Republic of the Philippines

CAMARINES NORTE STATE COLLEGE

F. Pimentel Avenue, Brgy. 2, Daet, Camarines Norte – 4600, Philippines

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

DISCUSSION

Pre-Colonial Period
 Literature characterized based on oral traditions, crude on ideology and phraseology.;
 Spanish Colonization period literature have the characteristics of having two distinct classification the religious and
secular.
 Reliably inferred about precolonial Philippine literature from an analysis of collected oral lore of Filipinos whose
ancestors were able to preserve their indigenous culture by living beyond the reach of Spanish colonial administrator.
 The subject was invariably the common experience of the people constituting the village-food-gathering, creature and
objects of nature, work in the home, field, forest or sea, caring for children, etc.

Riddles
 are usually a question or statement that has multiple meanings and that needs to be solved.
 Riddles can be thought-provoking or funny brain busters.
 It is like a puzzle that you are trying to solve It was like proverbs with one main difference: they demand an answer
and are used to test the wits of those who are listening to them. Usually, riddles (or, in Filipino, bugtong) are used in a
battle of wits, where locals young and old join and/or watch to see who is the smartest.
 It was used as a form of entertainment for the Filipinos.
These are usually lyrical in nature and consist of one, two, three, or four lines. Another approach employed in
Philippine riddles is the use of gibberish words or phrases.
 These gibberish or cryptic words have been coined in Tagalog riddles for rhyme, meter, and onomatopoeic impact.
Riddle topics are derived from the surrounding flora and animals, the human body, houses, tools and toys, clothes,
food and food processing equipment, and a variety of other recognized sources.

Examples;
1. Tagalog (Answer: Gunting/ Scissors)
Heto na si Kaka, bubuka-bukaka. (Here comes Kaka, walking with an open leg)
2. Bisaya ( Answer: Langka/Jackfruit)
Baboy sa lasang, ang tunok puro lansang. ( A wild pig of the forest is covered with spikes)
3. Tagalog (Answer: Bibig/Mouth)
Isang balong malalim, punong-punp ng patalim. (A deep well that is full of chisels)
4. Tagalog (Mata/Eyes)
Dalawang batong maitim, malayo ang narating.(Two black stones that reach far)

Proverbs

 is a traditional saying or phrase that expresses a perceived truth.

 Proverbs often give practical advice and are based on the shared human experience.
 Proverbs or “Salawikain” are sayings that are steeped in traditional Filipino culture and wisdom. They are forceful
expressions cloaked in poetry, and are basically euphemistic passages that not too infrequently enter daily
conversations.
 It is also defining as, “words of our ancestors” and “wisdom of experience.
 Proverbs are called salawikain or sawikain in Tagalog or sarsarita in Ilocano. Like most proverbs the world over,
Philippine proverbs contain sayings which prescribes norms, imparts a lesson or simply reflects standard norms,
traditions and beliefs in the community.
 A proverb may have an allegorical message behind its odd appearance. The reason of popularity is due to its usage
in spoken language, as well as in folk literature.
 Proverbs or Aphorisms in this era express norms or codes of behavior and, community beliefs or they instill
values by offering nuggets of wisdom in short, rhyming verse.
 Some Filipino proverbs are also intended to provide a warning, a lecture, an advice, and as a supporting statement
for a particular viewpoint or issue.

Examples: Most famous Proverbs in the Philippines

“ Bato-bato sa Langit ang tamaan ay huwag magalit” ("a stone thrown heavenward, if you get hit on its way down,
don't get mad.")

“ May pakpak ang balita, may tainga ang lupa” (News have wings, ground have ears”)

“Ang taong hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan, ay hindi makatutungo sa paroroonan”

(“A person who does not remember where he/she came from will never reach his/her destination.”)

CNSC-OP-VPA-01F16 Page 1 of 2
Revision: 0
 Republic of the Philippines
CAMARINES NORTE STATE COLLEGE
F. Pimentel Avenue, Brgy. 2, Daet, Camarines Norte – 4600, Philippines

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

CNSC-OP-VPA-01F16 Page 2 of 2
Revision: 0