SURVEY OF PHILIPPINE LITERATURE IN ENGLISH

Essence and Significance of Literature

Literature is a mirror that humans hold up to the world, to themselves and to

history. It can show us who we have been, who we are, and who we may become. No
matter how odd you are, no matter how alone you feel, there is a writer out there with
whom you will feel kinship- it can just be a task to find that writer (Malloy, 2016).

Lohan (2020) explain that literature is important because it teaches us not just
what life is all about but also how it had been in earlier times. Literature is not just
reading about writers’ works or novels. It can broaden one's mind and give the ability to
think from different perspectives, thus the analytical skills are enhanced.

Apart from this, literature also helps readers to understand the human condition,
and what makes them who they are, whether talking about love, war or other important
themes throughout life. What better way to learn about desire than through the pages of
a book? While reading, readers are transported into their own world with their own
thoughts, where they can develop their own ideas on basic human emotions, free of
embarrassment and without the interference of others.

Additionally, literature provides a window into the past, allowing readers to see
how their ancestors and others dealt with day-to-day life. Readers can see where their
own people came from, and how the country they live in became what it is today.
Literature can also let its readers look back at the mistakes made by their predecessors,
and hopefully avoid repeating them (Patel, 2018).

Also, literature helps build crucial, critical thinking skills. Readers can learn more
about symbolism within the pages of a book, and it helps them develop the ability to
find the hidden meanings within everyday life. Furthermore, they can make connections
between the characters and the themes of a book, and how that could apply to real life.

Furthermore, modern literature gives readers a view into present-day politics, and
sometimes gives us an important view into the lives of the people around us. Fictional
literature can also give its readers special insight into the minds of writers to see how they
envision the future might turn out, including the good and the bad.

Functions of Literature

Okafor (2019) reiterated that literature has great function in developing human’s
feelings, ideas, and interests. Generally, the functions of literature are as follows:
1. Knowledge sharing- this is the most basic and important function of literature. We can
learn many new things about the world with its help; we can fill ourselves with
knowledge and become smarter.

2. Upbringing- literature affects the feelings and outlook of a person. Why do we read
fairy tales in childhood? Well, mostly because they clearly distinguish between good and
evil, which helps children to understand what is good and what is bad from early age.
Thanks to artistic images, authors convey basic educational principles to the child.

3. Communication- first of all, it is the communication between the reader and the
author. Very often, we are impressed by some characters and do not like others. We can
agree with a point of view of the author and we can disagree with it altogether. Also, a
book can be a topic for discussion with your friends and acquaintances.

4. Entertainment- even though we live in the digital age with all forms of entertainment
at our fingertips, a lot of people still enjoy reading books to entertain themselves. After
all, books can take you anywhere without you even leaving your couch and they can
provide you with hours of fun. They don't even have to be fiction, some folks get a kick
out of reading construction manuals.

5. Shaping the aesthetic taste- literature helps us to form our own vision of beauty, it
pleasantly influences us, changing our behavior in society and attitude towards people in
general. Literature helps us to notice everything beautiful around us.

6. Self-development- literature helps us to develop ourselves. Thanks to books, articles,

magazines, we have the opportunity to fill ourselves with new knowledge, cultivate
good qualities and strive for something more.

7. Development of thought process- the more we know, the more we have the desire to
tell others about it and find out what they think about it. As the saying goes "Truth is
born in dispute" and so it is. People very often reflect on processes, events, knowledge,
which they read and discuss various issues with others.

8. Pleasure- we get pleasure every time from reading good verses or beautiful work, or a
book with a great plot, or other interesting facts and scientific literature. People spend a
lot of time looking for something that really brings them pleasure, and literature is
something that gives joy.

9. Shaping the speech- the more a person reads, the more words they learn, as well as
different designs and options for constructing sentences. People can enrich their
vocabulary thanks to literature.
10. Transformation- our world is full of information and not all of it is good and
beautiful, but with the help of literature, we can transform bad memories into something
beautiful. Thanks to literature, banal things can be turned into something artistic, poetic
and beautiful.

