Post War-Contemporary Period

The Rebirth of Freedom (1946-1970)

Post War-Contemporary Period

Historical Background in the

Post War-Contemporary Period

 It is also known as the “Recovering Era.”

 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 a period when Philippines gained independence
from both America and Japan.
The Philippine Literature during the Post War-Contemporary Period:

1. It is the transitional period in Philippine literature

from the American style to the modern style of
writing
The Philippine Literature during the Post War-Contemporary Period:

2. The post liberation period was characterized

by “struggle of mind and spirit” posed by the
sudden emancipation from the Japanese rule
and the strong desire to experience the freedom
of writing.
The Philippine Literature during the Post War-Contemporary Period:

3. The Filipinos gained more confidence in

expressing themselves. Meanwhile, 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 Philippine Literature during the Post War-Contemporary Period:

4. 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.
The Philippine Literature during the Post War-Contemporary Period:

5. In year 1946, Ginto sa Makiling, a novel by

Macario Pineda, was published. It is the first work
that appeared after the Second World War to be
recorded.
The Philippine Literature during the Post War-Contemporary Period:

6. Lazaro Francisco, a famous Tagalog novelist,

is described as a realist with social and moral
ideals. The influence of Rizal is reflective on his
work. He produced the following three novels:
1. “Sugat Sa Alaala” (1950)
2. “Maganda Pa Ang Daigdig” (1956)
3. “Daluyong” (1962)
The Philippine Literature during the Post War-Contemporary Period:

7. Amado Hernandez, the poet who was also a

union leader and social activist, wrote novels
encouraging social change.

These novels include:

• “Luha ng Buwaya” (1963) (Lumbera)

• “Mga Ibong Mandaragit” (19690)
The Philippine Literature during the Post War-Contemporary Period:

8. The writers in English dominated the genres

of Post-war poetry and fiction. They educated
and trained in writers’ workshops in the United
States or England.
The Philippine Literature during the Post War-Contemporary Period:

9. The prize-winning poet-critic Lilia Quindoza

Santiago, produced the most comprehensive
compilation of feminist writing in the Philippines
after “Sa Ngalan Ng Ina” (1997) which was
written during the post-war period.
The Philippine Literature during the Post War-Contemporary Period:

The Challenges Faced by the Government

1

In the 1950s, the Guerilla warfare, also known

as the HUKBALAHAP, (Hukbong Bayan Laban
sa Hapon) was causing problems in the
government, but in the Magsaysay
administration, they vanished, neutralized, or
were gone.
The Philippine Literature during the Post War-Contemporary Period:

The Challenges Faced by the Government

2

During this period, journalists indulged in more

militant attitude in their reporting. Gradually, as
peace and order were restored, the tones and
themes of their writings turned to the less
pressing problems of economic survival.
The Philippine Literature during the Post War-Contemporary Period:

Common Themes of Philippine Literature during the Post

War-Contemporary Period:
1. Romanticism
2. Nationalism
3. Independence
4. Nature
5. Expression of Feelings
The Philippine Literature during the Post War-Contemporary Period:

Filipino Writers During the Post-War Period

1. N.V.M. Gonzales (1915-1999)

Nestor Vicente Madali Gonzalez, also known as N.V.M.
Gonzalez, is fictionist, essayist, poet, and teacher. He
articulated the Filipino spirit in rural, urban landscapes
The Philippine Literature during the Post War-Contemporary Period:

Filipino Writers During the Post-War Period

2. Macario Pineda (1912-1950)

Macario Pineda is a well-known Filipino writer. He is a
renowned author because of his Tagalog works. Even
though he wrote some stories in English, all his writings in
Filipino were much appreciated by the readers. He also
authored works in Liwayway, Malaya, Bulaklak, Ilang-
ilang, Daigdig at Sinag-tala.
The Philippine Literature during the Post War-Contemporary Period:

Filipino Writers During the Post-War Period

3. Stevan Javellana (1918–1977)

Stevan “Esteban” Javellana, a Filipino novelist and short
story writer in the English language, was born in 1918 in
Iloilo. He wrote Without Seeing the Dawn. He also wrote
short stories that were published in 1950s by Manila Times
Magazine in among which are Two Tickets to Manila,
The Sin of Father Anselmo, Sleeping Tablets, The Fifth
Man, The Tree of Peace and Transition.
Thank You!
Ann Juneva A. Lozano
aalozano@Fatima.edu.ph
 Asynchronous activities
1. Read:
a.”The Bamboo Dancers” by N.V.M Gonzales
b.”Ginto sa Makiling” by Macario Pineda
c.”Without Seeing the Dawn” by Stevan Javellana
2. Answer the following:
a. Week 4 Activity
b. Week 4 Evaluation
c. Literary Exitslip

DUE: Tomorrow at 6pm

 “When Things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile but you have to sigh.
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must, but don’t you quit.”

-Edgar Albert Guest