating the Gangster
2. Diary ng Panget
3. Jonaxx – “Mapansin Kaya”
 4. Tita Lata – “The four bad boys and Me”
5. Aly Almario – “ Angel in Disguise”

Twitterature - Twitterature has been called a literary genre, but is more accurately an
adaptation of various genres to social media.[9] The writing is often experimental or
playful; with some authors or initiators seeking to find out how the medium of Twitter
affects storytelling or how a story spreads through the medium. A Swedish site called
Nanoismer.se was launched in 2011 to "challenge people to write deeper than what
Twitter is for".

National Artists for Literature

The Order of National Artists of the Philippines is conferred to Filipinos with "exquisite contribution
to Philippine art". The artists are chosen by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts
(Philippines) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines. The Order is given by the President of the
Philippines.

Awardees of the National Artist of the Philippines Order, for Literature, include:

1976 – Nick Joaquin, National Artist for Literature

1982 – Carlos P. Romulo, National Artist for Literature
1990 – Francisco Arcellana, National Artist for Literature
1997 – Nestor Vicente Madali Gonzalez, National Artist for Literature
1997 – Rolando S. Tinio, National Artist for Theater and Literature
1997 – Levi Celerio, National Artist for Music and Literature
1999 – Edith L. Tiempo, National Artist for Literature
2001 - F. Sionil Jose, National Artist for Literature
2003 – Virgilio S. Almario, National Artist for Literature
2003 – Alejandro Roces, National Artist for Literature
2006 –*2009 – Lazaro A. Francisco, National Artist for Literature
2014 – Cirilo F. Bautista, National Artist for Literature and Died in 2016