IV.

The American Regime

Friday, 24 January 2020 8:11 am

• The Filipino Revolutionist won against the Spaniards who colonized us for more than 300
years. Our flag was hoisted on June 12, 1898 as a symbol of our independence.
• General Emilio Aguinaldo was elected the first President of the Philippine Republic but this
was short lived.
• The Fil-Am war resulted in the defeat of General Miguel Malvar in 1903.
• The peace movements started as early as 1900. Many Filipinos started writing again and the
nationalism of the people remained 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 active arousal in the field of literature started to be felt in the following newspapers:
○ El Nuevo Dia (The New Day) - established by Sergio Osmena in 1900. This was banned
twice. Osmena was threatened with banishment because of his nationalistic writings.
○ El Grito Del Pueblo (The Call of the Nation) established by Pascual Poblete in 1900
○ El Renacimiento (The Rebirth)- founded by Rafael Palma in 1901

• There were also plays written then but after the first and second presentations, the Americans
put a stop to this because of the consistent theme of nationalism. Included here were the
following:
○ Kahapon,Ngayon at Bukas – written by Aurelio Tolentino depicting the suppression done
by the Americans and their plan to colonize the Philippines.
○ Tanikalang Guinto by Juan Abad
○ Malaya by Tomas Remigio
○ Walang Sugat by Severino Reyes

Juan Abad
- Filipino printer turned into a playwright and journalist
- Contribution to Filipino theatre is his patriotic plays
- Famous works were Tanikalang Guinto and Isang Punglo ng Kaaway
- Credited for his use of symbolism to Tagalog drama
- Born to Ambrosio Abad and Bonifacia Domingo on Feb. 8, 1872 in Sampaloc, Manila and died
on exile in Xiamen, China in 1932.
- Had little formal schooling and was forced to work at an early age.
- He started working in a printing press during his teenage years and began writing verse at age
16
- His first drama was a nine-act comedia entitled “suenos dela mala fortuna”. It was staged in
the Arevalo Theatre when he was only 23.

Tanikalang Guinto

A love story between Kaulayaw and Liwanag. The antagonist Maimbot fell in love with Liwanag .
Liwanag was lured because of the riches of Maimbot but later discovers his true identity. Between
the golden chain and the handkerchief, Liwanag appreciate the lowly gift of Kaulayaw. Maimbot’s
brother Nagtapon helped him in separating Liwanag and Kaulayaw. Nagtapon killed Kaulayaw. As a
result, Liwanag attempted to commit suicide but was stopped by Diwa.
The theme is nationalism and the story is about freedom and love.

Three groups of writers contributed to Philippine literature during the American era.
- During the first year of this period, the languages used in writing were Spanish and Tagalog
(predominated) and the dialects of the different regions.
- In 1910, a new group started to write in English.
- While the three groups were one in their ideas and spirit, they differed in the methods of
reporting .

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Spanish Writers Tagalog Writers English Writers
write on nationalism like continued their lamentations on the conditions imitated the themes
honoring Rizal and other of the country and their attempts to arouse and methods of the
heroes. love for one’s native tongue. Americans.

Literature in Spanish
- The inspiration of our Filipino writers in Spanish was Rizal not only because of his being a
national leader but also because of his two novels. They contained the best qualities of a novel
ever written in English or in Filipino. Those who were inspired to write in praise of him were:

1. Cecilio Apostol
- Wrote poems dedicated to Rizal, Jacinto, Mabini and all other heroes.
- The best one was “A Rizal” (For Rizal)
Kay Rizal
Bayaning walang kamatayan, kadakilaang maalamat
Sumungaw ka mula sa bangin ng libingan
na kinahihimbingan mo sa maluwalhating pangarap!
Halika! Ang pag-ibig naming pinapagliyab ng inyong alaala,
mula sa madilim na walang wakas ay tumatawag sa iyo
upang putungan ng mga bulaklak ang iyong gunita.
Matulog kang payapa sa lilim ng kabilang-buhay
tagapagligtas ng isang bayang inalipin!
Huwag iluha, sa hiwaga ng libingan,
ang sandaling tagumpay ng Kastila,
pagka’t kung pinasabog man ang utak mo ng isang punglo,
ang diwa mo nama’y gumiba ng isang imperyo!
Luwalhati kay Rizal! Ang ngalan niyang kabanalan
na parang sunog sa Tabor sa pag-iinapoy
sa talino ng pantas ay ilaw ng kaisipan,
sa marmol ay buhay, at sa kudyapi’y kundiman.

