Fable, Myth, and

Legend
 Know this first!

▫ Precolonial Philippine literature is ▫ Precolonial Philippine literature gives us a

characterized by stories that were passed
down from generation to generation by word
of mouth. Read the Philippine myth that
teaches the value of being resourceful by
accessing the link below.
glimpse of the past. It is marked by our
ancestors' traditions, spiritual beliefs, and
observations about life, among others. Since
our ancestors did not have a system of writing
then, early literary forms were either spoken,
sung, or chanted.

▫ Fables, myths, and legends are some of the Philippine literary forms during the precolonial period.
These stories, which are transmitted orally, usually discuss natural phenomena, explain the creation of
humans and the world, or teach community values.

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 1.
FABLES
 WHAT IS FABLES?

▫ Fables are stories of animals, plants, and inanimate

objects who have human personalities. The primary
purpose of these stories is to teach a lesson or impart
wisdom or values.

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 2.
MYTH
 WHAT IS MYTH?

Myths are stories involving supernatural forces and enchanted beings

such as gods or goddesses, spirits, and deities. These stories deal with
the origin of humans and the world, a cultural belief, or a natural
phenomenon. One example of a Philippine myth is the story of Malakas
and Maganda. This creation story, which tells about the origin of the
human life and how the Philippines came to be, varies among regions
because of the many indigenous groups of the country. In addition, the
Bilaan creation myth shows how the ancient gods became resourceful by
using the things around them to create human beings.

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 3.
LEGEND
 WHAT IS LEGEND?

Legends are stories about the adventures or exploits of heroes or

supernatural beings. These fanciful tales are meant not only to
entertain children but also to teach them a lesson. In some of these
stories, the hero's adventures happen at some particular mountain, hill,
river, or lake that has a historical reference. Examples of Philippine
legends are "The Legend of Maria Makiling," "The Legend of Lake
Lanao," and "The Legend of Pablo Maralit."

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 SUMMARY

• Fables, myths, and legends are examples of precolonial Philippine

literature.
• Passed down from generation to generation through oral
tradition, they give us a glimpse of our ancestors' traditions,
beliefs, and observations about life, among others.