1 Survey of Philippine Literature in English

Group 1 - Literature

 from the Latin word litera which means acquaintance with letters and written words
 It is a body of work either written, oral or visual containing imaginative language that realistically portrays thought, emotions
and experiences of human condition.
 It is a product of particular culture that concretizes man’s array of values, emotions, actions and ideas. It is therefore a
creation of human experience that tells about people and their world.
 encompasses forms such as poetry, drama, prose, folklore, epic tale, personal narrative, poetry, history, biography, satire,
philosophical dialogues, essays, legends and myths

Definition of Literature according to Filipino Authors

 In PANITIKING PILIPINO written by Atienza, Ramos, Salazar and Nazal, it says that “true literature is a piece of written work
which is undying”.
 Brother Arnold Molina Azurin, a Filipino poet and essayist, said that “literature expresses the feelings of people to society, to
the government, to his surroundings, to his fellowmen and to his Divine Creator.”
Brief Background of Philippine Literature

 Early stages of Filipino Literature consist of the Pre-Spanish period, the Spanish period and the Propaganda and Revolutionary
Periods.
 Pre-Spanish period (Early times - 1564)- literature was in oral form as technology of printing wasn’t available yet. Works
such a epics, legends, folklore, salawikain, bugtong, sawikain, songs such as the Oyayi or Hele emerged.
 Spanish Period (1565 - 1863)- literature was centered on Christian faith. The interest from nature and natural
phenomena shifted to the lives of the saints, hymns, miracles and invocations based on the teachings of the Catholic Church
(corrido, awit, dalit, cenaculo, moro-moro, duplo and karagatan, and zarzuela)
 Propaganda Period(1864 - 1896) - The primary propagandists were Jose Rizal, Marcelo H. del Pilar, and Graciano Lopez-
Jaena.They exposed the tyranny of Spain through Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterism. Del Pilar’s essays and
editorials in Diariong Tagalog which he founded with Lopez-Jaena’s articles in La Solidaridad reflected nationalism that was
dominant at this time.
 Revolutionary Period (1864 - 1896)- The propagandists failed to get much reforms which caused this period to demand
complete independence from Spain. The articles written in tagalog (which was a form of revolution) was published in the
Kalayaan, the newspaper of the society.
 American Colonial Period (1910-1946) - Many Filipinos started writing again and the nationalism of the people remained
undaunted. Filipino writer went into all forms of literature like news reporting, poetry, stories, plays, essays and novels. The
Dead Stars by Paz Marquez Benitez stood out as a model of perfection in character delineation, local color, plot and message.
Jose Garcia’s Footnote to Youth was also publish during this era.
 Japanese Occupation (1942-1960) - Called to be the darkest days in Philippines history and literary tradition because of
the war.
 Contemporary/Modern Period (1960-Present) - Freedom of the press was hindered by heavy censorship during the
Marcos regime. However, after those years, improvements in all aspects of literature making has shown dynamism and
innovation. In early 2000’s, a new form of Philippine literature has risen. Wattpad is an example of modern/contemporary
Philippine Literature since authors have been accustomed to digital technology.

Functions of Literature

 Entertainment function- known as “pleasure reading”. In this function, literature is used to entertain its readers. Literary
works are consumed for the sake of one’s enjoyment.
Ex. Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien
Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling
The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare

 Social and Political function- literatureshows how society works around them. Literature helps the reader “see” the
social and political constructs around him/ her and shows the state of the people and the world around him/her.

Ex. Noli Me Tángere and El Filibusterismo by Dr. José Rizal

Mga Ibong Mandaragit (Birds of Prey) by Amado V. Hernandez

The Woman Who Had Two Navels by Nick Joaquin
Po-on A Novel by F. Sionil Jose
Banaag at Sikat by Lope K. Santos
Ilustrado by Miguel Syjuco

 Ideological function- literature shapes our way of thinking based on the ideas of other people. Literature also displays a
person’s ideology placed in the text consciously and unconsciously.

