Spanish Colonial Period (1521–1898)

• Expeditions to the Philippines were sent by Spain in the 16th

century. In their conquest, the Spaniards brought Christianity
with them. The clergy made a great impact on faith,
education, and government.
• Through the Manila-Acapulco trade (1565–1815), liberal
ideas entered the country. Also, the trade gave rise to a
wealthier middle class. Children in middle class families
could then be sent to Europe to get an education. Upon their
return, they brought European ideals of liberty and freedom
with them. Such ideals would then give rise to Filipino
nationalism.
 Philippine Literature during the Spanish
Occupation
• The Spanish missionaries taught the gospel through the native
language, so they hired natives to translate Spanish religious
instructional materials. Eventually, the natives became fluent in
Spanish and became known as ladinos.
• Ladinos mainly wrote devotional poetry. Two of them were Fernando
Bagongbanta and Gaspar Aquino de Belen. Bagongbanta wrote
“Salamat nang walang hanga/gracias de sin sempiternas,” which
appeared in Memorial de la vida cristiana en lengua tagala (1605), a
book containing basic Catholic doctrines. On the other hand, de Belen
wrote “Ang Mahal na Passion ni Jesu Christong Panginoon natin na
tola” (1704), the earliest version of pasyon.
• Also, the native drama called the komedya or moro-
moro was popular. It depicted the war between
Christians and Muslims, wherein the former always
wins. The poet Jose de la Cruz (1746–1829) was a
master of such art form.
• Native literature continued. Though the Spaniards
destroyed the written literature in their effort to
replace it with their own, the oral tradition survived
and flourished in areas beyond the reach of the
Spaniards.
Famous Authors
• Francisco Baltazar (1788-1862), the master of traditional Tagalog
poetry, became well-known for his work Florante at Laura (1838–
1861), the most famous metrical romance of the country.
• Pedro Paterno (1857–1911) wrote Sampaguitas y poesias
varias (1880), the first poetry collection in Spanish by a Filipino; and
the novel in Spanish Ninay (1885), considered to be the first Filipino
novel.
• Jose Rizal (1861–1896), a prominent ilustrado and the country’s
national hero, is famous for the novels Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo. These novels portray the corruption and abuse of the
Spanish officials and the clergy.
Famous Authors
• Andres Bonifacio (1863–1897), the founder of the Katipunan, wrote
the poem “Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa.” This poem appeared in
the Kalayaan, the official newspaper of the Katipunan, in March 1896.
• Leona Florentino (1849–1884), known as the “mother of Philippine
women’s literature,” was a poet in both Ilocano and Spanish. Twenty of
her poems were preserved and exhibited in Europe. The poems were
included in the Encyclopedia International des Oeuvres des Femme in
1889.
Philippine Literature during the Spanish occupation was
mostly influenced by Christianity as well as the
European ideals of liberty and freedom through trade.
Filipino writers either wrote in Spanish or in their own
tongue or both.
 American Occupation(1898–1940)

