Activity 1: Colonization and Literature (Essay and Discussion)

In conjunction with the country's pre-colonial cultural traditions and its colonial
and contemporary histories, Philippine literature stands out for its diversity. As well
as its remarkable change, Spanish and American historical developments made this
possible.

Philippine literature has been negatively affected by colonization in several

ways, such as the attempt to erase Philippine history and the implementation of
English as a medium when it comes to making Philippine literature. Filipinos'
historical past must never forget because this is the foundation upon which we
should be able to appreciate the richness and diversity of Philippine literature.
Nevertheless, despite several attempts to abolish Philippine literature, colonization
seems to have positive effects. It is uncomfortable to acknowledge, but colonization
helps Filipinos in shaping and recording Philippine literature, and we must appreciate
this. In my perspective, colonization does far more good than harm to Philippine
literature; colonization plays a role in forming and preserving our literature.
Languages in the lowlands were strengthened by religion and institutions that
embodied European civilization. The theater was introduced by Spaniards, which we
now know as komedya, sinakulo, sarswela, playlets, and drama that until now were
used to entertain by creating a performance for the Filipinos. In addition to the
metrical romance, the awit, and the korido, "Florante at Laura" by Francisco Balagtas
was introduced as well. This metrical romance is now mandatory for students in
grade 8 to emphasize the moral lesson that religious differences should not be used
to discriminate against others. Mainly oral literature, such as folk songs, folk tales,
indigenous ceremonies, and mimetic dances, was solely available before the advent
of colonialism. Fortunately, with the intervention of knowledgeable Spanish friars, we
now have written literature and visual literature that created documentation of our
literature. The Spaniards were the ones who initially released this anthology of tales
and stories. The greatest writer in the country and national hero, Rizal, is known for
his writings like El Filibusterismo and Noli Me Tangere, which are the outcomes of
this intercultural process. This fostered the roots of national consciousness among
Filipinos and helped fuel the Philippine revolution that brought down the Spanish
regime. We would not have had Rizal's Novels if Spaniards hadn't colonized us, and
we would not have El Filibusterismo or Noli Me tangere in our school curriculum
because previously we only had oral literature that was passed on orally from
generation to generation. Furthermore, the Americans introduced the critical essay,
the modern short story, and free verse which emphasized the writer's uniqueness
and fostered craft knowledge, and societal transcendence.

In conclusion, Filipinos must preserve the ideas, convictions, and cultural

nuances of our ancestors that set our nation apart from the rest of the world. Hence
we need to study Philippine literature. Through Philippine literature, we can gain a
deeper understanding of the authors' perspectives. The feeling of becoming one with
them comes from being able to see their thoughts and ideas. Even their writing style
or flow of literary works could influence the minds of their audience. As Filipinos, it is
our responsibility to know how rich our history is, so we can pass it on to the next
generation, perpetuating the vitality and legacy of our Philippine literature.

The References:

Cervantes, I. (n.d.). Philhispanic Classics. Philhispanic classics. Instituto Cervantes

of Manila. Retrieved August 24, 2022, from
https://manila.cervantes.es/en/culture_spanish/Philhispanic%20Classics/
philhispanic_classics.htm

Cruz, G. R. C. (n.d.). A review of how Philippine colonial experience influenced the

country’s approaches to Conservation of Cultural Heritage. Retrieved August
24, 2022, from
https://www.dlsu.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/pdf/conferences/arts-congress-
proceedings/2019/FAC-02.pdf