SANTA ISABEL COLLEGE OF MANILA

BASIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

PAASCU Accredited – Level II
210 TAFT AVENUE, MANILA, PHILIPPINES
TEL. NO.: 8-525-94-16 TO 19
www.santaisabel.edu.ph

Lesson 4: Selected Texts in 21st Century Philippine Literature

EXPLORE

Are you wondering why there is the so – called 21st Century Literature? Do you have any idea what it is
all about? How does it come to existence? To help you answer these thoughts, read the essay entitled
“21st Century Literature” written by Isagani Cruz. As you read it, try to identify the kinds of literary
genres that flourished in the 21st century.

21st Century Literature

(Essay)
By ISAGANI CRUZ
National Capital Region

The proposed curriculum for Senior High School (SHS) contains two literature subjects – “21st Century
Literatures of the World” and “21st Century Literatures from the (Philippine) Regions.” (It has been
suggested that the latter be changed to “Contemporary Philippine Literature and the Arts from the
Regions.”)
These are derived from the two literature subjects in the old General Education Curriculum (GEC),
namely, “Literatures of the World” and “Literatures of the Philippines.” In the new GEC, these two
literature subjects are no longer included, because the new core subjects are all interdisciplinary rather
than disciplinal.
The two subjects in SHS are disciplinal. They are meant to ensure that all Filipino high school graduates
have a good understanding of what is happening today in the field of literature, and by extension, in the
arts.
Why 21st century only? Simply because SHS students were all born in or just before the 21st century. This
century is their century. For them, the 20th century is what the 19th century is to us teachers.
There is also another reason. Just as the British writer Virginia Woolf said of the turn of the 20th century,
namely, that “on or about December 1910 human character changed,” something major happened to
literature on or about December 2000.
C21: Centre for Research in Twenty-first Century Writings, based in the University of Brighton, puts it
succinctly: “The first decade of the new millennium witnessed a range of exciting developments in
contemporary writings in English, from innovations in recognised forms such as the novel, poem, play
and short story to developments in digital writings, creative writings and genres. Alongside these
developments, the publishing industry also changed, with technological advances giving rise to the dawn
of the eBook and corporate sponsorship igniting debates about the usefulness of literary prizes and
festivals.”
 SANTA ISABEL COLLEGE OF MANILA
BASIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
PAASCU Accredited – Level II
210 TAFT AVENUE, MANILA, PHILIPPINES
TEL. NO.: 8-525-94-16 TO 19
www.santaisabel.edu.ph

Just think of the most recent literary texts done in the Philippines. We have “textula,” a poetry genre
mastered by Frank Rivera: entire poems are written and read on mobile phones. Graphic novels are
becoming as respectable as prose novels among literary critics. Poems meant to be recited in front of
large audiences have become more fashionable than poems meant to be read silently by a single reader
(fulfilling one of Cirilo Bautista’s prophecies about the future of poetry, by the way).
Elsewhere in the world, writers are doing things they did not do much until recently. Think of prose
novels being serialized on blogs, with readers suggesting to authors (and authors obediently accepting)
that the plot or the characters should be changed. Think of hypertextual poems, where readers move
from one website to another because of embedded links in the words, sometimes not returning to the
original pages at all. Think of enhanced eBooks, where readers are treated to audiovisual clips that not
only support the narrative in a novel, but actually are crucial to the development of plot and character.
Think of flash fiction, which has been brought to an extreme with six-word and even one-word short
stories.
Of course, none of these forms of literature were born only in the 21st century. Hypertext, for example,
has been around for at least two decades.
Six-word short stories have been around for a long time. The best-known is Ernest Hemingway’s six-word
story: “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.” Urban legend (which may actually be true) says Hemingway
called it his best work.
Pre-21st century writers like Margaret Atwood have written such stories. Atwood, for example, wrote
this: “Longed for him. Got him. Shit.”
Neil Gaiman (perhaps the best example of a 20th century writer who has successfully transformed
himself into a 21st century writer) wrote this: “I’m dead. I’ve missed you. Kiss …?”
There is a growing body of literary criticism on 21st century literature. There is, for example, an entire
journal devoted to it, “C21 Literature: Journal of 21st Century Writing.”
There have been several professional conferences on the topic, such as “E-reading between the lines:
21st century literature, digital platforms and literacies” last July in Brighton. The paper titles reveal some
of the main trends in the emergent field: “Digital Theory on Literature Reading Lists, The Digitisation of
Reader Response, Star Texts: The Next Generation, The Book App, Digital Literatures: Digital
Democracies [or] Digital Threats?” The conference raised a practical question: “Should readers be given
the choice of both printed and electronic formats – or is the (printed) book set to become the vinyl of the
twenty-first century?”
In our country, graphic novels such as Ferdinand Benedict G. Tan and Jonathan A. Baldisimo’s “Trese 5:
Midnight Tribunal” and Carlo Vergara’s “Zsazsa Zaturnnah sa Kalakhang Maynila 1” are challenging the
traditional definition of fiction. Even more in-your-face is Alan Navarra’s “Ang Panlimang Alas ay
Nakabaon sa Iyong Dibdib,” a literary text that defies classification into any of the traditional categories
of “poetry, fiction, and drama.” (Even if we added the genre-come-lately Creative Nonfiction, Navarra’s
work still does not quite fit in.)
Since curricular reform happens only every decade, the SHS curriculum will still be in place by the year
2022. By that year, the 20th century will no longer be in the memory of our students. We pre-digital
teachers of the two literature subjects must ensure that their frame of reference will be theirs and not
ours.
 SANTA ISABEL COLLEGE OF MANILA
BASIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
PAASCU Accredited – Level II
210 TAFT AVENUE, MANILA, PHILIPPINES
TEL. NO.: 8-525-94-16 TO 19
www.santaisabel.edu.ph

