Philippine Literature

Map of the Philippines

Per Region

Region 1: Ilocos
Ilocos Region, officially designated as Region I, is an administrative
region in the Philippines occupying the northwestern section of Luzon.
It covers 4 provinces, namely, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and
Pangasinan. The regional center is the City of San Fernando.
Region 1, also known as the Ilocos Region, is located in the northwest
of Luzon. It borders to the east the regions of the Cordillera
Administrative Region and Cagayan Valley, and to the south of the
Central Luzon. Located on its west is the South China Sea.
The region is composed of four provinces, namely: Ilocos Norte,
Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan. Its regional center is San
Fernando City, La Union.
 Region 2: Cagayan Valley
Cagayan Valley, officially designated as Region II, is an
administrative region in the Philippines occupying the northeastern
section of Luzon. It covers 5 provinces, namely, Batanes, Cagayan,
Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino. The regional center is the City of
Tuguegarao.

Cordillera Administrative Region, officially designated as CAR, is

an administrative region in the Philippines occupying the northern-
central section of Luzon. It covers 6 provinces, namely, Abra, Apayao,
Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mountain Province, as well as 1 highly
urbanized city. The regional center is the City of Baguio.

National Capital Region (NCR)

The National Capital Region, officially designated as NCR, is an
administrative region in the Philippines occupying the central section
of Luzon. It covers 1 municipality, as well as 16 highly urbanized
cities. The regional center is the City of Manila.
Region 3: Central Luzon
Central Luzon, officially designated as Region III, is an
administrative region in the Philippines occupying the central section
of Luzon. It covers 7 provinces, namely, Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan,
Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales, as well as 2 highly
urbanized cities. The regional center is the City of San Fernando.
Region 4A: CALABARZON
CALABARZON is composed by the provinces of Cavite, Laguna,
Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon; the acronym is derived from the first
two letters of every province that composes it.
The region is located in southwestern Luzon, just south and east of
Metro Manila and is the second most densely populated region.
CALABARZON and MIMAROPA were previously combined
together as Southern Tagalog, until they were separated in 2002 by
virtue of Executive Order No. 103. Executive Order No. 246, dated
October 28, 2003, designated Calamba City as the regional center of
CALABARZON. The largest city of CALABARZON Region and the
second highly-urbanized city is Antipolo City, with Lucena City being
the first. CALABARZON is the most populated region in the
Philippines, with a population of 12,609,803 inhabitants.
CALABARZON, officially designated as Region IV-A, is an
administrative region in the Philippines occupying the central section
of Luzon. It covers 5 provinces, namely, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna,
Quezon, and Rizal, as well as 1 highly urbanized city. The regional
center is the City of Calamba.

Region 4B: MIMAROPA
MIMAROPA is an administrative region of the Philippines. It is one
of two regions of the Philippines having no land border with another
region, Eastern Visayas being the other, and is designated as Region
IV-B. The name is an acronym combining the names of its provinces,
which are: Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque,
Romblon and Palawan. The region is also more formally known as
Southern Tagalog Islands.
There are, as of now, two cities that make up MIMAROPA Region:
1. Calapan City
2. Puerto Princesa City
MIMAROPA Region is an administrative region in the Philippines
grouped under the Luzon island group. It covers 5 provinces, namely,
Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, and
Romblon, as well as 1 highly urbanized city. The regional center is
the City of Calapan.
Region V: Bicol
The Bicol Region or Region V (also known as Bicolandia) is one of
the 17 regions of the Philippines. Bicol (also spelled Bikol) is
composed of four provinces in the Bicol Peninsula, the southeastern
end of Luzon Island, and two island-provinces adjacent to the
peninsula. Its regional center is Legazpi City in Albay province.
The region is composed of six provinces, namely, Albay, Camarines
Norte, Camarines Sur, Sorsogon and the island-provinces of
Catanduanes and Masbate.
The region has the following cities:
1. Legazpi City 2. Ligao City 3. Tabaco City 4. Iriga
City 5. Naga City 6. Masbate City 7. Sorsogon City
Bicol Region, officially designated as Region V, is an administrative
region in the Philippines grouped under the Luzon island group. It
covers 6 provinces, namely, Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur,
Catanduanes, Masbate, and Sorsogon. The regional center is the City
of Legazpi.