• The US established a civil government in 1901. Free

public education was introduced. Also, English was the
medium of instruction.
• In 1934, President Roosevelt signed a bill making the
Philippines a commonwealth. On May 14, 1935
Manuel L. Quezon was elected president.
 Literary Works Produced
• The production of literary works in English is the direct
result of the American colonization of the Philippines.
The first collection of poetry in English is Filipino
Poetry (1924), edited by Rodolfo Dato. The short story
“Dead Stars” (1925) by Paz Marquez Benitez is
considered as the first Filipino modern short story in
English. A Child of Sorrow (1921) by Zoilo M. Galang is
the first Filipino novel in English. The novel His Native
Soil (1940) by Juan C. Laya won first prize in the First
Commonwealth Literary Awards in 1940.
 Literary Works Produced
• Filipino writers in English during the apprenticeship
period (1900–1930) imitated American writing. The
poet Fernando Maramag writes in the Romantic
tradition in his sonnet “Moonlight on Manila Bay”
(1912). Filipino fictionists copied Sherwood Anderson,
William Saroyan, and Ernest Hemingway. Jose Garcia
Villa used the Anderson pattern. Manuel Arguilla and
N. V. M. Gonzalez were influenced by Anderson and
Hemingway. Francisco Arcellana was influenced by
Saroyan.
 Japanese Occupation
(1941–1945)
• On December 8, 1941, the Japanese attacked Manila.
• On January 2, 1942, Japanese occupied Manila. They set up a Council
of State in the country and started propaganda to remold the
Filipinos.
• In October 1943 the Japanese declared the Philippines
“independent.” On September 20, Jose P. Laurel was elected
president.
• MacArthur and his Allied forces returned to the country in 1944. They
landed on Leyte on October 20, and the biggest naval battle in history
ensued.
• The Japanese surrendered formally on September 2, 1945.
 Literary Works Produced
• During the occupation, publications were censored by the military.
Also, Tagalog was declared an official language (together with
Nihonggo). In effect, Philippine literature in English came to a halt.
Some Filipino writers then turned to writing in Filipino.
• The Tagalog short story reached its maturity during the period. The
best works were compiled by the Liwayway magazine editors in Ang
Pinakamabuting Maikling Kathang Pilipino ng 1943, which came out
in 1944. It is a collection of stories that won a contest sponsored by
the Japanese. The top four stories were “Lupang Tinubuan” by
Narciso G. Reyes, “Uhaw ang Tigang na Lupa” by Liwayway Arceo,
“Nayon at Dagat-dagatan” by N. V. M. Gonzalez, and “Suyuan sa
Tubigan” by Macario Pineda.
The American occupation of the Philippines spurred the
writing of Filipinos in English. On the other hand, the
Japanese occupation censored literary works yet
contributed to the maturity of the Tagalog short story.
 Postwar and Contemporary Literature
• Postwar and contemporary literature include all
literary works written and published in the Philippines
from 1946.
• After World War II, the Philippines had to deal with
the economy and the need for rehabilitation and
reconstruction of infrastructures. There was political,
economic, and social confusion, as well as great
poverty, and these issues found their way into the
short stories and novels during that time.
• During the postwar period, Filipino writers got their inspiration from American
teachers and were able to learn their techniques, which also helped in mastering
the English language.
• Writers wrote fiction that focused on courageous deeds as well as the sacrifices
and suffering in the lives of Filipinos. It was also common for writers to write
about the experiences of the Filipino people under the Spanish and American
rule and the Japanese Occupation. Other subjects and themes include:
• religious faith
• superstitions
• fantasy
• social problems
• poverty
• politics
• nationalism
• morality
 Literary Works
• Philippine literature flourished even more during the postwar and
contemporary period. Writers were able to produce short stories,
novels, essays, and poems that continue to be read by Filipinos today.
Examples:
Some works written in the postwar and contemporary period are:
May Day Eve by Nick Joaquin, 1947
Waywaya by F. Sionil Jose, 1983
We Filipinos Are Mild Drinkers by Alejandro Roces, 1948
The Return by Edith L. Tiempo
History and Philippine Culture by Horacio de la Costa, 1965
Without Seeing the Dawn by Stevan Javellana, 1947
Famous Artists
• Nick Joaquin, a National Artist for Literature awardee, wrote articles
under the name of Quijano de Manila. His short story "May Day Eve,"
published in 1947, is about love in a patriarchal society. It also made
use of magic realism.
• F. Sionil Jose, one of the most widely read Filipino writers in English,
wrote the short story "Waywaya," which is about pre-Hispanic society
and the people’s struggle for moral order.
• Alejandro Roces, a Filipino author, essayist, and dramatist, wrote the
short story "We Filipinos Are Mild Drinkers." This story focuses on the
drinking habits and culture of Filipinos and Americans.
Famous Artists
• Edith L. Tiempo's poem "The Return" is a sentimental piece that talks
about life in old age.
• Horacio de la Costa wrote the essay "History and Philippine Culture,"
which emphasizes the importance of understanding and presenting a
nation’s culture.
• Stevan Javellana wrote the first postwar Filipino novel in
English, Without Seeing the Dawn. This novel narrates what people
experienced during World War II under the Japanese rule in the
Philippines.
1. What are the factors that greatly influenced the
Philippine Literature during the Spanish occupation?

