CHAPTER II – The Development of Philippine Literature

LESSON 1

Understanding the Value of Literature

LEARNING OUTCOMES
Define literature.
Identify genres of Philippine literature.
Enumerate the benefits from studying literature.
Use context clue skills to find the meaning of a word.
Evaluate author’s purpose in writing.

BEFORE READING

An Article by Bienvenido L. Lumbera

ABOUT THE ARTICLE

Literature is the verbal expression, oral or written, of the experiences of the people as
influenced by their history. The paper ‘Southeast Asian Literary Traditions and the Philippines’ by
Bienvenido Lumbera describes the significance of establishing a linkage between literary traditions
found in the Philippines and the traditions described in its ASEAN neighbors. It advances the idea that
the oral literature of the Philippines, being indexical to the country’s ‘precolonial’ past serves as an
important vehicle in shaping cultural bridge with its ASEAN neighbors, and in establishing a sense of
identity and the national interest it represents in the larger socio-political, cultural and economic landscapes.

CASS-DELL | Literature of the Philippines 1

MAKE CONNECTIONS

Why is it important to maintain national identity in the age of globalization?

Even in the age of globalization, national identity is significant. National identity is an important
motivator for people to work together for a common purpose. Maintaining our national identity is
essential to our well-being and survival because trade, communications, and travel continue to make
the world more accessible.

ANALYZE LITERATURE: Genres

In the study of Philippine literature, genres refer to the different forms and classifications of
literary pieces. Examples are riddles, proverbs, songs, myths, epics and so on.

Riddle, which is bugtong in Tagalog, tigmo in Cebuano, paktakon in Ilonngo, is folk speech from the
precolonial times characterized as a mystifying, misleading, or puzzling question posed as a problem
to be solved or guessed.
e.g. Bibingka ng hari, hindi mo mahati.
(Rice cake of the king, that you cannot divide.)- Answer: water

Proverb expresses norms or codes of behavior, community beliefs. It generally instills values by
offering nuggets of wisdom in short, rhyming verse.
e.g. Lumilipas ang kagandahan, ngunit hindi ang kabaitan.

Song is a short lyric poem that is intended to be sung. It has that particularly melodious quality
required by a singing voice. E.g. Anak by Freddie Aguilar

Myth is a usually traditional story common to the members of a tribe, race, or nation. It usually
involves the supernatural and serves to explain natural phenomena or suggest a religious or moral
truth.
e.g. Tungkung Langit and Alunsina (A Panay-Visayan creation myth)

Folktale is an anonymous, timeless, and placeless story circulated orally among a people. E.g. The
Misadventures of Juan Tamad

Epic is a long narrative poem in elevated style recounting the deeds of a legendary or historical hero.
E.g. Biag ni Lam-ang (Life of Lam-ang), an Ilocano epic.
USE READING SKILLS: The Author’s Purpose
Authors write with an aim or purpose in mind. The style of writing often reflects the author’s
purpose, which could be to entertain, to inform, to instruct, or to persuade. As you read the article
below, identify details related to the author’s purpose and fill in the information in the Author’s
Purpose Chart. An example has been done for you.

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 Author’s Purpose Chart

Author’s Purpose: to inform

Details: My Evaluation: The author

The fact that, to this day,
epics continue to be
collected among ethnic
groups is an indication
of the deep roots of this
literary form in various
cultural communities.
included this information to
emphasize to the readers the role
of oral literature, specifically
epics, in performing cultural
identities. This information helps
me understand why the author
asserts the idea that oral
literature translated in Filipino
language can serve as our cultural
bridge to other ASEAN nations.

Author’s Purpose:

Details: Riddles are a form My Evaluation: Riddles are an

of guessing game that has
been a part of most
cultures' folklore since
ancient times. It is usually a
question or argument with
several meanings that must
be solved.
excellent medium for learning
how to manipulate language for
a variety of purposes, including
students' familiarity with them
and encouragement to read them
that’s why the author proposed
informational writing with
literature.

o
Author’s Purpose:

Details: A folktale is an My Evaluation: The aim of

ancient story that has been folktales is to build cultural
passed down over unity. It is written by an author
because the author wishes for us
centuries.
to learn about history back then.

