The Spanish Period (1565-1898)

Course Code: LIT001

Year Level & Sec.: First Year
Course: Criminology
 Historical Background
It is an accepted belief that the Spanish
colonization of the Philippines started in 1565
during the time of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, the
first Spanish governor-general in the Philippines.
Literature started to flourish during his time. This
spurt continued unabated until the Cavite Revolt in
1872. The Spaniards colonized the Philippines for
more than three centuries.
 Historical Background
During these times, many changes occurred in the
lives of Filipinos. They embraced the Catholic
religion, changed their names, and were baptized.
Their lifestyles changed too. They built houses mad
of stones and bricks, used beautiful furniture like
the piano and used kitchen utensils. Carriages,
trains and boats were used as means of travel.
They held fiestas to honor the saints, the pope and
the governors.
 Historical Background
They had cockfights, horse races and the theater as
means of recreation. This gave rise to the
formation of the different classes of society like the
rich and the landlords. Some Filipinos finished
courses like medicine, law, agriculture and
teaching. Many Filipinos finished their schooling
already had been established.
 SPANISH INFLUENCES ON PHILIPPINE
LITERATURE
Due to the long period of colonization of the
Philippines by the Spaniards, they have exerted a
strong influence on our literature.
1. The first Filipino alphabet called ALIBATA was
replaced by the Roman alphabet.
2. The teaching of the Christian Doctrine became
the basis of religious practices.
3. The Spanish language which became the literary
language during this time lent many of its
words to our language.
 SPANISH INFLUENCES ON PHILIPPINE
LITERATURE
4. European legends and traditions brought here
became assimilated in our songs, corridos, and
moro-moros.
5. Ancient literature was collected and translated
to Tagalog and other dialects.
6. Many grammar books were printed in Filipino,
like Tagalog, Ilocano and Visayan
7. Our periodicals during these times gained a
religious tone.
 THE FIRST BOOKS
1. ANG DOCTRINA CRISTIANA. 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. It contained the Pater
Noster (Out Father), Ave Maria (Hail Mary), Regina
Coeli (Hail Holy Queen), the Ten Commandments of
God, the Commandments of the Catholic Church, the
Seven Mortal Sins, How to Confess, and the
Cathecism. Three old original copies of this book can
still be found at the Vatican, at the Madrid Musem
and at the US Congress.
 THE FIRST BOOKS
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 contains the biographies of
saints, novenas, and questions and answers on
religion.
 THE FIRST BOOKS
3. Libro de los Cuatro Postprimeras de Hombre (in
Spanish and Tagalog). This is the first book printed in
typography.
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.
 THE FIRST BOOKS
5. The Pasion. This is the book about the life and
sufferings of Jesus Christ. It is read only during Lent.
There were 4 versions of this in Tagalog and each
version is according to the name of the writer. These
are the Pilapil version (by Mariano Pilapil of Bulacan,
1814), the de Belen version (by Gaspar Aquino de
Belen of Bat. in 1704), the de la Merced (by Aniceto
de la Merced of Norzagaray, Bulacan in 1856) and the
de Guia version (by Luis de Guia in 1750). Critics are
not agreed whether it is the Pilapil or the de la
Merced version which is the most popular.
 THE FIRST BOOKS
6. Urbana at Felisa. A book by Modesto de Castro,
the so called Father of Classic Prose in Tagalog.
These are letters between two sisters Urbana at
Felisa and have influenced greatly the behavior of
people in society because the letters dealt with
good behavior.
 THE FIRST BOOKS
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.
 LITERARY COMPOSITIONS
1. Arte y Reglas de la Lengua Tagala (Art and rules
of the Tagalog language). Written by Fr. Blancas de
San Jose and translated to Tagalog by Tomas Pinpin
in 1610.

2. Compendio de la Lengua Tagala (Understanding

the Tagalog language). Written by Fr. Gaspar de San
Agustin in 1703.
 LITERARY COMPOSITIONS
3. Vocabulario de la Lengua Tagala (Tagalog
vocabulary). The first Tagalog dictionary written by
Fr. Pedro de San Buenaventura in 1613.

4. Vocabulario de la Lengua Pampanga (Pampanga

vocabulary). The first book in Pampanga written by
Fr. Diego in 1732.
 LITERARY COMPOSITIONS
5. Vocabulario de la Lengua Bisaya (Bisayan
vocabulary). The best language book in Visayan by
Mateo Sanchez in 1711.
6. Arte de la Lengua Ilokana (The Art of the Ilocano
language). The first Ilocano grammar book by
Francisco Lopez.
7. Arte de la Lengua Bicolana (The Art of the Bicol
language). The first book in the Bicol language and
written by Fr. Marcos Lisbon in 1754.
 FOLK SONGS
Folk songs became widespread in the Philippines.
Each region had its national song from the
lowlands to the mountains of Luzon, Visayas and
Mindanao.

Folk songs truly manifest the artistic feelings of the

Filipinos. They show the Filipinos’ innate
appreciation for and love of beauty. The examples
are Leron-Leron Sinta, Pamulinawen, Dandansoy,
Sarong Banggi and Atin Cu Pung Singsing.
 RECEREATIONAL PLAYS
There are many recreational plays performed by
Filipinos during the Spanish times. Almost all of
them were in poetic form.
Here are examples:

1. Tibag – the word tibag means to excavate. This

ritual was brought here by the Spaniard to remind
the people about the search of St. Helena for the
Cross on which Jesus died.
 RECEREATIONAL PLAYS
3. The Cenaculo – this is a dramatic performance to
commemorate the passion and death of Jesus Christ.
There are two kinds: the Cantada and Hablada. In the
Hablada the lines are spoken in a more deliberate manner
showi ng the rhythmic measure of each verse and the
rhyming in each stanza and is more dignified in theme; the
Cantada is chanted like the Pasion. The Cenaculo is written
in octosyllabic verse, with 8 verses to the stanza. The full
length versions take about 3 nights of 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.
 RECEREATIONAL PLAYS
4. Panunuluyan – this is presented before 12:00 on
Christmas Eve. This is a presentation of the search
of the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph for an inn
wherein to deliver the baby Jesus.

5. The Salubong (or Panubong) - The Salubong is an

Easter play that dramatizes the meeting of the
Risen Christ and his Mother. It is still presented in
many Philippine towns.
 RECEREATIONAL PLAYS
6. 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.
 RECEREATIONAL PLAYS
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 rescu e
party where fighting between the Moros and the
Christians ensue.
 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 MORO-MORO
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.
 KARAGATAN
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.
 DUNG-AW
This is a chant in free verse by a bereaved person
or his representative beside the corpse of the
dead. No definite meter or rhyming scheme is
used. The person chanting it freely recites in poetic
rhythm according to his feelings, emotions and
thoughts. It is personalized and usually deals with
the life, sufferings and sacrifices of the dead and
includes apologies for his misdeeds
 THE AWIT and the COR RIDO
Number of Syllables