Name ________________ _____ Score 1st Q

21st CL 11 Philippine Literature During American and Japanese

Module 3
Colonization.
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Literary Piece: DEAD STARS by Paz Marquez Benitez
A. AMERICAN PERIOD (1898-1941)
Over the years, Philippine literature has been into its emergence. From our prehistoric times until modern day, there were
several discovery, creativity and wide range of imagination. All these things happened because of the experiences of our country
whether slavery, freedom, poverty and independence. With a certain degree of freedom of the press from Spanish Slavery, the
writers in tagalong began to express themselves more freely.
Characteristics and Features of the Period:
1. Zarsuelas- it started during 1893; however, Severino Reyes popularized new dramatic form and soon old forms slowly
disappeared. In the first period of the American regime, theme was no longer more about Christians and Muslims but between
Filipinos and Spaniards. Nationalistic writers took heart and during the first decade of the American Colonial Regime, wrote stage
plays that were critical of the United States or advocating independence.
2. Tagalog Prose Fiction- Lope K. Santos’ Salawahang Pag-ibig, Modesto Santiago’s Pagsintang Naluoy, and Valeriano
Hernandez Pena’s Unang Bulaklak. Authors of these prose were sentimental and opted more for romantic escapades than for
burning issues of the day.
3. Novel- Lope K. Santos’ Banaag at Sikat. This novel showed the sentimental character of each Filipino using the tents of
provinces.
4. Poetry- Noteworthy names in this field include Marcelo de Gracia Concepcion, Jose Garcia Villa, Angela Manalang
Gloria, Abelardo Subido, Trinidad Tarrosa Subido and Rafael Zulueta da Costa. They turned our not only love poems but patriotic,
religious, descriptive and reflective poems as well. They wrote in free verse, in odes and sonnets and in other types. Poetry was
original, spontaneous, competently written and later, incorporated social consciousness.
5. Short Story (1925-1941) because of the incentives provided by publications like the Philippine Free Press, The Graphic,
The Philippine Magazine and college publications like the UP Literary Apprentice, poetry and the short story flourished during
these times.
Three Period Emerged During American Period
1. The Period of Re-orientation (1898-1910) The word of reorientation came into existence during this period. English as a literary vehicle
came with the American occupation in August 13, 1898 and as they say, a choice bestow on us by history. By 1900, English came to be used as a
medium of instruction in the public schools.
2. The Period of Imitation (1910-1924) by 1919, schools particularly the UP College Folio published the literary compositions of the first
Filipino writers in English. They were the pioneers in short story writing. They were then examining their way into imitating American and
British models which resulted in a mannered, artificial and unnatural style, lacking vigor and spontaneity. Their models included Longfellow and
Hawthorne, Emerson and Thoreau, Wordsworth and Tennyson, Thackeray and Macaulay, Longfellow, Allan Poe, Irving and other American
writers of the Romantic School. Writers of this folio included Fernando Maramag (the best editorial writer of this period) Juan F. Salazar, Jose
M. Hernandez, Vicente del Fierro, and Francisco M. Africa and Victoriano Yamzon. They pioneered in English poetry.
3. Period of Self-Discovery and Growth (1925-1941) By this time, Filipino writers had acquired the mastery of English writing. They now
confidently and competently wrote on a lot of subjects although the old-time favorites of love and youth persisted. They went into all forms of
writing like the novel and the drama.
B. JAPANESE PERIOD (1942-1945)
 Encouraged of tagalong writing. Many of the works focused on everyday life were seen and untouched by war.
 Literature performed by the guerillas through satirical skills, and the people who are fighting against Japanese movement.
 The significance of cultural activities lies not in the quality of output but by the guide post of the Filipinos.
The war years, 1942-1945 set back the development of Philippine literature in English. The Japanese conquerors discouraged
the use of English; moreover, freedom of speech and freedom of the press was denied. Such an atmosphere did not provide the
impetus for writing. Primarily, however, the writers were concerned more with survival in the face of war, famine, and disease than
with writing.
The post-war reorientation period was marked by a rapid rise in journalistic writing. Most of the books published in the years
immediately after the wars were collections, anthologies, or second editions of prewar or wartime works. Recently, however, our
contemporary writers have been prolific in producing quality literature in English. The Filipino author has at last mastered not only
the language but also the form and standards of English literature.
Filipino Poetry During This Period
The common theme of most poems during the Japanese occupation was nationalism, country, love and life in the barrios,
faith, religion and the arts. Three types of poems emerged during this period. They were:
1. Haiku – a poem of free verse that the Japanese like. It was made up of 17 syllables divided into three lines. The first line had 5
syllables, the second, 7 syllables and the third, five. The haiku is allegorical in meaning, is short and covers a wide scope in
meaning.
2. Tanaga – like the Haiku, is short but it had measure and rhyme. Each line had 17 syllables and it’s also allegorical in meaning.
3. Karaniwang anyo (Usual Form)

