September 6, 2023

LESSON 1
Geographic, Linguistic and Ethnic
Dimensions of Philippine Literary History
from Pre-Colonial to the Contemporary
The term ‘literature is derived from the Latin word ‘Littera’ which
means ‘letter of the alphabet’ or in plural ‘Litterae’, meaning
‘letters’.
“Anything written down”
It is a body of literary productions, either oral, written or visual,
containing imaginative language that realistically portrays
thoughts, emotions, and experiences of the human condition.
 LITERATURE THROUGH TIME
01 PRE-SPANISH 06 THIRD REPUBLIC
Pre-Colonial Era/The
Early Times
PERIOD OF
02 ENLIGHTENMENT 07 NEW SOCIETY
Spanish-Colonial Era
03 AMERICAN REGIME 08 POST-EDSA REVOLUTION
American-Colonial Era

04 JAPANESE
Darkest Period of PERIOD 09 21st CENTURY
PERIOD
Philippine Literature Contemporary Period
History
05 PERIOD OF ACTIVISM
Post-war Period
 01
PRE-COLONIAL ERA
PRE-SPANISH LITERATURE
 This is the literary period before
the coming of the Spaniards and
considered as the first and
longest literary history among
the other periods.
 ORAL LITERATURE
Oral literature marks the birth of literature in the
Philippines. Different stories of myths, folks and
narratives meant to be sung were passed hand in
hand orally.

• Oral literature serves to be their language of life

and their way of promoting cultural heritage.
 SYLLABARY

It is consisted of
seventeen symbols, or
which three were
vowels standing for the
present five vowels and
fourteen consonants.

ALIBATA
 PRE-SPANISH LITERATURE –
is characterized by:

Epics are long narrative These are one of the

Folk Tales The Epic
poems Age a
in which Folk Songs
oldest forms of
These are made up of series of heroic Philippine literature that
stories about life, achievements or emerged in the pre-
adventure, love, horror, events, usually of a Spanish period. These
and humor where one hero, are dealt with at songs mirrored
can derive lessons. length. the early forms of
culture
FORMS OF LITERATURE
DURING THE
PRE-COLONIAL ERA
Pre-Colonial Pre-Colonial
Poetry Prose
a. Proverbs or Salawikain
These are truths and wise sayings express in a
language that is popularly known. These are
often called expressions of wisdom which is
based on common sense and real life
experiences.
a. Proverbs or Salawikain
b. Tanaga
A poem in quatrain containing
seven syllables each line with
a monoline.
c. Riddles or Bugtong
This is a game in a form of
mystifying question and a
mind puzzle intended to be
solved.
EXAMPLES:
Pre-Colonial Pre-Colonial
Poetry Prose
 1. EPIC
This is a long narrative poem about
quests and exciting adventures of
a hero with unusual strength and
power.
 2. MYTH
This is a story of gods and
goddesses told using a traditional
language explaining mysteries,
beliefs and cultural practices.
 3. FABLES
These are stories intended to teach
human values with animals as
major characters attributing
human qualities.
 4. LEGENDS
These are stories explaining origins
handed down from the past and passed
through different generations. This is
believed by some people but not
proven scientifically.
 5. FOLKTALES
This is an imaginative narrative
story told by ancient group of
people.
 ACTIVITY NO. 1
I AM
Introduce yourself through rhetorical poem.

• 4 – Stanzas
• 4 – Lines per stanza
• Rhyming
• Provide a TITLE
 02
SPANISH
COLONIAL ERA
PERIOD OF ENLIGHTENMENT (1972-
1898)
 Spanish-Colonial Era

 During this period Filipino writers started to write

articles about the negative impacts and effects
of colonization in the country.

 Literary works during this era follow a universal

theme of religion and other social issues.
 The Propaganda Movement (1872-1896)
 This movement was spearheaded mostly by the
intellectual middle-class like
 Jose Rizal,

 Marcelo del Pilar

 Graciano Lopez Jaena,

 Antonio Luna,

 Mariano Ponce,

 Jose Ma. Panganiban, and

 Pedro Paterno
 ROMAN ALPHABET
 During this period the Filipino alphabet called
Alibata was replaced by Roman alphabet.
 DOCTRINA CHRISTIANA
 Doctrina Christiana was
the first book published
in the Philippines.
 It was a collection of
prayers written in
Spanish translated in
Tagalog.
 IMPORTANT EVENTS
• Philippine Christianization

• Spanish language was

being taught to Filipinos.

