21ST CENTURY
LITERATURE FROM
THE PHILIPPINES AND
THE WORLD
BERNADETH P. SALMORO
INSTRUCTOR
OBJECTIVES
At the end of the lesson, the students are expected
to:
a. identify the geographic, linguistic, and ethnic
dimensions of Philippine literary history from
Spanish Colonial ;
b. enumerate the writers contribution during
Spanish colonization; and
c. construct literary forms.
Historical Background
Spanish colonization of
the Philippines started in
1565 during the time of
Miguel Lopez de Legazpi,
the first Spanish governor
– general in the
Philippines.
Changes occurred in the lives of
Filipinos
Catholic religion.
houses made of stones and bricks
Carriages, trains and boats
Held fiestas to honor the saints, pope and the
governors.
cockfight, horse races and the theater
EDUCATION IN SPANISH ERA
-Education was “religion centered”
-Education for elite only
-Spanish is compulsory.
-Boys and girls are separated
Spanish Influences on Philippine
Literature
Alibata
Spanish Influences on Philippine
Literature
Teaching of the Christian Doctrine
Printing was introduced
European legends and traditions
Spanish Influences on Philippine
Literature
The Spanish language became the literary
language during this time
Ancient literature was collected and
translated to Tagalog and other dialects.
Grammar books were printed in Filipino
Literature: religious prose and poetry
and secular prose and poetry
Literary Writers & their
Works
1. Dr. Jose P. Rizal
Mi Ultimo Adios (My Last
Farewell)
Sobre La Indolencia De Los
Filipinos ( On The Indolence of
the Filipino)
A La Juventud Filipina ( To The
Filipino Youth)
Junto Al Pasig (Beside the Pasig
River)
2. Marcelo H. Del Pilar
Pag – ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa
Kaiingat Kayo
Dasalan at Tocsohan
Sagot sa Espanya sa
Hibik ng Pilipinas
3. Graciano Lopez Jaena
Founded La Solidaridad
Fray Botod
4. Mariano Ponce
Ang Alamat ng Bulacan
Sobre Filipinos
5. Pedro Paterno
Ninay(1st Social Novel)
Sampaguitas y Poesia
Varias (sampaguita &
Varied Poems
6. Andres Bonifacio
Ang Dapat Mabatid ng
mga Tagalog
Mga Anak ng Bayan
Huling Paalam
7. Emilio Jacinto
Brain of Katipunan
Editor of kalayaan
Kartilya ng Katipunan
Liwanag sa Dilim
8. Jose Palma
Best known as the
author of the lyrics of
the national anthem
JFFNFKKKF
2. Nuestra Señora del Rosario
The second book
printed in the
Philippines was written
by Fr. Blancas de San
Jose in 1602.
It contains the
biographies of saints,
novenas, and questions
and answers on religion.
3. Libro de los Cuatro Postprimeras de Hombre
(in Spanish and Tagalog)
This is the first book
printed in typography.
Written by Francisco
Blanca de San Jose,
known as the father of
grammarians.
4. Barlaan at Josephat.
This is a Biblical story
printed in the Philippines
and translated to Tagalog
from Greek by Fr. Antonio
de Borja.
It is believed to be the first
Tagalog novel published in
the Philippines even if it is
only a translation.
5. The Pasion
This is the book about the
life and sufferings of Jesus
Christ.
There were 4 versions of
this in Tagalog .
Pilapil version (by Mariano Pilapil of Bulacan, 1814)
de Belen version (by Gaspar Aquino de Belen,1704)
de la Merced (by Aniceto de la Merced, 1856)
de Guia version (by Luis de Guia in 1750)
6. Urbana at Felisa
A book by Modesto de
Castro, the so called Father
of Classic Prose in Tagalog.
These are letters between
two sisters Urbana at Felisa
and have influenced greatly
the behavior of people in
society because the letters
dealt with good behavior.
7. Ang Mga Dalit kay Maria
(Psalms for Mary)
A collection of songs
praising the Virgin Mary.
Fr. Mariano Sevilla, a
Filipino priest, wrote this
in 1865 and it was
popular especially during
the May time “Flores de
Mayo” festival.
Literary
Compositions
Literary Compositions
1. Arte y Reglas de la Lengua Tagala (Art and rules
of the Tagalog language). Written by Fr. Blancas
de San Jose and translated to Tagalog by Tomas
Pinpin in 1610.
2. Compendio de la Lengua Tagala (Understanding
the Tagalog language). Written by Fr. Gaspar de San
Agustin in 1703.
