Philippine Literature

Spanish Colonization Period

Prepared by: Venus D. Carbonel
Spanish Colonial Period
Historical Background
On Easter Sunday, 31 March 1521, at
Mazaua (today believed to be Limasawa
Island in Southern Leyte), Magellan solemnly planted a
cross on the summit of a hill overlooking the sea and
claimed for the king of Spain possession of the islands he
had seen, naming them Archipelago of Saint Lazarus.
 Spanish Colonial Period
Historical Background

•Magellan •Took special •Magellan's

conquered and expedition got
pride in involved in the
sought alliances converting them political rivalries
among indigenous to Catholicism between the
Filipinos Cebuano natives and
beginning with took part in a battle
Datu Zula, the •Datu Sula – against Lapu-Lapu,
chieftain of Sugbu First Catholic chieftain of Mactan
Island and a mortal
(now Cebu). enemy of Datu Zula.
 In 1543, Ruy López de Villalobos named the islands
of Leyte and Samar Las Islas Filipinas after Philip II of
Spain. Philip II became King of Spain on January 16,
1556, when his father, Charles I of Spain, abdicated the
Spanish throne.
Philip ordered an expedition mounted to the Spice
Islands, stating that its purpose was "to discover the
islands of the west" In reality its task was to conquer the
Ruy Lopez de Villalobos Philippines for Spain.
1543

On November 19 or 20, 1564 a Spanish

expedition of a mere 500 men led by Miguel
López de Legazpi departed Barra de
Navidad, New Spain, arriving off Cebu on
February 13, 1565, conquering it despite
Cebuano’s opposition.
Miguel Lopez de Legazpi
Nov. 20, 1564
 It is an accepted belief that the
Spanish colonization of the
Philippines started in 1565 during the
time of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi,

Miguel Lopez de Legazpi

The first Spanish Governor-General in

the Philippines.
- Executive Branch
- Legislative Branch
- Judiciary
- Church
Literature started to flourish during
1874-1949
his time.
Miguel Lopez de Legazpi
Tomb at San Agustin Church
Due to the long period of colonization of the Philippines by
the Spaniards, they have exerted a strong influence on our
literature.

The first Filipino alphabet called ALIBATA was replaced by

the Roman Alphabet.
The teaching of the The original religion of
Christian Doctrine early filipinos was the
became the basis of
religious practices.
Animism the worship of
e.g. Novena, Rosary, 6:00 Prayer
spirit.
The Spanish language which
became the literary language
during this time lent many of
its words to our language.

Many Our
Ancient grammar
literature was books were periodicals
collected and printed in during these
translated to Filipino, like times gained
Tagalog and Tagalog,
Ilocano and a religious
other dialects. Visayan tone.
1. (THE CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE).

This was the first book printed in the Philippines in 1593 in

xylography. It was written by Fr. Juan de Placencia and Fr.
Domingo Nieva, in Tagalog and Spanish.

CHURCH
It contained the: COMMANDMENT
1. Attend Mass on
Sundays and on holy
- Pater Noster (Out Father) days of obligation and
rest from servile labor 7 Mortal Sins
- Ave Maria (Hail Mary), 2. Confess sins at least
Lust
- Regina Coeli (Hail Holy Queen), once a year. Gluttony
3. Receive the sacrament Greed
- the Ten Commandments of God, of the Eucharist at least Sloth
once during the Easter
- the Commandments of the Catholic season. Wrath
Church, 4. Observe the days of
Envy
fasting and abstinence Pride
- the Seven Mortal Sins, established by the
Church.
- How to Confess, 5. Help to provide for the
- and the Cathecism. needs of the Church.
 Doctrina Cristiana

Xylography - the art of making

woodcuts or wood engravings

Three old original copies of this book

can still be found at the Vatican, at
the Madrid Musem and at the US
Congress. It contains only 87 pages
but costs $5,000.00
2. Nuestra Señora del Rosario.