• The natives were called

“Indios” and the native
literary writers were called
“Ladinos.”
NOTABLE WORKS OF
NOTABLE FILIPINO
LITERARY AUTHORS
Their main goal is for the Spain to grant
assimilation in the Philippines and recognize it as
one of their provinces.
 DR. JOSE RIZAL
N O L I M E T A NG E RE
Touch Me Not

He described it as a “work of the heart”. It was

a story of love and aspirations of a Filipino.

● The setting of the novel reflects the current

situation of the Philippines during the
administration of Spaniards.
● The characters reflect the dominance of Spanish
government towards Filipino people.
 DR. JOSE RIZAL
E L F I L I B U ST E RI S M O
The Traitor

He described it as the “work of the mind”.

It was a story of love and aspirations of a
Filipino.
● Through this novel, Rizal predicted a
revolution between Filipinos and
Spaniards.
 DR. JOSE RIZAL
His Other Works
• Mi Ultimo Adios (My Last Farewell)

• Sobre La Indolencia Delos Filipinos (On the

Indolence of the Filipinos)

• Filipinas Dentro De Cien Aňos (The Philippines A

Century Hence )
 GRACIANO
LOPEZ JAENA
He was known to be highly intelligent man of his age.
He took writing seriously at an early age in life.

FRAY BOTOD
Big-Bellied Man

● The character of the protagonist symbolizes the

abusive traits and immorality of the Spanish
friars.
 GRACIANO
LOPEZ JAENA
LA SOLIDARIDAD
The Solidarity

He was the first editor of the official

newspaper of the Propaganda Movement.
● It supported the relatively liberal views
of the Filipino Propaganda Movement,
which sought reform in the Spanish colony
of the Philippines.
Among the Filipino writers who contributed to the
newspaper were:

PROPAGANDIST PSEUDONYM
José Rizal Laong Laan and Dimasalang

Plaridel, Dolores Manapat, Piping Dilat, Siling Labuyo, Cupang,

Marcelo H. del Pilar Maytiyaga, Patos, Carmelo, D.A. Murgas, and L.O. Crame

Graciano López Jaena Diego Laura

Antonio Luna Taga-Ilog

Mariano Ponce Tigbalang, Kalipulako, Naning

José María Panganiban Jomapa

 Among the Filipino writers who contributed to the
newspaper were:

● Pedro Paterno ● Pablo Rianzares

● Antonio María Regidor Bautista
● Isabelo de los Reyes ● Dámaso Ponce
● Eduardo de Lete ● Galicano Apacible
● José Alejandrino
● Juan Luna
● Tomás Arejola
● Felix Resurrección
Hidalgo
● Pedro Serrano Laktaw
 GRACIANO
LOPEZ JAENA
His Other Works
• La Hija Del Fraile (The Child of the Friar)
• Everything Is Hambug (Everything is mere show)
• Sa Mga Pilipino...1891)
• Talumpating Pagunita Kay Kolumbus (An Oration to
Commemorate Columbus).
 MARCELO
H. DEL PILAR
● He was known to be the “Master of the
Tagalog Language” and tried to awaken the
consciousness of the masses to as unified
people.
● He defended José Rizal's polemical
writings by issuing a pamphlet against a
priest's attack, exhibiting his deadly
wit and savage ridicule of clerical
follies.
 MARCELO
H. DEL PILAR
DIARIONG TAGALOG
Del Pilar, together with Basilio Teodoro Moran
and Pascual H. Poblete, founded the short-lived
Diariong Tagalog (Tagalog Newspaper) in 1882.

● Diariong Tagalog was the first bilingual

newspaper in the Philippines and was
financed by the wealthy Spanish liberal
Francisco Calvo y Muñoz
 MARCELO
H. DEL PILAR
His Other Works
• Pagibig sa Tinubuang Lupa (Love of Country)
• Kaingat Kayo (Be Careful)
• Dasalan at Tocsohan (Prayers and Jokes)
 FRANCISCO
BALTAZAR
He is fondly called as Balagtas a genius writer of
Tagalog poetry. He is widely considered one of the
greatest Filipino literary laureates for his impact on
Filipino literature.

