21ST Cent Reviewer
21ST Cent Reviewer
“In order to know the history of a nation’s spirit, one must read its LITERATURE.”
Literature
Derived from the Latin term Litera which mean letter
A faithful reproduction of man’s manifold experiences blended into one harmonious expression
A piece of written work which is undying
“Looking back to move forward” – Jose Rizal
The beginning period of Philippine literary history can be considered as the longest as evidenced by the artifacts of
different periods recovered ranging from 50,000 years ago to 14th century A.D. in the Tabon Cave of Palawan.
Epic
These pertain to a type of a long narrative poem mainly focusing on the heroic achievements and
deeds of the main character.
o Biag Ni Lam-ang (Epic of Luzon)
An epic story of the Ilocano people from the Ilocos region of the Philippines.
o Hinilawod (Epic of Visayas)
An epic poem orally transmitted from early inhabitants of a place called Sulod in
central Panay, Philippines.
o Indarapatra and Sulayman (Epic of Mindanao)
This is the epic story of King Indarapatra and his brother Sulayman of Maguindanao.
Proverbs (Salawikain)
These have been customarily used and served as laws or rules on good behavior by our ancestors. To
others, these are like allegories or parables that impart lessons for the young.
o Kung ano ang puno, siya ang bunga. (Whatever the tree, so is the fruit.)
o Kung walang tiyaga, walang nilaga. (If you don’t persevere, you can expect no reward.)
o Ano man ang gagawin, makapitong iisipin.
o Ang taong nagigipit, sa patalim kumakapit.
Riddles (Bugtong)
These are made up of one or ore measured lines with rhyme and may consist of four to twelve
syllables.
o Heto na si Kaka, bubuka-bukaka. Gunting
o Sa araw ay bubong, sa gabi ay dahoon. Banig
Chant
Used in witch craft or enchantment.
Dimensions
The type of literature produced during this period used Spanish, Tagalog, and the vernacular form of
languages.
Spanish was introduced as the medium of communication and later shifted to Tagalog when a sense of
nationalism arose during the revolutionary period.
Folk songs still existed.
Drama, as another type of literary genre, as well as metrical tales based on European origin (such as
awit and corrido) flourished.
Diaryong Tagalog (1882), a Spanish-Tagalog newspaper, published bulk of Filipino writings. The
publication signaled the open campaign for reforms.
In 1889, the La Solidaridad, an underground newspaper, became the mouthpiece of the Reform
Movement.
TYPES OF LITERATURE
Books
In 1593, the book written by Fr. Juan de Placencia and Fr. Domingo Nieva entitled Doctrina
Christiana (The Christian Doctrine) was first printed.
Nuestra Señora del Rosario by Fr. Blancas de San Jose
Barláan at Jósaphát (first published in 1708)
o translated from Greek to Tagalog by Fr. Antonio de Borja
Urbana at Felisa by Modesto de Castro
Recreational Plays
CENACULO
CARILLO
ZARZUELA
MORO - MORO
BALAGTASAN
DUPLO
KARAGATAN
Novels
These are fictitious prose usually lengthy and complex in nature. Pedro Paterno's work entitled
"Ninay" is the first novel published by a Filipino author. This was originally written in Spanish
language and translated into English and Tagalog in 1907 and 1908.
Newspapers
Bulk of Filipino writings produced were mostly published in Diaryong Tagalog. The underground
newspaper La Solidaridad is considered as the mouthpiece of the Reform Movement
Re-orientation period
It covered the early years of the American period and the landing of the Americans on Philippine
shores including the Philippine-American War.
English language was used as a medium of instruction in public schools as early as 1900 in
Corregidor Island.
The first English teachers were the American soldiers stationed in various areas.
Later on, the professional teachers arrived via US Army transport ship “USS Thomas” hence, these
pioneering teachers were called “Thomasites.”
University of the Philippines with Murray Bartlett, a Thomasite.
o as the First President which was the first to use the English language in higher education.
Philippine School of Arts and Trades (which became the Polytechnic University of the Philippines)
Philippine Normal School (which became Philippine Normal University)
Silliman University and Xavier University, in the visayas and Mindanao.
Imitation Period
The Filipino writers imitated American and English writers. This fact is hardly surprising since the
early writers were, for the most part, college students or young graduates whose literary education had
been largely confined to American and English authors.
In 1920 the Philippine Herald, the first Filipino daily in English, was founded. It paid for literary
work it published and thus gave a financial reward to writers in English, especially in the short story.
In 1905, A. V. H. Jartendorp became the editor-publisher of the Philippine Education Magazine.
Philippine Magazine, was the most influential literary magazine of its time. The Manila Tribune
was established in the same year.
Notable Writers:
Paz Marquez Benitez
he wrote the “Dead Stars” which stand out as model of perfection in character
delineation, local color, plot and message.
Bernardo P. Garcia
wrote the poem “George Washington.”
Eulogio B. Rodriguez
was a research writer of UP College of Liberal Arts who won Villamor Prize in the
Provincial History Competition
Marcelo de Gracia Concepcion
wrote the award-winning poem “Azucena.”
Procopio Solidum
wrote “Never mind and Other Poems.”
Lorenzo E. Paredes
wrote the first poetry anthology “Reminiscenses.”
Zoilo Galang
published his first volume of essay entitled “Life and Success.”
Eliseo Quirino and Vicente Hilario
wrote the essay “Thinking for Ourselves.”
Zoilo Galang
published the first anthology of short stories in “Tales of the Philippines.”
Rodolfo Dato
published his anthology “Filipino Poetry.”
Carlos P. Romulo
published a collection of plays entitled “Daughters for Sale and other Plays.”
Emergence Period
The years 1935 to 1945 saw the emergence of a significant trend in Philippine literature in English.
Jose M. Hernandez describes this period as a time of Self-discovery and Growth.
Notable Essays:
Literature and Society
was written by Salvador P. Lopez. This is a collection of critical reflections and
serious essays. It won first place in the Commonwealth Literary Contest in essay.
The Filipino Way of Life
was written by Camilo Osias. This is a series of essays on the Filipino way of life as
drawn from history, folkways, philosophy, and psychology of the Philippines.
Mang Kiko
was a reprint of Francisco B. Icasiano’s essays in the “Sunday Times Magazine”
under the column “From my Nipa Hut.” It is an essay of the common tao and is
written with humor and sympathy.
I am a Filipino
was an editorial essay written by Carlos P. Romulo printed in the “Philippines
Herald” magazine. It was published in his book “My Brother Americans” in New
York by Double Day & Company in 1945.
Notable Writers:
Carlos P. Romulo
He won the Pulitzer Prize for his notable works such as "I Saw the Fall of the
Philippines", "I See the Philippines Rise", "Mother America", and "My Brother
Americans".
Narciso Reyes
He won first prize with his short story "Lupang Tinubuan".
Haiku
It is a poem of free verse of Japanese origin. It has 17 syllables divided into 3 lines. The first has 5
syllables, second has 7, and the third has 5 syllables.
The famous haikus that were penned by the early Japanese haiku masters such as Bashō, Issa, Buson
and Shiki.