21 Century

st

Literature from
the Philippines
and the World
LITERARY PERIODS OF PHILIPPINE
LITERATURE

(Auto play)Video Animation next slide

Learning Objectives

• Define what literary period is

• Identify the different literary periods in
Philippine literature
• Describe the geographic, linguistic, and
ethnic dimensions of each literary period
• Compare and contrast various genres
across literary periods
During this period, oral literature is how
Filipinos kept a tradition alive; through
different stories of myth, folklores, and
narratives that were sung. Other ways of
passing down cultural heritage was
through riddles, proverbs, and other
forms of poetry that are drawn from their
community and real-life experiences.
Pre-Colonial Poetry

Early forms of poetry were meant to be

recited through songs and chants.
Despite the lack of formal training for
writing, Filipinos showed their artistic side
in poems with measurement and unified
rhyming.
PRE-COLONIAL POETRY

a. Proverbs (Salawikain)- These are the truths and

wise sayings in a language that is popularly known.
b. Tanaga- A poem of four stanzas with each line
consisting of seven syllables and a monorine.
c. Folk song- A lyrical expression created by people
according by their region.
d. Riddles (Bugtong)- This is a game using
strange/witty questions, but the answers are usually
simple and plain.
Prose Narratives

Prose narratives are stories that

contain mythological creatures,
legends, and humans with
supernatural powers, and it serves
as reasons behind some natural
phenomena.
a. Epic- A long poem derived from ancient oral
tradition. It narrates the deeds and adventures of a
heroic figure.
b. Myth- A traditional story that typically involves
Gods and Goddesses. It is concerned with explaining
mysteries, beliefs, and cultural practice.
c. Fables- Are short stories that uses animals as its
main character to convey a moral.
d. Legends- Are stories that are popularly regarded
but have not been proven scientifically. It explains
origins that had been handed down from the past
through generations.
Spanish-Colonial Era (1565-1898)

This is the period where the Spaniards made

drastic changes in the way Filipinos lived. Aside
from the Philippine Christianization making a
huge impact, there is also how their literature
differed as the Filipinos were also taught the
Spanish language in hopes that their poems and
other writings would play a major role in society.
This is also the period where the “alibata” had
been replaced by the Roman alphabet.
ROMAN ALPHABET
The natives were called
Indios, its literal
translation means
Indian, but it was used
as a derogatory term to
mock the people whose
skin color is darker.
Spanish-Colonial Era (1565-1898)

In 1953, a collection of Spanish

prayers translated in Tagalog
called the Doctrina Christiana.

It is one of the earliest printed

books in the Philippines.
Spanish-Colonial Era (1565-1898)

Due to the Spanish influence on the natives,

they’ve become fluent in Spanish and Tagalog. It
was during this time that they decided to write
their first literary text. Native writers were called
Ladinos. However, because the printing presses
were mainly owned by the religious ministries and
Spanish church leaders, Filipino writers
experienced difficulties getting their works
published.
Spanish-Colonial Era (1565-1898)

Graciano Lopez-Jaena
was known to be a highly
intelligent man of his age.
He took his writing
seriously at an early age
in life. His most famous
writing is the tale entitled
“Fray Botod”. Botod
means Botyok in Filipino language.
Spanish-Colonial Era (1565-1898)

The second word of his

title means a big-bellie
man. The character of the
protagonist symbolizes
the abusive and
immortality of the friars.
Spanish-Colonial Era (1565-1898)

Graciano Lopez-Jaena
became the editor of the
newspaper “La Solidaridad.”
The newspaper aims for
collecting ideas in different
fields such as politics,
arts, literature, economics
and other sciences. It seeks solution in both
political and social issues in a democratic way.
Spanish-Colonial Era (1565-1898)

Marciano H. Del Pilar founded

the nationalistic newspaper
called “Diariong Tagalog”.
He was known to be the “Master
of Tagalog Language” and tried
to awaken the consciousness of
the masses to act as a unified
people.
Spanish-Colonial Era (1565-1898)

In 1882, his writing career took place

as he wrote of patriotism revealing
the sad state of the country. As he
joined the other propagandists in the
year 1888, he began writing
pamphlets ridiculing the
administration of the friars regarding
injustices towards Filipinos.
It was also on the same year that
Fr. Jose Rodriguez issued “Caingat
Cayo”. It was a pamphlet issued
attacking the novel of Jose Rizal
which is the “Noli Me Tangere”
opposing the Catholic religion.
However, it was Vicente Garcia who
wrote “Dasalan at Toksohan” using
the pen name V. Caraig. Dasalan at
Toksohan was a parody of the prayer
Our Father as a defense for Jose Rizal.
Spanish-Colonial Era (1565-1898)

Francisco Baltazar or fondly called

as Balagtas is a genius writer of
Tagalog poetry. He is known for his
poem “Florante at Laura” whose
metrical measurement and rhyming
pattern create a beautiful imagery in
the readers’ eyes.
Spanish-Colonial Era (1565-1898)
Jose Rizal was popular for his two
novels. Noli Me Tangere and
El Filibusterismo. The first novel
was entitled “Noli Me Tangere”
which means Touch Me Not. He
described it as a ‘work of the heart’.

