A LEARNING MODULE IN

C5- 21st Century Literature from the

Philippines and the World
FOR GRADE 11 STUDENTS
(Based on K to 12 English Competencies)
For a better appreciation of this module, one has to understand the process
that was followed in developing the content as summarized in the flow chart.
All contents provided in this module were all framed from the:
1. Nature of the discipline of the 21st Century Literature.
2. Goal in teaching through distance education as a core subject in SHS.
3. Culminating performance standard that articulates what the subject aims for the
learners do out of their learning the 21 st Century Literature.
4. Perform task that shall be required from the learners after a semester of studying
the 21st Century Literature.
The performance task was formulated by the module writer following the principle of the
Alignment Framework.

Essential Topics of 21st Century Literature

Nature of 21st Century Literature as 1. Reading 21st Century Literature
Humanities Discipline from the Philippines and the World
Engage students in appreciation and critical a. Common Themes and
study of 21st Century Literature from the Techniques
Philippines and the World encompassing their b. Literary Elements and Devices
various dimensions, genres, elements, c. Literary Approached
structures, contexts, traditions, and literary 2. Mapping the Features of the
innovations. Essential Skills Philippine Literature
to Develop a. Geographic, linguistic, and
Among Learners ethnic dimensions of the
through 21st Philippines literary history from
Literature pre-colonial to the
preparation fort contemporary
the 4 exits of K b. Canonical authors and works of
to 12. the Philippine National Artist in
Literature
st
3. 21 Century Literary Genres
(e.g. hyperpoetry, blogs, mobile
Communication
Goal of 21st Century Literature in SHS: phone, textual, chick lit, speculative
Creative fiction, flash fiction etc.)
To provide students with critical thinking skills
Thinking
necessary in an increasingly complex, 4. 21st Century Literary Text from the
interdependent, contemporary world through Critical Thinking Philippines
critical reading and analysis of literary texts,
a. Regional
research, and use of multimedia skills. The
learner engages and responds to the challenges b. National
of 21st century social realities by integrating an
informed critical perspective and capacity for c. Writing from the Diasporas
discourse and decision making. 5. 21st Century Literary Texts from the World

6. Literary Adaptation using appropriate

Multimedia Tools

1|21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World

 From the process shown in the flow chart, the primary skills that are necessary to
hone in leaners through the 21st Century Literature were articulated. These are
enumerated in table 2a. The topics that are essential in honing these primary skills are
enumerated in table 2b.
Table 2a. Primary Skills to Hone in Learning the 21st Century Literature
K to 12 Curriculum Exit Primary Skills to Hone in Learners
Across 4 Exits
Academic 1. Communication
Entrepreneurship 2. Creative thinking
Employment 3. Critical thinking
Midlevel Skills

Table 2b. Essential Topics that Ensure the Development of Primary Skills in Learners
through the 21st Century Literature.
Contents Essential Topics
Reading 21st Century Literature from the 1. Common Themes and Techniques
Philippines and the World 2. Literary Elements and Devices
3. Literary Approached
Mapping the Features of the Philippine 1. Geographic, linguistic, and ethnic
Literature dimensions of the Philippines
literary history from pre-colonial to
the contemporary
2. Canonical authors and works of
the Philippine National Artist in
Literature
21st Century Literary Genres
(e.g. hyperpoetry, blogs, mobile
phone, textual, chick lit,
speculative fiction, flash fiction
etc.)
21st Century Literary Text from the 1. Regional
Philippines 2. National
3. Writing from the Diasporas
21st Century Literary Texts from the 1. Asian
World 2. Anglo-American
3. European
4. Latin America
5. African
Literary Adaptation using appropriate
Multimedia Tools

The Contents

Module 1 Various dimensions of Philippine literary history from pre-colonial to

contemporary
Module 2 Canonical authors and works of Philippine National Artists in Literature: An
Introductory to Creative Writing
Module 3 Study and appreciation of literary texts from the different regions written in
different genres
Module 4 The History of Philippine Theater and the Philippine Essay

2|21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World

 A LEARNING MODULE IN
C5- 21st Century Literature from the
Philippines and the World

Various dimensions of Philippine literary

Module 1 history from pre-colonial to
contemporary

Learning Competencies: The learners will….

1. identify the geographic, linguistic, and ethnic dimensions of Philippine literary
history from precolonial to the contemporary; EN12Lit-Ia-21
2. value the contributions of local writers to the development of regional literary
traditions; EN12Lit-Ic-23
3. differentiate/compare and contrast the various 21st century literary genres and the
ones from the earlier genres/periods citing their elements, structures and
traditions; EN12Lit-Id-25
4. explain the literary, biographical, linguistic, and sociocultural contexts and discuss
how they enhance the text’s meaning and enrich the reader’s understanding;
EN12Lit-Ie-28
______________________________________________________________________
Let’s Get Started!
As with any new subject, teaching 21st Century is a daunting task. It is challenging
primarily because we are only a few years into the century, so we have a relatively limited
range of texts to choose from. The important characteristic of this lesson is that it
encourages the retrieval, teaching, and further production of literature from the regions.
Introduction
Module 1 gives a taste of the literature of the past which developed into the
literature that we have today. Though their origin is oral tradition, Filipino riddles are
considered canon in the Philippine literature. The tanaga and the dalit are short forms of
poetry identified in pre-Spanish native communities. These poetic forms and riddles,
served to give moral and ethical lessons, and also functioned as entertainment. Foreign
writers who visited indigenous tribes in the early 1900’s observed that over the years, the
retelling of the riddles and stories had also been modernized and contained symbols and
images of Spanish and American influences. The tanaga and the dalit both nearly became
a dying art form, but Filipino writers who wrote after the World War II onwards revived
them. The National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) has co-sponsored
contests encouraging the writing of the tanaga and the dalit.

PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD
The diversity and richness of Philippine literature evolved side by side with the
country’s history. This can best be appreciated in the context of the country’s pre-colonial
cultural traditions and the socio-political histories of its colonial and contemporary
traditions.

