PRE-SPANISH PERIOD

Long before the Spaniards and other foreigners landed or set foot on Philippine shores, our forefathers already
had their own literature stamped in the history of our race.

Our ancient literature shows our customs and traditions in everyday life as traced in our folk stories, old plays
and short stories.

Our ancestors also had their own alphabet which was different from that brought by the Spaniards. The first
alphabet used by our ancestor was similar to that of the Malayo-Polynesian alphabet. Whatever records our
ancestors left were either burned by the Spaniards friars in the belief that they were works of the devil or were
written on materials that easily perished, like the barks of trees, dried leaves and bamboo cylinders which
could not have remained undestroyed even if efforts were made to preserve them. Other records that remained
showed folk songs that proved the existence of a native culture truly our own. Some of these were passed on
byword of mouth till they reached the hands of some publishers or printers who took interest in printing the
manuscripts of the ancient Filipinos. The Spaniards who came to the Philippines tried to prove that our
ancestors were really fond of poetry, songs, stories, riddles and proverbs which we still enjoy today and which
serve to show to generations the true culture of our people.

 LEGENDS
 Legends are a form of prose the common theme of which is about the origin of a thing, place, location
or name.
 The events are imaginary, devoid of truth and unbelievable. Old Filipino customs are reflected in these
legends. Its aim is to entertain.
 A legend is a narrative — often handed down from the past — that is used to explain an event,
transmit a lesson, or simply entertain an audience.

Here is an example of a legend is THE LEGEND OF THE TAGALOGS.

 FOLK TALES
 Folk tales are made up of stories about life, adventure, love, horror and humor where one can derive
lessons about life.
 A folktale is an old story that's been told again and again, often for generations.
 These are useful to us because they help us appreciate our environment, evaluate our personalities and
improve our perspectives in life.

An example of this is THE MOON AND THE SUN.

 THE EPIC AGE

 Epics are long narrative poems in which a series of heroic achievements or events, usually of a hero,
are dealt with at length.
 Nobody can determine which epics are the oldest because in their translations from other languages,
even in English and Spanish. We can only determine their origins from the time mentioned in the said
epics.

Epics have five main characteristics:

 The hero is outstanding. ...

 The setting is large. ...
 The action is made of deeds of great valour or requiring superhuman courage.
 Supernatural forces—gods, angels, demons—insert themselves in the action.
 It is written in a very special style (verse as opposed to prose).
 The five characteristics of an epic are the inclusion of:
supernatural forces interacting with humans; acts of courage or valor; characters who have some type of
national importance; a tone and voice that make everything sound important, even if it's not; and a setting that
is regional, national or global in nature

Aside from the aforementioned epics, there are still other epics that can be read and studied like the following
epics.

1. Bidasari-Moro epic
2. Biag ni Lam-ang-Ilokano epic
3. Maragtas-Visayan epic
4. Haraya-Visayan epic
5. Lagda-Visayan epic
6. Hari sa Bukid-Visayan epic
7. Kumintang-Tagalog epic
h. Parang Sabir-Moro epic
8. “Dagoy”at “Sudsod”-Tagbanua epic
j. Tatuaang-Bagobo epic
l. Bantugan
9. Indarapatra at Sulayman

 FOLK SONGS
 Folk songs are one of the oldest forms of Philippine literature that emerged in the pre-Spanish period.
 These songs mirrored the early forms of culture.

Many of these have 12 syllables. Here are the examples:

1. Kundiman
2. Kumintang o Tagumpay
3. Ang Dalit o Imno
4. And Oyayi o Hele

OTHER FORMS OF PRE-SPANISH POETRY

Epigrams, Riddles, Chants, Maxims, Proverbs or Sayings

Epigrams (Salawikain).
 These have been customarily used and served as laws or rules on good behavior by our ancestors. To
others, these are like allegories or parables that impart lessons for the young.
 An epigram is usually said by someone and documented.
 An epigram is a short, interesting and witty thought or idea on a particular subject, usually presented in a
funny manner.
 An epigram is a short, interesting and insightful idea or thought about a specific subject expressed in a
witty, satirical and funny manner.

Example:
 “There are no gains without pains.” – Benjamin Franklin.
 “If we don’t end war, war will end us.” – H. G. Wells

Riddles (Bugtong) or Palaisipan.

  These are made up of one or more measured lines with rhyme and may consist of four to 12 syllables.
 A riddle is a word puzzle in which one player asks a confusing question, and the other player /person has
to figure out its meaning

Example:
 I have a face and two hands, but no arms or legs. What am I? A clock
 What can only be used when it’s broken? An Egg

Chant (Bulong).
 Used in witch craft or enchantment.

Maxims.
 Some are rhyming couplets with verses 5,6 or 8 syllables, each line having the same number of syllables.

Example:
 "The bigger the better" / "Good things come in small packages."
 "Actions speak louder than words." / "The pen is mightier than the sword."
 "What's good for the goose is good for the gander." / "One man's meat is another man's
poison."

Sayings (Kasabihan)
 Often used in teasing or to comment on a person’s actuations.

Sawikain (Sayings with no hidden meanings)