Literary Periods of Philippine Literature
Literary Periods of Philippine Literature
Literary Periods of Philippine Literature
1. PRE-COLONIAL POETRY
Poetry was meant to be recited in a manner of songs and chants.
Writers are already using measurement and unified rhyming scheme in
their pieces.
a. PROVERBS
- Truths and wise sayings express in a language that is popularly known.
Expression of wisdom which is based on common sense and real-life
experiences.
E.g.
1. Bago mo sabihin at gawin, makapitong iisipin.
2. Kung di ukol, di bubukol.
b. TANAGA
- Poem in quatrain containing seven syllables each line with a monorine.
E.g.
KAIBIGAN
Emilita Perez Baes
c. FOLK SONG
- Form of lyrical expression created by people according to their region.
E.g.
SITSIRITSIT
Sitsiritsit, alibangbang
Salaginto at salagubang
Ang babae sa langsangan
Kung gumiri’y parang tandang.
d. RIDDLES (BUGTONG)
- This is a game in a form of mystifying question and a mind puzzle intended to
be solved.
E.g
2. PROSE NARRATIVES
created in order to give an explanation about a certain natural phenomenon. These are
stories of mythological creatures, legends and humans with supernatural power
transmitted orally and preserved as part of the region’s history.
a. EPIC
Long narrative poem about quests and exciting adventures of a hero with
unusual strength and power.
b. MYTH
Story of Gods and Goddesses told using a traditional language explaining
mysteries, beliefs and cultural practices.
c. FABLES
Stories intended to teach human values with animals as major characters
attributing human qualities.
d. LEGENDS
Stories explaning origins handed down from the past and passed through
different generations.
e. FOLK TALE
i. Imaginative narrative story told by ancient group of people.
Doctrina Christiana was the first book published in the Philippines in year 1953.
It was a collection of prayers written in Spanish translated in Tagalog.
Ladinos is the term used for native literary writers.
Caingat Cayo written on 1888, a pamphlet issued in attacking the novel of Jose Rizal
which is the “Noli Me Tangere” opposing the Catholic religion.
VINCENT GARCIA
He wrote the “Dasalan at Toksohan” using the pen name V. Caraig. Dasalan at Toksohan
was a parody of the prayer Our Father as a defense for Jose Rizal.
FRANCISO BALTAZAR
Foundly known as Balagtas is a genius writer of Tagalog poetry. He is known for his
poem “Florante at Laura” whose metrical measurement and rhyming pattern create a beautiful
imagery in the readers’ eyes.
JOSE RIZAL
He was popular with his novels “Noli Me Tangeree” and El Filibusterismo.
NOLI ME TANGERE
Rizal’s first novel, which means “TOUCH ME NOT”. He described it as a
work of the heart. It was a story of love and aspirations of a Filipino. The setting
of the novel reflects the current situation of the Philippines during the
administration of the Spaniards while his characters reflect the dominance of the
Spanish government towards the Filipino people.
o Crisostomo Ibarra – character presentation of Rizal.
EL FILIBUSTERISMO
Rizal’s second novel, which means “THE TRAITOR”. He described it as a
work of the mind. His second novel did not just expose the dirty secrets of the
Spanish government and abusive side of the friars but also predicted a revolution
between Filipinos and Spaniards.
ANDRES BONIFACIO
He is known as the “Father of Katipunan” showed his patriotism and poetic side as he
wrote the poem “Pag-ibig Sa Tinubuang Lupa”.
EMILIO JACINTO
He is known as the “The Brains of Katipunan” wrote political essays using folk language.
Works that reflects Filipino cultures and beliefs started to flourish like Manuel Arguilla’s “How
my Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife” follows the living of the Ilocanos and Jose Garcia
Villa’s “Footnote to Youth” reminds the young Filipinos about the consequences of early
marriage.
Works that reflects stories of love and social justices includes Faustino Aguilar’s “Pinaglahuan”
and Lope K. Santos’ “Banaag at Sikat”.
Japanese did not resist the emerging progress of Filipino literary activity.
1920- short stories became the favorite literary type of prose among the Filipino writers.
1930- Filipino writers followed the footsteps of English Literature writers such as William
Shakespeare, Edgar Allan Poe, Earnest Hemmingway and William Faulkner.
1951- prestigious award-giving body for literature was founded as the “Carlos Palanca, Sr.
Memorial for Literature.” The best stories for each year were picked by the literary editors who
submit their entries to the Board of the judges.
The following are writers who becames nominees for this award:
Idelfonso Santos
Teodoro Agoncillo – awarded for his anthology as “25 Pinakamahusay na Maikling
Kwento”
Alejandro Abadilla
Jose Corazon De Jesus
Brigido Batungbakal
During the latter years, poetry dominated other literary form of prose.
ALEJANDRO G. ABADILLA
Known to be the one of the best poets of his century wrote other genres of literature for
he believed that there was no assurance of being an agent of poetry.
o “Parnasong Tagalog” written by Abadilla, became the first major anthology of poetry.
o “Ako ang Daigdig at Iba pang Tula.” Written also by Abadilla, this is a collection of
verse.
AMADO V. HERNANDEZ
Addressed as the greatest post-war Filipino Poet. Before he died on 1970, he won the
“Republic Cultural Award and National Artist Award in 1973.
1987- our alphabet had gone through many changes was developed from the 26 letters of English
alphabet to the Modern Filipino Alphabet.