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Early Times – 1564
The first period of the Philippine literary history is the longest. Long time before the
Spaniards and other foreigners landed on Philippine shores, our forefathers already had
their own literature stamped in the history of our race.
1. Riddle (bugtong) – battle of wits among participants. It is called Tigmo in Cebu,
Paktakon in Ilonggo and Patotdon in Bicol.
2. Proverbs (salawikain) – wise sayings that contain a metaphor used to teach as
a food for thought.
3. Tanaga – one stanza poems consisted usually of four lines with seven syllables,
all lines rhyming.
4. Folk Songs – one of the oldest forms of Philippine literature that emerged in the
Pre-Spanish period.
✓ Hele or oyayi -lullaby
✓ Ambahan (Mangyan) –about human relationships and social
entertainment
✓ Kalusan (Ivatan) – work songs
✓ Tagay (Cebuano and Waray) – drinking song
✓ Kanogan (Cebuano) – song of lamentation for the dead

5. Myth – explain how the world was created, how certain animals possess certain
characteristics, why some places have waterfalls, volcanoes, mountains, flora and
fauna
6. Legends – explain the origin of things.
7. Fables – used animal characters and allegory
8. Fantasy Story – deal with underworld characters such as tiyanak, aswang, kapre
and so on.
9. Epics – these are narratives of sustained length based on oral tradition revolving
around supernatural events or heroic deeds. Ex: Biag ni Lam-ang (Ilocano),
Hinilawod (Panay), Kudaman (Palawan), Darangen (Maranao)
10. Folk Tales – made up of stories about life, adventure, love, horror and humor
where one can derive lessons about life.
A Special Reminder:
On the basis of this brief account of precolonial literature, it might be concluded that
prior to the Spanish conquest, Filipinos had a culture that linked them with the Malays
of Southeast Asia, a culture with traces of Indian, Arabic, and possibly, Chinese
influences.

SPANISH COLONIZATION PERIOD

The Spanish Occupation (1521- 1898)
The arrival of Ferdinand Magellan on the shores of Homonhon in March 6, 1521
spelled a new era for the Philippines. It has then become a Spanish colony. Imposition of
the Spanish monarchy and the Roman Catholic Religion, along with the arrival of the
Spanish power was to spread Christianity. In this era, folklore and other oral traditions
were falsified as religion was used as reason to justify what has been the long belief
system of the Filipino natives. During this time, conversion was their main purpose, but
reading the Bible was not allowed, and only the priest was allowed to read from it. The
priests were the representatives of power. Even though this was the situation, the Spanish
occupation sparked many brilliant minds to come up with their own written literature that
was now written. Spanish was also introduced as the mode of communication. Reading,
writing, and arithmetic were taught in catechetical schools.
Ladinos – “Latinized” is anyone who could read and write in any of the Latin languages.

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 • Pedro Bukaneg (the Ilokano poet to whom the published version of Lam-ang is
often attributed)
• Tomas Pinpin (the printer, author of the manual titled Ang Librong Pag-aaralan ng
mga Tagalog ng Wikang Castilla)
• Fernando Bagongbanta (a contributer to the Memorial de la vida Cristiana)
Two Classifications of Filipinos during the Spanish Period
Taga-bayan – Filipinos who were within easy reach of the power of the Church and State
• urbane and civilized
Taga-bukid or Taga-bundok – Filipinos who kept their distance from the colonial
administrators
• Brutos salvages (savage brutes)
• Indio
Two Classifications of Literature during the Spanish Period
Oral literature was “Christianized” where it could not be suppressed or eradicated, but
very little of it saw print.
1. Religious Literature
a. Pasyon- It is a narrative poem about passion and the death of Jesus Christ.
Example:
Gaspar Aquino de Belen – first Filipino literary artist, whose work bore the signs of
conscious design and careful composition. His prominent work is the Ang Mahal na
Passion ni Jesu Christong Panginoon Natin (1704) and was a treasured Christian
narrative poem intended to replace the epic poems of the pagan past and sung to a fixed
melody.
b. Senakulo- It is the re-enactment or the dramatization of the passion of Christ.
c. Komedya – drew its plot from medieval Spanish ballads about highborn warriors
and their colorful adventures of love and fame, providing Filipinos with a glimpse of an
idealized European society.
2. Secular or Non- Religious Literature
a. Awit- Tales of Chivalry (high respect of men for women). Usually portrays a
knight saving a princess or the like.
Example:
Florante at Laura – in the form of awit, is a poem that relates the story of two lovers who
are parted by the political intrigues fomented by an evil member of the royal household of
Albania.
b. Korido- a metrical (a piece of literature that has a measurement for aesthetic
purposes) tale.
c. Prose Narratives- written to instruct readers on proper decorum.

Reflect Upon!
1. How can these precolonial forms of literature be of use to your life right now?
2. Do you think you can still use lessons they teach in your daily life? Explain your
answer.

5|21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World

 What Have I Learned So Far?
1. Why is it important to learn about the precolonial literature of the Philippines?
2. How different and similar are the situations of your ancestors back then to your situation
right now? Are there still values that you can learn them that you can apply in your life?
3. How has the literature during the Spanish era differed from the literature during the
precolonial era? Which era do you think has been able to exert its influences the most
in contemporary Philippines society?

Nationalistic Propaganda and Revolutionary Literature (1864-1896)

These works of literature planted the seed of nationalism in the hearts of every Filipino.
During this period, the language was slowly shifting from Spanish to Tagalog and the
works of literature were addressed to the masses instead of addressing only the elite.
1. Propaganda Literature- its objective is to reform.
a. Political Essays and Political Novels- are composed of satires, editorials, and
news articles that aim to attack and expose the corrupt Spanish rule.
2. Revolutionary Literature
a. Political Essays- these entries were exposes that fired up the Philippine
revolutionary movement into a time bomb waiting to explode.
Prominent Produce during the Spanish Period
1. Doctrina Christiana (1593) – first book ever published in the Philippines by the
Dominicans. Other religious congregation put up their respective presses early in the 17th
century.
2. May Bagyo Ma’t May Rilim
• written by an anonymous author
• produced by the friar-lexicographer Francisco Blancas de San Jose
• published in Memorial de la vida Cristiana (1605)
• uses turbulent nature imagery to affirm Christian heroism

Expand your
knowledge!

