I.

SPANISH PERIOD

 March 06, 1521 – Start of Philippine History

- Filipinos were once called “Ladinos” – they were latinized. They were also
classified as “TAGABAYAN” – urban/civilized person,
“TAGABUKID/BUNDOK” – Filos who lived far from Spanish Power.
Historical Background
 1565 – Spanish Colonization during Miguel Lopez de Legaspi time – Spanish governor-
general in PH.
- Literature was flourished during this time and was mostly influenced by
Christianity where Filipinos write in Spanish, Filipino, or both. This is
because the colonizers wanted to undermine the native oral tradition by
substituting for it the story of the Passion of Christ However, the native
tradition survived and even flourished in areas inaccessible to the Spaniards

 1593 - Doctrina Christiana, the first prayer book to be printed in the Philippines, written
in Spanish with Filipino translation, as the Church followed a policy of spreading
Christian Doctrines but only by using Spanish language.
- Because of this, translating instructional materials forced the Spanish to
employ natives as translators, in which they soon learned to read and write
Spanish and Filipino, making them a Ladinos bilingual.

 17th century (first decade) – When ladinos works which are mainly devotional poetry
were published .
Characteristics:

- Secular and Religious.

- Introduced Spanish as medium of communication
Literary Forms:
1. Religious Literature – Religious lyrics written by Ladino poets.
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
Aguino de Belen
B. Senakulo - dramatization of the pasyon that shows the passion and death of
Christ
2. Non-Religious/ Secular
A. Awit - colorful tales of chivalry made for singing and chanting
B. Korido – metrical tale written in octosyllabic quatrains.
 II. Nationalistic/ Propaganda and Revolutionary Period
 1864-1896
- Revolutionary period likewise saw various literary masterpieces written as. Periodicals
and magazines were likewise continued to flourish as both avenue for idea propagation
and vehicle for literary initiatives.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
 The Filipinos did not get the reforms demanded by the propagandists.
 The government turned deaf ears to the oppression and abuses of the colonial officials.
 The good intention of Mother Spain was reversed by the friars.
 Many Filipinos affiliated with Rizal’s La Liga Filipina (The Filipino League).
REVOLUTIONARY WRITERS
 ANDRES BONIFACIO
 EMILIO JACINTO
 APOLINARIO MABINI
 JOSE PALMA
A. Characteristics
1. Planted seeds of nationalism in Filipinos
2. Language shifted from Spanish to Tagalog
3. Addressed the masses instead of the “intelligentsia”

Literary Forms
1. Propaganda Literature - Reformatory in objectives.
2. Political Essays – satires, editorials and news articles were written to attack and expose
the evils of Spanish rulers.
3. Diariong Tagalog – founded by Marcelo del Pilar
4. La Solidaridad – whose editor-in-chief is Graciano Lopez-Jaenab. Political Novelsi.
5. Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo – Jose Rizal’s masterpieces that paved the
way to the revolution.
Revolutionary Literature – more propagandistic as it is more violent in nature and demanded
complete independence for the country.
A. Political Essays – helped inflame the spirit of revolution.
B. Kalayaan – newspaper of the society, edited by Emilio Jacintob.

PUBLICATIONS
 1. El Heraldo de la Revolucion (Herald of the Revolution) – printed the decrees of the
Revolutionary Government, news and works in Tagalog that aroused nationalism. This
is the Official Newspaper of the Revolutionary Government of Aguinaldo.
2. La Independencia (Independence) – an independent newspaper founded and edited by
General Antonio Luna.
3. La Republica Filipina (The Philippine Republic) – a private newspaper edited by Pedro
Paterno.
4. La Libertad (Liberty) – another private newspaper edited by Clemente Zulueta.

III. AMERICAN COLONIAL PERIOD

 1910 – 1945
- The Philippines had a great leap in Education and Culture.
- Use of English alongside Filipino was practiced.
- The Philippines Public School system was introduced.
- Free public instruction was given to the Filipinos.
- The literature during the American period was considered as imitative of
American model. Instead of asking the students to write originals, students ended
up following the form of American poets.
A. Period of Apprenticeship (1910-1930)
1. Filipino Writers imitated English and American models
2. Poems written were amateurish and mushy, which phrasing and diction is
awkward and artificial
Short Stories:
Dead Star Paz Marquez Benitezii.
The Key – Paz Latorenaiii.Footnote to Youth – Jose Garcia Villab.Novelsi.
Childe of Sorrow first novel in English, by Zoilo Galang
B. Period of Emergence (1920-1930)
Highly influenced by Western literary trends like Romanticism and Realism

- Short Stories –most prevalent literary form.