2. Fernando Ma. Guerrero

- he shared with Apostol the reign of balagtasan in Spanish.
- He wrote the poem “Invocacion A Rizal” (A call to Rizal)
- He collected the best of his poems in a book called Crisalidas (a black wooly caterpillar)
3. Jesus Balmore
- Known for his pen name “Batikuling”
- He and Bernabe participated in a debate on Remembrance and Forgetfulness
- He was elected Poet Laureate in Spanish besting Manuel Bernabe
4. Manuel Bernabe
- A lyric poet and the fierceness of his nationalistic spirit was unchanged in any topic he
wrote
- In his debate with Balmori, he was more attractive to the public because of the
melodious words he used.
- He defended “Olvido” (Forgetfulness)
5. Claro M. Recto
- He is comparable with the other Spanish writers in terms of his nobility of speech and
theme.
- He collected his poems in a book entitled “Bajo Los Cocoteros” (Under the Coconut
Tree”)

Other writers in Spanish were:

1. Adelina Guerrea – first woman poet in the Philippines who was good in Spanish. She obtained
a Zobel prize in her song El Nido (the Nest)
2. Isidro Marpori – famous for his four books entitled Aromas de Ensueno ( Scents of Dreams)
3. Macario Adriatico – wrote of a legend of Mindoro entitled La Punta de Salto (The Place of

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 3. Macario Adriatico – wrote of a legend of Mindoro entitled La Punta de Salto (The Place of
Origin)
4. Epifanio de los Santos – known as Don Panyong. He was good leader and biographer
5. Pedro Aunario – wrote the Decalogo del Proteccionismo

Filipino Literature
- Florante at Laura of Francisco Balagtas and Urbana at Felisa of Modesto de Castro became
the inspiration of the Tagalog writers
- Julian Cruz Balmaceda classified three kinds of tagalog poets as:
1. Poet of the Heart (Makata ng Puso) This included:
○ Lope K Santos
○ Inigo Ed Regalado
○ Carlos and Pedro Gatmaitan
○ Jose Corazon de Jesus
○ Cirilo Panganiban
○ Deogracias Del Rosario
○ Ildefonso Santos
○ Amado Hernandez
○ Nemecio Carabana and Mar Antonio
2. Poets of Life (Makata ng Buhay) this includes:
○ Lope K. Santos
○ Jose Corazon de Jesus
○ Florentino Collantes
○ Patricio Mariano
○ Carlos Gatmaitan
○ Amado Hernandez
3. Poets of the Stage (Makata ng Tanghalan) this includes:
○ Aurelio Tolentino
○ Patricio Mariano
○ Severino Reyes
○ Tomas Remigio

Lope K. Santos
- Known as the Father of National Language Grammar
- Called as “Apo” of the Tagalog writers
- His masterpiece was Banaag at Sikat
Jose Corazon de Jesus
- Known as Huseng Batute
- Also called as the poet of love
- His masterpiece was Ang Isang Punong Kahoy which was an elegy
Amado V. Hernandez
- Called the Poet of the Laborers because of his intense love for workers/laborers
- “a poem is a scent, bittersweet memories, a murmur of flowing water”
- “a pen is powerful that could even bend a king”
- His masterpiece was “Ang Panday”
- Other written works included: Isang Dipang Langit, Bayang Malaya and Munting Lupa.
Valeriano Hernadez Pena
- Known as Tandang Anong
- His pen name was Kuntil Butil
- Nena and Neneng was his masterpiece
Inigo Ed Regalado
- Son of a popular writer called Odalager
- A popular story-teller, novelist and newspaperman

The Tagalog Drama

- During the advent of American period, Severino Reyes and Hermogenes Ilagan started the
movement against the moro-moro and struggled to show the people the values one can get

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 movement against the moro-moro and struggled to show the people the values one can get
from the zarzuela and simple plays.
- The following made a name for themselves:
1. Severino Reyes – Father of the tagalog Drama and author of Walang Sugat
2. Aurelio Tolentino – a kapampangan pride, His masterpieces included: Luhang Tgalog and
Kahapon, Ngayon at Bukas which resulted to his incarceration
3. Hermogenes Ilagan – founded the group Campana Ilagan that presented many dramas
in Central Luzon
4. Patricio Mariano – wrote the novel NInay and Anak ng Dagat (his masterpiece)
5. Julian Cruz Balmaceda – wrote Bunganga ng Pating which gave him much honor and
fame

The Tagalog Short Story

- Two collections of Tagalog Stories were published during the American Period. These were:
1. Mga Kuwentong Guinto – written by Alejandro Abadilla and Clodualdo del Mundo which
contained 25 best stories
2. Abadilla was also known for Parolang Guinto and Talaang Bughaw
3. 50 Kuwentong Guinto ng 50 Batikang Kuwentista - written by Pedro Reyes in 1939