21st Century Literature 11 page 2 1st Q

CHALLENGE YOURSELF!
FT1 Fill the table with the appropriate answer.
Literary Genre Characteristic Features Prominent Writers
new dramatic form and soon theme was no longer more Severino Reyes
old forms slowly about Christians and
Zarsuelas
disappeared Muslims but between
Filipinos and Spaniards
Still the same but in Tagalog prose were sentimental and Lope K. Santos’ Salawahang
Tagalog Prose Fiction language opted more for romantic Pag-ibig, Modesto
 escapades than for burning Santiago’s Pagsintang
issues of the day. Naluoy, and Valeriano
Hernandez Pena’s Unang
Bulaklak.
Still the same but in Tagalog This novel showed the Lope K. Santos’ Banaag at
language or English sentimental character of Sikat
Novel
language each Filipino using the tents
of provinces.
They wrote in free verse, in Poetry was original, Marcelo de Gracia
odes and sonnets and in spontaneous, competently Concepcion, Jose Garcia
other types. written and later, Villa, Angela Manalang
Poetry incorporated social Gloria, Abelardo Subido,
consciousness. Trinidad Tarrosa Subido
and Rafael Zulueta da
Costa.
the incentives provided by American style short story’s Paz Marques Benitez
Short Story publications like the
Philippine Free Press
FT2 Give the important emergence that happened in the Philippine literature of each period.
1. The Period of Re-orientation The Filipino started to learn the American English and tried incorporate the language to the
existing literary genre in Philippines.
2. The Period of Imitation The Filipino writers started to copy the literary genres of the American writers.
3. Period of Self-Discovery and Growth The Filipino writers started to write original literary piece that tackles Filippino
culture but in English language.
FT3 Give the difference and similarities of the Philippine literature during the American and Japanese Regime.
American Regime Japanese Regime

Nationalism
Spanish and Filipino relationship
News articles Journalistic
Provincial life
Foreign
Poetry
language
Fiction story
Vernacular still Restricted writes
English language
part of writing.
Vernacular language
Free Writers

FT4 Write a Haiku and a Tanaga about the beauty of Philippine literature (like how it evolve or treasure within it.
HAIKU

TANAGA

FT5 Read the featured literary piece: DEAD STARS by Paz Marquez Benitez that is posted in the Edmodo. Then answer the
following questions.
1. What comes into your mind when you hear the word “star”? What kind of value do we ascribe to this particular heavenly body?
Dreams
2. Why is the story titled “Dead Stars”?
3. The two women in the story Julia and Esperanza present 2 kinds of love.
4. Why did Alfred defend Calixta, the maid Esperanza said eloped with married man?

5. Why did Julian didn’t confront Alfredo when she learned that he was getting married?

6. Was Alfredo insensitive when he invited Julia in hid wedding?

7. What did Alfredo realize when saw Julia after many years? What do you think is Alfredo’s biggest mistake Explain you answer?

END!