- Jose Garcia Villa earned the international title “Poet of the Century”
-
IV. JAPANESE OCCUPATION
 1942 – 1960 - The Philippine literature came into a halt.
- Use of the English language was forbidden, and the use of the Filipino
language was mandated under the Japanese rule
 - For some this was a problem, but to most writers, it was a blessing in
disguise.
- Almost all news papers were stopped except for some.
-Filipino literature was given a break during this period. Many wrote
plays, poems, short stories, etc. Topics and themes were often about life in
the provinces.

A.War Years (1942-1944)

1. Tagalog poets broke away from the Balagtas tradition and insteadwrote in simple language
and free verse
2.Fiction prevailed over poetry.
25 Pinakamabuting Maikling Kathang Pilipino (1943) – compilation of the short story contest by
the military government

 Suyuan sa Tubigan – Macario Pineda

 Lupang Tinubuan – Narciso Reyes
 Uhaw ang Tigang na Lupa – Liwayway Arceo
 Period of Maturity and Originality (1945-1960)
1. Bountiful harvest in poetry, fiction, drama and essay
2. Filipino writers mastered English and familiarized themselves iwhtdiverse techniques
3 .Literary “giants” appeared
 Palanca Awards for Literature
a. Jose Garcia Villa
b. Nick Joaquin
c. NVM Gonzales
d. Bienvenido Santos
e. Gregorio Brillantes
f. Gilda CorderoFernando
 National Artist Awards
 Jose Garcia Villa
 Nick Joaquin

V. Modern period
 1946 - Barangay writers who aimed whose aim was to publish works in English by
Filipinos was established
 1958- the PEN Center of the Philippines was inaugurated
-Francis Arellana published his pen anthology of short story
New filipino literature
-Most themes in the writings deal with: Japanese brutalities, The poverty of life, The brave
guerilla exploits
-Tagalog poetry acquired not only rhyme but substance and meaning
-Short stories had better characters and events based on facts and realities
-Novels became common but were still read by the people for recreation
-Books published at this time: Mga Piling Katha (1947-48) by Alejandro Abilla, Ang Maikling
Kwentong Tagalog (1886-1948) by Teodoro Agoncillo, Ako’y Isang Tinig (1952) by Genoveva
Edroza Matute
VI. The period of activism (1970-1972)
According to Ponciano Pineda, youth activism in 1970-1972 was due to domestic and
worldwide causes
 1972 - The seeds of activism resulted in the declaration of Martial Law
THE LITERARY REVOLUTION- Campus newspaper showed rebellious emotions.
They held pen and wrote on placards in red paint in the equivalent of the word
MAKIBATA. Any establishment became the symbol of the ills that had to be changed.
The frustrations of youth could be felt in churches and school.
Writers in this period:
-Jose F. Lacaba
-Nick Joaquin
-Salvador P. Lopez
-Gredorio C. Brillantes
 1972 (Sept 21)-The period of the New Society started
(Sept 24)-The Carlos Palanca continued to give annual awards
(Sept 26)-Almost themes in most writings dealt with the development of the
country
(Sept 29)-The government took part in reviving old play like Cenaculo, Zarzuela,
and Embayokya of the Muslims

Filipino poetry during the period of the new society

Themes of most poems, deal with patience, regard with native culture,
customs and the beauties in nature and surroundings

Poets: Ponciano, Pineda, Anaciato Silvestre, Jose Garcia Revelo,

Bienvinido Ramos

Composers: Freddie Aguilar, Jose Mari Chan, Tito, Vic, and Joey

Plays: the government led in reviving old plays and dramas

 1977-“The tales of the Maluvu”, a new style of the ballet opera was also added to those
presentations
 Radio and Television: radio continued to be patronized during this time. It is one
of the recreations of this time without television. However, many performing
artists in radio moved over the television.

Popular plays: Gulong ng Palad, Tarzan, Flor de Luna, Superman, Anna Liza

Leading newspaper this time: Bulletin Today, Times Journal, Peoples Journal,
Balita, Pilipino Express, Philippine Daily Express, Evening Post

VII. 1972 to 1986

-The contemporary movement toward the use of native languages in Filipino literature
was slow to begin due to the oppressive martial-law dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos
However, following the end of the dictatorship, the Philippines undertook an effort to
resurface their native language literary history, and the Philippine Commission on Higher
Education made it obligatory to teach Philippine literature to students.

VIII. 2000s-21st century literature

is anything that was written and published in this year As we engage in technology more
and more, we create and discover more existing forms of expressive culture as well. We
have a wide range of resources through the internet, and this gave opportunities to people,
especially the youth, to begin writing and expressing their thoughts, ideas, and feelings.

IX. 2006- year of creation of Wattpad. Best example of 21st century literature. It became
popular to the Filipino youth in 2006.