PHILIPPINE LITERATURE DURING AMERICAN PERIOD (1898 – 1945)
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
 The Filipino revolutionist won against the Spaniards
who colonized Philippines for more than 300 years.
 The flag was hoisted by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo and the
Philippine Republic was inaugurated but was short-
lived.
 Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo was elected the first president of
the Philippine Republic, which was short – lived.
 Americans colonized the country. And in 1901, Gen.
Emilio Aguinaldo surrendered to the Americans.
 The Filipino American war resulted in the defeat of Gen.
Miguel Malvar in 1903.The peace movements started
as early as 1900.
 The peace movements started as early as 1900. Many
Filipinos started writing again and the nationalism of the
people remain undaunted.
 Filipino writers went into all forms of literature. (e.g.,
news, reporting’s, poetry, stories, plays, essays and
novels.)
 Their writings clearly depicted their LOVE FOR
COUNTRY and their LONGINGS FOR
INDEPENDENCE.
Their resentment expressed in literature was first felt in the
following newspapers:
1. EL NUEVA DIA (THE NEW DAY)
 Established by Sergio Osmeña in 1900.
 The American censors banned this twice and
threatened Osmeña with banishment because of his
nationalistic writings.
2.EL GRITO DEL PUEBLO (The Call of the Nation)
 Established by Pascual Poblete in 1900.
3.EL RENACIMIENTO (The Rebirth)
 Founded by Rafael Palma in 1901.
THERE WERE ALSO PLAYS WRITTEN, INCLUDED HERE
WERE THE FOLLOWING:
1. KAHAPON, NGAYON AT BUKAS (Yesterday, Today
and Tomorrow) written by Aurelio Tolentino
2. TANIKALANG GINTO of Juan Abad
3. MALAYA by Thomas Remigio
4. WALANG SUGAT by Severino Reyes
CHARACTERISTIC OF LITERATURE DURING THIS
PERIOD
•Spanish and Tagalog and the Vernaculars were the
languages used in writing during the first years in American
period, but Spanish and Tagalog were the predominated
language.
•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.
•ENGLISH writers imitated the themes and methods of the
Americans.
•TAGALOG writers wrote about their lamentations on the
conditions of the country and their attempts to arouse love
for one’s native tongue.
•SPANISH writers wrote about nationalism.
A. LITERATURE IN SPANISH
1.CECILIO APOSTOL – wrote “A RIZAL” and considered the
best poem in praise of the hero of bagumbayan.
2.FERNANDO MA. GUERERO – he collected the best of his
poem in a book called Crisalidas, and one of the poems
written in this book “INVOCACION A RIZAL”
3.JESUS BALMORI – well known for his pen name of
Batikuling. He and Manuel Bernabe participated in a debate
1
on the topic “REMEMBRANCE and FORGETFULNESS”. He
was elected ‘Poet Laureate” in Spanish besting Manuel
Bernabe.
5.MANUEL BERNABE – A lyric poet, and the fierceness of
his nationalistic spirit was unchanged in any topic he wrote
about.
•He was more attractive to the public in a debate with
Balmori because of the melodious words he used. He
defended OLVIDO (Forgetfulness)
6.CLARO M. RECTO – he collected his poems in a book
entitled BAJO LOS COCOTEROS (Under the Coconut Tree).
One of his writings dedicated to Rizal is “ANTE EL MARTIR”.
OTHER WRITERS IN SPANISH
1.ADELINA GUERREA – was first woman poet in the
Philippines who was good in Spanish. She obtained the
Nobel Prize in her “EL NIDO” (The Nest).
2.ISIDRO MARPORI – became famous for his four books
entitled AROMA DE ENSUENO (Scents of Dreams)
3.MACARIO ADRIATICO – He wrote the Legend of Mindoro
entitled “LA PUNTA DE SALTO” (The Place of Origin)
4.EPIFANIO DE LOS SANTOS – known as Don Panyong.
He was a good leader and biographer during the whole
period of Spanish literature.
5.Pedro Aunario- wrote the Decalago del Proteccionismo
B. FILIPINO LITERATURE
Inspiration of the Tagalog writers
1. Florante at Laura by Francisco Balagtas
2. Urbana at Felisa by Father Modesto de Castro
JULIAN CRUZ BALMACEDA CLASSIFIED THREE KINDS
OF TAGALOG POETS:
1.POET OF THE HEART (MAKATA NG PUSO)
•These included Lope K. Santos, Inigo Ed. Regalado, Carlos
Gatmaitan, Pedro Deogracias del Rosario, Ildefonso Santos,
Amado V. Hernandez, Nemecio Carabana, and Mar Antonio.
2.POETS OF LIFE (MAKATA NG BUHAY)
•Led by Lope K. Santos, Jose Corazon De Jesus, Florentino
Collantes, Patricio Mariano, Carlos Garmaitan, and Amado
V. Hernandez
3.POETS OF THE STAGE (MAKATA NG TANGHALAN)
•Led by Aurelio Tolentino, Patricio Mariano, Severino Reyes,
and Tomas Remigio.
FILIPINO WRITERS
1. LOPE K. SANTOS – “Father of the National
Language Grammar”, he was also called “apo” of
the Tagalog writers. “BANAAG AT SIKAT” was his
master piece.
2. JOSE CORAZON DE JESUS – known as “huseng
batute”, he was also called the poet of love in his
time. “AG ISANG PUNONG KAHOY”, an elegy, is
believed to be his masterpiece.
3. ARMANDO V. HERNANDEZ – was dubbed “Poet
of the Laborers”, his masterpiece is “ANG
PANDAY”
4. VALERIANO HERNANDEZ PENA – known as
Tandang Anong, he considers “NENA AT NENENG
“his masterpiece.
5. INIGO ED REGALADO – a popular story teller,
novelist and newspaper man. He reaches the peak
of his success by the “sumpong” of his pen.
PHILIPPINE LITERATURE DURING AMERICAN PERIOD (1898 – 1945)

