Spanish Colonialism

An Introduction to Philippine Literature During Spanish Era

Battle of Mactan - April 27, 1521
Ferdinand Magellan was killed during the fierce clash between the force of Datu
Lapu-Lapu and Spaniards.

Spaniards are also called “conquistador” or conquerors who destroyed the

existing literature of native Filipinos, together with the systematic native languages
of our native tribes.

Only two native system of writings have survived: syllabaries of the Mindoro
Mangyans and the Tagbanua of Palawan
Conquering Native Traditions
Substituting the Story of the Passion of the Christ to the existing beliefs of native
people.

INDIO - native Filipinos

Doctrines were started but the barrier in language hindered the expansion of the
church.

Spanish missionaries employed native speakers as translators.

NATIVE SPEAKER as translators learned spanish language, they are called ladinos.
Spanish Influences on Philippine Literature
1. The first Filipino alphabet (ALIBATA) was replaced by the Roman alphabet.
2. The teaching of the Christian Doctrine became the basis of religious practices.
3. The Spanish language which became the literary language during this time
lent many of its words to Filipino language.
4. European legends and traditions brought here became assimilated in our
songs, corridos, and moro-moros.
5. Ancient literature was collected and translated to Tagalog and other
languages.
6. Many grammar books were printed in Filipino, like Tagalog, Ilocano, and
Visayan.
7. Our periodicals during this times gained a religious tone.
DOCTRINA CHRISTIANA
First Books
ANG DOCTRINA CRISTIANA (THE CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE)
Facts:
1. First book printed in the Philippines (1593)
2. Printed in xylography (primitive technology in printing using wood)
3. Written by Fr. Juan de Placencia and Fr. Domingo Nieva
4. Printed in Tagalog and Spanish
5. Contained the basic prayers and doctrines: 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 Cathecism.
6. Three original copies location: Vatican, Madrid Museum, and US Congress
7. Contains 87 pages; costs around 5,000 USD.
FIRST BOOKS
Nuestra Señora del Rosario

Facts:

1. Second book printed in the Philippines (1602)

2. Written by Fr. Blancas de San Jose
3. Printed at the UST Printing Press with the help of Juan de Vera
4. Content: Biographies of Saints, novenas, and questions and answers on
religion.
FIRST BOOKS
Libro de los Cuatros Postprimeras de Hombre

Facts:

1. First book printed in typography

FIRST BOOKS
Ang Barlaan at Josephat

Facts:

1. Biblical story written and translated to Tagalog from Greek by Fr. Antonio de
Borja.
2. First Tagalog novel published in the Philippines.
3. Only 556 pages.
4. Ilocano translation by Fr. Agustin Mejia
FIRST BOOKS
The Pasion
Facts:
1. Book about the life and sufferings of Jesus Christ.
2. Read only by the Christians during Lent seasons.
3. Known for having four versions:
a. Pilapil Version by Mariano Pilapil of Bulacan, 1814
b. de Belen Version by Gaspar Aquino de Belen of Batangas, 1704
c. de la Merced Version by Aniceto de la Merced of Norzagaray, Bulacan, 1856
d. de Guia Version by Luis de Guia, 1750
4. It is still not agreed which is most popular version between Pilapil or de la
Merced version.
The Pasion by de la Merced
Octosyllabic Verse

O Diyos sa kalangitan O God in Heaven

Hari ng Sangkalupaan King of Earth

Diyos na walang kapantay God unequaled

Mabait, lubhang maalam Good, kind and full of wisdom

at puno ng karunungan
The Pasion by de la Merced
Octosyllabic Verse

Ikaw na Amang Tumobos God the Father Almighty

Na nangungulilang lubos Of all of the abandoned

Amang di matapus-tapos Father everlasting

Maawai’t mapagkupkop Kind and generous

Sa taong lupa’t alikabok To man of earth and dust

The Pasion by de la Merced
Octosyllabic Verse

Ikaw na Amang Tumobos God the Father Almighty

Na nangungulilang lubos Of all of the abandoned

Amang di matapus-tapos Father everlasting

Maawai’t mapagkupkop Kind and generous

Sa taong lupa’t alikabok To man of earth and dust

FIRST BOOKS
Urbana at Felisa

Facts:

1. Letters between two sisters Urbana and Felisa that deals with good behavior
2. Written by Modesto de Castro a.k.a. Father of Classic Prose in Tagalog
FIRST BOOKS
Ang Mga Dalit kay Maria (Psalms for Mary)

Facts:

