ZOSIMO A.

GULLE MEMORIAL NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World

Name & Section:

Philippine Literature during the Spanish Era

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1
I. Concept Notes
SPANISH COLONIZATION
When the Spaniards came in 1521, it paved the way for the use of paper and so written literature in the
Philippines was born. The most prominent characteristic of our literature during the Spanish era is the use of
religion as the content in the works of the early literature. One great example of this is the idea of goodness that
will be rewarded and that evil deeds will be punished.
It is an accepted belief that the Spanish colonization of the Philippines started in 1565 during the time of
Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, the first Spanish governor-general in the Philippines. Literature started to flourish
during his time. This spurt continued unabated until the Cavite Revolt in 1872. The Spaniards colonized the
Philippines for more than three centuries. During these times, many changes occurred in the lives of Filipinos.
They embraced the Catholic religion, changed their names, and were baptized.
Religion introduced theater which we would come to know as komedya, the sinakulo, the sarswela, the
playlets and the drama. Spain also brought to the country ideas about internationalism that influenced our own
Filipino intellectuals and writers for them to understand the meanings of "liberty and freedom."
SPANISH INFLUENCES ON PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
Due to the long period of colonization of the Philippines by the Spaniards, they have exerted a strong
influence on our literature.
1. The first Filipino alphabet called ALIBATA was replaced by the Roman alphabet.
2. The teaching of the Christian Doctrine (Doctrina Christiana)–the first
printed book in 1593–became the basis of religious practices.
3. The Spanish language which became the literary language during this time lent many of its words to our language.
4. European legends and traditions brought here became assimilated in our songs, corridos, and moro-moros.
5. Ancient literature was collected and translated to Tagalog and other dialects.
6. Many grammar books were printed in Filipino, like Tagalog, Ilocano and Visayan
7. Our periodicals during these times gained a religious tone.
Literature in this period may be classified as religious prose and poetry and secular prose and poetry.
1. Religious Literature - Religious lyrics from the poems (or devotional poetry) written by ladino poets or those
versed in both Spanish and Tagalog were included in early catechism, and were used to teach Filipinos the
Spanish language. This was a way of teaching Filipinos the Spanish language. Two of them were Fernando
Bagongbanta and Gaspar Aquino de Belen. Bagongbanta wrote “Salamat nang walang hanga/gracias de sin
sempiternas,” which appeared in Memorial de la vida cristiana en lengua tagala(1605), a book containing basic
Catholic doctrines.
a. Pasyon – long narrative poem about the passion and death of Christ. The most popular was “Ang Mahal
na Passion ni Jesu Cristong Panignoon Natin na Tola” (Holy Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ in Verse)
by Aquino de Belen which was also put out in 1704 as the country's earliest known pasyon.
b. The Cenaculo – this is a dramatic performance to commemorate the passion and death of Jesus Christ.
There are two kinds: the Cantada and Hablada. In the Hablada the lines are spoken in a more deliberate
manner showing the rhythmic measure of each verse and the rhyming in each stanza and is more
dignified in theme; the Cantada is chanted like the Passion.
The Cenaculo is written in octosyllabic verse, with 8 verses to the stanza. The full length versions
take about 3 nights of staging. Performers come in costumes with wigs and performers are carefully chosen
for their virtuous life. One performs the role of Jesus Christ and another the role of the Virgin Mary.
c. Barlaan at Josaphat - This is a Biblical story printed in the Philippines and translated to Tagalog from
Greek by Fr. Antonio de Borja. The printed translation has only 556 pages.
2. Secular (Non-religious) Literature
a. Awit - colorful tales of chivalry made for singing and chanting in dodecasyllabic verse.
- fabricated stories from writers’ imagination although the setting and characters are European.
Example: Florante at Laura by Francisco Baltazar
b. Korido – metrical tale written in octosyllabic quatrains which were usually on legends or stories from
European countries like France, Spain, Italy and Greece.
Example: Ibong Adarna by Jose de la Cruz (attributed), “Historia Famoso ni Berbardo del Carpio”
c. Prose Narratives – written to prescribe proper decorum.

