Geographic, Linguistic

and Ethnic Dimensions of

Philippine Literary
History from Pre-Colonial
to the Contemporary
Prepared by: Grazel Sian T. Bucahan
Let’s have a
review of
historical
events here
in the
Philippines
Objectives: At the end of the lesson
the students should be able to:

a.Identify the different literary

historical periods,
b.Appreciate the contributions of
Filipino writers during the different
time periods;
c.Summarize the different literary
timelines using a fishbone.
 Pr
co e-
l on
ia l

Sp
Pe anis
ri o h
d

Pe
En riod
en light of
t en
m

Am
Pe eric
ri o an
d

Ja
Oc pane
cu
pa se
ti o
n

Pe
A c ri od
t iv of
ism

Pe
the ri od
So Ne of
cie w
ty

Pe
the ri od
Re Th of
pu ir d
bli
c
Po
1 st-ED
Re SA
vo
lu t
ion

21 s t
Ce
n tu
ry
Before 1565
1566-1871
Pre-Colonial 1878-1898

Spanish
Period
Period of
Enlightenment
 PRE-SPANISH LITERATURE
Our forefathers already had
their literature which is
reflected in their customs and
traditions.

Written works were written on

materials that quickly perishes,
like barks of tress, dried leaves
and bamboo cylinders.
 PRE-SPANISH LITERATURE

Folk tales- Stories about life and adventure.

The Epic Age- Long narrative of poems about

heroic achievements

Folk Songs- These are the oldest forms of

Philippine Literature.
Example: Kundiman
Kataka-taking mahibang by Santiago
Suarez
Kataka-takang mahibang ang katulad ko
sa iyo
Biru-biro ang simula ang wakas pala ay
ano?
Aayaw-ayaw pa ako, ngunit ’yan ay ’di
totoo
Dahil sa iyo puso kong ito’y binihag mo.

Alaala ka maging gabi’t araw

Alipinin mo’y walang kailangan
Marinig ko lang sa labi mo hirang
Na ako’y iibigin lagi habang buhay.
 THE FIRST KNOWN LITERARY
WORK IN THE PHILIPPINES
Biag ni Lam-ang (“The Life of Lam-
ang”)

An Ilocano epic poem believed to have

originated in pre-colonial times. It tells
the story of Lam-ang's life from
avenging his father's murder, to being
eaten by the water monster Berkakan,
to being reborn and living happily ever
after with his love, Ines Kannoyan.
 SPANISH COLONIZATION
(1566-1871)

The first Filipino alphabet, called

ALIBATA, was replaced by the Roman
alphabet.

The teaching of the Christian Doctrine

became the basis of religious practices.
 European traditions are
integrated with Filipino Literature

Example:
1. Corrido
- narrative form about saints
and heroes
2. Moro-Moro
- Christians vs Moors (Muslims)
 Folk Songs
The Filipinos derive their
artistic feelings from their
appreciation of love and
beauty.

E.g. Leron-leron Sinta,

Pamulinawen
 Recreational Plays
Filipinos performed recreational
plays during the Spanish regime.

Examples:
Salubong (risen Christ with his
mother)
Panunuluyan (search for suitable
place for Mary to give birth to Jesus )
 PERIOD OF
ENLIGHTENMENT
(1898-1972)
In the 19 century, Filipino
th

intellectuals known as
“Illustrados” began to write
about the problems of
colonization.
This movement was
spearheaded by the
influential middle-class such
as:
Jose Rizal, Marcelo del Pilar,
Graciano Lopez Jaena,
Antonio Luna, Mariano Ponce,
Jose Mariano Panganiban and
Pedro Paterno.
 Jose Rizal
o Noli Me Tangere
o Mi Ultimo Adios
o Sobre La Indolencia
Delos Filipinos
o Filipinas Dentro De

Cien Anos.
It can clearly be deduced from the writing
that the cause of the indolence attributed to
our race is Spain:
When the Filipinos wanted to study and
learn, there were no schools, and if there
were any, they lacked sufficient resources
and did not present more useful knowledge;
when the Filipinos wanted to establish
their businesses, there wasn’t enough
capital nor was there protection from the
government;
when the Filipinos tried to cultivate their
lands and establish various industries, they
were made to pay enormous taxes and were
exploited by the foreign rulers.
 Gregorio Del Pilar

oKaingat Kayo (Be

careful)

o Dasalan at Tocsohan
(Prayers and Jokes).
A humorous and sarcastic dig in
answer to Fr. Jose Rodriquez in
the novel NOLI of Rizal,
published in Barcelona in 1888.
He used Dolores Manapat as
pen-name here.