1. Songs of praises for Virgin Mary

2. Written by Fr. Mariano Sevilla (1865)
3. Popular during Flores de Mayo
FIRST Literary Compositions
1. Arte y Reglas de la Lengua Tagala (Arts and Rules of the Tagalog Language) by Fr. Blancas
de San Jose, translated to Tagalog by Tomas Pinpin in 1610.
2. Compedio de la Lengua Tagala (Understanding the Tagalog language) by Fr. Gaspar de San
Agustin in 1703
3. Vocabulario de la Lengua Tagala (Tagalog Vocabulary) by Fr. Pedro de San Buenaventura in
1613 - First Tagalog Dictionary
4. Vocabulario de la Lengua Pampanga (Pampango Vocabulary) by Fr. Diego in 1732 - first
book in Pampango
5. Vocabulario de la Lengua Bisaya (Bisayan Vocabulary) by Mateo Sanchez in 1711 - best
language book in Visayan
6. Arte de la Lengua Ilokano (The Art of the Ilocano language) by Francisco Lopez - the first
Ilocano grammar book
7. Arte de la Lengua Bicolana (The Art of the Bicol language) by Fr. Marcos Lisbon in 1754 - the
first book in the Bicol Language
Folk Songs
1. Leron-Leron Sinta (Tagalog)
2. Pamulinawen (Iloko)
3. Dandansoy (Bisaya)
4. Sarong Banggi (Bicol)
5. Atin Cu Pung Singsing (Kapampangan)
Recreational Plays
1. Tibag - ritual/memoir of the search of St. Helena for the Cross on which Jesus
died.
2. Lagaylay - praises, respect, and offering of love to the Blessed Cross by St.
Helena…
3. The Cenaculo - dramatic performance of the passion of the Christ.
4. Panunuluyan - presented before 12 midnight on Christmas Eve
5. The Salubong or Panubong - dramatizes the Risen Christ and his Mother.
6. Carillo or Shadow play
7. The Zarsuela - the father of the drama - musical comedy or melodrama, three
acts;
8. The Sainete - short musical comedy
MORO - MORO
❖ Presented on a special stage.
❖ Performed during fiestas for entertainment and a reminder of the importance
of Christian Religion.
❖ Plot: Christian vs Mohammedans
KARAGATAN
❖ Poetic vehicle of a socio-religious nature celebrated during the death of a
person.

Girl: Boy:

Ikaw nga ang unang pinili ng Diyos Karagatang ito’y kahit na malalim

Sumisid sa singsing na aking hinulog Pangangahasan kong aking lulusungin

Subalit hindi upang siyang maging irog Hustong bait ninyo ang titimbulanin

Kungdi idaan lang muna sa pagsubok Na inaasahang sasagip sa akin.

DUPLO
❖ Replaced the Karagatan
❖ Roles taken from the Bible, proverbs, and sayings
❖ Usually played during wakes for the dead
❖ Poetic joust in speaking and reasoning
DUPLO
Example:

Hari: Yamang sa tuos ko ngayo’s natalastas

at ang isinakdal dito’y nahaharap

ang unang bigkas sa naritong dilag

siyang tinutukoy na di nagbabayad.

DUPLO
Example:

Bilyako: Bilyaka, mangyaring sumagot ka ngayon

Kung inaamin mo ang sinabing sumbong

Saging na nalugok, dahon may kaluntoy

Bayaran ang dapat sa takdang panahon.

Bilyaka: Hari naming giliw na kagalang-galang

Punong sinusunod nitong kalakatan

Ang kamunting tutol ay iyong pakinggan

Niring walang sala’t wala namang utang.

BALAGTASAN
❖ Poetic joust or a contest of skills in debate on a particular topic
❖ Replaced DUPLO
❖ Held to honor Francisco “Balagtas” Baltazar
DUNG-AW
❖ Chant in free verse by a bereaved person
❖ No definite meter or rhyming scheme
❖ Chanter freely recites in poetic rhythm according to his/her feelings, emotions,
or thoughts.
❖ Personalized and deals with the life, sufferings, and sacrifices of the deads
AWIT & CORRIDO
COMPARISON
AWIT CORRIDO

Dodecasyllabic verse (12 syllables) Octosyllabic verse (8 syllables)

Fictional plot, settings and characters are Stories from European Countries
Europeans

Chanting Narration

NARRATIVE POETRY
FIRST FILIPINO WRITERS - LADINOS
Francisco de San Jose

Francisco Bagongbata

Gaspar Aquino de Belen who writes “Mahal Na Pasion ni Jesu Christo”

“Mahal Na Pasion ni Jesu Christo” 1704

- A poem based on Christ’s Passion

- introduced the new paradigm, CHRISTIANISM

FIRST FILIPINO WRITERS - LADINOS
NOTABLY WRITERS DURING 18th Century
Jose de la Cruz (1746 – 1829) “HUSENG SISIW”

Known writer of popular komedya.

Historia Famosa del Bernardo Carpio, Rodrigo de Villas, Principe Baldovino,

Adela at Florante, Floro at Clavela, and Jason at Medea.

"Korido at Buhay na Pinagdaanan ng Tatlong Prinsipeng Magkakapatid na anak

ni Haring Fernando at ni Reyna Valeriana sa Kahariang Berbanya" o ANG IBONG
ADARNA
NOTABLY WRITERS DURING 18th Century
Jose de la Cruz (1746 – 1829) “HUSENG SISIW”
NOTABLY WRITERS DURING 18th Century
Francisco Baltazar (1788 – 1862) “BALAGTAS”

Master of traditional Tagalog Poetry

First Indio to be called Filipino.

FLORANTE AT LAURA - seen as representation of oppressed culture.

Balagtas’ songs, poems, komedya, and plays were performed in the crowd for the
unlettered or illiterate.
NOTABLY WRITERS DURING 18th Century
Francisco Baltazar (1788 – 1862) “BALAGTAS”
NOTABLY WRITERS DURING 18th Century
Pedro Paterno (1857 - 1911)

A Philippine Born Illustrado.

Author of the first Filipino novel entitled “NINAY” and collection of sentimental
poems Sampaguitas y otras poesías varias (Jasmines and Other Various Poems)
NOTABLY WRITERS DURING 18th Century
Pedro Paterno 1857 - 1911
NOTABLY WRITERS DURING 18th Century
José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda (1861 – 1896)

National Hero, patriotic writer, realism

Known for his two novels Noli Me Tángere (Touch me not) and El filibusterismo
(The Reign of Greed)

Cut his ties to Balagtas in writing style by using prose instead of poems.
NOTABLY WRITERS DURING 18th Century
José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda (1861 – 1896)