21ST CENTURY LITERATURE FROM THE PHILIPPINES AND THE WORLD

LESSON 1: INTRODUCTION
The term literature is derived from the Latin word “littera” which means “a letter of the alphabet”.
According to the website Brittanica, literature is traditionally defined as body of written works associated to
imaginative and creative works of poetry and prose and can be classified according to variety of systems
such as language, national origin, historical period, genre, and subject matter.
Literature can either be in oral or written form. The oral literature handed down from one
generation to another, then later on transformed into written form. The products of written literature are
called literary text. A text can be considered literary if it has the elements of psychological characterization
and chronology.
The best way to describe the characteristics of literary text is that (1) it narrates a story; (2) it
expresses feelings, thoughts, and ideas which can either be based from the imagination or real
experiences of the author or other people; and (3) it delivers significant information and crosses boundaries
of time, place, cultures, and languages.
Also, literature contains specific structure. Literary structure refers to the organizational method
used in literature in which the most common type is the narrative. Literary elements refer to “particular
identifiable characteristics of a whole text.” The most common elements of a story are character, setting,
conflict, theme, point of view, and plot. Plot also has its own elements such as exposition, rising action,
climax, falling action, and resolution or denouement. In poetry, there are four essential elements: form
(free verse, couplet, limerick, etc.), imagery (it is the reason why we see pictures in words and it adds
color), rhythm (flow of the beat such as whether it is fast or slow), and sound (common use of rhymes and
other literary devices such as repetitions, alliteration, assonance, and onomatopoeia). While Literary
tradition “is a collection of works that have an underlying interconnectedness and coherence that makes
them more than simply a group of works sharing geography or group. For example, you can have someone
who doesn’t comes from Philippines, perhaps doesn’t even have Filipino ancestors, but they can write in
the Philippine Literary Tradition because they will draw on the same references, structure, mythology, focal
points for cultural meanings and historical moments.

Genre – refers to the forms of literature. Examples are epic, tragedy, comedy, satire, allegory or pastoral,
and creative nonfiction.
Age Categories – literature classified it as either adult, young-adult, or children’s.
Format – graphic novel or picture book

TWO MAJOR FORMS OF LITERATURE

1. POETRY – is usually written in lines and is characterized by having the element of rhythm, sound,
imagery, and form.
A. NARRATIVE POETRY – it tells a story and has the elements of a narrative such as
characters, setting, conflict, etc.
B. DRAMATIC POETRY – it is an emotionally appealing drama written in verse that tells a
story and is intended to be recited or sung in front of the audience by a character.
C. LYRIC POETRY – it focuses on expressing feelings rather than telling a story.
2. PROSE – this literary piece applies a natural flow of speech and grammatical structures which are
mainly consisting of complete sentences arranged logically and sequentially in a paragraph form.
A. FICTION – serves as a product of the writer’s imagination and creative thinking where
the characters react to the conflict and various issues central to the main idea of a
literary work. Its three types are: short story, novella, and novel. The main genres are
crime, fantasy, romance, science fiction, western, inspirational, historical fiction and
horror.
B. NON-FICTION – these are stories inspired by real events where the writers aim to
present, interpret, or describe experiences based on facts. The judgments, opinions, and
commentaries of the writers may be presented in the form of essays, journals, diaries,
feature articles, editorials, and the like.
LESSON 2: LITERARY PERIODS OF THE PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
1. PRE-COLONIAL ERA (Early Times – 1564)
- this was before the coming of the Spaniards and considered as the first and longest
literary history among the other periods.
 - Oral literature marks the birth of literature in the Philippines. Different stories of myths,
folks, and narratives meant to be sung were passed hand in hand orally. It serves to be
their language of life and their way of promoting cultural heritage.
SYLLABARY/ ALIBATA – is the alphabet of the Filipinos before the arrival of the Spaniards.
It consisted of 17 symbols, which were 3 vowels and 14 consonants.

