21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the

- UNIT III -
THE DIVERSITY OF THE
PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
Ilocano
Literature
UNIT III – THE DIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
 Lesson 1: Ilocano Literature
 One of the most vibrant Filipino literatures throughout the ages.
 Ilocano regions are also one of the most active tributaries in the
Philippine literature.
 purely alive in form of written and oral literature
 Ancient Ilocano poets expressed themselves in folk and war
songs.
 Dallot - is an improvised, versified and impromptu long poem
delivered in a sing-song manner.
 Lesson 1: Ilocano Literature
 Ilocano poetry was heavily influenced by Spanish poetry.
 The earliest known written Ilocano poems were the romances
translated from Spanish by Francisco Lopez.
 Lopez was an Augustinian friar who published his Iloko
translation of the Doctrina Cristiana (first book published in the
Philippines by Cardinal Bellarmine) in 1621.
An example of
Ilocano story:
Francisco Sionil
José
• He is one of the most widely read
Filipino writers in the English
language.
• His novels and short stories that
depict the social underpinnings of
class struggles and colonialism in
Filipino society.
• Born: December 3, 1924 (Rosales,
Pangasinan, Philippines)
• Education: University of Santo Tomas
Period: 1962 – present (age of 94)
Ilocano Poems both written by Melvin Banggollay:

Only You
A Love That Endures
 • He is presently residing at Tabuk, Kalinga,
Philippines.
• Presently working at the Department of Trade
and Industry as a senior specialist.
• He was able to finish his degree of Bachelor of
Science in Commerce, major in Accounting and
management at St. Mary's University,
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines as a
scholar of the National integration Study Grant
Program (NISGP) sponsored by the Department
of Education and National Student Loan Center,
Melvin BanggollayPhilippines.
ONLY YOU IKAW LAMANG SIKSIKA LAENG
(English) (Tagalog) (Ilokano)
Only you Ikaw lamang Siksila laeng
My love Aking mahal Ti ay-ayatek
in my life Sa aking buhay Ti biak ko
I’ll adore Aking sasambahin Ti pagrukbaban
until I’ll die Hanggang kamatayan Inga’t panungpalan
only you Ikaw lamang Siksika laeng
I’ll serve ang paglingkuran Ti pagserbiyan
and love at mamahalin Ti ayaten
with a love na pag-ibig Iti ayat
so noble na dalisay A nasudi
and true at totoo Ken agpayso
endlessly ng walang katapusan nga awan patinggana

A LOVE THAT ENDURES
A love that endures is
L-iving for someone dear
O-ffering unconditonal passion
V-alueing one's right so fair
E-nduring pains and
depressions.
T-eaching the heart to be fair
H-ealing with gentle communication
A-cting what your heart declare
T-ouching with prudent conviction.
E-ntwined with forgiveness flare
N-urtured with tender passion
D-evelop with motives so clear
U-nderstanding amidst confusion
R-esolve to be always just and fair
E-ndures to serve even at oblivion
S-acred vow to serve without fear.
Bicolano
Literature
UNIT III – THE DIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
Lesson 2: Bicolano Literature
 It has its roots in orally transmitted poems and mythical
narratives that reflect the history of the people.
 Mariano Perfecto is the first Bikolano writer who published
Bikola newspaper, he was also responsible for the
development of the first printing press named “Imprenta de
Nuestra Senora de Penafrancia.”
 Protest drama became a form of expressing the people’s
growing resentment of the Spanish rule.
Lesson 2: Bicolano Literature
 “Comedia” writers such as Sabas Armenta , Juan Alvarez
Guerra and Juan Miraflor have protest plays credited to
their names.
 The dramatic genre of the “corridor,” popular among the
Tagaog-speaking folk, was adapted into the local
‘Bikolcorrido’ ( with “Magamang Pobre” being a popular
example).
Day on the Farm
Luis G. Dato
I’ve found you fruits of sweetest taste and found you
Bunches of Duhat growing by the hill,
I’ve bound your arms and hair with vine and bound you
With rare wildflowers but you are crying still.
I’ve brought you all the forest ferns and brought you
Wrapped in green leaves cicadas singing sweet,
I’ve caught you in my arms an hour and taught you
Love’s secret where the mountain spirits meet.
Your smiles have died and there is no replying
To all endearment and my gifts are vain;
Come with me, love, you are too old for crying,
The church bells ring and I hear drops of rain.
Luis Guevarra Dato
worked as a newspaperman for the Bicol
Star, Naga times, and the other newpapers.
He was also considered as an “authority on
the Bicol language and culture.”

