The Philippine literature is divided into several periods of history from the time the country was

not yet explored by western colonizers up to the colonization periods of the Spanish, American
and the Japanese as well as the post war era and the contemporary period. To understand the
literature of the Philippines, you must be aware of the countries history, culture, society and
the psyche.

Literature
Comes from the Latin word “litteratura” which means “writing formed with letters”. However,
literature is not only enclosed in that meaning, literature is anything and everything that
reproduces life experiences. It collects, organizes and sums up the entire of humanity,
occasionally adding more color to it.
When other people read literature they are not just being told stories, they are being shown
events, conflicts and perspectives as it being physically present in the literature itself. Some
loosely interpret literature as any printed matter written within the book.
Philippine literature is a diverse and it has a rich group of works that has evolved side by side
with the country’s history. Literature has started with fables and legends made by the ancient
Filipinos 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 the
colonial and contemporary traditions.

Pre-Spanish Period ( BC 1565)

The evolution of the Philippine literature depended on the influences of colonization and the
spirit of the age.
Indigenous Philippine literature was based on traditions and customs of a particular area of the
country. The Philippines is an archipelago country, consisting several islands, (7,107 islands to
be exact), and each of those islands has its own specifications of cultures and traditions, bearing
different set of native literature.
Ancient literatures were written on the perishable materials like; dried leaved, bamboo
cylinder, and bark of the trees.
Literature were handed down to us through the word of mouth. The sources are usually the
local native town folk.
Forms of Literature
Oral literature

Riddle
These are statements that contain superficial words, but they function
figuratively and as metaphors, and are in the form of questions.
These are questions that demand deeper answers.
Deals with everyday life.
It usually has mundane things as answers.
This is used in the past as form of game in small or large gatherings.

Proverbs
These are statements that are considered as wise.
These are usually given by parents or elders of the community.
There is belief that experience is the best teacher.

Examples of proverbs

 “Unsa ang tawo, maila sa iyang binuhatan “ ( Cebuano )

 “ Makilala sa gawa, Ang totohanang dakila.” ( Tagalog )
 “ By their fruits, you shall know them.” (English)

Folk songs
These are folk lyrics that are usually chanted. These are usually contain
aspirations, hopes, everyday life and expressions of love for loveones.

Folk songs are earliest forms of Philippine literature dating back to the Pre-
Spanish era the early forms of civilization reflect these songs. There are 12
syllables in several of these, examples of folk-songs are:

 Kundiman
 Ang Dalit o Imno
 Kumintang o Tagumpay
 Ang Oyayi o Hele
 Diana
 Soliraning and Talindaw
Types of folk songs
Lullabies
Locally known as Hele. These are sung to put to sleep babies. The content varies,
but usually, parents sing these with ideas on how hard life is and how they hope
that their child will not experience the hardship of life.
Drinking songs
These are locally known as Tagay and are sung during drinking sessions.
Love songs
To many Filipinos, these are known as the Harana. It can also be called courtship
songs and are used by young men to capture the heart of the girl that they love.
Examples:
Panawagan and Balitao (Ilongo)
Harana (serenade) in Cebuano
Bayok(Maranao)
Ambahan of the Mangyans
Kalusan (Ivaran)
Soliraning (Tagalog rowing song)
Mambayu – a Kalinga-rice pounding song

Songs of death
These are lamentations that contain the roll of good deeds that the dead has
usually done to immortalize his or her good image.
Many of there have 12 syllables

Religious songs
These are songs or chants that are usually given during exorcisms and
thanksgiving during good harvest.
Folk tales
These are stories of native Filipinos. These deal with the power of nature
personified, their submission to a deity usually Bathala and how this deity is
responsible for the blessings and calamities. These also tackle about
irresponsibility, lust, stupidity, deception, and fallibility that eventually leads to
the instilling of good morals.
Folk tales themes
1. Ceremonies needed to appease the deities
2. Pre and post apocalypse
3. Life and death
4. Gods and goddesses
5. Heroes and heroines
6. Supernatural beings
7. Animals

Myths
Legends
Fables – these are short or brief stories that cater the children of the native
Filipinos and are usually bounded by good manners and right conduct. These
stories use animals as characters that represent particular value or characteristic
Epics – these are very lengthy narratives that are based on oral traditions.
Examples:
Biag ni Lam-ang
Tuwaang Attends A Wedding
Handiong
The epic ages – these are long narrative poetries in which a sequence of heroic
achievements or events usually of a hero, are dealt with at length of time. Some
of it are:
 Bidasari (Moro epic)
 Biag ni Lam-ang (Ilocano epic)
 Haraya (Visayan epic)
 Indarapatra at Sulayman
 Parang Sabir (Moro epic)
Themes during the Pre-Spanish Period are:

 Fictitious
 Spiritual/Religious
 Cosmological
 Origin
Important Event
 The Filipinos had a rich culture and we’re trading with the Chinese and the Japanese.
Here are some of the writers during the Pre-Spanish Period

 Antonio Abad (1894-1970)

 Fr. Antonio Ignacio Alcina, S.J (1610-1674)
 Rosauro Almario (1886-1933)
 Uldarico A. Alviola (1883-1966)
 Cecilio Apostol (1877-1938)
 Jesus Balmori (1887-1948)
 Lourdes Castrilli Brillantes
 Edmundo Farolan
Spanish Period (1521-1898)
When the Spaniards came there was immediate shift on the focus of literature. It became
centered on the Christian faith and the stories about natural phenomena suddenly became all
about the lives of saints and other religious hymns. Slowly the Filipino literatures started to
emulate the traditional Spanish ways of themes and forms in writing including the repetitive
plots and obvious shadowy characters. Despite this changes, Filipinos still found way to make
Spanish literature their own as shown to this common kinds of literature.
Spanish influences on the Philippine literature
1. Alibata
2. Christian doctrine
3. Spanish language became the literary language this time
4. European legends and traditions
5. Ancient literature was collected and translated to Tagalog
6. Grammar books were printed in Filipino
7. Religious tone

Literary Forms
 Religious Literature
 Secular (non-religious) Literature

Corridor – is an octosyllabic verse.

- We’re usually on legends or stories from European countries like France,
Spain, Italy, and Greece.
- Refers to narration.

Example: Ibong Adarna by Jose de la Cruz

Pasyon – long narrative poem about ate passion and death of Christ . The most
popular was “ Ang Mahal na Passion ni Jesus Cristong Panginoon Nation” by
Aguino de Belen
Cenakulo – Dramatic performance of the passion and death of Christ.
The Moro-Moro – like the cenaculo, the Moro-Moro is presented also on a
special stage. This is performed during town fiestas to entertain the people and
to remind them of their Christian religion.
Example: “Prinsipe Rodante”
Carillon – A form of dramatic entertainment perform on a moonless night during
a town fiesta or on darknights after a harvest.
Tibag – Dramatic performance for the purpose of manifesting devotion for the
holy cross
Duplo – the Duplo replaced the Karagatan. This is a poetic joust in speaking and
listening.
Karagatan – this is a poetic vehicle of a socio-religious nature celebrated during
the death of a person.
Zarzuela- the father of drama, a musical comedy or melodrama three acts which
death with men’s passion and emotions like love, hate, revenge, cruelty, avarice
or some political problem.
Salubong – dramatizes the reunion of the risen Christ and his mother.
Panuluyan – Philippine Christmas dramatic ritual narrating the whole family’s
search for a place to stay in Bethlehem for Jesus Christ’s birth through songs.
The Balagtasan – this is a poetic joust or a contest of skills in debate on a
particular topic or issue.
Awit- is in dodecasyllabic verse.
- Are fabricated stories from writer’s imagination although the setting and
characters are European.
- Refers to chanting.
Example: Florante at Laura by Francisco Balagtas
Lagaylat – a special occasion for the Pilarenos of Sorsogon during time to get
together.
The Period of Enlightenment
With much more than 300 years of colonization. We can’t help but to realize that Spain brought
to the country through a much later time liberal ideas and internationalism that influence
Filipino intellectuals and writers for them to understand the meaning of liberty and freedom.
There was a big change in the 19 th century as Filipino intellectuals educated in what we called
Illustrados that began to write about the downside of colonization. Some of the well known
writers were Jose Rizal and others which led to the formation of the propaganda movement
where prose words such as the political essays and Rizal’s political novels help usher in the
Philippine revolution resulting in the downfall of the Spanish Regime and at the same time
planted the seeds of a national consciousness among Filipinos. Propaganda literature, this
were in the form of satires, editorials and news articles that aimed to attack the Spanish rule
and during the Spanish colonization we also had this revolutionary literature.
Propaganda Literature
The propaganda trinity is composed of Dr. Jose Rizal, Marcelo H. Del Pilar, and Graciano Lopez
Jaena.
Marcelo H. Del Pilar
a. Kaiingat Kayo (Be careful)
b. Dasalan at Tocsohan (Prayers and Jokes)
c. Ang Cadaquilaan ng Dios (God’s Goodness)