Pre-colonization (BC-1564)

Spanish Colonization (1565-1898)

American Colonization (1898-1941)

Japanese Colonization (1941- 1945)

The Rebirth of Freedom (1946-1970)

Period of Activism (1970-1972)

Period of the New Society (1972- 1981)

Period of the Third Republic (1981-1885)

Contemporary Period (1986-present)

6|21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World

Reading the
text!

Read the following texts below then answer the following questions that can be found in
the separate worksheet.
Hinilawod- An Epic Poem in Central Panay
A long time ago, there is a sky goddess called Alunsina. The king of the gods
Kaptan feared that she cannot marry anyone and urgd her to marry. Many gods made an
attempt to woo Alunsina but failed since she chose a mortal named Paubari, the datu of
Halawod.
Alunsina’s choice enraged the gods who failed to court her. They conspired with
each other and agreed, with the leadership of Maklium-sa-t’wan, to hinder the marriage
of Alunsina and Paubari by flooding Halawod.
However, Alunsina and Paubari was saved from the flood with the help of Suklang
Malayon, Alunsina’s sibling. Malayon heard the gods’ plan which prompted him to tell his
sister. Alunsina and Paubari returned to Halawod after the flood.
Months after, Alunsina bore triplets named Labaw Dongon, Humadapnon at
Dumalapdap. After they were born, Alunisina asked Bungot-Banwa to uphold a ritual to
strengthen the triplets, which they did.
The triplets walked their own path, such in the case of Labaw Donggon, who was
imprisoned by Saragnayan after their battle.
Labaw Donggon’s son avenged his father and won against Saragnayan and both returned
to their home.
Humadapnon and Dumalapdap was enraged when they heard their brother’s fate.
Humadapnon decided to hoax Saragnayan and his descendants. While Dumalapdap
married Lubay Lubyok Mahanginun si Mahuyokhuyokan and battled a two-headed being
named Balanakon.
He also battled Uyutang, a being with large fangs and sharp nails. He battled the
being for seven moons. Dumalapdap won and returned home with Lubay-Lubyok
Hanginun si Mahuyokhuyokan to marry.
When the siblings returned home, Datu Paubari celebrated the siblings’ triumph.

Mariang Makiling
(As retold by Gat. Jose P. Rizal in Northern Luzon)

There are many stories woven about this guardian spirit. Most of them deal with
her helping the poor and the sick, in the guise of a peasant girl. The precious things she
lends the country folk are said to be returned to her, along with the offering of a young
pullet with feathers white as milk.

A hunter has recounted a face-to-face encounter with the enigma herself. He was
hunting a wild boar, he said, deep into the forest where Mariang Makiling lived. The boar
suddenly crashed into some bushes and the hunter, fearing that he would not find it again,
dived in after it. When he came to his feet, he saw a small hut, and witnessed his prey
entering it. He followed the boar into the hut, thinking it deserted, and then he came face
to face with a beautiful maiden standing by the boar, who was meek in her presence. The
maiden said "This boar is mine and you must not harm it. But I see that you are tired and
hurt. Come in, eat, and then go your way."

The hunter felt compelled to obey her. He sat down at her table, and she served
him a porridge that he found was unlike anything he had ever tasted. It invigorated him,
and after eating, he felt healed. As a parting gift, Mariang Makiling filled his peasant hat,
called a salakot, with yellow ginger.

The hunter, on his way home from the forest, found that his salakot was growing
heavier and heavier, and so he broke a few pieces of ginger in half and threw some bits
away. Upon coming home, he handed Maria Makiling’s gifts to his wife, who found that

7|21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World

the salakot, instead of containing ginger, as her husband claimed, contained gold. The
hunter regretted having thrown away a few bits of ginger/gold along the way.

Mariang Makiling is said to be more than compassionate. Once, there lived a

young farmer who always seemed to be blessed. His fields were never touched by any
calamity, and his livestock were always in good health. The people of his village say he
is endowed with a charm, or mutya, as it is called, that protected him and his from harm.
The young man himself was good at heart and simple in spirit. But he was quiet and
secretive, and would not say much of his stranger activities, which included frequent visits
into the wood of Mariang Makiling.

But there came a terrible time for him and his family. War had come to his fair land,
and army officers came, recruiting unmarried young men who were in perfect health. So
that the young man would stay safely in the village, his mother arranged for him a
marriage with a most beauteous daughter of a wealthy family. Upon finding this out, the
young man became more sullen than ever.

He visited Mariang Makiling’s wood one last time, a few days before his marriage.
Mariang Makiling lent him a dress and some jewelry, for his wife to wear on their wedding
day. "I would that you were consecrated to me," she said sadly, "but you need an earthly
love, and you do not have enough faith in me besides. I could have protected you and
your family." This having been said, she disappeared. The young man went back to his
village with Mariang Makiling’s gifts, and presented them at once to the girl he would
marry.

But the girl did not care for Mariang Makiling’s gifts. Instead, she wore the pearls
and dresses her mother had handed down.

Summary:
The precolonial literature of the Philippines was
marked by our ancestors’ daily observations about life,
explanations for natural phenomena, and beginnings of
rituals. These also function as an explanation for society
and culture as they know it be.
Spanish colonial literature focused on the society
and culture as reflected and affected by the Catholic
faith. Up until now, this kind of influence still reigns true
in Filipino society, as the Philippines is on e\of the
largest remaining Catholic countries in the world in
terms of population.

8|21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World

 A LEARNING MODULE IN
C5- 21st Century Literature from the
Philippines and the World

Canonical authors and works of

Module 2 Philippine National Artists in Literature:
An Introductory to Creative Writing

Learning Competencies: The learners will….