It was a story of love and

aspirations of a Filipino.
Noli Me Tangere
The protagonist Crisostomo Ibarra was a
representation of himself(Jose Rizal). Though
Noli Me Tangere was purely fiction, the setting of
the novel reflects the current situation of the
Philippines during the administration of the
Spaniards while his characters reflect the
dominance of the Spanish government towards
the Filipino people.
Spanish-Colonial Era (1565-1898)
El Filibusterismo was his second
novel, the title means The Traitor.
If Noli was a work of the heart, he
described his next novel as “the work of
the mind”. In his second novel he did
not just expose the dirty secrets of the
Spanish government and abusive side
of the friars but also predicted a
revolution between Filipinos and
Spaniards.
Spanish-Colonial Era (1565-1898)
Aside from being the icons of revolution, Andres
Bonifacio the husband of Gregoria De Jesus,
who is known as the “Father of Katipunan”
showed his patriotism and poetic side as he wrote
the poem “Pag-ibig Sa Tinubuang Lupa” while
Emilio Jacinto who is addressed as “The Brains
of Katipunan” wrote political essays using folk
language.
American-Colonial Period (1899-1945)
It was during this period that the public school
system was the biggest contribution of the
Americans.
American-Colonial Period (1899-1945)

Thomasites were American soldiers who came to

the Philippines to become teachers. This period is
where the English Alphabet was also introduced
and the American language was adopted as part
of the national language, which was chosen as
the second language of the country even now.
The ENGLISH ALPHABET
American-Colonial Period (1899-1945)

This period of colonization is where Filipino

writers immensely enjoy the freedom of
expressing their work, thus signaled the growth of
Philippine literature.
American-Colonial Period (1899-1945)
American authorities also prescribed some plays to be
performed on stage such as:

Kahapon, Bukas Ngayon by Aurelio Tolentino

Hindi Ako Patay by Juan Matapang

Tanikalang Ginto by Juan Abad

Walang Sugat by Severino Reyes.

American-Colonial Period (1899-1945)

Since English language became the medium of

instruction in all schools, literary writers decided
to use English as a form of creative expressions
in their writings.
Some essayists and poets during this period
were:
Bernardo
P. Garcia
Juan F. Francisco
Salazar M. Africa

Essayist
&
Poets

Maximo Tarcila
M. Kalaw Malabanan
American-Colonial Period (1899-1945)
New uprising generation of writers continued
producing literary works reflecting Filipino culture
and beliefs such as:

Manuel Arguilla’s “How My Brother Leon Brought

Home A Wife”
Jose Garcia Villa’s “Footnote to Youth”
Faustino Aguilar’s “Pinaglahuan” and
Lope K. Santos’ “Banaag at Sikat”.
American-Colonial Period (1899-1945)

Other literary authors during this period are

Idelfonso Santos
Alejandro Abadilla
Jose Corazon De Jesus
Brigido Batungbakal
Genoveva Edroza Matute and
Claro M. Recto.
Contemporary Period (1946-Present)
Before the occurrence of the World War II, Filipino
literary writers began writing about the pre-war
social problems of the country, but the theme had
changed during the 1920s favoring fantasy and
romances over the former; short stories also
became the favorite literary type of prose.
Contemporary Period (1946-Present)

The decade of 1930s, however, inspired Filipino

writers to follow some prominent writers of
English Literature such as William Shakespeare,
Edgar Allan Poe, Ernest Hemmingway, and
William Faulkner.
Contemporary Period (1946-Present)

In the same year, Alejandro G. Abadilla

collected and edited “Mga Piling Katha” while
Genoveva D. Edroza-Matute wrote “Ako’y Isang
Tinig” which is a collection of stories and essays.
In 1951, more Filipino
literary writers were
encouraged to produce
more literary writings.
It was also this period,
when the prestigious award-giving body for
literature was founded, the “Carlos Palanca, Sr.
Memorial for Literature”.
Other writers who became nominees for this award
were:
- Idelfonso Santos
- Teodoro Agoncillo
- Alejandro Abadilla
- Jose Corazon De Jesus
- Brigido Batungbakal.
Contemporary Period (1946-Present)

In 1955, “Parnasong Tagalog” written by

Abadilla became the first major anthology of
poetry. In the same year he brought out his
collection of verse titled “Ako ang Daigdig at Iba
Pang Tula”.
Some essayists and poets during this period
were: 1955
“Parnasong
Tagalog”

Alejandro
G. Abadilla
1995
1930 “Ako ang
“Mga Piling Daigdig at Iba
Katha” Pang Tula”
Contemporary Period (1946-Present)

However, Haiku, a pattern of poetry which follows

a 5-7-5 syllables per verse with themes talking
about nature, caught the interest of some Filipino
poets.
Contemporary Period (1946-Present)
In 1961, Amado V. Hernandez, also known as
the greatest post-war Filipino poet, wrote
“Dipang Langit” and “Bayang Malaya” in 1969.
Before his death in 1970, he won the Republic
Cultural Award and National Artist Award in
1973.
Contemporary Period (1946-Present)
While the alphabet developed from the 26 letters
of English alphabet to the Modern Filipino
Alphabet in 1987.