Ilocano writers were:

a. Pedro Bukaneg – Known as Father of the Ilocano Literature (Bukanegan means
balagtasan)
b. Claro Caluya – Prince of Ilocano Poets
c. Leon Pichay – known as Bukanegero
Kapampangan writers were:
a. Juan Crisostomo Soto - Father of Kapampangan Literature (Crisotan means balagtasan)
b. Severino Reyes – also produced a Kapampangan version of his masterpiece
Visayan writers were:
a. Eriberto Gumban – Father of Visayan Literature
b. Magdalena Jalandoni – wrote “Ang mga Tunuk san isa ca Bulaclac”

Philippine Literature in English

Time Frames during this period:
i. Period of re-orientation (1898-1910)
ii. Period of Imitation (1910-1925)
iii. Period of Self-discovery and Growth(1925-1941)

Period of Re-Orientation
- English as a literary vehicle came with the American occupation in August 13, 1898.
- By 1900, English came to be used as a medium of instruction in the public schools. The first
teachers in English were American soldiers
- By 1908, the primary and intermediate grades were using English. It was also about this time
when UP was founded.
- Writers during this period were still adjusting to the newfound freedom. Far from the
repression of thought and speech under the Spaniards.
- They were adjusting to the idea of democracy , to the new phraseology of the English language
and to the standards of the English literary style.
- Writers had to learn direct expression as conditioned by direct thinking. They had to learn that
sentence construction , sounds and speech of English were not the same as in the vernacular.
- They had to discard sentimentality and floridity of language for the more direct and precise
English language.
- Two periodicals during this time were:
○ El Renacimiento- founded in 1901 by Rafael Palma
○ Philippine Free Press – established in 1905 by R. McCullough Dick and D. Theo Rogers

➢ Poetry
- In 1907, Justo Juliano’s Sursum Corda gained popularity
- In 1909, Jan F. Salazar’s My Mother and his Air Castles were also published

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 - In 1909, Jan F. Salazar’s My Mother and his Air Castles were also published
- In the same year, Proceso Sebastian’s To My Lady in Laoag also came out in the paper.

Period of Imitation
- By 1919, the UP College Folio published the literary compositions of the first Filipino writers in
English. They were the pioneers in short story writing.
- They imitated American and British models which resulted in a stilted, artificial and unnatural
style lacking vitality and spontaneity.
- Writers included:
○ Juan Salazar
○ Jose Hernandez
○ Vicente del Fierro
○ Francisco Tonogbanua
○ Maximo Kalaw
○ Vidal Tan
○ Francisco Africa
○ Victoriano Yamson
- Their essays were characterized by sobriety, substance and structure. They excelled in the
serious essay, especially the editorial type:
○ Carlos P. Romulo
○ Jorge Bacobo
○ Mauro Mendez
○ Vicente Hilario
- The next group of writers introduced the informal essay, criticism, and the journalistic column.
They spiced their work with humor, wit and satire. They include:
○ Ignacio Manlapaz
○ Godefredo Rivera
○ Federico Mangahas
○ Francisco Icasiano
○ Salvador Lopez
○ Jose Lansang
○ Amado Dayrit

➢ Short Stories
- In the field of short stories, Dead Stars by Paz Marquez stood out as a model of
perfection in character delineation, local color, plot and message.
- Other short stories published during this time were poor imitations of their foreign
models.
➢ The UP Folio was later replaced with Philippine Collegian
- Newspapers include:
○ The Bulletin
○ The Philippine Herald (1920)
○ Philippine Review
○ Independent
○ Rising Philippines
○ Citizens
○ Philippine Education Magazine (1924)

Significant events:
1910 – Bernardo Garcia’s poem about George Washington was published
1917 – Eulogio Rodriguez won the Vilamor Prize in the provincial history competition
1919 - Paz Marquez Benitez was editor of Woman’s
1924 – Journal was published (1st literary magazine)
1920 – Azucena poem of Marcelo de Gracia Concepcion gained recognition in the US
1920 – Procopio Solidum wrote Never Mind and other poems
1921 – Lorenzo Paredes wrote his poetry anthology Reminiscenses
1921- Zoilo M. Galang published his volume of essays Life and Success

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 1921- Zoilo M. Galang published his volume of essays Life and Success
1924 – Eliseo Quirino and Vicente Hilario wrote the essay Thinking of Ourselves
1924 – Rodolfo Dato published Filipino Poetry
1924 - Carlos P. Romulo published a collection of plays Daughters For sale and other plays
1925 – Zoilo Galang published an anthology of Short Stories in Tales of the Philippines.

Period of Self-Discovery
- By this time, Filipino writers had acquired the mastery of the English writing. The common
theme is about love and youth. Novels and drama became popular.
- Subjects for poems includes love, religious, descriptive, and reflective.
- They wrote in free verse, in odes, sonnets and in other types.
- Poetry was original

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