American Period to Contemporary Period of Philippine Literature

American Colonial Period

-The Philippines had a great leap in education and culture

-The use of English alongside Filipino was practiced.
-The Philippine public school system was introduced.
-Free public instruction was given to the Filipinos

-the literature during the American period was considered as imitative of American model.
Like POETRY: under the American rule still followed the style of the old, but had contents that ranged from free
writing to societal concerns under the Americans.
Drama-it was usually used in the American period to degrade the Spanish rule and to immortalize the heroism
of the men who fought under the Katipunan.
Remake Novels-It took up Dr. Jose Rizal’s portrayal of social conditions by colonial repression.
Some of the literary work under the American Period:
Poetry
 Jose Corazon de Jesus(1832-1896) popularly known as “Batute”, created his own generation with his
first book of poems.
 Mga Gintong Dahon(1920)-were poems pre-occupied with such non-traditional themes as passion-
slaying, grief-induced, insanity, and lover’s suicide.
 Sa Dakong Silangan(1928)-returned to the awit form, retelling the history of Philippines under Spain, the
coming of the U.S. under the guise of friendship to overthrow Spain.

Drama
 Severino Reyes(1861-1942)-spearheaded a movement to supplant the komedya with a new type of
drama, the sarsuwela, a Filipino adaptation of the Spanish Zarzuela.
 Walang Sugat (1902)- is a sarsuwela (drama in the form of singing) drawn from the period of revolution,
depicting the cruelty and corruption of friars and the heroism of the soldiers of the Katipunan.
Other successful sarsuwelas:
-Hindi aco Patay(1903) by Juan Matapang Cruz
-Kahapon, Nagyon at Bukas(1903) by Aurelio
-Tanikalang ginto(1902) by Juan Abad(1872-1932)-is about Liwanag and K’Ulayaw, lovers who stand for
freedom and the Filipino

Remake Novels

 Gabriel Beato Francisco(1850-1935)- is best-known for his trilogy of Fulgencia Galbillo (1907), Capitan
Bensio(1907), Alfaro(1909), depicting the 30 years of colonial repression by the Spanish rule.
 Inigo Ed. Regalado(1888-1976)-Madaling araw(1909) was his first novel showing the complex
interrelations of issues and people in contemporary Philippine society.
 Juan Lauro Arsciwals(1889-1928)-Lalaking Uliran o Tulisan(1914), allusion to the colonial law that
branded Filipino patriots as bandits.

The Japanese PERIOD(1941-1945)

 Philippine literature was interrupted in development when another foreign country, Japan, conquered
the Philippines between 1941-1945
 Philippine literature in English came to a halt.
 It is considered as a dark period.
  This led to all newspapers not to be circulated in the community except for TRIBUNE and PHILIPPINE
REVIEW
When it comes to poetry…
 He common theme of most poems during the Japanese occupation was nationalism, country, love and
life in the barrios, faith, religion and the arts.
Three types of poems emerged during this period:
1. Haiku-a poem of free verse that the Japanese like. It was made up of 12+7 syllables divided into
three lines.
2. Tanaga-like the Haiku, is short, but it had measure and rhyme.
3. Karaniwang Anyo(Usual Form)

Tagalog Haiku tungkol sa kaibigan:

Tapat Dapat
Kung maghahanap
Kaibigang kausap
Dapat ay tapat.

Tanaga-The Filipino Haiku

BALATKAYO
May kaibigan
Nasa tabi mo lamang
Kung kasayahan.

The Rebirth of Freedom(1946-1970)

Highlights:

 The Americans returned in 1945

 On July 4, 1946, the Philippines regained its freedom and the Filipino flag waved joyously alone. The
chains were broken.

Some of the writers and their works during this period:

The Voice of the Veteran-a compilationof the best works of some 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
Philippine Havest by Amador Daguio
Who spoke of Courage in his sleep by NVM Gonzales

 Philippines literature in Tagalog was revived during this period. Most themes in the writing dealt with
Japanese brutalities, of the poverty of life under the Japanese government and the brave guerrilla
exploits.