Thus, because of its functions and contributions of literature in language teaching,

literature is used as an innovative technique of teaching and even some institutions of
education design a literature program and put the literature as compulsory subject
(Wijaya, 2020).

Two main divisions of literature

There is a clear difference between the two, and it's really important to
understand the following information in order to distinguish the two forms of literature
accurately (Sephton, 2016):

POETRY PROSE

Often written in verse. Sometimes it Can also use metaphors and

rhymes, but not always. Metre and descriptive language, but you can
rhythm convey meaning, and often the tell at a glance that the key purpose
message of the poem is cryptic and is to convey information, tell a
challenges the reader to decipher it. story or deliver a clear message.

For example, this answer is written

Less bounded by rules.
Punctuation conventions can be
broken, sentence structure goes out the
window
in prose. I could describe my
emotions and perspective on
poetry and prose through
beautiful language, but I chose not
to take the "poetic" approach
because my key goal is to pass on
the information I am trying to
convey.

Emphasizes the descriptive, makes
greater use of metaphors and similes,
and how the writer delivers a message
is often just as important as what
message they're delivering.
Does not rely on the rhythm and
rhyme of words and sentences. It
does not try to embellish or be
cryptic... instead it aims for clarity
and ease of reading.
Back in ancient Greece, literature was divided into two main categories: tragedy and
comedy. Nowadays the list of possible types and literature genres can seem endless. But
it is still possible to narrow down the vast amount of literature available into a few basic
groups (Bright Hub, 2020).

The Four Literary Genres

1. Short Story - is a work of prose fiction that can be read in one sitting—usually
between 20 minutes to an hour. There is no maximum length, but the average short
story is 1,000 to 7,500 words, with some outliers reaching 10,000 or 15,000 words. At
around 10 to 25 pages, that makes short stories much shorter than novels, with only a
few approaching novella length. A piece of fiction shorter than 1,000 words is considered
a “short short story” or “flash fiction,” and anything less than 300 words is rightfully
called “micro-fiction.

2. Poetry - This is often considered the oldest form of literature. Before writing was
invented, oral stories were commonly put into some sort of poetic form to make them
easier to remember and recite. Poetry today is usually written down but is still sometimes
performed.
A lot of people think of rhymes and counting syllables and lines when they think
of poetry, and some poems certainly follow strict forms. But other types of poetry are so
free-form that they lack any rhymes or common patterns. There are even kinds of poetry
that cross genre lines, such as prose poetry. In general, though, a text is a poem when it
has some sort of meter or rhythm, and when it focuses on the way the syllables, words,
and phrases sound when put together. Poems are heavy in imagery and metaphor and
are often made up of fragments and phrases rather than complete, grammatically correct
sentences. And poetry is nearly always written in stanzas and lines, creating a unique
look on the page.

4. Essay - is generally a short piece of writing outlining the writer’s perspective or story.
It is often considered synonymous with a story or a paper or an article. Essays can be
formal as well as informal. Formal essays are generally academic in nature and tackle
serious topics.
There is no rigid format of an essay. It is a creative process so it should not be
confined within boundaries. However, there is a basic structure that is generally followed
while writing essays.
5. Drama - Any text meant to be performed rather than read can be considered drama
(unless it’s a poem meant to be performed, of course). In layman’s terms, dramas are
usually called plays.
When written down the bulk of a drama is dialogue, with periodic stage
directions such as “he looks away angrily." Of all the genres of literature discussed in this
article, drama is the one given the least time in most classrooms. And often when drama
is taught, it’s only read the same way you might read a novel. Since dramas are meant to
be acted out in front of an audience, it’s hard to fully appreciate them when looking
only at pages of text. Students respond best to dramas, and grasp their mechanics more
fully when exposed to film or theater versions or encouraged to read aloud or act out
scenes during class.

