LITERATURE DURING THE PERIOD OF IMITATIONS

LITERATURE

• Comes from the latin word ‘LATIRE’ which literally means an acquaintance with letters

Literature during the Period of Imitations (1910-1925)

• During this period, the Philippines is under the rule of the Americans

• Public education was introduced and became accessible to many Filipino children

• English was used as a medium of instruction

In 1910, a new group started to write in English. Hence, Spanish, Tagalog, the
Vernaculars and finally, English, were the mediums used in literature during these times.

• The writers in Tagalog continued in their lamentations of the conditions of the country and their
attempts to arouse love for one’s native tongue

• The writers in English imitated the themes and method of the Americans.

• By 1919, the UP College Folio published the literary compositions of the first Filipino writers in
English. They were the pioneers in short story writing. They were then groping their way into
imitating American and British models which resulted in a stilted, artificial and unnatural style,
lacking vitality and spontaneity.

LITERARY COMPOSITIONS OF THE FILIPINO WRITERS IN ENGLISH

• ESSAY

• SHORT STORIES

• NOVELS

ESSAY

The noted essayists of this time were: Carlos P. Romulo, Jorge C. Bocobo, Mauro Mendez, and
Vicente Hilario. Their essays were truly scholarly characterized by sobriety, substance and structure. They
excelled in the serious essay, especially the editorial type. The next group of writers introduced the
informal essay, criticism and the journalistic column. They spiced their work with humor, wit and satire.
These group included Ignacio Manlapaz, Godefredo Rivera, Federico Mangahas, Francisco B. Icasiano,
Salvador P. Lopez, Jose Lansang and Amando G. Dayrit.

SHORT STORIES

1920-1924: The Philippine Collegian replaced the UP College Folio

 - DEAD STARS by Paz Marquez Benitez stood out as model of perfection in character delineation, local
color, plot and message.

- Newspapers and periodicals such as the Bulletin, the Philippine Herald, the Philippine Review, etc. also
saw print during this time

LITERARY WORKS

PAZ MARQUEZ BENITEZ

• Born in 1894 in Lucena City, Quezón

• authored the first Filipino modern English-language short story

• she was among the first generation of Filipinos trained in the American education systemm

• is a renowned Filipino author, poet, and teacher who is best known for her short story "Dead
Stars"

DEAD STARS

• First published in 1925

• Considered the first modern short story written in English by a Filipino

• The first successful short story in English written by a Filipino

SUMMARY OF DEAD STARS

The story was set one summer when Lucio Soliman decided to accompany his friend Camillo in the
beautiful town of Merry Town, Camillo's hometown. Lucio was a very poetic man who'd prefer sitting all
day just to read. But because his friend was to eager to show his friend reality, he insisted that Lucio
must take a vacation in their town.

Their she met a young, innocent, and delicate maiden that made Lucio's heart beat by the name
of Rosa Garcia. He felt in love with her. And as Lucio describe the love he felt towards this girl, he said it
will make Apollo's lyre play. He was madly in love. Rosa felt the same towards Lucio.

Until the end of summer vacation drew near and they knew they have to be temporarily apart. Lucio has
to pursue his dreams, he studied. Known for his intelligence, he became a popular person. He became
very busy, but still he misses the company of his dearest loved. He became sorrowful. Not until Rosa
wrote a letter to make him bliss. Then he regained his strength. They have not forgotten the love that
empowers both of them. Until a celebration in merry Town paved way for the lovers to reunite. Lucio
was invited to speak in the public. But the Governor ( Rosa's Father) was not please and her has this ill
feeling towards Lucio. He instantly asked Oscar ( His most trusted man and Rosa's persistent suitor) who
is the man speaking. When he found out that it was her child's fiancee, he was not happy.

Days, week, and months had passed they were surprise of the news that Rosa will be married not to his
fiance, but to Oscar. But because Lucio was to obedient to his parent, he permitted Rosa to marry Oscar
which made both of them sorrowful .It was hard for him though. But he just wanted Rosa to follow her
mother. Though Rosa does not want to marry Oscar, she was forced to because he was raped. For the
sake of her " delicadesa" she was betrothed to Oscar.

Later had passed Lucio's father died, and after several weeks his love, Rosa died. This made Lucio felt a
lot more of sorrow.

“So all these years—since when?—he had been seeing the light of dead stars, long extinguished, yet
seemingly still in their appointed places in the heavens.”

“Why would men so mismanage their lives? Greed, he thought, was what ruined so many. Greed--the
desire to crowd into a moment all the enjoyment it will hold, to squeeze from the hour all the emotion it
will yield. Men commit themselves when but half-meaning to do so, sacrificing possible future fullness of
ecstasy to the craving for immediate excitement. Greed--mortgaging the future--forcing the hand of
Time, or of Fate.”

“Love—he seemed to have missed it. Or was the love that others told about a mere fabrication of
perfervid imagination, an exaggeration of the commonplace, a glorification of insipid monotonies such as
made up his love life? Was love a combination of circumstances, or sheer native capacity of soul? In
those days love was, for him, still the eternal puzzle; for love, as he knew it, was a stranger to love as he
divined it might be.”

― Paz Marquez Benitez, Dead Stars

Zoilo Mercado Galang (July 27, 1895 – 1959)

• a Filipino writer from Pampanga

• He is credited as one of the pioneering Filipino writers who worked with the English language

• He is the author of the first Philippine novel written in the English language, A Child of Sorrow,
published in 1921

• A Child of Sorrow (1921) – first Philippine novel in English

• Tales of the Philippines (1921) – first volume of Philippine legends and folk tales written in
English

• Life and Success (1921) – first volume of Philippine essays in English

• The Box of Ashes and Other Stories (1924) – first volume of Philippine short stories in English

THE CHILD OF SORROW

• first Philippine novel in English

• Recognized as the first work of published Filipino fiction written in English.

• The story conveys the reality that life is a series of challenges. Life is not all about being happy. In
order to truly experience life, you must bravely encounter both the happiness and sorrows.

TALES OF THE PHILIPPINES

• Tales of the Philippines (1921) – first volume of Philippine legends and folk tales written in
English

• "Tales of the Philippines" could refer to a collection of stories, folklore, or legends that originate
from the Philippines. These tales often include elements of Filipino culture, traditions, and
mythology.

• Brief overview of some of the stories and themes you can expect to find in "Tales of the
Philippines"

• The Graduate of the University of Life

• The Model American Woman

• The Fil-American Woman

• A Reminiscence

• An Epilogue

GROUP 4

ANGELICA FEDILLAGA

CYRIL DAVE DUYAO

LLIAH ESPERGAL

RIA NOELETTE DELOS ANGELES

CRISTAL GAMBOA

NADINE DE LA CRUZ

ARJANE FERMIN

ANGELU DE LEON