Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
Ministry of Basic, Higher & Technical Education
DIVISION OF LANAO DEL SUR 1
Module Code: ENG11/12-21STCL-Q1-W1-D2
MODULE IN 21st Century Literature from the Philippines to the World
First Quarter/ Week 1/ Day 2
Name: _______________________________________________ Strand: ___________________
Name of Teacher: _____________________________________ Date: _____________________
OBJECTIVE:
Identify geographic, linguistic and ethnic dimensions of Philippine literary history from
pre-colonial period.
YOUR LESSON FOR TODAY:
Today we are going to have a quick recall of the rich Ethnicity of the Philippines. The variety and
abundance of Philippine literature evolved even before the colonial periods. Folk tales, epics, poems and
marathon chants existed in most ethno-linguistic groups that were passed on from generation to generation
through word of mouth.
TRY TO DISCOVER!
Philippine Pre-colonial Literature
Some of these pre-colonial literary pieces showcased in traditional narratives,
speeches and songs are Tigmo in Cebuano, Bugtong in Tagalog, Patototdon in Bicol,
Paktakon in Ilongo and kapagantoka in Meranao.
Philippine epics and folk tales are varied and filled with magical characters. They are either narratives of
mostly mythical objects, persons or certain places, or epics telling supernatural events and bravery of
heroes, customs and ideologies of a community.
Owing to the works of our own archaeologists, ethnologists and anthropologists, we are able to know
more and better judge information about our pre-colonial times set against a bulk of material about early
Filipinos as recorded by Spanish, Chinese, Arabic and other chroniclers of the past.
Pre-colonial inhabitants of our islands showcased a rich past through their folk speeches, folk songs,
folk narratives and indigenous rituals and mimetic dances that affirm our ties with our Southeast Asian
neighbors.
Philippine Pre-colonial Literature
EXAMPLES OF ETHNO-EPIC POPULARIZED BY DIFFERENT ETHNIC GROUPS
IN THE COUNTRY
1. Bantugan of Maranao tribe is a long narrative epic about Prince Bantugan, the greatest warrior in the
kingdom of Bumbaran. After successfully defending his kingdom against the invaders, he decided to left
for he knew that was hated by his elder brother, the king. His adventure in the Kingdom-Between- Two-
Seas, after courting the beautiful but sorceress Princess Datimbang, he died but his soul revived by
Prince Madali, his brother.
2. Biag ni Lam-ang (Life of Lam-ang) of the Ilocanos narrates the adventures of the prodigious epic
hero, Lam-ang who exhibits extraordinary powers at an early age. At nine months, he is able to go to
war to look for his father’s killers. Then while in search of lady love, Ines Kannoyan, he is swallowed
by a big fish, but his rooster and his friends bring him back to life.
3. The Agyu or Olahing of the Manobos is a three-part epic that starts with the pahmara (invocation)
then the kepu’unpuun (a narration of the past) and the sengedurog (an episode completes in itself). All
three parts narrate the exploits of the hero as he leads his people who have been driven out of their land
to Nalandangan, a land of Utopia where there are no landgrabbers and oppressors.
4. Sandayo of the Subanon tells of the story of the hero with the same name, who is born through
extraordinary circumstances as he fell out of the hair of his mother while she was combing it on the
ninth stroke. Hence, he leads his people in the fight against invaders of their land and waterways.
5. Aliguyon or the Hudhud of the Ifugaos tells of the adventures of Aliguyon as he battles his arch
enemy, Pambukhayon among rice fields and terraces and instructs his people to be steadfast and learn
the wisdom of warfare and of peacemaking during harvest seasons.
6. Labaw Donggon is about the passionate exploits of the son of a goddess Alunsina, by a mortal, Datu
Paubari. The polygamous hero battles the huge monster Manaluntad for the hand of Abyang Ginbitinan;
then he fights Sikay Padalogdog, the giant with a hundred arms to win Abyang Doronoon and confronts
the lord of darkness, Saragnayan, to win Nagmalitong Yawa Sinagmaling Diwata.
Other epics known to most Filipinos are the
a. Ibalon of Bikol,
b. Darangan of Muslim
c. Kudaman of Palawan
d. Alim of the Ifugao
e. Hinilawod of Panay
f. Tuwaang of Manobos and
g. The Tagalogs pride their Myth of Bernardo Carpio, a folk hero said to hold the mountains of San
Mateo apart with his powerful arms to prevent them from colliding.
There are shorter narratives that tell the origins of the people, the stars, the sky and
the seas. A famous story that tells of the origin of man and woman is that of Malakas
(man) and Maganda (woman) who came out of a bamboo after being pecked by a
bird. This and other stories of equal birthing of man and woman throughout the
archipelago assert a woman’s equal position with a man within the tribal systems.
Literary Forms during the Pre-colonial Period
MYTH
Mythology is a body of myths of a particular culture, and also the study and interpretation of myth.
Myth is a complex cultural phenomenon that can be approached from a number of viewpoints.
In general, myth is a narrative that describes and portrays in symbolic language the origin of the basic
elements and assumptions of a culture.