Dr. Jose Rizal’s writings

a. Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not)
The novel that gave spirit to the propaganda movement and paved the way
to the revolution against Spain
b. El Filibusterismo
This is a sequel to the Noli.
c. Mi Ultimo Adios (My Last Farewell)
d. Sobre La Indolencia De Los Filipinos (On the Indolence of the Filipino)
e. Filipinos Dentro De Cien Anos (The Philippines within a Century)
f. A La Juventus Filipina (To the Filipino Youth

When we say revolutionary literature, these exposes that sparked revolution and
resistance in the hearts of Filipinos.

Emilio Jacinto’s writing

 a. Liwanag at Dilim ( Light and Darkness)
Apolinario Mabini’s writing
a. El Desarollo y Calda Dela Republica Filipina ( The Rise and Fall of the
Philippine Republic)
Andres Bonifacio’s writings
a. Katungkulang Gagawin ng Mga Anak ng Bayan ( Obligations of our
Countrymen)
b. And Dapat Mabatid ng Mga Tagalog ( What the Tagalogs Should Know)

Publications
a. El Heraldo Dela Revolution
b. La Independencia
c. La Republica Filipina
d. La Libertad

The colonization of Spain did not deter Philippine literature from flourishing instead Philippine
literature became richer and more intricate. The writings from our writers whether pre colonial
or colonial are to be cherish or they show the ever revolving life of the Filipinos and the
extensive colorful history of the country. They can be use by future generations as sources of
wisdom and knowledge. Indeed, mapping the Philippine literary landscape of the past can help
young Filipinos like you to live your life meaningfully and determine what you want for yourself
and the country in the future.
The National heroes of the Philippines have made a contribution in imparting knowledge to us.
Through their sacrifices just to express their thoughts and save our country from a demonic
regime. Over the years, their works have become part of our history. Now the only memory
they have left is their efforts and we need to know what it is all about.

American Regime (1898-1941)

American aimed to colonized the Philippines because they saw the country as a potential
market for American products. The Philippines was also seen by the Americans as a new source
of cheap raw materials. They also found out that the Philippines is on very strategic location to
serve as it’s base to control the entire pacific and other countries.
The American rules in the Philippines started with a military government under Gen. Wesly
Meritt(August 14,1898-1900), and who was then succeeded by Gen. Mac Arthur ( May 5,1900-
1901). The Filipinos continued to resist which made Gen. Mac Arthur order the deportation of
some Filipino Politicians and leaders of revolution to Guam for the reason of supporting the
Guerilla war. The deported Filipino were Apolinario Mabini, Pablo Ocampo, Julian Gerona, Gen.
Artemio Ricarte, Maximo Hizon, Polio Del Pilar and Marian Llanera.
The military government was composed of the Supreme Court where six members were
Filipinos. It organized the provincial and municipal government and conducted the first loca
election in Baliuag, Bulacan. It also prepared the ground for a civil government and opened
Manila and other ports for commerce.
On July 4,1901, the American civil government was established and William Howard Taft
became the governor general until December 23, 1903.
The Filipino revolutionist continue to fight for the independence of the Philippines and their
efforts had been slowly granted it started from the Jones law of 1916 which was the first official
and clear response for their calls for independence. The oxrox mission on December 1931 also
ignited their hope Sergio Osmena and Manuel Roxas went to the United States and we’re able
to secure a passage of an Independence deal and this was the Hare-Hawes-cutting act. Manuel
Quezon went to the United States also to try to secure another bill for independence and the
result was the Tidings McDuffie act. Which allowed for a 10 year transition under a Philippine
commonwealth in preparing for the granting of freedom. Finally on July 4, 1896, the United
States granted the Philippine independence.
The American brought many development to the Philippines. The Gabaldon act of 1907
provided the allocation for the construction of public schools in the Philippines. The Thomasites
(American soldiers) were the first teachers for the Filipino people during the American Regime.
The young and intelligent Filipinos were granted government scholarships (thus they were
called pensionados) and we’re sent to the United States to study in big colleges and universities
and some of them became teachers and leaders of the government. Philippine economy
flourished, agriculture increased, there has been abundant chance for free trade with America.
There were improvements on transportation and communication, there were better health
services, the emancipation of women was strengthen, people exercise the freedom of religion,
recreation, movies and theaters.