What was the last story that you

have read? What can you say about

it?
 When did you read it?
 Do you like to read? Why or why
not?
21ST CENTURY LITERATURE
FROM THE PHILIPPINES AND
THE WORLD

INTRODUCTION TO PHILIPPINE LITERATURE

WHAT IS
LITERATURE?
Isa body of written works.
Originated from oral traditions.
Are imaginative works.
Deals with stories and poetry.
The content depends on the author.
Three Points of Literature
Literature portrays human experience.
Authors interpret these human experiences.
It is an art form and a style of expression
 THE PHILIPPINE
LITERARY PERIODS
 PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD
(BC – 1534)
 This existed before the Spanish occupation in the 1500s.
 It is oral in nature and is full of lessons and ideas about life,
its blessings, and its consequences.
 It contains ideas from birth to the grave.

 The oral characteristic of pre-colonial literature gives the

possibility for many alterations.
 In the Philippine context, no matter how it may be
considered as altered, pre-colonial literature is still revered
to by many Filipinos.
 The sources are usually the local native town folk.
 PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD
(BC – 1534)
Forms
1. Oral Literature 3. Folk Tales
a. Riddles a. Myths
b. Proverbs b. Legends
2. Folk Songs c. Fables
a. Lullabies d. Epics
b. Drinking Songs
c. Love Songs
d. Songs of Death
e. Religious Songs
 PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD
(BC – 1534)
RIDDLES
 These are statements that contain superficial words, but
they function figuratively and as metaphors, and are in the
form of questions.
 These are questions that demand deeper answers.

 Deals with everyday life.

 It usually has mundane things as answers.

 This is used in the past as a form of game in small

or large gatherings
 PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD
(BC – 1534)

PROVERBS
 These are statements that are considered as
wise.
 These are usually given by parents or elders

of the community.
 There is belief that experience is the best teacher.
 PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD
(BC – 1534)

FOLK SONGS
 These are folk lyrics that are usually chanted.
 These usually contain ideas on aspirations, hopes,
everyday life and expressions of love for loved ones.
 It is bounded by the learning of good morals.
 It is easy to understand because it is straight-

forward and not figurative in nature

 PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD
(BC – 1534)

FORMS OF FOLK SONGS

 Lullabies

These is locally known as the Hele. These

are sung to put to sleep babies. The content
varies, but usually, parents sing these with
ideas on how hard life is and how they hope
that their child will not experience the
hardships of life
 PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD
(BC – 1534)

FORMS OF FOLK SONGS

Drinking Songs

These are locally known as Tagay and are

sung during drinking sessions.
 PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD
(BC – 1534)

FORMS OF FOLK SONGS

Love Songs
To many Filipinos, these are known as the
Harana. It can also be called Courtship Songs
and are used by young men to capture the
heart of the girl that they love.
 PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD
(BC – 1534)

FORMS OF FOLK SONGS

 ReligiousSongs
These are songs or chants that are usually
given during exorcisms and thanksgiving
during good harvest.
 PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD
(BC – 1534)

FORMS OF FOLK SONGS

 Songs of Death
These are lamentations that contain the roll
of good deeds that the dead has usually done
to immortalize his or her good image.
 PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD
(BC – 1534)

FOLK TALES
 These are stories of native Filipinos.
 These deal with the power of nature personified, their
submission to a deity usually Bathala- and how this
deity is responsible for the blessings and calamities.
 These also tackle about irresponsibility, lust, stupidity,
deception, and fallibility that eventually leads to the
instilling of good morals.
 PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD
(BC – 1534)

FOLK TALES
Usual Themes:
• Ceremonies needed to appease the deities.
• Pre and Post apocalypse
• Life and Death
• Gods and Goddesses
• Heroes and Heroines
• Supernatural beings
• Animals
 PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD
(BC – 1534)

FORMS OF FOLK TALES

 Myths

These tackle the natural to strange occurences of

the earth and how things were created with an aim
to give an explanation to things.
-There is Bathala for the Tagalogs and the
Gueurang for the Bikolanos.
- Paradise is known as Maca, while Hell is
Kasanaaan
 PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD
(BC – 1534)

