Philippine Pre-Colonial Literature Notes

Literature

  • Literature includes oral and written works for expressive and imaginative purposes.

  • Philippine literature already existed during the pre-colonial period.

Pre-Colonial Period

  • Precolonial literature: all literature produced before Spanish colonization.

    • Includes chants, proverbs, songs, and folk narratives.

    • Passed down orally from generation to generation.

  • Philippine folk narratives: varied and distinct, depicting people's livelihood, customs, and traditions.

Folktales

  • Folktales about Juan are popular.

    • Emphasize virtues, warn about behavior, or provide amusement.

  • Examples:

    • Juan Gathers Guavas (Tagalog)

    • Juan Pusong and His Father's Cows (Visayan)

Literary Forms

  • Folktale: Anonymous, timeless, and placeless tale circulated orally.

  • Fable: Features animal characters or inanimate objects behaving like people.

  • Legend: Presented as history but unlikely to be true.

  • Myth: Explains a belief, practice, or natural phenomenon.

  • Epic: Narrative poem celebrating the adventures and achievements of a hero.

Legends

  • Filipino legends of the great flood exist.

    • Bukidnon: A huge crab caused the water to rise.

    • Igorot: Sons of Lumawig the Great Spirit caused the flood.

  • Example:

    • The Flood Story (Bukidnon/Igorot)

Fables

  • The monkey is a common animal character in Philippine fables, often depicted as cunning.

  • Example:

    • The Monkey and the Crocodile (Tagalog)

    • Ang langgam at ang Tipaklong, Si kuneho at si pagong, Si pagong at si Matsing

Summary of Pre-Colonial Literature

  • Includes all literature before Spanish colonization.

    • Chants, proverbs, songs, spells, and folk narratives (folk tales, fables, legends, myths, epics).

    • Passed down orally.

Additional Notes

  • Magellan's rediscovery date: March 16, 1521.

  • Social Classes:

    • Maharlika/Nobility

    • Timawa/Freemen

    • Alipin/Uripon

    • Two types of Alipin

      • aliping namamahay

      • aliping saquiquilid

  • Religion: Islam, Animism and Shamanism, Christianity.

  • Mode of dressing: bahag, barot at saya.

  • Ifugao's calendar: Tumunoh (agricultural calendar).

Epics

  • Philippine epics: sung or chanted in episodes.

    • Feature supernatural characters and reflect the society of origin.

    • Different versions of the same story exist.

  • Examples:

    • Biag ni Lam-ang

    • Maragtas

    • Parang Sabir

    • Ibalon

Way of Life

  • Filipinos had their own way of life.

    • Mode of dressing, religion, social status, government.

Chants (Bulong)

  • Used in witchcraft and enchantments.

  • Example:

    • ikaw ang nagnakaw ng bigas ko lumuwa sana ang mga mata mo

    • mamaga sana ang katawan mo patayin ka ng mga anito

More on Bulong (chants)

  • Used in witchcraft or enchantments.

  • Example:

    • Sa hinaba-haba ng prusisyon. Sa simbahan din pala ang tuloy

    • Hele hele bago kyeme

Proverbs

  • Proverbs correspond to Tagalog words: salawikain, kasabihan, and sawikain and to the Ilocano word sarsarita.

  • Used to emphasize a point or thought in reasoning.

  • Filipino philosophy.

  • Examples:

    • Absence makes the hearts grow fonder

    • Birds of the same feather flock together

    • Cleanliness is next to Godliness

    • Habang may buhay may pag-asa (While there is life, there is hope)

    • Kapag may tyaga may nilaga (If there is perseverance, there is stew)