Oral Lore from Pre-Colonial Times (--1564)

Oral lore or “oral tradition” is a form of human communication wherein

knowledge, art, ideas and cultural material is received, preserved and transmitted orally
from one generation to another. The transmission is through speech or song or may
include folktales, ballads, chants, prose or verses. In this way, it is possible for a society
to transmit oral history, oral literature, oral law and other oral knowledge across
generations without a writing system, or in parallel to a writing system (Batistil,
Calumpag, Rada, Judilla, & Cadiao, 2020)

Pre-colonial Literature

The variety and abundance of Philippine literature evolved even before the
colonial period. Folks, tales, epics, poems, and marathon chants existed in most ethno
linguistic groups that were passed on from generation to generation through word
of mouth. Some of these pre-colonial literary pieces showcased in traditional narratives,
speeches and songs are “tigmo” in Cebuano, “bugtong” in tagalog “potototdon” in 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. Pre-colonial inhabitants of our islands showcase a rich past through their
folk speeches, folk songs, folk narratives and indigenous rituals and mimetic dances and
affirm our ties with our Southeast Asian neighbors.

Literary Forms during the Pre-colonial Period

1. Riddles (Bugtongor Palaisipan)

 •Made up of one or more measured lines with rhymes and may consist of 4 to 12
syllables.
•Showcase the Filipino wit, literary talent, and keen observation of the surroundings.
•Involves reference to one or two images that symbolize the characteristics of an
unknown
object that is used to be guessed.

2. Proverbs (Salawikain)
•Proverb is a simple and concrete saying, popularly known and repeated, that
expresses a truth based on common sense or experience. They are often metaphorical.
•These have been customarily used and served as laws or rules on good behavior by
our ancestors. To others, these are like allegories or parables that impart lessons for
the young ones.

3. Lo-a
•A folk tradition, mirrors the Ilonggo’s folks’ creative or poetic intuition. It
encapsulates in ordinary souls that one may meet in his daily existence; housewives,
farmers, “istambays”, laborers, teachers, even students.
•Ordinary as they are, their lo-a is a proof of an extraordinary mind whose creativity
flows spontaneously from the soul.
•Sensitivity of the Ilonggo folks’ external senses to the sounds and sighs of their
immediate surroundings, resulted to the lo-as orchestral and musical versification.

4. Myths
Mythology comprises a body of myths of a particular culture, and also the study and
interpretation of myth. It is a complex cultural phenomenon that can be approached
from a number of viewpoints. In general, myth is a narrative that describes and
portrays in symbolic language, the origin of the basic elements and assumptions of a
culture. Mythic narrative relates for example, how the world began, how humans and
animals are created, and how certain customs and gestures, or forms of human
activities originated.

5. Legends
Traditional narratives or collection of related narratives, popularly are not only
historically factual but also mixture of facts and fiction. The Medieval Latin word
“legenda” means “things for reading”.
A legend is a set of a specific place at a specific time; the subject is often a heroic
historical personage. A legend differs from a myth by portraying human hero rather
than one who is god. Legends, originally oral, have been developed into literary
 masterpieces. Legends are stories of real people who are famous for doing
something brave or extraordinary.

6. Epics
•A long poem, typically one derived from ancient oral tradition, narrating the deeds
and
adventures of heroic or legendary figures or the history of a nation.
•Portraying heroic deeds and adventures or covering an extended period of time.

7. Folk Songs
•A form of folk lyric which expresses the people’s hopes, aspirations and lifestyle.
•Repetitive and sonorous, didactic and naïve.
•Traditional songs and melodies.
•Inspired by the reaction of the people to their environment.

Literature under the Spanish Colonization (1565-1897)

The history of the Philippines from 1521 to 1898, also known as the Spanish
colonial period (the rule of the cross and the sword), was a period during which Spain
controlled the Philippine islands as the Captaincy General of the Philippines, initially
under New Spain until Mexican independence in 1821,which gave Madrid direct control
over the area. It was also known as Spanish East Indies to the colonialists.
It started with the arrival in 1521 of European explorer Ferdinand Magellan sailing
for Spain, which heralded the period when the Philippines was a colony of the Spanish
Empire, and ended with the outbreak of the Philippine Revolution in 1898, which
marked the beginning of the American colonial era of Philippine history.
Spanish Colonization of the Philippines started in 1565 during the time of Miguel
Lopez de Legazpi, the first Spanish governor-general in the Philippines. Literature started
to flourish during this time. The spurt continued unabated until the Cavite revolt in
1872. At the close of the 19th century, the body of written Philippine Literature was in
general largely religious, consisting of poems and homiletic essays printed in Catholic
pamphlets and newspapers. “Doctrina Christiana” (1593) is the first book published in
the Philippines (Baltazar, 1998).
 Poetry
May Bagyo Ma’t Rilim
(https://www.tagaloglang.com/may-bagyo-mat-rilim/)

