Chapter 11
Intended Learning Outcomes: At the end of this chapter, the students are expected to:
1. Trace the historical development of literatures in the Philippines during this
period.
2. Describe the Philippine literature during the period.
3. Name the literary genres and literary pieces of the period.
4. Enumerate writers who contributed to the flourishing of literature during the
period.
5. Analyze literary pieces.
11.1 Historical Background
The Americans returned in 1945. Filipinos rejoiced
and guerrillas who fled to the mountains joined the
liberating American Army.
On July 4, 1946, the flag of the United States of
America is lowered while the flag of the Philippines is
raised. The Philippines regained its freedom and the
Filipino flag waved joyously alone. The chains were
broken.
11.2 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.
Proliferation of Newspapers which proved that there were more readers in English than
in any other vernaculars like Tagalog, Ilocano or Hiligaynon like:
- FREE PRESS, MORNING SUN, of Sergio Osmeña Sr.,
- DAILY NEWS of Manuel Roxas,
- MANILA TIMES and
- DAILY MIRROR of Joaquin Roces,
- EVENING NEWS of Ramon Roces,
- PHILIPPINE HERALD of Soriano,
- CHRONICLE of the Lopezes and
- the BULLETIN of Menzi.
Journalists had their day. They indulged in more militant attitude in their reportings
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.
o Some Filipino writers who had gone abroad and had written during the
interim came back to publish their works.
o Not all the books published during the period reflected the war years;
some were compilations or second editions of what had been written
before.
Some of the writers and their works of the periods are:
1. 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. Rodriquez
2. TWILIGHT IN TOKYO and PASSION and DEATH OF THE USAFFE - by Leon Ma. Guerrero
3. FOR FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY - by S.P. Lopez
4. BETRAYAL IN THE PHILIPPINES - by Hernando Abaya
5. SEVEN HILLS AWAY - by NVM Gonzales
11.3 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 HARVEST by Amador Daguio
6. HORIZONS LEAST (1967) a collection of works by the professors of UE, mostly in
English (short stories, essays, research papers, poems and drama) by Artemio
Patacsil and Silverio Baltazar
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
10. Jose Garcia Villa's HAVE COME, AM HERE won acclaim both here and abroad.
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. Villa’s
writing is his bent for abstraction, his eccentricity – like Blake’s – his devotion to
sound. Meaning is not the purpose. The music in the language is the reason for
the writing.
“Lyric 12,” from Have Come, Am Here by José Garcia Villa_________
am so very am and is among the kings
speak so very speak in that danger steeple
and look my every hand where each air breathed
is for each all lovers’ sake is a love to glow to sing
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________-
and nowherever time and each love wreathed
can farther never go is but God’s beginning
tomorrow cannot climb because He can not be
over each least lovers’ brow until Am is Am in flame
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my every vein rings fire is His dancing augury
now’s lifest rose: my skull to give love His name
11.4 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. The
title of Stevan Javellana's only novel in English Without Seeing
the Dawn was derived from one of José Rizal's character in the
Spanish-language novel Noli Me Tangere or Touch Me Not.
Javellana's 368-paged book has two parts, namely Day and Night.
The first part, Day, narrates the story of a pre-war barrio
and its people in the Panay Island particularly in Iloilo. The
second part, Night, begins with the start of World War II in both
the U.S. and the Philippines, and retells the story of the
resistance movement against the occupying Japanese military
forces of the barrio people first seen in Day.
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.
11.5 The New Filipino Literature During This Period
Philippine 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 guerrilla 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
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3. Ako'y Isang Tinig (1952) collection of poems and stories by Genoveva Edroza Matute
4. Mga Piling Sanaysay (1952) by Al ejandro 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 byHuseng 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.
11.6 The Palanca Awards
The Palanca Awards or Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for
Literature are a set of literary awards for Philippine writers. Usually
referred to as the "Pulitzer Prize" of the Philippines, it is the country's
highest literary honor in terms of prestige.
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 are 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.
KUWENTO NI MABUTI
By Genoveva Edroza
This story is about a teacher who was much admired by her students. In spite of
her problems and frustrations in life, she firmly carried out her duties as teacher and as
a mother. She was nicknamed Mabuti by her students because this was her favorite
expression.
