LESSON 1: PHILIPPINE

LITERARY HISTORY FROM

PRE-COLONIAL TO
CONTEMPORARY PERIOD.
Pre-Colonial Philipines Literature.
1. RIDDLE(BUGTONG)

 -Made up of one or more measured lines with rhymes and may consist of 4 to
12 syllables.
 -Showcase the Filipino wit, literary talent, and keen observation of the
surroundings.
 -Involves reference to one or two images that symbolize the characterustucs is
to be guessed.
1. May tubig na pinagpala, walang makakakuha kundi bata
2. Ate mo, ate ko, ate ng lahat ng tao.
3. Isda ko sa maribeles nasa loob ang kaliskis
4. Ang anak ay nakaupo na, ang ina’y gumagapang pa.
5. Maliit na bahay, puno ng mga patay.
6. Nagtago si Pedro nakalabas ang ulo
7. Kung kailan mo pinatay, saka pa humaba ang buhay.
8. Isang hukbong sundalo, dikit-dikit ang mga ulo.
9. Lumuluha walang mata, lumalakad walang paa.
10. Walang hininga ay may buhay, walang paa ay may kamay,
mabilog na parang buwan, ang mukha’y may bilang.
1. May tubig na pinagpala, walang makakakuha kundi bata
Sagot: Suso ng Ina
2. Ate mo, ate ko, ate ng lahat ng tao.
Sagot: Atis
3. Isda ko sa maribeles nasa loob ang kaliskis
Sagot: Sili
4. Ang anak ay nakaupo na, ang ina’y gumagapang pa.
Sagot: Kalabasa
5. Maliit na bahay, puno ng mga patay.
Sagot: Posporo
6. Nagtago si Pedro nakalabas ang ulo
Sagot: Pako
7. Kung kailan mo pinatay, saka pa humaba ang buhay.
Sagot: Kandila
8. Isang hukbong sundalo, dikit-dikit ang mga ulo.
Sagot: Walis
9. Lumuluha walang mata, lumalakad walang paa.
Sagot: Pluma o Pen
10. Walang hininga ay may buhay, walang paa ay may kamay,
mabilog na parang buwan, ang mukha’y may bilang.
Sagot: Orasan
 Purpose Of Bugtong
 To entertain. Living in remote areas, before the advent of electricity, the
families would sit around the fire and the elders would quiz the younger
generation with riddles.
 To educate. Riddles serve the function if passing down knowledge from one
generation to the next. They require thinking in order to solve them.
 To preserve the culture. Riddles communicate the old ways from one
generation to the next.
 2. Salawikain and Sawikain
 Epigrams/maxims/proverbs
 Short poems that have been customarily been used and served as laws or rules
on good behavior by our ancestors.
 Allegories or parables that impart lessons for the young.
1. Huwag gawin sa iba ang ayaw mong gawin sa iyo.
Kung hindi tayo magdudulot ng mga bagay na ayaw nating gawin sa atin ng
ibang tao, pawang mga kabutihan lang mangyayari.
2. Kung ano ang puno, siya ang bunga.
Kung ano ang pinanggalingan ay siya rin ang bunga. Kadalasan, ito ay
tumutukoy sa pagkakaparehas ng anak sa kanyang mga magulang.
3. Kung walang tiyaga, walang nilaga.
Walang pag-unlad kung hindi ka marunong mag tiyaga o magtrabaho ng maigi.
4. Pagkahaba-haba mang ng prosisyon sa simbahan din ang tuloy.
Sa kabila ng maraming taon at pagsubok na dumating, mauuwi pa rin sa kasalan
ang relasyon.
5. Nasa Diyos ang awa, nasa tao ang gawa.
May awa ang Diyos sa tao at nais nitong tulungan sa mga problema niya sa
buhay. Subalit, nasa tao pa rin kung kikilos siya o hindi.
6. Ang kaginhawaan sa kasiyahan matatagpuan at ‘di sa kasaganaan.
Kahit gaano ka masagana ang buhay ay hindi ka makakaramdam ng kaginhawaan kapag hindi ka
masaya.
7. Ang buhay ay parang gulong – minsan nasa ibabaw, minsan rin nasa ilalim.
Pabago-bago ang takbo ng buhay. Minsan masaya ang mga pangyayari at madali, minsan naman ay
mahirap.
8. Kung ano ang itatanim ay siya ring aanihin.
Kung ano ang ginagawa mo sa iba, mabuti man o masama, ay babalik rin sa iyo. Sa buhay, kung
nagsusumikap ka, tiyak na may aanihin ka.
9. Bawat isa sa atin ay arkitekto ng ating kapalaran.
Tayo ang gumagawa ng desisyon na makaka-apekto na ating buhay. May kakayahan tayong magsumikap
upang marating natin ang ating nais marating kasama ng panalangin.
10. Magbiro ka sa lasing, huwag lang sa bagong gising.
Minsan, masungit ang tao kapag bagong gising lalong-lalo na kung kulang ang tulog o na-istorbo ang
tulog niya. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit dapat nating iwasan ang pagbibiro sa mga bagong gising
3 Chants(Bulong)
 used in witchcraft or enchaments.