FLORANTE AT LAURA
● The setting of the story reflected the
tyranny of the Spaniards during Spanish-
Colonization era.
 03
THE AMERICAN
REGIME
AMERCAN-COLONIZATION ERA (1898-
1944)
 American-Colonial Era

 During the colonization of the Americans,

Filipino writer greatly enjoyed the freedom
of expression. This period remarked the
vibrant well-spring of some nationalistic
plays with themes such as freedom and
independence.
 IMPORTANT EVENTS
• Implementation of Public
School System
• Arrival of Thomasites as first
formal teachers in the
Philippines
• American language as the
international language and L2
for the Philippines
• The use of English alphabet in
education system
IMPORTANT EVENTS

• Freedom of expression
for Filipino writers are
widely observed.
• Literary themes
focused on freedom
and independence.
 IMPORTANT EVENTS
• Implementation of Public
School System
• Arrival of Thomasites as first
formal teachers in the
Philippines
• American language as the
international language and L2
for the Philippines
• The use of English alphabet in
education system
 IMPORTANT EVENTS
• Filipino writers went into 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.
LITERARY PRODUCT DURING AMERICAN
OCCUPATION IN THE PHILIPPINES

NEWSPAPER
 NEWSPAPERS
1. EL GRITO DEL PUEBLO (The Call of the Nation).
Established by Sergio Osmeña in 1900. The American censors twice
banned this and threatened Osmeña with banishment because of his
nationalistic writings.
2. EL NUEVO DIA (The New Day).
Established by Pascual Poblete in 1900.

3. EL RENACIMIENTO (The Rebirth).

Founded by Rafael Palma in 1901.
LITERARY PRODUCT DURING AMERICAN
OCCUPATION IN THE PHILIPPINES

PLAYS
 PLAYS
1. KAHAPON, NGAYON AT BUKAS (Yesterday, Today
and Tomorrow). Written by Aurelio Tolentino

2. TANIKALANG GINTO of Juan Abad

3. MALAYA by Tomas Remigio

4. WALANG SUGAT by Severino Reyes

LITERARY PRODUCT DURING AMERICAN
OCCUPATION IN THE PHILIPPINES

GROUP OF WRITERS
 A. LITERATURE IN SPANISH
The inspiration of our Filipino writers in Spanish was Rizal not only because of his
being a national leader but also because of his novels NOLI and FILI. These two novels
contained the best qualities of a novel ever written, in English or in Filipino.

Those who were inspired to write in praise of him were:

Cecilio Apostol, Fernando Ma. Guerrero, Jesus Balmori,
Manuel Bernabe, and Claro M. Recto
A. LITERATURE IN SPANISH
CECILIO APOSTOL
Cecilio Apostol wrote poems dedicated to Rizal, Jacinto, Mabini
and all other heroes but his poem dedicated to Rizal is
considered the best poem in praise of the hero of Bagumbayan.

FERNANDO MA. GUERRERO

It is believed that Fernando Ma. Guerrero shared with Apostol the
reign in the balagtasan in Spanish during their time.
He also dedicated a poem to Rizal but he collected the best of
his poems in a book called CRISALIDAS, meaning, a kind of black,
wooly caterpillar.
B. LITERATURE IN FILIPINO
● Florante at Laura
of Francisco
Balagtas and
● Urbana at Felisa
of Modesto de
Castro became the
inspiration of the
Tagalog writers.
THREE KINDS OF TAGALOG POETS
By Julian Cruz Balmaceda

POETS OF THE POETS OF THE

HEART STAGE

POETS OF
LIFE
 THREE KINDS OF TAGALOG POETS
By Julian Cruz Balmaceda

POETS OF THE HEART

• Lope K. Santos • Ildefonso Santos
• Iñigo Ed. Regalado • Amado V. Hernandez
• Carlos Gatmaitan • Nemecio Carabana
• Pedro Deogracias del • Mar Antonio
Rosario
 THREE KINDS OF TAGALOG POETS
By Julian Cruz Balmaceda

POETS OF LIFE
• Lope K Santos • Amado V. Hernandez.
• Jose Corazon de Jesus
• Florentino Collantes
• Patricio Mariano
• Carlos Garmaitan
 THREE KINDS OF TAGALOG POETS
By Julian Cruz Balmaceda

POETS OF THE STAGE

• Aurelio Tolentino
• Patricio Mariano
• Severino Reyes
• Tomas Remigio.
C. ENGLISH LITERATURE
THREE TIME FRAMES