May bagyo ma’t, may rilim

Ang ola’y, titiguisin,
Aco’y, magpipilit din:
Acquing paglalacbayin
Toloyin cong hanapin
Dios na ama namin.

Cun di man magupiling

Tocsong mabaomabaoin,
Aco’y, mangangahas din:
Itong libro’y, basahin,
At dito co hahangoin
Acquing sasandatahin.

Cun dati mang nabulag

Aco’y, pasasalamat,
Na ito ang liunag
Dios ang nagpahayag
Sa Padreng bagsiulat
Nitong mabuting sulat.

Naguiua ma’t, nabagbag

Daloyong matataas,
Aco’y magsusumicad
Babagohin ang lacas;
Dito rin hahaguilap
Timbulang icaligtas.

Cun lompo ma’t, cun pilay

Anong di icahacbang
Naito ang aacay
Magtuturo nang daan:
Toncod ay inilaan
Sucat pagcatibayan.
 epistolary essay
Urbana at Feliza
(Modesto de Castro)

Si Feliza kay Urbana - Paumbong, Mayo 10, 185. . .

Urbana: Ngayong a-las-seis ng hapon na pinagugulong ng hari ng mga astro ang
karosang apoy at itinatago sa bundok at kagubatan, ipinagkakait sa sangkapuluan ang
kaliwanagan, at sa alapaap ay nagsasambulat ng ginto ' t purpura; ang mundo ' y tahimik,
sampo ng amiha ' y hindi nagtutulin, nagbibigay-aliw ang mga bulaklak at nangagsasabog
ng bangong iningat sa doradong caliz ; ang lila ' t adelpa na itinanim mo sa ating pintuan;
ang lirio ' t asusena; ang sinamomo ' t kampupot na inihanay mo ' t pinagtapat-tapat sa
daang landas na ang tinutungo ' y ating hagdanan; oras na piniling ipinagsasaya,
nangagsisingiti ' t ang balsamong ingat ay ipinadadala sa hihip ng hangin; mapalad na
oras na ipinaglilibanga ng kamusmusan at, ipinagpapasiyal sa ating halamanan.
Marahil Urbana ' y di mamakailang pagdating sa iyo ng oras na ito, ang alaala mo
' t buong katauhan ay nagsasauli sa ating halamanan, iyong sinasagap ang balsamong alay
ng mga bulaklak na anaki ' y pamuti sa parang linalik na

Si Urbana kay Feliza -Maynila

FELIZA: Tinanggap ko ang sulat mo nang malaking tuwa, nguni ' t nang binabasa ko na '
y napintasan kita ' t dinggin ko ang kadahilaran. Ang una ' y nabanggit mo si ama ' t si
ina, ay di mo nasabi kung sila ' y may sakit o wala; nguni ' t pinararaan ko ang
kakulangan mong ito, atdi kataka-taka sa gulang mo sa labindalawang taon; ang ikalawa
' y hindi ang buhay ko kung di ang buhay mo ang itinatanong ko, ang isinagot mo ' y ang
pinagdaanan ng kamusmusan ta, at madlang matataas na puri sa akin, na di mo sinabi na
yao ' y utang ko sa mabait na magulang natin at sa Maestrang nagturo sa akin. Nguni ' t
pagdating sa sabing nagkukunot ang noo ko, at sa mga kasunod na talata, ay nangiti ang
puso ko, nagpuri ' t nagpasalamat sa Diyos, at pinagkalooban ka ng masunuring loob.
Ngayo ' y dinggin mo namana t aking sasaysayin yamang hinihingi mo ang
magandang aral na tinaggap ko, kay Doña Prudencia na aking Maestra. Natatanto mo,
na ako ' y marunong nang bumasa ng sulat nang taong 185 . . . na kata ' y magkahiwalay.
Pagdating ko rini, ang unaunang ipinakilala sa akin, ay ang katungkulan nating kumilala,
mamintuho, maglingkod at umibig sa Diyos; ang ikalawa ' y ang kautangan natin sa
ganang ating sarili; at ang ikatlo ' y

