SAINT JOSEPH ACADEMY

OF SAN JOSE, BATANGAS INCORPORATED

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

PHILIPPINE LITERATURE PERCEPTION

What do you know about the Philippines’ past literatures? Draw a symbol of your idea on the
Philippines’ past literatures inside a box and then, provide a one-sentence explanation to elaborate your
idea.

LITERARY TIMELINE
Try to complete the Literary Timeline below. Choose your answers from the given choices written
below. Write only the letters of your answers.

a. Japanese b. Propaganda and c. Post-EDSA d. American Colonial e. Pre-Colonial Period

Occupation Revolutionary Period Period
f. 21st Century g. Spanish h. Period of New i. Period of Activism j. Period of the Third
Colonization Period Society Republic

MY OWN BOOK COVER

In your own opinion, what do you think will our present and future texts be all about? Predict the
kind of literature that will be written in the years 2023 to 2024 by making a cover of your own book, with the
assumption that you will become a writer by those years. Specifically, accomplish the four things: the title,
the name of the author, a one-sentence explanation and the design of the book cover.
“short explanation” You may also look at the following sample
book covers for ideas:

Title design

Name of the Author

In doing the activity, remember the following guidelines:

 The title should be clear and must give the gist of what the text is supposed to be about.
 The design should reflect the book’s theme and intention.
 The one-sentence explanation should cover the reason behind the theme of the book cover and the title.
 Be creative.
 Handwritten/handmade or printed outputs are both accepted.
BOOK COVER RUBRICS
4 3 2 1
Title The title is clear, easy to The title is clear enough and The title is somewhat clear The title is not clear and
understand and appropriate appropriate and appropriate appropriate
Information The title and author are both The title and author are The title and author are One of the following is
included stylishly displayed included and correctly spelled misspelled, not capitalized missing or incorrectly
and correctly spelled and or capitalized. They are and are not located in a displayed: Title, author
capitalized. They are located in an appropriate logical location, or may be
correctly located on location. It may be difficult to illegible.
appropriate places on the read.
book.
Illustration An original illustration is An original illustration is An original illustration is An illustration is included that
included that is not copied included that is not copied included that has not been has nothing to do with the
from the book and shows a from the book and shows a copied from the front cover. It story or is not original. The
main idea of the story. The main idea of the story. The is based on an event in the illustration is in pen or
illustration shows great effort illustration shows effort and is story, but it is not an pencil/no color.
and is in color. in color. important event. The
illustration shows effort with
color.
One- The explanation is concisely The explanation is written The explanation somewhat The explanation is poorly
sentence written covering the reason enough covering the reason covers the reason behind the written without actually
behind the theme of the book behind the theme of the book theme of the book cover and covering the reason behind

21ST CENTURY LITERATURE FROM THE PHILIPPINES AND THE WORLD “Success of your Journey starts at
Academy.”
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 SAINT JOSEPH ACADEMY
OF SAN JOSE, BATANGAS INCORPORATED
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

Explanation cover and the title cover and the title the title the theme of the book cover
and the title
Effort The product shows that much The product is quality work. The product is average work. The product is below average
time and effort were used. work.
DISCUSSION: PHILIPPINE LITERARY PERIODS
PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD
A. Characteristics
1. based on oral traditions
2. crude on ideology and phraseology
B. Literary Forms
1. Oral Literature
a. Riddles (bugtong) – battle of wits among participants
b. Proverbs (salawikain) – wise sayings that contain a metaphor used to teach as a food for
thought
c. Tanaga - a mono-riming heptasyllabic quatrain expressing insights and lessons on life is
"more emotionally charged than the terse proverb and thus has affinities with the folk lyric."
2. Folk Songs
It is a form of folk lyric which expresses the hopes and aspirations, the people's lifestyles
as well as their loves. These are often repetitive and sonorous, didactic and naive
a. Hele or oyayi – lullaby
b. Ambahan (Mangyan) – 7-syllable per line poem that are about human relationships and social
entertainment
c. Kalusan (Ivatan) - work songs that depict the livelihood of the people
d. Tagay (Cebuano and Waray) – drinking song
e. Kanogan (Cebuano) – song of lamentation for the dead
3. Folk Tales
a. Myths – explain how the world was created, how certain animals possess certain
characteristics, why some places have waterfalls, volcanoes, mountains, flora or fauna
b. Legends – explain the origin of things
c. Fables – used animal characters and allegory
d. Fantastic stories – deal with underworld characters such as “tiyanak”, “aswang”, “kapre” and
others
e. Epics – are “narratives of sustained length based on oral tradition revolving around
supernatural events or heroic deeds” (Arsenio Manuel)