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 Author’s Purpose:

Details: Globalization has My Evaluation: The author’s

led to the expansion of
movements and exchanges
of people, products and
services, assets, technology,
and cultural practices all
over the world.
purpose for writing about
globalization is to inform readers
that globalization has a broad
impact that resulted in the loss of
cultural boundaries. It has
resulted in the disappearance of
many languages in a developing
country including the Philippines

Author’s Purpose:

My Evaluation: The author assert

Details: The Philippines
needs Southeast Asia in the
era of globalization.
that the Philippines needs
Southeast Asia in the era of
globalization because Philippines
and Southeast Asia are relatively
diverse region. To maintain a
strong hold on its sense of identity
and the national interest it
represents, the Philippines
requires Southeast Asia. It
strengthens the Filipino by
bringing back to a history that
colonial education had previously
closed off to the country.

PREVIEW VOCABULARY

Key Words and Words and Phrases Definition Practice

Phrases in Context
Read each key Read to see how the Write down what Practice using the
word and rate it key word or phrase you think the word key words and
using this scale: can be used in a or phrase means. phrases by
① I don’t know sentence. Then use a completing the
this word or dictionary to check following
phrase at all. your definition. sentences.
② I’ve seen this
word or phrase
before.
③ Know this word
or phrase and use
it.

form Narrative, lyric, and It is the component Song is a form of

[ˈfȯrm] dramatic are forms of of a thing that lyric poetry that
noun poetry. defines its expresses personal
① ② ③ =③ classification. emotion or feelings.

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rudimentary You need to have at Relating to basic One rudimentary
ru·di·men·ta·ry least a rudimentary facts or principles. function of
[ ˌrü-də-ˈmen-tə-rē] understanding of computer is
adjective technology before you obtaining data and
① ② ③=② can upload a video on instructions from a
that website. user, processing the
data in accordance
with the
instructions, and
displaying or
storing the
processed data.

sophisticated Some sophisticated Refers to a design The encryption

so·phis·ti·cat·ed programs require that that is complex and codes being used by
[sə-ˈfi-stə-ˌkā-təd] passwords contain advanced. criminals are
adjective letters and numbers. incredibly
① ② ③=② sophisticated and
according to police
it is difficult to
obtain.
Legacy A monumental legacy Something that was Ferdinand
leg·a·cy in astronomy is passed down Magellan’s
[ ˈle-gə-sē] Galileo’s telescopic through the expedition in 1522
noun observations of the generations, such as left a legacy of
① ② ③ =③ heavens. from an ancestor or changing the world
predecessor. forever.

contextualize Module writers must To consider Teacher Lea

con·tex·tu·al·ize contextualize texts something or the act contextualizes the
[kən-ˈteks-chə-wə- and genres to enhance of putting stories in her
ˌlīz] the students’ learning information into module to make
verb processes. context. them more
① ② ③=② understandable to
students.

contemporary Contemporary artists Contemporary Online platforms

con·tem·po·rary were selected to paint refers to something are now used to
[kən-ˈtem-pə-ˌrer- the museum’s ceiling. that exists at the publish
ē] same time as or contemporary
adjective during the same poetry because it is
① ② ③=② time period. the best way to
promote their
writings.

heritage Though he was proud Heritage is It can be exciting to

her·i·tage of his Italian heritage, sometimes used to explore your
[ ˈher-ə-tij] he really had never refer to a cultural heritage and learn
noun visited the country. aspect or tradition from it.
① ② ③ =③ passed down over
generations.

globalization The process of It is the interaction Not everyone has

glob·al·i·za·tion globalization is the and unification of been benefiting the
[ˌglō-bə-lə-ˈzā- profound economic individuals, same from
shən] change of the current businesses, and globalization and
noun era. governments all technological
① ② ③=② over the world. change because not
all of its effects are
useful to all.

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decolonize To decolonize a It is about reclaiming There is a need to
de·col·o·nize territory is easier than what has been decolonize our
[dē-ˈkä-lə-ˌnīz] to decolonize our stolen and honoring practices if we want
verb consciousness. what remains. to keep it.
① ② ③=②
precolonial Precolonial Filipinos Refers to occurring An example of
pre·co·lo·nial made good armor for or existing before a precolonial
[ˌprē-kə-ˈlō-nē-əl] use in the battlefield, colonial era or weapon is a sword.
adjective and swords were an colonization of a
① ② ③=② important part of particular country.
native weaponry.
Link The presentation of the A connection Her YouTube video
[ˈliŋk] past is linked to all between two things links important
verb forms of image or situations, stories from the
① ② ③ =③ consciousness and particularly one that past.
manipulation. affects the other.

identity In fostering our It refers to the fact You can show your
i·den·ti·ty Filipino identity, we of a person or thing appreciation of
[ ī-ˈden-tə-tē] must devote ourselves being who or what it your Filipino
noun to our studies and the is. identity through
① ② ③ =③ appreciation of history, appreciating
culture, and literature. literature and
culture.