Other famous works

Manila: A Collection of Verses (1926),
My Book of Verses, I ( 1936),II undated
The Land of Mai: A Philippine Epic, Volume I
(1975).
A Cloud Named Looking-for-You
by Marne L. Kilates
May heart aches like the heaving sea;
My tears riddle the face of the water;
My pain comes in guests, emptying me.
Cursed with wandering, thin as air,
How can I touch the bottom of this grief?
How can I lift this shroud that covers
My love’s grave?
My heart heaves like the aching sea;
My tears riddle the face of the water;
My pain comes in guest, emptying me.
They say that it is the Princess Nhanzao forever drifting over the Sea of Er, Looking for her love who had been turned into stone
and sunk into the depths – from the song by Shi Zhi – You about the Yunnan legend.
Marne L. Kilates
Born: November 5,1952 (age 64 years), Daraga, Albay

• An author and published poet, editor, and translator

• He has published three books of his own poetry, nine
books of poetry translations from Filipino into English,
edited or co-edited various literary anthologies, and
participated in various international literary anthologies,
with some of the details as follows:
• Three books of poetry: Children of the Snarl & Other
Poems (Aklat Peskador, 1987), Poems en Route (UST Press,
1998), and Mostly in Monsoon Weather (UP Press, 2007).
• Nine books of translation, including Florante at Laura by
Francisco Baltazar Balagtas
Ang Duwende
(Folklore from Bicol)
Damiana Ligon Eugenio
(September 27, 1921 – October 10, 2014)
• known as the mother of Philippine Folklore, was also
a Filipino female author and has several
publications in the field of Philippine literature
(folklore)
• Damiana was a graduate of BSE from the UP as
Cum Laude and finished her M.A degree in English
Literature and folklore.
• She was a professor at the University of the
Philippines at the department of English and
Comparative Literature for the college of Arts in
Diliman: Vol. III, The Legends, Philippine Folk
Literature, University of the Philippines Press.
Cebuano
Literature
UNIT III – THE DIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
 Lesson 3: Cebuano Literature
 Cebu is known as “The Queen of the South “ distinguishes
itself with its rich and vibrant literary tradition.
 Cebuano literature has proliferated across Cebu, Bohol,
Siquijor, and Negros Oriental.
 Lesson 3: Cebuano Literature
Cebuano Literature may be traced back to several poetic forms.
 These included the “balak” (which contains a “balaybay” or
metaphor), the “tigmo” (riddles), “panultihon” (proverbs), and
“garay” verses.
 “Balitaw,” a poetic debate that required the participants (a
man and a woman) to improvise and even sing their lines.
 Improvised poetry was also present in the dramatic genre of
the “kulilising hari”.
The Santo Niño of Cebu
A Visayan Folktale
 Usahay: A Visayan Love Song
(Visayan Poetry)
Usahay Sometimes
Nakadamgo ako I had a dream,
Nga ikaw ug ako that you and I
Nagkahugugma – ay fell in love.
Nganong damunghon ko ikaw? Why do I dream of you?
Damguhon sa kanunay I dream ( of you) often
Sa akong kamingaw. in my loneliness.
Usahay, nagamahay ako Sometimes, I regret. . .
Ngano’ng nabuhi pa Why was I even born
Ning Kalibutan Here in this world?
Ngano’ng gi tiaw-tiawan Why do you belittle
Male version: Kanimo, ‘day My love for you,
Female version: Kanimo, da For you
Ilonggo
Literature
UNIT III – THE DIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
 Lesson 4: Ilonggo Literature
 The lingua franca of the West Visayas in Central Philippines is
called Hiligaynon.
 Hiligaynon is spoken in Iloilo City in all the coastal towns north
of Iloilo City, in all of Guimaras, in most of Roxas City in Capiz,
and in Bacolod City and most of the towns of Negros Occidental.
 Kinaray-a or Hiraya is the mother language of West Visayas,
the language spoken by the central and southern towns of Iloilo,
all of the province of Antique and most of Capiz. The
 Lesson 4: Ilonggo Literature
 Though distinctly different from Hiligaynon, Kinaray-a and
Aklanon are conveniently considered by many linguists and
literary researchers as subsumed in the lingua franca.
 Current writers in Kinaray-a and Aklanon have shown that it is
not so.
 Folk literature ranges from brief riddles, proverbs, ditties, ritual
chants to elaborate love songs, tales and extensive epics. A poem
is called binalaybay and the tale is the asoy or the sugilanon.
The Story of the First Durian
(The Hermit’s Three Wishes)

