Literature

 Literature is derived from the Latin “littera” which means “letter”, which refers
primarily to written texts. Therefore, literature is simply anything that is written.
 Literature is the written, printed, or oral productions of the human mind collectively,
which deals with themes of permanent and universal interest, characterized by
creativeness and grace of expression, as poetry, fiction, essays, etc., distinguished from
works of scientific, technical or journalistic nature
Types of Literature
A. Oral literature
B. Written literature
Reasons Why People Write:
 For self-expression
 To spread knowledge and information
 To pass on ideas and values
 To convey truth, accuracy, and evaluation.
The Qualities of Great Literature:
 Permanence
 Universality
 Artistry
 Intellectual Value
 Spiritual Value
 Style
 Suggestiveness
Prose and Poetry
1. Fiction is a type of prose writing that is the product of the author’s imagination.

a.Short Story is a sequence of events including one or more characters, one narrative, and one
single idea.
b. Novel is a long work of fiction that has chapters where many characters are involved
and spans long period of time.
c.Play is a scripted story executed on stage 
d. Legend is a narrative about the origin of man, place, event, and happenings.
e. Fable is a narrative where the characters are animals and nonliving objects that speak
and act like people
1. Non-fiction is a type of prose writing that is based on facts, real events, and real people.
a. Essay is an attempt to express the viewpoint and judgment of the writer on a dilemma or event.
Example: Essays of Francis Bacon

b. Oration is a formal treatment of the subject and intended to be spoken before a crowd.
c. Biography is a literary work that gives the life account of a person written by another person.
d. Autobiography is a literary work where the author writes his own life account.
e.News is a report of expected and unexpected events in society and government and
incidents in the field of science, business, etc.
 f. Letters is a written message communicated from one person to another person via
writing through a medium. Letters can be formal and informal.
g. Diaries and journals serve as account of personal experiences. They are synonymous
but there is an important difference:
 A diary is precisely a record of personal or private and daily experiences.
 A journal, depending on the context, could mean a more universal record or logbook but
more importantly a technical journal, that is a scientific or industry-related
publication/periodical.

Pre-Spanish Period (… - 1564) 

A.LEGENDS
B.FOLK TALES
C.EPICS
D.MYTHS
E.FOLK SONGS
Spanish Period (1565-1898)
Spain had occupied the Philippines for over 300 years. Spanish occupation made a great
impact to the lives of Filipinos as well as their lifestyle. It was the Spanish colonization which
introduced customs such as naming system, baptism, and religion such as Catholicism.

Spanish Influences on Philippine Literature

 Alibata was the earliest Filipino writing system which was replaced by the Roman
alphabet
 The basis for religious practices was the Christian Doctrine.
 The Spanish language, which lent many of its words to our language, served as the
medium of instruction  and language of literature. 
The Christian Doctrine (Doctrina Cristiana) - This was the first Tagalog and Spanish
book published in the Philippines in 1593 in Xylography. It was authored by Fr. Juan
de Placencia and Fr. Domingo Nieva.
RECREATIONAL PLAYS
∙ Tibag means to excavate. This is a ritual to remind the people about the search of Saint
Helena for the  Holy Cross where Jesus Christ was nailed and died.
∙ Lagaylay is a special occasion to get together during the month of May for the Pilarenos
of Sorsogon. As  early as April, ladies are chosen, or mothers volunteer their girls to fulfill a
vow or panata during illness or  even for a favor received.
∙ Lagaylay is a special occasion to get together during the month of May for the Pilarenos
of Sorsogon. As  early as April, ladies are chosen, or mothers volunteer their girls to fulfill a
vow or panata during illness or  even for a favor received.

Zarzuela (also known as the Father of Drama) is a musical comedy or melodrama. Divided into
three acts,  the drama deals with man’s several desires and feelings like love, hate, revenge,
cruelty, greed or other  social and political problems.  

∙ Sainete is a brief yet exaggerated musical comedy wherein the characters depicted came from
the lower  class. The themes resemble everyday life problems, conflicts, and situations. 
∙ Moro-Moro is a play held in every city fiesta for the individuals to enjoy and commemorate
their Christianity. The play starts with the abduction of a Christian princess or a nobleman’s
daughter by the Moros. The father then organizes a rescue team where battling between the
Moros and the Christians takes place. The Christians usually win the battle by divine
intervention, and the defeated Moros are converted to Christianity, or the whole kingdom of
Moros becomes baptized and converted to Christian as well. 

∙ Karagatan is a poetic competition where a tradition is performed based on a legend about a

princess who dropped her ring into the middle of the ocean and who offered her hand in
marriage to anyone who can find it. A leader begins with an extemporaneous poem to declare
the purpose as he spins a “lumbo” or a “tabo” marked with a white line. Whoever comes in the
direction of the white line when the spinning stops, gets his chance to “go into the sea to look for
the ring.” The girl asks a riddle, and if he gives the correct answer, he will offer the ring to the
girl.  