4 Sayings(Kasabihan)
used in teasing or to comment on a person.

5 Myths
Derived from Philippine folk Literature, which is the traditional oral literature of the filipino people. This refers to wide
range of material due to the ethnic mix of the Philippines. ・
Mythical Creatures:
 -Aswang
 -Diwata
 –Dwende
 -Tikbalang
 -Mangkukulam
 ・ Ancient Metrical Tales
 a. Aliguyon - the exploits if aliguyon as he battles his arch -enemy,
pambukhayon.
 b. Biag ni Lam-Ang - tells of the adventures of Lam-Ang who exhibits
extraordinary powers at a very early age.
 c. Ibalon - the story of three Bicol heroes: Baltog, Handiong, Banitong
 d. Hinilawad - oldest and longest epic poem in Panay. - the exploits of three
sulodnon demigod brothers; LabawDonggon, Humadapnon and Dumalapdap
of ancient Panay.
 6 Folk Songs
 A form of folk lyric which expresses the people's hopes, aspirations,
 and lifestyles.
 Traditional songs and melodies.
 Uyayi- lullaby
 Komintang - war song
 Kundiman - melancholic love song
 Harana - serenade
 Tagay- drinking song
 Mambayu - kalinga rice-pounding song
 Subli - dance ritual song of courtship/mareiagwe
 Tagulaylay - songs of the dead
SPANISH COLONIAL PERIOD
 Spanish occupied Philippines in early 15 th century. The first Filipino alphabet is
(Alibata) – when Spanish colonized Philippines they changed Alibatas into
Roman alphabet.
 Spanish banned the use of Alibata because they believed that it is a work of evil.
So they fully introduced the Spanish literary language using many Spanish terms.
 The European literature was brought by the Spaniards and is assimilated in
Filipino songs and indigenous themes.
 The early printing press in the Philippines is run and monopolized by the
Spaniards friars.
 During Spanish colonization, Filipinos felt that they were being harrased by the
Spaniards. Then the birth of the Propaganda movement and La Solidaridad.
 Then Filipino fought and introduced Tagalog to be the language of revolution of
the nationalist movement.
LITERATURE UNDER SPANISH
COLONIAL PERIOD
I. Oral Literature
A. Songs
A song is a composition for voice or voices performed by singing. A choral
or vocal song may be accompanied, by musical instruments or it may be
unaccompanied, as in the case of cappella songs. The lyrics (words) of songs are
typically of a poetic, rhyming nature though they may be religious verses or free
pose.
 Leron Leron Sinta
This song depicts humbleness. It’s the story of a man who tries to show that he
got to win the heart of his beloved one.
 Sarumbanggi
A kundiman which means “one night” or “one evenjng” in Bicol. A kundiman is
a Filipino love song traditionally sung by a man wooing the woman of his dreams.
B. Religious Drama
The religious drama, as setting forth events recorded in the Bible morals
to be drawn from religious teaching, is distinctively medieval in character, and in
origin is closely connected with the services of the church.
 Panunuluyan
(Tagalog for “asking for lodging”) is a Philippine Christmas dramatic ritual
narrating the Holy Family’s search for a place to stay in Bethlehem for Jesus
Christ’s birth through song.
C. Drama
Drama is a specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The
enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an
audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a collector from
reception.
 Bakit babae ang naghuhugas ng pinggan?
“Why women wash the dishes?” is a play that depicts a betting game
between couple whom either one would not like to wash the dishes. The play is
humor and antiques.
II. Written Literature
A. Poetry
Poetry is an imaginative awareness of experience expressed through
meaning, sound, and rhythmic language choices so as to evoke an emotional
response. Poetry has been known to employ meter and rhyme, but this is by no
means necessary. The very nature of poetry as an authentic and individual mode
of expression makes it nearly impossible to define.
 Florante at Laura
The story is about the love and determination of the Duke Florante and the
Princess Laura of Albania while being pursued by the ursurper Count Adolfo.
B. Short Stories
A short story is a brief work of literature usually written in narrative
pose. A classic definition of a short story is that one should be able to read it in
one sitting.
 Convict’s Twilight
The short story revolves around one thing – Freedom. Or more clearly, it
seeks to define what is Freedom, and what sense it makes to those who are not
free, slaved for the atonment of their sins.
RIZAL AND HIS
CONTEMPORARIES
 A.JOSE RIZAL

