2Psy1 - PHILIPPINE LITERATURE REVIEWER
DEVELOPMENT OF PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
*factual but generally fictional
PRE-SPANISH PERIOD
- Nature: nature and natural phenomena
- Language: flesh and blood of literature
- Baybayin Filipino alphabet
- wrote on fragile materials (bamboo, leaves of palms)
o ambahan: poetry usually written in bamboo
- with existence of schools called BOTHOAN (in Panay); teachers were priests, priestesses, judges; materials
documents, manuscripts, book of ritual and magic, genealogies, calendars, impt. Laws and records of
notable events
- Literary forms:
o Sayings/salawikain - pieces of advice o proverbs
o lyrics o riddles/bugtong - always rhyme
o legends o ritualistic utterances (on simple life
o epics -hero usually has powers and goes experiences) - example: tabi-tabi po
on exploits/adventure
- Sample epics: Hinilawod (Panay), Hudhud and Alim (Ifugao), Darangen (Maranaw)
- Characteristics of literary works: immaturity, lack of sophistication and modes of expression, lacked
naturalness, and simplicity
SPANISH PERIOD
- Nature: preoccupation, with the lives of saints, miracles, hymns, and invocations founded on Christian
doctrine
- Reading fare come from pamphlets, novenas, and prayer books that are religious in nature
- Marked by literary imitation
- Fanciful but lacked imagination
- Plots were repetitious
- Themes are trite
- Characters were mere clichs
- Forms:
o continuation of duplo and karagatan o Zarzuela
o *Duplo puns, biro, at palaisipan sa
o Metrical romance (awit and corrido) bernakular pala mabawasan ang
o Pasion kalungkutan sa pagdadasal para sa
o Cenaculo mga patay; usually a debate
o Moro-moro o Florante at Laura by Francisco
o Carillo (shadow play)
Baltazar
o Tibag
o Leron,leron Sinta
PROPAGANDA AND THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD
- occurrence of nationalist literature
- Nature: satirical and critical
- Diariong Tagalog (1882), Spanish-Tagalog newspaper signaled the open campaign for reform
- La Solidaridad (mouthpiece of reform movement)
- Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not) and El Filibusterismo (Reign of Greed)
- Propaganda writings turned to revolutionary writings of the rebel patriots
- Kalayaan(Liberty), newspaper of the society
- True Decalogue - Apolinario Mabini
- Filipinas - Jose Palma
THE EARLY PERIOD (1900-1930)
- August 13, 1898: American forces occupied Manila
- 1899 : English newspapers published (The Courier, The Insular Press, The Manila Freedom)
- April 1900 : Pres. William McKinley directed the Phil Commission to make English the medium of
instruction in all public schools
- US Army: first teachers
- 1900 : The Daily Bulletin was founded
- 1901 : 600 Thomasites replaced the first teachers
- Philippine Normal School (PNS) was founded
o Aim: To train the Filipinos in the art of teaching so that they could eventually take charge of
elementary education
- 1902 : Cablenews started
- 1905: The Phil Free Press was founded
o edited by F. Theodore Rogers
o started as a bilingual in English and Spanish
o published the first Filipino short stories in English in 1908
- 1908 : UP was founded
o UP became the forerunner in the use of English for higher education
- Oct 1910 : College Folio was founded ( printed works of promising writers; early selections on ghost
stories and folk tales; taught a moral message)
o Topics for compositions: folk tales and experiences
o Style of writing: formal and imitative; use of Spanish expressions; awkward grammar; difficulty in
the use of pronouns and prepositions
- 1913 : The Torch of PNS was published
- 1920: Phils Herald began its publication
o founded by Manuel L. Quezon
o magazine section edited by Paz Marquez Benitez
o PMB makes familiar names such as Paz Latorena, Loreta Paras, Jose Garcia Villa, Casiano T. Calalang
- 1924 : AVH Hartendorp became the editor of Phil Education Magazine; renamed to Phil Magazine four
years after; became the most influential literary magazine in the country
o published some of the best Filipino writing in English
- 1925 :
o FreePress began paying for the original manuscripts and offered P1,000 for the best short stories
First manuscript with incentives
o Other Publications: Manila Tribune, Graphic, Womans Outlook, Womans Home Journal, Philippine
Collegian
o Phil Writers Assn was organized
Rizal G. Adorable as President
Early members include Paz Latorena, Loreto Paras, Jose Garcia Villa, Jose Panganiban,
Remedios Mijares, Casiano Calalang, Arturo B. Rotor, and Augusto Catanjal
- 1927 : Writers Club founded at UP; published Literary Apprentice
DRAMA and NOVEL hardly written; the VERNACULAR PLAYS & ZARZUELA still dominated the stage
o A Child of Sorrow by Zoilo M. Galang first Filipino novel in English published in 1921
Other works include Visions of Sower, 1924 and Nadia,1929.)
