Chapter 7 Rebirth of Freedom.

The Rebirth of
Freedom
(1946-1970)
Historical Background
The Americans returned in 1945. Filipinos rejoiced and

guerillas who fled to the mountain joined the liberating
American Army.
On July 4, 1946, the Philippines regained is freedom and the
Filipino flag waved joyously alone. The chains were broken.
A. THE STATE OF LITERATURE DURING THIS PERIOD
The early post-liberation period was marked by a kind of

“struggle of mind and spirit” posed by the sudden
emancipation from the enemy, and the wild desire to see
print.
Filipinos had, by this time, learned to express themselves
more confidently but post-war problems beyond language
and print-like economic stability, the threat of new ideas
and mortality – had to be grappled with side by side.
There was a proliferation of newspapers like the FREE

PRESS, MORNING SUN, of Sergio Osmeña Sr., DAILY
MIRROR of Joaquin Roces, EVENING NEWS of Ramon
Lopezes and the BULLETIN of Menzi. This only proved
that there were more readers in English than in any ocher
vernaculars like Tagalog, Ilocano or Hiligaynon.
Journalists had their day. They indulged in more militant
attitude in their reporting which bordered on the libelous.
Gradually, as normality was restored, the tones and themes of
the writings turned to the less pressing problems of economic
survival.
Some Filipino writers who had gone abroad and had written
during the interims came back to publish their works.
Not all the books published during the period reflected the war
year; some were compilations or second editions of what have
been written before.
Some of the writers and their works of the
periods are:
THE VOICE OF THE VETERAN – a compilation of

the best works of some Ex-USAFFE men like
Amante Bigornia, Roman de la Cruz, Ramon de
Jesus and J.F. Rodriguez.
TWILIGHT IN TOKYO and PASSION and DEATH

OF THE USAFFE by Leon Ma. Guerrero
FOR FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY – by S.P. Lopez
BETRAYAL IN THE PHILIPPINES – by Hernando

Abaya
SEVEN HILLS AWAY – by NVM Gonzales
POETRY IN ENGLISH DURING THIS PERIOD
For the first twenty years, many books were

published…both in Filipino and in English. Among the
writers during this time were: Fred Ruiz Castro,
Dominador I. Ilio, and C.B. Rigor.
Some notable works of the period include the

following:
1. HEART OF THE ISLANDS (1947) – a collection of

poems by Manuel Viray
2. PHILIPPINES CROSS SECTION (1950) – a collection
of prose and poetry by Maximo Ramos and Florentino
Valeros
3. PROSE AND POEMS (1952) – by Nick Joaquin
4. PHILIPPINE WRITING (1953) – by T.D. Agcaoili
5. PHILIPPINE HAVEST – by Amador Daguio
6. HORIZONS LEAST (1967) – a collection of works by

the professors of UE, mostly in English (short stories,
essays, research papers, poem and drama) by Artemio
Patacsil and Silverio Baltazar
The themes of most poems dealt with the
usual love of nature, and of social and
political problems. Toribia Maño’s poems
showed deep emotional intensity.
7. WHO SPOKE OF COURAGE IN HIS SLEEP –

by NVM Gonzales
8. SPEAK NOT, SPEAK ALSO – by Conrado V.

Pedroche
9. Other poets were Toribia Maño and Edith

L. Tiempo
Jose Garcia Villa’s HAVE COME, AM HERE

won acclaim both here and abroad.
NOVELS AND SHORT STORIES IN ENGLISH
Longer and longer pieces were being written by writers

of the period. Stevan Javellana’s WITHOUT SEEING
THE DAWN tells of the grim experiences of war during
the Japanese Occupation.
In 1946, the Barangay Writer’s Project whose aim was

to publish works in English by Filipinos was established.
In 1958, the PEN Center of the Philippines (Poets,

essayists, novelists) was inaugurated. In the same year,
Francisco Arcellana published his PEN ANTHOLOGY OF
SHORT STORIES.
In 1961, Kerima Polotan’s novel THE HAND OF THE
ENEMY won the Stonehill Award for the Filipino novel
in English.
In 1968, Luis V. Teodoro Jr.’s short story THE

ADVERSARY won the Philippines Free Press short story
award; in 1969, his story THE TRAIL OF PROFESSOR
RIEGO won second prize in the Palanca Memorial
Awards for Literature and in 1970, his short story THE
DISTANT CITY won the GRAPHIC short story award.
THE NEW FILIPINO LITERATURE DURING THIS PERIOD
Philippines literature in Tagalog was revived during this

period. Most themes in the writings dealt with Japanese
brutalities, of the poverty of life under the Japanese
government and the brave guerilla exploits.
Newspapers and magazine publications were re-opened like

the Bulaklak, Liwayway, Ilang Ilang and Sinag Tala.
Tagalog poetry acquired not only rhyme but substance and
meaning. Short stories had better characters and events
based on facts and realities and themes were more
meaningful. Novels became common but were still read by
the people for recreation.
The people’s love for listening to poetic jousts
increased more than before and people started to flock
to places to hear poetic debates.
Many books were published during this time, among

which were:
1. Mga Piling Katha (1947-48) by Alejandro Abadilla
2. Ang Maikling Kuwentong Tagalog (1886-1948) by

