Riddles

  • Riddle #1: Who makes it, has no need of it. Who buys it, has no use for it. Who uses it can neither see nor feel it. What is it?

    • Answer: a coffin

  • Riddle #2: I am an odd number. Take away a letter and I become even. What number am I?

    • Answer: Seven

  • Riddle #3: I’m light as a feather, yet the strongest person can’t hold me for five minutes. What am I?

    • Answer: Your breath

  • Riddle #4: You measure my life in hours and I serve you by expiring. I’m quick when I’m thin and slow when I’m fat. The wind is my enemy.

    • Answer: Candle

  • Riddle #5: I have cities, but no houses. I have mountains, but no trees. I have water, but no fish. What am I?

    • Answer: a map

  • Riddle #6: What comes once in a minute, twice in a moment, but never in a thousand years?

    • Answer: Letter “M”

Course Overview: 21st Century Literature

  • Course Title: 21st Century Literature from the Philippines to the World (LIT100)

Literary Periods of Philippine Literature

  • Overview of major literary periods:

    • Pre-colonial Era

    • Spanish-colonial Period

    • American-colonial Period

    • Contemporary Period

Pre-colonial Period

  • Writing System: Alibata / Baybayin

    • Features symbols representing syllables in the Filipino language.

Pre-colonial Poetry

  • Types of Pre-colonial Poetry:

    • Proverbs (Salawikain): Truths and wise sayings in commonly known language.

    • Example: "Bago mo isipin at gawin, makapitong isipin." (Before you think and do, think seven times.)

    • Example: "Nasa Diyos ang awa, nasa tao ang gawa." (God has mercy, man has deeds.)

    • Folk Songs: Forms of lyrical expression reflecting regional culture.

    • Example: "Sitsiritsit"

    • Example: "Magtanim ay di biro" (To plant is no joke.)

    • Riddles (Bugtong): Questions meant to be solved.

    • Example: "Isang balong malalim, punong-puno ng patalim." (Depth filled with knives.)

      • Answer: mouth/bibig

    • Example: "Dalawang batong maitim, malayo ang dinarating." (Two black stones with distant sight.)

      • Answer: eyes/mata

    • Example: "Limang puno ng niyog, isa’y matayog." (Five coconut trees, one is tall.)

      • Answer: fingers/daliri

    • Tanaga: A specific poetic form consisting of four lines with seven syllables each.

    • Example:

      Ang pusong malimutin
      Sana ay baliktarin
      At hindi na aalis
      Ang ngiti mong matamis.
      Ikaw lang, walang iba
      Ikaw lang nakikita
      Ng aking mata, Sinta
      At sana’y maniwala

Pre-colonial Prose Narratives

  • Types of Narratives:

    1. Myth

    2. Fables

    3. Legends

Spanish-colonial Period

  • Major impact of Philippine Christianization.

  • Introduction of the Roman Alphabet to Filipino literature.

Spanish-colonial Poetry

  • Indios: Term used for the natives during this time.

  • Ladinos: Describes native literary writers fluent in both Spanish and Filipino.

Types of Poems:

  1. Pasyon: A narrative poem about the life of Jesus, includes five-line stanzas with eight syllables each.

    • Earliest Example: Ang Mahal na Pasyon ni Jesu Christong Panginoon natin na Tola by Gaspar Aquino de Belen (1704)

  2. Awit: Consists of 12 syllables per line and four lines per stanza.

    • Example: Florante at Laura by Francisco Balagtas.

  3. Korrido: Contains eight syllables per line and four lines per stanza.

    • Example: Ibong Adarna, which has 1,722 stanzas and five parts.

Spanish-colonial Prose

  • Significant Texts:

    • Doctrina Christiana en lengua Española y Tagala: First book printed in the Philippines (1593).

    • Arte y reglas de la lengua tagala by Francisco Blancas de San Jose.

    • Librong Pagaaralan nang manga Tagalog nang Uicang Castilla by Tomas Pinpin.

Types of Prose:

  1. Anecdotes: Short, amusing stories conveying life lessons.

  2. Novenas: Series of prayers repeated over nine consecutive days.

  3. Novels: Long narrative stories with chapters involving fictional characters.

  4. Essays: Personal writing pieces reflecting the viewpoint of the writer.

Spanish-colonial Drama
Types of Drama:

  1. Senakulo: Depiction of the life, passion, and crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

  2. Salubong (or Panubong): Re-enactment of the moment Risen Christ meets his mother, performed every Easter morn.

  3. Sarswela: Play with songs and dances portraying romantic themes, typically with five acts.

  4. Panunuluyan: Presented before 12:00 on Christmas Eve, recounting Joseph and Mary’s search for a place to give birth.

American-colonial Period

  • Significant Events:

    • Introduction of the public school system.

    • Adoption of the American language.

    • Involvement of Thomasites, scholars and pensionados (students funded to study in America).

American-colonial Literature

  • Plays:

    • Kahapon, Bukas at Ngayon by Aurelio Tolentino.

    • Hindi ako Patay by Juan Matapang.

    • Tanikalang Ginto by Juan Abad.

    • Walang Sugat by Severino Reyes.

  • Prominent Poets and Essayists:

    • Juan F. Salazar

    • Bernardo P. Garcia

    • Maximo M. Kalaw

    • Tarcila Malabanan

    • Francisco M. Africa

  • Noteworthy Works Reflecting Filipino Culture:

    • How my Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife by Manuel Arguilla.

    • Footnote to Youth by Jose Garcia Villa.

Contemporary Period

  • Philippine literature development interrupted from 1941 to 1945 due to Japanese occupation.

  • Palanca Awards: Prestigious award-giving body for recognizing literary works.

  • Modern Philippine Alphabet: Evolution in the writing system influencing literary expression.

21st Century Philippine Literature

  • Influences of Technology:

    • Use of blogs and platforms like Wattpad.

    • Revival of oral poetry.