21ST CE N T U R Y

LITER A T U R E f ro m t h e
philip p i n e s a n d
the world
LITERATURE - pieces of writing that are
valued as works of art, especially novels, plays and
poems (in contrast to technical books and
newspapers, magazines, etc.)

CENTURY - any of the periods of 100 years

before and after the birth of Christ

21st CENTURY - time period from 2001 to 2100

21st Century Literature - literary works
produced during the 21st century.
 FICTION - literature in the form of prose,
especially short stories and novels, that describes
imaginary events and people.
NON-FICTION - is a genre of literature based
on facts, actual events, or real people
THEME - this may be an idea, insight, or lesson
one gets from the story. If the setting is the where and
when of the story, the theme is the why.
PSEUDONYM - is a name that someone,
often a writer, uses instead of their real name
LITTERA - the word literature derives from the
Latin word littera, 'a letter of the alphabet.'

CLOSE ANALYSIS – involves careful study

and analysis of a specific passage within the text.

CRITICAL INTERPRETATION – it
contains or makes severe or negative judgments about
literary works.
LESSON/MORAL OF THE
STORY – it is the ethical lesson or meaning that
is learned from the story.
 Pedro Bukaneg
Pedro Bukaneg was a Filipino poet.
He is considered the "Father of
Ilocano literature." Blind since birth,
he is the believed to have authored
of parts of the Ilocano epic Biag ni
Lam-ang.
 lope k. santos
Lope K. Santos was a Filipino
Tagalog-language writer and former
senator of the Philippines. He is best
known for his 1906 socialist novel,
Banaag at Sikat and to his
contributions for the development of
Filipino grammar and Tagalog
orthography.
 edgardo m. reyes

Edgardo M. Reyes was a Filipino

novelist. His works of fiction first
appeared in the Tagalog magazine,
Liwayway. His novels include
Laro sa Baga.
 leona florentino
Leona Josefa Florentino was a
Filipina poet who wrote in Spanish
and Ilocano. She is considered as the
"mother of Philippine women's
literature," serving as the "bridge
from oral to literary tradition";
and as a pioneer in Philippine
lesbian literature.
 carlos bulosan
Carlos Sampayan Bulosan was an
English-language Filipino novelist
and poet who immigrated to
America on July 1, 1930. He never
returned to the Philippines and he
spent most of his life in the United
States.
 Paz Márquez-Benítez
Paz Márquez-Benítez was a Filipina
short-story writer, educator and editor.
Her career as a woman educator as well
as her contributions as a writer are seen as
an important step within the advancement
of woman in professional careers as well
as in the development of Philippine
literature.
 bob ong

Bob Ong is the pseudonym of a

contemporary Filipino author known
for using conversational writing
technique to create humorous and
reflective depictions of Philippine life.
The author's actual name and identity
are unknown.
 R E A D :
AB NK K B S N P L A KO ?
by: b o b o ng
 R E AD :
E W E S H A L L O W ?
W HY AR
B y: F. S i on i l Jo sé
T IM E L I NE O F
PHIL I P P INE
L IT E RA T U RE
 I. PRE-COLONIAL
(BC to 1564)

A. Characteristics
• Based on oral traditions; a few were written in
baybayin, the precolonial script of Filipinos.
• Crude on ideology and phraseology.
 I. PRE-COLONIAL
B. Forms of Pre-Colonial period
• BUGTONG – battle of wits among participants;
(BC to 1564)
known as tigmo in Cebu, paktakon in Iloilo, and
patotdon in Bicol.
• SALAWIKAIN – wise sayings that contain a metaphor
used to teach as a food for thought etc.
• TANAGA – poem consisting of four lines with seven
syllables each with the same rhyme at the end of each
line.
 I. PRE-COLONIAL
• AMBAHAN – seven-syllable per line poem about human
relationships (BC to 1564)
• KALUSAN – work songs of the Ivatans
• TAGAY – drinking song of the Cebuanos and Warays
• KANOGAN (Cebuano) – song of lamentation for the dead.
• MYTHS – explain how the world was created, how certain animals
possess certain characteristics, why some places have waterfalls,
volcanoes, mountains, flora or fauna.
• LEGENDS – explain the origin of things Why the
I. PRE-COLONIAL
Pineapple Has Eyes, The Legend of Maria Makiling
(BC to 1564)
• FABLES – used animal characters and allegory
• FANTASY STORIES – deal with underworld characters
such as “tiyanak”,“aswang”, “kapre” and others.
• EPICS – “narratives of sustained length based on oral
tradition revolving around supernatural events or heroic
deeds” (Arsenio Manuel).
II. SPANISH COLONIZATION PERIOD
(1565 – 1863)

