PERIOD OF ENLIGHTENMENT /
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
 The Age of Revolutions is a period in history
between c. 1775-1848
 Society underwent a series of revolutions in
almost all theatres of life: political, war, social
and cultural, and economic and technological
 The Filipinos did not get the reforms demanded
by the propagandists.
 The government turned deaf ears to the
oppression and abuses of the colonial officials.
 The good intention of Mother Spain was
reversed by the friars.
 Many Filipinos affiliated with Rizal’s La Liga
Filipina (The Filipino League).
 Events which triggered the outbreak of
Revolution include:
o The Banishment of Rizal to Dapitan,
Zamboanga del Norte;
o The establishment of the then secret
society KKK (Katipunan);
o The execution of Jose Rizal; and
o The discovery of Katipunan and
arrest of its members.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE LITERATURE
DURING THE PERIOD
 Marked a drastic period of inflamed emotions
and fiery rhetoric on the account of achieving
freedom from the shackles of tyranny
 Revolutionary period likewise saw various
literary masterpieces written as ammunition
and shield in the ever-changing tide of war to
independence
 Periodicals and magazines were likewise
continued to flourish as both avenue for idea
propagation and vehicle for literary
initiatives.
FAMOUS WRITERS AND THEIR WORKS
DR. JOSE P RIZAL
 The leading Propagandist
 A Filipino nationalist, writer, and polymath
active in the Philippines
 His novel Noli me tángere (1886; The Social
Cancer, 1912) exposed the corruption of
Manila Spanish society and stimulated the
movement for independence.
GRACIANO LOPEZ JAENA
 La Solidaridad was established to express the
goal of the Propaganda Movement towards
achieving assimilation with Spain.
 The first issue of La Solidaridad came out on
February 15, 1889
 Serves as the principal organ of the Reform
Movement in Spain.
ANTONIO LUNA
 "Taga-Ilog"
 In 1893, he wrote and published a scientific
study on malaria entitled On Malarial
Pathology
 This paper was well-received that he was given
a commission by the Spanish to study tropical
and communicable diseases, after which he went
back to the Philippines.
 He wrote a piece titled Impressions which dealt
with Spanish customs and idiosyncrasie
 He also managed the newspaper "La
Independencia". This newspaper was the one
that made the Revolutionists and the First
Philippine Republic.
 Memorized Doctrina Cristiana, believed to be
the first book printed in the Philippines
MARIANO PONCE
 His most common names are Naning, his
nickname; Kalipulako, named after Lapu-Lapu;
and Tigbalang,
 Was a propagandist of the Philippine Revolution
and wrote for the publication La Solidaridad
 In 1881, Ponce travelled to Spain to continue his
medical studies. While he was in Spain, he
joined Marcelo del Pilar, Graciano Jaena and
Jose Rizal in the Propaganda Movement.
 Assisted Lopez Jaena in founding La Solaridad
in Barcelona on February 12, 1889
 He headed the Literary Section of the
Asociacion Hispano-Filipina, a society of
Liberal Spaniards and Filipinos, founded to help
the Propaganda Movement, of which he was
elected Secretary
 In 1898, Aguinaldo appointed him as diplomatic
representative of the First Republic to Japan
where he met his Japanese wife, Okiyo
Udanwara.

ANDRES BONIFACIO
 Born on November 30, 1863
 1892 - The founder of the Katipunan, a militant
nationalist secret society that led the rebellion
against Spain.
 Also known as “Ama ng Katipunan”
 Declared Philippine independence in 1896 in
the wake of the execution of his hero and mentor
José Rizal.
 Worked as a clerk and messenger before
becoming involved in the Propaganda
Movement
 “Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa” - expresses his
love for the Philippines and his desire for its
liberation from colonial rule. The said poem was
published in the first issue of Kalayaan.
 “Kartilya ng Katipunan” - wrote to guide
members of the secret society he founded, the
Katipunan, in their fight for independence
 “Katipunan Constitution”, - It emphasized the
need for unity, self-reliance, and equality among
Filipinos, and called for the overthrow of
Spanish Colonial Rule.
EMILIO JACINTO
 On May 13, 1903 Mabini died of cholera in
Manila, at the age of 38.
 He issued ordinances and updated the
Constitution of the First Philippine Republic.
 Mabini made the decree that established the
Dictatorial Government of the Philippines.
 He issued a proclamation that officially marked
the transition from a dictatorial to a
revolutionary government.
 His ability to influence the president earned him
the moniker "the Sublime Paralytic" from
supporters and the "Dark Chamber of the
President" from those who disliked him.
 El Verdadero Decalogo (The True Decalogue)
– this is considered as his literary masterpiece
which aims to propagate nationalism
 El Desarollo y Caida de la Republica Filipina
(The Rise and Fall of the Philippine Republic)
– this essay highlights the establishment of the
Philippine republic and its subsequent doom due
to disunity among the Filipinos
 Sa Bayang Pilipino (To the Filipino Nation)
 Pahayag (News)

 "Liwanag at Dilim" (Light and Darkness),

"Pahayag" (Manifesto), "Sa Mga Kababayan
Ko" (To My Countrymen) that all contain his
socio-political ideas using Dr. Jose Rizal and
Marcelo H. del Pilar as his role models.)

APOLINARIO MABINI

 Was also an educator, a lawyer, and a

statesman.
 He was teaching Latin and then serving as a
copyist in the Court of First Instance in Manila
 In 1896, Mabini contracted an illness that
paralyzed his legs.
 He worked as Emilio Aguinaldo’s chief
adviser, and was appointed Prime Minister
and Foreign Minister.
 On December 10, 1899, he was captured by the
Americans at Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija, but was
later set free.
 In January 1901, he was arrested the second
time by the Americans and was exiled to Guam.