 He is considered one of the national heroes of the Philippines.Studying in

Europe,he was the most prominent advocate for reform in the Philippines during the
Spanish colonial era.He was wrongly implicated as the leader of the Katipunan
Revolution,and that led to his execution on December 30,1896.now celebrated as
Rizal Day,a national holiday in the country.
MI ULTIMO ADIOS

 A Poem written by Philippine national hero Dr.Jose Rizal on the eve of his
execution on the 30th of December 1896.This poem was one of the last notes
he wrote before his death:another that he had written was found in his shoe
but because the textbwas illegible,its contents remains a mystery.
 B.MARCELO H. DEL PILAR

 He was celebrated figure in the Philippine Revolution and a leading

propagandistvfor reforms in the Philippines.Popularly known as Plaridel,he was
the editor and co-publisher of La Solidaridad (The Solidarity).
DASALAN AT TOCSOHAN

This is a satire on the friars' hypocristy,licentiousness and greed,which consists

ofbparodies of the Sign of the Cross,the Actof Contrition,The Lord's Prayer,the
Hail Mary.and the catechism.Rizal considers this as a model of classical prose and
an excellent example of Tagalog humor,wit,and sarcasm.
 C. ANDRES BONIFACIO
(FATHER OF THE PHILIPPINE
REVOLUTION)

 He was a founder and later Supremo of the Katipunan movement which sought
the independence of the Philippines from Spanish colonial rule and started the
Philippine Revolution.
 PAG-IBIG SA TINUBUANG LUPA

 This poem was first published in the Diariong Tagalog.As the title indicates ,the
theme is directed to the Filipino in order to arouse their spirit of nationalism and
self-dependence.
 AMERICAN COLONIAL PERIOD
• Philippine literary production during the American Period in the Philippines was
spurred by two significant developments in education and culture.One is the
introduction of free public instruction for all children of school age and two ,the use of
English as medium of instruction in all levels of education in public schools.
• Free public education made knowledge and information accessible to a greater
number of Filipinos Those who availed of this education through college were able to
improve thier social status and joined a good number of educated masseswho became
part of the country's middle class.
• The use of English as medium of instruction introduced Filipinos to Anglo-American
modes of thought culture and life ways that would be embedded not only in the
literature produced 6but also in the psyche of the country's educatef class.It was this
educated class that would be the wellspring of a vibrant Philippine Literature.
•Philippine literature in English ,as a direct result of American colonization of the
country could not escape being imitiative of American models of writing especially
during its period of apprenticeship.
 LITERATURE UNDER AMERICAN
COLONIAL PERIOD

