PRE-COLONIAL

LITERATURE
• Introduction

Philippine Pre-Colonial Literature possesses a deep level of sophistication,

seen in the organic unity of language, theme, and relevance within each piece. The
use of common language did not prevent the peces from obtaining a touch of
elegance that sets it apart, a testament to the literary ability of the pre-colonial
culture. Literature was a vital tool for community cohesiveness, rooted in the
foundation of language as a tool for survival.
 PRE-COLONIAL POETRY
An indigenous oral tradition of riddles (bugtong, pabitla, burburtia,
tallagunut, pattodan, hulaan) and proverbs or wise sayings (salawikain,
kasabihan, kawikaan in Tagalog; pananaroon in Maranao; sanglitaan in the
Visayas) played a central part of community life in villages of pre-colonial
Philippines. Short four-line poems called “tanaga” evolved from this oral
tradition. Each line contained seven or eight syllables, and at the hearth of the
poem was a cryptic metaphor called “talinhaga.”
Popular folk musical verse was divided into several categories: the diona,
talindao, and auit (song sung at home); indolanin and dolayanin
• (street songs); holohorio and oyayi (cradle siongs); ombayi (songs of
sadness); omiguing (song o tenderness): tagumpay (triumphant songs):
dopayanin (boat songs); hilariao (drinking songs) and diona (wedding songs).
Through these verses the local history, politics, and culture were passed
from generation to generation. The most skilled poets would memorize epic
cycles that look two of four days to recite during all-night dramatic
performances. Two examples of pre colonial epics that survive today are
Biag ni Lam-ang ( Legend of the Lam-ang) in Ilocano (a northern Luzon
dialect) and Ibalon in Bicol ( a southern Luzon dialect).
 LEGENDS, MYTHS AND FOLKTALES

THE LEGEND OF THE TAGALOG

We are that we Filipinos are mixture of different races; we have the Ilocanos,
the kapampangans, visayans, Bicolanos, and the Tagalogs, whose origin we will
trace.
In a certain wide region of Luzon, there was a village frequented by young
men. This town was full of trees, beautiful flowers and a river where clear
waters flowed. What attracted the young men more than the scenery was a
beautiful nymph-like maiden.
 The maiden was Maria and she had lots of suitors who came from afar and
who fought for her hand. But Maria remained unconcerned. Because she was
kind, her suitors remained undaunted so Maria thought of a plan. She called all
the young men together and told them, “You are all good and kind and it is
difficult for me to choose one among you. Let me decide with a test.
I’ll marry the first man who can bring me a big, live and strong serpent, “Maria
said in jest.
The young men were dumbfounded. After a while, the voice of Ilog broke the
silence.
“I promise to bring you one, Maria Even if I have to risk my life, I’ll bring you
what you wish.”
Ilog was a man known for his bravery. He left immediately to fulfill his promise.
• The other people sure that Ilog would never be able to return. After many
hours, Ilog returned. They crowded to see hoe Ilog would prove his bravery.
Ilog held a big snake by its nape and tail.
“ Maria,” heroically called Ilog. I’ve brought you the serpent you wishes for.
What else do you want me to do to make you happy?
“Cut it up! “shouted Maria.
When Maria saw the snake was still struggling, she shouted..
“Taga, Ilog! Taga, Ilog! “(Cut, Ilog! Cut, Ilog!) which she addressed to ilog so
he would cut the snake up again.
The two Spaniards, thinking that his was the answer to their question repeated
the words TAGAILOG, TAGAILOG, which later became TAGALOG.
“FOLKTALE”
*JUAN TAMAD
-Juan Tamad and the Mud Crabs”
-Juan Tamad and the Rice Cakes”
*WHY THE SKY IS SO HIGH
PROVERBS
• One notable and locally popular example of a Filipino proverb is this: A
person who does not remember where he (she) came from will never reach
his(her) distination.

