SURVEY OF PHILIPPINE LITERATURE IN ENGLISH

MODULE 5
The Japanese Occupation
(1941 – 1945)
 INTRODUCTION

The years 1941 to 1945 were considered the darkest years in the Philippines. The
Japanese Imperial Army composed of 2,500 men of the 16th Division landed on December 12,
1941 and occupied Legazpi, Albay. This commenced the attack of the Japanese and their war
with the USA (and the Philippines) officially began.

The saddest day for the Filipinos began with the

December 8, 1941 attack following the attack at
Pearl Harbor, and the landing of the Japanese
Imperial Army on December 12, 1941 in Legazpi,
Albay.

Read:

Read. The Japanese Period Available at https://salirickandres.altervista.org/japanese-

period/

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of Module 5, at least 95% of the students shall be able to:

1. Discuss the genres of poetry, essay, short story, and novel of the
period of Japanese invasion
2. Prepare a lesson plan that teaches haiku, tanka, and other
Japanese literary types
3. Reflect on their feelings about Japanese literature in the
Philippines
 KEY CONCEPTS

LITERATURE DURING THE JAPANESE PERIOD

(1941 – 1945)

Nature of Philippine Literature during the Japanese Period

During the invasion of the Japanese, only two publications were allowed to operate:
Tribune and the Philippine Review. This act had an advantageous effect on the Filipinos
because they could write in Tagalog more than English which was prohibited even by the
Japanese authorities. Most of the Filipinos writing in English turned to Tagalog for fear of their
lives.
 The very famous Liwayway Magazine was placed under strict surveillance until it was
managed by a Japanese named Ishiwara. Many writers wrote poems, plays, short stories,
etc. Most of the topics and themes were about the provinces and the lives that the Filipinos
have.

Left: A Japanese high-ranking

soldier. Right: Ishiwara, who
managed LIWAYWAY
Magazine, the most-famous
magazine read by ordinary
Filipinos as their form of
entertainment.

Liwayway publication is a
weekly magazine. The locals
anticipate its new issues with
enthusiasm since the contents
talk about Filipino culture and
the lives of the Filipinos in
general.

A. Poetry

The common theme of most poems during the Japanese

period was nationalism, country, love and life in the
barrios, faith, religion, and the arts.

1. The Haiku – a poem of free verse that the

Japanese like. It was made of 17 syllables divided
into three lines. First line has five syllables, the
second, seven and the third, five.

The Haiku is allegorical in meaning, is short, and covers a wide scope in meaning.
 2. Tanaga – like the haiku, it is short. But it has a measure and rhyme. Each line has
7 syllables and its meaning is allegorical as well.

3. Karaniwang Anyo (Common Form) – this is the usual and common form of a
poem.

B. Filipino Drama during the Japanese Period

The drama experienced a lull during the Japanese era in the country. Big movie houses
showing American movies were closed. These big movie houses were turned into stage shows,
hence the start of the Philippine vaudeville.

Many of the plays shown during the period were just reproductions of English plays
and were shown to Filipinos to somehow ease their feelings of anxiety, fear, and tensed
feelings especially when they saw Japanese soldiers walking in the streets.

The translators at that time were Francisco Soc Rodrigo, Alberto Concio and Narciso
Pimentel. They founded the organization intended for Filipino players called the Dramatic
Philippines.

A few of playwriters were:

1. Jose Ma. Hernandez – He wrote PANDAY PIRA

2. Francisco soc Rodrigo who wrote SA PULA, SA PUTI
3. Clodualdo del Mundo – He wrote BULAGA (an expresión in the game Hide and
Seek)
4. Julian Cruz Balmaceda who wrote SINO BA KAYO? DAHIL SA ANAK, and
HIGANTE NG PATAY
 C. The Filipino Short Story during the Japanese Period

The field of the short story widened during the Japanese Occupation. Many wrote
short stories.

Among the short story writers were – Brigido Batungbakal, Macario Pineda, Serafin
Guinigundo, Liwayway Arceo, Narciso Ramos, NVM Gonzales, Alicia Lopez Lim, Ligaya
Perez, and Gloria Guzman.

The best writings in 1945 were selected by a group of judges composed of Francisco
Icasiano, Jose Esperanza Cruz, Antonio Rosales, Clodualdo del Mundo, and Teodoro
Santos. As a result of this selection, the following winners were announced:

First Place – Narciso Reyes – LUPANG TINUBUAN

Second Place – Liwayway Arceo’s UHAW ANG TIGANG NA LUPA

Third prize – NVM Gonzales’s LUNSOD NAYON AT DAGAT-DAGATAN

D. Philippine Literature in English

Because of the strict prohibitions imposed by the Japanese in the writing and
publishing of works in English, Philippine Literature in English experienced a dark period. The
few who dared to write did so for their bread and butter or for the propaganda. Writings that
came out during this period were journalistic in nature. Writers felt suppressed but slowly, the
spirit of nationalism started to seep into their consciousness. While some continued to write,
the majority waited for a better climate to publish their works.

Noteworthy writer of the period was 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.

Journalists include Salvador P. Lopez, Leon Ma. Guerrero, Raul Manglapuz, and
Carlos Bulosan. Nick Joaquin produced THE WOMAN WHO LOOKED LIKE LAZARUS. Fred
Ruiz Castro wrote a few poems. F. B. Icasiano wrote essays in The Philippine Review.

Carlos Bulosan’s works included

a. Six Filipino Poets (1942)

b. The Voice of Bataan (1943)
c. The Laughter of my Father (1944)

Alfredo Litiatco published WITH HARP AND SLING and in 1943, Jose P. Laurel
published FORCES THAT MAKE A NATION GREAT. The Commonwealth Literary Awards
gave prizes to meritorious writers.
 LEARNING RESOURCES

Read other materials connected to this study:

1. Today in Philippine History… Available at

https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/800/today-in-philippine-history-december-
8-1941-japan-launched-a-surprise-attack-on-the-philippines.

STUDY QUESTIONS

A. Answer the following questions.

____________________ 1. The exact date of Japanese landing in the Philippines

____________________ 2. Where did they land?

____________________ 3. What were the two publications that were allowed to operate
from 1941 to 1945?

____________________ 4.

____________________ 5. What magazine was the nation’s pastime during this period and
who managed it??

____________________ 6.

____________________ 7. Who was particularly writing literature in English during this era?

____________________ 8. Who produced the stage play The Woman who Looked Like
Lazarus?

____________________ 9. What is the usual and common form of a poem called in the
Philippine literature?

____________________ 10. What Japanese poetry was introduced to the Filipinos?

B. Differentiate:

Haiku from Tanaga:

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C. Compose:

a. Haiku that talks about man’s weakness/es

b. Tanaga that talks about lived experiences of anyone

D. Reflection

If you lived during the time of the Japanese, how will you feel? Why? (150 words)

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 LEARNING ACTIVITIES

Compose a poem each using the following kinds of poem used during the Japanese era:

1. Haiku
2. Tanaga
3. Common poem

REFERENCE USED

Padua, D. K. (2018). Japanese Periodo f Philippine Literature. Available at

https://www.slideshare.net/DKPadua/japanese-period-of-philippine-
literature?qid=88cc86df-b8b7-47d9-bf9a-7158f6ae0074&v=&b=&from_search=9