21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World ǀ PRE-COLONIAL LITERATURE

21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World ǀ PRE-COLONIAL LITERATURE

HOUSE
RULES
• I will listen to the discussion.
• I will participate in the activities.
• I will respect the opinion of my classmates.
• I will speak English to express my ideas.
 21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World ǀ PRE-COLONIAL LITERATURE

OBJECTIV
• Answer a diagnostic quiz “Litt. Me Answer”;
ES
• Identify what is literature and folklore;
• Learn about riddles from indigenous tribes like the
Gaddang,Tagalog, and Bisaya;
• Write an original riddle using the formula of the
Tanaga.
21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World ǀ PRE-COLONIAL LITERATURE

Litt. Me
Answer!
 21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World ǀ PRE-COLONIAL LITERATURE

1. The early Filipinos live in scattered barangay

governed by a chieftain which they called rajah or
datu.
a. True b. False Answer: A.
True
2. The period of time before colonization of a region or
country.
a. colonial b. pre-colonial Answer: b. pre
c. pre-history d. post-colonial-colonial
 21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World ǀ PRE-COLONIAL LITERATURE

3. Identify the two classifications of folk literature:

a. local and global b. dynamic and static
c. flat and round d. floating and oral
Answer: d. floating and
4. It is a rhythmical
oral type of literary composition that
usually serves to excite the readers.
a. poetry b. prose Answer: a. poetry
 21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World ǀ PRE-COLONIAL LITERATURE

5. Philippine myths show that ancient Filipinos

believed in one supreme god and in a number of
lesser gods and goddesses.
a. True b. False Answer: b. False
 21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World ǀ PRE-COLONIAL LITERATURE

PRE-COLONIAL
LITERATURE:
What took place

r e ?
ra tu
li te
is
hat
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 21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World ǀ PRE-COLONIAL LITERATURE

LITERATU
RE
• Etymologically, the term derives from
Latin litaritura/litteratura “writing formed with letters,”
although some definitions include spoken or sung
texts.

• Writings in which expression and form, in connection

with ideas of permanent and universal interest, are
characteristic or essential features, as poetry, novels,
history, biography, and essays.
 21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World ǀ PRE-COLONIAL LITERATURE

Folklore
•  literally means “lore” or knowledge of the “folk” or
people. It referred chiefly to oral knowledge preserved
among the illiterate masses elsewhere

RIDDLES
Riddles are expression in rhymes using one or two images
that refer to a particular thing or object that has to be
guessed. Riddles are used for entertainment, mental
exercises and amusement.
21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World ǀ PRE-COLONIAL LITERATURE

GAD DAN G

The “Gaddang” are an indigenous Filipino

people; a linguistically identified ethnic group
sharing centuries of residence in the watershed of
the Cagayan River in Northern Luzon.

Their name derives from a combination of ga

“heat” and dang “burned”, hence, they have a
darker complexion compared to other peoples of
the Cordilleras. 
21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World ǀ PRE-COLONIAL LITERATURE

GADDANG RIDDLE
1. Nu ibbafaw ay sinalacassag; nu arrollam ay
malilimac.
 It is noisy when shallow, and silent when
deep.
Answer: Mahat/River
21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World ǀ PRE-COLONIAL LITERATURE

Tagalog

Tagalog, largest cultural-linguistic group in

the Philippines. They form the dominant
population in the city of Manila.
Tagalog is an Austronesian (Malayo-
Polynesian) language like the other Philippine
languages. The mother tongue of most some
Filipinos, it was chosen as the basis of the
national language (Pilipino) and is taught in all
schools.
 21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World ǀ PRE-COLONIAL LITERATURE

TAGALOG RIDDLES
1. Naligo ang capitan hindi nabasa ang tiyan.
The captain took a bath without his belly getting wet.
Answer: Banca/Boat

2. Kung ako ay iyo pakatitigan pagkita sa akiy di mapapalaran.

If you look at me, you cannot see me.
Answer: Arao/Sun
3. Limang puno ng niyog, isa’y matayog.
Five coconut trees, one stands out.
Answer: Daliri/Fingers
21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World ǀ PRE-COLONIAL LITERATURE

BIsaya

Bisaya is a general term use to describe

different Bisaya Ethnic groups and different
Bisaya languages.
BISAYA (Bisayans or Visayans) are people
who trace their Ethnic roots or bloodline in
Bisaya islands (Visayas islands).
 21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World ǀ PRE-COLONIAL LITERATURE

BISAYA RIDDLE

1. Sa ibabaw kadaruhan, sa ilawom kabatuhan.

The surface is a rice field, beneath are rocks.
Answer: Kakaw/Cocoa
 21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World ǀ PRE-COLONIAL LITERATURE

Traditional Type of Filipino Poems

TANAG
A
_______ Rhyme Scheme Example:

{
 aaaa
_______ Palay ni Ildefonso Santos
 aabb
4 lines
_______  abab
Palay siyang matino,
 abba
_______  aaab
Nang humangi’y yumuko
Nguni’t muling tumayo
 baaa
{
Nagkabunga ng ginto.
 abcd
7 syllables
 21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World ǀ PRE-COLONIAL LITERATURE

Traditional Type of Filipino Poems

DALIT

________ Rhyme Scheme Example:

{
 aaaa
________ Zoren Mercurio
 aabb
4 lines
________  abab
Nag aral siya ng pilit
 abba
________  aaab
Nang karangala’y makamit.
Buong buhay s’yang nagtiis.
 baaa
{
Makapagtapos ang nais.
 abcd
8 syllables

Note: Stricter forms consist two stanzas.

21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World ǀ PRE-COLONIAL LITERATURE

RECA
P
 21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World ǀ PRE-COLONIAL LITERATURE

ACTIVITY
Direction: Write an original riddle using the
formula of the Tanaga. It could either be in
Bisaya or Tagalog with its corresponding
English translation and answer. Make it witty or
funny. Make the answer unpredictable. Write it
on a ½ crosswise sheet of intermediate paper.
21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World ǀ PRE-COLONIAL LITERATURE

CRITERIA
Correct Tanaga Format 25
Wit or Fun Tone 25
Correct Grammar 25
Level of Unpredictability 25
 21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World ǀ PRE-COLONIAL LITERATURE

ASSIGNMENT:
Direction: Read about folktales of the Tinguan
and the Subanun tribes. Research about myths of
the Igorot, the Bukidnon, and the Mandaya tribes.
 21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World ǀ PRE-COLONIAL LITERATURE

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/introliterature/chapter/defining-literature/
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/literature

https://www.slideshare.net/glenda75/pre-colonial-literature#:~:text=It%20refe
rred%20chiefly%20to%20oral,have%20written%20knowledge%20or%20not.

http://www.ethnicgroupsphilippines.com/people/ethnic-groups-in-the-philippi
nes/gaddang/

http://www.ethnicgroupsphilippines.com/people/ethnic-groups-in-the-philippi
nes/pangasinense/

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Tagalog
https://www.facebook.com/BISAYA102/posts/who-are-the-bisaya-visayan-peo
pletop-3-most-spoken-bisaya-languages1-cebuano-20-/10155082839369436/

https://www.slideshare.net/EdenRoseRisma/pre-colonial-literature-1049092
37
21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World ǀ PRE-COLONIAL LITERATURE
21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World ǀ PRE-COLONIAL LITERATURE
21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World ǀ PRE-COLONIAL LITERATURE
21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World ǀ PRE-COLONIAL LITERATURE