Si Urbana kay Feliza -Maynila

FELIZA: Ngayon ko tutupdin ang kahingian mo, na ipinangako ko sa iyo sa hulang sulat,
noong ika. . .Sa mga panahong itong itinira ko sa Siyudad, ay marami ang dumarating na
bata, na ipinagkakatiwala ng magulang sa aking maestra, at ipinagbibilin na pagpilitang
makatalastas ng tatlong dakilang katungkulan ng bata na sinaysay ko sa iyo. Sa mga
batanga ito, na ang iba ' y kasing-gulang mo, at ang iba ' y humigit-kumulang diyan, ay
napagkikilala ang magulang na pinagmulan, sa kani-kanilang kabaitan o kabuhalhalan ng
asal. Sa karunungang kumilala sa Diyos o sa karangalan, ay nahahayag ang kasipagan ng
marunong na magulang na magturo sa anak, o ang kapabayaan. Sa mga batang ito, ang
iba ' y hindi marunong ng ano mang dasal na nalalaman sa doktrina kristiyana, na para
baga ng Ama namin, sumasampalataya, punong sinasampalatayanan , na sa kanilang
edad disin, ay dapat nang maalaman ng bata, kaya hindi makasagot sa aming pagdarasal
o makasagot man ang iba ' y hindi magawing lumuhod, o di matutong umanyo, ng
nauukol bagang gawin sa harapan ng Diyos. Sa pagdarasal namin, ay naglulupagi, sa
pagsimba ' y nagpapalinga-linga, sa pagkain ay nagsasalaula, sa paglalaro ' y
nanampalasan sa kapwa-bata,

Si Urbana kay Feliza - Maynila

FELIZA: Napatid ang huli kong sulat sa pagsasaysay ng tapat na kaasalan, na sukat sundin
sa loob ng simbahan: ngayo ' y ipatutuloy ko. Marami ang nakikita, sa mga babaeng
nagsisipasok sa simbahan, na lumalakad na di nagdarahan, nagpapakagaslaw, at kung
marikit ang kagayakan, ay nagpapalingap-lingap, na aki ' y tinitingnan kung may
nararahuyo sa kaniya. Marami ang namamanyo nang nanganganinag, nakabingit lamang
sa ulo at ang modang ito ' y dala hanggang sa pakikinabang at pagkukumpisal. Oh Felisa!
Napasaan kaya ang galang sa santong lugar: napasan kaya ang kanilang kahinhinan!
Diyata ' t lilimutin na ng mga babaeng kristiyano yaong utos ng simbahan, pakundangan
sa mga angheles? Diyata ' t hanggang sa kumpisala ' y dadalhin ang kapangahasang di
nagpipitagang itanyag ang mukha sa Sacerdote? May nakikita at makikipag-ngitian sa
lalaking nanasok, ano pa nga ' t sampo ng bahay ng Diyos ay ginagawang pook ng
pagkakasala.
Itong mga biling huli na ukol sa lalaki, ay ipahayag mo kay Honesto, na bunso
tang kapatid. pagbilinan mo siya, na pagpasok sa simbahan, ay huwag makipag-umpukan
sa kapwa-bata nang huwag mabighani sa pagtatawanan.