FORMS OF FOLK TALES

 Legends

Through legends, the natives understood

mysteries around them. These stories
usually come with a moral lesson that give
credit to supernatural powers, supernatural
occurences, and other out-of-this-world
native imagination.
 PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD
(BC – 1534)

FORMS OF FOLK TALES

 Fables

These are short or brief stories that cater the

children of the native Filipinos and are
usually bounded by good manners and right
conduct. These stories use animals as
characters that represent particular value
or characteristic.
 PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD
(BC – 1534)

FORMS OF FOLK TALES

 Epics

These are very lengthy narratives that are

based on oral traditions. These contain
encounters of fighters, stereotypical princes
or heroes that save a damsel in distress.
SPANISH PERIOD (1521 - 1898)
 The start of the Philippine's more colorful history
took place in March 6, 1521 when Ferdinand
Magellan docked on the shores of Homonhon.
 The Filipinos were then called “Ladinos”, meaning
they were latinized.
 Filipinos were called two things. One is the “Taga-
Bayan”, while the other is the “Taga-bukid” or
“Taga-bundok”.
SPANISH PERIOD (1521 - 1898)
A person who is a Taga-bayan is considered
urbane and civilized and were in easy range of
the church and state.
A person who is a Taga-bundok or Taga-bukid is
called a Bruto Salvage (Savage
Brute) or Indio and were the ones who
lived far from the center of the Spanish
power.
 SPANISH PERIOD (1521 - 1898)
Forms 3. Propaganda
1. Religious Literature Literature
a. Pasyon
b. Senakulo 4. Revolutionary
c. Komedya Literature
2. Secular or Non-
Religious Literature
a. Awit
b. Korido
c. Prose Narratives
SPANISH PERIOD (1521 - 1898)
 Religious Literature
It revolves around the life and death of
Jesus Christ
Forms
a. Pasyon – it is about the passion
(journey and suffering) and the death
of Jesus Christ
b. Senakulo – it is the re-enactment of
the Pasyon
SPANISH PERIOD (1521 - 1898)
c. Komedya- it depicts the European
society through love and fame, but can
also be a narrative about a journey, just
like Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy. It
is also considered religious, because it
usually depicts the battle between the
Christians and the Saracens or the
Moros
SPANISH PERIOD (1521 - 1898)
 Secular or Non-religious Literature
Revolves around tales of valiance and
adventure.
Forms
a. Awit – these are tales of chivalry
where a knight saves a princess.
Florante at Laura is a good example.
b. Korido- is a metrical tale or a tale
that follows the structure of a poem.
SPANISH PERIOD (1521 - 1898)
c. Prose Narratives - are easy to
understand instructional materials in a
literary light that teaches Filipinos on
proper decorum. Pagsusulatan ng
Dalawang Binibini na si Urbana at
Feliza (1864) is a good example.
SPANISH PERIOD (1521 - 1898)
Propaganda Literature
 These were in the forms of satires,

editorials, and news articles that aimed

to attack the Spanish Rule.
 The propaganda trinity is composed of

Dr. Jose Rizal, Marcelo H. Del Pilar, and

Graciano Lopez Jaena.
SPANISH PERIOD (1521 - 1898)
Propaganda Literature
 Examples:

Graciano Lopez Jaena

a. Ang Fray Botod
b. La Hija del Fraile (The Child of the
Friar)
c. Everything is Humbug ( Everything is
Mere Show
SPANISH PERIOD (1521 - 1898)
Propaganda Literature
 Examples:

Marcelo H. del Pilar

a. Kaiingat Kayo (Be Careful)
b. Dasalan at Tocsohan (Prayers and
Jokes)
c. Ang Cadaquilaan ng Dios (God’s
Goodness)
SPANISH PERIOD (1521 - 1898)
Propaganda Literature
 Examples:

Dr. Jose Rizal

a. Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not)
SPANISH PERIOD (1521 - 1898)
Revolutionary Literature
 These are exposes that sparked revolution

and resistance in the hearts of Filipinos.

