Professional Documents
Culture Documents
B. Early Poetry
1. Riddles (Bugtong o Palaisipan)- made up of one or more measured lines with rhyme and many
consist of four to twelve syllables.
Example:Bungbong kung liwanag
Kung gabi ay dagat. (Mat(banig))
2. Proverbs- terse statements of practical wisdom based on long experience and observations about
life.
Example: Nahangad ng kagitna
Isang salop ang nawala.
3. Chants(Bulong)- used in witchcraft or enchantment.
Example: Ikaw ang nagnanakaw ng bigas ko
Lumuwa sana ang mga mata mo
Mamaga sana ang katawan mo
Patayin ka ng mga anito.
4. Sayings (Kasabihan)- often used in teasing or to comment on a person’s actuations.
Example: Putak, putak
Batang duwag
Matapang ka’t
Nasa pugad.
5. Sawikain- sayings with no hidden meanings
Example: Nasa Diyos ang awa
Nasa tao ang gawa.
6. Folk Songs- one of the oldest forms of Philippine literature that mirrors the early forms of culture.
Examples:
- Kundiman (Song of Love)
-Kumintang or Tagumpay (War Song)
-Ang Dalit o Imno (Song to the God of the Visayans)
- Oyayi o Hele (Lullaby)
- Diana (Wedding Song)
- Soliraning (Song of the Laborer)
- Talindaw (Boatman’s Song)
7. Epics- long narrative poems in w/c a series of heroic achievements or events, usually a hero, are
dealt with at length.
Examples:
- Biag ni Lam-ang (Ilokano)- written by Pedro Bukaneg, the Father of Ilokano Literature
(Bukanegan- the Ilokano version of Balagtasan in Tagalog)
- Ibalon (Bikol)
- Ulalim (Kalinga)
- Hudhud and Alim (Ifugao)
- Hinilawod (Sulod)- perhaps the longest recorded Filipino epic
- Agyu and Baybayan (Bukidnon)
- Tuwaang (Manuvu)
- Maragtas (Visayan Epic)
- Haraya (Visayan Epic)
- Hari sa Bukid (Visayan Epic)
- Lagda (Visayan Epic)
- Kumintang (Tagalog)
- Guman (Subanon)
- Bantugan (Maranaw)
- Parang Sabil (Tausug)
- Indarapatra at Sulayman (Maguindanaon)
II. Spanish Period (1565-1898)
Spanish Influences on Phil. Literature
- Printingwas introduced in the Philippines by the Dominicans in 1593.
- The first Filipino alphabet called ALIBATA was replaced by the Roman alphabet.
- The Spanish language w/c became the literary language during this time lent many of its words
to our language.
- The teaching of the Christian Doctrine became the basis of religious practices.
- European legends and traditions brought here became assimilated in our songs, corridos, and
moro-moros.
- Ancient literature was collected and translated to Tagalog and other dialects.
- Periodicals during these times gained a religious tone.
A. Religious Period
The First Books
1. Ang Doctrina Christiana (The Christian Doctrine) – 1st book printed in the Philippines in 1593 in
xylography. It was written by Fr. Juan de Placencia and Fr. Domingo Nieva. It contained the
Pater Noster (Our Father), Ave Maria (Hail Mary), Regina Coeli (Hail Holy Queen), the Ten
Commandments of God, the Commandments of the Catholic Church, the Seven Mortal Sins, How to
Confess, and the Catechism.
2. Nuestra Senora de Rosario- 2nd book printed in the Phils, written by Fr. Blancas de San Jose in
1602. It contains the biographies of saints, novena, and questionsand answers on religion.
4. Ang Barlaan at Josephat- biblical story printed in the Phils. and translated to Tagalog from Greek
by Fr. Antonio de Borja. It is believed to be the 1 st tagalong novel published in the Philippines even if it
is only a translation.
5. The Pasion - a book about the life and sufferings of Jesus Christ. It is read during the Lent. There
are four versions each according to the name of the writers: the Pilapil version by Mariano Pilapil of
Bulacan in 1814, the de Belen version by Gaspar Aquino de Belen of Batangas in 1704, the de la
Merced version by Anacleto de la Merced of Norzagaray Bulacan in 1856, and the de Guia version by
Luis de Guia in 1750. Chanters may take 2-4 nights singing the Pasion (Pasyon) with chanters taking
turns in shifts of 3-4 hours each.
6. Urbana at Feliza- book by Modesto de Castro, the Father of Classic Prose in Tagalog. These are
letters between 2 sisters Urbana at Felisa & has influenced greatly the behavior of people in society
because the letters dealt with good behaviour.
