Professional Documents
Culture Documents
INTRODUCTION
The diversity and richness of Philippine literature evolved side by side with the
country's history. This can best be appreciated in the context of the country's pre-colonial
cultural traditions and the socio-political histories of its colonial and contemporary
traditions.
The average Filipino's unfamiliarity with his indigenous literature was largely due
to what has been impressed upon him: that his country was "discovered" and, hence,
Philippine "history" started only in 1521.
So successful were the efforts of colonialists to blot out the memory of the
country's largely oral past that present-day Filipino writers, artists and journalists are
trying to correct this inequity by recognizing the country's wealth of ethnic traditions and
disseminating them in schools and in the mass media.
The rousing of nationalistic pride in the 1960s and 1970s also helped bring about
this change of attitude among a new breed of Filipinos concerned about the "Filipino
identity."
OBJECTIVES:
ETHNIC/PRE-COLONIAL TIMES
Compared to other Asian nations, the Philippine Islands has very few artifacts that
show evidence of Asian writing. However, a script called Baybayin or Alibata, was used
in Luzon when the Spaniards settled the islands in 1521. The Spaniards recorded that
Indigenous people in Manila, and among other native groups in the Philippines, wrote on
bamboo, and specially prepared Arecaceae palm leaves, using knives, and styli.
- a pre-Spanish Philippine writing system that originated from the Javanese script
Old Kawi. The writing system is a member of the Brahmic family and is believed
to have been in use as early as the 14th century.
- It continued in use during the Spanish colonization of the Philippines up until the
late 19th century.
- the term literally means syllables.
Pre-colonial inhabitants of our islands showcase a rich past through their folk
speeches, folk songs, folk narratives and indigenous rituals and mimetic dances that
affirm our ties with our Southeast Asian neighbors.
- Tigmo in Cebuano
- Bugtong in Tagalog
- Paktakon in Ilonggo
- Patototdon in Bicol
- expresses hopes, aspirations, and the people's lifestyles as well as their loves
- are often repetitive and sonorous, didactic and naïve as in children’s songs:
Ida-ida in Maguindanao, tulang pambata in Tagalog, and cansiones para
abbing in Ibanag.
- Examples of POPULAR FOLK SONGS:
Lullabies – Ili-ili in Ilonggo
* Work songs that depict the livelihood of the people often sung to go with the
movement of the workers.
Parang Sibil – a type of narrative song (kissa among the Tausugs of Mindanao)
- uses for its subject matter the exploits of history and legendary heroes
- it tells of a Muslim hero who seeks death at the hands of non-Muslims
FOLK NARRATIVES – explain how the world was created, how certain animals possess
certain characteristics, why some places have waterfalls, volcanoes, mountains, flora or
fauna and, in the case of legends, an exploitation of the origins of things.
EPICS – our country’s epics are considered ethno-epics since they are not national but
are “histories” of varied groups that consider themselves “nations.” These epics revolve
around supernatural events or heroic deeds and they embody or validate the beliefs and
customs and ideals of a community. These are sung or chanted to the accompaniment of
indigenous musical instruments and dancing performed during harvests, weddings or
funerals by chanters. The chanters who were taught by their ancestors are considered
"treasures" and/or repositories of wisdom in their communities. The epics come in
various names: Guman (Subanon); Darangen (Maranao); Hudhud (Ifugao); and
Ulahingan (Manobo).
Examples of these epics are the Lam-ang (Ilocano); Hinilawod (Sulod); Kudaman
(Palawan); Darangen (Maranao); Ulahingan (Livunganen-Arumanen Manobo);
Mangovayt Buhong na Langit (The Maiden of the Buhong Sky from Tuwaang--Manobo);
Ag Tobig neg Keboklagan (Subanon); and Tudbulol (T'boli).
While it is true that Spain subjugated the Philippines for more mundane reasons,
this former European power contributed much in the shaping and recording of our
literature. Religion and institutions that represented the European civilization enriched
the languages in the lowlands, introduced theater which we would come to know as
komedya, the sinakulo, the sarswela, the playlets and the drama. Spain also brought into
the country, though at a much later time, liberal ideas and internationalism that
influenced our own Filipino intellectuals and writers for them to understand the meaning
of “liberty and freedom.”
