LESSON: CANONICAL

AUTHORS AND WORKS OF

PHILIPPINE NATIONAL
ARTISTS IN LITERATURE IN
POETRY
Objectives: After the lesson, the students are expected to:
1. Define what historical and biographical criticism is;
and its importance in interpreting poetry and its
elements.
2. Identify the literary works (POETRY in particular) of
Filipino authors from the regions and their contribution to
the development of local literature through historical and
biographical criticism.
3. Appreciate the importance of our own language in
literary expression. Values: Being aware of one’s national
language and sense of nationalism
Objectives:
After the lesson, the students are expected to:
1.Define what historical and biographical criticism is;
and its importance in interpreting poetry and its
elements.
2.Identify the literary works (POETRY in particular) of
Filipino authors from the regions and their contribution
to the development of local literature through historical
and biographical criticism.
3.Appreciate the importance of our own language in
literary expression. Values: Being aware of one’s
national language and sense of nationalism
BEFORE WE BEGIN LET’S
HAVE A SIMPLE
ANALYSIS WITH THESE 2
TEXT:
Would you know my name
If I saw you in heaven? • Singer: Eric Clapton
Would it be the same
• It was written by Eric
If I saw you in heaven?
Clapton and Will
I must be strong and carry on Jennings
'Cause I know I don't belong here in
heaven • This song is dedicated
Would you hold my hand for his four-year-old son
If I saw you in heaven? who fell from a window
Would you help me stand on March 20, 1991 and
died
If I saw you in heaven?
I'll find my way through night and day
'Cause I know I just can't stay here in
heaven
• Written by the Ministry of
Information that was
formed by the British
Government for publicity
and propaganda during
World War 2

• After World War 2, this

poster was used and
scattered across the British
Isles for boosting the
morale of their people.
DEFINITION: HISTORICAL
• Seeks to understand a literary work by
investigating the social, cultural and intellectual
context that produced it: a context that necessarily
includes the artist’s biography and milieu.
• A key goal for historical critics is to understand the
effect of a literary work upon its original readers.
• When, where and why?
Definition: Biographical
• Literature is written by actual people and
understanding an author’s life can help readers
more thoroughly comprehend the work
• Focuses on explicating the literary work by
using the insight provided by knowledge of the
author’s life
 National Artist for
Literature Cirilo F.
Bautista, 76, writes 30
Cirilo F. Bautista (July 9, 1941
– May 6, 2018) was
a Filipino poet, critic and writer
of nonfiction. He was conferred
with the National Artist of the
Philippines award in 2014.
 EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION
•Bautista was born in Manila on July 9,
1941 and spent his childhood in Balic-
Balic, Sampaloc.
He received his basic
education from Legarda
Elementary School (1st
Honorable Menation, 1954)
and Mapa High
School (Valedictorian, 1959).
He received his degrees in AB Literature from
the University of Santo Tomas (magna cum
laude, 1963), MA Literature from St. Louis
University, Baguio (magna cum laude, 1968),
and Doctor of Arts in Language and Literature
from De La Salle University-Manila(1990). He
received a fellowship to attend the International
Writing Program at the University of
Iowa (1968–1969).
 A MAN FALLS TO HIS DEATH: AN
EVALUATION
‘Blood is nothing. Space is all.’ This quote
magnifies the encompassing message the poem
expresses. In reality nowadays, though the
emergence of media makes presenting news
faster and easier, only technicalities are taken
into consideration and sometimes, truth is
manipulated.
The poem elicits the critical and creative thinking of
the readers. The poem can be interpreted as a suicide
or as a murder. Both have a different meaning,
however; their similarity is connected to the concept
of death. Bautista writes, “He was, a day ago,
threatened/with dismissal for displeasing a superior”
(22-23) The character, being lower in rank, got
anxious; which eventually led to the thought of
committing suicide.
The poem used mathematical and scientific
jargons to explain the man’s death,
neglecting the emotional aspect supposedly
carried by a person’s passing. Blood is
nothing – the man’s death is not of any
importance to the company or the media.
Space is all – the opportunity for new
headlines about a tragedy is more important.
•Bautista writes, “a shadow traced the lines
on his foot, while shooting his brain with
firelights the money did” The word ‘shadow’
is a metaphor for the character’s mental
health (anxiety/depression). It explains that
his mental health embraced his whole
being, leading to a suicidal ideation.
Cirilo Bautista’s impressive educational
background might explain the poem’s
extensive use of mathematics and
science. He was the class valedictorian of
his high school, graduated magna cum
laude for his bachelor’s and master’s
degree in the University of Santo Tomas
and Saint Louis University
He finished his doctorate at De
La Salle University-Manila. For
him to incorporate jargons
effectively in his poem, he must
be somehow knowledgeable of
the field.
We, Filipinos, are often discriminated
against when we go to find greener
pastures abroad. Being a native of a
third world country, competing with
locals in countries like the United States
seems nonviable. Because of this, some
of us experience racial prejudice when
trying to work in other countries.
Despite being the best of the best, having all the
talent life could give, some would still look at us as
people unfit for global competency. This could be
one of the author’s driving forces to write the
poem. The character felt alone, unimportant,
and that no one would notice his death. Being
threatened with dismissal from a superior, plus the
added toxicity from the workplace, consumed the
man and brought him to take his own life.
The poem’s last line hints that the piece
may have been part of an obituary page
announcing the death of a worker. No hint
of remorse or regret from the accident was
evident throughout the article and the last
line was just made out of formality by the
company to address the issue.
This is the sad truth about our news nowadays.
There is less regard for the authenticity, but a
high regard for the business side of the
story. The media only reports what they want us
to know. There may still be some genuine media
personnel, but majority are now swayed with
fame and fortune. A bulk of cash and some
hushed agreements seal deals. After all, money
makes the world go round.
This poem is the epitome of our lack of
humanity sometimes. Instead of being
genuinely concerned about a person’s
misfortune, some of us turn it into
opportunities for conversations such as
gossiping, and the like.
Same as how the society runs now.
Newscasters are more concerned
about being able to deliver fast news
rather than helping. Companies are
more concerned about being able to
earn tons of money rather than taking
into consideration their workers’ needs
Being human is not just about being able to
live, breathe, and feel. It is about living,
breathing, and feeling, having other people
to spend it to. We have to be
compassionate of one another because no
one deserves to feel alone. No one is ever
alone.
“A little learning is a
dangerous thing.”