PHILLIPINE LITERATURE

DURING THE SPANISH

PERIOD

Submitted To:

Mrs. Marissa Panogaling

Submitted By: BSBA II-A

Abian, Mebelle

Canonigo, Maria Theresa Victoria D.

Carullo, Arnold V.

Roca, Aprille Joy

Villaren, Joan
Philippine Literature during Spanish Period

The Philippine islands first came to the attention of Europeans with

the Spanish expedition around the world led by Portuguese explorer
Ferdinand Magellan in 1521. Magellan landed on the island of Cebu,
claiming the lands for Spain and naming them Islas de San Lazaro. In
1543, Ruy López de Villalobos led an expedition to the islands and gave
the name Las Islas Filipinas (after Philip II of Spain) to the islands of Samar
and Leyte. Until 1565, when an expedition led by Miguel López de Legazpi,
the first Governor-General of the Philippines, arrived in Cebu from New
Spain. The arrival of the Spaniards brought Spanish culture and language
editors. This prompted the rise of the ilustrados, an enlightened Filipino
upper class, since many young Filipinos were able to study in Europe. And
the natives are called "indios"
The Spanish period in Philippine literature ushered a new era in
Philippine literature. It paved the way for a greater collection of literary
genres, literary specimens and literary criticisms. The Spanish period
likewise witnessed dramatic changes in the lifestyle of the Filipinos ranging
from the daily routines to the very thoughts that they have in their minds.
The old Baybayin was replaced with the Spanish (Roman) alphabet called
the abecederio. The teaching of the Christian Doctrine became the basis
of religious practices. The Spanish language traditionally
called Castillan which became the literary language during this time, lent
many of its words to our present-day Filipino language.
Prose during the Spanish period.
The prose literatures during the Spanish period were chiefly
concerned on the propagation and spread of Christianity. They were written
to enhance the Christian religion and morality and to give color to the
Filipino’s daily life. The prose writing during this period is known
as “Church Literature.” The Spanish friars spent a considerable time
burning and destroying ancient and Pre-Spanish literatures such as chants
or “bulong” which they deemed as works of evil. Instead, they took pains
studying our native languages and vernaculars.
Printed Books
1. Doctrina cristiana (Christian doctrine) was the first book printed in the
Philippines 1593. It was printed using the process called xylography
imported from Spain. It was written by Fr. Juan de Placencia and Fr.
Domingo Nieva, written both in Spanish and Tagalog. It contains 87
pages and the three original copies were stored in Vatican, Madrid
Museum and the Library of US Congress. It contains the basic
catechetical teachings such as:
A. Pater Noster
B. Ave Maria
C. The Ten Commandments
D. Regina coeli
E. Seven Mortal Sins
F. Apostles’ Creed
G. The Commandments of the Catholic Church
H. Nuestra Señora Del Rosario (Our Lady of the Rosary) was the
second book printed in the Philippines written by Fr. Blancas de San
Jose in 1602. It was printed at UST Press with the help of Juan
Vera, a Chinese mestizo. It contains: Biographies of the Saints
I. Novenas
J. Questions and Answers about Roman Catholicism
2. Libro delos Cuatros Posprimeras de Hombres (The Book on the
Four Fathers of the Church) was the first book printed in typography. It
contains the biography of the Four Fathers of the Catholic Church.
3. Barlaan at Josaphat (Barlaan and Josphat) was a Biblical story printed
in the Philippines translated into Tagalog by Fr. Antonio de Borja from
the original Greek written by San Juan Damaseño. It is the first Tagalog
novel published in the Philippines with 556 pages. Fr. Agustin Mejia
translated it into the Ilokano version.
4. Urbana at Felisa (Urbana and Felisa) is a book written by Fr. Modesto
de Castro, dubbed as the “The Father of Classic Tagalog Prose”. It is a
correspondence story between two sisters that has influenced greatly
the behavior of people in society. It outlines how the good manners and
right conduct of individuals in their dealings with other people.
5. Ang mga Dalit kay Maria was a collection of songs praising the Virgin
Mary written by Fr. Mariano Sevilla in 1856. It was popularized and
sang during May time “Flores de Mayo.”
Other Prose Compositions
1. Arte Y Reglas de la Lengua Tagala (Arts and Rules of the Tagalog
Language) is a book written by Fr. Blancas de San Jose with the help of
Fernando Bagongbanta, a ladino and a Tagalog man-of-letters.
2. Vocabulario de la Lengua Tagala (Vocabulary of the Tagalog
Language) was the first Tagalog dictionary written by Fr. Pedro de San
Buenaventura in 1613.
3. Compendio de la Lengua Tagala (A Dictionary of the Tagalog
Language) was written by Fr. Gaspar de San Agustin in 1703.
4. Vocabulario de la Lengua Pampanga (Vocabulary of the
Kapampangan Language) was the first book in Kapampangan written
by Fr. Diego in 1732.
5. Vocabulario de la Lengua Bisaya (Vocabulary of the Visayan
Language) was deemed as the best language book in Bisayan by
Mateo Sanchez in 1711.
6. Arte de la Lengua Ilokana (Art of Ilokano Language) was the first
Ilokano grammar book written by Fr. Francisco Lopez.
7. Arte de la Lengua Bicolana (Art of the Bicol Language) was the first
book in Bicol language written by Fr. Marcos Lisbon in 1754.

