EARLY WRITINGS

During the early period almost everyone in the society-male or

female knows how to read and write. They have their own
method of writing which they use sharp pointed tools, leaves,
bamboo and trunk’s skin. They write from top to bottom and
read it from left to right.
1. Baybayin – is an ancient Philippine script derived from Brahmic
scripts of India and first recorded in the 16th century.
2. Alibata – The writing system that was taught by the Arabs who
have also taught the Filipino ancestors with the religion Islam.
II. SPANISH COLONIZATION PERIOD (1565 – 1863)
Philippines was discovered by Ferdinand Magellan in March 16,
1521. He and his troop was defeated by Lapu-lapu and his tribe.
But in 1565 the Spaniards came back and colonized the country
and had Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, the first Spanish governor-
general of the Philippines. And for 300 hundred years or three
centuries Philippines were under the Spanish regime.
A. Characteristics
1. It has two distinct classifications: religious and secular
2. It introduced Spanish as the medium of communication
B. Literary Forms
1. Religious Literature - Religious lyrics written by ladino poets or
those versed in both Spanish and Tagalog were included in early
catechism and were used to teach Filipinos the Spanish
language.
a. Doctrina Christiana (1593), the first book to be printed inthe
Philippines, was a prayerbook written in Spanish with an
accompanying Tagalog translation.
b. Ninay – was the first Filipino novel written by Pedro Paterno
c. Pasyon – long narrative poem about the passion and death of
Christ.
The most popular was “Ang Mahal na Passion ni Jesu Cristong
Panignoon Natin” by Aguino de Belen
c. Senakulo – dramatization of the pasyon, it shows the passion
and death of Christ
d. Panunuluan - was playwright in the streets and demonstrate
finding temporary shelter for Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem.
The couple is apparently asking for a room to relax, especially
pregnant Mary.
e. Salubong – the reunion of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the
Risen Jesus Christ that is celebrated during the Easter Sunday
Dawn.
f. Zarzuela - 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.
g. Moro-moro – is a stage play that aims to entertain the
audience with laughter. This play depicts the war between the
Christians and the Muslims where it exaggerates at all times the
winning of Christianity over Islam.
2. Secular (non-religious) Literature
a. Awit - colorful tales of chivalry made for singing and chanting
Example: Ibong Adarna
b.Korido – metrical tale written in octosyllabic
quatrainsExample: Florante at Laura by Francisco Baltazar
c. Prose Narratives – written to prescribe proper decorum.
• Dialogo
• Ejemplo
• Manual de Urbanidad
• Tratado
Examples:
• Modesto de Castro's "Pagsusulatan ng Dalawang Binibini na
si Urbana at si Feliza"
• Joaquin Tuason's " Ang Bagong Robinson"(The
NewRobinson) in 1879
III. NATIONALISTIC / PROPAGANDA AND REVOLUTIONARY
PERIOD (1864 – 1896)
A. Characteristics
1. Planted seeds of nationalism in Filipinos
2. Language shifted from Spanish to Tagalog
3. Addressed the masses instead of the “intelligentsia”
B. Literary Forms
1. Propaganda Literature - Reformatory in objective
a. Political Essays – satires, editorials and news articles were
written to attack and expose the evils of Spanish rule.
• Diariong Tagalog – founded by Marcelo del Pilar.
• La Solidaridad – whose editor-in-chief is Graciano Lopez-
Jaena
b. Political Novels
• Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo – Jose Rizal’s
masterpieces that paved the way to the revolution.
2. Revolutionary Literature – more propagandistic than literary
as it is more violent in nature and demanded complete
independence for the country
Political Essays – helped inflame the spirit of revolution
• Kalayaan – newspaper of the society, edited by Emilio
Jacinto
b. Poetry.
• True Decalogue – Apolinario Mabiniii
• Katapusang Hibik ng Pilipinas – Andres Bonifacio
• Liwanag at Dilim – Emilio Jacinto
IV. AMERICAN COLONIAL PERIOD (1910 – 1945)
In June 12 1898, Filipinos successfully ended the 300 years of
the Spanish rule with the help of the American troop. Gen. Emilio
Aguinaldo was selected as the first Philippine President but was
short lived when the Philippine-American war started in 1900.
Many Filipino started writing again and the nationalism of the
people remain undaunted. Filipino writers went into all forms of
literature like news reporting, poetry, stories, plays, essays, and
novels. Their writings clearly depicted their love of country and
their longings for independence.
