LESSON 2

History of Philippine Literature

LEARNING OUTCOMES
Name the authors and literary works that shaped the
literary repertoire of the Philippines.
Sequence historical and cultural events in to show how each
period developed.

ABOUT THE ESSAY

The essay gives us an overview of how Philippine literature shaped and was
shaped by our country’s cultural traditions and socio-political histories. It outlines
the journey of Philippine literature through different periods:
Precolonial era, Spanish colonial period, American colonial period, Japanese
colonial period, Martial Law regime, and the Contemporary period.

MAKE CONNECTIONS

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 If you could go back in time, what time and place would you visit? Why?
-Honestly, I won’t, Even if I could go back, there is nothing good would
come out of it and I don’t wanna experience the brutality that have been done in
that era.

ANALYZE LITERATURE: Literary Periods

Literary period is basically defined as a span of time for literature that

shares intellectual, linguistic, religious, and artistic influences. In Philippine
context, describing the evolving patterns of our literary heritage prompts us to
recount also the socio-cultural milieu that produced it in the process. Philippine
historical and literary periods are: Precolonial Period, Spanish Colonial Period,
American Colonial Period, Japanese Regime, Martial Law Period, and
Contemporary Period.

Precolonial Period: The Philippines already had its own rich literary tradition,
written and oral, long before the Spaniards came. This oral literary tradition in
particular plays a crucial role in reproducing the structure of native society
(Quiros, 2019).

Spanish Colonial Period: Literature during this period may be classified as

religious prose and poetry, and secular prose and poetry (Godinez-Ortega). This
period also includes literature produced by the Propaganda Movement.

American Colonial Period: The introduction of free public instruction for all
children of school age, and the use of English as medium of instruction in all levels
of education in public schools encouraged literary production during this period
(Quindoza-Santiago).

Japanese Colonial Period: Philippine Literature was interrupted in its

development during this period. Philippine Literature in English came to a halt,
and most publications in English were stopped. The use of Filipino language was
also mandated.

Contemporary Period: The flowering of Philippine literature in the various

languages continues especially with the appearance of new publications after the
Martial Law years and the resurgence of committed literature in the 1960s and the
1970s. Commission on Higher Education mandated the teaching of Philippine
Literature in all tertiary schools in the country emphasizing the teaching of the
vernacular literature or literatures of the regions (Godinez-Ortega).

USE READING SKILLS: Analyze Sequence of Events

Sequence of events refers to the order of events as they happen. As you

read the essay, keep track of the sequence of events by completing the Sequence
Literature of the Philippines 2

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Map below. Draw the order of events as they are explained. Include a short
caption under each image.
Sequence Map

oral literature like epics

and folksongs were chanted

Sorry, I cannot Ma’am, Im a bad drawer and Impossible to draw here.

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DURING READING

An Essay by Marlon T. Salvador

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Before the Spaniards came to the Philippines, our
forefathers had already thAeniraolwynze
Literature
literature, which can be described as oral
because they were handed doLwitnebrayrwy oPredriods: Describe the kind of
literature
of mouth from one generationprtoodauncoedthienrp.recolonial times. Identify
also the The vagrant Negritoes contribcuotnetdribsountigosns of the Negritoes,
Indons, and Malays to and superstitious beliefs.
Theythdeidlitneroatrhyahveeritage of the Philippines.
a system of government unlike the Indons
who brought literary genres or forms-Olirkale literature were handed down by word of
mouth from one generation to another.
folktales, epics, paganistic faith, anNdegritoes contributed songs
legends. The Malays contributaenddtshueperstitious beliefs.
baybayin, the syllabary with sevenIntedeonns who brought literary genres or forms like
symbols. They also brought legendfosl,ktales, epics, paganistic faith, and legends.
folktales, the “balangay” system ofMalays contributed the baybayin, the syllabary with
seventeen symbols. also legends, folktales,
the
government, and the brief stateme“bnatlsanogfay” system of government, and the brief
practical wisdom called proverbs swtahteicmhenatrse of practical wisdom called
proverbs
based on long experience about liwfeh.ich are based on long experience about life

