Professional Documents
Culture Documents
2. SPANISH PERIOD
• Spanish occupied Philippines in early 15th century.
• First Filipino alphabet is Alibata
• When Spanish colonized Philippines they changed
Alibata into Roman alphabet.
NOTABLE WORKS
DOCTRINA CHRISTIANA – the first book printed
in the Philippines. Manila, 1593 by Lessing J.
Rosenwald. The book is printed in Gothic letters
and Tagalog.
IBONG ADARNA - a mythical story, formed in
narrative song and poetry called corrido and it is
considered a big part of the Philippine literature. It is
written by Jose dela Cruz a great poet who is also
known as Huseng Sisiw. It is about love, sacrifice
and fantasy.
FEATURES OF PHILIPPINE
LITERATURE UNDER AMERICAN
REGIME
SELECTION:
DEAD STARS
by Paz Marquez Benitez
The story revolves around Alfredo Salazar, a bachelor over thirty, and
two women. Esperanza, his fiancée of four years, and a young girl
from out-of —town named Julia Salas. Everyone takes it for granted
that Alfredo will eventually marry Esperanza. But although he is
ashamed to admit it, the intensity of his passion for Esperanza has
faded and he is attracted to Julia, whom he meets at a dinner party.
But he is aware that all his loved ones- including Julia would
disapprove of his failure to honor his understanding w/ Esperanza. 5o
he and Esperanza get married and have a family. Then, eight years
later, he goes on a business trip to the town where Julia, still
unmarried, lives. He goes to visit Julia, whom he has never forgotten.
But he is surprised to find that he no longer feels attracted to her. He
compares the memory of his love for her to dead stars, whose glow
is still visible from the earth for yearn after they are gone.
3. JAPANESE PERIOD
• Between 1941-1945, Philippine Literature was
interrupted in its development when we were again
conquered by another foreign country, Japan.
Philippine literature in English came to a halt.