Process Questions:

1. What is the essay all about?

2. Why is 21st Century Literature offered to Senior High School students?
3. What are the 21st century literary genres mentioned in the essay?
4. What does the second sentence mean in the last paragraph?
5. Explain this statement “There is a growing body of literary criticism in 21st century literature.”

End of Explore
From the essay above, you have learned why 21st century literature was born and how it
evolved.

FIRM - UP

In this section, you will have a glimpse of some of the 21st century literary genres mentioned by
Isagani Cruz in his essay.

Now that you are already familiar with the 21st century literary genres, try to read some selected
texts in 21st Century Philippine Literature for a deeper understanding and appreciation of each kind.
 SANTA ISABEL COLLEGE OF MANILA
BASIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
PAASCU Accredited – Level II
210 TAFT AVENUE, MANILA, PHILIPPINES
TEL. NO.: 8-525-94-16 TO 19
www.santaisabel.edu.ph

A. Flash Fiction

Sodom Gomorra
(Flash Fiction, 2011)
By Eliza Victoria
(Region 3 – Central Luzon)
They found a pillar of salt outside the city limits, the shape neatly preserved. A
woman caught in the gesture of longing. Those who found her first wanted to sprinkle her
on the burned earth, the trees charred beyond naming. They then opted for practicality, and
rubbed her into the flesh of gutted fish, poured her into soup, placed her in crystal
decanters on the tables of kings.
All who tasted her wished to go back. Back where? They asked, and Home, they
whispered. No matter how dirty, no matter how black, no matter how many times the
question was asked: How can you live here?
But this is mine, they said. This foul place…This is mine. And they wept for the streets
that no longer existed, the salt trickling down their cheeks.

About The Author

Eliza Victoria is the author of several books including the Philippine National Book Award-winning Dwellers
(2014), the novel Wounded Little Gods (2016), the graphic novel After Lambana (2016, a collaboration with
Mervin Malonzo), and the science fiction novel-in-stories, Nightfall (2018). Her fiction and poetry have
appeared in several online and print publications, most recently in LONTAR: The Journal of Southeast Asian
Speculative Fiction, The Best Asian Speculative Fiction, The Dark Magazine, Dark Regions Press’s Stranded:
Lone Survivor Deserted Island Horror Stories, and The Apex Book of World SF Volume 5. Her work has won
prizes in the Philippines’ top literary awards, including the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature. Her
one-act plays (written in Filipino) have been staged at the Virgin LabFest at the Cultural Center of the
Philippines
 SANTA ISABEL COLLEGE OF MANILA
BASIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
PAASCU Accredited – Level II
210 TAFT AVENUE, MANILA, PHILIPPINES
TEL. NO.: 8-525-94-16 TO 19
www.santaisabel.edu.ph

B. Textanaga

Sugal
Ni John Nikko O. Niogan

Pag ikaw ay pinalad,

May pambili ng bigas;
Pag ikaw ay minalas,
Bulsa mo namaný butas.