SPANISH COLONIZATION PERIOD

A. Characteristics
1. It has two distinct classifications: religious and secular
2. It introduced Spanish as the medium of communication
B. Literary Forms
1. Religious Literature - Religious lyrics written by ladino poets or those versed in both Spanish and
Tagalog were included in early catechism and were used to teach Filipinos the Spanish language.
a. Pasyon – long narrative poem about the passion and death of Christ. The most popular was
“Ang Mahal na Passion ni Jesu Cristong Panignoon Natin” by Aguino de Belen
b. Senakulo – dramatization of the pasyon, it shows the passion and death of Christ
2. Secular (non-religious) Literature
a. Awit - colorful tales of chivalry made for singing and chanting. Example: Ibong Adarna
b. Korido – metrical tale written in octosyllabic quatrains. Example: Florante at Laura (Francisco
Baltazar)
c. Prose Narratives – written to prescribe proper decorum. Example: Pagsusulatan ng Dalawang
Binibini na si Urbana at si Feliza (Modesto de Castro)
i. Dialogo
ii. Manual de Urbanidad
iii. ejemplo

21ST CENTURY LITERATURE FROM THE PHILIPPINES AND THE WORLD “Success of your Journey starts at
Academy.”
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 SAINT JOSEPH ACADEMY
OF SAN JOSE, BATANGAS INCORPORATED
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

iv. tratado
d. Folk Songs – manifests the artistic feelings of the Filipinos and shows their innate appreciation
for and love of beauty. Examples: Leron-Leron Sinta, Pamulinawen, Dandansoy, Sarong
Banggi, and Atin Cu Pung Sing-sing.
NATIONALISTIC / PROPAGANDA AND REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD
A. Characteristics
1. Planted seeds of nationalism in Filipinos
2. Filipino intellectuals educated in Europe called Ilustrados began to write about the hitch of
colonization
3. Language shifted from Spanish to Tagalog
4. Addressed the masses instead of the “intelligentsia”
B. Literary Forms
1. Propaganda Literature - Reformatory in objective
a. Political Essays – satires, editorials and news articles were written to attack and expose the
evils of Spanish rule. Examples: Diariong Tagalog (founded by Marcelo del Pilar) and La
Solidaridad (whose editor-in-chief is Graciano Lopez-Jaena)
b. Political Novels – Examples: Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo (Jose Rizal’s
masterpieces that paved the way to the revolution)
2. Revolutionary Literature – more propagandistic than literary as it is more violent in nature and
demanded complete independence for the country
a. Political Essays – helped inflame the spirit of revolution. Example: Kalayaan or newspaper of
the society (edited by Emilio Jacinto)
b. Poetry – Examples: True Decalogue (Apolinario Mabini), Katapusang Hibik ng Pilipinas
(Andres Bonifacio), and Liwanag at Dilim (Emilio Jacinto).
AMERICAN COLONIAL PERIOD
A. Period of Apprenticeship (1910-1930)
1. Filipino Writers imitated English and American models
2. Poems written were amateurish and mushy, which phrasing and diction is awkward and artificial
a. Short Stories – Example: Dead Stars (Paz Marquez-Benitez)
b. Novels – Example: Childe of Sorrow (Zoilo Galang), first novel in English
B. Period of Emergence (1920-1930)
1. Highly influenced by Western literary trends like Romanticism and Realism
a. Short Stories – most prevalent literary form
b. Jose Garcia Villa – became famous for his free verse; earned the international title “Poet of
the Century”
JAPANESE OCCUPATION
A. War Years (1942-1944)
1. Tagalog poets broke away from the Balagtas tradition and instead wrote in simple language and
free verse
2. Philippine literature in Tagalog was revived during this period
3. Most themes in the writings dealt with Japanese brutalities, the poverty of life under the Japanese
government, and the brave guerilla exploits
4. The common theme of most poems during the Japanese occupation was nationalism, country,
love, and life in the barrios, faith, religion, and the arts
5. Fiction prevailed over poetry
a. 25 Pinakamabuting Maikling Kathang Pilipino (1943) – compilation of the short story contest
by the military government. Examples: Suyuan sa Tubigan (Macario Pineda), Lupang
Tinubuan (Narciso Reyes), and Uhaw ang Tigang na Lupa (Liwayway Arceo)
B. Period of Maturity and Originality (1945-1960)
1. Bountiful harvest in poetry, fiction, drama and essay
2. Filipino writers mastered English and familiarized themselves with diverse techniques
3. Literary “giants” appeared

