The Literature of

the Philippines
Across time
Let’s get
started
AMERICAN PERIOD
American Period (1900-1942)
The main contribution of the
Americans to our country is the
system of education. Part of
which was the introduction of
the English language.
They started teach the
young children
underneath the tree. The
first Teacher was the
Thomasites.
INITIAL AUTONOMY
Initial Autonomy (1935-1942) This
era “PANITIKAN” a group of
aristocratic writers was formed.
However, novels and theatrical shows
slowly became unpopular as foreign
films were introduced to the Filipino.
Japanese Occupation.
This period served as the
“GOLDEN PERIOD” for
the shorts stories and
Tagalog drama.
Nationalism, Patriotism,
and life struggles prevailed
as theme and motifs of
texts produced during such
period.
Types of Poems emerged
during this period:

1. Haiku
2. Tanaga
 HAIKU
The haiku, Japan’s foremost
poetic form became popular.
HAIKU (5/7/5 poetry.)
 TANAGA
-Ildefonso Santos introduced the
poetic form known TANAGA.
-Filipino poem like the Haiku, is
short but has measure and
Ryhme.
 -It has 4 lines with 7 syllables
each with the same rhyme at the
end of each line.
 -It has 4 lines with 7 syllables
each with the same rhyme at the
end of each line.
 Gentle Queen (Tanaga)
Dance with me across the sea,
stunning island I’ll take thee.
Reign as grand queen over all,
mild hand over big and small.
Contemporary Period/Post –
War Period/ Philippine
Republic Period
Contemporary Period/Post – War
Period/ Philippine Republic
Period. During such period, the
first republic was established. It
was the time which the forms of
short writing emerged – the
commercial and literary forms.
Commercial magazines Feature
numerous shorts stories of
neophyte writers. Also in this
era we started to have a Film
stream, Television, and Radio
as Contemporary Literature.