PRE-TEST

1. What do you call a folk narrative presented as history but is unlikely to be true?
A. Epic C. Legend
B. Fable D. Myth
2. What do you call an Ilocano epic which tells the adventures of supernaturally powerful man?
A. Ibaton C. Indara Patra
B. Darangan D. Biag-Ni-Lam-Ang
3. What period of the Philippine Literature which proverbs, songs and folk narratives were all
produced from generation to generation by word of mouth?
A. American Period C. Spanish Period
B. Japanese Period D. Pre-Colonial Period
4. Which literary genre is varied and distinct, depicts the people’s livelihood, customs and
traditions?
A. Novel C. Short Story
B. Poetry D. Folk Narrative
PRE-TEST
5. What do you call a folk narrative characteristically anonymous, timeless and placeless
circulated orally among people and emphasizes certain virtues or warning about behavior?
A. Epic c. Folktale
B. Fable D. Legend
6. How would you describe fable?
A. It is a narrative presented as history but unlikely to be true
B. It is a narrative in which monkey, often depicted as a cunning animal
C. It is a narrative which features supernatural characters and reflects the society where it
originated
D. It is a narrative presented as history but unlikely to be true often depicted as a cunning animal
PRE-TEST
7. What do you call an epic of Maranao which depicts the adventures of a brave warrior named
Bantugan?
Biag Ni Lam Ang C. Ibalon
Darangan D. Indarapatra and Solayman
8. What is the common animal character in the Philippine Fables?
A. eagle
B. goat
C. monkey
D. zebra
PRE-TEST
9. What do you call the epic of Sulod that tells the story of three very strong men namely
Labaw, Humadapnon and Dumalapdap?
A. Biag ni lam ang c. Darangan
B. Hinilawod d. Ibalon
10. 10. What is the course description of our subject?
A. 21st century literature in various regions
B. 21s century literature in national
C. 21st century in various regions
D. 21st literature in various regions
Philippine Literature during
the Precolonial Period
ROXANNE R. ZIPAGAN
Objective
At the end of this lesson, you should be able to identify the characteristics of precolonial
literature of the Philippines.
What texts are considered precolonial literature?
The precolonial literature includes all literature produced before the Spanish colonization like
chants, proverbs, songs, and folk narratives. These were all passed down from generation to
generation by word of mouth.
Philippine folk narratives are varied and distinct. They depict the people’s livelihood, customs,
and traditions.
Folktale – This is a characteristically anonymous, timeless, and placeless tale circulated orally
among a people.
Fable – This features animal characters or inanimate objects that behave like people.
Legend – This is presented as history but is unlikely to be true.
Myth – This is told to explain a belief, a practice, or a natural phenomenon.
Epic – This narrative poem celebrates the adventures and achievements of a hero
Folktales
Folktales about Juan are very popular. Some emphasize certain virtues, and some serve as
warning about behavior. Also, some are for the reader’s amusement.
Example 1:
Juan Gathers Guavas (A Tagalog Folktale)
One day several neighbors came to Juan’s home to visit. His father wanted to give the guests
something to eat, so he sent Juan to get some ripe guavas for them.
Full of mischief, Juan decided to play a joke on his father’s guests. He went to get the guavas and ate
all of them while thinking of a good joke. Then he saw a wasp’s nest hung nearby. With some difficulty
he managed to take it down and put it into a tight basket. He hastened home and gave the basket to
his father. Quickly he left the room where the guests were and closed the door and fastened it.
As soon as Juan’s father opened the basket, the wasps flew over the room. With the door locked, the
people fought to get out of the windows. After a while Juan opened the door. When he saw the
swollen faces of the people, he cried.
“What fine, rich guavas you must have had! They have made you all so fat!”
Fable
The monkey is a common animal character in Philippine fables. It is often depicted as a cunning
animal.
Example:
The Monkey and the Crocodile (A Tagalog Fable)
One day, a monkey saw a tall macopa tree laden with ripe fruits, which stood by a wide river. It was hungry, so it climbed
the tree and ate all of the fruits. When it climbed down, it could find no means by which to cross the river. Then it saw a
young crocodile who had just woken up from its siesta. It said to the crocodile in a friendly way, “My dear crocodile, will
you do me a favor?”
The crocodile was greatly surprised by the monkey’s amicable salutation. So, it answered humbly, “Oh, yes! If there is
anything I can do for you, I shall be glad to do it.” The monkey then told the crocodile that it wanted to get to the other
side of the river. Then the crocodile said, “I’ll take you there with all my heart. Just sit on my back, and we’ll go at once.”
The monkey sat firmly on the crocodile’s back, and they began to move. In a short while they reached the middle of the
stream. Then the crocodile began to laugh aloud. “You foolish monkey!” it said, “I’ll eat your liver and kidneys, for I’m
very hungry.” The monkey became nervous. Trying to conceal its anxiety, it said, “I’m very glad that you mentioned the
matter. I thought myself that you might be hungry, so I have prepared my liver and kidneys for your dinner.
Unfortunately, in our haste to depart, I left them hanging on the macopa tree. Let us return, and I’ll get them for you.”
Convinced that the monkey was telling the truth, the crocodile turned around and swam back to the direction of the
macopa tree. When they got near the riverbank, the monkey nimbly jumped up onto the land and scampered up the tree.
The crocodile came to realize what happened and said, “I am a fool.”
Legend
There are different Filipino legends of the great flood. The story of Bukidnon, for instance, tells
that a huge crab caused the water to rise by going into the sea. On the other hand, the Igorot
story tells that the sons of Lumawig the Great Spirit caused the flood.
Example 1:
The Flood Story (A Legend of Bukidnon)
A long time ago there was a very big crab which crawled into the sea. When it went in, it crowded the
water out so that it ran all over the earth and covered all the land.
Now about one moon before the flood happened, a wise man had told the people that they must build
a large raft. They did as he commanded and cut many large trees until they had enough to make three
layers. These they bound tightly together; when it was done, they fastened the raft with a long rattan
cord to a big pole in the earth.
Soon after the raft was done, the flood came. White water poured out of the hills, and the sea rose
and covered even the highest mountains. The people and animals on the raft were safe, but all the
others drowned.
Soon the waters went down, and the raft was again on the ground. It was near their old home, for the
rattan cord had held.
The people on the raft together with the animals were the only ones left on the whole earth.
Myth
There are Philippine versions of the creation myth. The Igorot’s story tells that Lumawig the
Great Spirit created people. On the other hand, the Tagalog story tells that the first man and
woman came from a bamboo.
Example 1:

