LITERATURE – from the Latin word “littera”: letter or hand writing

- which means the art of written works/ imaginative writing

- contemporary definitions extend the term to include texts that are spoken or sung (oral
literature).
- may be classified according to a variety of systems, including language, national origin,
historical period, genre, and subject matter

HISTORY OF PHILIPPINE LITERATURE

ANCIENT TIMES BEFORE THE SPANIARDS CAME

-the stories in ancient time were not written but rather passed on from generation to generation through the
word of mouth

-forms of literature are not well-known due to lack of sophistication, modes of expression, naturalness and
simplicity

-inhabitants of the islands showcase a rich past through their:

1. Folk speeches - refer to the dialect, or style of speaking, unique to people living within a geographic
area

a. Riddles (bugtong) - questions or statements intentionally phrased so as to require ingenuity in

ascertaining its answer or meaning, typically presented as a game.

- the most influential literature of the native folk speech.

e.g. May binti walang hita , may tuktok walang mukha. (mushroom)

Heto na si Kaka, bubuka-bukaka. (scissor)

b. Epigrams (salawikain) - short sayings or poems that express an idea in an amusing way / saying
with no hidden meaning

e.g. Aanhin pa ang damo kung patay na ang kabayo

c. Chants (bulong) – witchcraft or magical things done by witches

d. Maxims – short and clever poems or saying with rhyming couplets or two lines form

e.g. *Pag hindi uukol, hindi bubukol *Pag walang tiyaga, walang nilaga

e. Proverbs /aphorisms/ sayings (salawikain) – express codes of behavior, offering nuggets of

wisdom

e.g. Honesty is the best policy.

2. Folk songs -songs that originate in traditional popular culture or that are written in such a style, often
repetitive, echoing and moralistic

a. lullaby - a quiet, gentle song sung to send a child to sleep

3. Folk narratives – stories passed by mouth rather than writing, they are varied, exotic and magical

➢ Epics - these refer to stories that tell about the exploits and adventures of a hero and are said
to be the most valuable form of ancient literature.
e.g. Biag ni Lam-ang, The Ibalon of Bikol, The "Hari sa Bukid" of Negros

➢ Folktales (kwentong bayan) - stories originating in popular culture, typically passed on by

word of mouth.
 4 categories of Folktale

a. myths- these refer to stories that also tell about an explanation of the origin of things
but often involve gods, goddesses, and other mythological characters

e.g. The creation

b. legends (alamat)- These refer to stories that often tell about the origin of things which
may be true or not.

e.g. Alamat ng pinya, Alamat ng sampalok,Alamat ng bahaghari

c. fables - short stories, typically with animals as characters, conveying a moral.

e.g. The Ants and the Grasshopper

d. fantastic stories - use magic or other supernatural elements as a main plot element,
theme, or setting.

THE SPANISH COLONIAL PERIOD

-This time the conquerors believed that the writings of the natives distinct as the works of evil and started to
blot out the wispy medium such as barks of trees, dried leaves and bamboo cylinders, but some were managed
to survive because they were etched to the communal minds of the people

-The Spaniards imparted the fundamentals of Christian Doctrine which contributed much in shaping and
recording of our literature and became the basis of religious practices

-The first book printed in 1953, Doctrina Christiana (Christian Doctrine) were practically prayers in nature
where manifested a lot of poems written, and likewise the lives of many saints were introduced.

-Christianity was the most important contribution of the Spaniard conquerors.

- In this period, Spaniards introduced theater which we would come to know as:

• Komedya- is a colorful theatrical tradition in Christianized Philippines whose plot generally revolves
around the social, political and religious conflicts of Muslim and Christian heroes dramatized in
colorful romantic and stylized acting, and in exotic costumes, presented usually during community
festivals with the support and patronage of the community
• Sinakulo-is a play depicting the life and sufferings of Jesus Christ
• The sarsuela ( zarzuela)- a Spanish traditional form of musical comedy
• The playlets -short plays or dramatic pieces
• The drama- is a type of narrative, usually fictional, that is performed
-the word drama defines a genre, or style of writing.

-Literature in this period are classified as religious and secular prose and poetry.