o Awakening by Ernest Lopez, another novelist; published 1929
ESSAYS personal thoughts of a writer
o Characteristics
popular form of expression
light and humorous
serious subjects include education, history, politics, and social problems
o 1921: Life and Success - Zoilo M. Galang - first volume of essays in English
o 1924
Thinking for Ourselves appeared edited by Vicente M. Hilario and Eliseo Quirino
Master of Destiny by Zoilo M. Galang
o Essayists:
Francisco Benitez, Jorge Bocobo, Amador T. Daguio, Leandro Fernandez, Zoilo M. Galang, Fernando
Ma. Guerrero, Fernando Maramag, Camilo Osias, Claro M. Recto, Carlos P. Romulo, and Eulogio B.
Rodriguez
SHORT STORIES
o 1910-1924 Period of the Novices
o 1925-1931 Period of Phenomenal Growth
o Characteristics
tales were romantic
adventures, themes, and plots imitated
with difficulties in grammar
with tendency toward sentimentalism
o Works Praised For High Literary Quality
Horrible Adventure - Jorge Bocobo (Phil Review, May 1916)
The Siren of 34 Real - Paz Marquez Benitez(Phil Review, July 1917)
o September 20, 1925 Phil Herald published Dead Stars one of the best short stories written by a
Filipino
o 1925 : Box of Ashes and Other Stories - Zoilo M. Galang - first collection of short stories in book
form
o 1926 : Jose Garcia Villa encouraged yearly selection of best short stories
o 1927 : Filipino Love Stories - first anthology of Filipino short stories was edited by Paz Marquez
Benitez,
o 1928 : The Best 25 Stories of 1928 compilation of best short stories compiled by Jose Garcia
Villa in Philippine Short Stories
o 1930 : original and significant stories written
o Zita by Arturo B. Rotor considered one of the finest love stories in Filipino literature
o Early short story writers: Paz Marquez Benitez, Jorge Bocobo, Amador T. Daguio, Paz Latorena,
Tarcila Malabanan, Jose Villa Panganiban, Arturo B. Rotor, Loreto Paras Sulit, Jose Garcia Villa.
POEMS
o Characteristics: borrowed images and similes from English or American poets
o Sursum Corda 1st known Filipino poem in English; Justo Juliano (1907) - Philippine Free Press
o Reminiscences 1st collection of poems in book form; written by Lorenzo Paredes
o Never Mind- collection of Filipino poetry in English published by Procopio Solidum (1922)
o Filipino Poetry anthology of Filipino poems published by Procopio Solidum (1924)
o Other poets: Rafael Zulueta da Costa, Luis Dato, Angela Manalang Gloria, Alfredo Elfren Litiatco,
Fernando M. Maramag, Natividad Marquez, Juan F. Salazar, Abelardo Subido, Trinidad Tarrosa
Subido, Jose Garcia Villa.