A. Characteristics
American Period in the Philippines was spurred by three
significant developments in education and culture.
1. The introduction of free public instruction for all children of
school age.
2. The use of English as medium of instruction in all levels of
education in public schools.
3. The first public university was developed and it was named
University of the Philippines (UP).
B. Period of Apprenticeship (1910-1930)
• Filipino Writers imitated English and American models
• Poems written were amateurish and mushy, which phrasing
and diction is awkward and artificial.
a. Short Stories
• We Filipinos are Mild Drinkers – written by Alejandro Roces
while he was a freshman in Arizona State University.
• How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife
• Dead Stars – Paz Marquez Benitez.
• The Key – Paz Latorena
• Footnote to Youth – Jose Garcia Villa
b. Novels
• Child of Sorrow – first novel in English, by Zoilo Galang
• Banaag at Sikat - is one of the first literary novels in this
period written by Filipino author Lope K. Santos in the
Tagalog language in 1906.
c. Poems
• P A G - I B I G – by Jose Corazon De Jesus was the first Filipino
poet who used Tagalog poetry to express the Filipinos’
desire for independence during the American occupation in
the Philippines
1. Poet of the Heart (Makata ng Puso). These included Lope K.
Santos, Iñigo Ed. Regalado, Carlos Gatmaitan, Pedro Deogracias
del Rosario,Ildefonso Santos, Amado V. Hernandez, Nemecio
Carabana, and Mar Antonio.
2. Poets of Life (Makata ng Buhay). Led by Lope K Santos, Jose
Corazon de Jesus, Florentino Collantes, Patricio Mariano, Carlos
Garmaitan, and Amado V. Hernandez.
3. Poets of the Stage (Makata ng Tanghalan).
Led by Aurelio Tolentino, Patricio Mariano, Severino Reyes, and
Tomas Remigio.
d. Plays
• KAHAPON, NGAYON AT BUKAS (Yesterday, Today and
Tomorrow) Written by Aurelio Tolentino
• TANIKALANG GINTO of Juan Abad
• MALAYA by Thomas Remigio
• WALANG SUGAT by Severino Reyes
B. Period of Emergence (1920-1930)
Highly influenced by Western literary trends like Romanticism
and Realism.
Short Stories – most prevalent literary form.
• Jose Garcia Villa – earned the international title “Poet of the
Century”
C. Literature in Spanish Writers
• Cecilio Apostol - wrote "A RIZAL" and is considered the best
poem in praise of the hero of bagumbayan.
• Fernando Ma. Guerero - he collected the best of his poem
in a book Crisalidas, and one of the poems written in this
book was "INVOCACION A RIZAL"
• Jesus Balmori - well-known for his pen name of Batikuling.
He and Manuel Bernabe participated in a debate on the
 topic - "REMEMBRANCE FORGETFULNESS". He was elected
Poet Laureate in Spanish besting Manuel Bernabe.
• Manuel Bernabe - is a lyric poet. He was more attractive to
the public in a debate with balmori because of the
melodious words he used. He defended OLVIDO.
• Claro M. Recto - he collected his poems in a book entitled
BAJO LOS COCOTEROS. One of his writings dedicated to
Rizal is "ANTE EL MARTIR".
• Adelina Guerrea was first woman poet in the Philippines
who was good in Spanish. She obtained the Nobel Prize in
her EL NIDO.
• Isidro Marpori became famous for his four books entitled
Aroma de Ensueno.
• Macario Adriatico wrote of Legend of Mindoro entitled La
Punta de Salto
• Epifanio de los Santos
D. Literature in Filipino Writers
• Lope K. Santos - "Father of the National language
Grammar", he was also called "apo" of the tagalog writers.
"BANAAG AT SIKAT" was his master piece.
• Jose Corazon de Jesus - known as huseng batute, he was
also called the poet of love in his time. "AG ISANG PUNONG
KAHOY", an elegy, is believed to be his masterpiece.
• Armando V. Hernandez - was dubbed "Poet of the
Laborers", his masterpiece is "ANG PANDAY"
 • Valeriano Hernandez Pena - known as Tandang Anong, he
considers "NENA AT NENENG" his masterpiece.
• Inigo Ed Regalado - a popular story teller, novelist and
newspaper man. He reached the peak of his success by the
"sumpong" of his pen.
