METRO MANILA

LITERATURE
WEEK 11
GEOGRAPHY
• The National Capital Region (NCR), official name
of Metro Manila and seat of the government,
consists of 16 cities namely Manila, Quezon
City, Las Piñas, Makati, Mandaluyong,
Marikina, Muntinlupa, Parañaque, Pasay,
Pasig, San Juan, Taguig, Caloocan, Malabon,
Navotas, and Valenzuela, as well as the
municipality of Pateros.
• NCR is considered as the Philippines’s political,
economic, social, and cultural center.
• NCR is also a place of economic extremes. High-
income citizens reside in highly developed urban
cities such as Makati and Muntinlupa while poor
and low-income families are scattered in slum
areas such as Tondo and Smokey Mountain.

• Famous landmarks and tourist destinations in the

NCR include Rizal Park, National Museum of
the Philippines, Intramuros where Fort
Santiago, Manila Cathedral, San Agustin
Church, Bahay Tsinoy Museum, Anda Circle
and others.
LANGUAGE(S)
• Filipino–more popularly known as
Tagalog, the national language and an
official language of the country, is the
most widely spoken language in Metro
Manila
•English–language of commerce, law,
and several workplaces
METRO MANILALITERATURE FROM THE PAST
TO THE PRESENT:
• The Tagalog literature has been born and developed in
the provinces of Southern Luzon, Central Luzon, and the
present Metropolitan Manila or the National Capital
Region.
• In Region III or Central Luzon, there are provinces where
Tagalog has been predominantly used as communication
tool. These are the provinces of Aurora, Nueva Ecija,
Bataan, and Bulacan
• The Tagalog region is well-known nationwide as the
birthplace of a rich tradition of Philippine culture in the
aspects of language, politics, economy and literature.
• University of Sto. Tomas, the oldest
university in the Philippines, is located in
Manila.
• The first printing press that was built in
Manila made the publication of the first
book Doctrina Cristiana possible in 1593,
in the form of xylography.
• Pasyon, which narrated the life of Christ in
the form of song and poetry was written in
Tagalog by the various writers Gaspar
Aquino de Belen and Fr. Mariano Pilapil.
• Just like in the islands of Visayas, the
literary tradition in the Tagalog regions
had been outstanding in the field of
oral literature.
• Bugtong (riddle), proverbs, native
songs, and other forms had always
been in poetic forms. Its form and
perspective were distincted as Asian,
usually containing seven-syllabic
rhymes.
SOME WRITERS OF CLASSIC PHILIPPINE
LITERATURE FROM THE PAST:
• ➢Francisco Balagtas • ➢Lazaro Francisco
Baltazar • ➢Faustino Aguilar
• ➢Jose Rizal • ➢Jose Corazon de Jesus
• ➢Andres Bonifacio • ➢Alejandro Abadilla
• ➢Apolinario Mabini • ➢Modesto de Castro
• ➢Emilio Jacinto
• ➢Marcelo H. del Pilar
These men did not only historically
• ➢Jose P. Laurel play a great role in Philippine
independence movement but they
• ➢Claro M. Recto
are also men of letters.
• ➢Amado V. Hernandez
• ➢Lope K. Santos
The following writers from Metro Manila have a timeless
and permanent contribution to the development of
Philippine literature:
• Carmen Guerrero-Nakpil(July 19, 1922 –July 30, 2018)
–was a Filipino author, journalist, historian, and public
servant and a recipient of S.E.A. Write Award; She wrote
Woman Enough and Other Essays

• Nicomedes “Nick” Márquez Joaquín(May 4, 1917 –

April 29, 2004) –was a Filipinoauthor, historian, and
journalist who is popular for his short storiesand
novelswritten in the English language, using the pen
name Quijano de Manila; In 1976, Joaquin was declared
as the 1976 National Artist of the Philippinesfor Literature.
• Alejandro Reyes Roces(July 13, 1924 –May 23, 2011) –
was a dramatist, essayist, and declared as the 2003
National Artistofthe Philippinesfor literature. As a public
servant, he became the Secretary of Educationfrom 1961
to 1965, duringthe presidency of the former Philippine
President Diosdado Macapagal

•Bienvenido N. Santos(1911–1996) –was a Filipino-

Americanfictionist, poet, and nonfictionist; He was born and
raised in Tondo, Manila. His family roots are originally from
Lubao, Pampanga, Philippines. He resided in the United
Statesfor many years where he is popular as a pioneering
Asian-American writer.
• Carmen Acosta(February 1, 1904 and died on
September 13, 1986) –She was the daughter of
Godofredo B. Herrera, and Paterna Santos. Her father
was a journalist and served for a time as municipal
president (or mayor in modern usage) of Caloocan during
the American colonial rule.