Teodoro Agoncillo
3. Ako’y Isang Tinig (1952) collection of poems and stories by
Genoveva Edroza Matute
4. Mga Piling Sanaysay (1952) by Alejandro Abadilla
5. Maikling Katha ng Dalawampung Pangunahing Autor (1962)

by A.G. Abadilla and Ponciano E.P. Pineda
6. Parnasong Tagalog (1964) collection of selected poems by

Huseng Sisiw and Balagtas, collected by A.G. Abadilla
7. Sining at Pamamaraan ng Pag-aaral ng Panitikan (1965) by

Rufino Alejandro.
He prepared this book for teaching in reading and
appreciation of poems, dramas, short stories and
novels
8. Manlilikha, Mga Piling Tula (1961-1967) by

Rogelio G. Mangahas
9. Mga Piling Akda ng Kadipan (Kapisanang Aklat ng

Diwa at Panitik) 1965 by Efren Abueg
10. Makata (1967) first cooperative effort to publish

the poems of 16 poets in Pilipino
11. Pitong Dula (1968) by Dionisio Salazar
12. Manunulat: Mga Piling Akdang Pilipino (1970) by

Efren Abueg. In this book, Abueg proved that it is
possible to have a national integration of ethnic
culture in our country.
13. Mga Aklat ni Rizal: Many books about Rizal came
out during this period. The law ordering the
additional study of the life of Rizal helped a lot in
activating our writers to write books about Rizal.
PALANCA AWARDS
Another inspiration for writers in Filipino was the

launching of the Palanca Memorial Awards for
literature headed by Carlos Palanca Sr. in 1950. (Until
now, the awards are still being given although the man
who founded it has passed away). The awards were
given to writers of short stories, plays and poetry.
The first awardees in its first year, 1950-51 in the

field of the short story were the following:
First Prize: KUWENTO NI MABUTI by Genoveva
Edroza
Second Prize: MABANGIS NA KAMAY…MAAMONG

KAMAY by Pedro S. Dandan
Third Prize: PLANETA, BUWAN AT MGA BITUIN

by Elpidio P. Kapulong
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The Rebirth of

The Americans returned in 1945. Filipinos rejoiced and

A. THE STATE OF LITERATURE DURING THIS PERIOD

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

There was a proliferation of newspapers like the FREE

THE VOICE OF THE VETERAN – a compilation of

TWILIGHT IN TOKYO and PASSION and DEATH

FOR FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY – by S.P. Lopez

BETRAYAL IN THE PHILIPPINES – by Hernando

POETRY IN ENGLISH DURING THIS PERIOD

For the first twenty years, many books were

Some notable works of the period include the

1. HEART OF THE ISLANDS (1947) – a collection of

3. PROSE AND POEMS (1952) – by Nick Joaquin

4. PHILIPPINE WRITING (1953) – by T.D. Agcaoili

5. PHILIPPINE HAVEST – by Amador Daguio

6. HORIZONS LEAST (1967) – a collection of works by

7. WHO SPOKE OF COURAGE IN HIS SLEEP –

8. SPEAK NOT, SPEAK ALSO – by Conrado V.

9. Other poets were Toribia Maño and Edith

Jose Garcia Villa’s HAVE COME, AM HERE

Longer and longer pieces were being written by writers

In 1946, the Barangay Writer’s Project whose aim was

In 1958, the PEN Center of the Philippines (Poets,

In 1968, Luis V. Teodoro Jr.’s short story THE

Philippines literature in Tagalog was revived during this

Newspapers and magazine publications were re-opened like

Many books were published during this time, among

1. Mga Piling Katha (1947-48) by Alejandro Abadilla

2. Ang Maikling Kuwentong Tagalog (1886-1948) by

4. Mga Piling Sanaysay (1952) by Alejandro Abadilla

5. Maikling Katha ng Dalawampung Pangunahing Autor (1962)

6. Parnasong Tagalog (1964) collection of selected poems by

7. Sining at Pamamaraan ng Pag-aaral ng Panitikan (1965) by

8. Manlilikha, Mga Piling Tula (1961-1967) by

9. Mga Piling Akda ng Kadipan (Kapisanang Aklat ng

10. Makata (1967) first cooperative effort to publish

11. Pitong Dula (1968) by Dionisio Salazar

12. Manunulat: Mga Piling Akdang Pilipino (1970) by

Another inspiration for writers in Filipino was the

The first awardees in its first year, 1950-51 in the

Second Prize: MABANGIS NA KAMAY…MAAMONG

Third Prize: PLANETA, BUWAN AT MGA BITUIN

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