V. JAPANESE OCCUPATION (1942 - 1960)
• Between 1941-1945, Philippine Literature was interrupted
in its development we were again conquered by another
foreign country, Japan.
• Philippine literature in English came to a halt.
• Except for the Tribune and the Philippine Review, Pillars,
Free Philippines, and Filipina, almost all newspapers in
English were stopped by the Japanese.
• During this time, there was no freedom of speech and of
the press.
• Victoria Abelardo has described Filipino writing during the
Japanese occupation as being pessimistic and bitter.
• There were some efforts at escapist literature, but in
general, the literary was minor and insignificant. Because
of strict censorship, few literary works were printed during
the war years.
A. War Years (1941-1945)
1. Tagalog poets broke away from the Balagtas tradition and
instead wrote in simple language and free verse.
2. Fiction prevailed over poetry
• Limang Pinakamabuting Maikling Kathang Pilipino (1943)
– compilation of the short story contest by the military
government.
• Suyuan sa Tubigan – Macario Pineda
• Lupang Tinubuan – Narciso Reyes
• Uhaw ang Tigang na Lupa – Liwayway Arceo
3. The weekly Liwayway was placed under strict surveillance
until it was managed by a Japanese named Kanji Ishiwara.
4. The only contact with the outside world was done with utmost
secrecy through the underground radio program called “Voice
of Freedom”.
5. Tagalog was favored by the Japanese military authority and
writing in English was consigned to a limbo.
6. Japanese were able to influence and encourage the Filipino in
developing the vernacular literature.
7. The only Filipino writers who could write freely were those
who were living in the United States.
8. Most writers and authors were led to either go underground
or write in Tagalog.
B. Period of Maturity and Originality (1945-1960)
1. Bountiful harvest in poetry, fiction, drama and essay
2. Filipino writers mastered English and familiarized themselves
with diverse techniques.
3. Literary “giants” appeared
a) Palanca Awards for Literature
• Jose Garcia Villa Bienvenido Santos
• Nick Joaquin NVM Gonzales
• Gregorio Brillantes Gilda Cordero Fernando
b) National Artist Awards
• Jose Garcia Villa Nick Joaquin
C. A Few Of the Playwriters
• Jose Ma. Hernandez –wrote PANDAY PIRA
• Francisco Soc Rodrigo –wrote sa PULA, SA PUTI
• Clodualdo del Mundo – wrote BULAGA (an expression in the
game Hide and Seek).
• Julian Cruz Balmaceda – wrote SINO BA KAYO?, DAHIL SA
ANAK, and HIGANTE NG PATAY.
D. Filipino Poetry
Three types of poems emerged during this period:
• Haiku - – a poem of free verse that the Japanese liked. It is
made up of seventeen (17) syllables divided into three (3)
lines. The first line has five, the second – seven and the third
– five. It is allegorical in meaning, short and covers a wide
scope in meaning.
• Tanaga - - like the haiku, it is short, but has measure and
rhyme. Each line has seventeen syllables and is also
allegorical in meaning.
• Karaniwang Anyo (Usual Form) – the usual and common
form of poetry.
E. Filipino Short Stories
The field of the short story widened during the Japanese
Occupation. Many wrote short stories.
• Brigido Batungbakal Macario Pineda Gloria Guzman
• Serafin Guinigindo Liwayway Arceo, Ligaya Perez
• Narciso Ramos NVM Gonzales, Alicia Lopez Lim
F. Filipino Short Stories
The best writings in 1945 were selected by a group of judges
composed of Francisco Icasiano, Clodualdo del Mundo
• Jose Esperanza Cruz, Teodoro Santos.
• Antonio Rosales.
As a result of this selection, the following got the first three
prizes:
• First Prize: Narciso Reyes with his LUPANG TINUBUAN
• Second Prize: Liwayway Arceo’s UHAW ANG TIGANG NA
LUPA
• Third Prize: NVM Gonzales’ LUNSOD NAYON AT DAGAT-
DAGATAN
G. Noteworthy writer of the period
Carlos P. Romulo - who won the Pulitzer Prize for his bestsellers
• I SAW THE FALL OF THE PHILIPPINES,
• I SEE THE PHILIPPINES RISE and his MOTHER
• AMERICA AND MY BROTHER AMERICANS.