Ex. The Communist Manifesto by Friedrich Engels and Karl Marx

The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli

 Moral function- literature may impart values to it readers. The morals contained in a literary text, whether good or bad,
are absorbed by whoever reads it, thus helps in shaping their personality.
Ex. The Cow (From The Holy Quran)
The Good Samaritan (From The Holy Bible)
The Emperor’s New Clothes (By Hans Christian Anderson)
The Prodigal Son (From Holy Bible, Book of Luke)
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 Linguistic function- literature preserves the language of every civilization from where it originated. They are also
evidences that a certain civilization has existed by recording the language and preserving it through wide span of time.
Ex. Samiweng ni Ayat (Song of Love) by L. Ruben Ilaga
Pasyong Dapat Ipag-alab ng Puso ng Taong Baba sa Kalupitan ng Fraile
(Poetry) by Marcelo H. Del Pilar
Dead Stars by Paz Marie Marquez
How My Brother Leon Brought Home aWife by Manuel E. Arguilla

 Cultural function- literature orients us to traditions, folklore and the arts of our ethnic group’s heritage. Literature
preserves entire cultures and creates an imprint of the people’s way of living for others to read, hear, and learn.
Ex.
The Tale of Tungkung Langit and Alunsina
Why the Sea is Salty?
Si Malakas at Maganda
Sarimanok

Philippine Proverbs
Matibay ang walis, palibhasa'y magkabigkis.
Kung may tinanim, may aanihin.
Pag may tiyaga, may nilaga.
Riddles
Heto na ang magkapatid, nag-uunahang pumanhik.
Sagot: Mga paa
Dalawang batong itim, malayo ang nararating.
Sagot: Mga mata

 Educational function- literature teaches us many things about the human experience. Literature, therefore, is a conduit
for the chance to experience and feel things where we can learn things about life.
Ex. Philippine Essays
For Freedom and Democracy by Salvador P. Lopez
Pliant like the Bamboo by I.V. Mallari
Nationalism and Culture by Claro. M. Recto
Revising Asian History by Carlos P. Romulo

 Historical function- Ancient texts, illuminated scripts, stone tablets etc. keep a record of events that happened in the
place where they originate. Thu they serve as time capsules of letters that is studied by scholars and researchers of today.
Ex. Noli Me Tangere Jose Rizal
El Filibusterismo by Jose Rizal
Florante at Laura
The Woman Who Had Two Navels by Nick Joaquin
America Is in the Heart by Carlos Bulosan

Group 2 - The Critical Lenses

draws focus to certain aspects of text by providing readers with a perspective from which to view the novel.
offer different perspectives to reveal how the image and its ideas have been affected by various factors

Reader Response Lens

Proponents/Influence: I. A. Richards, Louise Rosenblatt, C. S. Lewis

 Ignores both the author and the text's contents

 Confining analysis reader's experiences when reading a particular piece or, work.
 Basically, this lens is just what the readers think of the story.

Socio-Economic Lens/Marxist Lens

Proponents/Influence: Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels

 The reader looks critically how social and economic factors influence the text
 Includes analyzing the class constructs demonstrated in the literature
 Literature reflects power and materialism

Historical Lens
Proponent/Influence: rooted from the Protestant Reformation ideology [prior to this era, it is a tradition to read, and analyze Biblical
texts and scriptures]

 Also known as Higher Criticism

 Investigates the origins of old literary works in order to understand "the world behind the text"
 historical evidence or based on the context in which a work was written, including facts about the author's life and the
historical and social circumstances of the time

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Gender Lens
Proponents/Influence: informed by the Feminist movement, and theories

 enables readers to expose and consider societal constraints that are the result of one's gender
 work through how texts and authors help explain, challenge, and exploit traditional gender roles.
 Same ideals with the Feminist Lens but, it's now introduced with additional genders

Race Lens
Proponents/Influence: Heavily derived from "Critical Race Theory"

 provides a critical analysis of race and racism from a legal point of view
 Reading a text for it issues of race, heritage, and ethnicity

Psychological Lens
Proponents/Influence: Sigmund Freud

 An approach to literature that draws upon psychoanalytic theories

 explores the motivations of characters and the symbolic meanings of events
 Analyzing a work through this lens is quite similar to a psychologist simply evaluating and diagnosing a patient

New Criticism
Proponents/Influence: John Crow Ransom

 evaluate work based only on the text; the text itself carries its own value
 Also called "Formalism"
 we're only dealing with the text, we'd be doing what's called a close reading