The second book printed in the Philippines was written by Fr.

Blancas de San Jose in 1602, and printed at the UST Printing
Press with the help of Juan de Vera, a Chinese mestizo.

It contained the:

- Biographies of
Saints,
- Novenas,

- Questions and
Answers on
religion.
3. Libro de los Cuatro Postprimeras de Hombre (in Spanish and Tagalog).

The Libro de los Cuatro Postrimerias del Hombre, the first

typographic book printed in 1604 by Blancas de San Joses -
Known as the Father of Tagalog Grammarians

The Las Four

- Death
- Judgement
- Hell
- Glory

Nothing more or less

than what you expect
after life.
4. Ang Barlaan at Josephat.
This is a Biblical story printed in the Philippines and translated to Tagalog
from Greek by Fr. Antonio de Borja.
It is believed to be the first Tagalog novel published in the Philippines even if it is only a
translation. The printed translation has only 556 pages. The Ilocano translation in poetry was
done by Fr. Agustin Mejia.

Characters:
Barlaan – An old Priest from
Senaar
Josephat – A prince that wants to be
baptize as Christian
Abenir – Father of josephat
Barachias – Found the tomb of
Barlaan and Josephat
6. Urbana at Felisa.
A book by Modesto de Castro, the so called Father of Classic
Prose in Tagalog.
“Ama ng Tuluyang Klasika sa Tagalog “

Feliza: Napatid ang huli

These are letters kong sulat sa
between two sisters pagsasaysay ng tapat na
Urbana at Felisa kaasalan, na sukat
sundin sa loob ng
and have simbahan: ngayo ' y
influenced greatly ipatutuloy ko. Marami
ang nakikita, sa mga
the behavior of babaeng nagsisipasok sa
people in society simbahan, na lumalakad
na di nagdarahan,
because the letters nagpapakagaslaw, at
dealt with good kung marikit ang
kagayakan…
behavior.
7. Ang Mga Dalit kay Maria (Psalms for Mary).

A collection of songs praising the Virgin Mary. Fr. Mariano

Sevilla, a Filipino priest, wrote this in 1865 and it was popular
especially during the Maytime “Flores de Mayo” festival.

Psalms for Mary is

about gratitude
and the blessings of
the Virgin Mary.
At the same time, the
use of flowers as a gift
to the Virgin Mary
symbolizes praises for
her. It is also given to
Mary to give hope to
those who have faith in
her.
 LITERARY COMPOSITIONS
Arte y Reglas dela Compendio de la Vocabulario de la
Lengua Tagala Lengua Tagala Lengua Tagala
(Art and Rules of the Tagalog language). (Understanding the Tagalog
language).
(Tagalog vocabulary).
By Fr. Blancas de San Written by Fr. Gaspar The first Tagalog
Jose and translated to de San Agustin in dictionary written by Fr.
Tagalog by Tomas Pinpin 1703. Pedro de San
in 1610. Buenaventura in 1613.
 LITERARY COMPOSITIONS
Vocabulario de la Vocabulario de la Arte de la Lengua
Lengua Pampanga Lengua Bisaya Ilokana (The Art of the
(Pampanga vocabulary) (Bisayan vocabulary) Ilocano language).

The first book in The best language book The first Ilocano
Pampanga written by in Visayan by Mateo grammar book by
Fr. Diego in 1732. Sanchez in 1711. Francisco Lopez.
 FOLK SONGS Atin Cu Pung Singsing

Ako ay may singsing

Folk songs became widespread in the May batong kay inam
Binigay sa akin
Philippines. Each region had its Ng mahal kong nanay
national song from the lowlands to the Sa tapat ng dibdib
Iningat-ingatan
mountains of Luzon, Visayas and Kung san nawaglit '
Mindanao. Di ko na nalaman
Nawala ang singsing
'Di ko na nakita
Folk songs truly manifest the artistic Abot hanggang langit
Ang taglay kong dusa
feelings of the Filipinos. Sino mang binata
Ang makakukuha
Ang abang puso ko
Ay magiging kanya
They show the Filipinos’ innate
appreciation for and love of beauty.

