Filipino Authors
history ensued.
Francisco Baltazar ( 1788-1862)
 The master of traditional tagalog poetry
 Became well known for his work Florante at
Laura (1838-1861), the most famous metrical
romance of the country.
Pedro Paterno (1857-1911) wrote Sapaguitas y poesias
varias (1880),
 the first poetry collection in Spanish by a
Filipino: and the novel in Spanish Ninay (1885)
considered to be the first Filipino novel.
Jose Rizal ( 1861-1896), a prominent ilustrado and the
countrys national hero, famous for the novels Noli Me
Tangere and El Filibusterismo.
 These novels portray the corruption and
abuse of the Spanish officials and the clergy.
Andres Bonifacio (1863-1897) the founder of the
katipunan, wrote the poem Pag-ibig sa tinubuang
Bayan, this poem appeared in the kalayaan, the official
newspaper of the katipunan, in March 1896.
Leona Florentino (1849-1884) known as the ‘mother of
Philippine women’s literature, was a poet in both
Ilocano and Spanish. Twenty of her poems were
preserved and exhibited in Europe.
Notes on the American Occupation (1898-1940)
 In 1934 President Roosevelt signed a bill
making the Philippines a commonwealth
 On May 14, 1935, Manuel L. Quezon was
elected president.
Literary Works Produced
 The first collection of poetry in English is
Filipino Poetry (1924) edited by Rodolfo Dato.
The short story Dead Stars (1925) by Paz
Marquez Benitez is considered as the first
Filipino modern short story in English. A Child
of Sorrow (1921) by Zoilo M. Galang is the first
Filipino novel in English.
Notes on the Japanese Occupation (1941-1945)
 On December 8, 1941, the Japanese attacked
Manila.
 On January 2, 1942, Japanese occupied Manila.
 In October 1943 the Japanese declared the
Philippines independent.
 On September 20, Jose P. Laurel was elected
president.
 MacArthur and his Allied forces returned to the
country in 1944. They landed on Leyte on
October 20, and the biggest naval battle in
 September 2, 1945. The Japanese surrendered
formally.
Literary Works Produced
 The tagalog short story reached its maturity
during the period.
 The top four stories were Lupang Tinubuan by
Narciso G. Reyes
 Uhaw ang Tigang na Lupa by Liwayway Arceo
 Nayon at Dagat-dagatan by N.V.M. Gonzales
 Suyuan sa Tubigan by Macario Pineda
Some works written in the post war and contemporary
period:
 May Day Eve by Nick Joaquin, 1947
 Waywaya by : F. Sionil Jose, 1983
 We Filipinos Are Mild Drinkers by Alejandro
Roces, 1948
 The Return by Edith L. Tiempo
 History and Philippine Culture by Horacio de la
Costa, 1965
 Without Seeing the Dawn by Stevan Javellana,
1947
 Nick Joaquin- a National Artist for Literature
awardee, wrote articles under the name of
Quijano de Manila.
 F. Sionil Jose, one of the most widely read
Filipino writers in English, wrote the short story
Waywaya, which is about pre-hispanic society
and the peoples struggle for moral order.
 Alejandro Roces, a Filipino author, essayist, and
dramatist, wrote the short story We Filipinos
are Mild Drinkers. This story focuses on the
drinking habits and culture of Filipinos and
Americans.
 Edith L. Tiempo- The Return is a sentimental
piece that talks about life in old age.h
 Horacio de la Costa-wrote the essay History and
Philippine Culture which emphasizes the
importance of understanding and presenting a
nations culture.
 Stevan Javellana- wrote the first postwar
Filipino novel in English, Without Seeing the
Dawn.. This novel narrates what people
experienced during world war.