Mythic narrative relates, for example, how the world began, how humans and animals were created,
and how certain customs, gestures, or forms of human activities originated.
Almost all cultures possess or at one time possessed and lived in terms of myths.
Myths are traditional stories occurring in a timeless past.
They involve supernatural elements and are beyond the frontiers of logic. Long ago, when our
ancestors heard the sound of thunder and saw lightning, they were frightened because they could not
understand why these things happened. In order to understand these and other natural events, they
created stories.
The stories were handed down from generation to generation all over the country. Although myths are
not based on objective truth, they reflect both universal worries and the worries of specific cultures.
MYTHS FROM THE DIFFERENT REGION OF THE PHILLIPINES
A. The god and goddess (Ilocos)
B. Why there is high tide during full moon (Ibanag)
C. Why the dead come back no more (Ifugao)
D. Mag--asawang tubig (Tagalog)
E. How the moon and the stars came to be (Bukidnon-Mindanao)
Example:
How the Moon and the Stars Came to Be (A Myth from Bukidnon)
One day, in the times when the sky was close to the ground, a spinster went out to pound rice. Before
she began her work, she took off the beads from around her neck and the comb from her hair, and hung
them on the sky, which at that time looked like coral rock. Then she began working, and each time that
she raised her pestle into the air it struck the sky. For some times she pounded the rice, and then she
raised the pestle so high that it struck the sky very hard. Immediately, the sky began to rise and it went
up so far that she lost her ornaments. Never did they come down, for the comb became the moon and the
beads are the stars that are scattered about.
LEGENDS
Legend is a traditional narrative or collection of related narratives,
popularly regarded as historically factual but actually a mixture of
fact and fiction.
The medieval Latin word legenda means “things for reading”. During certain
services of the early Christian Church, legenda, or lives of the saints, were
read aloud.
A legend is set in a specific place at a specific time; the subject is often a heroic historical personage.
A legend differs from a myth by portraying a human hero rather than one who is a god. Legends,
originally oral, have been developed into literary masterpieces.
Legends are stories about real people who are famous for doing something brave or extraordinary.
Every time the story was told, it became more exaggerated and so it is now difficult to tell how much
of the story is really true.
Legends from the Philippines
a. The Legend of Palendag (Maguindanao)
b. The Legend of the Sleeping Beauty (Kalinga)
c. Legend of the Dama de Noche
d. Legend of the Banana Plant
e. Legend of the Firefly
PROVERBS
The proverbs or aphorisms express norms or codes of behavior, community
beliefs or they instill values by offering nuggets of wisdom, in short, rhyming verse.
The extended form, tanaga, a mono- riming heptasyllabic quatrain expressing insights
and lessons on life is “more emotionally charged than the terse proverb and thus has
affinities with the folk lyric.” Some examples are the Basahanon or extended didactic
sayings from Bukidnon and the Daraida and Daragilon from Panay.
FOLK SONG
The folk song, a form of folk lyric which expresses the hopes and aspirations, the people’s lifestyles
as well as their loves. These are often repetitive and sonorous, didactic and naive as in the children’s songs
or Ida-ida (Maguindanao), tulang pambata (Tagalog) or Cansiones Para Abbing (Ibanag).
A few examples are the lullabyes or Ili-ili (Ilongo); love songs like the Bayok (Maranao); the
Panawagon and Balitao (Ilongo); Harana or serenade (Cebuano); the seven-syllable per line poem,
Ambahan of the Mangyans that are about human relationships, social entertainment and also serve as a
tool for teaching the young; work songs that depict the livelihood of the people often sung to go with the
movement of workers such as the Kalusan (Ivatan), Soliranin (Tagalog rowing song) or the Mambayu, a
Kalinga rice-pounding song; the verbal jousts/games like the duplo popular during wakes.
RIDDLES (Bugtong or Palaisipan)
Made up of one or more measured lines with rhymes and may consist of 4 to 12 syllables. It
showcases the Filipino wit, literary talent, and keen observation of the surroundings that involves
reference to one or two images that symbolize the characteristics of an unknown object that is to be
guessed.
EXAMPLES
1. “Piyata sa kalasan, pekhanug sa ingud”. Pinutol sa gubat, naririnig sa nayon.
(Cut in the forest but can be heard in the town).
2. “Isa ka walay, palaya opaw”. Sa isang bahay lahat kalbo.
(Everybody living in the house is bald.)
3. “Di taw, di pagigimo, ipulalakaw niyan a buk iyan”. Hindi tao, hindi hayop, buhok ang inilalakad.
(Not a person, not a thing but walks by its hair.)
4. “Somagad so mangoda na mamaripik so raga”. Dumaan ang binata, kinilig ang dalaga.
(Bachelor passing by, lass giggles).
5. “Buk I Adam, di khabilang.” Buhok ni Adan, hindi mabilang.
(Adam's hair, you can't count.)
6. “Isa I p’suldan, tlo i p’liyowan.” Iisa ang pasukan, tatlo ang labasan.
(It has one entrance, but has three exit).