Note: Fr. Rodriguez said that

those who read the “Noli”
committed a mortal sin.
 Graciano Lopez
Jaena
oAng Fray Botod
oLa Hija Del Fraile
(The Child of the Friar)
o Everything is Hambug
(Everything is mere show)
•He exposed
how some of
the friars were
greedy,
ambitious and
immoral.
Andres Bonifacio

The poem Pag-ibig

sa Tinubuang
Lupa inspires us to
unite and fight for
Philippine
independence.
1898-1944
1941-1945
American Period

Japanese
Period
 THE AMERICAN REGIME
(1898-1944)
• Americans influenced Filipino
writers to write using English
language.

• Jose Garcia Villa became famous

for his free verse.
•When seventeen-year-old Dodong decides to marry his sweetheart, Teang, his father feels that Dodong is too young to marry but is unable to stop him.
•Dodong becomes a father nine months after marrying Teang. The two go on to have many more children together, and both are often unhappy.
•At age eighteen, their eldest son, Blas, announces his own decision to marry, and Dodong knows he can do nothing to change Blas’s mind
Characteristics of Literature
during this period:
The languages used in writing
were Spanish and Tagalog, and the
dialects of the different regions.

Writers want to motivate the

Filipino to use their native tongue.
Review 1:
Name the authors of the following books?
1.Ang Fray Botod
2.Kaingat Kayo
3.Pagibig sa Lupang Tinubuan
4.Sobre La Indolencia de los Filipinos
5.Mi Ultimo Adios
Review 2:
Identify the time period of this literary works.
1. Baybayin
2. Noli Me Tangere
3. Biag ni Lam-ang
4. Footnote to Youth
5. Kaingat Kayo
 1941- 1970- 1972-
1945) 1972 1980
• Japanese • Period • Period
Period of of the
Activism New
Society
 THE JAPANESE PERIOD
(1941-1945)
In the early hours of December
8, 1941, Japanese warplanes
descended on the Philippine
capital of Manila.
The attack came just hours after
the Japanese had bombed
Pearl Harbor, and the Philippines
were caught completely off guard.
 THE JAPANESE PERIOD
(1941-1945)
The news can only be
circulated through the TRIBUNE
and PHILIPPINE REVIEW.
Since English cannot be used,
Philippine Literature in
Tagalog was revived during this
period
 THE JAPANESE PERIOD
(1941-1945)

Since English cannot

be used, Philippine
Literature in Tagalog
was revived during this
period
 TYPES OF POEMS EMERGED DURING
THE JAPANESE REGIME

1.Haiku- Japanese poetic form that consists of three

lines, with five syllables in the first line, seven in the
second, and five in the third
2.Tanaga- four lines with seven syllables each with the
same rhyme at the end of each line
 THE JAPANESE PERIOD
(1941-1945)

The Philippine Literature stopped.

The news can only be circulated through the
TRIBUNE and PHILIPPINE REVIEW.

The English language cannot be used .

Tanaka and Haiku
 PERIOD OF ACTIVISM
(1970-1972)

The youth became vocal

with their sentiments.

They demanded a change

in the government.
THE LITERARY REVOLUTION

1.Campus newspapers showed

rebellious emotions.

2. The aristocrat writers held

pens and wrote on placards in
red paint the equivalent of the
word MAKIBAKA (To dare!).
• Campus newspapers are
against the government .

•Writing on red placards.

•Makibaka!
 PERIOD OF NEW
SOCIETY
(1972-1980)
The period of the New
Society started on
September 21, 1972.
This is the time when
President Marcos
declared Martial Law
and popularized the
term, “The New
Society.”
 Literary Works
1. Poems dealt with patience,
regard for the native culture,
customs, and beauties of
nature and surroundings.
Filipino composers
became successful.

The song, “Anak” by

Freddie Aguilar become
popular during this time
period.
Poems are focused on patience,
culture, and nature.

