pre colonial era spanish phase 1

Lesson Objectives

  • At the end of this lesson, I can:
    • Discuss the first two periods in the Philippine literary timeline.
    • Differentiate Pre-Colonial and Spanish Colonial literature in the Philippines.
    • Relate texts through their attributes to a specific point in the Philippine literary timeline.

Pre-Activity: Which Came First?

  • Pre-activity prompt: Guess the chronological order of the items shown, using imagination and prior knowledge (no external information sources).
  • Years/images presented for ordering:
    • 1977, 1971
    • Pokémoy with dates: 1997, 2010
    • DRAGON BALL with dates: 1989, 1997
    • Years: 1777, 1785

Pre-Colonial Era (BCE - 1564)

  • Definition and scope: The roots of Philippine literature trace back to pre-colonial times; as ethnic cultures emerged across the archipelago, they diversified in beliefs, values, and customs. Pre-colonial literature is a literary gem that should be rediscovered in the present time. (Redoblado, Simoun Victor D., Contemporary Literature: 21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World, Brilliant Creations Publishing Inc., Quezon City, 2017.)
  • This period occurred before Spanish conquest and focuses on how Filipinos lived and how literature flourished in that context.

Oral Tradition and Its Significance

  • How stories were passed down: Before writing and printing, literature was transmitted orally, through storytelling, songs, rituals, and other performances.
  • Oral literature definition: Literature transmitted without writing; common in societies where writing did not exist.
  • Implication: Much of pre-colonial literature did not survive in written form, making oral heritage a key part of cultural memory.

Key Points to Remember (Pre-Colonial)

  • A. The longest period in Philippine literature.
  • B. Outputs were not substantial in written form because most literature was oral (tales, songs, riddles, proverbs).
  • C. Riddles – present enigmas or puzzles.
  • D. Proverbs – wise sayings.
  • E. Songs – integral to daily life.
  • F. Mimetic dances accompanied songs; rituals were precursors to drama.
  • G. The most significant and longest form of pre-colonial poetry was the folk epic.
  • H. Prose included myths, tales, fables, legends, and fantastic stories.

Literary Forms during the Pre-Colonial Period

  • Riddles
  • Tanaga
  • Proverbs
  • Fables
  • Epics
  • Folktales
  • Myths
  • Rituals
  • Legends
  • Folk songs

Example: Juan Tamad

  • Summary: Juan Tamad is instructed by his mother to buy mud crabs at the market. He is too lazy to carry them home, so he releases them in a ditch and claims he will follow them later.

Social Relevance of Pre-Colonial Literature

  • Themes included daily community life, harmony with nature, and living within the community.

Spanish Colonial Era (Phase 1): 1565 – 1863

  • Timeline and context: The span from 1565 to 1863 marks Phase 1 of the Spanish Colonial Era, during which Spanish culture deeply infiltrated Filipino culture after about three centuries of colonization. This contact transformed Philippine literature, especially with the rise of Christian faith and the advent of written literature.
  • Source context: Redoblado, Simoun Victor D., Contemporary Literature: 21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World (2017).
  • Note: Spanish colonial influence centers on religion and the introduction of writing through printed material.

The Magellan Arrival and Early Spanish Contact

  • 1521: The year a Spanish expedition around the world, led by Ferdinand Magellan (a Portuguese explorer navigating on behalf of Spain), sighted the island of Samar but anchored off the island of Suluan.

Early Spanish Contact: Cultural Goals

  • Spaniards brought two pivotal objectives with them:
    1) Cross (evangelization)
    2) Sword (territorial expansion)
  • These goals shaped the purpose and nature of literature during this period.

Effects on Philippine Literature

  • Two major changes with Spanish arrival:
    • Religion became central to literary production.
    • The advent of written literature in the archipelago (the shift from oral to printed forms).

Doctrina Christiana and Early Written Literature

  • Doctrina Christiana in lengua española y tagalog (regional printing with religious content) served to spread Christian teachings.
  • Doctrina Christiana (first published book in the Philippines in 1593) as an early exemplar of printed literature.
  • Written literature defined as literature found on paper.

Focus of Early Spanish-Language Literature

  • The era featured religious-focused works, predominantly written in Spanish.
  • Life of Jesus Christ and Christian themes dominated literary output during this period.

Key Points to Remember (Spanish Colonial Phase 1)

  • A. Religion and Christianization became the backbone of Philippine literature during this period.
  • B. The First Printing Press was introduced; Doctrina Christiana (first published in 1593).
  • C. Literary outputs included catechisms, confession manuals, grammar books, and dictionaries.

Language and Cultural Interplay

  • Ladinos: Writers who were bilingual in Spanish and Tagalog; many works emerged in this mixed cultural milieu.
  • Prominent religious narrative forms introduced:
    • Pasyon – a devotional narrative about Jesus Christ, often chanted or sung.
    • Awit – a narrative poem form in Spanish and Tagalog; typically written in dodecasyllabic, four-line stanzas; example: Florante at Laura by Francisco Balagtas.
    • Korido – a narrative poem form in Tagalog; typically written in octosyllabic, four-line stanzas; example: Ibong Adarna.
  • Other literary types: Komedya (Drama), as well as theatre forms such as Sarswela and Sinakulo/Cenakulo/Sinakulo, which dramatized religious themes and historical battles (e.g., Moro-moro).

New Literary Forms during Spanish Colonial Period (Phase 1)

  • Religious literature: Prayer books; notable example is the Doctrina Christiana (1593).
  • Religious lyric poems and narrative poetry (e.g., Pasyon).
  • Dramatic forms: Sarswela, Sinakulo/Sinakulo, Komedya (including Moro-moro).
  • Metrical romance forms:
    • Awit – written in dodecasyllabic, four-line stanzas; example: Florante at Laura (Balagtas).
    • Korido – written in octosyllabic, four-line stanzas; example: Ibong Adarna.

Important Note on Periodization

  • Though the Spanish Colonial period lasted until 1898, the discussion here covers only the years 1565 – 1864 and emphasizes religion and Spanish culture as the bedrock of Philippine literature during Phase 1.
  • Phase 2 (Nationalistic/Propaganda and Revolutionary period) will be discussed in the next part because its focus differs from Phase 1.

References (Sources)

  • Abueg, E. (2003). Panitikan: Kasaysayan at Pag-unlad ng Panitikan sa Pilipinas. Rex Bookstore.
  • Lumbera, B. (2005). Philippine Literature: A History and Anthology. Anvil Publishing.
  • Villanueva, A. (2014). 21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World. C&E Publishing.
  • National Commission for Culture and the Arts. (n.d.). Philippine Literature. https://ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/culture-profile/philippine-literature