ACLC COLLEGE OF MANDAUE

SENIOR HIGH DEPARTMENT

Lesson 1
Introduction to 21st Century Literature
Introduction
This course aims to engage students in critical study and appreciation of 21st
Century Literature from the Philippines and the World encompassing their various
dimensions, genres, elements, structures, contexts, and traditions. This will allow the
students to get to know more about the rich history of literature of different regions and
countries and the diversity of their works.

What is literature?
Literature seems too difficult to embrace for people who are indifferent to it.
However, it continues to grow and stay because of its significance and value to man.
Literature is an art of self- expression.

Literally, it means “an acquaintance with letters as in the first sense given in the Oxford
English Dictionary. In Latin, “littera” means an individual written character. It represents
a language or people; culture or tradition, passion and dignified thoughts. It introduces us
to a new world of experience. It records the experiences of man. It imitates and interprets
life through language. Everything that is written is literature.

Unit Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this unit you should be able to:
Learning outcomes:
1. State the meaning of literature;
2. Discuss the meaning of literature;
3. Appreciate the extent of literature in all aspects of human environment;
4. Discuss the types of literature; and
5. Compare and contrast the four literary genres.

LESSON CONTENT
Importance Of Literature
- Literature molds man as a total human being by being sympathetic,
aware and sensitive.
- It educates, entertains and informs.
- It leads us to understand the life of man.

Types Of Literature
- Literature has two major types: oral and written
Oral Literature includes ballads, myth, jokes, folktales and fables,
whereas written source has drama, novel, poetry and non- fictional
literature.

 Types of Literature according to Structure:

Poetry- is an artistic piece of philosophical, personal, imaginative or
inspirational nature that is laid out in lines.
Prose- a literary piece that is written without metrical structure.

Page 1 of 20
  Literature can also be classified as either fictional or non- fictional.

Fictional literature is simply defined as a product of one’s imaginative

mind. It can be drama, short story, novel, myth, folktale and poetry.

Non- Fictional literature is opposite to fiction as it comes out of one’s

personal experiences, a true and factual account of varying information.
This includes biography, essay journals, newspapers, diary, magazine etc.

LITERARY GENRES (FORMS)

1. POEM
- Poem is a composition written in verses having standard
measurements and written with a higher intensity or artistic beauty.

Poems are classified into three: lyric, narrative and dramatic.

Lyric poem refers to short poems which expresses the personal thoughts or
emotions of the poet. This is intended to be sung.
Narrative poem tells a story. It can be a ballad or an epic.
Dramatic poetry is a theatrical dialogue performed on stage. It can be a tragedy,
comedy, melodrama, or tragicomedy.

2. SHORT STORY

-Short story is a small commercial fiction, true or imaginary and smaller than a novel.
It is a prose that has one unit of place, time and action. It is “bite size” version of a
novel. You can finish reading it in just one sitting.

Short Story Elements:

Plot and Structure Plot- the sequence of incidents or events through

which an author constructs a story. The plot is not merely the action itself,
but the way the author arranges the action toward a specific end.
( structure)
Structure- layout of the work.

Page 2 of 20
 Conflict- It is where plot is often created. It is controlling impulse in a connected
pattern of causes and effects. This arouses curiosity, causes doubt,
creates tension and produces interest. Great stories do have a conflict.

Conflict may be external and internal:

External conflict is one between a character and an outside force, such as
another character, nature or fate.
Internal conflict takes place within the mind of a character who is torn
between opposing feelings or between different courses of action; also called as
dilemma, a conflict within a person/

Most plots develop in five stages:

1. Exposition- introduces the characters, setting and conflict.

2. Rising Action- complications, twists or intensifications of the conflict occurs.
3. Climax- emotional high point of the story also the most exciting part.
4. Falling Action- logical result of the climax
5. Resolution- the final outcome of the story. It may be happy, unhappy or
undetermined.

Character and Characterization

- Character is a verbal representation of a human being. The character is
either the protagonist (“the good guy”) or antagonist (“the bad guy”).
Characterization- is the quality of the character which is disclosed through
actions, descriptions both personal and environmental, dramatic statements
and thoughts by the other characters and statements by the author.
Setting- The setting is the overall context- when, where and in what circumstances
the action occurs.
Point of View (POV)- Refers to whoever is telling the story. It is the speaker, the
narrator, persona or voice created by the author to tell the story.
 First person= I, we
 Second person= you
 Third person= He, she, they (most common)
Theme- the central idea or message of the story, often a perception about life or
human nature.
Tone and Style
Tone- the attitude and feelings
Style- the manner, in which an author uses words, constructs sentences,
incorporates non literal expressions and handles rhythm timing and tone.
Humor and Irony- are intended to create an emotional impact on the reader.
Irony is when things work out opposite of what they’ re supposed to or expected to.

Guidelines in reading a short story

First Reading
Determine what is happening: where, what, who is involved or the major
characters of the story.

Page 3 of 20
 - Make a record of your reactions and responses.
- Describe characterizations, events, techniques and ideas

Second Reading

Trace developing patterns

- Write expanded notes about characters, situations, actions
- Write paragraph describing your reactions and thoughts
- Write down questions that arise as you read.

3. NONFICTION
Nonfiction is the broadest category of literature. Autobiograhies, biographies,
memoirs, letters, essays, speeches and news articles are just a few of the many types of
nonfiction. All of these forms of prose concern real, rather than imaginary subjects.