• Nick Joaquin - produced THE WOMAN WHO LOOKED LIKE
LAZARUS.
• Fred Ruiz Castro wrote a few poems.
• Salvador P. Lopez - LITERATURE AND SOCIETY (Essay)
• Juan Laya - HIS NATIVE SOIL (Novel)
• President Manuel L. Quezon’s – wrote his autobiography
entitled THE GOOD FIGHT was published posthumously.
H. Journalists include:
• Salvador P. Lopez Leon Ma. Geurrero
• Raul Manglapuz Carlos Bulosan.
VI. CONTEMPORARY/MODERN PERIOD (1960 – 1990)
A. Characteristics
• Martial Law repressed and curtailed human rights, including
freedom of the press
• During Martial Law the government take over and control
of all privately newspapers, magazines, radio and television
facilities and all other media communications.
• Writers used symbolisms and allegories to drive home their
message, at the face of heavy censorship
• Theater was used as a vehicle for protest, such as the PETA
(Phil. Educational Theater Association) and UP Theater.
• From the eighties onwards, writers continue to show
dynamism and innovation.
B. Philippine Literature during the Martial Law
Law Proclamation № 1081 was the declaration of Martial Law in
the Philippines by President Ferdinand E. Marcos. It became
effective throughout the entire country on 21 September 1972,
and was announced to the public two days later. It was formally
lifted on 17 January 1981, six months before the first presidential
election in the Philippines in twelve years.
C. Forms Literature Martial Law
1. Protest Literature
• Protest literature—at other times, in other contexts,
referred to as revolutionary literature, literature of
 engagement, combat literature, committed literature,
literature of resistance, proletarian literature, people's
literature, socially conscious literature, and perhaps a
Philippine contribution to the taxonomy, the literature of
circumvention (simply defined as "a body of works that
expressed social and political protest in veiled terms")—has
had a long history in the Philippines.
2. Proletarian Literature
The call to create proletarian literature ...was too strong to
ignore. It was deemed unimaginable, for the committed writer
doing political work, to still think of poetry as "beauty recollected
in tranquility"...
3. Prison Literature
Not a few writers ended up behind bars from day one of martial
law. Journalists and prominent political opposition figures were
the first to be ensnared in the dragnet cast by the Marcos
intelligence and police apparatus, followed by militant activists,
including academics who were also noted for their critical
literary writings.
4. Circumvention Literature
It was in the precious little space wittingly or unwittingly, by
certain publications and institutions sanctioned by the martial
law administration, that the so-called 'literature of
circumvention' began to appear.
D. Notable Works:
1. Poem
• Prometheus Unbound - written sometime in 1973,
appeared in Focus, a magazine published and edited by an
established and respected writer who had chosen to be
associated with the Marcos regime.
• If A Poem was Just - a prison literature - A poem which, for
all intents and purposes, summed up the social critique of
the developmentalist state propped up by martial law and
cosmeticized with beautification campaigns and the foisting
of cultural renaissance myths
2. Novel
• Days of Disquiet Nights of Rage - The First Quarter Storm &
Related Events” by Jose F. Lacaba (Anvil Publishing, Inc.):
Originally published in 1982, before the actual end of the
Marcos era, this gripping, first-person account of the
political awakening of the Filipino youth is considered by
most to be the definitive chronicle of latent student and
labor activism in the Philippine setting. It is also the best
place to begin reading up about martial law as the wave of
protests, so poetically and powerfully reported by Lacaba,
eventually runs into the stormy shoals of what would later
become the Marcos dictatorship. Here are the seeds that
bloomed into steely demonstrations on the street for some,
and total revolutionary resistance by others. Read this book
 to see where all the courage came from and why it all
began.
• Killing Time in A Warm Place – by Jose Y. Dalisay. This
textured, award-winning roman a clef is a lovely
fictionalization of Dalisay’s own experiences as a student
activist and writer during the martial law years. At the
beginning, Noel Ilustre Bulaong could be any of us, until his
quiet life in bucolic Kangleong, is both transformed and
shattered by the all-encompassing presence of Ferdinand
Marcos. Bulaong becomes an activist and witnesses first
hand, through arrest and detention, the shadowy hold of
the Marcos era. Perhaps the most haunting part of “Killing
Time” is how everyone ended up, and the deaths-both
interior and exterior-that they experience. A vivid tale of
those dangerous years.