1. identify representative texts and authors from each region (e.g. engage in oral
history research with focus on key personalities from the students’ region/province/
town); EN12Lit-Ib-22
2. analyze the figures of speech and other literary techniques and devices in the text;
EN12Lit-Ie-27
3. explain the relationship of context with the text’s meaning. EN12Lit-Ie-30
______________________________________________________________________
Let’s Get Started!
Poetry in the Philippines is not different from its other counterparts around the
world. In the early 1900s, Filipino poetry celebrated romanticism, and several poems
about love flourished. Eventually, as the years went on, poetry became more formalist—
and language that poet used rather than the theme itself. Then, modern poetry sprouted,
and nowadays, writers are more adventurous in their craft.
Introduction
The National Artists of the Philippines is an order, constituted into law through
proclamation No. 1001 of April 2, 1972, to honor Filipinos who contributed to the
development of the arts in the country. In this module, you will get to know the life and
works of the National Artists in literature.
Many young Filipino readers today are more familiar with young adult books by
foreign writers than those written by Filipinos. They know so little of our writers whoa re
national treasures. This scant knowledge includes a lack of appreciation for Filipino
women as well.

Philippine Poetry: Its Form, Languages and Speech

Structure and Poetry
An important method of analyzing a poem is to look at the stanza structure or style of a
poem. Generally speaking, structure has to do with the overall organization of lines and/or
the conventional patterns of sound. Again, many modern poems may not have any
identifiable structure (i.e. they are free verse).
1. Stanzas- are a series of lines grouped together and separated by an empty line
from other stanzas. They are the equivalent of a paragraph in an essay. One way
to identify a stanza is to count the number of lines. Thus:
• couplet (2 lines)

9|21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World

 • tercet (3 lines)
• quatrain (4 lines)
• cinquain (5 lines)
• sestet (6 lines) (sometimes it's called a sexain)
• septet (7 lines)
• octave (8 lines)

2. Form- a poem may or may not have a specific number of lines, rhyme scheme
and/or metrical pattern, but it can still be labeled according to its form or style. Here
are the three most common types of poems according to form:
• Lyric Poetry: It is any poem with one speaker (not necessarily the poet)
who expresses strong thoughts and feelings. Most poems, especially
modern ones, are lyric poems.
• Narrative Poem: It is a poem that tells a story; its structure resembles the
plot line of a story [i.e., the introduction of conflict and characters, rising
action, climax and the denouement].
• Descriptive Poem: It is a poem that describes the world that surrounds the
speaker. It uses elaborate imagery and adjectives. While emotional, it is
more "outward-focused" than lyric poetry, which is more personal and
introspective.

3. Senses and images- are used by the writer to describe their impressions of their
topic or object of writing. The writer uses carefully chosen phrased words to create
an imagery that the reader can see through his or her senses. The kinds of sense
impressions in poetry are categorized in mainly the following
• Visual imagery-what the author wants you
to see
• Olfactory-what the author wants you to The country’s poetry
smell reflects your history
• Gustatory- what the author wants you to as a Filipino and may
taste also explore the
• Tactile- what the author wants you to feel possibilities of
• Auditory- what the author wants you to hear Filipino’s future
culture and society.
4. Diction- another important element in Filipino
poetry. In fact, Filipino writers are very careful of
the way they write and the words they use to form
their poems.
• Denotative meaning- is a translation of a sign to its meaning, precisely to
its literal meaning, more or less like dictionaries try to define it.
• Connotative meaning- is the use of a word to suggest a different
association than its literal meaning, which is known as denotation.

5. Rhyme Scheme- is the way the author arranges words, meters, lines and stanzas
to create a coherent sound when the poem is read out loud. It may be formal or
informal, depending on the way the poem was written by the poet.

Short Examples of Rhyme Scheme: The following example uses

1. The sun is shining bright. (A) an AABB rhyme scheme.
This is a lovely sight. (A) Here, the first line ends in the
word “bright, May” which
2. You are like a day of May. (B) rhymes with the final word of
And I as worthless as hay. (B) the second line, “sight, hay.”
3. This is poor Mr. Potter. (C) Since both words rhyme with
Walking a road with his daughter. (C) each other, they are signified
4. Sometimes, your unspoken word. (D) with letter “A.”
Is more important than that heard. (D)

10 | 2 1 s t C e n t u r y L i t e r a t u r e f r o m t h e P h i l i p p i n e s a n d t h e W o r l d
6. Speaker- in the poem is the voice that talks to the readers. Sometimes, it refers to itself
as “I” or “me” or, sometimes, in the third person (she, he, his, her). You should also note
that the speaker is not necessarily the poet. The poet may have a different persona in
mind while writing the poem and may have not taken the situations in the poem from his
or her life experiences.
7. Word order- is either the natural or the unnatural arrangement of words in a poem. A
poet may use a word grammatically or not—often called poetic license--- and may invent
words too.

Close Reading of Filipino Poetry

Organic unity- means the complex unity between form and content to make an
inseparable whole. New critics believe that it is impossible to separate the 'how-ness’ of
the text from its 'what-ness’. How a text gives the meaning is inseparable from what it
gives. This inseparable unity that makes the literary language more pleasurable is called
organic unity. There are four linguistic devices in the organic unity. They are paradox,
irony, ambiguity and tension.

The concept of organic unity is one that you

encounter every day, especially in your school
work. When you achieved task, it must be “whole”,
with all of its parts included.

Close reading- is the careful, sustained analysis of any text that focuses on significant
details or patterns and that typically examines some aspect of the text form, craft
meanings etc.

What Have I Learned So Far?

1. What elements of poetry can help you in reading and understanding a poem?

Carlos Angeles
He was born on May 25, 1921 in Tacloban, Leyte. He
finished his undergraduate degree in the University of the
Philippines and his work has been included in poetry
anthologies in the United States. His poetry collection, Stun of
Jewels, won the Republic Cultural Heritage Award in Literature
back in 1964; he also won the Don Carlos Planca Memorial
Awards in Poetry in the same year. He is an active member of
many Filipino-American press clubs in US, where he currently
resides. His poem, “Gabu”, is said to be one of the most well-
loved Filipino poems written in English.
Gabu
By: Carlos Angeles

The battering restlessness of the sea

Insists a tidal fury upon the beach
At Gabu, and its pure consistency
Havocs the wasteland hard within its reach

11 | 2 1 s t C e n t u r y L i t e r a t u r e f r o m t h e P h i l i p p i n e s a n d t h e W o r l d
 Brutal the daylong bashing of its heart
Against the seascape where, for miles around,

Farther than sight itself, the rock-stones part

And drop into the elemental wound.