Books that are made up by the author or not true, are fiction.
KINDS OF NONFICTION
Narrative Nonfiction- tells a story as works of fiction do (eg. Autobiographies and
Biographies)
Informative Nonfiction- this includes essays, speeches and articles that explain a topic or
promote an opinion. (e.g., essays )

POETRY
Poetry is a “ way of feeling life”, according to Daisy Zamora, a Nicaraguan poet.
Poetry captures intense experiences of creative perceptions of the world in a musical
language, if prose is like talking, poetry is like singing.

Types of Poem(Traditional Classification)

 Ballad- a narrative poem written in four- line stanza
 Ode- long stately form written in various stanzas.
 Sonnet- lyric poem of 14 lines
 Blank verse- unrhymed 10- syllable poem
 Free verse- no regular meter, pattern or rhyme.
 Limerick- 5- line rhymed poem that makes fun.
 Elegy- a poem expressing grief of subjective and meditative nature
 Epic- narrates the life and adventures of a hero
 Song- expresses deep thoughts, feelings and emotions.

4. DRAMA
Drama is told mainly through words and actions of characters and intended
to be performed by actors. Feature films can be considered as drama as well as any
television programs.

Elements of Drama
Characters- can be human, supernatural, divine, mythical personification of
abstraction that reflects the personality of the character.

Page 4 of 20
 Setting- geographical location of the play (story), time and period.
Plot- serial arrangement of incidents, events and ideas.
Dialogue- the thoughts of the characters are exhibited. It is the conversation
that portrays thoughts, emotions and feelings
Point of View- serves as an instrument of the playwright to show his actions
and words are arranged where the audience can draw their conclusion.

Summary of Topic/ Section

 Literature records the experiences of man. It imitates and interprets life through
language. Everything that is written is literature.
 Literature has two major types: oral and written
 There are Four Literary Genres: poem, short story, essay and drama; with each
having its distinctive features.
 Literature is important to us because it speaks and affects human interaction and
perception of the world.
 It enlivens human interest, enriches and colors our imagination.

EVALUATION
1. In your own words, define literature and how it affects you and humanity as a whole.
2. Using the graphic organizer below, differentiate the 4 major literary genres discussed.
Genre Features/ Characteristics
1.
2.
3.
4.

ASSIGNMENT
Identify what genre of literature are the following literary works:
1.The Tell- Tale Heart
2. Hamlet
3.Jane Eyre
4.To Kill a Mockingbird
5. The Gift of Magi
6. Doctor Fautus
7.Anna Karenina
8. If
9. Les Miserables
10. Wuthering Heights

LESSON 2- 6: VARIOUS DIMENSIONS OF PHILIPPINE LITERARY HISTORY

FROM PRECOLONIAL TO CONTEMPORARY

Introduction
Introduction to topic/section

Unit learning outcomes

By the end of this unit you should be able to:

Page 5 of 20
Learning outcomes:

1. Discuss the customs of Filipino ancestors in Pre- Spanish period;

2. Identify the different forms of literature that have existed during the Pre-Spanish
period and during the time of Spanish colonialism; and
3. Create a timeline of the Philippine literary history from precolonial period to the
contemporary period.

Lesson Content

Various dimensions of Philippine literary history from precolonial to

contemporary

The Pre-Colonial Period (BC-1564)

• This existed before the Spanish occupation in the 1500s.

• It is oral in nature and is full of lessons and ideas about life, its blessings, and its
consequences. It contains ideas from birth to the grave. The oral characteristic of pre-
colonial literature gives the possibility for many alterations. In the Philippine context, no
matter how it may be considered as altered, pre-colonial literature is still revered to by
many Filipinos.

Forms: Oral Literature

a. Riddles (Mga Bugtong) These are statements that contain superficial words, but they
function figuratively and as metaphors, and are in the form of questions. These are
questions that demand deeper answers. Deals with everyday life. It usually has mundane
things as answers. This is used in the past as a form of game in small or large gatherings.

b. Proverbs (Mga Salawikain) These are statements that are considered as wise and are
usually given by parents or elders of the community.

c. Folk Songs -These are folk lyrics that are usually chanted and usually contain ideas on
aspirations, hopes, everyday life and expressions of love for loved ones. It is bounded by
the learning of good morals

d. Lullabies- these is locally known as the Hele. These are sung to put to sleep babies.
The content varies, but usually, parents sing these with ideas on how hard life is and how
they hope that their child will not experience the hardships of life. Examples: Lullabies
Ilocano Maturog, duduayya

e. Love Songs- to many Filipinos, these are known as the Harana. It can also be called
Courtship Songs and are used by young men to capture the heart of the girl that they love.

f. Religious Songs- are songs or chants that are usually given during exorcisms and
thanksgiving during good harvest. Songs of Death- are lamentations that contain the roll
of good deeds that the dead has usually done to immortalize his or her good image.

g. Folk Tales (Mga Kwentong Bayan) These are stories of native Filipinos that deals
with the power of nature- personified, their submission to a deity- usually Bathala- and
how this deity is responsible for the blessings and calamities.

h. Myths- these tackles the natural to strange occurrences of the earth and how things
were created with an aim to give an explanation to things. -There is Bathala for the

