Philippine Literature in American Period

Brief History

• The Filipino Revolutionist won against Spaniards who colonized

for more than 300 years.
• June 12, 1898 raised the Philippine Flag as a symbol of
independence. Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo was elected the first
president of the Philippine Republic, which was short-lived.
• Americans colonized the country. And in 1901, Gen. Emilio
Aguinaldo surrendered to the Americans.
• The Filipino -American war resulted in the defeat of Gen. Miguel
Malvar in 1903. The peace movements started as early as 1900.
• Many Filipinos started writing again and the nationalism of
the people remain undaunted. Filipino writers went to all
forms of literature like news reporting, poetry, stories, plays,
essays and novels. Their writings clearly depicted their love of
country and their longings for independence.
In 1910

• A new group started to write in English.

• Hence, Spanish, Tagalog, The Vernaculars and finally English
were the mediums used in literature during these times.
• The writers in Spanish were want to write on nationalism like
honoring Rizal and other heroes.
• The writers in Tagalog continued in their lamentations on the
conditions of the country and their attempts to arouse love
for one’s native tongue. The writers in English imitated the
themes and methods of the Americans.
In 1920
• The UP college Folio was later replaced by the Philippine
Collegian.
• Dead Stars by Paz Marquez Benítez stand out as a model of
perfection in character delineation, local color plot and
message.
 

1933
Footnote to Youth by Garcia Villa
These newspapers were published during American Period and
were primarily established to continue the fight for freedom
after defeat of the Filipino forces against Americans.
These are:
• El Nuevo Dia (The New Day) established by Sergio Osmena In
1900. American banned this newspaper and threatened Osmena with
banishment.
• El Grito Del Pueblo (The Call of The Nation) established by
Pascual Poblete in 1900.
• El Renciemento (The Rebirth) founded by Rafael Palma 1900.
Plays staged during the American Period:
• Kahapon, Ngayon At Bukas (Yesterday, Today
and Tomorrow) written by Aurelio Tolentino
• Tanikalang Ginto of Juan Abad
• Malaya by Thomas Remigio
• Walang Sugat by Severino Reyes
 Opening of Public Schools
Education became a very important issue for the
united states colonial government , since it allowed it
to spread their cultural values, particularly the English
language, to the Filipino people. By 1901, public
education was institutionalized in the Philippines,
with English serving the medium of instruction.
Characteristics of Literature During this Period

A. Literature in Spanish
a.Cecilio Apostol- wrote “A Rizal” and is considered the best poem in praise of
the hero of Bagumbayan.
b.Fernando Ma. Guerero - he collected the best of his poem in a book called
Crisalidas and one of the poems written in this book was is ”Invocacion A Rizal”
c.Jesus Balmori – well-known for his pen name of Batikuling . He and Manuel
Bernabe participated in a debate on the topic- “Remembrance and
Forgetfulness”. He was elected Poet Laureate in Spanish besting Manuel
Bernabe.
d.Manuel Bernabe – is a lyric poet. He was more attractive to the public in a
debate with balmori because of the melodious words used. He defended Olvido.
e.Claro M Recto- he collected his poems in a book entitled BAJO LOS
COCOTEROS. On e of his writings dedicated to Rizal is “ ANTE EL MARTIR”.
Other writers in Spanish
1.Adelina Guerrea was first woman poet in the
Philippines who was good in Spanish . She obtained
the Nobel Prize in her EL NIDO.
2.Isidro Marpori became famous for his four books
entitled Aroma de Ensueno.
3.Macario Adriatico wrote the legend of Mindoro
entitled La Punta de Salto.
4.Epifanio de los Santos
B. Filipino Literature
a. Lope K. Santos – “Father of the National Language Grammar”, he was
called “apo” of the tagalog writers. “Banaag at Sikat” was his master piece.
b. Jose Corazon de Jesus – known as “Huseng Batute”, he was also called the
poet of love in his time. “ Isang Punong Kahoy” an elegy, is believed to be his
masterpiece.
c. Armando V. Hernandez – was crowned ”Makata ng Mangagawa”/ “Poet of
the Laborers”, his masterpiece is “Ang Panday”
d. Valerinano V. Hernandez Pena – known as “Tandang Anong”, he considers
“NENA AT NENENG” his masterpiece.
e. Inigo Ed Regaldo – a popular story teller, novelist and newspaper man. He
reach the peak of his success by the “sumpong” of his pen.
Julian Cruz Balmaceda classified three kinds of tagalog poets:
1. Poet of the Heart (Makata ng Puso).
These included Lope K. Santos, Inigo Ed. Regalado, Carlos
Gatmaitan, Pedro Deogracias del Rosario. Idelfonso Santos, Amado
V. Hernandez, Nemecio Carabana and Mar Antonio. 
2. Poets of Life (Makata ng Buhay)
Led by Lope K. Santos, Jose Corazon de Jesus, Florentino Collantes,
Patricio Mariano, Carlos Garmaitan, and Amado V. Hernandez.
3. Poets of the Stage (Makata ng Tanghalan)
Led by Aurelio Tolentino, Patricio Mariano, Severino Reyes, and
Tomas Remigio.
C. Philippine Literature in English
In a way, we can say that we can trace the
beginnings of Philippine literature in English
with the coming of the Americans. For this
purpose, we can divide this period into three
frames, namely:
The Period of Re-orientation (1898-1910)
• English as a literary vehicle came with the American
occupation in August 13, 1898 and as they say, a choice
bestowed on us by history.
• By 1900, English came to be used as medium of instruction
in the public schools. From the American forces were
recruited the first teachers of English.
• By 1908, the primary and intermediate grades were using
English. It was also about this time when UP, the forerunner
in the use of English in higher education, was founded.
The Period of Imitation (1910-1924)
• By 1919, the UP College Folio published the
literary compositions of the first Filipino writers
in English. They were the pioneers in short story
writing.
• They were the groping their way into imitating
American and British models which resulted in a
stilted, artificial and unnatural style, lacking
vitality and spontaneity.
Period of Self-discovery and Growth (1925-1941)
• By this time, Filipino writers had acquired the
mastery of English writing. They now confidently
and competently wrote on a lot of subjects
although the old-time favorites of love and youth
persisted. They went into all forms of writing like
the novel and the drama.
 THE END
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