The waste of centuries is grey and dead

And neutral where the sea has beached its brine,
Where the split salt of its heart lies spread
Among the dark habiliments of Time.

The vital splendor misses. For here

At Gabu where the ageless tide recurs
All things forfeited are most loved and dear.

It is the sea pursues a habit of shores.

Reflect Upon!
What do you do when you feel restless within? If you were the “sea” in this poem, why do you
keep pursuing the shore?

Marjorie Evasco
She was born in Bohol on September 21, 1953. She
writes bilingually in English and Cebuano-Visayan and is
considered one of the country’s earliest feminist poets. She
has received numerous awards for her poetry and in 2010 she
received the prestigious South East Asian Write Award (SEA
Write). She is currently a professor emeritus of De La Salle
University- Manila.

Is It the Kingfisher?
By: Marjorie Evasco
This is how I desire god on this island
With you today: basic and blue
As the sea that softens our feet with salt
And brings the living wave to our mouths
Playing with sounds of a primary language.

“God is blue,” sang the poet Juan Ramon

Jimenez,
Drunk with desiring, his hair, eyebrows,
Eyelashes turned blue as the kingfisher’s
wings.
It is this bird that greets us as we come
Round the eastern bend of this island;

Tells us the hairbreadth boundary between us

Is transient as the air, permeable to the blue
Of tropic skies and mountain gentian.
Where we sit on this rock covered with
seaweeds,
I suddenly feel the blueness embrace us,

This rock, this island, this changed air,

The distance between us and the Self
We have longed to be. A bolt of burning blue
Lights in my brain, gives the answer

12 | 2 1 s t C e n t u r y L i t e r a t u r e f r o m t h e P h i l i p p i n e s a n d t h e W o r l d
We’ve pursued this whole day:

Seawaves sing it, the kingfisher flies in it,

This island is rooted in it. Desiring
God is transparent blue—the color
Which makes our souls visible.

Reflect Upon!
How do you communicate with your God? What are some things that you see in your daily
life that you associate with your faith and your relationship with tour God?

Summary:
Filipino poetry is unique in its own composition.
Despite having been colonized for hundred years by
different countries, the Philippines has set itself apart with
its own unique brand of poetry that may tackle themes
ranging from love, to isolation, racial prejudice, one’s close
relationship with God, natural disasters, and so much
more.
There are ways to interpret poetry such as
discussing different elements that are present. These
elements include word choice, form and imagery. You may
also look at its organic unity to see how a poem’s
interdependent parts work together to create a beautiful
piece of art. The best way to understand a poem, however,
is to read it out loud with proper pronunciation,
enunciation, and feelings. Poems are always meant to be
read out loud, even in these modern times. More
importantly, this sampling of Filipino poetry has made you
realize that on a global scale, Filipino writers can stand on
their own.

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 A LEARNING MODULE IN
C5- 21st Century Literature from the
Philippines and the World

Study and appreciation of literary texts

Module 3 from the different regions written in
different genres.

Learning Competencies: The learners will….

1. appreciate the contributions of the canonical Filipino writers to the development
of national literature; EN12Lit-Ic-24
2. infer literary meaning from literal language based on usage; EN12Lit-Id-26
3. explain the literary, biographical, linguistic, and sociocultural contexts and
discuss how they enhance the text’s meaning and enrich the reader’s
understanding; EN12Lit-Ie-28
4. produce a creative representation of a literary text by applying multimedia skills
a. choose an appropriate multimedia format in interpreting a literary text;
EN12Lit-Ie-31.1
______________________________________________________________________
Let’s Get Started!
Philippine literature withstood time and periods and has evolved through
generations. For every period that passed, different genres appeared, and these literary
works rooted from all regions reflecting their culture, society and lifestyle.
The early stages of Filipino Literature consist of the Pre-Spanish period, the
Spanish period and the Propaganda and Revolutionary Periods. In the pre-Spanish
period, literature was in oral form as technology of printing wasn’t available yet.
Introduction
21st century literature per se, is anything that was written and published in the year
2000’s. It is a bit too early to give a definite and elaborate description of the 21 st century
literature in the Philippines and the world. It is possible, however, to approach
contemporary literature as a reaction to and dialogue with existing forms of expressive
culture. As we engage in technology more and more, we create and discover more
existing forms of expressive culture as well. We have a wide range of resources through
the internet and this gave opportunities to people, especially the youth, to begin writing
and expressing their thoughts, ideas, and feelings. A perfect example would be WattPad.
It became popular to the Filipino youth in 2006.
The idea is to create an e-book reading application, as e-books are becoming in
demand during that time, however, the founders thought that it would be time consuming
to maintain their own catalog, so they decided to let the community decide what they want
to read, and they can also upload their works and content into the application. This had
made it possible for the youth to read more and to start creating their own compositions.

Big Idea
Fiction is everywhere--- you read, watch and sometimes live it. It is essential to have
the concept of fiction in your life, because it enhances your imagination and creativity,
| 2 1 s tyou
14 which C emay
n t u apply
r y L iint eother
r a t uaspects.
re from the Philippines and the World
 Form and
Technique in
Fiction

• Description (gives impressions, creates mood)-imagination and aesthetics; sense

appeal.
o Dominant impression; vividness of final impression.
o Selection of details to support a single effect.
o Appeal to sight, sound, smell, taste, and feel; imagery.
o Directness; implication and suggestion.
• Narration (relates characters or events in time)-often chronological.
o Point of view; first, second, third; limited or omniscient.
o Establishment of setting.
o Smoothness of transitions in time sequence.
o Use of flashback.
• Characterization (develops characters)-types; individuals.
o How presented or introduced.
o Motivations; sources for feeling and/or drives to action.
o How described; direct or implied; revealed through description or dialogue.
o Purposes; heroic or villainous; tragic inner flaws; revealing traits.
o How credible and consistent.
• Plot (develops characters and action)-movement; tension.
o Opening situation and/or conflict.
o Obstacles and complications.
o Tension and suspense.
o Turning point, or climax.
o Resolution.
o Degree of inventiveness and/or plausibility.
o Final philosophy or view of life derived from characters and action.

