Philippine Literature during

Spanish Colonial Period

OBJECTIVES
At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
name some literary works published during the
Spanish Colonial Period, and
analyze some literary works.
Do you still remember?
What literary works were published during the Spanish
occupation of the Philippines?
What do those works reflect about the life of Filipinos
during this period in history?
Notes on the Spanish Colonial
Period (1521–1898)
Expeditions to the Philippines were
sent by Spain in the 16th century. In
their conquest, the Spaniards brought
Christianity with them. The clergy
made a great impact on faith,
education, and government.
Through the Manila-Acapulco trade (1565–
1815), liberal ideas entered the country.
Also, the trade gave rise to a wealthier
middle class. Children in middle class
families could then be sent to Europe to
get an education. Upon their return, they
brought European ideals of liberty and
freedom with them. Such ideals would
then give rise to Filipino nationalism.
Philippine Literature during the
Spanish Occupation
The Spanish missionaries taught
the gospel through the native
language, so they hired natives to
translate Spanish religious
instructional materials. Eventually,
the natives became fluent in
Spanish and became known as
ladinos.
Ladinos mainly wrote devotional poetry. Two
of them were Fernando Bagongbanta and
Gaspar Aquino de Belen. Bagongbanta wrote
“Salamat nang walang hanga/gracias de sin
sempiternas,” which appeared in Memorial de
la vida cristiana en lengua tagala(1605), a
book containing basic Catholic doctrines. On
the other hand, de Belen wrote “Ang Mahal
na Passion ni Jesu Christong Panginoon
natin na tola” (1704), the earliest version
of pasyon.
Also, the native drama called
the komedya or moro-moro was
popular. It depicted the war
between Christians and Muslims,
wherein the former always wins.
The poet Jose de la Cruz (1746–
1829) was a master of such art
form.
Native literature continued.
Though the Spaniards
destroyed the written
literature in their effort to
replace it with their own, the
oral tradition survived and
flourished in areas beyond
the reach of the Spaniards.
Francisco Baltazar (1788-
1862), the master of traditional
Tagalog poetry, became well-
known for his work Florante at
Laura(1838–1861), the most
famous metrical romance of
the country.
Pedro Paterno (1857–1911)
wrote Sampaguitas y poesias
varias (1880), the first poetry
collection in Spanish by a
Filipino; and the novel in
Spanish Ninay (1885),
considered to be the first
Filipino novel.
Jose Rizal (1861–1896), a
prominent ilustrado and the
country’s national hero, is famous
for the novels Noli Me
Tangere and El Filibusterismo.
These novels portray the
corruption and abuse of the
Spanish officials and the clergy.
Andres Bonifacio (1863–
1897), the founder of the
Katipunan, wrote the poem
“Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang
Lupa.” This poem appeared in
the Kalayaan, the official
newspaper of the Katipunan,
in March 1896.
Leona Florentino (1849–1884), known
as the “mother of Philippine women’s
literature,” was a poet in both Ilocano
and Spanish. Twenty of her poems
were preserved and exhibited in
Europe. The poems were included in
the Encyclopedia International des
Oeuvres des Femme in 1889.
GROUP PRESENTATION
Criteria
Content 4

Creativity 3

Collaboration 3

Total: 10 points
Time limit: 5-10 mins
Summary
Philippine Literature during the
Spanish occupation was mostly
influenced by Christianity as well as the
European ideals of liberty and freedom
through trade. Filipino writers either
wrote in Spanish or in their own tongue
or both
What are the factors that greatly influenced the
Philippine Literature during the Spanish occupation?
Correct answer
education
religion
trade
Wealth
Philippine Literature during the Spanish occupation
was mostly influenced by Christianity as well as the
European ideals of liberty and freedom through trade.
Published in 1605, this book contains basic Catholic doc-
trines. What is the title of this book?
Correct answer
Noli Me Tangere
Gracias de sin sempiternas
Memorial de la vida cristiana en lengua tagala
Sampaguitas y poesias varias
Explanation
Memorial de la vida cristiana en lengua tagala is a book of
Catholic doctrines published in 1605. It contains the ladino
poem “Gracias de sin sempiternas” by Fernando Bagongbanta.
These natives could speak and write in both Spanish
and their own language. What do you call them?
Correct answer
Ladinos
Explanation
The Spanish missionaries hired natives to translate
Spanish religious instructional materials in the native
language. Eventually, the natives became fluent in
Spanish and became known as ladinos.
Complete the following analogy:
Jose Rizal : Noli Me Tangere : : Pedro Paterno : _
Correct answer
El Filibusterismo
Gracias de sin sempiternas
Ninay
Sampaguitas y poesias varias
Explanation
Jose Rizal wrote Noli Me Tangere, the first of his two novels;
while Pedro Paterno wrote Ninay, the first Filipino novel.
Complete the following analogy:
Jose de la Cruz : _________ : :
Francisco Baltazar : _________
Correct answer
komedya
novel
pasyon
poetry
Explanation
Jose de la Cruz was a master of the komedya (also called moro-
moro), while Francisco Baltazar was a master of traditional Taga-
log poetry.
 Which of the following statements are not true about the native literature dur-
ing the Spanish occupation?
 Correct answer
 The written tradition of the native literature was destroyed by the Spaniards
during their occupation of the country.
 The written tradition of the native literature survived during the Spanish
occupation of the country.
 The oral tradition of the native literature failed to survive during the Spanish
occupation of the country.
 The oral tradition of the native literature survived during the Spanish
occupation of the country.
 Explanation
 The Spaniards destroyed the written native literature in their effort to replace it
with their own. However, the oral tradition survived and flourished in areas
beyond the reach of the Spaniards.
 Which statement is true for the moro-moro?
 Correct answer
 Muslims triumph over Christians in the story of moro-moro.
 Christians triumph over Muslims in the story of moro-moro.
 Christians and Muslims triumph over evil in the story of
moro-moro.
 Christians and Muslims triumph over their common enemy
in the story of moro-moro.
 Explanation
 The moro-moro depicted the war between Christians and
Muslims, wherein the former always win.
What kind of poetry is de Belen’s poem?
Correct answer
descriptive
free verse
lyrical
narrative
Explanation
Gaspar Aquino de Belen’s Mahal na Passion is a narra-
tive poem. The excerpt shows different scenes of Jesus’
sufferings between the Last Supper and his death.
 In this excerpt, why does the poet regard the love for one’s country as pure
and noble?
 Correct answer
 Because with love for country, one writes for the good of his or her country.
 Because with love for country, one sacrifices his whole being for his or her
country.
 Because with love for country, one raises himself or herself and the others
from poverty.
 Because with love for country, one frees himself or herself and the others
from colonial oppression.
 Explanation
 The fifth stanza suggests that with love for country, one gives his or her
whole being for the country.
 In this excerpt, Crisostomo Ibarra and Elias are having a conversation about the
demands of the tulisanes or the bandits. Which of these statements tells Ibarra’s
viewpoint on such demands?
 Correct answer
 The demands of the tulisanes are reasonable because the Spanish forces use
excessive force.
 The demands of the tulisanes are not reasonable for the demands suggest that
the tulisanes are ungrateful.
 The demands of the tulisanes are difficult to meet but not impossible because
Ibarra has connections to help in the situation.
 The demands of the tulisanes are not realistic for Ibarra thinks that the use of
force by the Spanish forces is necessary and useful.
 Explanation
 Crisostomo Ibarra likens the use of force by the Spaniards to a cure of a chronic
disease. It may be harsh and violent but useful and necessary.