Region VI: Western Visayas
Western Visayas, officially designated as Region VI, is an
administrative region in the Philippines occupying the western section
of the Visayas. It covers 6 provinces, namely, Aklan, Antique, Capiz,
Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental, as well as 2 highly urbanized
cities. The regional center is the City of Iloilo.
Region 7: Central Visayas
Central Visayas, officially designated as Region VII, is an
administrative region in the Philippines occupying the central section
of the Visayas. It covers 4 provinces, namely, Bohol, Cebu, Negros
Oriental, and Siquijor, as well as 3 highly urbanized cities. The
regional center is the City of Cebu.
Region 8: Eastern Visayas
Eastern Visayas, officially designated as Region VIII, is an
administrative region in the Philippines occupying the eastern section
of the Visayas. It covers 6 provinces, namely, Biliran, Eastern Samar,
Leyte, Northern Samar, Samar, and Southern Leyte, as well as 1
highly urbanized city. The regional center is the City of Tacloban.
Region 9: Zamboanga Peninsula
Zamboanga Peninsula, officially designated as Region IX, is an
administrative region in the Philippines occupying the western section
of Mindanao. It covers 3 provinces, namely, Zamboanga del Norte,
Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay, as well as 1 highly
urbanized city (Zamboanga City) and the component city of Isabela.
The regional center is the City of Pagadian.
Region 10: Northern Mindanao
Northern Mindanao, officially designated as Region X, is an
administrative region in the Philippines occupying the northern-central
section of Mindanao. It covers 5 provinces, namely, Bukidnon,
Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, and Misamis
Oriental, as well as 2 highly urbanized cities. The regional center is the
City of Cagayan de Oro.
Region 11: Davao
Davao Region, officially designated as Region XI, is an administrative
region in the Philippines occupying the southeastern section of
Mindanao. It covers 5 provinces, namely, Davao de Oro (Compostela
Valley), Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, and
Davao Oriental, as well as 1 highly urbanized city. The regional center
is the City of Davao.
Region 12: SOCCSKSARGEN
SOCCSKSARGEN, officially designated as Region XII, is an
administrative region in the Philippines occupying the southern-
central section of Mindanao. It covers 4 provinces, namely, Cotabato,
Sarangani, South Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat, as well as 1 highly
urbanized city (General Santos) and the independent component city
of Cotabato. The regional center is the City of Koronadal.
Region 13: Caraga
The word Caraga originated from the Visayan word “Kalagan”:
“Kalag” meaning soul or people and “An” meaning land. The
“Kalagans has a long history of being brave and fearless. Thus, the
region was called by early chroniclers as the “Land of the Brave and
Fierce People”. Feb 11, 2022
Caraga, officially designated as Region XIII, is an administrative
region in the Philippines occupying the northeastern section of
Mindanao. It covers 5 provinces, namely, Agusan Del Norte, Agusan
Del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao Del Norte, and Surigao Del Sur, as
well as 1 highly urbanized city. The regional center is the City of
Butuan.