An excerpt: (in Filipino)
...Lagi ko siyang iuugnay sa kariktan ng buhay. Saan man may
kagandahan, sa isang tanawin, sa isang isipan, o sa isang
katotohanan kaya, nakikita ko siya at ako'y lumiligaya. Nguni't
walang anumang maganda sa kanyang anyo ... at sa kanyang buhay.
...Siya ay isa sa pinakakaraniwang guro noon. Walang sinumang nag-uukol sa kaniya ng pansin. Mula sa
kaniyang pananamit hanggang sa paraan ng pag-dadala niya sa pananagutan sa paaralan, walang
masasabing anumang di-pangkaraniwan sa kaniya.
Translation in English:
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I'll always relate her with the beauty of life. Anywhere I see beauty - in a scene, an idea, or in a truth, I see
her and I'm overjoyed, but there was nothing beautiful in her looks and in her life.
.... She was one of the most ordinary teachers there. Nobody paid attention to her. From the way she
dressed, to the way she managed her problems in school, there was nothing one can say was
extraordinary about her.
ISANG DIPANG LANGIT (Selections)
BARTOLINA NG MUNTINLUPA 22 ng Abril 1952
At ito ang tanging daigdig ko ngayon- Ang tao't Bathala ay di natutulog
bilangguang mandi'y libingan ng buhay; at di habang araw ang api ay api
sampu, dalawampu, at lahat ng taon tanang paniniil ay may pagtutuos
ng buong buhay ko'y dito mapipigtal. habang may Bastilya'y may
Nguni't yaring diwa'y walang bayang gaganti.
takot-hirap at matitiis pa rin At bukas, diyan din, aking matatanaw
nitong aking puso; sa sandipang langit na wala nang luha
piita'y bahaging pakikilamas sisikat ang gintong araw ng tagumpay...
mapiit ay tanda ng hindi pagsuko. layang sasalubong ako sa paglaya.
Amado V. Hernandez, writing from his cell in Ft. Bonifacio (former Ft. McKinley) in 1956
is an example of the poet who is "partisan," and who espoused causes as shown in his
poem below:
KILATIS (1956)
Palalong nanaog sa kanyang Cadillac Nang siya'y lumabas, kiming nilapitan
ang mayamang ginang na mayasong kilik ng isang babaing may kilik na sanggol
nasok sa balitang tindahan ng hiyas hihingi ng limos na pantawid -
bumili ng singsing na sampung kilatis. buhay.. .ang tanging tinanggap
ay sa asong kahol.
11.7 Republic Cultural Heritage
Awardees (1960-1971)
(Awards given on 12 June, Philippine Independence Day)
1960: NVM Gonzales - poet and fictionist
1961: Nick Joaquin - poet, fictionist, playwright,
essayist, critic, Cesar Adib Majul – historian
1962: Amado V. Hernandez - poet and fictionist, Jose
Garcia Villa- poet and short story writer
1963: Kerima Polotan - fictionist
Teo S. Baylen - poet and fictionist
1964: Carlos A. Angeles - poet
Carlos Quirino – historian
1965: Carlos P. Romulo - essayist, novelist, playwright
Horacio de la Costa - historian
Alejandrino G. Hufana- poet
Bienvenido N. Santos - poet and fictionist
1966: Inigo Ed. Regalado - novelist,
Alejandro G. Abadilla poet
Arturo B. Rotor - short story writer
1967: (no writer awardee)
1968: Domingo Abella historian, Ricardo Demetillo - poet
1970: Lazaro Francisco – novelist
1969: Nicolas Zafra – historian
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1971: Lope K. Santos - novelist
F. Landa Jocano -anthropologist – writer
Module 2 (Lit 111) Name: ____________________________________________
Activity No. 11 Program/Year: ____________Date Submitted: ___________
I. Paraphrase and Write a reflective essay on the following poetry.
“Lyric 12,” from Have Come, Am Here by José Garcia Villa
am so very am and is among the kings
speak so very speak in that danger steeple
and look my every hand
is for each all lovers’ sake where each air breathed
is a love to glow to sing
and nowherever time and each love wreathed
can farther never go is but God’s beginning
tomorrow cannot climb
over each least lovers’ brow because He can not be
until Am is Am in flame
my every vein rings fire is His dancing augury
now’s lifest rose: my skull to give love His name
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