The Creation (An Igorot Myth)

In the beginning, there were no people on the earth. Lumawig, the Great Spirit, came down from the sky and cut many reeds. He divided the reeds into pairs which he placed in
different parts of the world, and then he said to them, “You must speak.” Immediately the reeds became people, and in each place was a man and a woman who could talk.
However, the language of each couple differed from that of the others.

Then Lumawig commanded each man and woman to marry, which they did. By and by there were many children, all speaking the same language as their parents. The children
married and had many children of their own. In this way, there came to be many people on the earth.

Now Lumawig saw that there were several things which the people on the earth needed to use, so he set to work to supply them. He created salt and told the inhabitants of one
place to boil it down and sell it to their neighbors. However, the people could not understand the directions. The next time he visited them, they had not touched the salt. So, he
took the salt away from them and gave it to the people of a place called Mayinit.

The people of Mayinit did as Lumawig directed. Because of their obedience, he told them that they should always be owners of the salt and that the other peoples must buy of
them.

Then Lumawig went to the people of Bontoc and told them to get clay and make pots. They got the clay, but they did not understand the molding; the jars were not well shaped.
Because of their failure, Lumawig told them that they would always have to buy their jars, and he removed the pottery to Samoki.

Lumawig told the people of Samoki what to do, and they did just as he said. Their jars were well shaped and beautiful. Then Lumawig saw that they were fit owners of the
pottery, and he told them that they should always make many jars to sell.

In this way, Lumawig taught the people and brought to them all the things which they now have.
Epic
Biag ni Lam-ang
This Ilocano epic tells the adventures of Lam-ang, a man with supernatural powers. He goes to war at
nine-months-old and seeks the killers of his father. He embarks on a quest with his animal friends and
meets his future wife, Innes Kanoyan. He is swallowed by a fish and resurrected from death by his
animal friends.
Hinilawod
This epic is of the Sulod, a group of people living in the mountains of central Panay. It tells the story of
three very strong men, namely, Labaw Donggon, Humadapnon, and Dumalapdap. They are the sons
of Datu Paubari, the ruler of Halawod, and the goddess Alunsina. The exploits of each son concerns
beautiful women that he wants to have as a wife.
Darangan
This Maranao epic depicts the adventures of a brave warrior named Bantugan. He owns a magical
sword protected by a spirit. After a battle, he rests and accidentally falls into the water. A crocodile
finds him and brings him to the enemies. He fights, regains his strength, and wins the war.
Summary
The precolonial literature of the Philippines includes all literature produced before the Spanish
colonization. It includes chants, proverbs, songs, spells, and different folk narratives like folk
tales, fables, legends, myths, and epics that were all passed down from generation to generation
through the word of mouth.
POST-TEST
1. What do you call a folk narrative presented as history but is unlikely to be true?
A. Epic C. Legend
B. Fable D. Myth
2. What do you call an Ilocano epic which tells the adventures of supernaturally powerful man?
A. Ibaton C. Indara Patra
B. Darangan D. Biag-Ni-Lam-Ang
POST-TEST
3. What period of the Philippine Literature which proverbs, songs and folk narratives were all
produced from generation to generation by word of mouth?
A. American Period C. Spanish Period
B. Japanese Period D. Pre-Colonial Period
4. Which literary genre is varied and distinct, depicts the people’s livelihood, customs and
traditions?
A. Novel C. Short Story
B. Poetry D. Folk Narrative
POST-TEST
5. What do you call a folk narrative characteristically anonymous, timeless and placeless
circulated orally among people and emphasizes certain virtues or warning about behavior?
A. Epic c. Folktale
B. Fable D. Legend
6. How would you describe fable?
A. It is a narrative presented as history but unlikely to be true
B. It is a narrative in which monkey, often depicted as a cunning animal
C. It is a narrative which features supernatural characters and reflects the society where it
originated
D. It is a narrative presented as history but unlikely to be true often depicted as a cunning animal
POST-TEST
7. What do you call an epic of Maranao which depicts the adventures of a brave warrior named
Bantugan?
Biag Ni Lam Ang C. Ibalon
Darangan D. Indarapatra and Solayman
8. What is the common animal character in the Philippine Fables?
A. eagle
B. goat
C. monkey
D. zebra
POST-TEST
9. What do you call the epic of Sulod that tells the story of three very strong men namely
Labaw, Humadapnon and Dumalapdap?
A. biag ni lam ang c. darangan
B. hinilawod d. ibalon
10. What is the course description of our subject?
A. 21st century literature in various regions
B. 21s century literature in national
C. 21st century in various regions
D. 21st literature in various regions