The History of

Philippine
Literature
An introduction to the history of Philippine Literature. The
characteristics of Philippine literature, samples, and an
example of a literary text; its theme and plot; in each
period.

Pre-colonial Times
Literature

Spanish
Colonialism
Literature

The History of
Philippine
Literature
American
Colonialism
Literature

Contemporary
Times Literature

Pre-colonial Times
Literature

CHARACTERISTICS

-the longest period

(dates back 50,000
years ago)
-passed down orally
-works have
communal ownership

SAMPLES
A. Oral Literature
1. Riddles
2.

Proverbs

3. Tanaga
B.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Folk Songs
Hele or oyayi lullaby
Ambahan
Kalusan
Tagay
Kanogan

C. Folk Tales
9. Myths
10. Legends
11. Fables
12. Fantastic stories
D. Epics

LITERARY TEXT

-Biag

Ni Lam-Ang
Theme:
Bravery and Courage
Plot:
Lam-Ang was born an
extraordinary man, fully
grown, dressed and can
already speak. He set out to
avenge his father with his
two extraordinary pets, a
dog that puts everything to
ruins when it barks, and a
chicken that puts back
everything together when it
crows.

Spanish
Colonialism
Literature

CHARACTERISTICS

It has two distinct

classifications:
religious and secular

SAMPLES
A.
1.
2.
3.

Religious Literature
Religious Literature
Pasyon
Senakulo

Secular (non-religious)
It introduced Spanish B.
Literature
as the medium of
4. Awit
communication
5. Korido
6. Prose Narratives

LITERARY TEXT

NATIONALISTIC / PROPAGANDA
AND REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD
CHARACTERISTICS

-Planted seeds of
nationalism in
Filipinos
-Language shifted
from Spanish to
Tagalog
-Addressed the
masses instead of
the intelligentsia

SAMPLES

A. Propaganda
Literature
1. Political Essays
2. Political Novels
A. Revolutionary
Literature
1. Political Essays
2. Poetry

LITERARY TEXT

Noli Me Tangere
Theme:
Political, Love
Plot:
Ibarra learns the tragic circumstances of his
fathers death and the history behind the
animosity held against him by the Friar Dmaso
Vardolagas. It is obvious that Ibarras father was
treated unjustly and died because of it. Still,
Ibarra chooses the higher road, avoiding revenge,
only to be harassed by Damaso at every turn.
Damaso sabotages Ibarras wedding and
humiliates him constantly. Another religious
figure by the name of Padre Salvi becomes
Ibarras enemy. Salvi attempts to kill him, lusts
after his former fiance and stages an uprising in
which Ibarra is implicated.
Ibarra is imprisoned, loses his friends and
reputation and is nearly killed, all through the
relentless hatred of two religious figures. At the
end of the novel he is deflated, disillusioned and
weak. The bright future he envisioned for his
town was shattered and he finds himself
surrounded by corruption and loss.

American
Colonialism
Literature

CHARACTERISTICS
Filipino Writers imitated
English and American
models
Poems written were
amateurish and mushy,
which phrasing and diction
is awkward and artificial
Short Stories

Highly influenced by
Western literary
trends like
Romanticism and
Realism.

SAMPLES

A. Short Stories
B. Novels
C. Free-verse poetry

LITERARY TEXT

Footnote to Youth by Jose

Garcia Villa
It was a story of a boy named
Dodong who was only 17 years
of age when he decides to marry
his love one and it was
Teang.Both married without
thinking of the risk being in an
uneasy part of life. They just
follow what they feel. They don't
think what would happen in
their future.They had a son,
and one day told his parents
what his plans. Dodong have
nothing to do but explain how
hard and how risky to be in
"marriage "at the young age..
But like Dodong before, his son
also wants to pursue what he
wants.

Contemporary
Times Literature

CHARACTERISTICS
1. Martial Law repressed and
curtailed human rights,
including freedom of the
press
2. Writers used symbolisms
and allegories to drive home
their message, at the face of
heavy censorship
3. Theater was used as a
vehicle for protest, such as
the PETA (Phil. Educational
Theater Association) and UP
Theater.
4. From the eighties onwards,
writers continue to show
dynamism and innovation

SAMPLES

-poetry
-plays
-short stories
-novels
-short stories

LITERARY TEXT

Sinigang by Marby
Villaceran
Liza is the one who is narrating the story of
her life. The way of cooking sinigang can
be relate to the story of her life.

As she prepared tomatoes for her sinigang

she was reminded about the meomory of
the past.. It means that some people cook
sinigang with guavas or kamias. It is a dish
which recipe would depend mostly on the
taste of those who will do the eating.

As she noticed that the meat was tender

enough and rapidly popping bubbles was
hearded she add the tamarind mix. The
sinigang was cooked and ready to serve. Liza
pictured herself seated in her usual place
beside her father.
Life is like cooking sinigang. You need to
prepare the right ingredients to achieve the
desire taste.