Exploring the Philippine

Literature
DATUS
SULTAN
NEGRITO
S
PAGMAMANO
SPANISH EMPIRE
CHRISTIANITY
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Literature
• The word ‘Literature’ is derived from the Latin Word ‘litera’ which
means ‘letter’. It has been defined differently by various writers.

• Some loosely interpret literature as any printed matter written within

a book, a magazine or a pamphlet. Others define literature as a
faithful reproduction of man’s manifold experiences blended into one
harmonious expression.
Literature
• In order to know the history of a nation, one must read its literature.

• Brother Azurin, said that ‘literature expresses the feelings of people

to society, to the government, to his surroundings, to his fellowmen
and to his Divine Creator”. The expression of one’s feelings,
according to him, may be through love, sorrow, happiness, hatred,
anger, pity contempt, or revenge.
 Why do we need to study
Philippine Literature?
• We study literature so that we can better appreciate our literary
heritage.

• Through a study of our literature, we can trace the rich heritage

of ideas handed down to us from our forefathers. Then we can
understand ourselves better and take pride in being a Filipino.
Introduction to Philippine Literature
Philippine Literature before 1940 divided into three periods:

The Legendary and Epic Age

(Pre-Spanish)

The Period of the Spanish

Occupation

The Period of the American

Occupation
 THE LEGENDARY AND EPIC
AGE
 The legendary age produced oral literature handed down from
our elders.

 This period consisted of magical incantations, myths,

legends, and folktales.
 Our ancestors believed in sun and moon worship, tree
worship and worship of other forms of nature.
 THE LEGENDARY AND EPIC
AGE
 They also believed in environmental spirits- good or bad.

 Myths and legends explained the origin of the universe

and of land regions, the origin of first man and woman,
and of the human race.
 THE LEGENDARY AND EPIC
AGE
 The epic age produced a wealth of literature. These are distributed
across different regions of the archipelago and are written in different
Filipino languages.
 Biag ni Lam-ang (Ilocos)
 Hudhud and Alim (Ifugaos)
 Maragtas (Panay)
 Bantugan (Maranaw)
 Bidasari (Sulu)
 Indarapatra and Sulayman
(Maranaw)
 THE SPANISH OCCUPATION

 Spaniards introduced Christianity to the Philippines.

 Literature produced during this period was religious in nature.

 PASYON - a story of the life of Christ, beginning with the

Annunciation and ending with the Crucifixion.
 THE SPANISH OCCUPATION

 MORO-MORO - or comedia, a folk drama based on the battles

between Christians and the Muslim Moros in the Philippines.
It discuss the conflict between Christians and Moros.

 CORRIDO AND AWIT - popular forms of poetry during the

latter part of the Spanish rule and early in the American Regime.

• CORRIDO - is a popular narrative metrical tale and

poetry that forms a ballad.
 THE SPANISH OCCUPATION

 AWIT - dealt with the adventures of knights but in light

romantic tone.

 Early in the 19th Century, with the opening of the Suez Canal and a
change in government administration, many young Filipinos went
to Europe to study. Filipinos wrote impassioned nationalistic poetry
in Spanish, imitative
of European models.
 THE SPANISH OCCUPATION

 Antonio Luna founded the newspaper LA INDEPENDENCIA.

 Jose Rizal wrote his masterpieces Noli Me Tangere and

El Filibusterismo. These two novels were banned by the
Spanish colonial government because they revealed the
abuses of the church and the state in the Philippines.

 On the whole, the literature of the period was

propaganda written by the leaders of the movement
against Spain.
THE AMERICAN OCCUPATION

 The coming of the Americans introduced the English Language

which Filipinos began using as a literary medium.
 English as a literary vehicle for Filipino writers is a choice forced by
history.

 With the coming of Americans, a new system of

Education began, and English was made the medium
of instruction in schools.
Pre-Spanish American
Spanish Period
Period Period
 Paz Marquez-
Nick Joaquin Benitez Manuel Arguilla
“May Day “Dead Stars” and “How My Brother
Eve” “A Night in the Leon Brought Home
Hills” A Wife”
 Antonio Abad y
Dr. Jose Rizal Antonio Luna Mercado
 “When the righteous increase,
the people rejoice, but when the
wicked rule, the people groan.”

-PROVERBS 29:2
Activity!
Show one picture of you when you visited one of the
beautiful places, historical places, or provinces of our
country. Tell us what is the name of that place and have a
short description about it.