 Examples:

Andres Bonifacio
a. Katungkulang Gagawin ng mga Anak
ng Bayan (Obligations of Our
Countrymen)
b. Ang Dapat Mabatid ng mga Tagalog
(What the Tagalogs Should Know)
SPANISH PERIOD (1521 - 1898)
Revolutionary Literature
 Examples:

Emilio Jacinto
a. Liwanag at Dilim (Light and Darkness)

Apolinario Mabini
a. El Desarollo y Caida dela Republica
Filipina (The Rise and Fall of the
Philippine Republic)
SPANISH PERIOD (1521 - 1898)
Revolutionary Literature
 Examples:

Jose Rizal
a. El Filibusterismo

Publications
a. El Heraldo dela Revolucion
b. La Independencia
c. La Republica Filipina
d. La Libertad
AMERICAN PERIOD (1900 - 1942)
The Philippines had a great leap in Education and
Culture.
The use of English alongside Filipino was

practiced.
The Philippines Public School system was

introduced.
Free public instruction was given to the Filipinos.
AMERICAN PERIOD (1900 - 1942)

 The literature during the American period

was considered as imitative of American
model. Instead of asking the students to
write originals, students ended up
following the form of American poets.
 AMERICAN PERIOD (1900 - 1942)
Forms
1. Poetry
Poetry under the American rule still followed the
style of the old, but had contents that ranged from
free writing to societal concerns under the Americans.
2. Drama
It was usually used in the American period to degrade
the Spanish rule and to immortalize the heroism of
the men who fought under the Katipunan.
3. Remake Novels
It took up Dr. Jose Rizal's portrayal of social
conditions by colonial repression.
 AMERICAN PERIOD (1900 - 1942)
Poetry
 Jose Corazon de Jesus (1832-1896) popularly known as
“Batute,” created his own generation with his first book of
poems.
 Mga Gintong Dahon (1920)- were poems pre-occupied with
such non-traditional themes as passion-slaying, grief-
induced, insanity, and lover’s suicide.
 Sa Dakong Silangan (1928)- returned to the awit form,
retelling the history of Philippines under Spain, the coming
of the U.S under the guise of friendship to overthrow Spain
 AMERICAN PERIOD (1900 - 1942)
Drama
 Severino Reyes (1861-1942) – spearheaded a

movement to supplant the komedya with a new type

of drama, the sarsuwela, a Filipino adaptation of the
Spanish zarzuela.
Examples:
Walang Sugat (1902)- is a sarsuwela (drama in the
form singing) drawn from the period of Revolution,
depicting the cruelty and corruption of friars and the
heroism of the soldiers of the Katipunan.
AMERICAN PERIOD (1900 - 1942)
Drama
Other successful sarsuwelas:
 Hindi Aco Patay (1903) by Juan Matapang Cruz

 Kahapon, Ngayon at Bukas (1903) by Aurelio

Tolentino- is an allegorical presentation of the

history of the nationalist struggle and how the
U,S. frustrated the Philippine revolution.
 Tanikalang Guinto (1902) by Juan Abad (1872-1932)- is
about Liwanag and K’Ulayaw, lovers who stand for
freedom and the Filipino.
 AMERICAN PERIOD (1900 - 1942)
Remake Novels
 Gabriel Beato Francisco (1850-1935)- is best known for
his trilogy of Fulgencia Galbillo (1907), Capitan Bensio
(1907), Alfaro (1909), depicting the 30 years of colonial
repression by the Spanish rule.
 Inigo Ed. Regalado (1888-1976)- Madaling Araw (1909)
was his first novel showing the complex interrelations of
issues and people in contemporary Philippine society.
 Juan Lauro Arsciwals (1889-1928)- Lalaking Uliran o
Tulisan (1914), allusion to the colonial law that branded
Filipino patriots as bandits.
 JAPANESE PERIOD (1941 - 1945)
 The Philippine literature came into a halt.
 The use of the English language was forbidden, and the use
of the Filipino language was mandated
under the Japanese rule.
 For some this was a problem, but to most writers,

it was a blessing in disguise.

 Almost all news papers were stopped except for

some.
 Filipino literature was given a break during this

period. Many wrote plays, poems, short stories,

etc. Topics and themes were often about life in the
provinces.
JAPANESE PERIOD (1941 - 1945)
Forms
1. Poetry
2. Fiction
3. Drama
4. Newspapers
5. Essays
 JAPANESE PERIOD (1941 - 1945)
Poetry
The common theme of most poems during the
Japanese occupation was nationalism, country,
love, and life in the barrios, faith, religion and the
arts.