7. Ang Mga Dalit kay Maria- collection of songs praising the Virgin Mary written by Fr. Mariano
Sevilla, a Filipino priest. Popular especially during the Maytime “Flores de Mayo” festival.
LITERARY GENRES
Poetry
1. The Pasyon
Ang Mahal Na Pasion Ni Jesu Christong P. Natin Na Tola – 1st known pasyon in the country
- written by Gaspar Aquino de Belen in 1704.
2. Metrical Romances (Awit and Corrido)
a. Awit- set in dodecasyllabic verse. They are fabricated stories from writers’ imagination although
the setting and characters are Europeans. They refer to chanting.
Example : Florante At Laura by Francisco Baltazar (Prince of Tagalog Poets)
Kung siya mong ibig ako’y magdusa
Langit na mataas aking mababata
b. Corrido- in octosyllabic verse. They were usually based on European legends or tales. They
refer to narration
Examples: Ibong Adarna, Historia Famoso ni Berbardo del Carpio, And Doce Pares ng Francia
Lines from Ibong Adarna
Oh, Birheng kaibig-ibig
Ina naming nasa langit,
Liwanagan yaring isip
Nang sa layo’y di malihis.
3. Ladino Poems- Ladinos were the first Tagalog versifiers who saw print, natives who were highly
literate in both Spanish and the vernacular. Among them were Fernando Bagongbanta and Tomas
Pinpin.
4. Folk Songs- Examples: Leron-Leron Sinta, Pamulinawen, Dandansoy, Sarong Banggi, Atin Cu Pung
Singsing
Prose- the prose works of the period consisted mostly of didactic pieces and translations of religious
writings in foreign languages, such as novenas and biographies of saints,...and the linguistic
works of the friar-lexicographers and grammarians.
Examples :
Barlaan at Josaphat/Josephat- tells the story of the conversion to Christianity of a young Indian
prince, Josaphat, by the holy man, Barlaan ; their pious lives, and holy death.
* The Moriones- story of Longinus, a Roman soldier who was beheaded for proclaiming his belief
in Christ and spreading in the community the miracle of the resurrection of Christ.
* The Moro-moro - comedia showing how the Mohammedans were defeated by some Divine
Intercession and converted to Christianity.
* Karagatan- a poetic vehicle of a socio-religious nature celebrated during the death of a person. It
comes from an old legendary practice of testing the mettle of young men vying for a maiden’s
hand. The maiden’s ring, or any precious piece of jewelry, would be dropped into the sea, & the
suitors would dive for it. Whoever retrieved it would have the girl’s hand in marriage.
* Duplo- replaced the Karagatan and considered as the forerunner of balagtasan. It is a poetic joust
in speaking and reasoning. The performers consists of two teams, one composed of young
women called dupleras or belyakes, & the other, of young men called Dupleros or belyakos. An
elderly man- the harii- presides over the proceedings.
*Balagtasan- poetic joust or a contest of skills in debate on a particular topic or issue.
*Dung-aw- chant in free verse by a bereaved person beside the corpse of the dead.
B. Rebellious Period
The Propaganda Movement and the Literature of Protest- The objectives of this movement were
to seek reforms and changes like the following:
1. To get equal treatment for the Filipinos and the Spaniards under the law.
2. To make the Philippines a colony of Spain.
3. To restore Filipino representation in the Spanish Cortes.
4. To Filipinize the parishes.
5. To give the Filipinos freedom of speech, of the press, assembly, and for redress of
grievances.
* The Propagandists
1. Dr. Jose P. Rizal (Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado Alonzo y Realonda)- pen names were Laong
Laan and Dimasalang.
His Books and Writings
Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not)- title from book of St. John. It is considered a novel of society
El Filibusterismo- sequel of Noli. Konown as a novel of politics
Mi Ultimo Adios (My Last Farewell)- considered by critics as his poetic masterpiece. It is a poem
he wrote while he was incarcerated at Fort Santiago
Sobre La Indolencia De Los Filipinos (On the Indolence of the Filipino)- an essay on the so-
called Filipino indolence and an evaluation of the reasons for such allegations.
A La Juventud Filipina (To the Filipino Youth) - a poem Rizal dedicated to the Filipino youth
studying at UST.
Junto Al Pasig (Beside the Pasig River)- written by Rizal when he was 14 years of age.
2. Marcelo H. Del Pilar- pen names were Plaridel, Pudpoh, Piping Dilat, and Dolores Manapat.
Diariong Tagalog –established in 1882 where he exposed the evils of the Spanish government in
the Philippines & in order to avoid the false accusations hurled at him by the priests.