Page 6 of 20
Tagalogs and the Gueurang for the Bikolanos. - Paradise is known as Maca, while Hell is
Kasanaaan. Examples: The Story of Bathala Ang Pag-aaway ng Dagat at Langit

i. Legends- through legends, the natives understood mysteries around them. These
stories usually come with a moral lesson that give credit to supernatural powers,
supernatural occurrences, and other out-of- this-world native imagination. Examples are
The Legend of Maria Makiling The Legend of the Sampaguita

j. Fables- are short or brief stories that cater the children of the native Filipinos and are
usually bounded by good manners and right conduct. These stories use animals as
characters that represent a particular value or characteristic. Examples are Ang Kuneho at
and Pagong Si Juan Tamad

k. Epics- are very lengthy narratives that are based on oral traditions. These contain
encounters of fighters, stereotypical princes or heroes that save a damsel in distress.
Examples are Hinilawod Darangen and Indarapatra at Sulayman

The SPANISH Period (1521-1898)

The start of the Philippine's more colourful history took place in March 6, 1521 when
Ferdinand Magellan docked on the shores of Homonhon. The Filipinos were then called
“Ladinos”, meaning they were latinized. Filipinos were called two things. One is the
“Taga-Bayan”, while the other is the “Taga-bukid” or “Taga-bundok”. A person who is a
Taga-bayan is considered urbane and civilized and were in easy range of the church and
state. A person who is a Taga-bundok or Taga-bukid is called a Bruto Salvage (Savage
Brute) or Indio and were the ones who lived far from the centre of the Spanish power.

Forms:

a. Religious Literature- Revolves around the life and the death of Jesus Christ.
Forms of Religious Literature: Pasyon- it is about the passion (journey and
suffering) and the death of Jesus Christ. Senakulo- it is the re-enctment of the
Pasyon. Komedya- it depicts the European society through love and fame, but can
also be a narrative about a journey, just like Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy. It is
also considered religous, because it usually depicts the battle between the
Christians and the Saracens or the Moros.

b. Secular or Non- Religious Literature - Revolves around tales of valiance and

adventure. Forms of Secular or Non-Religious Literature: Awit- these are tales of
chivalry where a knight saves a princess. Florante at Laura is a good example.
Korido- is a metrical tale or a tale that follows the struture of a poem. Prose
Narratives- are easy to understand instructional materials that in a literary light
that teaches Filipinos on proper decorum. Pagsusulatan ng Dalawang Binibini na
si Urbana at Feliza (1864) is a good example.

c. Propaganda Literature- These were in the forms of satires, editorials, and news
articles that aimed to attack the Spanish Rule. The propaganda trinity is composed
of Dr. Jose Rizal, Marcelo H. Del Pilar, and Graciano Lopez Jaena.Examples:
Graciano Lopez Jaena Ang Fray Botod- One of his works written in Jaro, Iloilo in
1876, six years after the Cavite Revolt attacking the friars in the Philippines. He
exposed how some of the friars were greedy, ambitious and immoral.

d. Revolutionary Literature- are exposes that sparked revolution and resistance in

the hearts of Filipinos. Examples: Andres Bonifacio Katungkulang Gagawin ng
mga Anak ng Bayan (Obligations of our Countrymen) – an outline of obligations
just like the Ten Commandments, hence, it is likewise called Ang Dekalogo. Ang

Page 7 of 20
 Dapat Mabatid ng mga Tagalog (What the Tagalogs should Know) – an essay
outlining the basic tenets of Bonifacio’s ideas on nationalism. Examples: Emilio
Jacinto Liwanag at Dilim (Light and Darkness) – a collection of essays on
different subjects like freedom, work, faith, government and love of country.
Apolinario Mabini El Desarollo y Caida de la Republica Filipina (The Rise and
Fall of the Philippine Republic) – this essay highlights the establishment of the
Philippine republic and its subsequent doom due to disunity among the Filipinos
Examples: Dr. Jose Rizal El Filibusterismo– This is a sequel to the NOLI. While
the NOLI exposed the evils in society, the FILI exposed those in the government
and in the church. However, the NOLI has been dubbed the novel of society while
that of FILI is that of politics.

The AMERICAN Period (1900-1942)

The Philippines had a great leap in Education and Culture. The use of English
alongside Filipino was practiced. The Philippines Public School system was
introduced. Free public instruction was given to the Filipinos. The literature
during the American period was considered as imitative of American model.
Instead of asking the students to write originals, students ended up following the
form of American poets.

Forms:

a. Poetry under the American rule still followed the style of the old, but had
contents that ranged from free writing to societal concerns under the Americans.
Poetry Jose Corazon de Jesus (1832-1896) popularly known as “Batute,” created
his own generation with his first book of poems. Mga Gintong Dahon (1920)-
were poems pre-occupied with such non- traditional themes as passion-slaying,
grief-induced, insanity, and lover’s suicide. Sa Dakong Silangan (1928)- returned
to the awit form, retelling the history of Philippines under Spain, the coming of
the U.S under the guise of friendship to take over from Spain

b. Drama was usually used in the American period to degrade the Spanish rule and
to immortalize the heroism of the men who fought under the Katipunan. Severino
Reyes (1861-1942) – spearheaded a movement to supplant the komedya with a
new type of drama, the sarsuwela, a Filipino adaptation of the Spanish zarzuela.
Examples: Walang Sugat (1902)- is a sarsuwela (drama in the form singing)
drawn from the period of Revolution, depicting the cruelty and corruption of
friars and the heroism of the soldiers of the Katipunan.