A. PRE-COLONIAL POETRY – were meant to be recited in a manner of songs and chants.

1. PROVERBS (SALAWIKAIN) – truth and wise sayings, and often called expressions
of wisdom which is based on common sense and life experiences.
2. TANAGA – a poem in quatrain containing 7 syllables each line with a monorine.
3. FOLK SONG – lyrical expression created by people according to region.
4. RIDDLES (BUGTONG) – a game in a form of mystifying questions and mind puzzle
intended to be solved.
B. PROSE NARRATIVES – created in order to give an explanation about a certain natural
phenomenon.
1. EPIC – long narrative story about quests and exciting adventures of a hero with
unusual strength and power.
2. MYTH – story of gods and goddesses explaining mysteries, beliefs and cultural
practices.
3. FABLES – stories intended to teach human values with animals as major characters
attributing human qualities.
4. LEGENDS – stories explaining origins, believed by some people but not proven
scientifically.
5. FOLK TALE – an imaginative narrative story told by ancient group of people.

2. SPANISH COLONIAL ERA (1565-1898)

- Alibata was replaced by the Roman Aphabet (excluding the J, U and W).
- Filipino writers started to write articles about the negative impacts and effects of
colonization in the country.
- At that time, the natives were called Indios.
- In 1593, Doctrina Christiana was the first book published in the Philippines, it was a
collection of prayers written in Spanish translated in Tagalog.
- Ladinos was the term used for native literary writers. Their works were difficult to publish
because the printing presses were dominated and owned by the religious ministries and
Spanish church leaders.
- Reformists were young men who had shown idealism and great faith in the Philippines.
Members of the middle class decided to wage their propagandas and started to create
reforms to show their concern to the country.

a. GRACIANO LOPEZ JAENA – known to be highly intelligent man of his age.

-most famous writing is the tale entitled “FRAY
BOTOD”, the second word means “big bellied man”.
The character of the protagonist symbolizes the
abusive and immorality of the friars.
-he became the editor of the newspaper La
Solidaridad, it aims for collecting ideas in different
fields such as politics, arts, literature, economics, and
other sciences.
-his pseudonym was Diego Laura.

b. MARCELO H. DEL PILAR – founded the nationalistic newspaper Diariong Tagalog.

-he was known to be the Master of Tagalog
Language.
-his writing career took place as he wrote of patriotism
revealing the sad state of the country. He also joined
the other propagandists and began writing pamphlets
ridiculing the administration of the friars regarding
injustices towards Filipinos.
-his pseudonyms were Pláridel, Dolores Manapat,
Piping Dilat, Siling Labuyo, etc.
 c. FRANCISCO BALTAZAR – fondly called as Balagtas is a genius writer of Tagalog
poetry.
-He is known for his poem Florante at Laura. In this poem, the
way he described Albanya as the setting, reflected the tyranny
of the Spaniards during the Spanish colonization era.

d. JOSE RIZAL – José Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda

-he was popular for his 2 novels:
 NOLI ME TANGERE – Touch Me Not
- published in Berlin, Germany in 1887 and
Maximo Viola helped Rizal by lending his
money.
-he described it as a work of heart. it was a
story of love and aspirations of a Filipino.
-the protagonist named Crisostomo Ibarra was
a representation of himself. Though purely fictional, the setting of the
novel reflects the current situation of the Philippines during the
administration of the Spaniards while his characters reflect the
dominance of the Spanish government toward the Filipino people.

 EL FILIBUSTERISMO – The Traitor

-published in Ghent, Belgium in 1891and helped
by Valentin Ventura.
-it was the work of the mind.
-the protagonist was named Simoun, he did not
just expose the dirty secrets of the Spanish government and abusive side of the friars but
also predicted a revolution between Filipinos and Spaniards.

 MAKAMISA – unfinished third novel of Rizal.