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Examples: Modesto de Castro's "Pagsusulatan ng Dalawang Binibini na si Urbana at si Feliza",

and Joaquin Tuason's "Ang Bagong Robinson" in 1879.

Spanish colonization also brought about the romantic tradition that gave birth to metrical romance,
specifically the awit and korido in Tagalog. The awit as a popular poetic genre reached new heights in Balagtas'
"Florante at Laura", the most famous of the country's metrical romances. Some of the leading poets of the time
were Jose Corazon de Jesus (Huseng Sisiw) and Francisco Balagtas. Some secular poets who wrote in this same
tradition were Leona Florentino, Jacinto Kawili, Isabelo de los Reyes and Rafael Gandioco.
Much was written during the period both in Spanish and Tagalog about other themes like love for one‘s
country and discontent for Spanish rule. Jose Rizal wrote Mi Ultimo A Dios (My Last Farewell) to express his
love for his native soil, while Andres Bonifacio wrote a patriotic poem entitled Pag-Ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa
(Love for the Native Land).
Also, the native drama called the komedya or moro-moro was popular. It depicted the war between
Christians and Muslims, wherein the former always wins. The poet Jose de la Cruz (1746–1829) was a master
of such art form.
Native literature continued. Though the Spaniards destroyed the written literature in their effort to
replace it with their own, the oral tradition survived and flourished in areas beyond the reach of the Spaniards.

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 Sampaguitas 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 country’s national hero, is 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 “Pagibig sa Tinubuang Lupa.”
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. The poems were included
in the Encyclopedia International des Oeuvres des Femme in 1889.

Spanish colonial literature focused on the society and culture as reflected and affected by the Catholic
faith. Slowly, Philippine literature started to emulate the traditional Spanish ways of themes and forms in
writing, including the repetitive plots and obvious shadowy characters. Despite these changes, Filipinos still
found a way to make Spanish literature their own, as shown through these common kinds:
o Tibag – the word tibag means to excavate. This ritual was brought here by the Spaniard to remind the
people about the search of St. Helena for the Cross on which Jesus died.
o Lagaylay – this is a special occasion for the Pilareños of Sorsogon during Maytime to get together. As
early as April, the participating ladies are chosen and sometimes, mothers volunteer their girls in order to
fulfill a vow made during an illness or for a favor received.
In some parts of Bicol, a different presentation is made but the objective is the same – praise, respect
and offering of love to the Blessed Cross by St. Helen on the mound she had dug in.
o Panunuluyan – this is presented before 12:00 on Christmas Eve. This is a presentation of the search of the
Virgin Mary and St. Joseph for an inn wherein to deliver the baby Jesus.
o The Salubong (or Panubong) - an Easter play that dramatizes the meeting of the Risen Christ and his
Mother. It is still presented in many Philippine towns.
o Carillo (Shadow Play) – this is a form of dramatic entertainment performed on a moonless night during a
town fiesta or on dark nights after a harvest. This shadow play is made by projecting cardboard figures
before a lamp against a white sheet. The figures are moved like marionettes whose dialogues are produced
by some experts.
o The Zarzuela – considered the father of the drama; it is a musical comedy or melodrama three acts which
dealt with man’s passions and emotions like love, hate, revenge, cruelty, avarice or some social or political
proble.
o The Sainete – this was a short musical comedy popular during the 18th century. They were exaggerated
comedies shown between acts of long plays and were mostly performed by characters from the lower
classes. Themes were taken from everyday life scenarios.