Famous composer: Freddie

Aguilar
Activity 1: Identify which time periods do these
literary works belong. Write the correct letters
only.
A. PRE-COLONIAL D. AMERICAN REGIME

B. SPANISH COLONIZATION E. JAPANESE

OCCUPATION
C. PERIOD OF F. PERIOD OF ACTIVISM
ENLIGHTENMENT
G. PERIOD OF THE NEW
SOCIETY
1. Jose Rizal wrote the book Filipinas Dentro De Cien
Anos to predict about what will happen to the
Philippines 100 years later.
2. The first known epic poem called Biag ni Lam-ang
was written.
3. Jose Garcia Villa wrote the novel “Footnote to Youth”
to remind the youth to enjoy their lives first.
4. Recreational plays like Salubong and Panunuluyan
are watched for entertainment.
5. Kundiman were sung by males to court women.
Writers use red placards
during demonstrations or
protests.
.
 Freddie Aguilar
wrote the song
“Anak”.
Campus papers
became rebellious and
are against the
government.
The book “Kaingat Kayo”
was written in response to
Fr. Rodriquez’s warning
about the Noli Me
Tangere.
The Haiku and
Tanaga became
popular.
6. Writers use red placards during
demonstrations/protests.
7. Freddie Aguilar wrote the song “Anak”.
8. Campus papers became rebellious and are
against the government.
9. The book “Kaingat Kayo” was written in
response to Fr. Rodriquez’s warning about the Noli
Me Tangere.
10. The Haiku and Tanaga became popular.
Questions 11-15: Responding to texts
In Jose Rizal’s book, “The Indolence of the Filipino
People”. He talked about the reasons why Filipinos are
lazy.

a. In your opinion, give five reasons why Filipinos are

called lazy?
b. What should you do as a student so that this kind of
thinking about Filipinos will be changed? (3 ways).
1981-1985
1981-1985
PERIOD 2001-2100
OF THE POST-EDSA
THIRD 1
REVOLUTION
21 st
REPUBLIC
Century
Period
 PERIOD OF THE THIRD
REPUBLIC (1981-1985)

The Philippines
became known as the
Third Republic of the
Philippines.
 FILIPINO POETRY
oPoems during this period of the
Third Republic were romantic
and revolutionary.

oWriters wrote openly of their

criticism against the government.
 FILIPINO POETRY

oThe plea of the people were

full of fiery, colorful, violent,
profane and insulting
language.
 FILIPINO SONGS

Many Filipino songs dealt

with themes that were
really true-to-life like
those of grief, poverty,
aspirations for freedom,
love of God, of country
and of fellowmen.
Ang “Báyan Ko” ay
isang kundiman na
nilikha noong taóng
1928 ni Constancio
de Guzman batay
sa titik ni Jose
Corazon de Jesus.
Filipino poetry openly criticizes the government.

Filipino poems uses foul language.

Filipino songs are about true-to-life events.

 POST-EDSA 1 REVOLUTION
(1986-1995)
The nonviolent revolution led to
the departure of Ferdinand
Marcos, the end of his 20-year
dictatorship and the restoration
of democracy in the Philippines.
1. The post-EDSA was a period of
transition from decades of "guided
newspapering" to that of free and
responsible journalism.

The now newspapers enjoyed an overnight

success; THE INQUIRER, MALAYA, and
the PEOPLE’s JOURNAL.
2. Writing is the
development towards
the retrieval and the
recuperation of
writing in Philippine
languages other than
Tagalog.
•Free and responsible
journalism .

•The use of other languages

other than Tagalog.
Campus publications
became important.
These campus
publications could
either be a weekly
student newspaper,
quarterly magazines,
or annual journals.
 21st Century Period
(2001-2100)
•21st century ICT users inclined
to compete with the style and
format of writing.
•New codes of lingos are used
nowadays.
 EXIT TICKET

1.What did I learn today?

2.What did I not understand
about the topic?
3.How can the teacher help
me better to comprehend
the topic?
 Let’s have a
review of
historical events
here in the
Philippines
Activity 1: Identify which time periods do these literary works belong.

A. PRE-COLONIAL F. PERIOD OF ACTIVISM

B. SPANISH COLONIZATION G. PERIOD OF THE NEW

SOCIETY
C. PERIOD OF H. PERIOD OF THE THIRD
ENLIGHTENMENT REPUBLIC
D. AMERICAN REGIME G. POST-EDSA 1
REVOLUTION
E. JAPANESE OCCUPATION H. 21ST CENTURY
Performance Task:
Use a Timeline Diagram to summarize the Philippine Literary
History. (35 points)