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.

BEFORE READING

The Journey of Philippine Literature: From

Precolonial to Contemporary Period
An Essay by Marlon T. Salvador
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

If you could go back in

time, what time and
place would you visit?
Why?

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 Time is precise. However, if I could go back in time and chose a place to
visit, I will definitely choose Philippines. It is not because I am a Filipino but
because I am proud of every Filipino who fought for our sovereignty. I just want
to say thank you for all of their bravery, efforts and sacrifices. During their time,
it was not easy to speak because their voices do not matter. But Filipinos did not
just sit and let the colonizers to consume us instead, they rose up and waved our
flag. Additionally, despite of the influence of the colonizers in our culture and
tradition, our ancestors found ways to enrich our Philippine Literature which
resulted to the rich heritage of the Philippine Literature today despite of the
diverse community.

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).
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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
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

This is baybayin and This was Christianity These are the Thomasites

and an example of pre brought by the Spaniards teachers during the

colonial works. during Spanish Period. American period.

This is haiku influenced this is an example of the contemporary

By the Japanese during period literature. This is just few of the

Their colonization to us. many examples.

The Journey of Philippine Literature: From

Precolonial to Contemporary Period
CASS-DELL | Literature of the Philippines 3
 An Essay by Marlon T. Salvador
DURING READING
Before the Spaniards came to the Philippines,
our forefathers had already their own
literature, which can be described as oral
because they were handed down by word
of mouth from one generation to another.
The vagrant Negritoes contributed songs
and superstitious beliefs. They did not have
a system of government unlike the Indons
who brought literary genres or forms like
folktales, epics, paganistic faith, and
legends. The Malays contributed the
baybayin, the syllabary with seventeen
symbols. They also brought legends,
folktales, the “balangay” system of
government, and the brief statements of
practical wisdom called proverbs which are
based on long experience about life.
Puzzles that usually consist of two lines that
rhyme called riddles are considered as the
early forms of poetry, which is now
developed in various forms that usually
appear in stanzas. Early drama, now
performed onstage, was in the form of
paganistic rituals led by babaylan, a priest
or priestess.
When the Spaniards set their feet on the
Philippine soil, they found out that
literature had been existing in two
forms: prose and poetry. The riddles, proverbs
and sayings were in the form of poetry , while
the legends, fables and folktales were in
prose. The conquerors destroyed written
literature in perishable materials because
they believed that these were the handicraft
of evil. Later, the printing press was set up
CASS-DELL | Literature of the Philippines
Analyze Literature
Literary Periods: Describe the kind of
literature produced in precolonial
times. Identify also the contributions of
the Negritoes, Indons, and Malays to the
literary heritage of the Philippines.
Philippines has already had its
own kind of literature even before the
colonization. Negritoes, Indons and
Malays have great contribution in our
literature. The Negritoes contributed
the superstitious beliefs and songs
while Indons brought folktales. On the
other hand, the baybayin and balangay
were the contribution of Malays. The
three offered different endeavor but all
of those shaped our literature not just
before the colonization but the rich
pride of Philippine Literature continues
up until today.
Culture Note
Riddle or bugtong abounds in
many ethnolinguistic groups
in the Philippines. Give one
example of riddle from your
culture or group.
Nagalupad nga wala pakpak
Nagasinggit nga wala puwak
Answer: Gun
4
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.
Use Reading Skills
Analyze Sequence of Events
Use the Sequence Map to write
four events that occur on this
page of the essay. Write each
event in a complete sentence.

The first printed literary work in Tagalog

was the poem May Bagyo Ma’t May Rilim
Note the Facts
(1605) while the first known published
prose was in the form of letter, the
Ang Pagsusulatan ng Dalawang Binibini
What literary genres or forms
na sina Urbana at Feliza by Modesto de
became popular during the
Castro. Meanwhile, the first recorded epic
Spanish Colonial Period?
(only in 1889) was the Biag ni Lam-ang
The Doctrina Cristiana also
among the Christian Ilokos. They noticed known as Christian Doctrine
that Filipinos were fond of plays so they was the first book printed in
began to stage the Cenaculo, which depicts the Philippines on 1593. It
the life and passion of Christ; the talks about biblical texts, ten
Santacruzan, which portrays Reyna Elena’s commandments and
search for the cross where Christ died; sacraments of Catholic.
and others.

In 1872, the three priest-martyrs were

executed. From then, a clamor for change
against Spanish abuses began to bloom.
The event anchored the launching of the
Propaganda Movement in Spain that aimed
to clarify issues, denounce abuses and
injustices, and refute accusations. Its
newspaper La Solidaridad became the organ
that projected the views of the group where
essay found its place. Meanwhile, in 1885,
Pedro Paterno published the first novel
Ninay which awakened national
consciousness. It became the precedent for
Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere and its sequel, the
El Filibusterismo. Marcelo H. del Pilar’s
Dasalan at Tocsohan is considered as his
CASS-DELL | Literature of the
Use Reading Skills
Analyze Sequence of Events
Use the Sequence Map to write
five events that occur on this
page. Write each event in a
complete sentence.
Note the Facts
What poems were published
by the Katipunan during the
Spanish Philippines
Colonial Period?5
During Spanish colonization,
the voices of the Filipinos do
not matter. And as a way of
 most daring work against the friars.

When Rizal was captured and exiled in

Dapitan, the Katipunan was formed with
its paper 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
Note the Facts
brought changes to the educational system.
Hence, Filipino writers began writing in What event ended Spanish
English because The Philippine Free Press Rule in the Philippines?
(1905) and the College Folio (UP school organ, The Treaty of Paris on 1898
1910) had been circulated. formally ended the Spanish
colonization. This where
America and Spanish made an
The outbreak of the World War II caused the agreement. Spanish sells the
scarcity of paper. In this period, the haiku Philippines to America in $20
became popular because it does not need much million.
space for it only contains three lines and a total
of seventeen syllables.

The Declaration of Martial Law in 1972 greatly

affected literature. From this period to the
present, writers and different artists continue to
flourish with the aim of bringing social reform
and subscribing to freedom of expression.
All this just proves that the history of a nation
affects its literature.

Analyze Literature Analyze Literature

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Literary Periods: Which literary
period is considered the Golden Age of
Filipino literature where in writing in
English was prohibited and writers in
Filipino and in vernacular languages
flourished?
Spanish colonization of the Philippines
started on 1565 and major of Filipino
writing was written in Spanish and
Tagalog. Even the Filipino hero wrote
their rebellion in Spanish language. Just
like the La Solidaridad, Noli Me
Tangere and El Filibusterismo.
AFTER READING
Name: Jovie M. Vista
Literary Periods: Name authors and
their literary works during Spanish
Colonial Period.
There were a lot of literary works during
Spanish Colonial. Those works reflected
the shout of the Filipinos for freedom.
Some examples are the Noli Me Tangere
and El Filibusterismo written by Jose
Rizal. These novels depicted the
happenings during the Spanish period,
denunciation of the cruelty of the
Spaniards to the Filipinos. In addition to,
the novels criticized the Roman Catholic
as well as the government. However,
these help to awaken the nationalism of
the Filipinos to stand and fight for the
liberty of our homeland.
Subject: Literature of the Philippines
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Yr/Cr/Sec: 1 BSE-A1 Date: Sept. 09, 2022

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
B. 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?
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 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’.
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.
A 4. Short story flourished.
B 5. There were metrical romances.
B 6. There were religious and rebellious literatures.
D 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: Jovie M. Vista Subject: Literature of the Philippines

Yr/Cr/Sec: 1 BSE-A1 Date: Sept. 09, 2022

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USE READING SKILLS: Analyze Sequence of Events
1. Review the Sequence Map you created. Briefly retell the sequence of events in
writing as they occur.
 The map shows about the sequence of the happenings from pre-colonial
period until today, contemporary period. along with the short explanation
is the picture I got from the internet because it is hard and attach it here.
Meanwhile, the first picture is an example of pre-colonial literary work.
This is baybayin which was a contribution of the Malays. Pre-colonial
period is the period where the Philippines has already had its own
literature without the influence of any other countries. We were free from
any colonizers. However, the second picture is an example of literary
work during the Spanish Colonial Period. this is a Christianism which was
brought by the Spaniards. For over three centuries, Spaniards have a lot
of contribution in our literature. On the other hand, the third picture was
all about the Thomasites. They are the American teachers who taught
English to the Filipinos. This was during the American period after the
Spain sold Philippines to the Americans. The next picture which is haiku
from Japanese Period. though Japan colonized us for a short period of
time, they still able to influenced our literature. And lastly is the example
of the literature during today. To sum it up, our literature was affected by
the colonizers and our literature still acquiring changes.
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.

 Through the insights I gained during this lesson, I realized that our
traditions were shaped with various factors. However, for me, our various
traditions have both advantage and disadvantage. The advantage of our
diverse traditions is that it contributes a sense of comfort and belongness.
Our strength lies in our differences because it defines us and allow us to
make a contribution in overall aspect of our literature. On the hand, ou
diverse traditions have also its disadvantage. In some ways, differences
create a space for misunderstanding and superiority. However, we can
transform the disadvantages through widening ou perspectives and
provide a sheet for respect.

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