Philippine Literature

(Pre-Spanish Period)
I. INTRODUCTION

The first period of Philippine literary

history is the longest. Long time before
the Spaniards and other foreigners landed
on Philippine shores, our forefathers
already had their own literature stamped
in the history of our race.

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 Majority of these are in oral traditions. Our
ancestors love to communicate as evidenced by a
great deal of surviving records. Their written
accounts are not inferior too. They used leaves, barks
of trees, bamboo cylinders, dried mud and jars as
stationery. Their pen would be any pointed metal,
stick, knife and others used to engrave and imprint
their message.

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 However, the exposure to elements destroyed a great
majority of these works. The invading Spaniards
destroyed and burned them too, thinking that these
were works of the devil.

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 Pre-Spanish Period
(early times to 1564)
Characteristics

- Based on oral traditions

- Crude on ideology and phraseology
- Expresses hopes and aspirations
- Revolving around supernatural events or heroic
deeds

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II. Timeline
EPIC
MYTHS

Pre- LEGENDS
RIDDLES
Spanish
Period PROVERBS
AMBAHAN
FOLKSONGS
CHANTS
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 LITERARY GENRE

[Early times] 1564

1. EPIC
a long poem, typically one derived from ancient oral tradition,
narrating the deeds and adventures of heroic or legendary figures or
the history of a nation.

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Biag ni Lam ang
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Ibalong
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Sandaya
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2. MYTHS
a traditional story, especially one concerning the early history of a
people or explaining some natural or social phenomenon, and typically
involving supernatural beings or events.

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Bakunawa
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Bathala
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3. LEGEND
is a genre of folklore that consists of a narrative featuring human
actions perceived or believed both by teller and listeners to have taken
place within human history.

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The legend of Maria Makiling
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The legend of Mount Mayon
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4. RIDDLES
Also known as "bugtong" and demands for an answer. They are
used to test the wits of those who are listening to them.

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Payong Ilaw Paro-paro

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5. PROVERBS
Also known as "salawikain or sawikain" and are the practical
observations and philosophy of everyday life that are written usually in
rhyming scheme.

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6.AMBAHAN
normally inscribed on bamboo using a pre-Colonial syllabic writing system called
the Surat Mangyan usually chanted  teaches lessons about life recited by parents to
educate their children, by the youth to express their love, by the old to impart
experiences, or by the community in tribal ceremonies

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7. FOLK SONGS
a form of folk lyric which expresses the people’s hopes, aspirations, and
lifestyles traditional songs and melodies inspired by the reaction of the people
to their environment

Oyayi or Lullaby Matulog ka na, bunso

Sleep now, youngest one
that were both used to soothe children
Ang ina mo ay malayo
- "lulla" and "bye". They were
Your mother is far away
combined in the late 1500s to refer
at hindi ka masundo
specifically to a song used to calm
and she can’t come for you
down children or put them to sleep.
May putik, may balaho 
There’s mud, there’s a swamp

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8. CHANTS
Chants are customarily called “Bulong” or “Pasintabi” by the Tagalogs and
referred to as “Bari-bari” by the Ilokanos. These are sometimes in witchcraft or
enchantment often with an accompanying “Anting-anting” (amulet or talisman).  

Among the Visayans:
Among the Tagalogs: 

Ikaw na nagnakaw ng mais ko, lumuwa “Tabi-tabi po kayo, ako’y magbubuhos ng

sana ang mga mata mo, mamaga sana tubig at mainit ito, kung masaktan ko kayo,
ang kamay mo, parusahan ka ng mga pagpasensiyahan niyo na po.”
anito.”

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III. CONTRIBUTORS

ANCIENT FILIPINOS
IV. IMPORTANT LITERATURE
 Made up of one or more
Riddle 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
characteristics of an unknown
object that is to be guessed
RIDDLES
God bless you all!