AN OVERVIEW OF PHILIPPINE LITERARY HISTORY

The Literary Periods

The Pre- Colonial Period (1564)
The Spanish Period (1521-1898)
The American Period (1990-1942)
The Japanese Period and the Republic
 Pre-Colonial Period
• This existed before the Spanish occupation
in 1500's.
• It is oral in nature and full of lessons and
ideas about life, its blessings and its
consequences.
• It contains ideas from birth to grave.
 FORMS
* Oral Literature * Folk Songs
1. riddles 1.lullabies
2. proverbs 2. love songs
3. Songs of death
* Folk tales 4. Religious songs
1.myths
2.legends
3. epics
4. fables
 Spanish Period
• The start of the Philippine's new colorful history took
place in March 6,1521 when Ferdinand Magellan
docked on the shores of Homonhon.
• The Filipinos called “Ladinos”, meaning they were
latinized.
• Filipinos were called two things, one is Taga-bayan
and Taga-bukid.
 FORMS
* Religious Literature
1. Pasyon
2. Senakulo
3. Komedya
* Propaganda Literature
* Secular or Non- Religious literature
1. Awit
2. Kurido
3.Prose Naratives
 American Period
• The Philippine had a great leap in Education and Culture
• The use of English alongside Filipino was practiced.
• The Philippines Public School system was introduced.
• Free public instruction was given to the Filipinos.
• The literature during the American period was considered as
imitative of American mode. Instead of asking students to
write originals, students ended up following the form of
American periods.
 FORMS

•Poetry
•Drama
•Remake Novels
 Japanese Period and The Republic
• The Philippine literature came into a halt, the use of
English languange was forbidden and the use of
Filipino language was mandated under the Japanese
rule.
• Filipino was given a break during this period. Many
wrote plays, poems,short stories, etc. , topic and
themes were often about life in the provinces.
 FORMS

• Poetry
• Fiction
• Drama
• Newspaper
• Essays
 LITERATURE of TODAY
• In the 21st century Philippine literature, there are lot of
literary innovations that are adapted and created by
Filipinos. Nowadays, even those who do not have any
significant literary background make their own way
using the freedom that they have to write and to
express.
History of the world is
the biography of the
great man.
-Thomas Carlyle