3. Vocabulario de la Lengua Tagala (Tagalog
vocabulary). The first Tagalog dictionary written by
Fr. Pedro de San Buenaventura in 1613.
Literary Compositions
5. Vocabulario de la Lengua Bisaya (Bisayan
vocabulary). The best language book in Visayan
by Mateo Sanchez in 1711
6. Arte de la Lengua Ilokana (The Art of the Ilocano
language). The first Ilocano grammar book by
Francisco Lopez.
7. Arte de la Lengua Bicolana (The Art of the Bicol
language). The first book in the Bicol language
and written by Fr. Marcos Lisbon in 1754.
Folk Songs
Folk songs became widespread in the
Philippines. They show the Filipinos’ innate
appreciation for and love of beauty.
Example:
Leron-Leron Sinta (Tagalog)
Pamulinawen ( Iloko)
Dandansoy (Bisaya)
Sarong Banggi (Bicol)
Atin Cu Pung Singsing (Kapampangan)
Religious an Recreational Plays
1. Tibag
means “to excavate”.
It remind us about the search
of St. Helena for the Cross on
which Jesus died.
2. The Salubong (or Panubong)
An Easter play that
dramatizes the meeting of
the Risen Christ and His
Mother.
3. Lagaylay
A special occasion for the Pilarenos of
Sorsogon during Maytime to get together.
Objective - praise,
respect and
offering of love to
the Blessed Cross
by St. Helen on the
mound she had
dug in.
4. The Cenaculo
A dramatic performance
to commemorate the
passion and death of
Jesus Christ.
Two kinds: The Cantada
& The Hablada
This is written in
octosyllabic verse, with 8
verses to the stanza.
5. Panunuluyan
Presented before
12:00 on Christmas
Eve.
A presentation of
the search of the
Virgin Mary and ST.
oseph for an inn to
deliver baby Jesus
6. Carillo (Shadow Play)
A form of dramatic entertainment
performed in a moonless night during a town
fiesta or on dark nights after a harvest.
Various names:
Carillo – Manila, Rizal Batangas & Laguna
Titres – Ilocos Norte, Pangasinan, Bataan,
Capiz & Negros
Titiri – Zambales
Gagalo/Kikimut - Pampanga & Tarlac
Aliala – La Union
7. The Zarzuela
Considered as the “father of drama”
A musical comedy or melodrama in three acts
which dealt with man’s passions an demotions like
love, hate, revenge, cruelty, avarice or some social
or political problem.
8. The Sainete
A short musical
comedy popular during
the 18th century.
They were
exaggerated comedies
shown between acts of
long plays and were
mostly performed by
characters from the
lower classes.
Other noted plays/events in this period:
a. The Moro-Moro
Performed during town fiestas to entertain the people
and to remind them of their Christian religion.
The plot is usually the same that of a Christian princess
or a nobleman’s daughter who is captured by the
Mohammedans.
b. Duplo
A poetic joust in speaking and
reasoning. The roles are taken from the
Bible and from proverbs and sayings.
Other noted plays/events in this period:
c. Karagatan
A peotic vehicle of socio – religious nature
celebrated during the death of a person.
d. Balagtasan
This is a poetic joust or a contest of
skills in debate on a particular topic or
issue.
e. The Dung – aw
A chant in free verse by a bereaved person beside
the corpse of the dead.
e. The Awit And The Corrido
Awit Corrido
Dodecasyllabic verse Octocyllabic verse
Are fabricated stories Were usually
from writers’ legends or stories
imagination although from European
the setting and countries like
characters are France, Spain, Italy
European and Greece
Ex. “Florante at Laura”
Activity
I. Instructions: Identify the following questions with the
correct responses, write your answer on the space
provided.
_______1. Who was the sole representative of the Spanish
Crown in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial Period?
_______2. The first published book in the Philippines during
Spanish times.
_______3. A musical comedy or a melodrama which acts
with men’s passion and emotion like love, hate, revenge,
cruelty, avarice or some political problem.
_______4. Dramatic performance for the
purpose of manifesting devotion for the holy
cross.
_______5. Best known as the author of the lyrics
of the national anthem.
_______6. It is a poetic joust or a contest of skills
and debate of a particular topic or issue.
_______7. This is a poetic joust in speaking and
reasoning.
_______8. Dramatizes the reunion of the Risen
Christ and his mother.
_______9. The first alphabet used during Spanish
period.
_______10. This is a chant in free verse by a
bereaved person on his representative behind the
corpse of the dead.
II. Directions: Complete the table below by
defining each literary form and provide an
example.
Literary form Definition Example
1. Awit
2. Dung - aw
3. Pasyon
