21ST LIT REVIEWER.docx

It is derived from the Latin term “litera” which means letter.

Literature is anything that is printed, as long as it is related to the ideas and feelings of people, whether it is true, or just a product of one’s imagination.

Literature expresses the feelings of people to society, to the government, to his surroundings, to his fellow men and to His Divine Creator

Universal Characteristics of Literature

TIMELESSNESS - The condition of literature being timeless means that it can be applied to different contexts and situation.

Literature knows no expiration and has the immortality and capability to cross time boundaries.

ETERNITY - Eternity as characteristic of literature pertains to the appeal of the moral values of the literary masterpieces toward its audience.

UNIVERSALITY - This literature characteristics pertains to the global applicability in which a work transcends across culture, gender, religion, age and time and generation.

PERMANENCE - Literature is a permanent expression in words of some

thought or feelings or idea about life and the world.

Characteristics of the 21st Century Reader:

Grew up using technology as a primary learning tool.
Is capable of navigating and interpreting digital formats and media messages.
Possesses literacy

Historical Events that Influenced 21st Century Philippine Literature

1. Jose Rizal’s Revolutionary Ideals through his novel Noli Me Tangere

2. The Execution and Death of National Hero Jose Rizal.

3. Martial Law

Literary compositions that have influenced the world.

1. The Bible or the Sacred Writings - hristianity from Palestine and Greece.

2. Koran - It is the Muslim Bible originating from Arabia.

3. The Iliad and The Odyssey - source of myths legends of Greece.

4. The Mahabharata - the longest epic of the world
5. Canterbury Tales - depicts the religion and customs of the English in the early days.

PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD (1564)

Literary period before the coming of the Spaniards and considered as the first and longest literary history among the other periods.
Early Filipino weaved together countless myths and legends to explain certain phenomena in life.
This literary period predates the spanish colonization and IS CONSIDERED THE FIRST AND LONGEST LITERARY HISTORY AMONG OTHER PERIODS.

1. PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD LITERARY FORMS

1. Proverbs (Salawikain)

2. Riddles (Bugtong)

3. Folk Song (Katutubong Awit)

4. Tales Kwentong Bayan)

5. Epics (Epiko)

1. Proverbs

• Practical observations and philosophies of everyday life, often written in rhyming schemes.

• Designed to entertain while imparting

practical wisdom.

Examples:

• Pag may tiyaga, may nilaga.

• Magsisi ka man sa huli, wala nang

mangyayari.

• Ang taong gipit, sa patalim kumakapit.

• Nasa Diyos ang awa, nasa tao ang gawa.

2. Riddles

• Similar to proverbs but demand an answer, testing the wits of listeners.

Purpose of Riddles:

• To entertain

• To educate

• To preserve culture

Examples:

• Kung gusto mong tumagal pa ang aking

buhay, kailangang ako ay mamatay.

• Limang puno ng niyog, isa’y matayog.

3. Folk Songs

• Informal expressions of ancestors’

experiences in life, ranging from courtship

(harana), lullabies, harvest, and funerals.

Examples:

• Sa Ugoy ng Duyan

• Manang Biday

4. Tales

• Also known as myths and legends.

• Stories of origins for certain places, names,

and creations.

Examples:

• Mariang Makiling

• Legend of the Pineapple

• The Monkey and the Turtle

5. Epics

• Long poems about a hero and his

adventures or misadventures.

• Typically feature a male protagonist with

superhuman capabilities, embodying the

admired qualities of ancestors.

2. Spanish Colonial Period

Types of Literature

• Secular – Based on everyday lives.

• Religious – Based on religious texts such

as the Bible, Mahabharata, Tripitaka, and

Quran.

Newspapers & Journalism

• Diario de Manila – Filipino writers used

this to criticize Spanish colonization.