a. wealth
b. religion
c. education
d. trade
2. Published in 1605, this book contains basic
Catholic doctrines. What is the title of this book?
a.Sampaguitas y poesias varias
b.Noli Me Tangere
c.Gracias de sin sempiternas
d. Memorial de la vida cristiana en lengua tagala
3. These natives could speak and write in both
Spanish and their own language. What do you call
them?
a. Ladinos
b. Illustrados
c. Native
d. fluent
4. Complete the following analogy:
Jose Rizal : Noli Me Tangere : : Pedro Paterno : _

a. Ninay
b.Sampaguitas y poesias varias
c.El Filibusterismo
d.Gracias de sin sempiternas
5. Complete the following analogy:

Jose de la Cruz : _________ : :

Francisco Baltazar : _________
a.pasyon
b.komedya
c.poetry
d.novel
6. Which of the following statements are not true
about the native literature during the Spanish
occupation?
a. The oral tradition of the native literature survived during the Spanish
occupation of the country.
b.The oral tradition of the native literature failed to survive during the
Spanish occupation of the country.
c. The written tradition of the native literature survived during the
Spanish occupation of the country.
d.The written tradition of the native literature was destroyed by the
Spaniards during their occupation of the country.
7. Which statement is true for the moro-moro?
a.Muslims triumph over Christians in the story of moro-moro.
b.Christians and Muslims triumph over evil in the story of moro-moro.
c. Christians and Muslims triumph over their common enemy in the
story of moro-moro.
d.Christians triumph over Muslims in the story of moro-moro.
 Mahal na Passion
8. What Ni Gaspar Aquino de Belen Totobonga,t, ysosombong.
kind of Sa Ona pang nanhuhula daraiquin sa pagtotol.
poetry is ang manga Profetang casinongalingan yaon
de Belen’s madla doon nila yoolong
saquit na ypararaya cay Poncio Pilatong Hocom,
poem?
manga ypararalita Ang manga hula pa,t, ysip
sa Messias na naava. ay hahampasing masaquit
a. narrative nang limang libong
b. lyric Ang vica,y, matatalian
daracpin nang sandatahan, mahiguit
c.descriptive at popotongan nang tinic
d. free verse mumurahi,t, di ygalang
siya,y pagiyvan naman ang olo niyang mariquit.
Discipulong caybigan
9.In this excerpt, why Pag-Ibig sa Tinubuang Bayan
Ni Andres Bonifacio
does the poet regard the Aling pagibig pa ang hihigit kaya
love for one’s country as sa pagkadalisay at pagkadakila
pure and noble? gaya ng pagibig sa tinubuang lupa?
alin pagibig pa? wala na nga; wala.
a.Because with love for country, one Ulitulitin mang basahin ng isip
sacrifices his whole being for his or her at isa-isahing talastasing pilit
country. ang salita’t buhay na limbag at titik
ng sangtinakpan ito ang mababatid.
b.Because with love for country, one frees
himself or herself and the others from Banal na pagibig! pagikaw ang nukal
colonial oppression. sa tapat na puso ng sino't alin man,
c.Because with love for country, one writes imbi’t taong gubat maralita’t mangmang
for the good of his or her country. nagiging dakila at iginagalang.
d.Because with love for country, one raises Pagpupuring lubos ang palaging gawad
himself or herself and the others from ng taong mahal sa Bayan niyang liyag
poverty. umawit, tumula, kumatha’t sumulat
kalakhan din niya'y isinisiwalat.
Walang mahalagang hindi inihandog
ng may pusong mahal sa Bayan niyang irog
dugo, yaman, dunong, katiisa’t pagod,
buhay ma’y abuting magkalagot-lagot.
1. What was the medium of instruction in
public schools during the American
occupation of the Philippines?
a. Filipino
b. Tagalog
c. Nihonggo
d. English
2. What is considered to be the first modern Filipino short
story?
a. A Child of Sorrow
b. Lupang Tinubuan
c. His Native Soil
d. Dead Stars
3. What year did the anthology Ang
Pinakamabuting Maikling Kathang Pilipino ng
1943 come out?
a. 1942
b. 1943
c. 1945
d. 1944
4.Filipino fictionists writing during this
literary period copied American writers.
What is this period called?
5.Which writers became prominent during the
American occupation of the Philippines?
a. Narciso Reyes
b. Paz Marquez Benitez
c. Liwayway Arceo
d. Juan C. Laya