c. Other successful sarsuwelas: Hindi Aco Patay (1903) by Juan Matapang Cruz
Kahapon, Ngayon at Bukas (1903) by Aurelio Tolentino- is an allegorical
presentation of the history of the nationalist struggle and how the U. S. frustrated
the Philippine revolution. Tanikalang Guinto (1902) by Juan Abad (1872-1932)-
is about Liwanag and K’Ulayaw, lovers who stand for freedom and the Filipino.

d. Remake Novels- took up Dr. Jose Rizal's portrayal of social conditions by

colonial repression. Gabriel Beato Francisco (1850-1935)- is best known for his
trilogy of Fulgencia Galbillo (1907), Capitan Bensio (1907), Alfaro (1909),
depicting the 30 years of colonial repression by the Spanish rule. Inigo Ed.
Regalado (1888-1976)- Madaling Araw (1909) was his first novel showing the
complex interrelations of issues and people in contemporary Philippine society.
Juan Lauro Arsciwals (1889-1928)- Lalaking Uliran o Tulisan (1914), allusion to
the colonial law that branded Filipino patriots as bandits.

Page 8 of 20
The JAPANESE Period (1941-1945)

During the Japanese period, The Philippine literature came into a halt. The use of the
English language was forbidden, and the use of the Filipino language was mandated
under the Japanese rule. For some this was a problem, but to most writers, it was a
blessing in disguise. Almost all newspapers were stopped except for some. • Filipino
literature was given a break during this period. Many wrote plays, poems, short stories,
etc. Topics and themes were often about life in the provinces.

Forms:

a. Drama - The drama experienced a lull during the Japanese period because movie
houses showing American films were closed. The big movie houses were just
made to show stage shows. Many of the plays were reproductions of English plays
to Tagalog. Newspapers Writings that came out during this period were
journalistic in nature. Writers felt suppressed but slowly, the spirit of nationalism
started to seep into their consciousness. While some continued to write, the
majority waited for a better climate to publish their works.

b. Poetry- The common theme of most poems during the Japanese occupation was
nationalism, country, love, and life in the barrios, faith, religion and the arts.
Fiction The field of the short story widened during the Japanese Occupation.
Many wrote short stories.

c. Essays were composed to glorify the Filipinos and at the same time to figuratively
attack the Japanese.

LITERATURE OF THE PHILIPPINES TODAY

21st Century Literature In the 21st century Philippines, there are a lot of literary
innovations that are adapted and created by Filipinos. Nowadays, even those who do not
have any significant literary background make their own way using the freedom that they
have to write and to express. There are a lot of new forms from the basic genres of
literature; thus, proving how far the literature in the Philippines has gone and how far it
will go on.
Forms:
a. Illustrated Novels – Story through text and illustrated images.
b. Digi-Fiction – It is a literary experience that combines three media: book,
movie/video and internet websites.
c. Graphic Novels – Narrative in comic book formats.
d. Manga – It is used in the English-speaking world as a generic term for all comic
books and graphic novels originally published in Japan.
e. Doodle Fiction – A literary presentation where the author incorporates doodle
drawings and hand written graphics in place of traditional font.
f. Chick-Lit - Genre of fiction which addresses issues of modern womanhood, often
humorously and light-heartedly.
g. Flash fiction – A style of fictional literature of extreme brevity.
h. Speculative Fiction – Dystopian, supernatural fiction, weird fiction, superhero
fiction, apocalyptic/ post- apocalyptic, fantastical fiction, sci-fi

Page 9 of 20
 i. Spoken poetry – Oral art that focuses on the aesthetics of word play and
information and voice inflection.

Summary of topic/section:

Literature during pre-colonial period were oral in nature and is full of

lessons and ideas about life, its blessings, and its consequences. During the
Spanish colonization, religious literature became prominent along with
propaganda literature and revolutionary literature. More Filipinos during the
American colonization became literate because public education was introduced.
The use of English alongside Filipino was practiced. Free public instruction was
given to the Filipinos. The literature during the American period was considered
as imitative of American model. Instead of asking the students to write originals,
students ended up following the form of American poets. During the Japanese
period, The Philippine literature came into a halt. The use of the English language
was forbidden, and the use of the Filipino language was mandated under the
Japanese rule. Contemporary period are literary innovations that are adapted and
created by Filipinos and even those who do not have any significant literary
background make their own way using the freedom that they have to write and to
express. There are a lot of new forms from the basic genres of literature.
Assessment:
TIMELINE OF PHILIPPINE LITERARY PERIOD
CONTEMPORARY
PERIOD/ 21st
Century
Literature

Page 10 of 20
LESSON 7- 8: NAMES OF CANONICAL AUTHORS AND WORKS OF
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL ARTISTS IN LITERATURE;

Introduction: Have you ever heard of the national artist in literature award? In this lesson,
we will talk about our national artists in literature and I hope you will be able to
familiarize them after this lesson.

Unit learning outcomes

By the end of this unit you should be able to:
Learning outcomes:

1. Value the contributions of local writers to the development of regional literary

traditions,
2. Appreciate the contributions of the canonical Filipino writers to the development of
national literature,
3. Demonstrate knowledge of the works and writings of our Philippine national artists in
literature.