Prominent Writers of the Spanish Era

Graciano López Jaena

• Writer of Fray Botod

• Editor of La Solidaridad

Marcelo H. del Pilar

• Founder of the nationalistic newspaper

Diaryong Tagalog

• Master of the Tagalog language

Francisco Baltazar (Balagtas)

• Renowned Tagalog poet

• Writer of Florante at Laura

Emilio Jacinto

• Known as the "Brain of the Katipunan"

• Writer of political essays using folk

language

• Dimas-Ilaw, Liwanag at Dilim

Apolinario Mabini

• Known as "Dakilang Lumpo"

• Pen names: Katabay and El Paralítico

• Writer of Verdado Decalogo

• Themes in his works:

• Love of God, Country, and Fellowmen

• Moral integrity

• Obedience to laws

• Work for the common good

• Education as a tool for liberation

• Defense of freedom

• Civic responsibility

• Faith in the Filipino spirit

Andres Bonifacio

• Father of the Katipunan

• Pen names: Agapito Bagumbayan, May

Pag-asa

• Works:

• Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa

• Kartilya ng Katipunan

Dr. José P. Rizal

• Pen names: Laong Laan, Dimasalang

• Works:

• Noli Me Tangere (1887)

• El Filibusterismo (1891)

• Mi Último Adiós

• Famous quote:

“I die without seeing the dawn brighten over my native land. You who have it to see,

welcome it—and forget not those who have

fallen during the night."

First Books Printed During the Spanish

Era

• Doctrina Christiana (1593) – First book

printed in the Philippines, written by Fr.

Juan de Placencia and Dr. Domingo Nieva.

• Libro de los Cuatro Post Primeras de

Hombre – First book written using

Typography.

• The Passion – Life and sufferings of

Jesus Christ (four versions by Mariano Pilapil, Gaspar Aquino de Belen, Anciento de la Marced, and Luis de Guia).

• Barlaan at Josaphat – biblical story

translated from Greek to Tagalog by

Antonio Borja.

• Urbana at Felisa – Written by Modesto de

Castro; a collection of letters between two

sisters that portrayed good behavior.

• Ang mga Dalit kay Maria – A collection

of songs praising the Virgin Mary, written

by Fr. Mariano Sevilla (1865), popular

during Flores de Mayo.

Recreational Plays During the Spanish Era

Religious Dramas

• Tibag – Depicts St. Helena’s search for the

cross of Jesus.

• Lagaylay – Special occasion of the

Sorsogon people in May to honor St. Helen.

• Cenaculo – A dramatic performance of

Jesus’ passion and death.

• Panunuluyan – A play performed before

midnight on Christmas Eve, reenacting the

search of Mary and Joseph for an inn.

• Salubong – An Easter play that dramatizes

the meeting of the Risen Christ and Mary.

Folk and Secular Dramas

• Carillo (Shadow Play) – Performed on

moonless nights during town fiestas or after

harvests.

• Zarzuela – A musical comedy about love,

hate, revenge, and political matters.

• Sainete – A short musical comedy

performed by the lower class, often

exaggerated for comedic effect.

• Moro-Moro – Performed during town

fiestas to remind people of their Christian

religion.

• Karagatan – A poetic performance of a

socio-religious nature during someone’s

death

• Dung-aw – A free-verse chant performed

by a bereaved person beside the dead.

• Awit – Dodecasyllabic verses sung with a

guitar or banduria.

• Korido – Octosyllabic verse recited to a

martial beat

.American Colonial Period

• English became the medium of instruction.

• American soldiers were the first teachers.

Newspapers During the American Period

• El Grito del Pueblo (1900) – Established

by Pascual Poblete, historically known as a

revolutionary newspaper.

• El Nuevo Día – Published during the early

days of American occupation; media

censorship was used to suppress uprisings.

• El Renacimiento (1901–1940s) – A

Spanish-Tagalog newspaper that opposed

the American rule and exposed social

injustices.

• Manila Daily Bulletin (1900) – Founded

by American Carson Taylor; initially a

shipping journal but later expanded to

general news.

Three Groups of Writers Spanish Writers

• Cecilio Apostol – His poems were used to

teach the Spanish language. Masterpiece: A Rizal

• Fernando María Guerrero – Known as

the Prince of Filipino Lyric Poets.

Masterpiece: Crisalidas

• Claro M. Recto – Father of the Philippine

Constitution.

• Manuel Bernabé – King of Balagtasan in

Spanish.