Si Urbana kay Feliza -Maynila

FELIZA: Sa alas-siete ' t kami ' y makasimba na, ay kakain kami ng agahan pagkatapos ay
maglilibang-libang o maghuhusay kaya ng kani-kaniyang kasangkapan, sapagka ' t ang
kalinisan at kahusayan, ay hinahanap ng mata ng taong nagising at namulat sa kahusayan
at kalinisan. A-las-ocho, gagamit ang isa ' t isa ng aklat na pinag-aaralan; ang iba ' y
darampot ng pluma, tintero ' t ibang kasangkapang ukol sa pagsulat, magdarasal na
sumandai bago umupo sa pag-aaral, hihinging-tulong sa Diyos at kay Ginoong Santa
Maria, at nang matutuhan ang pinag-aaralan: mag-aaral hanggang alas-diez, oras nang
pagleleksyon sa amin ng Maestra; pagkatapos, magdarasal na ng rosario ni Ginoong
Stanta Maria. Pag nakadasal na ng rosario, ako ' y nananahi o naglilinis kaya ng damit, at
pag kumain ay iginagayak ko ang serbilyeta, linilinis ko ang tenedor, kutsara at kutsilyo,
na ginagamit sa lamesa. Ang lahat nang ito ' y kung makita ng Maestrang marumi, kami '
y pinarurusahan. Pagtugtog nang a-las-doce, oras nang aming pagkain ay pasasa-mesa
kami, lalapit ang isa ' t isa sa kani-kaniyang luklukan, magbebendisyon ang Maestra sa
kakanin, kaming mga bata ' y sumasagot na nakatindig na lahat, ang katawa ' y matuwid
at iniaanyo sa lugal. Pagkarinig namin ng ngalang Jesus at Glora Patri , ay itinutungo
namin ang

Si Feliza kay Urbana -Paumbong

URBANA: Si Honesto ' t ako ' y nagpapasalamat sa iyo, sa matataas na hatol na
inilalaman mo sa iyong mga sulat. Kung ang batang ito ' y makita mo disin, ay malulugod
kang di-hamak at mawiwika mo, na ang kanyang mahinhing asal ay kabati ng Honesto
niyang pangalan.
Masunurin sa ating magulang, mapagtiis sa kapwa-bata, hindi mabuyo sa
pakikipag-away, at mga pangungusap na di-katuwiran. Mawilihin sa pag-aaral at sa
pananalangin; pagka-umaga ' y mananaog sa halamanan, pipitas ng sangang may mga
bulaklak, pinagsasalit-salit ang iba ' t ibang kulay, pinag-aayos, ginagawang ramilyete ,
inilalagay sa harap ng larawan ni Ginoong Santa Maria; isang asusena ang iniuukol sa iyo,
isang liryo ang sa akin at paghahayin sa Reyna ng mga Virgenes, a y linalangkapan ng
tatlong Aba Ginoong Maria. Kung makapagkumpisal na at saka makikinabang ang isip ko
' y angelito , na kumakain ng tinapay ng mga angheles, at nakita ko, na ang pag-ibig at
puring sinasambitla ng kanyang inosenteng labi, ay kinalulugdan ng Diyos na Sanggol, na
hari ng mga inosentes. Ipatuloy mo, Urbana, ang iyong pagsulat, at nang pakinabangan
namin: Adyos, Urbana- Felisa .

Si Urbana kay Feliza -Maynila

FELIZA: Naisulat na sa iyo, ang madlang kahatulang ukol sa paglilingkod sa Diyos, ngayo
' y isusunod ko ang nauukol sa sarili nating katawan. Sabihin mo kay Honesto, na bago
masok sa eskuwela ay maghihilamos muna, suklaying maayos ang buhok, at ang baro ' t
salawal na gagamitin ay malins; nguni ' t ang kanilinisa ' y huwag iuukol sa pagpapalalo.
Huwag pahabaing lubha ang buhok na parang tulisan, sapagka ' t ito ang kinagagawian
ng masasamang-tao. Ang kuko ay huwag pahahabain, sapagka ' t kung mahaba ay
pinagkakahiratilang ikamot sa sugat, sa ano mang dumi ng katawan, nadurumhan ang
kuko, at nakaririmarim, lalung-lalo na sa pagkain. Bago mag-almusal, ay magbigay muna
ng magandang araw sa magulang, maestro o sa iba kayang pinaka-matanda sa bahay. Sa
pagkain, ay papamihasahin mo sa pagbebendisyon muna, at pagkatapos, ay
magpapasalamat sa Diyos. Kung madurumhan ang kamay, mukha o damit, ay maglinis
muna bago pasa-eskuwela. Huwag mong pababayaan, na ang plana, materia, farsilla o
regla, papel, aklat at lahat ng gagamitin sa paaralan ay maging dungis-dungisan. Kung
makikipagusap sa kapwa-tao ay huwag magpapakita ng kadunguan, ang pangungusap ay
tutuwirin, huwag hahaluan ng lamyos o lambing, huwag kakamutkamota