• Barom-Mai
• Madayaw-Bayho
• Impit Purok (the hermit)
• Hangin-Bai
HINILAWOD
(Western Visayas – Ilonggo Folklore)
Characters:
Alunsina
- Goddess of the eastern sky
Kaptan
- King of the gods
Datu Paubari
- A mortal; mighty ruler of halawod
Maklium-sa-twan
- God of the plains
Characters:
Suklang Malayon
- Goddess and guardian of happy homes; sister of Alunsina
Labaw Donggon
- Eldest of the three
Angoy Ginbitinan
- 1st wife of Labaw Donggon from HANDUG
Manalintad
- A monster that was killed by Labaw Donggon as a part of his
dowry
Characters:
Abyang Durunuun
- Sister of sumpoy; lord of underworld, whose beauty is
legendary.
- 2nd wife of Labaw Donggon, lived in TARAMBANG BUROK
Sikay Padalogdog
- Giant with a hundred arms
Malitong Yawa Sinigmaling Diwata
- 3rd prospect of Labaw Donggon
- Young bride of Saragnayan
Characters:
Saragnayan
- Lord of the darkness
Aso Mangga
- Son of Angoy Ginbitinan
Abyang Baranugon
- Son of Abyang Durunuun; he defeated Saragnayan and won
his father's freedom
Humadapnon
- 2nd of the triplets; was angry at what happened with his
brother so he wanted to take revenge
Characters:
 Buyong Matanayon
- Accompanied Humadapnon; known fornhis skills in swordmanship
Piganun
- Seductive sorceress
Datu Umbaw Pinaumbaw
- Ruler of PINILING TUBIG, he was giving his daughter for
marriage to whoever could remove the huge boulder that rolled
from a mountain into the center of the village
Burigadang Pada Sinaklang Bulawan
- Goddess of greed
Characters:
Duyong Makabigting
- Son of the mighty DATU BALAHIDYONG of
PALING BUKID
Dumalapdap
- 3rd brother; left for Burutlakan-Ka-Adlaw where
the LUBAT-LUBYOK HANGINUN SI
MAHUYOKHUYOKON
Dumasig
- The most powerful wrestler
Eastern Visayan
Literature
UNIT III – THE DIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
 Lesson 5: Eastern Visayan Literature
 The literature of Eastern Visayas refers to the literature written
in Waray and Cebuano by writers from the region.
 Of the two, it is Waray literature that has been collected,
recorded, and documented by scholars and researchers.
 Earliest accounts of East Visayan literature date back to 1668
when a Spanish Jesuit by the name of Fr. Ignatio Francisco Alzina
documented the poetic forms such as the candu, haya, ambahan,
canogon, bical, balac, siday and awit.
 Lesson 5: Eastern Visayan Literature
 The literature of Eastern Visayas refers to the literature written
in Waray and Cebuano by writers from the region.
 Of the two, it is Waray literature that has been collected,
recorded, and documented by scholars and researchers.
 Earliest accounts of East Visayan literature date back to 1668
when a Spanish Jesuit by the name of Fr. Ignatio Francisco Alzina
documented the poetic forms such as the candu, haya, ambahan,
canogon, bical, balac, siday and awit.
 Lesson 5: Eastern Visayan Literature
 He also described the susumaton and posong, early forms of
narratives. Theater tradition was very much in place – in the
performance of poetry, rituals, and mimetic dances. Dances
mimed the joys and activities of the ancient Waray.
 Lesson 5: Eastern Visayan Literature
 With three centuries of Spanish colonization and another
period of American occupation, old rituals, poetic forms and
narratives had undergone reinvention.
 Balac - a poetic love joust between a man and a woman.
 During the Spanish period, the balac was called the amoral;
during the American occupation, it was renamed ismayling, a term
derived from the English word “smile.”
 Lesson 5: Eastern Visayan Literature
 According to a literary investigator, in certain areas of Samar,
the same balac form or ismayling has been reinvented to express
anti-imperialist sentiments where the woman represents the
motherland and the man, the patriot who professes his love of
country.
Flowers of May
(Translated by the staff of Leyte-Samar Studies)
How lovely and how choice
are the ilang-ilang, champaca and sampaguita
the fragrant roses, rosal and azucena:
their scent fills the air
and is wafted far away . . .
sweet flowers of May.
Flowers cover our native land
So exquisite they captive the mind
the waling-waling and other orchids
with colors to delight the eyes
loved or not, they are still admired
Though they wither fast, they are flowers of
May.
Even the common gumamela
in the morning very proudly blooms,
the calachuchi, the marigold,
have beauty and fragrance to rival others,
we don’t have to go to other places,
we have many flowers of May.
Flowers of all kinds have we
no need is there to name them,
who are the adornment of our existence,
like fire in month of may
Like a Joke That Seems True And we Taclobanos, whether of the towns or of
the barrios,
Allow the Chinese to become millionaires
Pest and lightning may strike them in Manila
But pray not there in restaurant of Go Bani Who cares if the bones in the soup are already
The fifth “pansit” still delights the tongues, a year old
Palates, and throats of us here in tacloban. In that can to which they keep adding water?
We might be slurping hot pig slop,
Cruel ! How oppressive these Manilans are Fine enough if it thick and well – flavored.
Who wants their bread and rice clean;
How unfortunate for Kim On, for Tin Siugaw We do not have to follow the ways of Manila.
They’ll never get rich in the business. For tasty is the chopsuey blended with rising
water;
We do not have their likes in Tacloban It is not in keeping for our government to just
I’ve grown bleary-eyed, stopped, white-haired follow;
since. Or to go this way or that or be indecisive.
The Least Miracle We all thought wrongly I might die,
Carlos A. Angeles
And for a time I could not walk
Someday there will be sudden again.
miracles It was a sorcerer who limned a
Conjured in the potent noon and fertile cross
male hour Above those in the gallery , upon
