REPORTERS:

Maricar Ligtas, Princess Razelle Pantoja and Cristy Buenaventura

PHILIPPINE LITERATURE DURING PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD

Pre-Colonial Period (early times-1564)

Tabon Cave - the discovery of a skull cap and a portion of a jaw in Palawan in 1962 in this
cave proved that man came earlier to the Philippines
Oral Literature
- how myths, folks, riddles, proverbs, and other forms of narratives were initially handed
down from generations to generations
- called the language of life and people’s way of promoting cultural heritage
We have our own system of writing called Baybayin consisting of 3 vowels and 14
consonants. Baybayin came from the word “baybay” which means “spelling”.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
• Before the arrival of Spaniards in the Philippines, our ancestors had their own
literature, customs, and traditions.
• Philippine literary works during the Pre-Spanish period are primarily oral
traditions
• Their first alphabet was similar to the Malayo-Polynesian alphabet.
• Ancient Filipinos created narratives to explain their world, beliefs, and judgments,
including origin myths, legends, fables, supernatural tales, and humorous
accounts.
• They also composed songs and verses for religious practices, expressing
devotion, atoning for sins, and praying for abundance and happiness.
• They used leaves, barks of trees, bamboo cylinders, dried muds and jars as
stationery. Their pen would be any pointed metal, stick, knife and others used to
engrave and imprint their message.
• Records of our ancestors were destroyed, burned or written on perishable
materials by friars/invading Spaniards, thinking that these were works of the devil.
However, some remained, showing folk songs and proving the existence of a
native culture.
• Spaniards tried to prove their love for poetry, songs, stories, riddles, and
proverbs, which are still enjoyed today.
INDIGENOUS SPIRITUAL BELIEFS
Animism, an indigenous spiritual belief in the existence of a soul within all creatures and
objects, is considered the first spiritual concept of humankind. Filipinos believe in gods
and goddesses in nature, which inspired folk narratives, riddles, proverbs, songs, and
ritual chants, often used for entertainment rather than information.

LITERARY FORMS (during the pre-colonial period)

 Folktales (Kwentong-Bayan)
 Legends (Alamat)
 Myths (Mito)
 Fable (Pabula)
 Epics (Epiko)
 Folk Songs (Awiting-Bayan)
Other Forms:

 proverbs (salawikain)
 riddles (bugtong)
 tanaga
 chant (bulong)
 sayings (kasabihan)
 ambahan

Folktales (Kwentong-Bayan)
A fictional story told by ancient group of people
Example of Folktale: Story of Juan Tamad
Legends (Alamat)
A story explaining origins of matters
Example of Legend: The Bukidnon
Myths (Mito)
A story of gods, and goddesses used to explain mysteries, beliefs, and cultural
practices
Example of Myth: Si Malakas at Maganda
Fable (Pabula)
A story intended to teach human values with animals as major characters
attributing human qualities
Example of Fable: Ang Matsing at Ang Pagong
Epics (Epiko)
A long narrative poem about a quests of a hero with supernatural powers.
Example of Epic: Biag ni Lam-ang
Folk Songs (Awiting-Bayan)
A lyrical expression created according to region.
Examples of Folk songs: Kundiman, sitsiritsit, bahay-kubo
Proverbs (salawikain)
Expressions of wisdom based on common and real life experiences
Example of Proverbs: “Kung di ukol, di bubukol”
Riddles (bugtong)
A mystifying question and/or a mind puzzle intended to solved
Examples of Riddle: Nagtago si Pedro, labas ang ulo. Answer: Pako
Tanaga
A poem in quatrain with seven syllables and monorine
Example of Tanaga: Kaibigan by Emelita Perez Baes
“Palay s’yang matino,
Nang humangi’y yumuko;
Ngunit muling tumayo,
Nagkabunga ng ginto.”
Chant (bulong)
Chants are used in witchcraft and enchantments.
Example of Chant: Tabi, tabi po, Ingkong, makikiraan po lamang.
Sayings (kasabihan)
Sayings are used in teasing or to comment on a persons' actuations.
Example of Sayings: Nag-almusal mag-isa; Kaninglamig, tinapa;
Nahulog ang kutsara; Ikaw na sana, sinta.
Ambahan
a. A rhythmic poetic expression with a meter of seven syllable lines and having
rhythmic end-syllables.
b. It is most often presented as a chant without a determined musical pitch or
accompaniment by musical instruments. Example of Ambahan: