Faith, Freedom, and Expression: Philippine Literature Flashcards

Flashcards covering the history, notable authors, and literary forms of Philippine literature under Spanish and American rule.

Ferdinand Magellan

The Portuguese explorer who led the Spanish expedition that brought the Philippine islands to the attention of Europeans in $1521$.

Miguel Lopez de Legaspi

The Spanish leader who arrived in $1565$ and established Spanish leadership over many small independent communities.

Baybayin

The first Filipino alphabet, which was replaced by the Roman alphabet during the Spanish Era.

Doctrina Cristiana

The first book printed in the Philippines in $1593$ in xylography, written by Fr. Juan de Placencia and Fr. Domingo Nieva.

Nuestra Señora del Rosario

The second book printed in the Philippines; it was written by Fr. Blancas de San Jose and contains biographies of saints and novenas.

Libro de los Cuatro Postrimerias de Hombre

The first book printed in typography in the Philippines, written in both Spanish and Tagalog.

Barlaan at Josaphat

The first Tagalog novel published in the Philippines, though it was a translation of a Biblical story from Greek by Fr. Antonio de Borja.

Urbana et Felisa

A book of letters between two sisters that greatly influenced societal behavior by dealing with good manners.

Ang mga Dalit kay Maria (Psalms for Mary)

A collection of songs praising the Virgin Mary written by Fr. Mariano Sevilla in $1865$, popular during Flores de Mayo.

Tibag

A ritual brought by Spaniards to remind people about St. Helena’s search for the Cross on which Jesus died.

Cenaculo

A dramatic performance used to commemorate the passion and death of Jesus Christ.

Panunuluyan

A presentation performed before midnight on Christmas Eve depicting the search for an inn by the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph.

Salubong

An Easter play that dramatizes the meeting of the Risen Christ and his Mother.

Carillo

A form of dramatic entertainment performed on moonless or dark nights, often during town fiestas or after harvest.

Zarzuela

A musical comedy or melodrama in three acts dealing with human passions or social and political problems.

Sainete

A short musical comedy characterized by exaggerated comedy and themes taken from everyday life.

Moro-Moro

A performance held during town fiestas to entertain the people and remind them of their Christian religion.

Karagatan

A poetic vehicle of a socio-religious nature celebrated during the death of a person.

Duplo

A poetic joust in speaking and reasoning that replaced the Karagatan, usually played during wakes for the dead.

Balagtasan

A contest of skills in debate on a particular topic held in honor of Francisco “Balagtas” Baltazar; it replaced the Duplo.

Awit

A form of literature with a slow delivery and $12$ syllables per line, sung to the accompaniment of a guitar or bandurya.

Korido

A form of literature with a fast delivery and $8$ syllables per line, known for its fanastical themes.

Jose dela Cruz (Huseng Sisiw)

One of the great Tagalog writers during the Spanish colonization, honored as the "Hari ng Makatang Tagalog."

Francisco Balagtas

Known as the “Prinsepe ng Makatang Tagalog,” he is considered one of the greatest Filipino literary laureates.

La Solidaridad

A newspaper associated with the Propaganda Period, edited by figures like Graciano Lopez-Jaena and Marcelo H. del Pilar.

Jose Rizal

The country's national hero and author of the political novels Noli Me Tangere ($1887$) and El Filibusterismo ($1891$).

Graciano Lopez-Jaena

A Filipino propagandist known for the satirical story Fray Botod, which depicted a lecherous friar.

Marcelo H. del Pilar (Plaridel)

The editor of La Solidaridad and author of Dasalan at Tocsohan, a satire on the hypocrisy and greed of friars.

Pedro Paterno

Author of Ninay ($1885$), considered the first Filipino novel, and the poetry collection Sampaguitas y poesias varias ($1880$).

Andres Bonifacio

The founder of the Katipunan who wrote the poem “Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa” in the newspaper Kalayaan.

Leona Florentino

Known as the “mother of Philippine women’s literature,” she was a poet in both Ilocano and Spanish.

Period of Reorientation ($1898$ – $1910$)

The initial years of the American regime where nationalism remained a unifying force and Spanish and Tagalog were still the primary writing languages.

Period of Imitation ($1910$ – $1930$)

A period where Filipino writers in English immitated American models during their apprenticeship with the language.

Romanticism

A style of writing that glorifies the beauty of a certain subject in all aspects, exemplified by Fernando Maramag’s “Moonlight on Manila Bay.”

A Child of Sorrow ($1921$)

The first Filipino novel written in English, authored by Zoilo M. Galang.

Dead Stars ($1925$)

Written by Paz Marquez Benitez, it is considered the first Filipino modern short story in English.

Period of Emergence ($1930$ – $1941$)

A time of self-discovery and growth where writers created literature of nationalistic appeal and explored social consciousness and craftsmanship.

Alejandro G. Abadilla

The author of the poem “Ako ang Daigdig” ($1932$), which began the era of modernism in Tagalog poetry.

Jose Garcia Villa

A writer during the Period of Emergence who was hailed as the “Poet of the Century.”