What is Literature?

The world Literature is derived from the word "litera" which means letter. It has been defined
differently by various writers. These are the following
1. Literature expresses the feelings of people to society, to the government, to his surroundings,
to his fellow men, and to the Divine Creator. (Brother Azurin)
2. Literature is anything that is printed as long as it is related to the ideas and feelings of other
people. Whether it is true, or just a product of one's imagination. (Webster)
3. In Panitikang Pilipino written by Atienza, Ramos, Salazar, and Naval, it says "True Literature
is a place of written work which is undying, it expresses the feelings and emotions of other
people in response to his everyday efforts to live, to be happy, in his environment and, after
struggle, to reach his Divine Creator. “PANITIKANG FILIPINO"

Some loosely interpret literature as any printed matter written within a book, a magazine or a
pamphlet. Others define literature as a faithful reproduction of man's manifold expression.
Because literature deals with ideas, thoughts, and emotions of man. Literature can be said to be
the story of a man. A man's grief, thoughts, dreams, and aspirations coached in beautiful
language is literature.

Philippine Literature is a diverse and rich group of works that has evolved to the side-by-side
with the country's history. Literature had started with fables and legends made by the ancient
Filipino long before the arrival of Spanish Influence. The main themes of Philippine Literature
focus on the country's pre-colonial cultural traditions and the socio-political histories of it's
colonial and contemporary traditions.

Literary History/Evolution of the Philippines

1. Pre-Colonial Period
 The evolution of Philippine Literature depended on the influences of colonization and the
split of age.
 The first Filipino alphabet called "ALBATA" was replaced by the Roman alphabet.
 Indigenous Philippine Literature was based on traditions and customs of a particular area
of the country.
 Philippines is the archipelago country consisting several islands (7,107 Islands to be
exact) and each of those islands has its specification of cultures and traditions, bearing
different set of naive literature.
 Ancient Literatures were written on a perishable materials like dried leaves, bamboo
cylinder, and bark of the trees.
 Literature were handed down to us through the word of mouth.

There were two pre-colonial period

A. Written Literatures
What is Written Literatures?
- is the human expression through writing; started or came with the invention of writing.
Examples:
a. Riddles or bugtong - These are the effective ways to inculcate the ability of logical thinking of
a child.
b. Epigrams or Salawikain - It reflects the hidden meaning through the good lines, it provides
good values.
c. Poems or Tanaga - These are common forms of poetry which has a quantity with 7 syllables
each with the same rhyme at the end of each line. It also expresses insights and lessons in life.

B. Oral Literatures

What is Oral Literatures?

- is a literature that is spoken or sung as opposed to that which is written, though much oral
literature has been transcribed. There is no standard definition, as folklorists have varying
descriptions for oral literature or folk literature. A broad conceptualization refers to it as
literature characterized by oral transmission and the absence of any fixed form. It includes the
stories, legends, and history passed from generations in a spoken form.
Examples:
a. Chants - it is used in witchcraft and enchantment. While, ambahan is a traditional poetry of
Hanunoo Mangyans of Oriental Mindoro which teaches lessons about life. It is recited by parents
to educate their children by youth expressing their love, by the old to impart experiences or by
the community in the tribal ceremony.
b. Balagtasan - This is a Filipino form of debate done in verse. The term is derived from the
surname of Francisco Balagtas, The author of Filipino epic Florante at Laura.