Akoý Isang Bulalakaw

Ni John Nikko O. Niogan

Sa maraming bituing
Marikit ang luningning
Di ko man lang napansin
Ang sarili kong ningning

Pinapapak
Ni Diczen O. Carandang

Pinapapak ng lamok
Mga taong-lansangan;
Ang aso ng mayaman,
Tulo-laway matulog.

May Tutubing Karayom

Ni Edwin P. Cruzada

May tutubing karayom

Sa isang makahiya.
Nang tangkaing hulihin,
Tinik lang ang napala.
 SANTA ISABEL COLLEGE OF MANILA
BASIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
PAASCU Accredited – Level II
210 TAFT AVENUE, MANILA, PHILIPPINES
TEL. NO.: 8-525-94-16 TO 19
www.santaisabel.edu.ph

C. Textula

Textula
Ni: Frank G. Rivera

Bayang mahilig sa ganda

Inuuna ang postura
Walang laman ang bituka
Kundi gasgas na pag – asa.

Si MEGAN YOUNG nang manalo

Nagbunyi ang Pilipino
May dala sanang asenso
Magkakapag – asa tayo.

Nagkagyera sa Mindanao
Kaban ng bayan ninakaw
Sa Bagyo’y daming pumanaw
MISS WORLD, salamat sa araw.

About the Author:

Frank G. Rivera was born in 1948 in Paete, Laguna.
He received his AB English – Filipino degree from the
University of the Philippines. He led the movement for the
theatre when he established the Sining Kambayoka, a folk
theatre company on the campus of Mindanao State
University in the 1970’s. He has won several awards and
represented the Philippines in numerous International
Theater Festivals and Conferences in the US, Korea,
Thailand, Mexico, Singapore and Australia.
 SANTA ISABEL COLLEGE OF MANILA
BASIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
PAASCU Accredited – Level II
210 TAFT AVENUE, MANILA, PHILIPPINES
TEL. NO.: 8-525-94-16 TO 19
www.santaisabel.edu.ph

D. Spoken Poetry
You may click the link for you to see how it was delivered by the writer himself.
https://youtu.be/tejS6M3NAdg

Ang Huling Tula na Isusulat Ko para sa ‘Yo

(Spoken Word Poetry)
Ni Juan Miguel Severo

Pangako yan at totoo. Hindi ko alam kung magiging gaano kahaba o kung kasya ba sa isang
piyesa,
ilang pahina, ilang minuto ang ihahaba, itatagal nito at posibleng hindi ko agad makabisado pero
pangako yan,
ito na ang huling tula na isusulat ko para sayo.

Itaga mo to sa bato, abutin man ako ng umaga dito hindi ko ipipikit ang mga matang ito..
uubusin ko ang lahat ng salita na posibleng tugma ng pangalan mo o anumang tawag ko sayo,
mahal, sinta, irog, pangga, babe, bbq, bae, beb, asawa ko, mhine, kulet, kapal, kupal, hayop, pa,
p*ng ina ka ano pa ba..wala akong pakialam kung abutin man ako ng ilang talata dito,
pero hindi ko na pwedeng patirahin lang dito sa loob ko ang mga salitang ito kaya pangako,
ito na ang huling tula na isusulat ko para sayo.

Magsisimula ako sa umpisa, sa kung paanong nginitian mo ako at tinanong kung san ako
nakatira.
hindi mo nga pinansin ang mga agiw sa dingding, hindi ka nga natinag sa ipis na biglang
dumating sa iyong pagbisita..
pero hindi mo rin man lang din tinignan ang mga libro na nasa tabi ng kama kong
natutulog din, at tangi ko noong kapiling.

Magsisimula ako sa umpisa, sa kung paanong niyakap mo ako nung sabihin ko sayong “mahal
kita..”
sa kung paanong hinalikan mo ako sa noo sabay sabi na “mahalaga ka..”
at ako naman tong si tanga, tuwang tuwa na hindi pa nalinaw nga na
ayaw ko na maging mahalaga, ayaw ko na maging halaga..