• The Praying Man – a fictional novel written by Bienvenido
Santos with a length of 172 pages. It was banned because it
was all about the government corruption by the Marcos
regime. It tells about a dramatic idea of dwelling of the
same man both the need to pray and the tendency to prey
on others.
• Luha ng Buwaya – is a 1983 novel written by Amado V.
Hernandez. The word buwaya in Filipino suggests a corrupt
person. The novel consists of 53 chapters and the title refers
to the Grandes family, who were greedy for money.
3. Tale
• “ U.G. “ An Underground Tale. The Journey of Edgar Jopson
and the First Quarter Storm Generation” by Benjamin
Pimentel, Jr. (Anvil Publishing, Inc.): One of the most
fascinating and, in turn, tragic personalities connected with
martial law was Edgar “Edjop” Jopson. The Ateneo student
council leader devoted himself to the nascent student
activist movement just in time to face off (at one point
literally) with Ferdinand Marcos. But Jopson was serious
about his struggle, relocating with his cadre constantly to
escape military pursuit. His later death at the hands of the
military makes this story of heroism bright and sharp at the
same time, delivered with efficient and measured prose by
columnist Pimentel. It’s a true story of inspiration and
sacrifice you won’t forget.
4. Short Stories
• The Ritual – English short story written by Cirilo F. Bautista
that tells about the man who have demonic power. It was
awarded 1st Prize during Palanca Awardees For Literature
in English in 1970-1971 English Short Story Category
• Children of the City - was written by Amadis Ma. Guerrero.
It won the Palanca Awards in 197. This story happened in
the late 1980’s. Everything occurred in the dark perilous
busy streets of Manila. This story emphasizes Social
injustice and child labour.
 • Spots on Their Wings – Written by Antonio Enriquez. Won
the 1st prize in 1973 Palanca Awardees. Consists of 91
pages. Published by Writers Associates in 1973.
E. Common Themes
• Belligerence
• Activism
• Militancy
• Revolutionary
F. Notable Authors
1. Pete Lacaba
• He contribute to journalism, poetry, and scriptwriting have
become identified with both literary excellence as well as
relevance (another pivotal phrase in the canon of protest
literature).
2. Jose Ma. Sison
• The best-known radical poet who became a political
prisoner of the Marcos regime was Jose Ma. Sison. While
still behind bars, his friends in academe and fellow put
together his poems and published them in a book, Prison
and Beyond. One of the pieces in this collection speak of the
prisoner's faith in the power of his writings, and of his
certainty that outside his prison cell, the struggle which he
helped launch continues.
3. Mila Aguilar
• A former teacher of English literature at the University of
the Philippines.
• She had joined her future husband in the guerrilla
movement at the beginning of martial law, and after he was
killed in an armed encounter, she continued her
revolutionary work as writer and propagandist for
resistance.
• She published several books of poetry during the martial
law period, including two under the name Clarita Roja:Dare
to Struggle, Dare to Win! (1974) and The Mass Line /A
Second Remoulding (Manila 1977), and the rest under her
real name after she had surfaced and continued the
struggle above ground—Why Cage Pigeons? (1984), Pall
Hanging over Manila (1984), and A Comrade is as Precious
as a Rice Seedling (1984, 1985 and 1987).
4. F. Sionil Jose
• The first instrument of censorship in 1972 was the Army
Office of Civil Relations which granted licenses for new
magazines and newspapers. It also imposed guidelines
which were often arbitrary. Under these guidelines, the
President, his family, and the Armed Forces could not be
criticized, only praised. Before any manuscript was
published, it had to be examined by the Army censors.
G. Notable place where writings are made is in jail
• Many of the writers ended up behind bars from day one of
martial law.
• Many of the poems written in prison were later collected
and published.
• Writers who were prison, were composed songs, using
newly written lyrics or adaptations of patriotic poetry from
the country's revolutionary past.
• Among the writers and academics who were imprisoned—
at various times between 1972 and 1986—were Bienvenido
Lumbera, Luis Teodoro,, Jose Lacaba, Mila Aguilar, Jose Y.,
and Jose Ma. Sison. At the Bicutan Rehabilitation Center—
intended to "rehabilitate" presumably wayward elements
of society who had dared oppose Marcos and his oligarchy
(the place was also called Camp Bagong Diwa meaning 'new
spirit‘.