A. Tagalog Novel
A novel is a long prose narrative that describes fictional characters and events
in the form of a sequential story,usually. A tagalog novel written in,of
course,Tagalog.
BANAAG AT SIKAT
It is one of the first literary novels written by Filipino author Lope K. Santos in
the tagalog language in 1906.As a book that was considered as the "Bible of
working class Filipinos" ,the pages of the novel revolves around the life of
Delfin his love for a daughter of a rich landlord.
B.ROMANTIC POETRY

The dominant theme of Romantic Poetry: the filtering of natural emotion through
the human mind in order to createvsrt,coupled with an awareness of the
dualitybcreated by such a process.
PAG-IBIG (BY:JOSE CORAZON DE JESUS)
Jose Corazon De Jesus was a Filipino poet who used Tagalog poetry to express
the Filipinos' desire for independence during the American occupation in the
Philippines,a period that lasted from 1901 to 1946.He is best known for being the
lyricist of the Filipino song, Bayan Ko.
 C. SHORT STORIES

A short story is a brief work of literature,usually written in narrative prose.A

classic definition of a short story is that one should be able to read it in one sitting.
WE FILIPINOS ARE MILD DRINKERS
This is a short story written by Alejandro Roces during his freshmen year in
Arizona State University. He was well known for his humorous stories and wit in
writing.The story is dated back to the 1940's.
 21st Century Literature from the Philippine and the World

PHILIPPINE LITERATURE IN THE

CONTEMPORARY PERIOD
THE REBIRTH OF FREEDOM (1946-1970)

 The Americans returned in 1945, Filipinos rejoiced and guerillas who fled to
the mountain liberating American Army
 On July 4, 1946, the Philippines regained its freedom and the Filipino flag
waved joyously alone. The chains were broken.
THE STATE OF LITERATURE DURING
THIS PERIOD
 The early post liberation period was marked by a kind of “struggle of mind and spirit” posed by the sudden
emancipation from the enemy, and the wild desire to see the print.
1. HEART OF THE ISLANDS (1947) – a collection of poem by Manuel Viray
2. PHILIPPINES CROSS SECTION (1950) – a collection of prose and poetry by Maximo Ramos and Florentino
Valeros.
3. PROSE AND POEMS (1952) – by Nick Joaquin
4. PHILIPPINE WRITING (1953) – by T.D Agcaoili
5. PHILIPPINE HARVEST – by Amador Daguio
6. HORIZONS LEAST (1967) – a collection of works by the professors of UE, mostly in English (short stories, essays,
research papers, poems and drama) by Artemio Patacsil and Silverio Baltazar
7. WHO SPOKE COURAGE IN HIS SLEEP – by NVM Gonzales
8. SPEAK NOT, SPEAK ALSO – by Conrado V. Pedroche
9. Other poets were Toribia Mano and Edith L. Tiempo, Jose Garcia Villa’s HAVE COME , AM HERE won acclaim
both here and abroad.
THE NEW FILIPINO LITERATURE
DURING THIS PERIOD

 Philippine literature in Tagalog was revived during this period. Most themes in
the writings dealt with Japanese brutalities, of the poverty of life under the
Japanese government and the brave guerilia exploits.
PERIOD OF ACTIVISM (1970-1972)

 Many young people become activists to ask for changes in the government. In
the expression of this desire for change, keen were the writings of some youth
who were fired wit nationalism in order to emphasize the importance of their
petitions.
THE LITERARY REVOLUTION