Hindi ako antigong salamin na matagal mo nang pag aari

na tinitignan mo lang para ipaalala sa sarili mo na maganda ka, ayaw ko na maging mahalaga..
hindi ako telepono mong dudukutin lang sa bulsa kapag kelangan mo ng solusyon sa kawalan
mo ng koneksyon sa mundo mong masyado ng malawak para bigyang atensyon ka pa, ayaw ko
na maging mahalaga..
hindi ako kuwintas na isusuot mo lang sa piling-piling mga okasyon
kapag meroong mga sitwasyon na pakiramdam mo ay kulang ka pa
Hindi ako para ibalik sa loob ng isang kahon kapag matutulog ka na sa gabi sa takot na masakal
ka sa yakap ko kapag mahimbing ka na,
o ibalik sa loob ng isang kahon at itabi sa sulok ng isang aparador
sa takot na manakaw ako ng iba, ayaw ko na maging mahalaga...
 SANTA ISABEL COLLEGE OF MANILA
BASIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
PAASCU Accredited – Level II
210 TAFT AVENUE, MANILA, PHILIPPINES
TEL. NO.: 8-525-94-16 TO 19
www.santaisabel.edu.ph

Ang gusto ko ay mahalin, ang kelangan ko ay mahalin..

kelangan ko na mahalin mo ako gaya ng kape mo sa umaga
tanggap ang tamis at pait, kelangan para sa init
pero hindi isinasantabi dahil lang nanlamig na..
kelangan ko na mahalin mo ako gaya ng sarili mong opisina
kabisado kung para saan ang ano, kabisado kung saan nakatago ang alin
kabisado ang mga tinatago kong patalim, silbi, dumi, lihim..patalim, silbi, dumi lihim…
kelangan ko na mahalin mo ako gaya ng unan mo sa gabi, niyayakap sa ginaw, sinasandalan kahit
na mainit, binubulungan ng mga pinakatatago mong panaginip
ayaw ko na maging mahalaga, ang gusto ko ay mahalin, ang kelangan ko ay mahalin..

at nagsulat ako noon para lang mahalin mo ako, kaya patawad pero magsusulat ako
hanggang sa maubos ko ang lahat ng salita na posibleng tugma ng pangalan mo
patawad pero magsusulat ako para patawarin mo ako..
dahil minsan may nakapagsabi saken na ang taong hindi raw marunong magpatawad ay hindi
makapagsusulat
kaya mahal sa pagkakataong ito
sa huling pagkakataon na magsusulat ako ng tula para sayo
gumawa tayo ng kasunduan, patatawarin kita pero patatawarin mo rin ako.

Patawarin mo ako sa hindi ko pagtahan at patatawarin kita sa hindi mo pagluha

Patawarin mo ako sa hindi ko pananahimik at patatawarin kita sa hindi mo pagsasalita
Patawarin mo ako sa hindi ko pag alis at patatawarin kita sa hindi mo pananatili
Patawarin mo ako sa hindi ko sayo paglimot at patatawarin kita sa hindi mo saken pagpili mahal
gumawa tayo ng kasunduan patatawarin kita pero patatawarin mo rin ako.

Patawarin mo ako sa hindi ko pagbitiw at patatawarin kita sa hindi mo pagkapit

Patawarin mo ako sa hindi ko paglayo at patatawarin kita sa hindi mo paglapit
Patawarin mo ako sa hindi ko pagsuko at patatawarin kita sa hindi mo pagsugal
Patawarin mo ako sa hindi ko pagkamuhi sayo at patatawarin kita sa hindi mo saken
pagmamahal, mahal
gumawa tayo ng kasunduan patatawarin kita pero patatawarin mo rin ako
para sa wakas ay matapos ko na itong tula na masyado ng matagal na nakatira dito
at patawad kung magiging masyadong mahaba at marami masyadong bulanas
pero pangako huli na to, huli na to, huli na to…

Magsisimula ako uli sa umpisa, sa kung paanong nginitian mo ako at tinanong kung san ako
nakatira.
Magsisimula ako uli sa umpisa, sa kung paanong nginitian mo ako
Magsisimula ako uli sa umpisa,
Magsisimula ako uli…
Magsisimula ako….