• Damiana L. Eugenio, a professor from the University of the Philippines,

author of Philippine Proverb Lore(1975), and who also referred to as the “
Mother of Philippine Folklore” grouped Filipino proverbs into six categories
based on the topic expressed, namely:
• Example of the Filipino proverbs:
*Bago mo sabihin at gawin, makipitong iisipin.
*Kung di uukol, di bubukol.
*Nasa diyos ang awa nasa tao ang gawa.
*Kung walang tiyaga, walang nilaga.
*Kung may isinuksok, may madudukot.
• Tagalog Sayings Contributed by Jose Rizal
*Hampas ng magulang ay nakakataba.
*Ang nag sasabing tapus ay siyang kinakapus.
*Nangangako habang napapako.
*Ang maniwala sa sabi'y walang bait sa sarili.
*Labis sa salita, kapus sa gawa.
• EPIC
Centuries before the Spaniards came; the Filipinos already had their own
cultural traditions, folklore, mythologies and epics. There were substantial
writings by “All of the islanders are much given to reading and writing. And
there is hardly a man, much less a woman who did not read and write.”
• The epics come in various names: Guman (Subanon); Darangen (Maranao);
Hudhud(Ifugao): and Uladhingan (Manobo). These epics revolve around
supernatural events or heroic deeds and they embody or validate the beliefs,
customs and ideals of the community. They are performed by chantersduring feasts
and special occasions such as harvest, weddings or funerals.
Stories of epics, done in poetry displayed tremendous vitality, color and
imagination.There were tales of love and adventures about native heroes, endowed
with powers from the gods.
SAMPLES OF PHILIPPINE EPIC POETRY
Igorot epic poetry
The Hud-Hud is about the life and heroism of the native Ifugao. The most
prominent and well admired native Ifugao is Aliguyon of the Gohandan tribe.
Aliguyon possessed strange powers and strength. He had the ability to travel to
far away places without the need to rest, eat or sleep without feeling tired. He
had never been beaten in any fight of battle.
Bicol epic poetry
From the Bicol province come the Ibalon. The Ibalon relates the mystical
origins of the first man and the first woman of Asion and Ibalon,which are
current provinces of Camarines, Albay, sorsogon, Catanduanes and Masbate,
Hiandong, one of the heroes of Ibalon(The others are Baltog and Bantong)
was a great leader of warriors. He fought againts a giant Cyclop for ten months,
defeated the winged Tiburon and the fierce Sarimao and won over the
seductive serpent Oriol before starting a village.
Ilokano epic poetry
For the first time, the father of Ilocano poetry named Pedro Bukaneg put
down the epic poem is writing around 1640. Biag ni Lam-ang (in english “The
life of Lam-ang) is an epic poem of the Ilocano people from the Ilocos region
of the Philippines . As oral literature, the poem is believed to have originated in
pre-colonial times, evolving as it is passed on from poet to poet and generation
to generation.
Mindanao epic poetry
Darangen is a Maranao epic poem from the lake Lanao region of Mindanao,
Philippines. It consists 17 cycles with 72,000 lines in iambic tetrameter or
catalectic trochaic tetrameter. It is the longest surviving epic poetry in the
Philippines. Darangen is meant to be narrated by singing or chanting.
• Visayan epic poetry
The Maragtas Chronicles of Panay is a history of
rulers of the island from the time of the Ten Malay
Datus (rulers) that settled from Borneo. The “Legend
of the Ten Datus (chieftains)” narrates about the
forefathers of the Filipinos and the storyof ten
Bornean chieftains who escaped the cruel regime
oof sultan Makatunaw. Datu puti along with other
nine chieftains planned to leave Borneo. Riding on
their native boats, they ventured into the night ans
sailed across the wide ocean.
 EPIC
* Ibong Adarna
-is an epic on the character of the same name thought to be created by a
Filipino author named Jose de la Cruz. This bird is said to be found in Mt.
Tabor, where it perches on the shimmering Piedras Platas at night. During the
daytime, the bird goes off somewhere but it goes back at night to roost, and it
sing before it sleep.
• Biag ni Lam-ang
-(English: The life of LAm-ang) is pre-Hispanic epic poem of
the Ilokano people from the Ilocos region of the Philippines.
Recited and originally written in the Ilokano language, it is believed
to be the work of many poets from various generations, and was
first preserved in writing around 1640, by a blind Ilokano bard
named Pedro Bucaneg.
 SONGS
A song is a metrical composition which is typically for a solo singer, though it
may also be in the form of a duet, trio, or a composition involving more
voices. Songs can be broadly divided into many different forms, depending on
the criteria used. One division is among “art songs”, pop songs”, and “folk
songs”, . Other common methods of classification are by purpose (sacred vs
secular), by style (dance, ballad, lied, etc), or by time of origin (renaissance,
contemporary, etc).
 SONGS
*SARONG BANGUI (Bicol)
-This sons tells about a lady who is about to go to sleep when she heard a beautiful
voice. She wonders if it is a bird singing. In the dark night, looks for the source of the
sound and she sees a man's handsome face.
*LUBI-LUBI (Waray)
-The song is about the unbearable heat that the woman endures throughout the
twelve months of the year . Without the realiable fan, the lady says that she could have
fainted
*MANANG BIDAY (Ilocano)
-The song is addressed to a woman that the man is courtin. Although

*POBRENG ALINDAHAW (Visayan)

*MALINAK LAY LABI (Pangasinan)
*MATUD NILA ( Cebuano)
*ATIN CU PUNG SINGSING (Kampampangan)