THE EMERGENCE PERIOD (1935-1945)
- a time of self-discovery and of rapid growth
- golden age of Phil Lit in English
- Qualities:
o Consciously set out to o Three groups of writers Causes of the flowering of
create national literature emerged creative energy
o Gained full control of the Concerned with o Philippine Book Guild (1937)
English language 1.social consciousness o Philippine Writers Guild (1939)
o Experimentation with 2.craftsmanship o Free press, the Graphic,
different literary forms, 3. local color Philippine Magazine
techniques, and moods o Commonwealth Literary Awards
(1940)
- Works given recognition:
o Lit and Society by S.P. Lopez (essay) about social consciousness
o How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife by M.E. Arguilla (short story)
o Like the Molave by R. Z. da Costa (poetry)
o His Native Soil by Juan Cabreros Laya (novel)
- 1941-1945: Japanese occupation; lit devt interrupted
- From romantic idealism to romantic realism (Arguilla, Gonzales, Joaquin, B Santos, C.V. Pedroche, E Alfon)
- Poetry meager (JG Villa made a name); Western poets served as models
- 1935:
o gave authors sense of responsibility; essays flourished
o MOVIES took over the zarzuela
- Emergence of dramatists Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero and Severino Montano
- Novel
o His Native Soil - Juan C. Laya
o Winds of April - N.V. M. Gonzalez
CONTEMPORARY PERIOD (1945-Present)
- Mushrooming of periodicals
- College papers appeared
- 1946: Creation of Barangay writers Project
- National Teachers Conference (NTC) offered a 3-unit course in the Phil Contemporary Lit in English
- Continuous recognition of good literary outputs
- Palanca Memorial Award was created
o Works must be a previously unpublished piece
o Organized by the Carlos Palanca Foundation
o one of the Philippines most long running awards
- National Writers Conference held (PEN)
- Republic Cultural Heritage Award and Pro patria Awards created
- Qualities of lit
o sensitive to literary fashions abroad
o more incentives offered to creative works
o writers have better knowledge of their craft
o guerilla and liberation stories begin to appear
o saw the appearance of literary criticism
- Noted writers:
o Nick Joquin Quijano de Manila; National Artist of Philippine Literature
o F. Sionil Jose Rosales Saga (social and political realist novel); national artist
o N.V.M. Gonzales
o J.G. Villa
o G. Brillantes
o Gilda Cordero-Fernando
o Edith Tiempo only female national artist
o Kerima Polotan-Tuvera
- Poetry SYMBOLIST
o Displayed considerable consciousness
o Symbolism: style released by poets; evoke emotion (they dont describe emotion; they evoke
feelings)
- Poets:
o E. Tiempo o C. Bautista o B. Lumbera
o V. Moreno o O. Dimalanta
o C. Angeles o R. Demetillo
- Essays offshoot of new political freedom
o Filipino playwriting least developed
o Playwrights: - least developed; known as a dramatist, a person who writes dramatic
literature/drama
Virginia R Moreno
Alberto S Florentino
Wilfrido Nolledo
- Novels-reflect social and political realities
Influences in the Development of Philippine Literature
1. Religion
2. Nationalism/patriotism/love for country
3. Language
4. Culture
5. Civilization
6. Politics
7. Education
8. Mode of expression
9. Freedom/passion
10. Independence
11. Colonization
12. Censorship (Japanese period)
13. Local papers
APPROACHES TO LITERTURE
1. Reader-response - Inequality between the rich and poor
- Transaction; no single meaning of the 4. Deconstruction
text - Meaning of language is taken from how it
2. Sociological/cultural was pre-constructed
- Traditions, practices of the community 5. Feminism/feminist
3. Marxism - Oppression of women
6. Gender - Good vs bad
- dynamics of both male and female 10. Historical
7. Queer - Period it was written
- Those with sexual preferences are 11. Formalist
preserved ; Includes the gays and - different elements: conflict climax,
lesbians character
12. . Semiotic
8. Biographical - Signifier and signified
- knowing the background of 13. Mythological/archetypal
writers/authors before reading the text - Focus on universal symbols
9. Moral
POEM VS POET!