BARMM
Replacing the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM),
the BARMM was formed with the ratification of its basic law, the
Bangsamoro Organic Law, following a two part legally binding
plebiscite in Western Mindanao held on January 21 and February 6,
2019. The ratification was confirmed a few days later on January 25
by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, officially
designated as BARMM, is an administrative region in the Philippines
grouped under the Mindanao island group. It covers 5 provinces,
namely, Basilan, Lanao Del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.
The regional center is the City of Cotabato.
Prose
A. The Essay is a short literary compositions in prose dealing with a
single matter usually from a personal point of view.
1. Narrative or Story Essay makes use of an incident to illustrate
an idea or a them
2. Descriptive Essay deals with some aspect of nature or animal
life with some human or architectural backdrop.
3. Biographical Essay or Character Sketch presents a character
analysis – not the entire life – but one aspect of that life.
4. Critical Essay is a criticism of any work of art, literature,
music, drama, motion picture painting, or sculpture. Reviews
of new books, plays, art exhibits, and concerts are often
primarily news reports and guides for seekers of entertainment.
5. Editorial Essay is a feature of most newspapers and magazines.
An editorial writer may plead a cause or denounce a wrong. He
may express indignation or appreciation.
6. Reflective Essay enforces a moral, or lesson and therefore
adopts a more serious and dignified tone as the fundamental
values and problems of life are discussed.
B. Fiction
1. Prose Allegory is a prose form in which the characters, ideas, and
actions stand for ideas with implied meanings. Concrete character
are personifications of abstract ideas.
a. Fable is a short allegorical tale which conveys a moral. The
characters are animals that talk and act like human beings.
b. Myths are traditional tales of a tribe, race, or nation which
involve the supernatural to explain a natural phenomena or
suggest a religious or moral truth.
c. Legends are stories of wonderful events believed to have
historical basis and which are passed down through the
ages.
2. Prose Romances are stories of supernatural or magical events –
fantastic and unrealistic.
a. Fairy Tale use folklore motifs, commonplace expression,
and typical themes which revolve around the characters like
a cruel king, cruel stepmother, naughty sister, substitute
bride, magic and supernatural changes and restorations.
b. Folk Tales which originally handed down orally, are stories
which consist of many folklore themes or motifs.
3. Prose Satires are stories of human vices and follies. The treatment
is humorous but its intention is to ridicule some person(s) or
institution(s).
4. Novels are prose narratives usually presented in chapters like a
book they can be categorized into three types: fantasy, love, and
adventure novels.
5. Short Story is a prose narrative of limited length which must have
characterization, unity, cumulative interest, climax, and resolution.
6. Novelettes are prose narratives which are longer than a short story.
It can also be read at one sitting.
C. Prose Drama is a literary work written in dialogues and intended
for presentation by actors. Similar to poetic plays, it is divided into
categories, such as comedy, tragedy, melodrama, farce, and
historical play.
PYRAMIDAL STRUCTURE OF A PLOT
Plot consists of the following:
1) Exposition (beginning) introduces the time, place, setting and the
main characters.
2) Complication (rising action) unfolds the problems and struggles
that would be encountered by the main characters leading to the
crisis.
3) Climax (result of the crisis) part where the problem or the conflict
is the highest peak of interest; the highest point of the story for the
reader, frequently, is the highest moment of interest and greatest
emotion; also known as the crisis or the point of no return.
4) Denouement is the untying of the entangled knots, or the part that
shows a conflict or a problem is solved, leading to its downwards
movement or end.
5) Resolution (end) contains the last statements about the story.
Qualities of the Plot
 Exciting – It should be more exciting than the everyday reality that
surrounds us.
 Good Structure – The episodes must be arranged effectively, but
the most important element of plot structure is tying all the
incidents together, so that one leads naturally to another.
Plot Devices
 Flashback – something out of chronological order; to reveal
information, to understand a character’s nature.
 Foreshadowing – a device to give a sign of something to come, its
purpose is to create suspense, to keep the readers guessing what
will happen when.
 Suspense – this is the feeling of excitement or tension in the
reader’s experiences as the action of the plot unfolds