∙ Balagtasan is a poetic debate about a socially-relevant topic or issue. This is held in honor of
Francisco “Balagtas” Baltazar.  
AMERICAN PERIOD (1898-1941) 

o the introduction of free instruction for all children of school age 

o the use of English as medium of instruction in all levels of education in public schools.  

Founded Schools/ Universities in the Philippines During American Colonial Period: 

⮚ 1901 – Philippine Normal College (now PNU)  – National University  

 – Silliman University  

 – El Colegio de San Beda (now SBU) 

⮚ 1902 – Negros Oriental High school 

 – Ilo-ilo Normal School 

⮚ 1904 – St. Paul University 

 – Filamer Christian University 

 – Zamboanga Normal School 

– Escuela de Farmacia del Liceo de Manila  (now MCU) 

⮚ 1905 – Central Philippine University  ⮚ 1908 – University of the Philippines ⮚
1914 – University of Manila 
⮚ 1915 – Cebu Normal School 
⮚ 1919 – Philippine Women’s University  – Jose Rizal University 

⮚ 1925 – Mapua Institute of Technology ⮚ 1933 – Far Eastern University 

⮚ 1938 – Arellano University 
⮚ 1941 – San Sebastian College – Recoletos
 During the Period of Apprenticeship (1910-1930)

Short Stories  
o Dead Stars was the first short story written in English by Paz Marquez Benitez.  
o The Small Key was written by Paz Latorena.  
o Footnote to Youth was written by Jose Garcia Villa.  

Newspapers  
o El Nuevo Dia (The New Day) -Established by Sergio Osmena in 1900.The Americans
censored, twice  banned and threatened Osmena with banishment because of his
nationalistic writings.  o El Grito Del Pueblo (The Call of the Nation) - Established by
Pascual Poblete in 1900.  o El Renacimiento (The Rebirth) - Founded by Rafael Palma in
1901.  

Plays  
o Kahapon, Ngayon, at Bukas (Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow) written by
Aurelio Tolentino.  It depicts the suppression done by the Americans and their
plan to colonize the Philippines.  o Tanikalang Ginto of Juan Abad 
o Malaya by Tomas Remigio 
o Walang Sugat by Severino Reyes 
The Characteristics and Features of the American Period:
1. Zarsuelas
2. Tagalog Prose Fiction
3. Novel
4. Poetry
5. Short Story
The Three Periods That Emerged During American Period: 
1. The Period of Reorientation (1898-1910)
2. The Period of Imitation (1910-1924)
3. Period of Self-Discovery and Growth (1925-1941)
JAPANESE PERIOD (1941-1945)

The development of Philippine literature was jeopardized when Japan conquered the Philippines
between 1941-1945. The Japanese prohibited the use of the English language in almost all
newspapers except the Tribune, Philippine Review, Pillars, Free Philippines, and Filipina.  

 Freedom of speech was prohibited as well. According to Victoria Abelardo, the Filipino literature
in the time of Japanese invasion was “bitter and pessimistic.” Strict censorship allowed only
a few literary works to be printed and published during this period.  

Before it was managed by a Japanese named Ishiwara, the weekly magazine Liwayway was
placed under a very strict surveillance. 

Three Types of Poems that Emerged during the Japanese Period: 

1. Haiku
 2. Tanaga
3. Karaniwang anyo
The Rebirth of Freedom (1946-1970)  
Historical Background in the Post War-Contemporary Period 

• The Americans returned to the Philippines in 1945 to end the Japanese rule.  • The
Filipinos were jubilant and the Guerillas who fled in the mountains joined the
liberating American Army.  
• It is also known as the “Recovering Era.” 
• It is a period when Philippines gained independence from both America and Japan.
The Philippine Literature during the Post War-Contemporary Period:
• The Filipinos learned to express themselves more confidently but post war problems in 
connection to language and print – like economic stability, the threat of  
new ideas and morality-had to be dealt with side by side.  
• The newspapers like the Free Press, Morning Sun of Sergio
Osmena  Sr., Daily Mirror of Joaquin Roces, Evening News of
Ramon Lopez and  
the Bulletin of Menzi, proved that there were more readers in English  
than in any other vernaculars like Tagalog, Ilocano or Hiligaynon during this period.  •
Published in 1946, Ginto Sa Makiling – a novel by Macario Pineda, is the first work of
note  that appeared after the second world war. 
• A famous Tagalog novelist named Lazaro Francisco produced three more novels, Sugat
Sa  Alaala (1950) reflects the horrors of the war experience as well as the human
capacity for  nobility, endurance, and love under the most extreme circumstances.
Maganda Pa Ang  Daigdig (1956) deals with the agrarian issue, and Daluyong (1962)
deals with the corruption  bred by the American-style and American-educated pseudo-
reformers. Lazaro Francisco is a  realist with social and moral ideals. The Rizal influence
on his work is profound. 
The Characteristics of Philippine Literature during the Post War-Contemporary
Period: 
1. Romanticism  
2. Nationalism 
3. Independence 
4. Nature 
5. Expression of Feelings  

Filipino Writers During the Post-War Period 

1. N.V.M. Gonzales (1915-1999) 
2. Macario Pineda (1912-1950)
3. Stevan Javellana (1918–1977)