Poem: the work or piece itself
Sender: author
Addresser: persona *Is a persona always animate? No.
Poetry: the genre
a. Dramatic - written in verse b. Narrative - include ballads c. Lyrical mood is musical
and is meant to be spoken. and epics, and tell of and emotional
Its main purpose is to tell a societies and heroic - Elegy lament for the
story or describe an event in deeds. They can also be very dead
an interesting and dramatic when telling of a - Ode praises/elevates
descriptive way. particular situation. the subject; long
- Play - Epic includes a - Sonnet single stanza,
- Theatre character with 14 lines, uses intricate
supernatural beings rhyme pattern
- Balla song; 4-line - Song
stanza alternating
tetrameter and trimeter
*Didactic poem teaches a lesson
IAMBIC PENTAMETER
- refers to a certain kind of line of poetry, and has to do with the number of syllables in the line and the
emphasis placed on those syllables
- When we speak, our syllables are either stressed (stronger emphasis) or unstressed (weaker
emphasis).
o Example: The word remark consists of two syllables. "Re" is the unstressed syllable, with a
weaker emphasis, while "mark" is stressed, with a stronger emphasis.
- consists of five iambs five sets of unstressed syllables followed by stressed syllables.
- Iamb
- Trochee
- Ex. Shall I compare thee to a summers day.
SELECTIONS:
UNIT 1 IMAGING THE FILIPINO MAN
Male Archetypes:
1. Power (kings, emperors & monarchs of civilizations)
2. Bravery (Achilles, Beowulf & all epic heroes)
3. Wisdom (David, Solomon & other biblical figures)
4. Religion and Philosophy (Jesus Christ, Mohammed, Buddha, Confucius, Lao Tzu)
Patriarchy - institutionalized masculinity as the bedrock structure that defines power, language &
perception
Sex Gender
Biological Basis Socially Constructed
Male Masculine
Female Feminine
A. MILL OF THE GODS
Author: Estrella Alfon
Additional Notes:
The story is a mythological allusion
Fate- capital letter because it is a personification that means destiny
Fates (1) Clotho - the one spinning the thread of life (2) Lachesis destiny (3) Atropos - the one who
cuts the thread
Erinyes/Furies (1) Alecto (2) Tisiphone (3) Magaera the ones responsible for justice
B. PAGKAT LALAKI KA
Author: Michael Coroza
Additional Notes:
Addresser: Parent (gives pieces of advice)
Addressee: Son
matuto kang umiyak means it is not a weakness
matuto kang magsisi means be humble
Babel, Piramide, Koliseo, Ziggurat, Templo at mga imperyo means accomplishment of men in
politics and history; the power male archetype is evident
pagsisihan mo, anak ang kanilang kamalian do not imitate
napapairal ng lisyang katarungan- something that depicts injustice
sa akademiya mo na lang ipatistis ang laman- means educational institution
magbabago ng kulay means change notion about men
C. TO THE MAN I MARRIED
Author: Angela Manalang-Gloria
*versatile writer
*idealist pragmatist
*rival of Jose Garcia Villa
Additional Notes:
The story is a Biblical Allusion
You are examples of metaphor
the gravity that ballasts me in space support
the air I breathe.against devouring days provide
You are the earthmarks my way sets direction
You are the final elemental clay for its rest love him even after death
If-there is a condition
The second (II) part is contradictory/contrast
3rd stanzatoo idealistic
4th stanzarealistic
*Hermeneutics- study of discovering meaning and interpretation
D. THE SPOUSE
Author: Luis Dato
Additional Notes:
The wife is young
sacred strife means marriage
Life means procreation
the husband is a farmer proven by the words plow and furrow
She holds no joy..days tomorrow doubtful