Lesson Content:

Canonical authors and works of Philippine National Artists in

Literature;

o EDITH L. TIEMPO (April 22, 1919 – August 21, 2011). She was born in
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya. She is a poet, fictionist, teacher, literary critic
and was awarded as a national artist for literature. She founded and directed
the Silliman National Writers Workshop in Dumaguete City, which has
produced some of the country’s best writers. Tiempo’s published works
include the novel “A Blade of Ferm” (1978), “The Native Coast”(1979),
and “The Alien Corn” (1992); her famous poetries are “The Tracks of
Babylon” and other poems on 1966, “The Charmer’s Box” and other poems
on 1993; and the short story collection “Abide”, “Joshua” and other stories
on 1964.
o BIENVENIDO LUMBERA is a poet, librettist, and scholar. He
introduced to tagalog literature what is known as Bagay poetry, a landmark
aesthetic tendency that has helped to change the vernacular poetic tradition.
His famous works are; Likhang Dila, Likhang Diwa (poems in Filipino and
English) on 1993; Balaybay, Mga Tulang Lunot at Manibalang, on 2002;
Sa Sariling Bayan, Apat na Dulang May Musika, on 2004; Agunyas sa
Hacienda Luisita on 2004.

Page 11 of 20
o NESTOR VICENTE MADALI GONZALEZ also known as N.V.M
Gonzalez. He was fictionist, essayist, poet and teacher, articulated the
Filipino spirit in rural, urban landscapes. He won the 1 st Commonwealth
Literary Contest in 1940, received the Republic Cultural Heritage Award in
1960 and Gawad CCP Para sa Sining in 1990. His famous works are; The
Winds of April, Seven Hills Away, Children of the Ash-Covered Loam.
o VIRGILIO S. ALMARIO, also known as Rio Alma. He is a poet, literary
historian and critic. In 34 years, he has published 12 books of poetry, which
include the seminal Makinasyon and Peregrinasyon, and the landmark
trilogy Doktrinang Anakpawis, Mga Retrato at Rekwerdo and Muli, Sa
Kandungan ng Lupa.
o CIRILO F. BAUTISTA is a poet, fictionist and essayist with exceptional
achievements and significant contributions to the development of the
country’s literary arts. His works were: Summer Suns (1963), Words and
Battlefields (1998), The Trilogy of Saint Lazarus (2001), Galaw ng Asoge
(2003).
o NICK JOAQUIN (May 4, 1917-April 29, 2004) He was regarded as the
most distinguished Filipino writer in English writing. He has written plays,
novels, poems, short stories and essays including reportage and journalism.
His significance in the Philippine literature involves his exploration of the
Philippine colonial past under Spain and his probing psychology of social
changes. His famous works are Doňa Jeronima, Candido’s Apocalypse and
The Order of Melchizedek.
o JOSE GARCIA VILLA is considered as one of the finest contemporary
poets regardless of race or language. Villa, who lived in Singalong, Manila,
introduced the reversed consonance rime scheme, including the comma
poems that made full use of the punctuation mark in an innovative, poetic
way. The first of his poems “Have Come, Am Here” received critical
recognition when it appeared in New York in 1942 that, soon enough,
honors and fellowships were heaped on him: Guggenheim, Bollingen, the
American Academy of Arts and Letters Awards. He used Doveglion (Dove,
Eagle, Lion) as penname, the very characters he attributed to himself, and
the same ones explored by e.e. cummings in the poem he wrote for Villa
(Doveglion, Adventures in Value). Villa is also known for the tartness of
his tongue. Villa’s works have been collected into the following books:
Footnote to Youth,Many Voices, Poems by Doveglion, Poems 55, Poems in
Praise of Love: The Best Love Poems of Jose Garcia Villa as Chosen By
Himself, Selected Stories,The Portable Villa, The Essential Villa, Mir-i-
nisa, Storymasters 3: Selected Stories from Footnote to Youth, 55 Poems:
Selected and Translated into Tagalog by Hilario S. Francia.
o LEVI CELERIO is a prolific lyricist and composer for decades. He
effortlessly translated/wrote anew the lyrics to traditional melodies: “O
Maliwanag Na Buwan” (Iloko), “Ako ay May Singsing” (Pampango),
“Alibangbang” (Visaya) among others. Born in Tondo, Celerio received his
scholarship at the Academy of Music in Manila that made it possible for
him to join the Manila Symphony Orchestra, becoming its youngest
member. He made it to the Guinness Book of World Records as the only
person able to make music using just a leaf.

