PHILIPPINE LITERATURE

Pre-Colonial Era (Early Times-564)

The literary period before the coming of the Spaniards and considered as the first and longest literary history among the other periods.

Oral literature

The birth of literature in the Philippines, marked by the transmission of stories and poems through oral tradition.

Syllabary

The alphabet introduced by the Spaniards, also known as alibata in Filipino.

Alibata

The Filipino term for the syllabary, which was likely of Sanskrit or Arabic origin.

Pre-Colonial poetry

Early forms of poetry during the pre-colonial era, often recited in a musical manner with measured and rhyming schemes.

Proverbs (Salawikain)

Truths and wise sayings expressed in popular language, based on common sense and real-life experiences.

Tanaga

A type of quatrain poem in the pre-colonial era, with each line containing seven syllables and a monorhyme.

Folk song

A form of lyrical expression created by people according to their region, often reflecting their local culture and traditions.

Riddles (bugtong)

Mystifying questions and mind puzzles intended to be solved, often using figurative language and metaphors.

Prose narratives

Stories and narratives created to explain natural phenomena, including myths, legends, and epic poems.

Epic

A long narrative poem about quests and adventures of a hero with extraordinary strength and power.

Myth

A story of gods and goddesses, often explaining mysteries, beliefs, and cultural practices.

Fables

Stories intended to teach human values, with animals as major characters representing human qualities.

Legends

Stories explaining origins and passed down through generations, often believed by some but not proven scientifically.

Folk tale

An imaginative narrative story told by ancient groups of people, often reflecting their cultural