Summary of Philippine Literature by Period

SPANISH PERIOD ($1521-1898$)

• Overview: Start of the Philippine history as a more colorful narrative; Magellan arrives ($1521$) and Filipinos were labeled Ladinos (latinized).
• Social classes:
  • Taga-Bayan: urbane and within reach of church and state.
  • Taga-bundok / Taga-bundok: Bruto Salvage (Savage Brute) or Indio; lived far from Spanish power.
• Forms of literature:
  • Religious Literature
  • Secular or Non-Religious Literature
  • Propaganda Literature
  • Revolutionary Literature
• Key terms: Ladinos, Taga-Bayan, Taga-bundok

Religious Period Forms

• Pasyon: life, passion, death of Jesus Christ
• Senakulo: re-enactment of the Pasyon
• Komedya: depicts European society through love/fame; often religious; battles Christians vs Moros

Secular or Non-Religious Literature

• Awit: tales of chivalry; knight rescues princess (e.g., Florante at Laura)
• Korido: metrical tale/poem
• Prose Narratives: instructional, decorum; example: Pagsusulatan ng Dalawang Binibini na si Urbana at Feliza (1864)

Propaganda Literature

• Purpose: attack Spanish rule
• Key figures: Dr. Jose Rizal, Marcelo H. Del Pilar, Graciano Lopez Jaena
• Examples (authors):
  • Graciano Lopez Jaena: Ang Fray Botod; La Hija del Fraile; Everything is Humbug
  • Marcelo H. del Pilar: Kaiingat Kayo; Dasalan at Tocsohan; Ang Cadaquilaan ng Dios
  • Jose Rizal: Noli Me Tangere

Revolutionary Literature

• Purpose: exposes that sparked revolution/resistance
• Key figures: Andres Bonifacio; Emilio Jacinto; Apolinario Mabini; Jose Rizal
• Examples:
  • Bonifacio: Katungkulang Gagawin ng mga Anak ng Bayan; Ang Dapat Mabatid ng mga Tagalog
  • Jacinto: Liwanag at Dilim
  • Mabini: El Desarollo y Caida dela Republica Filipina
  • Rizal: El Filibusterismo
• Publications: El Heraldo dela Revolucion; La Independencia; La Republica Filipina; La Libertad

AMERICAN PERIOD ($1900-1942$)

• Overview: Great leap in education and culture; English and Filipino used; public school system introduced; free instruction
• Literature trend: imitative of American models; students often followed American form rather than original writing

Forms

• Poetry: mixture of old style and new societal themes
• Drama: used to critique Spanish rule and honor Katipunan heroes
• Remake Novels: rebuild social conditions under colonial repression

Poetry

• Jose Corazon de Jesus ("Batute"): established his generation
• Mga Gintong Dahon (1920): themes of passion, grief, insanity, lover's suicide
• Sa Dakong Silangan (1928): returns to awit form; retells Philippines history under Spain and US arrival

Drama / Sarsuwela

• Severino Reyes: led shift from komedya to sarsuwela (Filipino zarzuela)
• Walang Sugat (1902): sarsuwela depicting friar cruelty, Katipunan heroism
• Other sarsuwelas:
  • Hindi Aco Patay (1903) — Cruz
  • Kahapon, Ngayon at Bukas (1903) — Tolentino; allegory of nationalist struggle and US role
  • Tanikalang Guinto (1902) — Abad; Liwanag and K'Ulayaw; freedom symbols

Remake Novels

• Gabriel Beato Francisco: trilogy on Spanish rule—Fulgencia Galbillo (1907), Capitan Bensio (1907), Alfaro (1909)
• Inigo Ed. Regalado: Madaling Araw (1909)
• Juan Lauro Arsciwals: Lalaking Uliran o Tulisan (1914)

JAPANESE PERIOD ($1941-1945$)

• Overview: Literature halted; English banned; Filipino language mandated; newspapers curtailed; many writers pivoted to provincial life themes
• Forms:
  • Poetry
  • Fiction (short stories)
  • Drama
  • Newspapers
  • Essays

Poetry

• Nationalism, country, love, life in the barrios, faith, religion, arts

Fiction

• Short stories expanded; broader themes due to occupation constraints

Drama

• Lull in production; stage plays revived via Tagalog adaptations of English works

Newspapers

• Writings were journalistic; suppression friended nationalist sentiment

Essays

• Glorified Filipinos; critiqued Japanese occupation

CONTEMPORARY PERIOD

Rebirth of Freedom ($1946-1970$)

• 1945: Americans return; independence on $July 4, 1946$
• Post-liberation: revival of Philippine literature in Tagalog; focus on national identity and resilience

Period of Activism ($1970-1972$)

• Rise of student activism; campus newspapers express rebellious spirit (MAKIBAKA)

Period of the New Society ($1972-1980$)

• Themes: development, Green Revolution, family planning, nutrition, environment, drugs, pollution
• Censorship: newspapers halted; government revived traditional plays (Tagalog Zarzuela, Cenaculo, Embayoka of the Muslims)
• Media: radio remained influential; Yearly Filipino Film Festival established
• Education: bilingual education impact; English proficiency challenged during martial rule

Period of the Third Republic ($1981-1985$)

• Martial rule lifted (January 2, 1981)
• Poetry: romantic and revolutionary; direct critique of government; fiery language
• Songs: themes of grief, poverty, freedom, faith, country, fellowmen
• Film: ongoing Filipino film festival

1986-1999

• 1986 People Power Revolution (Lakas ng Bayan): mass movement for reforms
• Newspapers: shift toward opposition voices; BULLETIN TODAY as example
• Ongoing documentation of revolution and renewal across culture and media