THE TAGALOG SHORT STORY stilted, artificial and unnatural style, lacking vitality
and spontaneity.
 Maikling kwento referred to as “Dagli” since they
can be read in one setting 3. PERIOD OF SELF-DISCOVERY AND GROWTH
(1925-1941)
THE TAGALOG DRAMA
 By this time, Filipino writers had acquired the
1. Severino Reyes- was “The Father of the Tagalog mastery of English writing.
Drama”. Author of Walang Sugat  They now confidently and competently wrote on a
2. Aurelio Tolentino- was the “Father of lot of subjects
Kapampangan Drama”. Author of KAHAPON,  the old-time favorites of love and youth persisted.
NGAYON AT BUKAS (Yesterday, Today and They went into all forms of writing like the novel
Tomorrow) and the drama.
3. Hermogenes Ilagan- was a dramatist who
founded the Campaña Ilagan.
4. Patricio Mariano- wrote the novel NINAY and TYPES OF LITERATU RE
ANAK NG DAGAT, his masterpiece.
5. Julian Cruz Balmaceda- wrote BUNGAGA NG
PATING. This gave him much honor and fame. 1. Poetry
CHARACTERISTICS:
C. LITERATURE IN ENGLISH  Free verse
 Odes
Philippine Literature in English is divided into three-time  Sonnets
frames:  Original
 Spontaneous
1. The Period of Re – orientation: 1898 – 1910  Competently written
2. The Period of Imitation: 1910 – 1925  Incorporated social consciousness
3. The period of Self – Discovery: 1925 – 1941
2. The Short Story (1925-1941)
1. THE PERIOD OF REORIENTATION (1898-1910) CHARACTERISTICS:
 Sentimental
 English as a literary vehicle came with the  Exaggerated
American occupation in August 13, 1898 and as  bombastic
they say, a choice bestowed on us by history.  Poetry and short stories flourished during
these times.
 The influence of western culture was already
 In August 13, 1898, came the English as a literary
evident.
vehicle.
3. Essays and other proses styles
 By 1900, English came to be used as a medium of  Essays improved during this period in quality
instruction in the public school. and quantity.
 Essayists like Carlos P. Romulo became
 American soldiers were recruited the first teacher eminent editorial writers.
of English.
4. Publications
 The Philippine Free Press provided the 1st
 Later on, the professional teachers arrived via US incentives to Filipino writers in English by
Army transport ship “USS Thomas” hence, these offering prizes to worthwhile contributions.
pioneering teachers were called “Thomasites”
5. Drama (1925-1941)
 By 1908, the primary and intermediate grades  Drama did not reach the heights attained by
were using English. UP was founded. the novel or the short story.

6. Biography (1925-1941)
 There was not much of literary works during this
period as Filipino writers were still adjusting to: 7. History

o the idea of democracy.

o The new phraseology of the English
language
o Standards of the English literary style

Two Famous Periodicals of this time

a. El Renacimiento- Founded in Manila by Rafael

Palma in 1091.
b. Philippine Free Press- established in Manila in
1905 by R. McCullough Dick and F. Theo Rogers.

2. THE PERIOD OF IMITATION (1910–1924)

 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