Si Urbana kay Feliza -Maynila

FELIZA: Itong mga huling sulat ko sa iyo, na may nauukol sa kalagayan mo, at ang iba ' y
aral kay Honesto, ay ipinauunawa ko, na di sa sariling isip hinango, kundi may sinipi sa
mga kasulatan, at ang karamihan ay aral na tinanggap ko kay Doña Prudencia, na aking
Maestra: at siyang sinusunod sa eskuwela namin aya ibig ko disin, na sa ating mga
kamag-anak, sa mga paaralan sa bayan at mga bario, * ay magkaroon ng mga salin nito
at pag-aralan ng mga bata. Ipatutuloy ko ang pagsasaysay ng mga kahatulan.Bottom of
Form Si Honesto, bago pasa-eskuwela, ay pabebendisyon muna kay ama ' t kay ina; sa
lansangan ay huwag makikialam sa mga pulong at away na madaraanan, matuwid ang
lakad, huwag ngingisi-ngisi, manglilibak sa kapwa-bata, o lalapastangan sa matanda, at
nang huwag masabi ng tao na walang pinag-aralan sa mga magulang. Kung magdaraan
sa harap ng simbahan, ay magpugay, at kung nalalapit sa pintuan ay yuyukid. Pagdating
sa bahay ng maestra ay magpupugay, magbibigay ng magandang araw, o magandang
hapon, magdasal na saglit; sa harap ng mga santong

Si Urbana kay Felisa -Maynila

FELIZA: Sa malabis na kadunguan ng mga bata kung kinakausap ng matanda o mahal
kayang tao, ang marami ay kikimi-kimi at kikiling-kiling, hindi mabuksan ang bibig,
turuan mo, Felisa, si Honesto, na huwag susundin ang ganong asal, ilagay ang loob sa
kumakausap, sagutin nang mahusay at madali ang tanong, at nang huwag kayamutan.
Kung mangungusap ay tuwirin ang katawan, ayusin ang lagay. Ang pagsasalita
naman ay susukatain, huwag magpapalampas ng sabi, humimpil kung kapanahunan, at
nang huwag pagsawaan. Kung nakikipag-usap sa matanda ma ' t sa bata, ay huwag
magsabi ng hindi katotohanan, sapagka ' t ang kabulaanan ay kapit sa taong taksil o
mapaglilo.
Ang pagsasalita ay sasayahan, ilagay sa ugali, ituntong sa guhit, huwag hahaluan
ng kahambugan, at baka mapara doon sa isang nagsalitang hambog, na sinagot ng
kausap. Fuu, Fuu , na ang kahulugan ay, habagat, habagat. Huwag magpalamapas ng
sabi at baka maparis doon sa isang palalo na sinagot ng kaharap: hintay ka muna, kukuha
ako ng gunting at gugupitin ko ang labis.
Sa pakikipagharap, ay mabuti ang nagmamasid sa kinakausap, at kung makakita
ng mabuting asal sa iba, at sa

