Lesson 1: Geographic, Linguistic and Ethnic Dimensions of Philippine

Literary History from Pre-Colonial to the Contemporary

Before the Philippines was colonized, it was already brimming with a rich
tradition of oral literature. Early Filipinos weaved together countless myths and
legends to explain certain phenomena in life. They had stories on how the world was
created – why there is a sun in the morning and the moon at night, how a mountain
was formed, why there are earthquakes, and other life events. However, because
paper was not invented yet, many of these tales were not preserved and have
vanished from local knowledge. Most of what have been transcribed now are taken
from oral literature, which means that these stories have been passed on from one
generation to another. Most of that which survived are epics and folklores. The
following discussion tells about the description and other forms of literature that were
passed on by early Filipinos to today’s generation.

What is Literature?
Literature, most generically, is any body or
collection of written work. More restrictively,
literature refers to writing considered to be an art
form or any single writing deemed to have artistic
or intellectual value, and sometimes deploys
language in ways that differ from ordinary usage.
Literature is the beautiful expression of
man‘s personal interpretations of some aspect of human life, or a wording out in a
unique, beautiful, and personal manner of saying what an author thinks is a
passionate meaning of life. This is saying that literature not only becomes but is “life
itself” - Amador Daguio
Philippine Precolonial Literature
The variety and abundance of Philippine literature evolved even before the
colonial periods. Folk tales, epics, poems and marathon chants existed in most ethno
linguistic groups that were passed on from generation to generation through word of
mouth. Tales associated with the Spanish conquest also took part in the country’s
rich cultural heritage.
Some of these pre-colonial literary pieces showcased in traditional narratives,
speeches and songs are tigmo in Cebuano, bugtong in Tagalog, patototdon is Bicol
and paktakon in Ilongo. Philippine epics and folk tales are varied and filled with
magical characters. They are either narratives of mostly mythical objects, persons or
certain places, or epics telling supernatural events and bravery of heroes, customs
and ideologies of a community. Philippine Pre-colonial Literature
Owing to the works of our own archaeologists, ethnologists and anthropologists,
we are able to know more and better judge information about our pre-colonial times
set against a bulk of material about early Filipinos as recorded by Spanish, Chinese,
Arabic and other chroniclers of the past. Pre-colonial inhabitants of our islands
showcase a rich past through their folk speeches, folk songs, folk narratives and
indigenous rituals and mimetic dances that affirm our ties with our Southeast Asian
neighbors. Philippine Pre-colonial Literature.

Forms of Philippine Precolonial Literature

The precolonial literature includes all literature produced before the Spanish
colonization like chants, proverbs, songs, and folk narratives. These were all passed
down from generation to generation by word of mouth. Philippine folk narratives are
varied and distinct. They depict the people’s livelihood, customs, and traditions.

1. Proverbs - Practical observations and philosophy of everyday life that are written
usually in a rhyming scheme. It is meant to entertain while teaching basic skills in
surviving local life.
Examples:
a. “A broom is sturdy because its strands are tightly bound.”
(Matibay ang walis, palibhasa’y magkabigkis.)
Meaning: People gain strength by standing together.
b. “It is hard to wake up someone who is pretending to be asleep.”
(Mahirap gisingin ang nagtutulog-tulugan.)
Meaning: While it is easy to tell people something they do not know, it is
much harder if they are willfully choosing not to see what is before them.
c. “If you don’t persevere, you will reap the fruits of your labor.”
(Pag may tiyaga, may nilaga.)
Meaning: They don’t call them the fruits of labor for nothing. Hard work
and perseverance are needed to reach your goals. But if you keep trying,
one day you will enjoy the results of your efforts.”

2. Riddles - Demands an answer and used to test the wits of those who are
listening to them. Laughable, but in reality, the answer is more serious than
expected.
Examples:
a. “Balong malalim, puno ng patalim”
(A deep well full of knives)
Answer: Bibig (mouth)
b. “Araw-araw namamatay, taun-taon nabubuhay”
(It dies everyday, then lives every year)
Answer: Kalendaryo (Calendar)
c. “Abot na abot ng tingin, hindi mo naman marating”
(Just within range of sight, yet unreachable)
Answer: Langit (Sky)

*Purposes of Riddles:

 To entertain. Living in remote areas, before the advent of electricity, families

would sit around the fire and the elders would quiz the younger generation with
riddles.
 To educate. Riddles serve the function of passing down knowledge from one
generation to the next. They require thinking in order to solve them.
 To titillate. Many old Filipino riddles contain double entendres that were intended
to amuse the men and shock the women.
 To curse, without expressly cursing. A riddle could be made up against an
enemy, rival town, or suitor.
 To preserve the culture. Riddles communicate the old ways from one
generation to the next.

3. Folksongs - Beautiful songs that are informal expressions of our ancestors’

experiences in life. These range from courtship (which they sing in a harana or
serenade for a girl), to lullabies, harvests, funerals, and others.
 Examples: Magtanim ay di biro, Bahay Kubo, Leron Leron Sinta, etc.

*Types of folk songs:

 the harana
 the kundiman
 the rondalla

4. Tales – are stories of origin for certain places, their names, and their creation.
These are also known as myths and legends. They usually are used to explain
certain events or phenomena in our ancestors’ lives that cannot be explained by
the limited practical kind of science they knew back then.
Examples: “The Origin of Mount Makiling”, “The Monkey and the Turtle”, “The
Legend of Pineapple”, etc.

5. Epics – are long-winded poems about a hero and his adventures and
misadadventures.
Examples: “Biag ni Lam-ang” and “Hinilawod”