This is a primary activity administered to determine your baseline

knowledge and preparedness for the lesson.

Activity: Historical Background of Philippine Literature

I. Direction: Read in advance the history of Philippine Literature and tell us
how our literature evolves in the following periods.

1. Pre-colonial Period

This period is based on oral tradition. Since some works is oral, there are
some works that is hard to trace the real origin. Example of made works at
this period: Oral literature there is riddles, proverbs, and tanaga. Under of
this period, there are also some folk songs that has made like, hale or yayi,
and kalusan or ivatan. Most of the works at this is based on how they live,
it tackles about farming, fishing, hunting and many more that reflects the
daily life of the people at this period.

2. Spanish Colonization Period

At this period introduced Spanish as the medium of communication since

Spanish colonized Philippines for 333 years. Religion became important in
this period. Some famous and notable Filipino like Jose Rizal created
literary works that strike the colonialization of Spaniards. This period is the
evident of nationalism, and realization of Filipino about the colonialization
of Spaniards that gives a way for the Filipino to work texts not just to
entertain but also try to pursue the idea of sovereignty y against Spaniards.

3. Nationalistic/Propaganda and Revolutionary Period

Planted seeds of nationalism in Filipinos. Language shifted from Spanish

to Tagalog because Filipinos realized that we could stand in our own feet.
Some examples of works in this period are: Diariong Tagalog, La
solidaradad, Noli Me tangere and El Filibusterismo.

4. American Colonial Period

At this period, Filipino writers imitated English and American models and
apply it in their works. This is also the period where the Philippines is
slowly not using the Spanish language as a form of communication,

Chapter II: Historical Background of Philippine Literature 1

 instead English language became predominant and use as a medium of
writing and instruction in school. Example of written works in this period
are: Short stories and novels.

5. Japanese Occupation

Tagalog poets broke away from the Balagtas tradition and instead wrote in
simple language and free verse. Fiction prevailed over poetry artist is in
this period become mature and has a originality.

6. Contemporary/Modern Period

Writers used symbolisms and allegories to drive home their message, at

the face of heavy censorship. From the eighties onwards, writers continue
to show dynamism and innovation.

Chapter II: Historical Background of Philippine Literature 2