Si Urbana kay Feliza - Maynila

URBANA: MINAMAHAL KONG KAPATID. Ang isang sulat ay isang pagsasalin sa papel
ng nasa-isip at sa loob ipinagkakatiwala, at nang matanto ng pinagpapadalhan. Ang sulat
ay isang salitaan sa papel, kaya ang titik ay dapat linawan, at ang pangungusap ay ilagay
sa ugali.
Kung ang sinusulatan ay kaibigan at kapahayagan ng loob, ay pahintulot na
humaba ang sulat, palibhasa ' y marami ang masasaysay.
Kung ang ibig-sabihin sa sulat, ay isang bagay lamang, at ang sinusulatan ay di
kaibigan, hindi karampatan ang magsaysay ng ibang bagay.
Ang sulat ay ibabagay sa sinusulatan, at gayon din ibabagay ang pakikipag-usap.
Iba ang sulat ng mataas sa mababang tao, at ng mababa sa mataas: iba ang sulat ng
matanda sa bata, at ng bata sa matanda.
Ang galang na kailangang gamitin ng bata sa matanda hindi kailangan sa sulat ng
matanda sa bata; maliban na lamang, kung sa bata ay may nakikitang bagay na sukat-
igalang.

Si Urbana kay Felisa - Maynila

FELIZA: Alinsunod sa sinabi ko sa iyo na ako ' y magpapadala ng mga panuto sa pagsulat,
ipababasa mo kay Honesto itong mga kasunod.
Pupunuan ng mayusculas ang mga pangalan at apellido ng tao, kaparis ng
Francisco Baltazar ; ang sa mga kaharian, siyudad, bayan, lalawigan, bundok, dagat, ilog,
batis, para ng España, Maynila, Binyang, Batangas, Arayat Oceano, Pasig, Bumbungan;
gayon di ang ngalan ng karunungan, para ng Teologia, ng Artes , para ng Gramatica,
Poesia; gayon din ang ngalan ng mga katungkulan, para ng General, Papa, Arzobispo.
Gayon man kung sa oracion o isang sabing buo ang mga ngalan ng karunungan,
artes , at iba pang sinabi ko, ay di pinagkapangulo, ay pupunuan ng letrang munti,
kaparis nitong halimbawang kasunod; si Benito at si Mariano ay kapwa nag-aaral sa
pandayan.
Feliza, turuan mo si Honesto nang matutong maglagay sa sulat ng mga notas o
tanda. Ang mga notas ay ito: Coma (,): Punta y coma (;): Dos puntos (:): Admiracion (!):
Interrogacion (?): Parenthesis ( ): Puntos suspensiros

Si Urbana kay Feliza - Paumbong

URBANA: Tinanggap ko ang mga sulat mo at ako ' y napasasalamat sa iyo at kami ni
Honesto ay pinagsasakitan mong matuto.
Aking iniutos sa kaniya na pag-aaralan ang mga panutong padala mo; tinanggap
nang buong tuwa at nagsakit mag-aral. Sa kaniyang pagpipilit ay natuto; at ang wika mo
na di lamang siya ang makikinabang ay pinatutuhanan. Nang matutuhan na, ay itinuturo
naman sa iba; at palibhasa ' y ang magaling ay hindi matahimik Bottom of Formsa isa
kundi sa nagpapakitaan ng kani-kanilang sulat at kung may mabating mali ng kapwa-bata,
ay binabago ang sulat. Ang sulat kong ito ay titik ni Honesto. Adyos, Urbana.- Feliza.

Florante at Laura by Francisco Baltazar

References

https://www.quora.com/Why-is-literature-so-important Malloy, A. 2016

https://www.quora.com/Why-is-literature-so-important Lohan, T. 2020

https://www.quora.com/Why-is-literature-so-important Patel, T. 2018

https://www.legit.ng/1218547-10-functions-literature-about.html Okafor, I. 2019

http://awinlanguage.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-function-of-literature.html Wijaya, A.
2020

https://education.blurtit.com/1010099/what-are-the-two-main-division-of-literature
Sephton, C. 2016

https://www.brighthubeducation.com/homework-help-literature/100292-the-five-main-
genres-of-literature/ Bright Hub, 2020

https://www.scribd.com/presentation/444196160/Oral-Lore-from-Pre-Colonial-Times-
pptxBatistil, M., Calumpag, M., Rada, J., Judilla, J.K., & Cadiao, K.P. 2020

https://www.coursehero.com/file/36908276/LITERATURE-UNDER-SPANISH-COLONIALISMdocx/ Baltazar,
L.K. 1998
http://ironmao.weebly.com/uploads/5/4/1/6/54162303/urbana_at_feliza.pdf