Spiritual Lens
Proponents/Influence: influenced by the church to encouraged people to read the text in a different light

 Reading a text for its spiritual and faith related issues

 It is not a wide range lens since spirituality of each person is different

Proponent/Influence Lens Birth and Death Race Picture

I. A. Richards Reader's Response Feb. 26, 1893 - Sep. 7, English

1979

Louise Rosenblatt Reader's Response Aug. 23, 1904 - Feb. 8, Jewish

2005

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C. S. Lewis Reader's Response Nov. 29, 1898 - Nov. 22, British
1963

Karl Marx Marxist Lens May 5, 1818 - March 14, Prussian

1883

Friedrich Engels Marxist Lens Nov. 28 1820 - Aug. 5, Prussian

1895

Rooted from the Historical Lens N/A N/A N/A

Protestant Reformation
ideology

informed by the Feminist Gender Lens N/A N/A N/A

movement, and theories

Heavily derived from Race Lens N/A N/A N/A

"Critical Race Theory"

Sigmund Freud Psychological Lens May 6, 1856 - Sep. 23, Austrian

1939

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John Crow Ransom New Criticism Apr. 30, 1888 - Jul. 3, American
1974

The Church Spiritual Lens N/A N/A N/A

Group 3 - The Different Time Frames in Philippine Literature in English (1900-Present)

American Colonization (1901-1946)

Brief history

 1899-1946- The Americans occupied the Philippines

 1896-1897- The Philippine Revolution destabilized the Spanish Colonialism
 The Americans avoided recognition of the Philippine independence declared in June 12, 1898.
 1898- Treaty of Paris was signed
 1899- Philippine-American war erupted

Three periods during the American Colonization

The Period of Re-orientation (1898-1910)

 First arrived with the American occupation

 1900- English became a medium of instruction in public schools
 American teachers were the first recruits
 1908- Primary and intermediate grades used English. It was about this time when UP, the forerunner of in the use of
English, was founded.
 Writers were still adjusting to their new found freedom.
 Adjusting to the idea of democracy of the English language and to the standard of English literary style. Writers had to learn
that sentence constructions; sounds and speech in English were not the same as in vernacular. They had to discard
sentimentality and floridity of language for the more direct and precise English language.
 Not much was produced during this period. First attempts in English were in two periodicals of this time:
o 1901- El Renacimiento – was founded by Rafael Palma and established in Manila
o 1905- Philippine Free Press- was founded by McCullough Dick and D. Theo Rogers, established in Manila

Poetry

 1907- Sursum Corda, by Justo Juliano first appeared in Renacimiento was the first work published in English.
 1909- My Mother and his Air Castles by Jan F. Salazar and To my lady in Laog by Proceso Sebastian was also published.

The Period of Imitation (1910-1924)

 1919- UP college Folio published literary compositions of first Filipino writers in English. Pioneers in short story writing.
 Imitating American and British models which resulted in a stilted, artificial and unnatural style, lacking vitality and
spontaneity.
o MODELS Imitated are from:
Longfellow Thoreau
Hawthorne Macaulay
Emerson Wordsworth
Allan Poe Tennyson

Writers of the Folio includes:

 Ferdinand Maramag (best editorial writer of this period)

 Juan F. Salazar
 Jose M. Hernandez
 Vicente del Fierro
 Victoriano Yamzon
o all pioneers in English Poetry

Essays

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Noteworthy essayist of this time were:

 Carlos P. Romulo
 Jorge C. Bocobo
 Mauro Mendez
 Vicente Hilario
- Their essays were truly scholarly characterized by sobriety, substance, and structure.

Informal essays, criticism, journalistic column were introduced by these writers:

 Ignacio Manlapaz
 Godefredo Rivera
 Federico Mangahas
 Francis B. Incasiano
 Salvador P. Lopez
 Jose Lansang
 Amando G. Dayrit

Short stories

 1925- Dead Stars by Paz Marquez Banitez stand out as a model of perfection in charavter delineation, local color, plot and
message. Other stories published during this time were but poor imitations of foreign models.
 UP college Folio was later replaced by Philippine Collegian.
 1921- The Child of Sorrow by Zoilo Galang is the first Filipino novel written in English

News papers and Prints

 The bulletin Rising Philippines

 The Philippine Herald Philippine Education Magazine
 The Philippine Review
 The Independent
 Rising Philippines

Period of Self-Discovery and Growth (1925-1941)

 Filipino writers had acquired mastery of English writing and went into different forms of writing including novels and dramas.

