21st Century

Literature 11 Name ________________ ________ Grade 11 Score:

MODULE

2 Colonial Philippines Literature

Literary piece: The Indolence of the Filipino by Jose Rizal
Spanish culture has deeply infiltrated our culture after three centuries of colonization. This profound cultural impact
reflected in the transformation of our literature during the Spanish Period. With the advent of written literature and the rise of the
Christian faith during this period, Philippines literature has entered a new phase.
The arrival of the Spaniards signaled the transition of written literature. Indeed, the native oral tradition was de-emphasized
as a new language and composition mode of literature were introduced. The heroes of the oral epic tradition took a backseat to the
story of Christ and his Passion. Though local literary traditions managed to survive, the Spanish influence on Philippine literature
unfolded over the three centuries of colonization (and, it can be argued, even beyond).
Religious traditions – another cornerstone of the Spanish legacy – were clearly reflected in the literature from the 17 th
century to the 19th century. The first book printed in the Philippines was the Doctrina Christiana, which was published in 1593. This
prayer book had both Spanish and Tagalog text. This combination mirrored the proliferation of ladinos – writers who were
proficient in both local and the foreign tongues. As such, beyond the Doctrina Christiana, religious literature in both poetry and
prose flourished. The fact that religious orders had control of the printing presses meant that religious orders had control of the
printing presses meant that religious literature would become dominant for a significant period of time.
In narrative poetry, the pasyon was a work that has proven to endure the test of time; to this day, devout Catholics recited
the pasyon eagerly during the Lenten season. Moreover, this tradition has been preserved in several languages: Ilongo, Bicolano,
Cebuano, and Waray, to mane a few. Religious lyric poems included complimentary verses and meditative verses. The former was
intended to attract readers to read certain book by giving praises.
These complementary verses served a double purpose: to draw readers and to teach the Spanish language to the Filipinos.
Meanwhile, meditative verses were found in novenas and catechisms. Verses in novenas and catechisms tended to be written in the
poetic form dalit, an early form that resemble free verse, in that there is no fixed rhyme or meter, save for some octosyllabic four-
line stanzas.
In addition, the Spaniards brought a variety of dramatic forms to enrich Philippine theater. These forms included the
sarswela, the sinakulo, and the komedya, it is evident that, even in the genre of drama, religious themes continued to be dominant.
The sinakulo, for one, dramatized the pasyon, in that it was a live-action simulation of Christ’s passion and death. Even battles
between Christians and Muslims – itself a longstanding issue – was dramatized in the moro-moro or comedia de capa y espada. In
addition, the tibag presented the story of St. Helena’s search for the Holy Cross. Forms of religious narrative prose included the
tratado (polemical tract), the ejemplo (exemplum), and dialogo (dialogue).
There was also biographies of saints, prayer books, and religious tales. In addition, a number of didactic narrative were
published side by side with the teachings of religious narrative poetry. On the other side of the coin, the tradition of secular
literature was also rich during the Spanish colonization. In particular, the rise of the middle class – the European-educated
ilustrados – paved the way for new literary paradigms. Indeed, as Filipino became more and more literate in Spanish and Filipino,
the diversity of literature spread, quite independently from the influence of religious tradition.
The courtly love literature of Marlowe, Raleigh, and Shakespeare found its niche in Philippines literature when 18 th century
th
and 19 century secular lyrics emerged. Another secular poetry was the metrical romance – a highly precise and structured poem.
Metrical romances included the korido (written in octosyllabic four-line stanzas) and the awit (written in dodecasyllabic four-line
stanzas).
Metrical romances emerged in the Bicolano, Pampanga, and Pangasinense language, among others. Metrical romance were
known as kuriru in Pampango, panagbiag in Ilocano, and impanbilay in Pangasinense. Shorter forms of secular poetry came in the
form of songs for everyday experiences. “Bahay Kubo” has become a popular children’s song, while “Magtanim ay Di Biro” and
“Buat-Buat” told the tales of common folk. Love songs such as the tapat, the kundiman, and the balitaw were also prominent.
When the reformist movement emerged in the 19 th century, the ilustrado started to make their indelible mark on the history
of Philippines literature. With heroic fearless, they wrote about realities of colonization – that is, the truth about the suffering of the
colonized. Without a doubt, however, the most influential among these late 19 th century writers was Dr. Jose Rizal. The legacy of
his literature blossomed in both poetry and prose. On the eve of his death in 1896, Rizal wrote an untitled poem that became known
as “Mi Ultimo Adiaos.” Unparalled anywhere in the world, “Adios” is perhaps the most compelling farewell in literary history.
In 1898, the transition from Spanish colonization to American control bean. Mirroring the rise of the Spanish literary
influence was the arrival of the new colonizer that signaled a new chapter in our country’s literature.

Challenge Yourself
FT1 Identifying Statement. Identify the following statement according to its meaning.
Religious Literature 1. clearly reflected in the literature from the 17 th century to the 19th century
Pasyon 2. devout Catholics recited this eagerly during the Lenten season
Doctrina Christiana 3. The first book printed in the Philippines
Sinakulo 4. it was a live-action simulation of Christ’s passion and death
Ladinos 5. writers who were proficient in both local and the foreign tongues.
Dr. Jose Rizal 6. the most influential among these late 19th century writers
Metrical romances 7. a highly precise and structured poem
Mi Ultimo Adiaos 8. the most compelling farewell in literary history.
Complementary verses 9. Intended to attract readers to read certain book by giving praises.
Corrido 10. Written in octosyllabic four-line stanzas
FT2 Completing Table. Complete the table with a parallel fact of the following literary genre that appeared during the
colonization of Philippines.
Literary Genre Descriptions Example Piece

Religious Narrative Poetry Religious literature that composed of the stories Pasyon
of Christ and other Saints.

Religious Literature that composed of prayers, Dalit (Novenas and Catechism)

Religious Lyric poem and other religious material.

Religious literature that composed of dramas Moro-moro

Religious Narrative Prose that tells about the life of Christ and Saints or Pasyon
life of a Christian.

Secular Poetry Usually a metrical romance poem inspired Corrido and Awit
European literature.

Usually essays about reformist movement Mi Ultimo Adiaos

Secular Prose
against the Spaniards. Noli and El Feli

FT3 Compare and Contrast. Compare and contrast using Venn Diagram the types of literature that emerge in pre-colonialism and
colonialism and described how it gradually changed.

Pre-colonial Philippine Colonial Philippine

Literature Literature

Filipinos love
Story, songs, poems of writing. Story, songs, poems
about supernatural about religion and love
and love of the family of the countrymen.

FT4 Analyzing Selection. Refer to the piece that is focused in this lesson and answer the following question.
1. Whose ideas was Dr. Rizal responding to? What exactly was the notion held about Filipinos during Rizal time.
Doctor Sanciano, in his Progreso de Filipinas, the laziness of the Filipino.
2. How did Rizal defend the identity of his countrymen? What arguments conditions, and examples did he cite to make his case? He
defended the Filipinos by cites examples of how did Filipino grow to be lazy because of the way the Spaniards treated them.
3. Among Rizal’s arguments, which was the most helpful to his defense of Filipinos? Explain. The force labor of Filipinos under a
hot climate.
4. In your own experience and perspective, how can you prove that the Filipinos are, in actuality, hardworking? Cite concrete
examples to make your case.