Poetry during the Spanish period

Just like the prose written during the Spanish period, the poetry
composed during the Spanish period were primarily used to spread
Christianity. In almost all parts of the archipelago, the Christianity doctrine
was propagated using the sword and the cross. The old and ancient poetic
samples are either burned or destroyed by the friars.

The arrival of xylography and typography printing equipment

triggered the faster and easier means of communicating one’s thought
through poetry. Some Filipino versifiers adopted the new language
(Spanish) while others maintained their local tongue in writing poetry. As
time went by, some natives began learning the Spanish languages and
became well-versed. These natives who became experts in speaking and
writing Spanish language are called ladinos. Each poetic work was
commonly written in two tongues, Spanish and Tagalog.

Pioneer Filipino poets

1. Fernando Bagongbanta was a native of Abucay Bataan who assisted
Blancas de San Jose in printing Artes Y Reglas de la Lengua
Tagala. His well-known work is the poem entitled “Salamat nang
walang Hanggan”.
2. Tomas Pinpin was a contemporary of Bagongbanta was known as the
“Prince of Filipino Printers” because he was the first indio to own a
printing press. He was the co-author of Fr. Blancas de San Jose in the
book “Librong pag-aaralan ng mga Tagalog sa Wikang Castila.”
3. Pedro Suarez Osorio comes from Ermita, Manila and wrote the book
entitled “Explicacion de la Doctrina Lengua Tagala.”
4. Felipe De Jesus was a native of San Miguel, Bulacan who possess a
tender feeling when he wrote “Ybong Camunti sa Palad.”
Types of Poetry during Spanish period
1. Hymns and Religious verses were adaptation of the ancient and Pre-
Spanish songs and hymns incorporated with Catholic dogma and rites
and rituals. These were:
A. Talindaw is a native verse sung by a leader during a ceremony
usually during a novena.
B. Pabinian is the choral response of the mass to the leader’s talindaw
C. Dalit kay Maria made up of 2 or 4 line verse sung much more
seriously as an invocation to the Virgin Mary.
2. Buhay is an extended and versified biography of European saints and
some personalities in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible.
3. Awit is a song usually chanted which is usually comprised of
dodecasyllabic (12) verse fabricated from the writer’s imagination. The
awit entitled Florante at Laura was written by Francisco “Balagtas”
Baltazar who was deemed as the “Prince of Tagalog Poets.”
4. Corrido is a song which narrates a story usually comprised of
octosyllabic (8) verses about legends from European and other
kingdoms. The corrido entitled “Ibong Adarna” was written by Jose
Corazon dela Cruz (Huseng Sisiw) was deemed as the “King of
Tagalog Poets.”
5. Ang Pasyon ni Kristo (The Passion of the Christ) is a book detailing
the life and sufferings of Jesus Christ read during Lent season.
Chanters take 2-4 nights singing Pasyon, and it has been translated
into various dialects throughout the country. Popular Tagalog
translations include:
 A. Mariano Pilapil (Tondo)
B. Gaspar Aquino de Belen (Batangas)
C. Aniceto de la Merced (Bulacan)
D. Luis de Guia (Bulacan)
6. Folksongs are song representatives of each ethnic group/region that
manifests artistic feelings of the Filipinos. They are usually the reflection
of the feelings, ideas and customs of the common people during the
Spanish period. Some of the popular folksongs per group/region
