21st Century Literature
Literature (Latin) – “Litera” meaning letter.
Definitions:
 Brother Azurin – It expresses the
feeling of people to society, to the
government, to his surroundings, to
his fellowmen and to his Divine
Creator.
 Webster – anything that is printed
as long as it is related to the ideas
and feelings of the people whether
it is true or just a product of one’s
imagination.
 Panitikang Filipino – piece of written
work which is undying. It expresses
the feelings and emotions of people
in response to his everyday efforts
to live, to be happy in his
environment and after struggles to
reach his creator.
It is also interpreted as any printed matter:
books, magazine or pamphlet.
Others define it as a faithful reproduction of
man’s manifold experiences blended into
one harmonious expressions. It deals with
ideas, thoughts and emotions of man, it is
said to be the story of man.
In PANITIKANG PILIPINO written by Atienza,
Ramos, Salazar and Nazal, it says that “true
literature is a piece of written work which is
undying. It expresses the feelings and
emotions of people in response to his
everyday efforts to live, to be happy n his
environment and, after struggles, to reach
his Creator.”
Philippine Literature is a diverse and rich
group of works that has evolved side-by-
side with the country’s history. Literature
had started with fables and legends made
by the ancient Filipinos long before the
arrival of Spanish influence.
The main themes of Philippine literature
focus on the country’s pre-colonial cultural
traditions and the socio-political histories of
its colonial and contemporary traditions.
SPANISH COLONIAL PERIOD (195-1897)
 16th century was the start of
deprivation of the indigenous
Philippine Literature.
 Spanish Colonial government
manipulate literature by
monopolizing it under religious
orders. Literature evolves mainly on
the themes of Spanish/European
culture and the Roman Catholic
Region.
Literary Influences during Spanish
Colonization
Christian Doctrine or Doctrina Christiana
 First book ever printed in Philippines
in 1593 by the Dominican press.
 Fray Juan de Plasencia is the
founder.
 Unang salin ay baybayin na may 74
pages.
Libro de La Lengua Tagala
 Written by Fernando Bagongbanta.
 Tagalog translations to the Spanish
lines still the superiority of Spanish
Language.
Filipino Writers in Spanish became
conscious for the search for freedom.
Pasyon Dapat Ipag-alab ng Puso
 Written by Marcelo H. Del Pilar.
 Expressed in his rebellious writing
style was indentified.
Patnubay sa Binyagan
 Written by Pascual Poblete.
 Associated Filipino’s struggle for
independence with Jesus’ life.
Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo
 Written by Jose Rizal.
 Very powerful contribution among
the Filipinos in the introduction of
rejecting Spanish rules.
 He influenced succeeding writers.
Awit and Corrido
 Narrative poems that talked about
the world of royals, warriors and
lovers.
Florante at Laura
 Written by Francisco Baltazar.
 Florante at Laura embodied the
concept of colonization and
oppression which gave voice to their
revolutionary action towards
freedom.
AMERICAN COLONIAL PERIOD (1898 –
1945)
 PH Literature in Spanish was starting
to lose its track on the first decade.
 The poem of Fernando Maria
Guerrero’s Crisalidas and Balmori’s
Se desbojo la flor novel discussed
revolution and sentiments for
patriotism and reform proved that
PH literature was used to claim
freedom from colonizers.
 Even PH literature was in English,
the preservation of the content for
Filipino experiences was achieved.
 Short story writer Manuel Arguilla in
his “A son is born” was one of the
foundations of PH literature in
English.
 English poetry was founded.
 Sarzuela was overpowered by
English Drama.
CONTEMPORARY PERIOD (1946 – present)
Started during the rebirth of freedom. The
Americans returned in 1945 and Filipinos
rejoiced and guerillas that fled to the
mountain joined the liberating American
Army. On July 4, 1946 the Philippines
regained its freedom and the Filipino flag
waved joyously alone. The chains were
broken.
State of Literature during the Period
The early post liberation period was marked
by a kind of “struggle of mind and spirit”
posted by the sudden emancipation from
the enemy and wild desire to print.
 Heart of the Islands (1947)
- collection of poems by Manuel
Viray
 Philippine Cross Section (1950)
- collection of prose and poetry by
Maximo Ramos and Florentino
Valeros.
 Prose and Poems (1952)
- by Nick Joaquin
 Philippine Writing (1953)
- by T.D. Agcaoili
 Philippine Harvest
- by Amador Diego
 Horizons least (1967)
- collection of works by the
professors of UE mostly in English
(short stories, research papers,
poems, and drama)
- by Artemio Patacsil and Silverio
Baltazar
 Who Spoke of Courage in His Sleep
- by NVM Gonzales
 Speak Not, Speak Also
- by Conrado V. Pedroche
 Have come, Am Here
- by Jose Garcia Villa
- won acclaim both here and abroad
The New Filipino Literature during this
Period.
PH Literature in Tagalog was revived during
this period. Most themes in the writings
dealt with Japanese brutalities of the
brutality of life under Japanese government
and the brave guerilla exploits.
A. PERIOD OF ACTIVISM (1970-1972)
Many young people became activists 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.
 The Literary Revolution
The youth became completely rebellious
during this period. This was proven not only
in the bloody demonstrations and in the
sidewalk expressions but also in literature.
Campus newspapers showed rebellious
emotions. The once aristocratic writers
developed awareness for society. They held
pens and wrote on placards in red paint the
equivalent of the word MAKIBAKA (To
dare!).
Writing during the Period of Activism
The irreverence for the poor reached its
peak during this period of the mass
revolution. It was also during this period
that Bomb films that discredit our ways as
Filipinos started to come out.
B. PERIOD OF THE NEW SOCIETY (1972-
1980)
 The period of the New Society
started on September 21, 1972.
 The Carlos Palanca Awards
continued to give annual awards.
The New Society tried to stop
pornography or those writings giving
bad influences on the morals of the
people.
Radio and Television
Radio continued to be patronized during
this period. The play series like SI MATAR,
DAHLIA, ITO AND PALAD KO, and MR.
LONELY were the forms of recreation of
those without television.
Filipino Films
A yearly Pista ng mga Pelikulng Pilipino
(Yearly Filipino Film Festival) was held
during this time. During the festival which
lasted usually for a month, only Filipino
films were shown in all theaters in Metro
Manila.
Comics, Magazines and other Publications
During this period of the New Society,
newspapers donned new forms. News on
economic progress, discipline, culture,
tourism and the like were favored more
than the sensationalized reporting of
killings, rape and robberies.
C. PERIOD OF THE THIRD REPUBLIC
(1981-1985)
After ten years of military rule and some
changes in the life of the Filipino which
started under the New Society, Martial Rule
was at last lifted on January 2, 1981.
FILIPINO POETRY • 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.
FILIPINO SONGS • 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.
PH Literature – Signifies wisdom
General Periods in the Philippine Literature
 Pre Colonial (Before 1564 )
 Colonial (1564-1945)
 Post Colonial ( 1946-2000)
 21st Century Literature (2001-2100)
Specific Graphical Timeline
 Pre Spanish Period (1564)
 Spanish Period (1565-1872)
 Propaganda Period (1872-1876)
 Revolutionary Period (1876-1900)
 American Period (1900-1942)
 Japanese Period (1942-1945)
 Third Republic (1945-1972)
 The Martial Law (1972-1985)
 The Fourth Republic (1985-1999)
 21st Century Period
Pre Spanish Period
 We worshipped nature
 Printing was not introduced (word of
mouth)
 Folk narratives, speeches, songs
 Mga kwentong bayan , karunungang
bayan
 Proverbs (Salawikain) Contributions o Revolutionary
 They write literature on bamboos
 Literature expressed love of country
and leafs
were nationalistic.
Spanish Period  Paved way to independence.
 Poem “Filipinas” by Jose Palma.
 Worshipped God
 Filipinos struggles against Spaniards
 Spreading Christianity
ended.
 Dramatization at home and on stage
 Translation of Tagalog from Spanish
 Dominicans introduction of printing
is by Ildefonso Santos Balmaceda.
 Doctrina Christiana
American Period
Propaganda Period
 English was medium of instruction.
 Reactions of Filipinos against abuses
 Sedition Law (Paninira sa Americans)
of Spanish
was implemented because they
 Literature were ethical and satirical
can’t express their feelings.
by nature – Rizal work
 Juan Abad – Tanikalang ginto
 Marcelo H. Del Pilar introduced
 Aurelio Tolentino – Kahapon ngayon
Diaryong Tagalog
at bukas (Sedition, they got
 Graciano Lopez Jaena “La
prisoned)
Solidaridad and become first editor
 UP was founded.
in chief
 Solidarity – reform movement Contributions of American
 Herminigildo Flores wrote Hibik ng
 Writers become innovative and
Pilipinas sa inang Espanya – about
news papers, magazines and writer
Spanish not fulfilling mission to
associations help in continuous
spread Christianity. They taught us
growth of literature.
the wrong way. They used it to
 Gave way to use of both Filipinos
distract Filipinos.
and English Language in literary
Contributions of Propaganda productions.