 Surprise Ending – this is an ending that catches the reader off
guard with an unexpected turn of events.
 In Medias Res – the technique of beginning a story in the middle of
the action, with background information given later in flashbacks.
Point of View
Point of View – the writer’s feeling and attitude toward his subject;
determines who tells the story; it identifies the narrator of the story
(the form of narration also affects the story itself).
Classification (Point of View)
1) First Person – the writer uses the pronoun “I”. He/she could be a
participant or a character in his own work; the narrator may be the
protagonist, an observer, a minor character, or the writer
himself/herself.
2) Third Person – the writer-narrator is a character in the story.
He/she narrates the based on what he observed/his opinion. On the
other hand, a limited third person is an outsider/observer who is
not part of the story.
3) Omniscient – the writer-narrator sees all; he can see into the minds
of characters and even report everyone’s innermost thoughts.
 Mood – the atmosphere or emotional effect generated by the
words, images, situations in a literary work (the emotional
ambience of the work), for example, melancholy, joyous, tense,
oppressive and so on.
 Tone – a term used, sometimes broadly, to denote an attitude of
feeling of the speaker or author as conveyed by the language in its
artful arrangement (for example, ironic, pensive, sly, acerbic,
humorous); it describes the attitude of the narrator or persona of
the work whereas MOOD refers to the emotional impact felt by the
reader of the work. Although often similar, these feelings are
necessarily the same.
 Symbolism – stand for something other than themselves, they
bring to mind not their own concrete qualities, but the idea or
obstruction that is associated with them.
 Images – are usually characterized by concrete qualities rather than
abstract meaning; these appeal to the senses of taste, smell, feel,
sound, or sight.
 Theme – the central or dominating idea in a literary work; it is the
topic or subject of the selection which is sometimes stated by a
character or by the writer himself, but oftentimes, it is merely
implied or suggested. (Note: The theme is not some familiar saying
or moral lesson).
Poetry
POETRY is derived from a Greek word poesis meaning “making or
creating.”
Poetry is a kind of language that says it more intensely than ordinary
language does. Apparently, we have to remember five things about
poetry. (Baritugo, 2004, p.1)
 Poetry is a concentrated thought.
 Poetry is a kind of word-music.
 Poetry expresses all the senses.
 Poetry answers our demand for rhythm.
 Poetry is observation plus imagination.
ELEMENTS OF POETRY
A. Sense – is revealed through the meaning of words, images and
symbols.
Diction – denotative and connotative meaning/symbols.
Images and sense impression – sight, sound, smell, taste,
touch, motion and emotion.
Figure of speech – simile, metaphor, personification,
apostrophe, metonymy, synecdoche, hyperbole, irony,
allusion, antithesis, paradox, litotes, oxymoron, onomatopoeia.
B. Sound – is the result of a combination of elements.
Tone color – alliteration, assonance, consonance, rhyme,
repetition, anaphora.
Rhythm – ordered recurrent alteration of strong and weak
elements in the flow of the sound and silence: duple, triple,
running or common rhyme.
Meter – stress duration, or number of syllables per line, fixed
metrical pattern, or a verse form: quantitative, syllabic,
accentual and accentual syllabic.
Rhyme scheme – formal arrangement of rhymes in stanza or
the whole poem.
C. Structure – refers to (1) arrangement of words, and lines to fit
together, and (2) the organization of the parts to form a whole.
Word order – natural and unnatural arrangement of words
 Ellipsis – omitting some words for economy and effect
Punctuation – abundance or lack of punctuation marks
Shape – contextual and visual designs: jumps, omission of
spaces, capitalization, lower case.
TYPES OF POETRY
A. Narrative Poetry – tells a story in richly imaginative and
rhythmical language.
 Epic is a long, narrative poem which deals with the adventures
and exploits of legendary heroes.
 Metrical Romance is a long verse which deals about the ideals
of chivalry, romantic love, and religious elements and which
have the characteristics of the middle Ages when knighthood
was popular.
 Ballad is a short narrative intended to be sung. Types are folk
or literary as in the epic.
 Metrical Tale is a story in poetry form. It is told in a simple,
straightforward and realistic manner.
 Popular Ballad – a ballad of wide workmanship telling some
simple incidents of adventure, cruelty, passion, or superstition,
an incident that shows the primary instincts of man influenced
by the restraint of modern civilization.
 Modern or Artistic – created by a poet imitation of the folk
ballad, makes use (sometimes with considerable freedom) of