PROVERBS or EPIGRAMS (Salawikain or Sawikain)
A proverb is a simple and concrete saying, popularly known and repeated, that expresses a truth
based on common sense or experience. They are often metaphorical. A proverb that describes a basic
rule of conduct may also be known as a maxim. These have been customarily used and served as laws or
rules on good behavior by our ancestors. To others, these are like allegories or parables that impart
lessons for the young.
Examples of Proverbs
1. “So sagorompong a buk a makambabibabid, na phakarun sa bagiyo.”
A tightly bound hair can deter a storm.
Isang bigkis na buhok, bagyo kayang harangin.
In unity, there is strength.
2. “Marugun a phukawn so taw a makaanaw.”
It is hard to wake up someone who is pretending to be asleep.
Mahirap gisingin ang nagtutulog-tulugan.
While it is easy to tell people something they do not know, it is much harder if they are willfully
choosing not to see what is before them.
3. “Pamunag ka ayonan ka kagiya pundato ka na kompasang ka so ingud, taritibangka so tao ko
sominundig a ingud.”
New king, new character.
Bagong hari, bagong ugali.
New leadership always brings new ways.
CHANTS (Bulong)
Chants are used in witchcraft and enchantments.
Our ancestors also believe in unseen spirits or elemental spirits like dwarfs.
They give respect, ask for permission, and excuse or apology to these spirits in order to deliver
them from trouble and danger.
Example of chants:
Phanabiya ako rkano mga tongkayatao, pagokit ako na oba ko skano karimpasi. (Maranao)
Tabi, tabi po, Ingkong, makikiraan po lamang. (Tagalog)
Bari-bari Apo, umisbo lang ti tao. (Ilokano)
SAYINGS (Kasabihan) TANAGA
Sayings are used in teasing or to comment on a quatrain with seven syllables each with the same
persons’ actuations. rhyme at the end of each line
Example of saying (Maranao) Example of tanaga
“Bad’n mala so dalog, “Tahak ng tingin,tulak
A pukhalilid ko lapad.” ng sulyap, yakap, lapat
(This means that a person is physically big but ng titig sa balikat,
mentally dumb}. hatak pa, kindat, hakat.”
A form of folk lyric which expresses the people’s hopes, aspirations and lifestyles. Repetitive and
sonorous, didactic and naïve. Traditional songs and melodies. Inspired by the reaction of the
people to their environment.
Examples of Folk Songs
1. Uyayi – lullaby
2. Komintang – war song
3. Kundiman – melancholic love song
4. Harana – serenade
5. Tagay – drinking song
6. Mambayu – Kalinga rice-pounding song
7. Subli – dance ritual song of courtship or marriage
8. Tagulaylay – songs of the dead
TARASUL
The Tarasul is a literary product and poetic expression of Sulu in the Southern Philippines. Its
purpose is to express in an allegorical way, liberally using poetic language, certain situations or certain
characteristics referred to by the one reciting the poem.
Example:
Tarasul
tagnaan ku he salam
ngan sin ummat islam
hijaja sin hambuuk imam
tarasul ini nahinang.
aku mga taymanghud
ha masjid simud
sumambahayang in maksud
ruku iban sumujud.
in imam himutbah
pa mga jamma himujajah...
ARE YOU READY TO PRACTICE?
Is today’s lesson clear? If not, then you may go back to our discussion and the given examples.
PRACTICE EXERCISES
LEARNING SKILL: CRITICAL THINKING/COLLABORATION
Try to answer the following examples of riddles. If you find it challenging, then you
may engage your parents or siblings for a “bugtungan game” to help you find the
correct answer.
1. “Piyata sa kalasan, pekhanug sa ingud”. Pinutol sa gubat, naririnig sa nayon.
(Cut in the forest but can be heard in the town).
2. “Isa ka walay, palaya opaw”. Sa isang bahay lahat kalbo.
(Everybody living in the house is bald.)
3. “Di taw, di pagigimo, ipulalakaw niyan a buk iyan”. Hindi tao, hindi hayop, buhok ang inilalakad.
(Not a person, not a thing but walks by its hair.)
4. “Somagad so mangoda na mamaripik so raga”. Dumaan ang binata, kinilig ang dalaga.
(Bachelor passing by, lass giggles).
5. “Buk I Adam, di khabilang.” Buhok ni Adan, hindi mabilang.
(Adam's hair, you can't count.)
6. “Isa I p’suldan, tlo I puliyowan.” Iisa ang pasukan, tatlo ang labasan.
(It has one entrance, but has three exit).
EVALUATION
LEARNING SKILL: COMMUNICATION
If you were to tweet about what you have learned today about the ethnic dimensions
of Philippine literature, what would you say to engage other people about the topic?
Consider the tweet norm of 140 characters per tweet.
RUBRICS
10-8 7-5 4-1
Content indicates synthesis of ideas, in Content indicates thinking and reasoning Shows some thinking and reasoning
depth analysis and evidences original applied with but most ideas are underdeveloped
thought and support for the topic. original thought on a few
ideas
REFERENCES
https://www.slideshare.net/AttheaJaneLepiten/philippine-literature-and-texts-precolonial-times-and-spanish-
colonizations-77510710
http;//puzzlemaker.biz