21ST CENTURY LITERATURE FROM THE PHILIPPINES AND THE WORLD “Success of your Journey starts at
Academy.”
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 SAINT JOSEPH ACADEMY
OF SAN JOSE, BATANGAS INCORPORATED
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

a. Palanca Awards for Literature – Jose Garcia Villa, Nick Joaquin, NVM Gonzales, Bienvenido
Santos, Gregorio Brillantes, Gilda Cordero Fernando
b. National Artist Awards – Jose Garcia Villa, Nick Joaquin
PERIOD OF ACTIVISM
Characteristics
1. Because of the ills of society, the youth moved to seek reforms.
2. The youth became vocal with their sentiments. It was manifested in the bloody demonstrations
and the sidewalk expressions and also in literature.
3. Martial Law repressed and curtailed human rights, including freedom of the press
4. Writers used symbolisms and allegories to drive home their message, at the face of heavy
censorship
5. Theater was used as a vehicle for protest, such as the PETA (Phil. Educational Theater
Association) and UP Theater.
PERIOD OF THE NEW SOCIETY
Characteristics
1. The Carlos Palanca Awards continued to give annual awards
2. Poems dealt with patience, regard for native culture, customs, and the beauties of nature and
surroundings
3. Newspapers donned new forms
4. News on economic progress, discipline, culture, tourism, and the like were favored more than the
sensationalized reporting of killings, rape, and robberies
PERIOD OF THE THIRD REPUBLIC
Characteristics
1. Poems during this period of the Third Republic were romantic and revolutionary
2. Many Filipino songs dealt with themes that were true-to-life like those of grief, poverty, aspirations
for freedom, love of God, of country and fellowmen
POST-EDSA 1 REVOLUTION
Characteristics
1. In the short span of the existence of the real Republic of the Philippines, several changes already
became evident
2. Several changes were noticed in the new Filipino songs, newspapers, speeches, and even in the
television programs
3. The now crony newspapers that enjoyed an overnight increase in circulation were The Inquirer,
Malaya, and the People’s Journal
21ST CENTURY PERIOD
Characteristics
1. The new trends have been used and introduced to meet the needs and tastes of the new
generation
2. 21st Century learners are demanded to be ICT-inclined to compete with the style and format of
writing
3. New codes or lingos are used to add flavor in the literary pieces produced nowadays
Processing Questions:
1. What have you noticed with the literature from Pre-Colonial to the 21 st Century? Was there a literature
that was constant and has stayed the same even though numerous years have passed?
2. How do you think those literatures emerged? What made it possible for them to be developed or
invented during their own respective eras and periods?
3. What were the reasons and motives upon making those kinds and types of literature for every period of
the Philippines’ literary history?
4. What could have happened if our old literature did not flourish and stopped midway on our history?

21ST CENTURY LITERATURE FROM THE PHILIPPINES AND THE WORLD “Success of your Journey starts at
Academy.”
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