Poetry

 Marcelo de Garcia Conception

 Jose Garcia Villa
 Angela Manalang Gloria
 Abelardo Subido
 Trividad Tarossa Subido
 Rafael Zulueta de Costa
- They wrote in free verses, in odes and sonnets and in other types.
- Poetry was originally spontaneous, competently written, and later incorporated social consciousness.

Short Story

 1930-1940- “Golden era of Filipino writing in English”

 1933- Footnote to Youth- Jose Garcia Villa

Jose Garcia Villa- Was born on August 5, 1914. Took up Law in UP. His work “Man Poems” was so controversial that the authorities
at the University got him expelled. He won a prize from Philippine Free Press for best short story of the year. After publishing footnote
to youth, he abandoned writing short stories and turned all his attention to poetry. He was also first to receive international
recognition.

The Japanese colonization (1941-1945)

 1941-1945- Literature was interrupted in its development due to the arrival of the Japanese forces in the country.
 Writers in English turned to write in Filipino regarding the prohibition of any English writing.
 Liwayway was under surveillance during this period
 Filipino literature was given a break. Many wrote plays, poems, short stories, often about provincial life.

Theme common in this era:

 Nationalism
 Country
 Love
 Life in the province
 Faith
 Religion and the arts

3 types of poems that emerged from this period:

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Haiku- free verse, 17 syllables, 3 lines. First line has 5 syllables, second line has 7, and third line has 5, all allegorical in meaning and
wide scope of meaning.

Tanaga- Short with measure and rhyme, each line has 17 syllables and allegorical in meaning.

Karaniwang anyo (usual form)

Filipino short story widened during the Japanese period. Writers of this period are:

 Brigido Batungbakal
 Macario Pineda
 Serafin Guinigindo
 Liwayway Arceo
 Narciso Ramos
 Alicia Lopez Lim
 Ligaya Perez
 Gloria Guzman

Best writing in 1945:

1st: Lupang Tinubuan- Narciso Reyes

2nd: Uhawang Tigang na Lupa- Liwayway Arceo

3rd: Lunsod Nayon at Dagat-Dagatan- NVM Gonzales

 It was this era that English literature suffered its darkest period.
 Writing that came out in this period were journalistic in nature.

Carlos P. Romulo- won the Pulitzer prize for his best sellers:

I saw the fall of the Philippines

I see the Philippines rise
Mother America and my Brother Americans

Commonwealth Literary Awards:

 Like the Molave- Rafael Zulueta de Costa (poetry)

 How my brother Leon brought home a wife- Manuel E. Arguilla (short story)
 Literature and Society- Salvador P. Lopez (essay)
 His native soil- Juan Laya (novel)

Period of Maturity and Originality and Republic Period

• 1945-1960

• Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature was founded in the year 1950 to remember the memory of
Don Carlos Palanca, Sr. through an endeavour that would foster education and culture in the Philippines.

• 1950- Short Story/ Maikling Kwento

• 1953- One-act play/ Dulang May Isang Yugto

• 1963- Poetry/ Tula

• 1975- Full-length Play/ Dulang ganap ang Haba

• 1979- Essay/ Sanaysay

• 1980- Novel/ Nobela

• 1989- Short Story for Children/ maikling Kwentong Pambata

• 1990- Teleplay/ Dulang Pantelebisyon

• 1994- Screenplay/ Dulang pampelikula

• 1997- Short story- Iluko, Cebuano and Hiligaynon

• 1998- kabataan Essay/ Sanaysay

• 2000- Futuristic Fiction- English and Filipino

• 2009- Poetry Written for Children/ Tula Para sa mga Bata

• September 1, 2018- Palanca Awards collection consists of 2, 441 winningworks composed of 625 short stories, 408 poetry,
250 essays, 383 one-act plays, 213 full-length plays, 60 teleplays, 74 screenplays, 181 stories for children, 34 futuristic

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fiction stories, 116 stuent essays, 42 novels, and 55 collections of poetry written for children in the English, Filipino, Regional
Languages and Kabataan Divisions