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o The Moro-Moro. Like the Cenaculo, it is presented also on a special stage. This is performed during town
fiestas to entertain the people and to remind them of their Christian religion. The plot is usually the same
that of a Christian princess or a nobleman’s daughter who is captured by the Mohammedans. The father
organizes a rescue party where fighting between the Moros and the Christians ensue. The Mohammedans
are defeated by some miracle or Divine Intercession and the Mohammedans are converted to Christianity.
In some instances, the whole kingdom is baptized and converted. One example of this is Prinsipe Rodante.
o Karagatan. This is a poetic vehicle of a socio-religious nature celebrated during the death of a person. In
this contest, more or less formal, a ritual is performed based on a legend about a princess who dropped her
ring into the middle of the sea and who offered here hand in marriage to anyone who can retrieve it.
A leader starts off with an extemporaneous poem announcing the purpose. He then spins a “lumbo” o
“tabo” marked with a white line. Whoever comes in the direction of the white line when the spinning stops
gets his turn to “go into the sea to look for the ring.” This means a girl will ask him a riddle and if he is
able to answer, he will offer the ring to the girl.
o Duplo. The Duplo replace the Karagatan. This is a poetic joust in speaking and reasoning. The roles are
taken from the Bible and from proverbs and saying. It is usually played during wakes for the dead.
o THE BALAGTASAN. This is a poetic joust or a contest of skills in debate on a particular topic or issue.
This is replaced the DUPLO and is held to honor Francisco “Balagtas” Baltazar.
o THE DUNG-AW. This is a chant in free verse by a bereaved person or his representative beside the corpse
of the dead. No definite meter or rhyming scheme is used. The person chanting it freely recites in poetic
rhythm according to his feelings, emotions and thoughts. It is personalized and usually deals with the life,
sufferings and sacrifices of the dead and includes apologies for his misdeeds.
o Awit.
II. Checking for Understading (Identification). Write your answer before the number.
1. The Hispanic Period had started in the Philippines in 1500s. Who was the first Governor of the Philippines?
2. The first published book in the Philippines during Spanish Colonization
3. A musical comedy or a melodrama which acts with men's passion and emotion like love, hate, revenge,
cruelty, avarice or some political problem.
4. Dramatic performance for the purpose of manifesting devotion for the holy cross.

5. A special occasion for the Pilareños of Sorsogon during Maytime get-together.

6. A short musical comedy popular during the 18th century.

7. Is a poetic joust or a contest of skills and debate of a particular topic or issue?

8. This is a poetic joust in speaking and reasoning.
9. A form of dramatic entertainment which is perform on a moonless night during town fiesta or on dark
nights after a harvest.
10. Is an octosyllabic verse where usually a legends or short stories from European countries like France,
Spain, Italy, and Greece?
11. Is in dodecasyllabic verse are fabricated stories from writers' imagination although the settings and
characters are European.
12. This is a chant in free verse by a bereaved person on his representative behind the corpse of the dead.
13. Dramatizes the reunion of the Risen Christ and his mother
14. Philippine Christmas dramatic ritual narrating the whole family's search for a place to stay in Bethlehem for
Jesus Christ's birth through songs.
15. Dramatic performance of the passion and death of Christ.
16. Like the Cenaculo, it is presented also in a special stage. This is performed during town fiestas to entertain
the people and to remind them to their Christian religion.
17. This is a poetic vehicle of a socio-religious nature celebrated during the death of a person.
18. The first alphabet used during Spanish colonialization

19. It is the year when the Spanish colonized the Philippines.

20. He arrived in Cebu in 1565 to establish the first Spanish settlement in the Philippines, marking the
beginning of Spain's colonization and Christianization of the archipelago. Who was he?

III. Assessment. Write or compose a poem that will portray the effects (either negative or positive) of the
Spanish rule towards Philippine Literature, and sketch/draw/paint a symbolism that signifies it in the
background. Elaborate the symbolism in at least two sentences below the poem.
Criteria: Significance and Relevance to the Topic 25%
Creativity and Presentation 15%

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Symbolism 30%
Content 30%
100%

“The people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots. ”-Marcus Garvey
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