____________________________________________________________________

F. Sionil Jose

Fransico Sionil Jose (also known as F. Sionil Jose)

is a fictionist, essayist and novelist. He currently
considered one of the most widely read Filipino authors,
having been translated into many languages worldwide.
His usual themes are social struggle and strife in
Philippine society. He was also warded as a National
Artist for Literature
in 2001.

Read this story written by Francisco Sionil

Jose.

The God Stealer

(A summary)

The story begins at the dawn of December with two officemates Philip Latak also
known as “Ip-pig”, an Ifugao from the Mountain Province who is presently working in the
big city of Manila and Sam Cristie, an American who in a few days will return to Boston
for that leave which he had not had in years, on the bus to Baguio. Despite the request

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of his grandfather to pass on to him his share of the famous rice terraces, Philip still chose
to live in the city, away from his immediate family.

The two are on the bus to Baguio because Sam wants to buy an Ifugao god as a
souvenir; on the other hand, Philip was to help him find an authentic one through his local
connections.

Philip is a Christian and a self- declared city boy who gradually becomes less
sentimental with his cultural identity, and customs. He no longer has respect or affection
for the Ifugao culture and has clearly forgotten the importance and the value of his beliefs.
Regardless of his attitude, his grandfather, pleased and happy to see him, still decides to
throw a party in honor of his return.

On the day of the party, Sam and Philip discover that no Ifugao is willing to sell his
god. Philip offers to steal his grandfather’s god as a last resort. He considers it a way of
showing his appreciation and gratefulness to Sam for giving him a rise at work. A day
after, his grandfather dies owing to the fact that his god was stolen. Sam finds out that
Philip will no longer be going back to Manila. Because of his curiosity, he looks for Philip
and finds him working in his grandfather’s house.

Philip expresses his guilt and his reason for settling to stay on the mountains. "I
could forgive myself for having stolen it. But the old man- he had always been wise, Sam.
He knew that it was I who did it from the very start. He wanted so much to believe that it
wasn't I. But he couldn't pretend - and neither can I. I killed him, Sam. I killed him because
I wanted to be free from these. These cursed terraces. Because I wanted to be grateful.
I killed him who loved me most." he says.

Sam cannot help but notice Philip’s attire. He is dressed in G-string, Ifugao’s
traditional costume while carving another idol, a new god to take the place of the old one
which Sam will take to America, as a souvenir.

Reflect Upon!
If you were Philip’s character, how would you feel regarding your ancestral home and
traditions?

What Have I Learned So Far?

1. Who are the main character of this story? How have they changed throughout the
narrative so far? How do you think will these changes affect the conclusion?
2. How do the two main characters in the story “The God Stealer” responded to each
other before and after the death of Philip’s grandfather?

______________________________________________________________________

Types of Irony

1. Verbal irony occurs when a speaker’s intention is the opposite of what he or she
is saying. For example, a character stepping out into a hurricane and saying, “What
nice weather we’re having!”
2. Situational irony occurs when the actual result of a situation is totally different
from what you’d expect the result to be. Sitcoms often use situational irony. For
example, a family spends a lot of time and money planning an elaborate surprise
birthday party for their mother to show her how much they care. But it turns out,
her birthday is next month, and none of them knew the correct date. She ends up
fuming that no one cares enough to remember her birthday.

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 3. Dramatic irony occurs when the audience knows a key piece of information that
a character in a play, movie or novel does not. This is the type of irony that makes
us yell, “DON’T GO IN THERE!!” during a scary movie. Dramatic irony is huge in
Shakespeare’s tragedies, most famously in Othello and Romeo and Juliet, both of
which we’ll in every form of story or drama.
Merlinda Bobis
She is a dancer, visual artist, and writer who
was born in Legaspi City, Albay. She completed her
post-graduate degrees from the University of Santo
Tomas and the University of Wollongong in
Australia. She writes in English and Filipino
(Tagalog and Bikolano). She tackles themes of
diaspora, immigrant cultures, and magic realism in
her fiction. She has won numerous awards for her
literary works, more recently the Philippine National
Book Award for Fish-Hair Woman in 2014. She
currently teaches at the Wollongong University.

The Sadness Collector

(A summary)
By Merlinda Bobis

It is a tale about a little girl named Rica who has issues growing up with her dad
since her mom works as an OFW domestic helper. After her mom left for Paris, she sent
Rica different gifts to prove her love and presence.
Her father, on the other hand, told her a story about a woman
who eats away sadness. The father said that the lady grows too fast
and burst after eating away their mess, so she has to be a good girl
and save the lady by staying happy.
Rica would often listen to the sound to see if the woman shows
up. One night, Rica heard noises again and because of the story that
her father made about the lady who eats sadness. She was afraid
that the lady might come and burst. Fortunately, it was only her drunk
dad.
Rica told her father about her doubts and noises she heard and even argued with
him. Her father felt guilty about making a story about the woman and told Rica that he will
not let her away from him since he loved her. Rica, however, still waits for the lady to
appear.

Reflect Upon!
When you feel sad, how do you cope with it? Is there anything special you do to
alleviate what you’re feeling?

Big Idea
Irony happens in your life more often than you realize. When a situation feels “ironic”
you need to assess your reaction to the event and think about the most appropriate
course of action to respond to it.

What Have I Learned So Far?

How do the characters’ desires in the story shape the plot? How do their triumphs or
failures set the ground for the short story’s conclusion?

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 Plot Structure of Fiction

1. Exposition: At the beginning of the story, characters, setting, and the main conflict are
typically introduced.
2. Rising Action: The main character is in crisis and events leading up to facing the
conflict begin to unfold. The story becomes complicated.
3. Climax: At the peak of the story, a major event occurs in which the main character
faces a major enemy, fear, challenge, or other source of conflict. The most action, drama,
change, and excitement occur here.
4. Falling Action: The story begins to slow down and work towards its end, tying up loose
ends.
5. Denouement: Also known as the denouement, the resolution is like a concluding
paragraph that resolves any remaining issues and ends the story.
Plots, also known as storylines, include the most significant events of the story and how
the characters and their problems change over time.
______________________________________________________________________
Nick Joaquin
Nicomedes Marquez Joaquin, or more
popularly known as Nick Joaquin, was a Filipino
fictionist, historian and journalist who has written
some of the best short stories and novels in
English. Some of these were written under the
pen name Quijano de Manila. He is considered to
be one of the most important Filipino writers in
English up until now, and was awarded the title
National Artist for Literature in 1976.

