PHILIPPINE LITERATURE

I. PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD (--BC to 1564)

A. Characteristics

1.Based on oral traditions

2.Crude on ideology and phraseology

B. Literary Forms

1. Oral Literature

a. Riddles (bugtong) battle of wits among participants

Tigmo CebuPaktakon IlonggoPatotdon - Bicolb. Proverbs (salawikain) wise sayings that contain a
metaphor used to teach asa food for thoughtc. Tanaga - a mono-riming heptasyllabic quatrain expressing
insights and lessonson life is "more emotionally charged than the terse proverb and thus hasaffinities
with the folk lyric."

2. Folk SongsIt is a form of folk lyric which expresses the hopes and aspirations, the people'slifestyles as
well as their loves. These are often repetitive and sonorous, didactic andnaivea. Hele or oyayi
lullabyb.Ambahan (Mangyan) 7-syllable per line poem that are about humanrelationships and social
entertainmentc.Kalusan (Ivatan) - work songs that depict the livelihood of the peopled.Tagay (Cebuano
and Waray) drinking songe.Kanogan (Cebuano) song of lamentation for the dead

3. Folk Talesa. Myths explain how the world was created, how certain animalspossess certain
characteristics, why some places have waterfalls, volcanoes,mountains, flora or faunab. Legends explain
the origin of things Why the Pineapple Has EyesThe Legend of Maria Makiling c. Fables used animal
characters and allegoryd.Fantastic stories deal with underworld characters such as tiyanak,aswang,
kapre and others

4. Epics These are narratives of sustained length based on oral tradition revolving aroundsupernatural
events or heroic deeds (Arsenio Manuel)Examples: Lam-ang (Ilocano)Hinilawod (Panay)Kudaman
(Palawan)Darangen (Maranao) II. SPANISH COLONIZATION PERIOD (1565 1863)

A. Characteristics

1.It has two distinct classifications: religious and secular

2.It introduced Spanish as the medium of communication

B.Literary Forms

1. Religious Literature - Religious lyrics written by ladino poets or those versed inboth Spanish and
Tagalog were included in early catechism and were used toteach Filipinos the Spanish language.a.Pasyon
long narrative poem about the passion and death of Christ. The mostpopular was Ang Mahal na
Passion ni Jesu Cristong Panignoon Natin byAguino de Belenb.Senakulo dramatization of the pasyon, it
shows the passion and death of Christ
2. Secular (non-religious) Literaturea.Awit - colorful tales of chivalry made for singing and
chantingExample: Ibong Adarnab.Korido metrical tale written in octosyllabic quatrainsExample: Florante
at Laura by Francisco Baltazarc. Prose Narratives written to prescribe proper decorumi. Dialogoiii.
ejemploii.Manual de Urbanidadiv. Tratado

Examples: Modesto de Castro's " Pagsusulatan ng Dalawang Binibini na siUrbana at si Feliza " and Joaquin
Tuason's " Ang Bagong Robinson " (The NewRobinson) in 1879

III. NATIONALISTIC / PROPAGANDA AND REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD(1864 1896)

A. Characteristics

1.Planted seeds of nationalism in Filipinos

2.Language shifted from Spanish to Tagalog

3.Addressed the masses instead of the intelligentsia

B. Literary Forms

1. Propaganda Literature - Reformatory in objectivea. Political Essays satires, editorials and news articles
were written to attackand expose the evils of Spanish rulei.Diariong Tagalog founded by Marcelo del
Pilarii.La Solidaridad whose editor-in-chief is Graciano Lopez-Jaenab. Political Novelsi. Noli Me Tangere
and El Filibusterismo Jose Rizals masterpiecesthat paved the way to the revolution

2. Revolutionary Literature more propagandistic than literary as it is moreviolent in nature and

demanded complete independence for the country a. Political Essays helped inflame the spirit of
revolutioni. Kalayaan newspaper of the society, edited by Emilio Jacintob. Poetryi. True Decalogue
Apolinario Mabiniii.Katapusang Hibik ng Pilipinas Andres Bonifacioiii.Liwanag at Dilim Emilio Jacinto

IV. AMERICAN COLONIAL PERIOD (1910 1945)

A. Period of Apprenticeship (1910-1930)

1.Filipino Writers imitated English and American models

2.Poems written were amateurish and mushy, which phrasing and diction is awkward and artificial

a.Short Stories

i.Dead Stars Paz Marquez Benitez

ii.The Key Paz Latorena

iii.Footnote to Youth Jose Garcia Villab.Novelsi. Childe of Sorrow first novel in English, by Zoilo Galang

B. Period of Emergence (1920-1930)

1. Highly influenced by Western literary trends like Romanticism and Realism.

a. Short Stories most prevalent literary formi. Jose Garcia Villa earned the international title Poet of
theCentury
V. JAPANESE OCCUPATION (1942 - 1960)

A. War Years (1942-1944)

1. Tagalog poets broke away from the Balagtas tradition and insteadwrote in simple language and free
verse

2.Fiction prevailed over poetry

a.25 Pinakamabuting Maikling Kthang Pilipino (1943) compilation of the short story contest by the
military government

i. Suyuan sa Tubigan Macario Pineda

ii.Lupang Tinubuan Narciso Reyes

iii.Uhaw ang Tigang na Lupa Liwayway ArceoB.Period of Maturity and Originality (1945-1960)

1.Bountiful harvest in poetry, fiction, drama and essay

2.Filipino writers mastered English and familiarized themselves iwhtdiverse techniques

3.Literary giants appeared

a. Palanca Awards for Literaturei.Jose Garcia Villa

ii.Nick Joaquin

iii.NVM Gonzalesiv.Bienvenido Santosv.Gregorio Brillantesvi.Gilda CorderoFernandob.National Artist

Awards i. Jose Garcia Villaii. Nick Joaquin

VI. CONTEMPORARY/MODERN PERIOD (1960 PRESENT)

A. Characteristics

1.Martial Law repressed and curtailed human rights, including freedom of the press

2. Writers used symbolisms and allegories to drive home their message, at theface of heavy censorship

3.Theater was used as a vehicle for protest, such as the PETA (Phil. Educational Theater Association) and
UP Theater

4.From the eighties onwards, writers continue to show dynamism and innovation