o CARLOS QUIRINO, biographer, has the distinction of having written one

of the earliest biographies of Jose Rizal titled The Great Malayan. Quirino’s

Page 12 of 20
 books and articles span the whole gamut of Philippine history and culture–
from Bonifacio’s trial to Aguinaldo’s biography, from Philippine
cartography to culinary arts, from cash crops to tycoons and president’s
lives, among so many subjects. In 1997, Pres. Fidel Ramos created
historical literature as a new category in the National Artist Awards and
Quirino was its first recipient. He made a record earlier on when he became
the very first Filipino correspondent for the United Press Institute.His book
Maps and Views of Old Manila is considered as the best book on the
subject. His other books include Quezon, Man of Destiny, Magsaysay of
the Philippines, Lives of the Philippine Presidents, Philippine Cartography,
The History of Philippine Sugar Industry, Filipino Heritage: The Making of
a Nation, Filipinos at War: The Fight for Freedom from Mactan to EDSA.
o FRANCISCO ARCELLANA, writer, poet, essayist, critic, journalist and
teacher, is one of the most important progenitors of the modern Filipino
short story in English. He pioneered the development of the short story as a
lyrical prose-poetic form. For Arcellana, the pride of fiction is “that it is
able to render truth, that is able to present reality”. Arcellana kept alive the
experimental tradition in fiction, and had been most daring in exploring
new literary forms to express the sensibility of the Filipino people. A
brilliant craftsman, his works are now an indispensable part of a tertiary-
level-syllabi all over the country. Arcellana’s published books are Selected
Stories (1962), Poetry and Politics: The State of Original Writing in English
in the Philippines Today (1977), The Francisco Arcellana Sampler(1990)
o F.SIONIL JOSE-His writings since the late 60s, when taken collectively
can best be described as epic. Its sheer volume puts him on the forefront of
Philippine writing in English. But ultimately, it is the consistent espousal of
the aspirations of the Filipino–for national sovereignty and social justice–
that guarantees the value of his oeuvre. In the five-novel masterpiece, the
Rosales saga, consisting of The Pretenders, Tree, My Brother, My
Executioner, Mass, and Po-on, he captures the sweep of Philippine history
while simultaneously narrating the lives of generations of the Samsons
whose personal lives intertwine with the social struggles of the nation.
Because of their international appeal, his works, including his many short
stories, have been published and translated into various languages. F. Sionil
Jose is also a publisher, lecturer on cultural issues, and the founder of the
Philippine chapter of the international organization PEN. He was bestowed
the CCP Centennial Honors for the Arts in 1999; the Outstanding
Fulbrighters Award for Literature in 1988; and the Ramon Magsaysay
Award for Journalism, Literature, and Creative Communication Arts in
1980.
o AMADO V. HERNANDEZ, is a poet, playwright, and novelist, is among
the Filipino writers who practiced “committed art”. In his view, the
function of the writer is to act as the conscience of society and to affirm the
greatness of the human spirit in the face of inequity and oppression.
Hernandez’s contribution to the development of Tagalog prose is
considerable — he stripped Tagalog of its ornate character and wrote in
prose closer to the colloquial than the “official” style permitted. His novel
Mga Ibong Mandaragit, first written by Hernandez while in prison, is the
first Filipino socio-political novel that exposes the ills of the society as
evident in the agrarian problems of the 50s.
Assessment:
DIRECTION: Answer the table below:

Page 13 of 20
 PHILIPPINE Contributions to the Their works and Writings
NATIONAL development of national
ARTISTS IN literature
LITERATURE
1. F.SIONIL
JOSE

2. LEVI
CELERIO

3. JOSE
GARCIA
VILLA
4. BIENVENID
O LUMBERA

5. NICK
JOAQUIN

LESSON 9: STUDY AND APPRECIATION OF LITERARY TEXTS FROM

THE DIFFERENT REGIONS WRITTEN IN DIFFERENT GENRES

Introduction: Do you know what famous literary works in your region? In this lesson,
you we are going to study about the literary texts from the different regions written in
different genres. You will familiarize these literary works from our different regions.

Unit learning outcomes

By the end of this unit you should be able to:
Learning outcomes:

1. Identifies representative texts and authors from its region;

2. Appreciate the contributions of the canonical Filipino writers to the development of
national literature
3. Explain the features and characteristics of Bikolano and Pampango literature.

Lesson Content

BIKOLANO LITERATURE
-Bikolano is the language of almost 5 million people in the provinces of Albay,
Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate and Sorsogon that
constitute the Bikol Region. The Bikol people have a writing tradition with roots
in its ancient folkways.
-Colonization stifled native writing, however. Only after about two centuries later
did the people begin to write poems and plays adapted from Biblical stories — this
time in the Spanish writing system.
● In 1890, the first Bikol newspaper An Parabareta (the Newsman) was
published by Mariano Perfecto, who also established the first printing
press, Imprenta de Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia.

Page 14 of 20
 ● Corridos or metrical romances became the main reading fare for many
years. Translation from Spanish to Bikol were eagerly awaited that
writers switched to translating for the money it brought them. In time,
Bikol corridos were written. The most popular was Mag-amang Pobre
(The Poor Father and Son).

● The comedia or moro-moro stayed for a long time. Almost every town
boasted of a comedia writer and a theatre group.

KAPANGPANGAN LITERATURE
Before the Spanish conquest of Lúsung Guo (circa 10 th century AD – 
1571 AD) and the  subsequent creation of the  Province of Pampanga  in 1571,
Kapampángans used  their own  indigenous writing system to represent their language

-According to the researches of Edna Zapanta- Manlapas here are some of her
findings:

● Padre Anselmo Jorge de Fajardo- known for his famous comedia or moro-
moro: Don Gonzalvo de Carboda and also known as the Father of Pampango
Literature.
● Mariano Proceso Pabalan Byron’s zarzuela: Ing Managne that depicts
Filipino family.

