LITERATURE

PRE-COLONIAL ERA
- Philippine literary forms in the pre-colonial era were spoken, sung, or chanted with the
intent of entertaining, promoting community values, accompanying rituals or imparting
wisdom.
- Riddles, proverbs, aphorism, maxims, ballads, folk lyrics, myths, legends, fables, tales,
lamentations, carousals and epics were some of the literary types during this period
which were told and retold by the natives. The literature of the pre – colonial Filipinos
bore the marks of the community.
SPANISH ERA (15TH Century)
- The existing literature of the Philippine ethnic groups at the time of conquest and
conversion into Christianity was mainly oral, consisting of epics, legends, folk songs,
riddles, recreational plays and proverbs. Thus, religious themes dominated the literature
during this era.

PERIOD OF ENLIGHTENMENT (1972-1898)

- In the Philippines, this period mirrored the Filipinos’ desire for reforms. Ilustrados, or
Filipino intellectuals educated in Europe, began to write about the drawbacks of
colonization.
THE AMERICAN REGIME (1898-1946)
- Many Filipinos started writing again and the nationalism of the people remain
undaunted.
- Filipino writers went into all forms of literature like news reporting, poetry, stories,
plays, essays and novels. their writings clearly depicted their love of country and their
longings for independence.
THE JAPANESE PERIOD (1941-1945)
- Mainly poetry and the most common themes were nationalism, country, love, faith,
religion, arts, and life in the barrios. There were three types of poems emerged during
this period: Haiku, Tanaga, and Usual Form
- The field of short story widened during this period as well.
PHILIPPINE LITERATURE IN ENGLISH (1941-1945)
- English was served as the medium of instruction.
 - However, during the Japanese occupation, when Tagalog was preferred by Japanese
military authorities, English writing was put on hold.
PERIOD OF ACTIVISM (1970-1972)
- Because of the ills of society, the youth moved to seek reforms. Some continued to
believe that the democratic government is stable and that it is only the people running
the government who are at fault. Some believed that socialism or communism should
replace democracy. Some armed groups were formed to bring down the democratic
form of government. Many young people became activists to ask for changes in the
government to ask for changes in the government. In the expression of this desire for
change, keen were the writings of some youth who were fired with nationalism in order
to emphasize the importance of their petitions.
PERIOD OF THE NEW SOCIETY (1972-1980)
- The forms of literature that led during this period were the essays, debates and poetry.
The short stories, like the novels and plays were no different in style from those written
before the onset of activism.
- Almost all themes in most writings dealt with the development or progress of the
country –like the Green Revolution, family planning, proper nutrition, environment,
drug addiction and pollution. The New Society tried to stop pornography or those
writings giving bad influences on the morals of the people. All school newspapers were
temporarily stopped and so with school organizations.
PERIOD OF THE THIRD REPUBLIC (1981-1985)
- Former Senator Benigno S. Aquino Jr., the idol of the Filipino masses, whom they hoped
to be the next president, was brutally murdered. This stage of the nation had its effect
on our literature. People’s voices could no long be contained. Both the public and
private sectors in government were chanting, and shouting; women, men and the youth
became bolder and their voices were raised in dissent.
- Poems during this period of the Third Republic were romantic and revolutionary.
Writers wrote openly of their criticism against the government. The supplications of the
people were coached in fiery, colorful, violent, profane and insulting language. Many
Filipino songs dealt with themes that were really true-to-life like those of grief, poverty,
aspirations for freedom, love of God, of country and of fellowmen.
POST - EDSA 1 REVOLUTION (1986-1995)
- Writing is the development thrust towards the retrieval and the recuperation of writing
in Philippine languages other than Tagalog.
- Filipino writers have become more conscious of their craft as shown by the regular
conduct of writing workshops.
21st CENTURY PERIOD
- The characteristics of Modern Literature can be categorized into Individualism,
Experimentation, Symbolism, Absurdity, and Formalism.
- With increasing globalization, intersections of cultures and more vocal discussions of
women's rights and LGBT rights, identity has become a common theme in 21st century
literature.