Summer Solstice
(A summary)
By Nick Joaquin

The Tatarin, or otherwise known as the Tadtarin, was a three-day festival

that celebrated a ritual of fertility. This was done only by women. Many men frowned upon
the extravagant dances and plays surrounding the ritual. “Summer Solstice” is set during
the three days of the St. John’s festival. Lupeng, a Filipino woman who feels closed to
her womanhood, is married to Paeng, who is no doubt loyal to her. They have three small

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boys and live a somewhat wealthy life as they have a carriage driver named Entoy and a
maid and cook named Amada.
Guido is a cousin of Paeng’s who comes back to the Philippines after
studying in Europe. The story starts when the family is enjoying the days of the St. John’s
festival until Guido makes suggestive comments to Lupeng, and even bending down to
kiss her feet. This makes her leave abruptly and have a discussion with her husband the
coming night.
Lupeng secretly found herself intrigued by the attention of Guido; she felt
that he was correct in saying that women should be ravished and men should adore them.
This causes her to participate in the last night of the festival, which is the Tatarin ritual.
Paeng goes with her and tries to drag her back once the dancing begun, but she runs
from him to the women. He tries to take her back but the women in the crowds beat him
out, leaving him helpless. As the two-return home, Paeng says he must whip his wife
because he loves her and feels that she needs to be put in her place. To this, she shouts
and says she wants to be adored, not respected and orders him to kiss her feet.

Reflect Upon!
If you were in the husband’s point of view, what would you have done differently to
understand Lupe’s situation? Explain.

Big Idea
Gender roles are still present in society, despite Filipinos being more open to gender
equality. Selections such as “Summer Solstice” explore issues, for it is one that may
affect the way you live, function and survive in the culture you’re in. However, how
you respond to gender roles and their impositions is up to you.

Summary:
Philippine fiction, as shown through the following short
stories puts a prime on the character and how they interact with
the world around them. These characters show the best and
worst of being a Filipino- from gender issues, to diaspora of
being far away from home, effects of being left behind by a
parent, colonial mentality and so much more. These characters,
no matter who they are, all represent a part of you as a Filipino
student. These are your attitudes, words, thoughts, and actions
on paper. This is who you are and who you will be in.
More importantly, short stories of the Philippines tell that
no matter how life changes for the Filipinos, the tenacity to
survive will always be there. It is interesting to see the characters
in the short stories were always in uncomfortable situations. Yet
they always survived in the end. This is an important Filipino trait
that teaches you, dear student, to always persevere no matter
what difficulty ahead may be. Like the short stories you have
read, you will also reach your denouement--- good or bad. There
will be a conclusion, one that can get you up on the pyramid and
start all over again.

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 A LEARNING MODULE IN
C5- 21st Century Literature from the
Philippines and the World

Module 4 The History of Philippine Theater

and the Philippine Essay
Learning Competencies: The learners will….
1. appreciate the contributions of the canonical Filipino writers to the development
of national literature; EN12Lit-Ic-24
2. explain the relationship of context with the text’s meaning; EN12Lit-Ie-30
3. do self- and/or peer assessment of the creative adaptation of a literary text,
based on rationalized criteria, prior to presentation; EN12Lit-Ie-31.3
4. apply ICT skills in crafting an adaptation of a literary text. EN12Lit-Ie-31.2
______________________________________________________________________
Let’s Get Started!
The largest among the three main islands in the Philippines is Luzon. It depicts
a boundary between traditional a modern landscape and lifestyle as it is the site to the
main and most populous cities in the country. The rich history, culture and traditions of
people in Luzon are translated in country’s literature. Philippine theater began just like
any other genre of literature--- pre-colonial indigenous drama. These constitute rituals,
verbal jousts or games and songs then dances praising their respective gods.
Introduction
Theater in the Philippines is as varied as the cultural traditions and the
historical influences that shaped it through the centuries. The dramatic forms that
flourished and continue to flourish among the different peoples of the archipelago include:
the indigenous theater, mainly Malay in character, which is seen in rituals, mimetic
dances, and mimetic customs; the plays with Spanish influence, among which are the
komedya, the sinakulo, the playlets, the sarswela, and the drama; and the theater with
Anglo-American influence, which encompasses bodabil and the plays in English, and the
modern or original plays by Filipinos, which employ representational and presentational
styles drawn from contemporary modern theater, or revitalize traditional forms from within
or outside the country.
Most scholars (both in the Philippines and in foreign countries), who try to
describe Philippine theatre, divide those dramas and performances into three groups: the
indigenous theatre, the theatre based/founded on Spanish colonization, and the theatre
influenced (in the 20th century) by the Americans.
However, it should be admitted that this research has been made by a Polish
theatre scholar, who was raised up in a different social and cultural environment (not in
the Philippines) and who tried to understand a different theatre reality and tradition, being
always aware of her “alien” perspective.

Big Idea
Creativity is an important part of anyone’s personality. When you role play or perform
in a stage play, you exercise your creativity and put yourself in situations that you
20 otherwise
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m your
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P hlife.
ilippines and the World
 Creative Nonfiction in the Philippines
Creative nonfiction is one the most popular genres of
literature in the Philippines has always been the essay.
The essay is often defined as a short piece of writing on
a particular subject. Sometimes, it is also defined as an
account of historical, personal and academic events.
However, the definition of an essay can also be vague
and that it overlaps with that of the always popular short
story. Because of this, the essay is sometimes seen as
a literary genre that is of lesser form than poetry.

Big Idea
The creative nonfiction or essay is all about life. When you read an essay, you read the
thoughts, feelings and experiences of a writer about an important time in his or her life.
Thus, you also connect with the writer and his or her experiences and may get insights
on how to handle your own current situation or issues.