 The youth became completely rebellious during this period. This was proven
not only in the bloody demonstrations and in the sidewalk expressions but also
in literature. Campus newspapers showed rebellious emotions. The once
aristocratic writers developed awareness for society. They held pens and wrote
on placards in red paint the equivalent of the word MAKIBAKA (To dare!)
WRITING DURING THE PERIOD OF
ACTIVISM

 The irreverence for the poor reached its peak during this period of the mass
revolution. It was also during this period that Bomba films that discredit our
ways as Filipinos started to come out.
PALANCA AWARDEES FOR
LITERATURE IN ENGLISH

 Established in 1950, the Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature had been
giving cash prizes for short story, poetry and ne-act play writing as an
incentive to Filipino writers. The prizes come form La Tondena. Inc. the firm
founded by the late Carlos Palanca Sr.
PERIOD OF THE NEW SOCIETY

 The period of the New Society started on September 21, 1972. The Carlos
Palanca awards continued to give annual awards.
 Almost all themes in most writings dealt with the development or progress of
the country – like the Green Revolution, family planning, proper nutrition,
environment, drug addiction and pollution. The New Society tried to stop
pornography or those writings giving bad influences on the morals of the
people. All school newspapers were temporarily stopped and so with school
orgabizations.
FILIPINO POETRY DURING THE
PERIOD OF THE NEW SOCIETY

 Themes of most poems dealt with patience, regard for native culture, customs
and the beauties of nature and surroundings.
THE PLAY UNDER THE NEW SOCIETY

 The Government led in reviving old plays and dramas, like the Tagalog
Zarzuela, Cenaculo and the Embayoka of the Muslims which were presented
in the rebuilt Metropolitan Theater, the Folk Arts Theater and the Cultural
Center of the Philippines.
RADIO AND TELEVISION

 Radio continued to be patronized during this period. The palay series like SI
MATAY, DAHLIA, ITO ANG PALAD KO, and MR. LONELY were the
forms of those without television.
FILIPINO FILMS
 A yearly Pista ng mga Pelikulang Pilipino(Filipino Film Festival) was held during
this time. During the festival which lasted usually for a month, only Filipinos films
were shown in all theaters in Metro Manila.
 1. MAYNILA…SA MGA KUKO NG LIWANAG written by Edgardo Reyes and
filmed under the direction of Lino Brocka. Bembol Roco was the lead role.
 2. MINSA’Y ISANG GAMU-GAMO; Nora Aunor was the principal performer here.
 3. GANITO KAMI NOON…PAANO KAYO NGAYON: ked by Christopher de leon
and Gloria diaz.
 4. INSIANG:by Hilda Koronel.
 5.Aguila: led by Fernando Poe Jr., Jay Ilagan and Christopher de leon.
COMICS, MAGAZINES AND OTHER
PUBLICATIONS

 During this period of the New Society, newspaper dooned new forms. New on
economic progress, discipline, culture, tourism and the like were favored more
than the sensationalized reporting of killings, rape and robberries,.
OVERVIEW OF THE LITERATURE
DURING THE NEW SOCIETY.

Bilingual education which was initiated by the Board of National Education as

early as 1958 and continued up to the period of Martial Rule in Sept 21, 1972,
resulted in the deterioration of English in the different levels of education. The
focus of education and culture was on the problems of national identity, on
reorientation, renewd vigor and a frim resolves to carry out plans and programs.
PERIOD OF THE THIRD REPUBLIC
(1981-1985)

 After 10 years of military rule and some changes in the life of the Filipinos
which started under the New Society, Martial Rule was at last liftedon January
2,1981.
FILIPINO POETRY

 Poems during this period of the Third Republic were romantic and
revolutionary. Writer wrote openly of their criticism against the government.
The supplications of the people were coached in fiery, colorful,profane and
insulting language.
FILIPINO SONGS

 Many Filipino songs dealt with themes that were really true-to-life like those
of grief, poverty, aspirations for freedom, love of God, of our country and of
fellowmen.