many of its devices and conventions.
 Metrical Allegory – an extended narrative that carries a second
meaning along with the surface story. Things and actions are
symbolic.
B. Lyric Poetry – expresses personal thoughts and feelings.
 Ode is a poem addressed to some person or thing.
 Elegy is a poem about the dead. It contains the author’s
personal grief for a loved one and suggestions of hope to
soothe his sorrow.
 The song is a short lyric poem intended to be sung.
a) Secular songs have non-religious themes.
b) Sacred songs are songs of praise to God such as oratorios
and cantatas.
 Simple Lyric is a short poem with verses that are musical and
with a subjective or emotional tone.
 Sonnet is a lyric poem with fourteen iambic pentameter lines.
a) Italian Sonnet contains an octave and sestet. The themes,
problem, hope or desire is presented in the octave and
sestet contains the resolution or conclusion. It has a
rhyming scheme of abba-abba-cde-cde.
b) Shakespearean sonnet (English) has a rhyming scheme of
abab- cdcd-efef-gg. It has four quatrains and a couplet.
The theme is developed in the first three quatrains and the
couplet contains the conclusion.
C. Dramatic Poetry portrays life and character put into action.
 Poetic Plays
a) Comedy is a type of drama which aims to amuse and
entertain. The main character in the story overcomes the
obstacles, thus it ends happily.
b) Tragedy is a type of drama in which the main characters are
overthrown by the obstacles. It usually ends with death.
c) Farce is an exaggerated comedy based on broadly
humorous situations.
d) Historical Play is a drama about the lives of outstanding
figures in history. e. Melodrama is a play with sensational
actions, a sentimental love story, extravagant emotions, and
generally, a happy ending.
e) Masque is a form of court pageantry which was popular in
England in the 16th century. The actors were dressed in
lavished costumes against a lavish scenery and music.
f) Dramatic Monologue is drama characterized by a one-sided
conversation. The character reveals his innermost character
as she or he speaks all throughout.
Figures of Speech
1) Simile – consists of comparing two things using the worlds like or
as. Example: You face is as big as a seed,
But you do not bear fruit...
(Lines from a Secret by Carlos Bulosan)
2) Metaphor – uses direct comparison of two unlike things or ideas.
Example: Dear Lord:
Let thou be the street-cleaner
Whilst I be the read
(Prayer by NVM Gonzales)
3) Personification – gives human traits to inanimate objects or ideas.
Example: The bullet said to the heart:
From now on we shall never part
(Lines from Communion by Gerson M. Mallilin)
4) Apostrophe – is a direct address to someone absent, dead, or
inanimate. Example: Little sampaguita
With the wandering eye
Did a tiny fairy
Drop you where you lie?
(Lines from the Sampaguita by Natividad Marquez)
5) Metonymy – substitutes a word that closely relates to a person or a
thing.
Example: The pen is mightier than the sword.
He lives through the bottle.
I have read all of Shakespeare.
By the sweat of our brow, you will earn your food.
6) Synecdoche – uses a part to represent the whole.
Example: No busy hand provoke a tear.
No roving foot shall crush thee here.
7) Hyperbole – makes use of exaggeration.
Example I know not what to name thy charms,
Thou art half human, half divine;
And if I could hold thee in my arms,
I know both heaven and earth were mine.
(Lines from the Rural Maid by Fernando M. Maramang)
8. Irony – says the opposite of what is meant.
Example: If all these men whose heads are with the stars,
Who dream unceasingly of blazing royalty,
Will only strive to be like you. A dweller of the sod with the heart of
royalty!
(Lines from To a Dog by Florizel Diaz)
9. Allusion – refers to any literary, biblical, historical, mythological,
scientific event, character or place.
Example: The pendulum
Is a thing of thread
To nervous persons like me
It reminds one of swaying Iscariot- Suspended from a tree.
(Lines from After Palanan by Rene A. Iturralde)
10. Antithesis – involves a contrast of words or ideas.
Example: “Love is so short.... Forgetting is so long.”
“You may be through it the past but the past isn’t through with you.”
Man proposes, God disposes. They promised freedom and provided
slavery.
11. Paradox – uses a phrase or statement that on surface seems
contradictor, but makes some kind of emotional sense.
Example: My dear, canst thou resolve for me
This paradox, of love concerning thee
Mine eyes, when opened with thy beauty fill –
But when they’re closed they see thee better still.
(Lines from Paradox by A.E. Litiatco)
12. Litotes – makes a deliberate understatement used to affirm by
negating its opposite.
Example: War is not healthy for children
And other living things
13. Oxymoron – puts together in one statement two contradictory
terms. Example: resident – alien
Silent scream
Living dead
Clearly misunderstood
Butt head