Literature during this period may be classified as religious prose and poetry and
secular prose and poetry.
RELIGIOUS LYRICS – those versed both in Spanish and Tagalog were included in early
catechism and were used to teach Filipino the Spanish language.
SALAMAT NG WALANG HANGAN/GRACIAS DE SIN SEMPITERNAS (Unending
thanks) – fine example of religious lyrics found in the Memorial de la vida Cristiana en
lengua tagala (Guidelines for the Christian life in the Tagalog language)
- written by Fernando Bagonbanta, published in 1605.
SECULAR LYRICS – portrayed the languishing but loyal lover, the elusive, often
heartless beloved, the rival.
In 1863, a rise in the educated class called the “Ilustrado” took place when the
Spanish government introduced public education. “Ilustrado” means well-informed.
Members of this group included the Philippine national hero, Jose Rizal, who wrote
literary novels in Spanish. His novels included “Noli Me Tangere” (Touch Me Not), and
“El Filibusterismo” (The Reign of Greed), considered a Philippine classical literature.
Other popular Philippine writers include Francisco Balagtas who was recognized for his
novel “Florante at Laura” (Florante and Laura).
The Philippine historical documents such as the national anthem, the Malolos
Constitution or Constitucion Politica de Malolos, and the revolutionary propaganda are
also considered a classical literature. Philippine Literature propagated in the Spanish
language, especially in the writings of Marcelo H. Del Pilar, who introduced the La
Solidaridad (The Solidarity). In Cebu City, the first Spanish newspaper, “El Boletin de
Cebu” (The Bulletin of Cebu) was published in 1886.
Ilustrados – well-informed
NOTABLE WRITERS:
- Jose Rizal – his novels are political
- Marcelo H. Del Pilar – La Solidaridad (The Solidarity)
- Mariano Ponce - "Cartas Sobre La Revolución" (Letters on the
Revolution), director of "El Renacimiento" (The Renaissance)
- Emilio Jacinto – Brains of the Katipunan, wrote the primer of
Katipunan known as the Kartilla
- Andres Bonifacio – founder of the Katipunan, 1st Philippine president
- Antonio M. Abad - poet, fictionist, playwright and essayist
- Pedro Paterno – novels are largely cultural; Ninay (1885) is considered
the first Filipino novel
- Francisco Balagtas - Florante at Laura
- La Vanguardia
- El Debate
- Renacimiento Filipino
- Nueva Era
Pre-colonial inhabitants of our islands showcase a rich past through their folk
speeches, folk songs, folk narratives and indigenous rituals and mimetic dances.
Literature during this Spanish Colonial Period may be classified as religious prose
and poetry and secular prose and poetry. Religion and institutions that represented the
European civilization enriched the languages in the lowlands, introduced theater which
we would come to know as komedya, the sinakulo, the sarswela, the playlets and the
drama. Spain also brought into the country, though at a much later time, liberal ideas and
internationalism that influenced our own Filipino intellectuals and writers for them to
understand the meaning of “liberty and freedom.”
Through his novels, Rizal depicted his sense of nationality by emphasizing the
qualities of Filipinos: devotion of a Filipina and her influence to a man's life, the deep
sense of gratitude, and the solid common sense of the Filipinos under the Spanish regime.
The Noli was instrumental in creating a unified Filipino national identity and
consciousness, as many Filipinos previously identified with their respective regions to the
advantage of the Spanish authorities. It lampooned, caricatured and exposed various
elements in the colonial society.
REFERENCES
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literature
http://www.boondocksnet.com/centennial/sctexts/esj_96b.html
http://www.buenosairespe.com.ar/images/rizal.jpg
http://www.seasite.niu.edu/trans/tagalog/modules_in_Tagalog/lahing_pilipino_files/
marcelo_del_pillar.jpg
http://www.globalpinoy.com/ch/images/ch_heroes/gracianolopezjaena.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riddle
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baybayin