And shall be no news, nor shall seeing, knelt
appear in papers. Before the formal triumph of the
In the only bed then in the old house saint,
I lay with my leg broken from a fall While my father wept out me who
And bathed in my own blood and had
marrow. The last, the least faith of us all.
 Southern
Mindanao
Literature
UNIT III – THE DIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
 Lesson 6: Southern Mindanao Literature
 Southern Mindanao, a region that is surrounded by epics,
legends, folk tales, mysteries, mythology and ancient tribes.
 Tales about native heroes, gifted with powers from the gods,
who fought with monsters and triumphs over huge armies. Riding
the wind on flying shields and lightning to protect the earliest
communities of the island.
 Lesson 6: Southern Mindanao Literature
Several thousand years ago, the first settlers in the Philippines,
tribes with sounding names as Aetas and an aboriginal tribe the
Negritos, crossed the shallow waters and land bridges from the
Asian mainland to the Philippine Archipelago. These Mindanaoans
ancestors arrived on the island during the Indo-Malay via Celebes
and Borneo through the Sulu archipelago, they settled in the region
between Cotabato and Zamboanga and established flourishing
settlements in North-eastern Mindanao, specifically in Butuan, a city
now located in the Caraga Region.
 Lesson 6: Southern Mindanao Literature
The Legend of the Ten Datus narrates about the forefathers of
the Filipinos, a great leader named Datu Puti, along with nine other
chieftains left their homes in Borneo to escape the cruel regime of
Sultan Makatunaw.
After reaching the islands of Panay they befriended the native
Aetas tribe. This friendly and peaceful tribe decided to sell a
piece of their land to the fugitives from Borneo. The chieftains gave
the Aetas leader Marikudo a golden Salakot, a native head piece,
after the barter they lived together in peace and harmony.
A Story of the Orphan Girl
Subanon
 National
Capital
Region
Literature
UNIT III – THE DIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
 Lesson 7: NCR Literature
Tagalog literature has been born, cradled, nourished and
peaked into fruition in the provinces of Southern Luzon,
Central Luzon and the present Metropolitan Manila or the
National Capital Region.
 Lesson 7: NCR Literature
Among the Southern Tagalog provinces are Cavite,
Batangas, Laguna, Quezon, Aurora, Oriental Mindoro,
Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Palawan and some towns
of Rizal province. In Central Luzon, there are three
provinces where Tagalog is predominantly used and these
are the provinces of Nueva Ecija, Bataan and Bulacan.
 Lesson 7: NCR Literature
 Tagalog region is the birthplace of a rich tradition of Philippine
culture in language, politics, economy and literature.
 The oldest university in the Philippines, University of Sto. Tomas is
located in Manila.
The first printing press was established in Manila. This gave way
to the publication of the first book, Doctrina Cristiana in
xylography in 1593, written in Spanish and Tagalog versions. The
bible was first translated into Tagalog in Barlaan and Josaphat in
1708 and 1712.
 Lesson 7: NCR Literature
 The life of Christ in epic tradition known popularly today as
Pasyon was written in Tagalog by various writers like Gaspar
Aquino de Belen and Fr. Mariano Pilapil.
 The literary tradition in the Tagalog regions is especially
outstanding in the field of oral literature like bugtong (riddle),
proverbs, native songs. These oral literatures are always in poetic
forms, usually seven-syllabic rhymes, so Asian in form and
perspective.
 Lesson 7: NCR Literature
Considering this rich and envigorating cultural matrix, it is not
surprising that it is the Tagalog region that was destined to be the
birthplace of historic men in Philippine politics, culture and
literature that includes Francisco Balagtas Baltazar, Jose Rizal,
Andres Bonifacio, Apolinario Mabini, Emilio Jacinto, Marcelo H. del
Pilar, Jose P. Laurel, Claro M. Recto, Amado V. Hernandez, Lope K.
Santos, Lazaro Francisco, Faustino Aguilar, Jose Corazon de Jesus,
Alejandro Abadilla, Modesto de Castro.
 To My Sweetie Polly
(An Elegy)
Dr. Kristine Molina - Doria
How can I ever thank you, dear Polly?
For you have shown your true love and
loyalty;
How can I ever repay your service, dear
Polly?
For you took care of me whenever I was
lonely;
How can I ever forget you, dear Polly?
For you always brought happiness to my
family
I still can see you struggling,
You never show that you’re in pain;
You still can manage to smile,
Though I really can’t help but cry.
But I am ready to accept it…
If inevitably you’re going to die.
You may just be a small pedigree,
But let me remember you in ,y simple way;
For most nine years that we were together,
Wherever you are now my little sweetie,
You will always be loved, dear Polly,
And your name will always in me.
Dr. Kristine Molina-Doria was born on October 5, 1977, in
Quezon City.
 The elder of two children, she grew up as a loving and
obedient daughter to her father Attorney Manuel Luis Molina
(deceased), and her mother Zenaida Molina (now a retired
chemist), a caring sister to her brother Ivan Paul Molina (now
a lawyer).
 She graduated CUM LAUDE in Bachelor of Arts major in
Communication Arts with proficiency in Public Relations, and
received the PhilWomenian Award in 1998 at the Philippine
Women’s University.
 Right after college, Doria was hired as a pre-school teacher at
School of Saint Anthony.
 Six months later, she tried her luck at the National College of
Business and Arts (NCBA) in Fairview, Quezon City, got in and
started teaching as a college professor at the age of 21. Right
now, Doria is on her 15th year of service as a College
Professor at NCBA.
Balete: Home of Spirits
Vicente Paolo Langit