Filipino Writers (Writing in Tagalog)

• Lope K. Santos – Ama ng Balarila (Father

of Filipino Grammar), Apo of the Tagalog

Writers. Masterpiece: Banaag at Sikat

• Amado V. Hernandez – Pillar of Tagalog

Literature. Masterpieces: Luha ng Buwaya,

Ang Panday, Isang Dipang Langit

• José Corazón de Jesús – Legendary

Lyric Poet, Known as Huseng Batute.

Masterpiece: Ang Isang Punongkahoy

• Aurelio Tolentino – Father of Tagalog

Drama, Coined the word “Dula”.

Masterpiece: Kahapon, Ngayon at Bukas

• Severino Reyes – Father of Tagalog Plays, Pen name: Lola Basyang. Masterpiece: Mga Kwento ni Lola Basyang

English Writers

• Paz Márquez Benítez – Developed

Philippine literature and taught many of the

Nation’s best writers. Masterpiece: Dead

Stars (1925)

• Paz Latorena – Notable writer of the first

generation of Filipino-English writers.

Masterpiece: The Small Key (1927)

• José García Villa – One of the finest

contemporary poets, regardless of race or

language. Masterpiece: Footnote to Youth

(1933)

• Alejandro Roces – Best known for comic

short stories. Masterpiece: We Filipinos Are

Mild Drinkers (1940)

Japanese Colonial Period Newspapers

During the Japanese occupation of the

Philippines, the Tribune newspaper was

one of the very few local newspapers

allowed to continue publishing under

strict Japanese censorship.

The Philippine Review was also allowed to

continue publication alongside The Manila

Tribune, despite being written in English.

Themes

• Strong sense of nationalism

• Suffering and hardship under occupation

• Hope and resilience

Types of Poems

1. Haiku

A poem of free verse favored by the

Japanese, often allegorical in meaning, made

up of 17 syllables divided into 3 lines.

Example:

Bayan kong mahal

Buhay ay ibibigay

Iyan ay tunay

(Syllable breakdown: Ba/yan/ kong/ ma/hal

- Bu/hay/ ay/ i/bi/bi/gay - I/yan/ ay/ tu/nay)

Tanaga

A traditional Filipino poem composed of

four lines with seven syllables each.

Example:

Ang katoto kapag tunay

Hindi ngiti ang pang-alay

Kundi isang katapatan

Ng mataos na pagdamay

(Kaibigan by Emelita Perez Baes)

(Syllable breakdown: Ang/ ka/to/to/ ka/pag/

tu/nay - hin/di/ ngi/ti/ ang/ pang/-a/lay -

kun/di/ i/sang/ ka/ta/pa/tan/ - ng/ ma/ta/us/

na/ pag/da/may)

Nick Joaquin – Renowned Filipino writer

and journalist

• May Day Eve

During the Japanese Colonial Period,

Commonwealth Literary Award was given

to Manuel L. Quezon and Jose P. Laurel.

Republican Period

Themes: Struggle of mind and soul
Collection of English stories
Evening News and Free Press

New Society Literature

Though historical fiction texts are diverse,

many of them explore some of these broader

themes.

• FAMILY PLANNING

• GREEN REVOLUTION

Ministry of Public Affairs

The military government established the

Ministry of Public Affairs to supervise

publications offered to the public.

OLD PLAYS

1. Cenaculo

2. Zarzuela

3. Embayoka

FILIPINO SINGERS

1. Jose Mari Chan – Christmas in our Hearts

2. Freddie Aguilar - Song: ‘ANAK’

Radio and Television

1. Matar

2. Ito ang palad ko

3. Mr. Lonely

FILIPINO ACTORS

Augusto Victa
Gene Palomo
Mely Tagasa
Ester Chavez

Filipino Films

METRO MANILA FILM FESTIVALS

“Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino” celebrated

annually

Common Magazines and Publications

• Bulletin Today

• Times Journal Express

• People’s Journals

• Balita

• Philippine Daily Inquirer

Prestigious Awards

1. Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Award

2. Philippines Free Press

3. Philippine Graphic

Commission on Higher Education

(CHED) - required the teaching of

Philippine literature in all tertiary schools in

the country.