Long before the Spaniards

landed on the Philippines, our

forefathers already had their
own literature stamped in the
history of our race.
Our ancestors also had
their own alphabet which
was different from what
the Spaniards influenced.
 How did the
Philippine
literature start?
Literature during such
period was passed
down through the
word of mouth.
Some important motif
and features of Pre-
Colonial literature
The beginning
of life and of
the earth
 Accounts about
great people or
supernatural heroes
The inclusion
of god and
goddesses
 The inclusion of
mythical creatures like
duwende, aswang,
tikbalang and the like.
 Themes on
morality; good
and bad practices
in life
Daily encounters
and activities in
life
RIDDLE
A question, a puzzle, a
phrase, or a statement
devised to get
unexpected or clever
EXAMPLE :
Heto na si Kaka,
bubuka-bukaka.
Sagot :
EXAMPLE :
Isang balong malalim,
punong-puno ng
patalim. Sagot : Bibig
PROVERBS
A short statements that
teach good conduct and
lessons; also known as
Salawikain.
EXAMPLE :
Matibay ang walis,
palibhasa’y
magkabigkis.
EXAMPLE :
Hangga’t makitid
ang kumot, matutong
mamaluktot
TANAGA
A short poem of four
lines with seven to
eight syllables.
EXAMPLE :
Ang katwiran ma’y
nabaon
Ng sanda-sandaang taon,
Pag dumating ang
FOLKTALES
Inspiring stories of human
travails and triumphs
depicting all kinds of
emotion; to entertain and
teach morals.
EXAMPLE :
Ang Pagong at
ang Matsing by
Jose P. Rizal
EXAMPLE :
Ang Alamat
ng Pinya
FOLK SONGS
Poetic in nature that
illustrate historical and
cultural background of a
certain group.
EXAMPLES:
• Bahay Kubo
• Si Pelimon
• Paru-Parong bukid
• Pen pen de Sarapen
EPIC
A long poetic form that
speak about the valor and
bravery of heroes admirable
traits embodying their
EXAMPLE :
Biag ni Lam-Ang
(BICOLANO)
Namongan gives birth
to a baby with
incredible strength and
courage, named Lam-
His heroism is
professed in several
adventures: vengeance
for his father, a fight
against a crocodile,
A fight against a man
who belittled him; but
was killed by a giant
fish.
He was then
resurrected after a
diver recovered his
bones.
Christianity was proclaimed by
the first group of colonizers of the
land as the penultimate impetus of
Spain's occupation in the
Philippines during the height of
the 16th century.
 The old Baybayin was
replaced with the Spanish
(Roman) alphabet called
the abecedario.
 The Spanish language
traditionally called Castillan
became the literary language
during this time, lent many of its
words to our present-day Filipino
language.
The prose literatures during
the Spanish period were
chiefly concerned on the
propagation and spread of
Christianity.
Doctrina Christiana
• First book printed in the Philippines in 1593
• Xylography - process of printing
• Fr. Juan de Placencia and Fr. Domingo Nieva,
written both in Spanish and Tagalog.
• It contains 87 pages and the three original
copies were stored in Vatican, Madrid
Museum and the Library of US Congress.
Doctrina Christiana
• Pater Noster • Seven Mortal Sins
• Ave Maria • Apostles’ Creed
• The Ten • Regina caeli
Commandments
Nuestra Señora Del Rosario
• Second book printed in the Philippines
• Written by Fr. Blancas de San Jose in
1602.
• It was printed at UST Press with the
help of Juan Vera, a Chinese mestizo.
Nuestra Señora Del Rosario
It contains:
• Biographies of the Saints
• Novenas
• Questions and Answers about Roman
Catholicism
Barlaan at Josaphat
Biblical story printed in the
Philippines translated into
Tagalog by Fr. Antonio de Borja
from the original Greek written
by San Juan Damaseño.
Barlaan at Josaphat
• It is the first Tagalog novel
published in the Philippines
with 556 pages.
• Fr. Agustin Mejia - Ilokano
version.
Urbana at Felisa
• written by Fr. Modesto de Castro,
dubbed as the “The Father of
Classic Tagalog Prose”.
Urbana at Felisa
It is a story between two sisters that has
influenced greatly the behavior of
people in society. It outlines how the
good manners and right conduct of
individuals in their dealings with other
people.
Types of Poetry
during Spanish
period
 Awit
A song usually chanted which is
usually comprised of
dodecasyllabic (12) verse
fabricated from the writer’s
imagination.
 Awit
Florante at Laura was written
by Francisco “Balagtas”
Baltazar who was deemed as the
“Prince of Tagalog Poets.”
Corrido
A song which narrates a story
usually comprised of
octosyllabic (8) verses about
legends from European and
other kingdoms.
Corrido
“Ibong Adarna” was written by
Jose Corazon dela Cruz (Huseng
Sisiw) was deemed as the “King
of Tagalog Poets.”
Folk songs
Are song representatives of each ethnic
group/region that manifests artistic
feelings of the Filipinos. They are
usually the reflection of the feelings,
ideas and customs of the common
people during the Spanish period.
Folk songs
Ilokano – Pamulinawen, Manang Biday
Kapampangan – Atin cu pung Singsing
Tagalog – Sit-sirit-sit, Leron-leron Sinta, Paru-parong
Bukid
Bicol – Sarung banggui
Bisaya – Dandansoy
Waray – Tuba
Leyte – Lawiswis kawayan
 Spanish-
Influenced
Dramas
 Cenaculo
The dramatization of the passion
of Christ. It highlights the
sufferings and death of Jesus
Christ, and it is also done during
the Lenten season.
 Panunuluyan
A dramatic presentation of the
search of the Virgin Mary and
St. Joseph for an inn to deliver
the baby Jesus.
 Moro -moro
It is a blood-and-thunder
melodrama depicting the
conflict of Christians and
Muslims.
 Pasyon
It is a narrative poem about
the life of Jesus Christ,
beginning from his birth
and up to his death.
Jose Rizal, our national
hero, had written numerous
poems that captured
national and international
attention.
Noli Me Tangere
This novel gave spirit to the
propaganda motion and paved
way for the revolution against
Spain.
Noli Me Tangere
The Noli gave the Filipino
literature immortal characters
such as Maria Clara, Juan
Crisostomo Ibarra, Elias, Sisa,
Pilosopong Tasio etc.
El Filibusterismo
This is the sequel to the Noli.
While the Noli exposed the
immorality in society, the Fili
exposed those in the government
and the church.
Mi Ultimo Adios
This is the poem by Rizal while
he was in jail at Fort Santiago and
is one that can compare favorably
with the best in the world.
A la Juvented Filipina
A poem Rizal dedicated to
the Filipino youth studying
at UST.
Other nationalistic
texts by some of
our heroes
Graciano Lopez Jaena
Pen name: Diego Laura
1 editor of La Solidaridad
st