Puzzles that usually consist of two lines that rhyme called riddles are considered
as the
Culture Note
early forms of poetry, which is now developed in
various forms that usually Riddle or bugtong abounds in
appear in stanzas. Early drama, now performed many ethnolinguistic groups
onstage, was in the form of paganistic rituals led in the Philippines. Give one
by babaylan, a priest or priestess. example of riddle from your
When the Spaniards set their feet on the culture or group.
Philippine soil, they found out that literature had -Unfortunately, we don’t
been existing in two forms: prose and poetry. have any, not that I know of.
The riddles, proverbs
Use Reading Skills
and sayings were in the form of poetry , while
the legends, fables and folktales were in prose.
The conquerors destroyed written
eventinacompletesentence. LitAenraatluyrzeeoSfetqhueePnhcileipopfinEevse
literature in perishable materials because they Use the Sequence Map to write four events that oc
believed that these were the handicraft on this page of the essay. Write each
of evil. Later, the printing press was set up and
Doctrina Christiana was the first output in 1593. The pasyon, which relates the
life and death of Christ, was used to replace the old epics. The most popular of
this type was Gaspar Aquino de Belen. There also born forms of metrical romance
of European origin, namely: awit and corrido, examples of which are the Florante
at Laura and Ang Alamat ng Ibong Adarna.
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 Analyze Literature Note the Facts
Literary Periods: Name What literary genres or forms
authors and their literary became popular during the
The first printed
works during Spanish Colonial Spanish Colonial Period?
literary work in
Period.
Tagalog was the
Poetic drama, epic, LEGENDS,
poem May Bagyo
The Ang Pagsusulatan ng SONGS, riddles and proverbs.
Ma’t May Rilim
(1605) while the Dalawang Binibini na sina first known published prose
was in the form of Urbana at Feliza by Modesto letter, the Ang Pagsusulatan
ng Dalawang deCastro.________________________ Binibini na sina Urbana at
Feliza by Modesto de Castro. Meanwhile, the first
Biag ni Lamang
recorded epic (only in 1889) was the Biag ni
Lam-ang among the Christian Ilokos. They noticed that Filipinos were fond of
plays so they
began to stage the Cenaculo, which depicts the life and passion of Christ; the
Santacruzan, which portrays Reyna Elena’s search for the cross where Christ
died;
and others.
In 1872, the three priest-martyrs were executed.
From then, a clamor for change against Spanish Use Reading Skills
abuses began to bloom. The event anchored the
launching of the Propaganda Movement in Spain
Analyze Sequence of Events
that aimed to clarify issues, denounce abuses and
Use the Sequence Map to write
injustices, and refute accusations. Its newspaper five events that occur on this
La Solidaridad became the organ that projected page. Write each event in a
the views of the group where essay found its
complete sentence.
place. Meanwhile, in 1885, Pedro Paterno
published the first novel Ninay which awakened national consciousness. It
became the precedent for

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 Note the Facts
What poems were published
Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere and its sequel, the by the Katipunan during the
El Filibusterismo. Marcelo H. del Pilar’s Spanish Colonial Period?
Dasalan at Tocsohan is considered as his Katapusang.
most daring work against the friars.
When Rizal was captured and exiled in Dapitan, Hibik ng Pilipinas and Pag-ibig
the Katipunan was formed with its paper sa Tinubuang Lupa
Kalayaan where Katapusang Hibik ng Pilipinas
and Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa were printed to campaign for freedom.
In 1899, the Spaniards formally turned over the Philippines under the
governance of America in conformity with the Treaty of Paris. The first group of
American teachers known as Thomasites who were aboard a ship named
Thomas, arrived and brought changes to the educational system.
Hence, Filipino writers began writing in Note the Facts
English because The Philippine Free Press
(1905) and the College Folio (UP school organ, What event ended Spanish
Rule in the Philippines?
1910) had been circulated.
Revolt of Katipunan or the
The outbreak of the World War II caused the turned over colonial rule to
scarcity of paper. In this period, the haiku the Americans because of became
popular because it does not need much treaty of Paris
space for it only contains three lines and a total
of seventeen syllables. Analyze Literature
Literary Periods: Which
The Declaration of Martial Law in 1972 greatly literary period is considered
affected literature. From this period to the the Golden Age of Filipino
present, writers and different artists continue to literature where in writing in
flourish with the aim of bringing social reform English was prohibited and
and subscribing to freedom of expression. writers in Filipino and in All this just
proves that the history of a nation vernacular languages affects its literature.
flourished?
The arival of teachers known as Thomasites that brought changes to the educational
system