The Period of Re- The Period of

orientation: Self-Discovery:
1898-1910 The Period of 1925-1941
Imitation:
1910-1925
T H E P E R I O D O F R E - O R I E N T A T I O N: 1 8 9 8 - 1 91 0

• Writers of this period were still adjusting to the

newfound freedom after the paralyzing effect of
repression of thought and speech under the Spanish
regime. They were adjusting the idea of democracy,
to the new phraseology of the English language and
to the standards of the English literary style Writers
had to learn direct expression as conditioned by
direct thinking.
 T h e P e r i o d o f I m i t a t i o n : 1 9 1 0 - 1 92 5

• This period marks the way of how writers imitates

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.
 04
THE JAPANESE
PERIOD
(1941-1945)
 Japanese-Colonial Era

 Philippine Literature was interrupted in its

development when another foreign country,
Japan, conquered the Philippines between1941-
1945. Philippine literature in English came to a
halt. This led to all newspapers not to be
circulated in the community except for TRIBUNE
and PHILIPPINE REVIEW.
FILIPINO POETRY DURING THIS PERIOD
• The common theme
of most poems during
the Japanese
occupation was
nationalism, country,
love, and life in the
barrios, faith, religion,
and the arts.
Three Types Of Poems Emerged During This Period:

• Haiku , a poem of free verse that the

Japanese like. It was made up of 17
syllables divided into three lines and
• Tanaga – like the Haiku, is short, but it
had measure and rhyme.
• Karaniwang Anyo (Usual Form)
 05
PERIOD OF
ACTIVISM
(1970-1972)
 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
• According to Pociano Pineda, youth
activism in 1970-72 was due to
domestic and worldwide causes.
Activism is connected with the history
of our Filipino youth.
 THE SEED OF ACTIVISM
• The seed of activism resulted in the
declaration of Martial Law in 1972. We
can, however, say that he seeds were
earlier sown from times of Lapu-Lapu,
Lakandula, and Rizal.
PERIOD OF THE BLOODY PLACARDS
• Pineda also said that this was the time
when the youth once moreproved that it
is not the constant evasion that shapes
our race and nationalism.
 LITERARY REVOLUTION
• The youth became completely rebellious
during this period. This was proven not
only in the bloody demonstrations and in
the sidewalk expressions but also in
literature.
 LITERARY REVOLUTION
• Campus newspapers showed rebellious
emotions. The once aristocratic writers
developed awareness for society. They
held pens and wrote on placards in red
paint the equivalent of the word
MAKIBAKA (To dare!).
WRITING DURING THE PERIOD OF ACTIVISM

• The irreverence for the poor reached its

peak during this period of the mass
revolution. It was also during this period
that Bomba films that discredit our ways
as Filipinos started to come out.
History has repeatedly taught us one
universal lesson – adversity produces
the best in human kind.
 06
PERIOD OF THE
NEW SOCIETY
(1972- 1980)
 September 21, 1972
• Poems dealt with patience, regard for native
culture, customs, and the beauties of nature and
surroundings. Newspapers donned new forms.
 PERIOD OF THE NEW SOCIETY
• News on economic progress, discipline,
culture, tourism, and the like were favored
more than the sensationalized reporting of
killings, rape, and robberies.

• Filipinos
before were hooked in reading
magazines and comics.
 07
PERIOD OF THE
THIRD REPUBLIC
(1972- 1980)
 PERIOD OF THE NEW SOCIETY
• Poems during this period of the Third Republic
were romantic and revolutionary.

• Many Filipino songs dealt with themes that

were true-to-life like those of grief, poverty,
aspirations for freedom, love of God, of country
and fellowmen.
 08
POST-EDSA 1
REVOLUTION
(1986-1995)
 POST-EDSA 1 REVOLUTION
• In the short span of the existence of the real
Republic of the Philippines, several changes
already became evident.
• It was noticed in the new Filipino songs,
newspapers, speeches, and even in the television
programs. The now crony newspapers that
enjoyed an overnight increase in circulation were
THE INQUIRER, MALAYA, and the PEOPLE’S
JOURNAL.
 09
21st CENTURY
PERIOD
(1946-PRESENT)
 21 ST CENTURY PERIOD
• The new trends have been used and introduced
to meet the needs and tastes of the new
generation.
• 21st Century learners are demanded to be ICT
inclined to compete with the style and format of
writing as well.
• New codes or lingos are used to add flavor in the
literary pieces produced nowadays.