PHILIPPINES LITERATURE

DURING SPANISH COLONIAL

PERIOD
• Spanish colonization of the Philippines started
in 1565 during the of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi,
the first Spanish governors- general in the
Philippines. Literature started to flourish during
his time. The spurt continued unabated until
the Cavite Revolt in 1872.
• The Spaniards colonized the Philippines for
more than three centuries. During these times,
many changes occurred in the lives of Filipinos.
They embraced the Catholic religion, changed
their names, and were baptized.
SPANISH INFLUENCES IN THE
PHILIPPINES LITERATURE

 Due to the long period of

colonization of the Philippines by
the Spaniards, they have exerted a
strong influence on our literature.
Baybayin: Pre-Spanish
Philippine Writing System
Baybayin: Pre-Spanish Philippine
writing system
Member of the Brahmic family
Used in 16th century to Spanish
colonization of the Philippines up
until the late 19th Century.
 The term Baybay literally means
“to spell” in Tagalog.
ORIGIN
 Was noted by the Spanish priest Pedro
Chirino in 1604 and Antonio de Morga in
1609 to be known by most.
 William Henry Scott
The First Books
THE PASION
• This is the book about the life and
sufferings of Jesus Christ. It is read
only during Lent. There were 4 versions
of this in Tagalog and each version is
according to the name of the writer.
THE PASION
 Pilapil version (by Mariano Pilapil of Bulacan,
1814)
 De Belen version (by Gaspar Aquino de Belen
of Bat. in 1704)
 A famous poetic narrative of the passion,
death and resurrection of Jesus, which has
circulated in many versions.
 Historically, the pasyon has served as a
symbolic lens through which political events
and figures have been interpreted.
THE PASION
 In the late colonial period, during which
nationalist speech was curtailed by the
Spanish government and Catholic Church, the
pasyon narrative of the suffering of Christ was
imbued with layers of nationalist, anticlerical
and anticolonial meaning.
 The pasyon is performed during Lenten
season in cities and villages throughout the
Phillipines.
ZARZUELA
ZARZUELA
 Due to Spanish colonization, the Zarzuela Musical
Theatre has been widely adapted by Filipinos in
their native cultures, notably in urban areas. The
theatre was only introduced by the Spanish in
1878, despite having colonial rule since the
middle of the 16th century.
 The father of drama, a musical comedy or
melodrama three acts which death with men’s
passion and emotions like love, hate, revenge,
cruelty, avarice or some political problem.
 The Philippine zarzuela is a type of drama that
includes singing and dancing on stage.
Watching Anti-Muslim
Comedy a.k.a “Moro-Moro.”
Watching anti-Muslim comedy a.k.a “moro-
moro.”

 19th century
 The Spaniards hated the Moros (a term
referring to the Philippine Muslims) so
much that they wrote and popularized a
play just to demonize them.
 Was usually performed during a week-
long celebration leading up to the town
fiesta.
Nuestra Señora Del Rosario
(Our Lady of the Rosary)
Nuestra Señora Del Rosario (Our Lady of
the Rosary)

 Fr.
Blancas de San Jose
(1602).
 Biographies of the Saints
 Novenas
 Roman Catholicism
THANK YOU FOR
LISTENING!!! Mhuaaa!

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