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Name: Jomar B. Guiamal Subject: Lit 111
Yr./Cr/Sec:4-BS Infosys-A Date:

READING CHECK

A. Circle the letter of the correct answer.

1. Which of the following is considered the earliest form of drama in Philippine
literary history?
A. folksongs C. cenaculo
B. rituals D. legends
2. Which historical and literary period in the Philippines is considered the Epic
Age?
A. Precolonial C. American
B. Spanish D. Contemporary
3. Which of the following is the Christian epic which talks about the life and
suffering of Christ?
A. pasyon C. bodabil
B. cenaculo D. awit
4. Which of the following is NOT a product of the Spanish period?
A. Doctrina Christiana C. Footnote to Youth
A. Dasalan at Tocsohan D. Urbana at Feliza
5. Who among the following propagandists used the pen name Plaridel?
A. Marcelo H. del Pilar C. Jose P. Rizal B. Pedro Paterno D.
Graciano Lopez Jaena
6. Which of the following is NOT a work of Jose Rizal?
A. Noli Me Tangere C. Sa Aking Mga Kabata
B. El Filibusterismo D. Ninay
7. Who wrote Katapusang Hibik ng Pilipinas and Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa?
A. Marcelo H. del Pilar C. Pedro Paterno
B. Andres Bonifacio D. Apolinario Mabini
8. Who among the following are the first American teachers in the Philippines?
A. Dominicans C. Thomasites
B. Augustinians D. Jesuits
9. Which of the following did NOT emerge during the Pre-Spanish period?
A. Haiku C. Proverbs
B. Folksongs D. Riddles
10. Which of the proverbs does NOT talk about hypocrisy?
A. She seems to be a saint, but her heart is naughty.
B. The ant is where the sugar is.
C. When she turns her back she looks like a virgin, but when she faces
you she looks like a ‘sigbin’.

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 D. It is hard to wake a person who pretends to be asleep.
B. Identify the period of Philippine literature which is characterized by items 1-
10. Write the letter on your answer on the space provided before each number.
A. Precolonial B. Spanish C. American D. Japanese E. Contemporary
___A__1. Literature was handed down by word of mouth.
___B__2. Pre-colonial epics were changed.
___B__3. First work of prose was written.
___B__4. Short story flourished.
___B__5. There were metrical romances.
___B__6. There were religious and rebellious literatures. B__
Haiku_7. The short poem of three lines was known.
___D__8.Liwayway magazine was under strict supervision.
___E__9. Filmmaking has become the most popular art form.
____E_10. There are vast literary works in different literary forms.

Name: Jomar B. Guiamal Subject: Lit 111

Yr./Cr/Sec:4-BS Infosys-A Date:

USE READING SKILLS: Analyse Sequence of Events

1. Review the Sequence Map you created. Briefly retell the sequence of
events in writing as they occur.
Original literature works of diverse tribes, passed verbally through
generations to generations, then Spanish colonizer came to use ph or Maharlika as
a port/route for spice trades. As hundreds of years of occupation, ph is turned over
to Americans because of “Paris treaty” during world war and thats where the
slavery of labor to pilipinos started. Japanese occupation came during WWII where
english halted and tagalog was mandated then lastly came contemporary era
where the literacy flourished.

2. After looking into the events that shaped Philippine literary landscape, we
may find that we have become a society of various or heterogeneous traditions. Is
this an advantage or disadvantage? Explain your answer.

Im not a expert on this, but I think it did help us pilipinos in some ways

especially English literacy. However, I disagree with pasyon and cenaculo since

they were forced to the ancient pilipinos against their will and the colonizer

removed the original works of our ancient pilipinos.

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