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 DURING READING

An Article by Bienvenido L. Lumbera

THE ORAL LITERATURE OF THE FILIPINOS

Philippine oral literature comes in many forms [ˈfȯrm] noun, classification

and many languages. The forms range from the or types
simplest to the most complex, depending on their
functions within the community. The most
rudimentary are the riddles and the proverbs, ru·di·men·ta·ry [ ˌrü-də-ˈmen-
tə rē] adjective, basic or
which function principally as vehicles for fundamental
familiarizing the younger members of the
community with their immediate environment
and for instructing them on the basic values which Analyze Literature
the older members of the community hold in
common. Songs take many forms, and once again, Genres: Enumerate the
it is function that determines the occasion and various forms of Philippine
oral literature and the
the manner of the singing. Children have their
functions they serve.
own songs—lullabies to put them to sleep, game
songs to entertain them, learning songs to initiate The various forms of
Philippine oral literature are
them into tasks appropriate for their age and
1. Riddles and 2. Proverbs
physical development. The adults have songs for which function primarily on
courtship, worship, work and entertainment. giving moral value, advice of
Myths and folktales are for both young and old, life and as practice on
for these help them understand their logical thinking. 3. Songs
which function as
environment and relationships with one
entertainment and
another, and they allow them to cope with establishes bond between
mundane problems and with the mysterious people. 4. Myths and 5.
and the threatening. Folktales which function is
to explain the creation of
the world and understand
The lengthiest and most sophisticated form
mankind. 6. Epic which
of Philippine oral literature is the epic. As of 1994, manifest the beliefs,
thirty epics have been recorded, published or customs, ideals, or life-
translated out of supposedly a hundred,” values of a group of people.
according to the most recent review (Epics).
The fact that, to this day, epics continue to be so·phis·ti·cat·ed [sə-ˈfi-stə-
collected among ethnic groups is an indication ˌkā-təd]
adjective, complex, elaborate
of the deep roots of this literary form in various
cultural communities. These epics are treasured
CASS-DELL | Literature of the Philippines 7
by the community as bearers of identity and
preservers of values and traditions which bind
Analyze Literature
the members.
Genres: What special
function does an epic serve?

The cultural legacy that oral literature Epic upholds identity of a

group of people within the
represents demands to be incorporated into
community and its beliefs
the literary component of the curriculum for
and practices tie the
Philippine schools. Unfortunately, this legacy is members together.
hardly accessible even to the most assiduous
student of Philippine literature in the form
which will allow it to claim a place in literary leg·a·cy [ ˈle-gə-sē] noun,
inheritance, something
studies. The epics, in particular, are in many transmitted by or received from
different languages, many of these only beginning an ancestor or from the past
to be described by linguists. This means that,
even after they have been recorded and
Note the Facts
transcribed, translation into a language accessible
to many and reflective of the artistic genius of the What makes it difficult for oral
original remains a problem. literature such as epics to be
incorporated into the literary
It must be noted that, traditionally, the language component of the curriculum
of research in the Philippine academe is for Philippine schools?
English. This already poses a problem in the Because epic was written in a
proper contextualization of a literary work variety of languages, many of
which is intricately woven into the cultural
which are only now being
fabric of the community. Producing a reasonably
identified by linguists and
accurate rendition of the oral work into an
because of this, translating
English version further complicates the problem.
them into a language that is
The English version often serves only as some kind
of crib, guiding the reader through the open to a wide range of people
difficulties in the proper understanding and while preserving the artistic
appreciation of the text. No wonder, teachers creativity of the original
of Philippine literature have often recoiled from remains a challenge and
a presentation of oral literature as part of their students will struggle to find
courses. If they themselves cannot derive this legacy that will allow it to
enjoyment from the texts that are available for establish a presence in literary
their use, what can they expect from students who studies.
see the epics as even more alien than Beowulf,
and the language into which they have been as con·tex·tu·al·ize [kən-
more impenetrable than Anglo-Saxon itself. ˈteks-chə-wə-ˌlīz] verb, to
place something in a
particular context which
With English as the medium of instruction in the may provide important
Philippine educational system, the likelihood is clues about its social and
cultural meaning.
remote that pleasurable translations of Filipino
oral lore will form part of the literature our students
CASS-DELL | Literature of the Philippines 8
are taught to appreciate. The contemporary con·tem·po·rary [kən-
student will continue to be suckled on the works ˈtem-pə-ˌrer-ē]adjective,
of Filipino writers in English, both young and old, modern, relating to present
time
for these are the works that have familiar subject
matter and “artistic” language. Because much of our
literature is in the “unexciting” and often “clumsy”
English of scholars, young Filipinos have been effectively
cut off from a valuable part of their literary
her·i·tage [ ˈher-ə-tij]noun,
heritage, a heritage that can make them proud tradition, something handed
of their past and give them a secure sense of down from one's ancestors or
the past
identity as a people. Fortunately, there are
literature teachers who have kept up with the
times and have come to recognize the loss of the
past that the omission of oral literature from their
courses has occasioned. These teachers have now
begun to devise ways and means of restoring
oral literature to the history of Philippine
literature through videos and live performances.