•Genoveva Edroza Matute(January 3, 1915 –March 21,

2009) –Was born in Sta. Cruz, Manila; Wrote several books
and short stories such as Kuwento ni Mabuti,and
Paglalayag sa Puso ng Isang Bata
OME CONTEMPORARY WRITERS FROM PAST
TO PRESENT:
• Lualhati Bautista–was born on December 2, 1945 in
Tondo, Manila;She is one of the historical Filipinofemale
novelistsin the present time. Her famous novels are Dekada
'70, ‘GAPÔ,and Bata, Bata, Pa'no Ka Ginawa?,

•Gémino H. Abad–was born on February 5, 1939 in Sta. Ana,

Manila; At present, he is a University Professor Emeritus at
the University of the Philippines. His current writing and
research include “Upon Our Own Ground”, a two-volume
historical anthology of short storiesin English, 1956-1972, with
critical introduction; “Our Scene So Fair”, a book of critical
essays on the poetry in English since 1905 to the mid-50s,
and; “Where No Words break”, a volume of his own poems.
Linda Ty Casper–was born in 1931 in Malabon City; She
has written and published over fifteen books, including the
historical novel DreamEdenand the political novels. The
Stranded Whale, The Peninsulars, Awaiting Trespass,
Wings of Stone, A Small Party in a Garden, and Fortress in
the Plaza.in addition, she has also published three
collections of short storieswhich focuses on the cross-
section of Filipino society.

•Efren Abueg –born on March 3, 1937 in Tanza, Cavite but

his life as a professor and writer flourished in Manila since
he was college; He wrote the famous short stories
Mabangis na Lungsod,and Sa Bagong Paraiso.
• Gilda Cordero-Fernando–was born on June 4, 1932 in
Manila; A multi-awarded writer, publisher and cultural icon
from the Philippines; She has written the books We Live in
the Philippines, The last Full Moon: Lessons on My Life,
The Magic Circle, and other books.
SOME FAMOUS WRITERS IN THE PRESENT
TIME:
• Bebang Siy –Wrote It’s Raining Mens and It’s a Mens
World, whose works are known to be funny and comical;
Despite the humorous writings, her novels are thought-
provoking.

•Bob Ong–Author of Stainless Longanisa,

ABNKKBSNPLAKo,Ang Paboritong Libro ni Hudas, Kapitan
Sino, MACARTHUR, Alamat ng Gubat,and others which
were known to be written in an informal and comic manner
but reflects the life of many as Filipinos
• Ricky Lee–Known as one of the greatest scriptwriters in
movie and television; Author of Si Amapola sa 65 na
Kabanata, Para kay B (o kung paano dinevastate ng pag-
ibig ang 4 out of 5 sa atin),Trip to Quiapo, and other
books.

•Ferdinand Pisigan Jarin–Author of Anim na Sabado ng

Beyblade at Iba Pang Sanaysay, a memoir about his son
named Rebo; He is also a musician and teacher.
THE NCR LITERATURE
The Woman Enough:
Carmen Guerero-Nakpil(July 19, 1922 –July 30, 2018)

Several Literary Works:

➢Woman Enough and Other Essays(1963)
➢A Question of Identity(1973)
➢The Philippines and the Filipino(1977)
➢The Philippines: The Land of the People(1989)
➢The Rice Conspiracy(1990)
 Belinda “Linda” Ty–Casper
The One who Saw the
Transparent Sun:
Belinda “Linda” Ty–Casper
Several Literary Works:
➢A Small Party in a Garden
➢Awaiting Trespass
➢Fortress in the Plaza
➢The Peninsulars
➢The Stranded Whale
➢The Transparent Sun
➢Triptych for a Ruined Altar–
included in the Honor Rollof
The Best American Short
Stories
➢Wings of StoneIn 1956,
she married Leonard
Casper, a professor
emeritusof Boston
Collegewho is also a critic
of Philippine Literature.
They have two daughters
and reside in
Massachusetts.
THANK YOU !!