SURVEY OF PHILIPPINE LIT.
Reviewer - Midterm
SPANISH COLONIAL LITERATURE
Historical Background
The Spanish colonization of the Philippines started in
1565, during the time of Miguel Lopez De Legaspi. It
brought changes in the lives of the Filipinos such as
embracing the Catholic religion, changing their
names when baptized, building houses made of
stones and brick houses, and having means of
transportations like carriages and boats.
Influence of Spanish in Philippine Literature
 The first Filipino alphabet called ALIBATA was
replaced by the Roman Alphabet
 The teaching of Christian Doctrine became the
basis of religious practices.
 The Spanish language became the literary
language during this time lent many of its word
to our own language.
 Our periodicals during this time gained a
religious tone.
 Many grammar books were printed in Filipino
like Tagalog, Ilocano, Filipino, Visayan.
 European legends and traditions brought here
became assimilated in our songs, corridos, and
moromoros.
 Ancient literature was collected and translated
to Tagalog and other dialects.
 Many grammar books were printed in Filipino
like Tagalog, Ilocano, Filipino, Visayan.
In the 19th century, the printing presses that
published literary works were owned and managed
by the religious orders. Thus, religious themes
dominated the literature of the time.
THE FIRST BOOKS:
1. Ang Doctrina Christiana (The Christian
Doctrine)
 This was the first book printed in the
Philippines in 1593.
2. Nuestra Senora del Rosario
 It contains the biographies of saints,
novenas, and questions and answers on
religion.
3. Libro de los Cuatro Postrimerias del Hombre
 First written book in typography.
4. Ang Barlaan at Josephat
 Biblical story printed in the Philippines,
First Tagalog Novel printed in the
Philippines even though it is only a
translation.
RECREATIONAL PLAYS
 Tibag: This ritual was brought here by the
Spaniard to remind the people about the
search of St. Helena for the Cross on which
Jesus died through a dramatic act.
 The Cenaculo: this is a dramatic performance
to commemorate the passion and death of
Jesus Christ.
 Panunuluyan: this is presented before 12:00
on Christmas Eve. This is a representation of
the search of Virgin Mary and St. Joseph for an
inn wherein to deliver the baby Jesus.
 Salubong: an Easter play that dramatizes the
meeting of the Risen Christ and his Mother.
 The Zarzuela: considered the father of the
drama; it is a musical comedy or melodrama
three acts which dealth with man's passions
and emotions like love, hate, revenge, or
cruelty
 The Moro-Moro: a play that depicts a Christian
princess who is captured by the
Mohammedans. The father organizes a rescue
party where fighting between the Moros and
Christians ensues.
FOLK SONGS
Folk songs became widespread in the Philippines.
Each region had its national song from the lowlands
to the mountains of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Examples of Folk Songs:
 Leron-leron Sinta
 Pamulinawen
 Dandansoy
 Atin Cu Pung Singsing
FRANCISCO BALTAZAR
 Francisco Baltazar was born on April 2, 1788 in
Bigga, Bulacan in the Philippines. He was the
youngest of four children. As a young child
Baltazar displayed an interest in writing poetry
and he displayed great potential. He won a
number of awards and accolades for some of
his pieces such as "Ama ng Balagtasan." He was
even featured on the front cover of a local
magazine in recognition of his outstanding
writing talent.
SURVEY OF PHILIPPINE LIT.
Reviewer - Midterm
 Baltazar was a very influential poet and orator
and many consider him to be the Filipino
William Shakespeare. He is widely known by his
pen name Francisco Balagtas. While there are a
number of Filipino poets and writers who have
gained success, Baltazar is considered to be
one of the premier poets of his culture. His
many pieces of literature and poetry have had
a tremendous influence on Filipino culture and
he is still highly regarded within the culture as
very instrumental literary figure.
Mahiganting Langit
The poem Mahiganting Langit is from the literary
work of Francisco Balagtas entitled Florante at Laura
and this was considered as one of the masterpiece
on Philippine Literature. Francisco Balagtas wrote
several poems but what makes him well-known is
the poem Florante at Laura. Florante at Laura is a
depiction of the unconditional love between two
people despite of all the hardship given by the
situation.
JOSE RIZAL
While it is true that Jose Rizal, National Hero of the
Philippines, wrote a great deal for a nation that
cannot read him in the original Spanish, nevertheless
his vast and excellent opus guarantees his place in
Filipino letters. These include, of course, his two
major novels, Noli me tangere, published in 1887,
and El filibusterismo, published in 1891. Despite the
fact that today Rizal’s works are read mainly in
translations into English and Filipino, his privileged
status as outstanding Filipino author results from the
ease with which he wrote and his essential
contributions to the birth of the nation. Born in
Calamba, Laguna, on June 19, 1861 the young Rizal
grew up in a cultured home, with a sizeable library,
something rare in the colonial Philippines. He
learned to read and write at his mother’s knee, and
it was she who introduced him into the world of
books and literature. He is said to have composed
verse as a child, but unfortunately this is not
documented. The only one of those early works
extant is the poem written in Tagalog titled Sa Aking
Mga Kabata (“To my fellow children”), which he
allegedly wrote at the age of eight. This and another,
later, poem are the only two he wrote in Tagalog, his
native tongue; the rest are all in Spanish.
Ang Huling Paalam
Salin ito ng huling sinulat ni Rizal nguni’t walang
pamagat. Sinulat niya ito sa Fort Santiago, isinilid sa
kusinilyang dealkohol, at ibinigay sa kapatid na si
Trinidad nang huling dumalaw sa kaniya bago siya
(Rizal) barilin. Ang tulang kilala ngayon sa pamagat
na “Ultimo Adios” o “Huling Paalam” ang likhang-
guro o obra maestra ni Rizal. Ang orihinal sa kastila
ay isinalin na sa mga pangunahing wika sa daigdif,
tulad ng Ingles, Prances, Aleman, Italyano, Nippongo,
Malyo, at marami pang iba, gayon din sa iba’t ibang
wikain sa Pilipinas, tulad ng Tagalog , Ilokano,
kapampangan, Pangasinan, Bikol, Sugbuhanion,
Hiligaynon, at iba pa. Maraming nagsalin ng tula sa
Tagalog, nguni’t ang pinakakaraniwang bigkasin at
siyang matatagpuan sa Luneta ay ang salin ni Jose
Gatmaytan na matutunghayan dito. Ang kahuli-
hulihang tulang ito ni Rizal ay tigib ng kalungkutan
pagka’t maiiwan na niya ang kaniyang mga
minamahal sa buhay at mawawalay na siya sa
kaniyang bayan. Sa harap ng kamatayan, wala siyang
hiniling para sa sarili; ang lahat ay para sa kapakanan
ng kaniyang mga kababayan at ng kaniyang bayan.
SPANISH COLONIAL LITERATURE
Pag Ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa
 It is a poem written by Andres Bonifacio
 Written on March 1896
 Was one of the contents of the first ever
issue of "Kalayaan", the newspaper of the
Katipunan.
 The poem is composed of 28 stanzas, each
with 4 verses and a rhyme
 Did you know? This poem was written as an
exhortation to urge his fellow Filipino
citizens to fight for Philippine independence
Magmula Giliw ng Ika'y Pumanaw
 It is a poem written by Gregoria de Jesus
 The poem became known for these two
titles, either "Tula ni Oryang" or "Magmula
Giliw Nang Lumisan Ka"
 It is composed of 15 stanzas, each with 4
verses
 Did you know? The poem is for her
husband, Andres Bonifacio
EMILIO JACINTO
SURVEY OF PHILIPPINE LIT.
Reviewer - Midterm
Whether their skin be dark or skin, all human
persons are equal; one may be superior in
knowledge, in wealth, in beauty, but not in being
more human