The examples are Leron-Leron Sinta,

Dandansoy, Sarong Banggi and Atin Cu
Pung Singsing, Kundiman.
 Tibag Lagaylay
it means to excavate. This ritual this is a special occasion for the
was brought here by the Spaniard Pilareños of Sorsogon during May
to remind the people about the time to get together. As early as April,
search of St. Helena for the Cross the participating ladies are chosen
on which Jesus died. and sometimes, mothers volunteer
their girls in order to fulfill a vow
made during an illness or for a favor
received.
 The Cenaculo
– this is a dramatic performance to commemorate the passion
and death of Jesus Christ.

The Cantata is chanted like the In the Hablada the lines are
Passion. The Cenaculo is written spoken in a more deliberate
in octosyllabic verse, with 8 verses manner showing the rhythmic
to the stanza. The full length measure of each verse and the
rhyming in each stanza and is
versions take about 3 nights of
more dignified in theme.
staging. Performers come in
costumes with wigs and
performers are carefully chosen
for their virtuous life. One
performs the role of Jesus Christ
and another the role of the Virgin
Mary.
 The Zarzuela Panunuluyan
.– considered the father of the – this is presented before 12:00 on
drama; Christmas Eve.

it is a musical comedy or melodrama This is a presentation of the

three acts which dealt with man’s search of the Virgin Mary and
passions and emotions like love, hate, St. Joseph for an inn wherein to
revenge, cruelty, avarice or some social deliver the baby Jesus
or political problem.
 Carillo (Shadow Play)

– this is a form of dramatic entertainment performed

on a moonless night during a town fiesta or on dark
nights after a harvest.
This shadow play is made by projecting cardboard
figures before a lamp against a white sheet. The
figures are moved like marionettes whose dialogues
are produced by some experts. The dialogues are
drawn from a Corrido or Awit or some religious play
interspersed with songs.
These are called by various names in different
places: Carillo in Manila, Rizal and Batangas
and Laguan; TITRES in Ilocos Norte,
Pangasinan, Bataa, Capiz and Negros;
TITIRI in Zambales; GAGALO or
KIKIMUT in Pampanga and Tarlac; and
ALIALA in La Union.
 THE MORO-MORO

Like the Cenaculo, the Moro-moro is

presented also on a special stage. This is
performed during town fiestas to entertain
the people and to remind them of their
Christian religion. The plot is usually the
same that of a Christian princess or a
nobleman’s daughter who is captured by
the Mohammedans. The father organizes a
rescue party where fighting between the
Moros and the Christians ensue.
The Mohammedans are defeated
by some miracle or Divine
Intercession and the
Mohammedans are converted to
Christianity. In some instances,
the whole kingdom is baptized
and converted. One example of
this is Prinsipe Rodante.
 KARAGATAN

This is a poetic vehicle of a socio-religious

nature celebrated during the death of a
person. In this contest, more or less formal, a
ritual is performed based on a legend about
a princess who dropped her ring into the
middle of the sea and who offered here hand
in marriage to anyone who can retrieve it.

A leader starts off with an

extemporaneous poem announcing the
purpose. He then spins a “lumbo” o
“tabo” marked with a white line.
Whoever comes in the direction of the
white line when the spinning stops gets his
turn to “go into the sea to look for the
ring.” This means a girl will ask him a
riddle and if he is able to answer, he will
offer the ring to the girl.
 The Balagtasan Awit and Corrido
held to honor Francisco Use these two interchangeably
“Balagtas” Baltazar. because distinction is not clear.

This is a poetic joust or a contest of

skills in debate on a particular
topic or issue. This replaced the
DUPLO