 Exposed the abuses of Spaniards Japanese Period

through writings.
 NVM Gonzales – Lunsod, Nayon,
 Prepare the Filipinos to fight against
Dagat-dagatan.
Spaniards.
 Haiku and Tanaga was introduced.
Revolutionary Period  Literature writing was stopped.
 Haiku (5-7-5)
 KKK
 Tanaga Philippine style poetry (7-7-
 Bonifacio and Mabini wrote
7-7)
nationalistic writings in Tagalog.
 Rizal was sentenced to death 3rd Republic (After WW2)
through firing squad.
 Social Change
 Emilio (Magdalo) vs Aguinaldo
 Comics – Tagalog Romances
(Magdiwang) – they fought for
 Martial Law – September 21,
presidency but Emilio won because
1972
Bonifacio never had a proper
 Matalinhaga ang mga Filipino
education and he self taught
himself. Bonifacio is supposed to be 21st Century Literature
the president because he’s the
 Period of technological migrants,
supremo.
Generation Z and Millennials.
  Oral, printed and technological
transmission of literature.
 Vlogs, Blogs, Wattpad, E-book,
Graphic Novel, Prose, Urban
Legend, Creative non-fiction

A. PRE –COLONIAL PERIOD

Filipinos demonstrated rich lived
experiences orally expressed in their
folk speeches, songs, narratives and
indigenous rituals and mimetic dances.
These are passed down from generation
to generation.
a. Riddles – visayans call this tigmo
anf for tagalog it’s bugtong.
Ilongos its paktakon and for
Bicolanos atototdon
b. Proverbs – traditional sayings
c. Songs - folk Songs (Awit ng
Bayan)
- Songs with lines often
described as repetitive, didactic
and sonorous.
-Lullaby (Oyayi)
-Serenade (Harana)
d. Chants (Bulong)
e. Epics

1. Myths - symbolic narrative, usually

of unknown origin and at least partly
traditional, that ostensibly relates
actual events and that is especially
associated with religious belief.
–Story of Bathala
2. Legends – these are stories that
explain the origin of things and
phenomena in surrounding world.
– Legend of Mayon
3. Fables – brief stories for the children
of the native Filipinos. These talk
about supernatural or extraordinary
people. They use animals as
character to represent a
characteristic.
– Kuneho at Pagong
4.