 Soul and the brain of the Katipunan

 Laid out principles for the new government
envisioned by Bonifacio
 Born in Manila on December 15, 1875
 Son of a prominent merchant
 Received a good education
 Fluent in both Tagalog and Spanish
 Went to the San Juan de Letran College briefly
 He transferred to the University of Santo
Tomas
 Left school and joined with Andres Bonifacio at
19 years old to form the Katipunan, or “Highest
and Most Respected Society of the Children of
the Country”
 Served as the spokesperson for the Katipunan
 Wrote for the official Katipunan newspaper,
the Kalayaan
 Penned the official handbook of the
movement, called the Kartilya ng Katipunan
 Beame a general in the group’s guerrilla army
 Lived and fought the Spanish in Magdalena,
Laguna
 Was seriously injured in a battle at the Maimpis
River in February of 1898, but found refuge in
the Santa Maria Magdalena Parish Church
 Died on April 16, 1898 of malaria (23 years old)
 “Ang Ningning at Ang Liwanag”
 “Kalayaan”
 “Kartilya”

The worth of a person is not in being a king, not in

the shape of his nose or the whiteness of his face,
nor in being a priest, representative of God, nor in
the loftiness of the position he holds on this earth

That person is pure and truly noble, even though he

was born in the forest and knows no language but
his own, who is possessed of good character, is true
to his word, has dignity and honor, who does not
oppress others nor help their oppressors, who
knows how to feel for and care for his native land