Work: Ang Fray Botod

Marcelo H. Del Pilar
Pen names: Plaridel, Dolores
Manapat, Piping Dilat
Founder of Diariong Tagalog
2 editor of La Solidaridad
nd

Work: Dasalan at Tocsohan

Antonio Luna
Pen name: Taga Ilog
Works: Noche Buena, Por
Madrid, La Tertula Filipina
Mariano Ponce
Works: Mga Alamat ng
Bulacan, Sobre Filipinos, Ang
mga Pilipino sa Indo-Tsina
Pedro Paterno
Works: Ninay, A Mi
Madre, Sampaguita Y
Poesias varias
With the coming of the American
forces in the Philippines, changes in
literary medium and motifs were
evident. Tremendous events which
transpired all throughout the land
affected the many facets of the lives
of the people.
Features of Philippine
Literature in this
Period
In the early part of American
occupation, Spanish, Tagalog,
and other local languages were
used and later on English was
used.
Contemplations as to the
conditions of the country
remained as a transcending
theme of most works under
such period.
Imitation of the writing
style and method of
the American.
• In this period, the Panitikan, a group
of aristocratic writers, was formed.

• Works perceived to be no value

were eliminated.
• The use of first person point of view
in writing started to be popular.
The journalistic writing was
ceased and placed under strict
monitoring. However, this
created some positive effects to
Tagalog literature.
This period served as the "golden
period" for short stories and
Tagalog drama. Nationalism,
patriotism, and life struggles
prevailed as themes and motifs of
texts produced during such period.
FILIPINO DRAMA
DURING THE
FILIPINO POETRY DURING

JAPANESE
PERIOD
1. Jose Ma. Hernandez –
wrote PANDAY PIRA
2. Francisco Soc Rodrigo
– wrote sa PULA, SA PUTI
 3. Clodualdo del
Mundo – wrote
BULAGA (an expression
in the game Hide and
 4. Julian Cruz
Balmaceda – wrote SINO
BA KAYO?, DAHIL SA
ANAK, and HIGANTE
NG PATAY.
 THE FILIPINO
SHORT STORY
DURING THE
FILIPINO POETRY DURING

JAPANESE PERIOD
 Narciso Reyes with his LUPANG
TINUBUAN
Liwayway Arceo’s UHAW ANG
TIGANG NA LUPA

NVM Gonzales’ LUNSOD NAYON AT

DAGAT-DAGATAN
It was the time in which
two forms of short
writing emerged - the
commercial and
literary forms.
Themes on social issues
and domestic conditions
were mostly revealed by
the texts written during
such period.