● Juan Crisostomo “Crisot” Sotto was known in the theatre due to his famous
works:
Sigalut (Trouble)
Balayan at Sinta (Country and Love)
Julio Agosto (July, August)
Perla, Zafiro, Rubi (Pear, Sapphire and Ruby)
Ing Anak Ning Katipunan (The Child of Katipunan)
Alang Diyos (There is No God)

Poetry
- Kapangpangan poetry is frequently written in meters of
6,8,12 and 16 syllables.
- The most popular form is 16 syllables in octaves, with
rhymes involving only at the end.
Pre- War Poets: Crisot and Sergo Navarro
Post- war poets: Amado Yuzon- “King of Crisotan”
(Pampangan Balagtasan
-Awit and corridos have a common name kuriru.
-Most of the kurikus are translation of Tagalog corridos.
1. Kasulatang Gintu (Golden inscription, 1914) by Aurelio Tolentino
2.Napun, Ngeni, at Bukas (Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow by Aurelio Tolentino

Novels
-Two Pampango novels which became popular:
1. Lidia by Crisot- simple love story
2. Ing Buac ning Ester (A Strand of Ester’s Hair) by Aurelio
Tolentino- murder mystery

Page 15 of 20
 Kapangpangan Literature ventures on these ideas of why some of their works did
not flourish:
1. Bilingualism of the people.
2. Geography
3. People had little interest in their own language.

Summary of topic/section
● Colonization has greatly affected the native literary tradition of the Bikolano and
Pampango region.
● Bikolano and Pampango writers thrived in the midst of colonization and
influenced with the styles brought by the colonizers as manifested in their works.
● Some native works were revived to be read and appreciated by the present
generation.
● Lack of exposure to the works of the older Kapampángan literary traditions
eventually caused the decline of the ancient literature in the region.
Source: Dr. Maria Lilia F. Realubit | from the website of the National Commission for
Culture and the Arts (NCCA) & balangibog.blogspot.com
https://sil-philippines-languages.org/ical/papers/pangilinan-Dispute%20on
%20Orthography.pdf

Assessment:
1. Explain the features and characteristics of Bikolano and Pampango literature.
2. As a new generation Filipino, what can you do to preserve the rich literary heritage
of your region? Explain.

LESSON 10: STUDY AND APPRECIATION OF LITERARY TEXTS FROM

THE DIFFERENT REGIONS WRITTEN IN DIFFERENT GENRES

Introduction: Do you know what famous literary works in your region? In this lesson,
you are going to study about the literary texts from the different regions written in
different genres. You will familiarize these literary works from our different regions.

Unit learning outcomes

By the end of this unit you should be able to:
Learning outcomes:

1. Identifies representative texts and authors from its region;

2. Appreciate the contributions of the canonical Filipino writers to the development of
national literature
3. Explain the features and characteristics of Hiligaynon and Sugbuanon literature.

Lesson Content

HILIGAYNON LITERATURE

Page 16 of 20
 -Hiligaynon literature, just like every other literature in the Philippines, started out
with the different mythological stories passed by ancestors to the next generation
by means of oral transmission. Stories of gods and goddesses, and of great heroes,
survived the ages by this method until we are able to transfer them into printed
works.

-Hiligaynon is the lingua franca of the West Visayas in Central Philippines.

Politically labeled Region 6.

                   Purely oral, West Visayan literature before the coming of the Spaniards was
in Kinaray-a which must have been the language in folk literature of the ten Bornean
datus who, according to the folk account of the Maragtas, got the island of Panay from
the aboriginal Ati in exchange for a headgear of gold and a necklace that touched the
ground.

        -Folk literature ranges from brief riddles, proverbs, ditties, ritual chants to
elaborate love songs, tales and extensive epics. A poem is called binalaybay and the tale
is the asoy or the sugilanon.

              -Folksongs may be as simple as the ili-ili or lullaby or as intricate as

the ambahan, a long song alternately sung by a soloist and a chorus; the siday which can
be a long poetic joust between two paid poets respectively representing the two families
in a marriage suit (siday sa pamalaye); or a balitaw, a jocose love song sung in a
debating manner by a man and a woman.

    -   The asoy may be a legend or a tale about a folk hero or a local happening. Foremost

among the Panay epics are the Labaw Donggon and the Hinilawod.

              -The coming of the Spaniards and the conversion of the people to Christianity
produced new forms of folk literature. Written literature also started, first with
translations of Spanish texts of prayers and lives of the saints.

       Religious literature flourished during the Spanish times.

● The Flores de Mayo is a devotional song-prayer held throughout the month

of May characterized by singing hymns to the Virgin Mary and offering
flowers.

● The Pasyon, which recounts the suffering of Christ, is chanted during the

Holy Week.

● The gozos of the novena, the nine-day devotional prayer to a saint, stresses

Christian virtue or recounts incidents in the life of Christ and the Virgin Mary.

● Always part of the feast in honor of the patron saint is the coronation of the
fiesta queen. The local poet then delivers the pagdayaw, an extensive ode
praising the queen’s beauty and virtue.

● The coming of the Americans saw the so-called Golden Age

of Hiligaynon literature even if the orientation was still heavily Spanish–
didactic and Roman Catholic though strongly nationalistic. The relatively short
period from the 1920’s to the coming of the Japanese is considered the Golden
Age.

Page 17 of 20
 ● The influence of English literature, especially in the short story, became
pronounced in the 1960’s when Hiligaynon writers became more aware of
formalist guidelines like characterization, local color and irony

-The Cory Revolution of 1986 is an important milestone in the history

of Hiligaynon literature. Because of the new management of the Cultural Center of the
Philippines and the creation of the Presidential Commission for Culture and the Arts
which later became the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, new writing and
new writers have been born.