Fiction
The field of the short story widened during the
Japanese Occupation. Many wrote short stories.
 JAPANESE PERIOD (1941 - 1945)
Drama
The drama experienced a lull during the Japanese
period because movie houses showing American films
were closed. The big movie houses were just made to
show stage shows. Many of the plays were
reproductions of English plays to Tagalog.
Newspapers
Writings that came out during this period were
journalistic in nature. Writers felt suppressed but
slowly, the spirit of nationalism started to seep into
their consciousness. While some continued to write,
the majority waited for a better climate to publish
their works
 JAPANESE PERIOD (1941 - 1945)

Essays
Essays were composed to glorify the Filipinos
and at the same time to figuratively attack the
Japanese.
 CONTEMPORARY PERIOD
The Rebirth of Freedom (1946-1970)

 The Americans returned in 1945.

 On July 4, 1946, the Philippines regained its freedom

 The early post-liberation period was marked by a kind of

“struggle of mind and spirit” and the wild desire to see
print.
 Philippine literature in Tagalog was revived during this
period (Japanese brutality, poverty and brave guerilla
exploits)
CONTEMPORARY PERIOD
Period of Activism (1970-1972)

 Many young people became activists to ask for changes in

the government and became completely rebellious.

 Campus newspapers showed rebellious emotions. The

once aristocratic writers developed awareness for society.
(MAKIBAKA)
CONTEMPORARY PERIOD
Period of the New Society (1972-1980)
 Themes in most writings dealt with the development or
progress of the country : Green Revolution, family
planning, proper nutrition, environment, drug
addiction and pollution.
 Campaign to stop pornography or those writings giving
bad influences on the morals of the people.
 All school newspapers were temporarily stopped and so
with school organizations.
CONTEMPORARY PERIOD

Period of the New Society (1972-1980)

 The government led in reviving old plays and dramas :
Tagalog Zarzuela, Cenaculo and the Embayoka of the
Muslims which were presented in the rebuilt
Metropolitan Theater, the Folk Arts Theater and the
Cultural Center of the Philippines.

 Radio continued to be patronized during this period.

 CONTEMPORARY PERIOD
Period of the New Society (1972-1980)
 A yearly Pista ng mga Pelikulng Pilipino (Yearly Filipino
Film Festival) was held during this time.

 During this period of the New Society, newspapers

donned new forms. News on economic progress,
discipline, culture, tourism and the like were favored
more than the sensationalized reporting of killings, rape
and robberies.
 CONTEMPORARY PERIOD
Period of the New Society (1972-1980)

 Bilingualeducation which was initiated by the Board of

National Education as early as 1958 and continued up to
the period of Martial Rule in September 21, 1972,
resulted in the deterioration of English in the different
levels of education. The focus of education and culture
was on problems of national identity, on re-orientation,
renewed vigor and a firm resolve to carry out plans and
programs.
 CONTEMPORARY PERIOD
Period of the Third Republic (1981-1985)

 After ten years of military rule and some changes in the

life of the Filipino which started under the New Society,
Martial Rule was at last lifted on January 2, 1981.

 Poems during this period of the Third Republic were

romantic and revolutionary. Writers wrote openly of their
criticism against the government. The supplications of
the people were coached in fiery, colorful, violent,
profane and insulting language.
 CONTEMPORARY PERIOD
Period of the Third Republic (1981-1985)

 Many Filipino songs dealt with themes that were really

true-to-life like those of grief, poverty, aspirations for
freedom, love of God, of country and of fellowmen.
 The yearly Festival of Filipino Films continued to be held
during this period.
 CONTEMPORARY PERIOD
1986-1999

 Historytook another twist. Once more, the Filipino

people regained their independence which they lost
twenty years ago.

 Inthe span of four days from February 21-25, 1986, the

so-called People Power (Lakas ng Bayan) prevailed.
Together, the people barricaded the streets petitioning the
government for changes and reforms.
 CONTEMPORARY PERIOD
1986-1999
 Newspapers which were once branded crony newspapers
became instant opposition papers overnight. This was
true of BULLETIN TODAY which became the
opposition paper.
 The Philippine revolution of 1986 and the fire of its spirit
that will carry the Filipinos through another epoch in
Philippine history is still being documented just as they
have been in the countless millions who participated in
body and spirit in its realization.