The Period of Activism(1970-1972)

Highlights

 According to Pociano Pineda, youth activism in 1970-1972 was due to domestic and worldwide causes.
  Activism is connected with the history of our Filipino youth.
 Because of the ills of the society, the youth moved to seek reforms.
 Many young people became activists to ask for changes in the government
 In the expression of this desire for change, keen were the writings of some youth who were fired with
nationalism in order to emphasize the importance of their petitions.

Highlights:

1. The seed of activism

-the seed of activism resulted in the declaration of Martial Law in 1972.

2. The literary Revolution

 Campus newspapers showed rebellious emotions

 The once aristocratic writers developed awareness for society
 They held pens and wrote on placards in red paint the equivalent of the word MAKIBAKA (to
dare!)

The period of the New Society (1972-1980)

 Started on September 21, 1972

 The Carlos Palanca Awards continued to give annual awards
 Almost all themes in most writings dealt with the development or progress of the country-like the Green
Revolution, family planning, proper nutrition, environment, drug addiction and pollution.
 All school newspapers were temporarily stopped
 The military government established a new office called the Ministry of Public Affairs—that supervised
the newspapers, books and other publication.

Filipino poetry during the Period of the new Society

 Themes of most poems dealt with patience, regard for native culture, customs and the beauties of
nature and surroundings
 Those who wrote poetry during this period were: Ponciano, Pineda, Aniceto Silvestre, Jiose Garcia
Revelo, Bienvenido Ramos, Vicente Dimasalang, Cir Lopez Francisco and Pelagio Sulit Cruz.

The Period of the Third Republic(1981-1985)

An overview of the literature during the New Society

 After ten years of military rule and some changes in the life of the Filipino which started under the New
Society, martial rule was at last lifted on January 2, 1981.
 Former President Marcos called “The New Republic of the Philippines”
 This stage of the nation had its effect pn our literature. After the Aquino assassination, the people’s
voices could no longer be contained. Both the public and the private sectors in government were
chanting , and shouting; women, men and the youth became bolder and their voices were raised in
dissent.

Filipino poetry during this period:

-poems were romantic and revolutionary. Writers wrote openly of their criticism against the government. The
supplications of the people were coached in fiery, colourful, violent, profane and insulting language.
-the themes of most poems during this time dealt with courage, shock and grief over the “treachery inflicted
upon Aquino.”

THE STATE OF PHILIPPINE LITERATURE IN ENGLISH AT THIS TIME

Isagani Cruz’s Observation:

1. Change in the direction of greater consciousness in content and form.

2. Change in the number of readers and the number of writers and the kind of class of writers. Writers
who joined the ranks came not only from the established housewives, students; in short,the masses.
3. The resurgence of the Balagtasismo and the continued dominance of Modernismo.
4. The birth of a new poetic movement still dims in outline.
5. History took another twist, once more, the Filipino people regained their independence which they
lost twenty years ago.
6. Philippine society was in turmoil for a few weeks but the rejoicing after the Pres. Marcos was
toppled down from power was sheer euphoria. Singing, dancing anf shouting’s were the order of
the day.
7. To the Filipino people, this is the true Philippine Republic, the true Republic of the Philippines.

On newspaper and publications

-newspapers which were once branded crony became instant opposition papers overnight. This was true of
BULLETIN TODAY which became the opposition paper.

-By June 12, 1986, a total of 19 local dailies both in English and Filipino were in circulation. Nowhere since the
1950s had there been such a big number of newspapers in circulation (excluding tabloids).

Filipino songs during this period

 An album named Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo carried a compilation of some of these. The song that
continued to be sung throughout the trying period of the revolution, almost like a second national
anthem and which gave fire to the Filipino spirit was BAYAN KO. Its lyrics were written by Jose Corazon
de Jesus way back in 1928.

21st Century Period (2000s to Present)

(contemporary writers with their contemporary writings)