Reconnecting Asia with Southeast Asia

Three years before the new millennium, in

this conference, the Philippines is being asked
glob·al·i·za·tion [ˌglō-
to link up with the literary traditions of Southeast bə-lə-ˈzā-shən]
Asia. In the so-called “era of globalization,” noun, the expansion of
many businesses into
isn’t the Philippines taking a rather belated
markets throughout the
step toward what is then a necessary retrieval of world
its non-Western past? And isn’t the effort
altogether anachronistic at this time when we are
being enticed to “abolish national boundaries”
in the name of “global competitiveness”?

Contemporary Filipinos lost not only a good part

de·col·o·nize [dē-ˈkä-lə-
of their literary legacy when English was installed ˌnīz] verb, to free from
as the language of instruction in Philippine colonial status
schools; they also lost a cultural bridge that would
have firmed up their relations with their neighbors.
Reclaiming its place in the culture of Southeast Asia
cannot be too late, if Filipinos will recognize that
[ˈliŋk] verb, to couple or connect
the decolonization of their consciousness is a by or as if by a link
process which remains to be completed.
pre·co·lo·nial [ˌprē-kə-ˈlō-nē-əl]
The oral literature which will link them once adjective, existing or occurring
again to Southeast Asia allows the Filipinos a before an area undergoes
colonization
“precolonial” past which is still recoverable.

CASS-DELL | Literature of the Philippines 9

That past is a special weapon it can be wield
in resisting neocolonial hegemony that
“globalization” proposes to legitimize and
naturalize. Globalization, with the IMF and
the World Bank behind it, proposes to erase
national boundaries purportedly to ease
commercial intercourse among peoples of the
world. Doubtless, this is going to take place
and it will be to the advantage of strong
economies. Unstable economies, and these
are common in Asia, Africa and Latin America,
will have to stand up to the aggressive, rich
industrialized countries in order to survive in
the globalized international economic order.
In devising a strategy for survival, it is never
too late for a people to gear itself toward a
struggle. The Philippines, through its oral
literature, has a “precolonial” past which is
still recoverable. To recover that past, it needs
a native language that will allow it to make its
oral literature a living part of its contemporary
culture. That language is Filipino, so the
struggle for a native language that will also be
the language of instruction in the educational
system is part and parcel of recovering the past.
In a globalizing world, even as English is held
up as the global language, it may seem
paradoxical that the Philippines which has
been educating its youth through the medium
of English, must be urged to shift to its
national language.
Use Reading Skills
Evaluate the author’s
purpose.
Evaluate the author’s purpose
for writing about globalization
and the need for the
Philippines, as a country with
unstable economy, to recover
its precolonial past through its
oral literature. Record your
evaluation in your Author’s
Purpose Chart provided
above.
Note the Facts
What language is proposed
by the author to be used in
reclaiming Philippine oral
literature?
Filipino Language
i·den·ti·ty [ ī-ˈden-tə-tē]noun,
The set of characteristics by
which a person or group is
definitively recognizable or
known
ob·so·lete [ˌäb-sə-ˈlēt]
adjective, no longer in use

To be able to maintain a firm hold on a sense of

identity and the national interest it represents,
the Philippines needs Southeast Asia. At the
Use Reading Skills
outset, it may seem that it is only a literary
tradition that it stands to recover in linking up Evaluate the author’s
with the cultures of its neighboring countries. purpose
However, in the context of a period when “nation” Why does the author assert
is claimed to be on the way to obsolescence, the that the Philippines needs
Philippines needs a sense of region that Southeast Asia in the era of
globalization? Write your ideas
will give it a larger identity when globalization
in the Author’s Purpose Chart.
begins to eat away national identities.
Reconnecting with Southeast Asia fortifies the
Filipino by giving him a past that colonial
Education had closed off to him.
CASS-DELL | Literature of the Philippines 10
 Think and Reflect