In 1888, Fr. Jose Rodriguez issued “CAINGAT CAYO”(BEWARE), a pamphlet issued attacking
the novel of Jose Rizal which is the Noli Me Tangere opposing the Catholic religion. He warned the
people that in reading the book they "commit mortal sin," considering that it was full of heresy. So,
Vicente Garcia wrote the DASALAN AT TOKSOHAN using the pen name V. CARAIG, it was a
parody of the prayer Our Father as a defense for Jose Rizal. Also, Marcelo H. Del Pilar wrote the
CAIIGAT KAYO (BE SLIPPERY AS AN EEL) to defend Rizal.

e. ANDRES BONIFACIO - Andrés Bonifacio y de Castro

-known as the Father of Katipunan and the husband of
Gregoria De Jesus.
-showed his patriotism and poetic side as he wrote the poem
Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa.

f. EMILIO JACINTO – addressed as the Brain of the Katipunan, and wrote political
essays using folk language.

3. AMERICAN COLONIAL PERIOD (1899-1945)

-the public school system was their biggest contribution in the country.
-THOMASITES were American soldiers who came to the Philippines to become teachers.
-ENGLISH was chosen to be the second language of the country, and this period also
introduced the English Alphabet (26 letters).
-Filipino writers greatly enjoyed the freedom of expression, and American authorities also
prescribed some plays to be performed on stage such as:
 KAHAPON, BUKAS, NGAYON by Aurelio Tolentino
 HINDI AKO PATAY by Juan Matapang
 TANIKALANG GINTO by Juan Abad
 WALANG SUGAT by Severino Reyes
 -some essayists and poets during this period:
 JUAN F. SALAZAR
 BERNARDO P. GARCIA
 MAXIMO M. KALAW
 TARCILA MALABANAN
 FRANCISCO M. AFRICA
-new uprising generation of writers continued producing literary works reflecting Filipino
culture and beliefs such as:
 MANUEL ARGUILLA (How My Brother Leon Brought Home A Wife) -follows
the way of living of the Ilocanos.
 JOSE GARCIA VILLA (Footnote to Youth) – reminds the young Filipinos about
the consequences of early marriage.
-used other significant themes like stories of love and social justices
 FAUSTINO AGUILAR (Pinaglahuan)
 LOPE K. SANTOS (Banaag at Sikat)
-other literary authors during this period:
 IDELFONSO SANTOS
 ALEJANDRO ABADILLA
 JOSE CORAZON DE JESUS
 BRIGIDO BATUNGBAKAL
 GENOVEVA EDROZA MATUTE
 CLARO M. RECTO

4. CONTEMPORARY PERIOD
- Japanese did not resist the emerging progress of Filipino literary activity. Before World
War II, writers began writing about the pre-war social problems of the country.
- During the first years after the Liberation, few literary magazines appeared MALAYA,
ILANG-ILANG, SINAG-TALA, LIWAYWAY and BULAKLAK.
 1920’s – short stories became the favorite literary type of prose.
 1930’s – the post-American Independence inspired Filipino writers to follow the
footsteps of some of the prominent writers of English Literature such as William
Shakespeare, Edgar Allan Poe, Ernest Hemingway, and William Faulkner.
 Here some authors who wrote literary articles that had been included in short
story anthologies: GENOVEVA D. EDROZA -MATUTE (Ako’y Isang Tinig),
MACARIO PINEDA, ELPIDIO P. KAPULONG, HILARIO CORONEL and PABLO
N. BAUTISTA.
 1951 – prestigious award-giving body for literature was founded the CARLOS
PALANCA, SR. MEMORIAL FOR LITERATURE. Other writers who became
nominees for this award:
 IDELFONSO SANTOS
 TEODORO AGONCILLO (25 Pinakamahusay na Maikling Kwento)
 ALEJANDRO ABADILLA (Mga Piling Katha, Parnasong Tagalog, Ako
ang Daigdig at Iba pang Tula)
 JOSE CORAZON DE JESUS
 BRIGIDO BATUNGBAKAL
 AMADO V. HERNANDEZ – addressed as the greatest post-war Filipino poet. He
wrote “Dipang Langit” in 1961 and “Bayang Malaya” in 1969. Before his death in
1970, he won the Republic Cultural Award and National Artist Award in 1973.

HAIKU – a pattern of poetry which follows 5-7-5 syllables per verse with themes talking
about natures, caught the interest of some Filipino poets.
 1987, our alphabet that had gone many changes was developed from the English
alphabet to the Modern Filipino Alphabet (including Ññ and NGng).