-This time Filipino writers, artists and journalists were able to improve the recovery and excavation of wealthy
ethnic traditions, disseminating them to school and mass media

-The Filipino nationalistic pride was also awakened and the “Filipino Identity “was accomplished

- Rizal’s Famous novel “Noli Me Tangere” (Touch Me Not) and “El Filibusterismo” (The Reign of Greed) were
the best-known literary piece
NATIONALISTIC PERIOD – PROPAGANDA MOVEMENT AND REVOLUTIONARY LITERATURE

-after 300 years of being obedient to Spaniards

-the bulk of Filipino writing was published in Diariong Tagalog (1882), a Spanish-Tagalog newspaper in
Manila, the publication which signaled the open campaign of the Reform Movement which then shaped the
course of the Propaganda Movement with the aim to seek reforms and change in the church and the
government

-this period was reinforced with the spirit of liberalism and reawakening of spirit when the Philippines opened
its door to world trade

-this was called “The period of enlightenment” where the Filipinos entertained themselves with pricking
desire for freedom, for the government to ensure civil liberty, human right, freedom of press and speech and a
growth for the human person as a participant in nation-building.

-Literature were almost satirical and critical in nature known as Revolutionary Literature

-the language used in writing were Spanish, Tagalog and dialects of the regions

-common themes were love of country and longings for independence

-Illustrados (people who were educated in Europe) began to write the downside of colonization

THE AMERICAN COLONIAL PERIOD (1898-1941)

-the end of the Lords resulted only to the coming of the new Lords

-an astonishing spectacle is when the Filipinos learned to speak the new language for underlying
communication, public speaking, and advanced reading and writing.

-English was introduced as medium of instruction

-There is an aggressive and compulsory policy of the new language as the new medium of instructions for the
schools in the Philippines

-University of the Philippines became the birthplace and center of Philippine Literature in English with the
Thomasites through school papers

-Filipinos learn the poetic style

e.g. Free Verse and New criticism

-Jose Garcia Villa became the National Artist for Literature who used free verse and espoused the dictum “Art
for art’s sake”.

-Angel Manalang Gloria talks about elicit love

2 major happenings in this era:

1. Filipino writings were published which is fruit of freedom to write, to speak, in religion and to
organization
2. Organizations and literature started to develop. The organizations have their own laws, programs and
remarkable plays. Language was a big help to improve Filipino literature

-Philippine literature both from Spanish and English both reached its golden age in the early part of American
occupation
THE JAPANESE OCCUPATION PERIOD (1941-1944)

-Japanese conquered the Philippines not only its land and people but also its literature

-Newspaper and weekly magazines including Tribune and Free Press except Liwayway were stopped because
of the strict prohibitions imposed by the Japanese in the writing and publishing of works in English

-this period resulted to the death of Philippine Literature which was perceived as the “dark period”

-most of the themes or subjects for stories, poem, and play were all about the life of the countryside

-Play during this time became the outlet of the masses

-A lot of writers gain frame during this time

-lenient administration of Kinishi Ishikawa where writers were brought ton produce cultural writings instead
of propaganda type of writings

-“Seminar classes” called “Pasanayan ng mga Manunulat” was organized

-The following are the contributions of the Japanese period in the field of poetry:

a. Haiku –one of the most important contribution of the Japanese in the field of poetry

- a very short form of Japanese poetry with 17 syllables and divided into 3 line 575

e.g. I am first with five

Then seven in the middle

Five again to end.

b. Tanaga - is a type of short Filipino poem, consisting of four lines with seven syllables each with the
same rhyme at

the end of each line

c. Free Verse- is an open form of poetry.

-Common themes: Country love, life in the barrios, faith, religion and art.

THE CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE (1960’s to present)

-the Era of Activism and New Society

-the flowering of Philippine Literature with the use of various languages, new subject, and form continues
especially with the appearance of new publications

-Filipino writers continue to write in all types of literary genre whether it is socially committed, gender, ethnic
related or even in a personal intention or not

-a lot of chaotic political highlights were raised and the social problems as well by many writers of the campuses
activists and from the new breed of writers whom they published newspapers with revolutionary substance

-these revolutionary writings were supported by the endless demonstrations against the government which
led Pres. Marcos, as we can recall, for a Martial Law in September 21, 1972 which oppressed a lot of writers
and most especially in the field of media

-but despite this event, writers never stopped writing, enlightening and convincing the readers both to the
dilemma and the good side of the country which led to the People Power Revolution

-the new requirement given by the Commission on Higher Education is teaching Philippine literature in the
country emphasizing the teaching of vernacular literature or literature of the regions