Once there was a scientist in the like of Frankenstein, the doctor

who created a monster in Mary Shelly’s novel in the late 18th
century. This scientist wanted to make an artificial egg, but one that
possesses all the qualities of a natural egg. With his intensive
knowledge in chemistry and biology and engineering he
succeeded at last in making one that is complete with albumin
(white), yolk (yellow center), and of course a perfect eggshell.
Balete: Home of Spirits
Vicente Paolo Langit

Confident that he was after testing his masterpiece in the

laboratory, he then proceeded in having it incubated, placing it in
the center of a dozen natural eggs and had a mother hen sit on
them. Days passed by and finally sweet sounds came from under
the brooding hen. There were twelve beautiful, little chicks. All the
eggs hatched except one, the thirteenth – his artificial egg.
Dr. Abe V. Rotor
Quezon City,
Metro Manila,
Philippines

Award-winning author of "The Living with Nature Handbook"

(Gintong Aklat Award 2003) and "Living with Nature in Our Times"
(National Book Award 2008); professor, University of Santo Tomas;
School-on-Air instructor, (Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid, winner of
Gawad Oscar Florendo for Development Communication) DZRB 738
KHzAM Band, 8 to 9 o'clock evening, Monday to Friday.);
Outstanding Teacher in the Philippines (Commission on Higher
Education - CHED 2002); Filipino Scientist (DOST-Batong Balani);
former Director, National Food Authority; and Consultant on food
and agriculture, Senate of the Philippines.