His Writings
Pagibig sa Tinubuang Lupa- translated from the Spanish Amor Patria of Rizal
Kaiingat Kayo- a humorous & sarcastic dig in answer to Fr. Jose Rodriguez in the novel Noli of
Rizal. He used Dolores Manapat as pen name here.
Dasalan at Tocsohan- similar to cathecism but sarcastically done against the parish priests.
Because of this, del Pilar was called a ‘filibuster’.
Sagot sa Espanya sa Hibik ng Pilipinas- this poem is answer to that of Hermenigildo Flores’
Hibik sa Pilipina
1. Andres Bonifacio- the Father of Filipino Democracy and the Father of the Katipunan
His Writings
Ang Dapat Mabatid ng mga Tagalog
Katungkulang Gagawin ng mga Anak ng Bayan- an outline of obligations just like the 10
commandments of God.
Huling Paalam- translation of Mi Ultimo Adios of Rizal in Tagalog
3. Apolinario Mabini- known as the Sublime Paralytic and the Brains of the Revolution
His Works
El Verdadero Decalogo- his masterpiece and his aim here was to propagate the spirit of
nationalism
Sa Bayang Pilipino (To the Filipino Youth)
4. Jose Palma- best known as the author of the lyrics of the national anthem
A. Literature in Spanish
1. Fernando Ma. Guerrero- pseudonyms were ‘Fulvis Gil’ and ‘Gil Rosas’
- he wrote Crisalidas (Chrysalis)- collection of his verses which was published in 1914.
2. Cecilio Apostol- wrote poems dedicated to Rizal, Jacinto, Mabini and all other heroes but his poem
dedicated to Rizal is considered the best poem in praise of the hero of Bagumbayan.
3. Jesus Balmori- pen name was Batikuling. He was elected Poet Laureate in Spanish besting Manuel
Bernabe. His stories are on fallen women, decadent living, the corruption of man, and hypocrisy in
society.
4. Claro M. Recto- president of the First Constitutional Convention in 1935. He wrote verses which were
later compiled in Bajo los Cocoteros
Drama- The theater in the Philippines was very much alive at the end of the 19th century. Comedias
and zarzuelas were performed almost every week.
Tagalog Drama
1. Severino Reyes- Father of the Tagalog drama & author of the immortal Walang Sugat
Walang Sugat- is a story of 2 lovers who are cousins, Tenyong and Julia.
2. Aurelio Tolentino - dramatist in whom the Kapampangans take pride.
Luhang Tagalog- masterpiece
Kahapon, Ngayon at Bukas- resulted in his incarceration.
3. Hermogenes Ilagan
Dalagang Bukid
4.Patricio Mariano
Ninay
Anak ng Dagat- his masterpiece
5. Julian Cruz Balmaceda
Bunganga ng Pating
6. Juan Abad
Tanikalang Ginto
a. Period of Re-orientation- American occupation in the Philippines started on August 13, 1898.
English came to be used as medium of instruction in the public schools.
Sursum Corda- written by Justo Juliano was the first work to be published in English
My Mother and Air Castles by Jan F. Salazar- published in 1909.
b. Period of Imitation- the UP College Folio published the literary compositions of the first Filipino
writers in English by 1919.
Dead Stars-a short story by Paz Marquez Benitez
- first successful short story in English written by a Filipino
A Child of Sorrow- novel by Zoilo Galang
c.Period of Self-Discovery and Growth - by these time, Filipino writers had acquired the mastery of
English writing. Essays during this period improved with the years in quality and quantity, in
content, subject and style. Essayists like Carlos P. Romulo became even more eminent editorial
writers.
Jose Garcia Villa- undisputed Filipino supremo of the ‘artsakists’.
Famous Works
1. Walang Sugat (1902) – Severino Reyes
2. Tanikalang Guinto (1902) – Juan Abad
3. Nena at Neneng (1903) – Valeriano Hernandez Pena, “Father of the Tagalog Novel”
4. Kahapon, Ngayon at Bukas (1903) – Aurelio Tolentino
5. Banaag at Sikat (1904)– Lope K. Santos (Ama ng Balarila ng Wikang Pambansa)
6. Philippine Free Press (1905)
7. Pinaglahuan (1907) – Faustino Aguilar
8. Dalagang Bukid (1919) – Hermogenes Ilagan’s most famous sarswela
9. Anak ng Dagat (1922) – Patricio Mariano
10. Azucena (1925) – Marcelo de Garcia Concepcion
11. Dead Stars – Paz Marquez Benitez
12. Kenkoy (1928) – came out from Liwayway (1922)
13. Bayan Ko (1928)- Jose Corazon de Jesus
14. Bodabil (vaudeville)- stage show
15. Without Seeing the Dawn (1947) – Stevan Javellana