Do you think recovering our oral literature through our national

language Filipino is our best strategy for establishing our sense of
identity as Filipinos and for our survival in the era of globalization?
Explain.
I think yes because globalization has a huge impact in every society and
it begins to destroy our national identities. We must dedicate ourselves
to our studies and the appreciation of history, culture, and literature in
order to shape the Filipino people. In a positive ways, we should express
our Filipino spirit through national language in order to survive in this
period of modernity.

AFTER READING

Name: Elezabeth B. Kiel Yr/Cr/Sec: 3BSN-D

Subject: Lit 111 A Date: March 17, 2021

READING CHECK

Circle the letter of the correct answer.

1. Which of the following is NOT true about literature?

A. It is one of the ways people in the community shape their own worlds, and value their
traditions.
B. It speaks of life—emotions, situations, and ideas.
C. It orients and guides the young.
D. It devalues the cultural fabric of the community where it comes from.

2. Which of the following oral literary genre is in rhyming verse and expresses norms and community
beliefs?
A. folktale C. riddle
B. proverb D. myth

3. Which of the following literary genre begins with the line, “In the beginning, the earth was dark…”?
A. spic C. creation myth
B. Song D. folktale

4. Which of the following is a long narrative poem that talks about the adventures of a hero?
A. song C. folktale

CASS-DELL | Literature of the Philippines 11

 B. epic D. myth

5. What determines the occasion and manner of singing of a song?

A. function C. style
B. artistic conventions D. central idea

6. What value does the following proverb teach?

“You will not know what is coming unless you make a trip.”
A. intelligence C. initiative
B. guilt D. industry

7. What value does the following proverb teach?

“Natutuwa kung pasalop. Kung singili’y napopoot.”(Full of good cheer while borrowing a measure of
rice. Full of wrath when you ask him to pay it back.)
A. honesty C. loyalty
B. responsibility D. understanding

8. Which of the proverbs is NOT about alertness?

A. If you want a chance, be quick in moving.
B. If the chicken is not on guard, the eagle sweeps upon it.
C. If you can spot the quarry, you are the winner.
D. Not all that glitters is gold.

9. According to the article, what makes the reading of our literature unexciting and less meaningful?
A. the subject of the literary pieces
B. the function of the literary piece
C. English as the medium of translation and instruction
D. the rich symbolisms and creative expressions used in the literature

10. Members of a tribe or race can have common myths which serve varied purposes, EXCEPT:
A. trace a portion of their history C. suggest a religious or moral truth
B. explain natural phenomena D. predict future calamities.

VOCABULARY CHECK

Circle the letter of the correct answer.

1. “Mundane matters such as paying bills and shopping for food do not interest her.” What does
mundane mean?
A. ordinary C. exceptional
B. noble D. unique

2. “The Benedictines have been best known as educators and as preservers of antique texts.” What
does preserver mean?
A. A person that destroys something
B. A person who maintains something in its original form
C. A person who exacts punishment or in return for an injury.
CASS-DELL | Literature of the Philippines 12
 D. A person that mends or repairs something.

3. “Jake was an assiduous student, commonly spending fourteen hours a day among his books.”
What does assiduous mean?
A. careful C. passive
B. weird D. diligent

4. “Voters legitimize the government through the election of public officials" Which is NOT a
meaning of legitimize?
A. make official C. make legal
B. nullify D. validate

5. “It sounds paradoxical: the events that made the universe habitable were catastrophic.” Which is
NOT a meaning of paradoxical?
A. temporary C. incongruous
B. Inconsistent D. inconsistent

USE READING SKILLS: Evaluate Author’s Purpose

1. Review your Author’s Purpose Chart. Why did the author write this article?

The author write this article to inform readers about the different forms and roles of oral
literature and how it is related into the cultural identity of every Filipino. The author wishes for
us to learn about our history back then and that oral literature translated into the Filipino
language will serve as a cultural bridge between us and the other neighboring countries.

2. How do the details and information included in the article enhance the author’s purpose?

The details and information included in the article enhances the author’s purpose to inform
their readers on a current topic because those informational texts and details are meant to
educate the reader on a particular subject by disseminating knowledge to them.

CASS-DELL | Literature of the Philippines 13