include:
A. Ilokano – Pamulinawen, Manang Biday
B. Kapampangan – Atin cu pung Singsing
C. Tagalog – Sit-sirit-sit, Leron-leron Sinta, Paru-parong Bukid
D. Bicol – Sarung banggui
E. Bisaya – Dandansoy
F. Waray – Tuba
G. Leyte – Lawiswis kawayan
7. Spanish-Influenced Dramas are amalgamations of old, Pre-Spanish
customs and Christian practices. Carrying a religious tone, each
dramatic work is performed of celebrated symbolic Christian overtones.
Some of these include:
A. Tibag is a ritual celebration to remind the people about the search
of St. Helena for the cross on which Jesus died
B. Lagaylay is a special occasion celebrated by the Pilareños of Pilar,
Sorsogon during May to meet together and celebrate in honor of
religious patron
C. Cenaculo is a dramatic presentation to commemorate the passion
and death of Jesus Christ. It has two kinds:
i. Cantada is a performance where the lines are
sung/chanted in verse like the Pasyon.
ii. Hablada is a performance where the lines are spoken in
deliberate manner in dignified theme.
D. Panunuluyan is a dramatic presentation of the search of the Virgin
Mary and St. Joseph for an inn in to deliver the baby Jesus.
E. Salubong is an Easter play that dramatizes the meeting of the
Risen Christ and His mother, Virgin Mary.
F. Carillo is (also known as shadow play) which is a dramatic
entertainment performed in moonless nights during town fiestas or
on dark nights after harvest. It has different names in various
localities such as:
i. Carillo – in Manila, Rizal, Batangas and Laguna
ii. Titres – Pangasinan, Bataan, Capiz and Negros
iii. Gagalo/Kikimut – in Pampanga and Tarlac
iv. Al-alia – Ilocos and La Union
G. Zarzuela is a musical comedy or melodrama in three acts which
deals with man’s passions and emotions as well as social issues.
This is usually patronized and exclusive only for the rich and well-to-
do families.
H. Sainete is a short musical and exaggerated comedies performed for
the benefit of the people from the lower social classes.
I. Moro-moro is a dramatic performances presented during town
fiestas to entertain people which depicts the struggles between
Christian princes and Moslem sultans. The outcome is always
predictable with the defeat and conversion of Moslem fighters into
Christians.
J. Panambitan is a chant of free verse by a bereaved person beside
the corpse of the dead. It is called Taghoy or Panaghoy in other
places and the Ilokanos call it “Dung-aw”.
K. Karagatan is a poetic vehicle of socio-religious discussions which is
performed/celebrated during the wake of a dead person. It is based
on a legend about a princess who dropped her ring in the middle of
the ocean for her suitors to dive a retrieve. Whoever is able to return
the ring is worthy to be chosen.
L. Duplo is a poetic joust in speaking and reasoning with roles taken
form the Bible’s Proverbs and sayings and usually performed in the
wake of a dead person. It eventually replaced karagatan.
M. Balagtasan is a poetic joust or contest on a particular issue or topic
and is held in honor of Francisco “Balagtas” Baltazar. It
replaced duplo. It has been adopted in many places with different
names such as:
i. Bukanegan is an Ilokano adaptation of Balagtasan held
in honor of Pedro Bukaneg, an Ilokano man-of-letters,
and celebrated author of the Ilokano epic, Biag ni Lam-
ang.
ii. Crisotan is a Kapampangan adaptation of Balagtasan in
honor of Juan Crisostomo Soto, a Kapampangan man-of-
letters.