PRE-

COLONIAL
LITERATURE

Listen and Enjoy! 

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Historical background of Pre-Spanish Period

 Our forefathers already have a body of literature even before the arrival of the Spaniards.
 They have their own system of writing, alphabet, and other nuance of a working body of literature.
 They are trading with the neighboring countries of Japan, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, India, and
Arabia.
In short, they are NOT uncivilized, as maliciously declared by some friars during the Spanish
colonization.
 Our many language are related to the Malaya-Polynesian.
 We have our own system of writing called Baybayin consisting of 3 vowels and 14 consonants.
 Baybayin came from the word “baybay” which means “spelling”.
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 Baybayin has three vowels which

are “a”, “e-i”, and “o-u”.

 The fourteen consonants include

[b, k, d, g, h, l, m, n, ng, p, s, t, w, y]
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Going back to our Philippine literary pieces

during the Pre-Spanish period.
 Majority of these are in oral traditions.
 Our ancestors love to communicate as
evidenced by a great deal of surviving
records.
 Their written accounts are not inferior too.
They used leaves, barks of trees, bamboo
cylinders, dried muds and jars as stationery.
 Their pen would be any pointed metal, stick,
knife and others used to engrave and imprint
their message.
 The invading Spaniards destroyed and
burned them too, thinking that these were
works of the devil.
 One interesting artifact that endured the
test of time is the Laguna Copperplate
Inscription.

The inscription is displayed at the National Museum of Anthropology in Manila.

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Legends
 a form of written or spoken language that follows the
Examples:
natural flow of speech, narrative featuring human actions
perceived or believed both by teller and listeners to have
 The Legend of the
taken place within human history.
Philippine Islands
 the common theme of which is about the origin of a thing,
 Why the Sea is Salty
place, location or name. The events are imaginary, denial of
truth and unbelievable. Old Filipino customs are reflected in
these legends. Its aim is to entertain.
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Folk Tales
Example:
 are stories made up about life, adventures, love, horror and
 The Sun and the Moon
humor where one can derive lessons about life.
 The Boy Who Became a
 a tale originating and traditional among a people or folk,
Stone
especially one forming part of the oral tradition of the
common people. any belief or story passed on traditionally, - Both from Tinguian Tribe
especially one considered to be false or based on
superstition.
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Epics
 These are long narrative poems in which a series of heroic
achievements or events, usually of a hero, are dealt with at length.

Examples:
Biag ni Lam-ang – Ilokanos Haraya – Visayan
Hudhod hi Aliguyon – Ifugaos Hari sa Bukid – Visayan
Alim – Ifugaos Kumintang – Tagalog
Ibalon – Bicol Bernardo Carpio – Tagalog
Handiong – Bicol Indarapatra at Sulayman – Moro
Hinilawod – Bicol
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Folk Songs
 are the oldest forms of Philippine Literature that emerged which are composed mostly of 12
syllables per line of four in a verse.

 These songs mirrored the culture of each group singing specific song per
occasion/celebration/activities.

Examples:
Kundiman – Songs of Love/Serenading songs
Diana/Danaya – Wedding songs
Kumintang – War/Battle songs
Soliraning – Laborer/Workmen songs
Dalit – Worship songs
Talindaw – Fisher/Fishing songs
Oyayi/Hele – Lullaby songs
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Epigrams
Examples:
 are more commonly called Salawikain. These have been
customarily used and served as laws or rules on good behavior.  “Aanhin pa ang damo, kung
patay na ang kabayo”
 are wise, poetic and beautiful sayings. It has been around even
before the Spanish and US colonization of the Philippines. It  “Bahay mo man ay bato
reflects the wisdom, values and culture of the native Filipinos. kung tumitira'y kuwago,
mabuti pa ang isang kubo
 These are like allegories or parables that impart lessons for the na ang nakatira ay tao.”
youth consisting of couplets (2-lines) which usually have
rhyming end-syllables.
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Riddles
 They are called “Bugtong” by the Tagalogs Examples:
and “Burburtia” among the Ilokanos.
 “Maliit pa si kumpare,
umaakyat na sa torre.”
 These are made up of one or two measured lines which may
- Langgam
consist of 4 to 12 syllables.
 “Isda ko sa Mariveles, nasa
 These are often used to stir a thought-provoking questions. loob ang kaliskis.”
Often used for entertainment purposes during gatherings - Sili
and celebrations.
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Chants
 are customarily called “Bulong” or “Pasintabi” by the Tagalogs and referred
to as “Bari-bari” by the Ilokanos.

 These are sometimes in witchcraft or enchantment often with an

accompanying “Anting-anting” (amulet or talisman).

Examples: Among the Visayans: “Ikaw na nagnakaw ng mais ko, lumuwa sana ang
mga mata mo, mamaga sana ang kamay mo, parusahan ka ng mga anito.”

Among the Tagalogs: “Tabi-tabi po kayo, ako’y magbubuhos ng tubig at

mainit ito, kung masaktan ko kayo, pagpasensiyahan niyo na po.”
Module1: PLHistory QUIZ #1 Answer Key Assignment # 2
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5
4.5
4
3.5
TEXT TEXT TEXT
Please list down (5) remarkable
lessons in each poems and write

text text SUBTITTLE

3
it in two essays.
2.5
2
text text text text
This assignment must be hand-
1.5
1
text text text text written in a short
text text
bond paper,
(showing your creativeness).
0.5
0
text text text text text text
text text
2019 2020
Series 1 Series 2
2021
Series 3
text text text text