Cristina Pantoja-Hidalgo
She was born on 21 August 1944. She is
an awarded-winning fictionist, critic and the pioneering essayist
of the country. She is Professor Emeritus of the English and
Comparative Literature Department of the University of the
Philippines—Diliman (where she received her doctorate
degree). She has also served as the Director of the UST
Publishing House. Pantoja-Hidalgo is currently the Director of
the University of Santo Tomas Center for Creative Writing and
Literary Studies or USTCCWLS.
Read the essay of Cristina Pantoja- Hidalgo entitled “New York City, Post 9/11”.

Beyond Walls-GO ONLINE

How was “Ground Zero” of the 9/11 terrorists attacked transformed into a memorial? What
does it look like? Find a picture of the latest ground zero memorial grounds and paste it
on the separate worksheet.

Big Idea
They say that you should spend on experience, not on things. Travel is one of the best
ways of “spending on experiences”. When you travel, you learn a different culture,
connect with new people, and create memories that can never be replaced, destroyed or
thrown away.

Reflect Upon
The essay’s form is constantly evolving. If you were to write an essay right now, what
would it be and why? How do you think will your essay contribute to the ever-evolving
from the creative nonfiction genre in the country?

What Have I Learned So Far?

1. How has the essay evolved in the Philippine history?
2. What kinds of essay do you read nowadays?
3. Who are the adventurous women essayists whom you read?

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 The Evolution of Essay in the Philippines
Informal essay is an essay on any topic available and I written in the author’s own unique
style. However, it is always understood that when an essay is being written, the author
should have something important to tell his or her readers and must say it well through
the use of his or her voice.
Gilda Cordero-Fernando
She is a Filipino writer and publisher who was born on
June 4, 1932. She obtained her bachelor’s degree from St.
Theresa’s College in Manila and her master’s degree from the
Ateneo de Manila University. She has two collections of short
stories and another collection of her compiled and published a
dozen titles on Philippine culture and society.

Read the essay of Gilda Cordero-Fernando entitled “Lundagin mo Baby! (Go for
it!)

Reflect Upon
Do you exhibit colonial mentality? Why do you think so? If yes, can you counteract
your colonial mentality?

Big Idea
The Filipinos’ spirit and tenacity for life and success cannot be beat. Despite the
Filipinos’ insecurity after being colonized far too long, it is also a race that will persist
and make the world a better place, simply because it is around.

What Have I learned So Far?

1. How can the Filipinos contribute to global culture? According to the essay, how
can Filipinos change their colonial mentality?
2. What are the things you are proud of about being a Filipino? How can you show
your “Pinoy Pride” to others?

The Modern Essay

The modern essay of Filipinos has become more
experimental—it would usually take on an informal form. Some are
brave enough to tackle sensitive issues (such as Kat Alano’s essay
on “rape”, or Margarita Holmes and Jeremy Baer’s joint column that
feature essays on love advice), and some are also bold enough to call
out and criticize Filipino Culture.
One thing is for sure: essays nowadays also tap on their readers for
interpretation. Your own beliefs, experiences, feelings, values and morals all take part of
your interpretation of an essay. When the essay wants to say something, it does so with
your help as its reader because you will be the one to decode its message.

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 Patricia Evangelista
She is a columnist and writer for various publications,
but most recently with the online news portal Rappler. She
has been credited to have changed the face of Philippine
journalism and has sparked discussions with her brave
essays on Filipino culture, disaster and events. She
recently received the NCAA’s prestigious Ani ng Dangal
award for journalism.

Try to decode the essay of Patricia Evangelista entitled “The Baby in the Backpack”.

Reflect Upon
1.What is the writer’s message in the essay?
2. How do you find the essay? Can you imagine being in Haiyan (Yolanda) country
yourself? What can you say about the experiences the author has written down the
essay? How do these make you feel?

Big Ideas
A large-scale disaster such as the one brought about Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda)
brings people together through the shared experience of the tragedy—whether they
were there in the place where the disaster struck or not. This is because tragedy
brings out empathy in people, and mostly everyone would want to help his or her
fellowmen in these times of need.

Beyond Walls—GO ONLINE

Do you still remember what you were doing during the Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda)?
Research on the extent of the typhoon’s damage and a survivor’s story? Write a
short one paragraph proposal on what else can be done to help the survivors of the
typhoon. Paste it on the separate worksheet.

Summary:
Essays, just like any Philippine literary genre, deserve their place in the Philippine literary
canon. The essay is one of the most personal and insightful pieces of written work that has been
around since the era of Spanish colonization. We should also note that the essay has changed
throughout the years and has become a vessel for various thoughts and ideals of Filipino writers
and their culture at the time of their writing. It has been a way of revolutionary propaganda to be
shared with common citizens and for national consciousness to be awakened.
The essay has developed itself into two kinds—the formal essay and the informal essay.
Whether the essay is formal or informal, it should have a distinct voice that is able to tell what the
written work wants to say clearly. Aside from this, the essay is now an effective way to relate
experiences and stories on a more personal note, whether it is political, cultural or social.

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 References
Department of Education. (2013). K to 12 Senior High School Core Curriculum- 21st
Century Literature form the Philippines and the World
Aguila, A., Arriola, J., & Wigley, J. (2008). Philippine literature: Texts, themes,
approaches. Manila: UST Publishing House.
Lumbera, B. & Lumbera, C. (2004). Philippine literature: A history and anthology. Pasig
City: Anvil Publishing
Chua, R. (2016). 21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World. Makati City.
DIWA Learning Systems Inc.
Tan, AD. (2016). 21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World. Makati City.
Don Bosco Press
Bobis, M. (2012). “The Sadness Collector”. In White Turtle: A Collection of Short
Stories. Quezon City. Anvil Press
Hidalgo, P. (2009). Travels with Tania. Manila: University of Santo Tomas Publishing
House
Sionil, J. (1968). “The God Stealer”. In the God Stealer and Other Stories. Manila:
Solidad Publishing House

Take note! Aside from the internet, if you have further questions, you may contact
your teacher and send your outputs in every topic in the information below:
Cellphone Number: __________________
E-mail Address: _____________________
Messenger: ________________________

“Learning is the only thing the mind never

exhausts, never fears, and never regrets.”
– Leonardo da Vinci, inventor and polymath.

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