A. Characteristics
• Literary works were either religious or secular,
but mostly religious
• Introduced Spanish as medium of
communication.
 I.Spanish
B. Forms of PRE-COLONIAL
Colonization Period
• Religious Literature - Religious lyrics
(BC to 1564) written by ladino poets or
those versed in both Spanish and Tagalog were included in early
catechism and were used to teach Filipinos Spanish.
a. pasyon – long narrative poem about the passion and death of Christ.
The most popular was “Ang Mahal na Passion ni Jesu Cristong
Panignoon Natin” by Gaspar Aquino de Belen.
b. senakulo – dramatization of the pasyon, it shows the passion and
death of Christ.
B. FormsI. of PRE-COLONIAL
Spanish Colonization Period
• Secular (non-religious)
(BC to 1564)
Literature
a. awit - colorful tales of chivalry made for
singing and chanting Example: Ibong Adarna
b. korido – metrical tale written in octosyllabic
quatrains. e.g., Florante at Laura by Francisco
Baltazar.
B. Forms I. PRE-COLONIAL
of Spanish Colonization Period
• Prose Narratives (BC to 1564)
a. manual de urbanidad – guidebook on good manners, e.g.,:
Modesto de Castro's Pagsusulatan ng Dalawang Binibini na si
Urbana at si Feliza and Joaquin Tuason's Ang Bagong
Robinson (The New Robinson) in 1879
b. romance – novels with simple plot and idealized characters,
e.g., Barlaan at Josaphat
III. NATIONALISTIC / PROPAGANDA AND
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD
(1864 – 1896)
A. Characteristics
• Literary works were either religious or secular,
but mostly religious
• Introduced Spanish as medium of
communication.
B. Forms of Nationalistic & Revolution Period
• Propaganda Literature - Reformatory in objective
(BC to 1564)
a. Political Essays – satires, editorials and news articles were
written to attack and expose the evils of Spanish rule.
i. Diariong Tagalog – founded by Marcelo del Pilar
ii. La Solidaridad – whose editor-in-chief is Graciano Lopez-
Jaena.
b. Political Novels – Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tángere and El
Filibusterismo paved the way to the revolution.
B. Forms of Nationalistic & Revolution Period
(BC to 1564)
• Revolutionary Literature – more propagandistic than
literary as it is more violent in nature and demanded
complete independence for the country.
a. Political Essays – helped inflame the spirit of revolution,
Kalayaan – newspaper of the society, edited by Emilio Jacinto.
b. Poetry
i. El verdadero decálogo – Apolinario Mabini
ii. Aling Pag-ibig Pa? – Andres Bonifacio
iii. Liwanag at Dilim – Emilio Jacinto
IV. AMERICAN COLONIAL PERIOD
(1910 – 1945)

A. Characteristics
• Literary works were either religious or secular,
but mostly religious
• Introduced Spanish as medium of
communication.
A. Period of Apprenticeship (1910-1930)
a. Short Stories (BC to 1564)
i. Dead Stars – Paz Marquez Benitez
ii. The Key – Paz Latorena
iii. Footnote to Youth – Jose Garcia Villa
b. Novels
i. Child of Sorrow – first novel in English, by Zoilo Galang
ii. Banaag at Sikat – Lope K. Santos, the first Filipino socialist
novel.
B. Period of Emergence
(BC(1920-1930):
to 1564)
Highly influenced by Western literary trends like
Romanticism and Realism; short stories most prevalent
literary form poetry – especially those of Jose Garcia
Villa whose pen name was “Doveglion” (dove-eagle-
lion).
 V. JAPANESE OCCUPATION TO
RECONSTRUCTION
(1942-1960)

A. War Years (1942-1944)

• Tagalog poets broke away from the Balagtas
tradition and instead wrote in simple language and
free verse.
 • Fiction prevailed over poetry
a. 25 Pinakamabuting (BC toMaikling
1564) Kathang Pilipino
(1943) – compilation of winning short stories in a
contest sponsored by the military government
b. Suyuan sa Tubigan – Macario Pineda
c. Lupang Tinubuan – Narciso Reyes
d. Uhaw ang Tigang na Lupa – Liwayway Arceo.
B. Period of Maturity and Originality (1945-1960)
•
(BC to 1564)
Bountiful harvest in poetry, fiction, drama and essay.
• Filipino writers mastered English and familiarized themselves
with diverse techniques.
• Literary “giants” appeared: José García Villa, Nick Joaquin,
NVM Gonzales, Bienvenido Santos, Gregorio Brillantes, Gilda
Cordero Fernando, Carmen Guerrero Nákpil.
VI. THE LONG 70S: MARTIAL LAW
PERIOD TO EDSA REVOLUTION
A. Characteristics
• Martial law repressed and curtailed human rights, including freedom of the press
• Writers used symbolisms and allegories to drive home their message, at the face
of heavy censorship.
• Theater was used as a vehicle for protest, such as the PETA (Phil. Educational
Theater Association) and UP Theater.
• From the eighties onwards, writers continue to show dynamism and innovation.
B. Forms of Martial Period to EDSA Evolution
• Poetry (BC to 1564)
a. Isang Dipang Langit – Amado V. Hernandez
b. Prometheus Unbound – José Lacaba
• Short story
a. Impong Selo – Rogelio Sicat
b. Mga Agos sa Disyerto – compilation by Ordoñez, Sicat,
Miraflor, Reyes et al.