21st Century Literature - Examples
- Prepared by Cherrie Pearl A. Poking
Philippine Literature During the Pre-Spanish
Period
I. Introduction
- Philippine Literature existed before the
Spaniards came. Our ancestors have been
creating stories, songs, and poems such as
Alamat, Epiko, Bugtong, chants, and many
more. They were mostly passed on oral tradition.
II. Forms of Literature
A. Proverbs/Epigrams/ Maxims
It is also called Sawikain or Salawikain,
are short poems customarily used and
served as laws or rules on good behaviors
by our ancestors.
Example- “Ang matapat na kaibigan, tunay na
maaasahan.”
B. Bugtong/Riddles
It reveals subtle resemblances between
two unlike objects” and one’s power of
observation and wit are put to the test.
It is made up of one or more measured
lines with rhymes and may consist of 4 to
12 syllables.
Its purposes are; to educate, entertain,
titillate, curse, and depict culture.
Example- “Isang balong malalim, punong-
puno ng patalim.” • Answer: Mouth
C. Epiko (Epic)
Philippine epics are lengthy narrative
poems based on oral tradition.
The verses were chanted or sung while
being passed from generation to
generation before being written on
paper.
The plots of their stories revolve
around supernatural events and heroic
deeds. Instead of glorifying national
heroes, Philippine epics are specific to
a particular part of the country, and
thus they are referred to as ethno-epics
or regional epics.
Example-Biag ni Lam-ang (Life of Lam-ang),
the Ulalim, Labaw Donggon, Bantugan, Lumalindaw,
and Kudaman.
D. Chants
It is also known as “Bulong”. It is
commonly used in witchcraft and
enchantments.
It can be sung for ceremonies of a widely
contrasting nature: watching the sick, a
wedding ceremony, or a pig-butchering
ceremony.
Example- “Tabi tabi po Ingkong, Makikiraan
po lamang.” And the Hudhud chants of the Ifugao.
E. Tanaga
It is a quatrain with seven syllables each
with the same rhyme at the end of each
line. 7-7-7-7, AABB
TUNAY NA YAMAN
Ako ay Filipino
Kulay tanso ng mundo
Ngunit tunay kong ginto
Nasa aking sentido.
PIPI
Puso ko’y sumisigaw
May bulong na mababaw,
Hindi naman lumitaw
Tinig ko’t alingawngaw!
F. Myths
a sacred narrative explaining how the
world and man came to be in their present
form.
derived from Philippine folk literature,
which is the traditional oral literature of
the Filipino people.
a presence of divine deity
Examples- Story of Bathala - The Legend of
Maria Makiling
G. Songs
a form of folk lyric that expresses the
people's hopes, aspirations, and
lifestyles -inspired by the reaction of the
people to their environment
Example-Uyayi (lullaby) Kumintang
(war song) Kundiman (melancholic love
song) Harana (serenade)
H. Fable
is a short allegorical tale emphasizing
a moral or any principle of behavior.
The characters of fables are usually
animals that are portrayed like human
beings, though they keep their animal
traits intact.
The moral of these fables is
highlighted towards the end of the
story in the form of a proverb and is
generally enacted.
Example- Si Pagong at si Matsing - Ang
Kalabaw at ang Suso
I. Folktale
a story originating in popular culture,
typically passed on by word of mouth.
Usually is fictitious and imaginative.
Example- The Boy Who Turned To Stone -
The Flood Story
J. Legends
a story explaining how various
objects, flowers, plants, and even
places have come to be.
They’re entertaining since they can
amuse, inspire, and sometimes scare;
but mainly, they impart lessons on
how to live well with other people.
Examples- Legend of the Guava - Legend of
the Pineapple