       The Cory Revolution has also ushered in these historical landmarks in the literature
of West Visayas:

1. The emergence of Kinaray-a writing;

2. The emergence of Aklanon writing;
3. The emergence of writing in Filipino which is Visayan-based;
4. The ferment of campus writing in these languages;
5. The emergence of multilingual writing in the region.

● Important young writers in West Visayas today include: Hiligaynon– Alicia

Tan-Gonzales, Peter Solis Nery, Edgar Siscar, Resurreccion Hidalgo, Alfredo
Siva, Alain Russ Dimzon

● All these writers are either bilingual or multilingual. It should also be

understood that West Visayas has produced a big number of writers in English
and a few very good writers in Spanish, but they are not included here.

6 Common Literary Forms:

1.Ambahan- a ballad of unrhymed couplets
2. Ballad- a love song
3. Siday- a song of allusion to mythical heroes
4. Awit- a simple folk song, love song and work song
5. Haya- a dirge composed of two part parts: paharaya, a song for wakes
and the anogon, a song regretting the loss of a loved one and extolling him.
6. Bical- a humorous and satirical song

SUGBUANON LITERATURE
-Sugbuanon literature is characterized as abundant and varied. Literary works comes
in both oral and written forms. Sugbuanon or Cebuano literature refers to the body of
oral and written literature of speakers of Cebuano, the mother tongue of a quarter of the
country’s population who live in Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor, Negros Oriental, and parts of
Leyte and Mindanao. As such, it is an important part of Philippine literature.

      -  Cebuanos have a rich oral tradition, including legends associated with specific
locales, like the Maria Cacao legends of southern Cebu and those of Lapulapu and his
father Datu Manggal of Mactan; and folktales like the fable “Haring Gangis ug Haring
Leon“, which warn of abusive behavior by the dominant group. Many of the tales carry
lessons, but just as many suggest the value of humor, keeping of one’s wit and
resourcefulness, as in the Juan Pusong trickster tales.

       Poetry

- Among the early poetic forms are garay (verses), harito (shaman’s

prayers), tigmo (riddles) andpanultihon (proverbs), as described by the Jesuit
Francisco Alzina (1668).

Page 18 of 20
● The generic form for poetry is balak, characterized by the presence of enigma or
metaphor called balaybay or sambingay. Most of the poems are sung, like the
occupational songs and lullabies.

● The balitaw is an extemporaneous poetic debate between man and woman that is sung
and danced simultaneously. Spontaneous versifying is highly valued, also illustrated in a
dramatic form called kulilising hari, a variant of the Tagalog duplo, that is usually
performed at funeral wakes.

● -Poet- dramatist Saturio Villarino characterizes Sugbuanon poetry as adaptations from

Spanish and English poetry in metrical and rhyming schemes

        The written literature became significant only in the late 19th century.

 Tomas de San Geronimo’s “Soneto sa Pagdayeg can Santa Maria Gihapon

Virgen“ (1751) is the first of many piety-laden compositions that show a
loss of the enigmatic symbol and metaphor of pre-colonial verse.

        The prose narratives developed into the sugilanon or short story, the first example
of which is “Maming”(1901) by Vicente Sotto, the “father of Cebuano letters”; and later
into the sugilambong or novel. The press contributed much to the development of
literature by regularly publishing works of local writers, especially in the three decades
before World War II.

Pre-Commonwealth fiction was mostly nationalistic and didactic in spirit, to

be replaced later by more escapist fare like stories of love, detection and adventure. A
similar shift was seen in drama, but the more popular plays were a combination of
social criticism and entertainment, as in the works of Buenaventura Rodriguez, Piux
Kabahar and Florentino Borromeo.

             Of the many publications before the war, only Bisaya has survived as literary
outlet of Cebuano. Because of the rise in prestige of English and later Tagalog, postwar
Cebuano literature was relegated to third class although Cebuano was still the language
of home and street.

Theater
7 Types of Folk Theatricals:
1.Balitaw- a comic representation of the love chase in a verse dialogue of
courtship that develops into wit combat performed through song and dance.
2.Drama- Balitaw- developed from the Balitaw, in which a story line with spoken
dialogue is woven around at least balitaw sequences.
3.Duplo- a debate in verse with two or more characters.
4.Balagtasan sa Balitaw- an incorporation of duplo and balitaw where the
courtship plot becomes a mere framework for an argument on a non- romantic
subject.
5. Kolilisi- a strictly private type of drama performed by friends and neighbors to
divert a bereaved family from their sorrow.
6.Bagamundo- a related type of folk play where a vagabond stranger arrives at the
gate of the kolilisi Kingdom and ventures to argue with the King and his court into
admitting and introducing him to the ladies.
7.Pamalaye- an old ritual of formalizing an engagement to marry.

Summary of topic/section

Page 19 of 20
 ● Colonization has greatly affected the native literary tradition of the Bikolano and
Pampango region.
● Bikolano and Pampango writers thrived in the midst of colonization and
influenced with the styles brought by the colonizers as manifested in their works.
● Some native works were revived to be read and appreciated by the present
generation.
● Lack of exposure to the works of the older Kapampángan literary traditions
eventually caused the decline of the ancient literature in the region.
Assessment:
1. Explain the features and characteristics of Hiligaynon and Sugbuanon literature.
2. As a new generation Filipino, what can you do to preserve the rich literary heritage
of your region? Explain.

Page 20 of 20