Ito na ang huling tula na isusulat ko para sayo, mali…

Ito na ang huling tula na isinulat ko tungkol sayo

Iniibig kita, at ubos na ubos na ako….”

 SANTA ISABEL COLLEGE OF MANILA
BASIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
PAASCU Accredited – Level II
210 TAFT AVENUE, MANILA, PHILIPPINES
TEL. NO.: 8-525-94-16 TO 19
www.santaisabel.edu.ph

About the Author:

Juan Miguel Severo is a Filipino actor and spoken word artist who came to fame
playing Rico on the comedy series On the Wings of Love. He received increased attention for
his spoken word art when his piece “Ang Huling Tula na Isusulat Ko para sa ‘Yo” went viral in
2015.

Activity 2: Comprehension Check – up

1. What is “Sodom Gomorra” all about?

2. How is this story related to the one in the Bible?
3. What are the themes reflected in textanaga and textula? Give at least three (3) and support these
themes with details.

4. What are the sentiments expressed by the author to his beloved in the poem “Ang Huling Tula Na
Isusulat ko Para Sa ‘Yo?”

5. What are the reasons why some relationship didn’t work out?
6. What can you say about the language used in textanaga, textula and spoken word poetry?
7. How do you compare the structure of these three types of poems?
8. Why is there a need for you to study 21st century literature?

End of Firm Up

By doing the activity above, you have now the knowledge about the 21st literary genres.

DEEPEN

Based from the given examples of 21st century literary genres, what have you learned about
them?
 SANTA ISABEL COLLEGE OF MANILA
BASIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
PAASCU Accredited – Level II
210 TAFT AVENUE, MANILA, PHILIPPINES
TEL. NO.: 8-525-94-16 TO 19
www.santaisabel.edu.ph

Activity 3: Compare and Contrast Matrix

Fill out the table below by giving the similarities and differences of the following literary genres.

Comparative Matrix

Genres Similarities Differences

1. Textula and Tanaga

2. Graphic Novel and Novel

3. Spoken poetry and Traditional poetry

4. Flash Fiction and Short story

TRANSFER

In this section, you will be applying the concepts you have learned from the lesson above.

Activity 4: Composition Time

The Speech & Reading Area will have its culminating activity. In preparation for this, there will
be an elimination contest for Literature Writing. As a senior high school student, you will participate in
this event. Your task is to compose a six – word story, a textula and textanaga. The textula and
textanaga may be expressed in Filipino. You can add images in your work.

Your compositions will be judged using these criteria: Content – 4 points; Organization of
Thoughts – 4 points; Form and Structure – 4 points; and Language Used – 4 points.
 SANTA ISABEL COLLEGE OF MANILA
BASIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
PAASCU Accredited – Level II
210 TAFT AVENUE, MANILA, PHILIPPINES
TEL. NO.: 8-525-94-16 TO 19
www.santaisabel.edu.ph

GLOSSARY OF TERMS:

Collaborative – produced or conducted by two or more parties working together

Comparative Matrix – is a tool to compare the features and functionality of competitive products or
services in side-by-side table.

Contemporary – is a subset of modern that describe the historical period from approximately 1945 to
2000

Fiction – literature in the form of prose, especially short stories and novels, that describes imaginary
events and people

Genre – a category of artistic composition, as in music or literature, characterized by similarities in form,

style, or subject matter

Language – the use of connotation, concrete words, as well as figurative languages by the writer to
mainly express familiar feelings, emotions, conditions and the like either in an implicit or suggestive way

Literature – written works, especially those considered of superior or lasting artistic merit

Non-Fiction – prose writing that is based on facts, real events, and real people, such as biography or
history

Poetry – literary work in which special intensity is given to the expression of feelings and ideas by the
use of distinctive style and rhythm; poems collectively or as a genre of literature

Prose – written or spoken language in its ordinary form, without metrical structure

Spoken Poetry – is poetry that is written on a page but performed for an audience. Because it is
performed, this poetry tends to demonstrate a heavy use of rhythm, improvisation, free association,
rhymes, rich poetic phrases, word play and slang.

Structure – pertains to the way how words and lines are organized, sequenced, arranged and formed to
ensure unity of form

Theme – the subject of a talk, a piece of writing, a person’s thoughts, or an exhibition; a topic