• Awards conferred to the Palanca Awards:

• “Gawad Tanglaw ng Lahi” by the ADMU in 2001
• Appreciation to the CMPA Foundation for its Scholarship Grant in CW by the University of the Philippines in 2002
• “Gawad Pagkilala” by the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino in 2004

Western Visayan Palanca and Hall of Fame Awardees

 Leoncio Deriada (Hall of Fame Awardee 2011)

o Short Story
 The Man Who Hated Birds (1993)—first prize
 The Vacant Lot (1989)—third prize co-winner
 The Dog Eaters (1975)—third prize co-winner
 Trilogy (1976)—second prize
o One-act Play
 Medea of Syquijor (1999)—first prize
 Airport on Mactan Island (1986)—third prize

 Peter Solis Nery (Hall of Fame Awardee 2012)

o Poetry
 The Shape of Happiness (2011)—second prize
 Punctuation (2012)—first prize
 The Rainbow Collection (2015)—first prize
o One-act Play
 Tic-Tac-Toe (2016)—first prize
 The Wide Ionian Sea (2010)—third prize

Republic Period (1960-1985)

 1970s- the government took part in participating in reviving old plays like the Cenaculo, the Zarzuela, and the Embayoka of
the Muslims

 1972- Kerima Polotan Tuvera’s novel “The Hand of the Enemy Radio and Television”- Radio continued to be patronized
during this period

1986-Post-EDSA

 Center of writing and publishing is in Metro Manila.

 English and Tagalog-based Filipino.

 Retrieval and recuperation of writing in Philippine languages.

 Columnists became more vocal and unrestricted

Developments

 Creative Writing Centers

Academic institutions are offering creative writing as a part of the curricular offerings. Writers’ organizations sponsor symposium on
writer and/or set up workshops for its members and other interested parties,

 Writers’ Organizations

-UMPIL (Unyon ng mga Manunulat ng Pilipino)

- PANULAT (Pambansang Unyon ng mga Manunulat)

-Panday Lipi

-GAT (Galian sa Arte)

-LIRA (Linangan sa Imahe, Retorika at Anyo)

-GUMIL (Gunglo Dagiti Manunurat nga Ilokano)

- LUDABI (Lubas sa Dagang Bisaya)

- PEN ( Pen, Essay and Novel)

 Newspapers and Publications

Bulletin Today, The Inquirer, Malaya, People’s Journal

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCAA)

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 The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCAA) was created by law in 1992.
 It has a Committee on Literary Arts which funds workshops, conferences, publications and a variety of projects
geared towards the production of a “national literature”.
 The committee has the aim of developing writing that is multi-lingual, multi-cultural, and truly national.

THE CONTEMPORARY PERIOD 1986 TO PRESENT

Characteristics:

 This period of literature has been marked by adventurousness, a willingness to gamble on non-traditional projects.

 A recuperation of writing in Philippine languages other than Tagalog.

 Feminist sentiments also flourished in Philippine contemporary art and literature and it was a subtle turning point for feminist
movement.

 People usually look up to accessible icons for feminist organizations. Back in the 1980s, the most prominent and accessible icon
was President Corazon Aquino.

 English and Filipino continue to be the major media of literature.

 Literature as a venue for socio-politico-economic-religious discussions and a vehicle for personal thoughts and feelings has
become more marked.

 Filipino writers have become more conscious of their craft as shown by the regular conduct of writing workshops.

Literary Genres:

 Modern Poetry - This is a new style of poetry writing in Tagalog, a deviation from the highly rimed, declamatory tradition known
for many centuries.

Example:

 Pag-aabang sa Kundiman by Edgar Calabia Samar

 Modern Short Story - These are stories set in the Philippines in the English language.

Examples:

 The Execution by Charlson Ong

 Kabilang sa mga Nawawala (Among the Disappeared) by Ricardo Lee

 Geyluv by Honorio De Dios

 Ang Pinakahuling Kwento ni Huli (The Very Last Story of Huli) by Lilia Quindoza Santiago

 Novel

Examples:

 An Embarrassment of Riches by Charlson Ong

 Banyaga, A Song of War by Charlson Ong

 Sweet Haven by Lakambini Sitoy

 Other Genres:

 Essay

 Drama

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