Who is her Mind..Spaceabstract
enigma sad and mysterious
UNIT 2: IMAGING THE FILIPINO WOMAN
femme fatale - sly and provocative schemes lure her men of prey
E. TUNGKUNG LANGIT AND ALUNSINA
Adapted by: F. Landa Jocano
A Panay-Visayan Folktale
Additional Notes:
The story is a myth that explains things with the presence of gods and goddesses
Archetype-an image, symbol or metaphor bearing a universal understanding from people
regardless of time, places and backgrounds
F. BABAE AKONG NAMUMUHAY NANG MAG-ISA
Author: Joi Barrios
Additional Notes:
Addresser: Ang babaeng namumuhay nang mag-isa
batik ng lipunan negative picture of single women
may timbanganpagkukulang standards of the society
pagkapiit at pagkaalipin imprisoned from standard of morality in the society
6th stanza Hindi ito.. characteristic: hopeful for a better life
Message: dont be judgmental
G. BABAE KA
Author: Inang Laya
Additional Notes:
hinahangad, sinasamba purpose of women is physical beauty only
Message: give empowerment to break free from stereotypes & responsibility to contribute in the
society
H. BREAKING THROUGH
Author: Myrna Pea Reyes
Additional Notes:
thoroughness the father being a perfectionist
Breaking Through means pierce through something
Unraveling what youve doneI couldnt see before characteristic of the daughter
this undoing is what binds us a paradox
undoing literal meaning- undo the box; fig. meaning- undo the grudge kept by the daughter
erased imperative-author asking us to do something, identify images, to visualize (ex: see a small
box, feel the pain of the belt snapped my skin)
This is a Narrative
Synaesthesia-require more than 1 sense organ
I. THE SADNESS COLLECTOR
Author: Merlinda Bobis
Additional notes:
Endophoric - backward movement
Cathaphoric - forward movement (used in the story because it started with the pronoun she
before introducing the Big Lady)
The father took the role of the mother like read a story before bed prior to receiving the picture
Creation of imaginative character (Big Lady) by the father to cheer up Rica
The father comes home late to avoid the questions by Rica
That whore Ricas mother is pregnant with another man
This feast will last her a lifetime, if she does not burst tonight possibility
SUMMARY OF ALL THE SELECTIONS
TITLE AUTHOR (SENDER) FORMS & GENRES ADDRESSER ADDRESSEE
(CHARACTER)
Mill of the Gods Estrella Alfon Narrative short story Mythological allusion Martha -
Pagkat Lalaki Ka Michael Coroza Poem (stereotype of men) Parent Son
To The Man I Married Angela Manalang- Poem Biblical allusion Wife Husband
Gloria
The Spouse Luis Dato Poem (unhappy wife) Observer Reader
Tungkung Langit And F. Landa Jocano Mythology Folktale about the Tungkung Langit and -
Alunsina (Panay- creation of Sun, stars, Alunsina
Visayan moon
Folktale)
Babae Akong Joi Barrios Poem (stereotype of single The woman who lives Reader
Namumuhay Nang women) alone
Mag-isa
Babae Ka Inang Laya Poem Feminism The woman Women
Ang Babaeng Virgilio Almario Poem Lifestyle of the Filipina The woman Reader
Nangarap Nang Gising in the past
TITLE AUTHOR (SENDER) ADDRESSER ADDRESSEE
Breaking Through Myrna Pea Reyes Narrative Poem (erased imperative) Daughter Father
Claudia and Her Rolando Tinio Play (relationship of Nora, Ed, Mother, -
Mother (symbolical) mother-daughter) Claudia
The Sadness Collector Merlinda Bobis Narrative short story (cathaphoric) Rica -
The God Stealer Francisco Sionil Jose Narrative short story Colonialism Sam Christie and Philip -
(Fiction) Latak
The Wedding Dance Amador Daguio Narrative short story Culture (man) & Awiyao and Lumnay -
Nature (woman)
