the history of Philippine literature dates from the era before the Spanish occupation.

The early Tagalog and a few other groups had a script which they used in writing on strips of bamboo or palm. Most of these early writings were destroyed by the Spanish missionaries. Of the rest, only a few have survived, because of the highly perishable materials on which they were written. Native Filipino stories Philippine fol! literature" that were passed from generation to generation by word of mouth have also survived. #mong such narratives are $%udhod$ and $#lim$, told by the &fugao people of Northern 'u(on, and the $)arangan$ of the Maranao people of Mindanao. The first boo! produced in the Philippines was Doctrina Christiana *hristian )octrine", which was printed by Spanish missionaries from wood bloc!s in +,-.. The first Philippine literature boo! to be printed from type/Pastrimirias, by Father Francisco de san 0ose/ appeared only a few years later. Most of the early Philippine literary wor!s had religious themes and were written by Spaniards. The best !nown of the early native writers was Francisco 1alagtas +23-/ +345", who is still called $the prince of Filipino poets.$ 1alagtas6 classic political satire,Florante at Laura, was written in the mid/+-th century. )uring the last half of the +-th century, Spanish schools were opened to Filipinos. Shortly afterward, publications in Spanish by Filipino authors began to appear. Poems, essays, and novels flourished in the +3-76s during the Filipino movement for independence from Spain. #mong the movement6s literary spo!esmen were Marcelo %. )el Pilar, 8raciano 'ope( 0aena, and 0ose 9i(al. 9i(al wrote such novels as Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. %is famous poem Mi :ltimo #dios My 'ast Farewell"was written in +3-4, ;ust before his e<ecution by the Spanish. Philippine writing in Spanish declined after the +-.76s with the pasising of the Spanish/educated generation, the spread of =nglish, and the rise of Tagalog. The Filipino writers who used Tagalog often evo!ed nationalistic feelings through poetry and plays. Some of their plays were banned as $subversive$ by :nited States administrators. )uring the period from +-+7 to +-5,, often called the $golden age of Philippine drama,$ the foremost dramatists who wrote on Tagalog were Severino 9eyes and Patricio Mariano. >ith the introduction of =nglish in the schools during the period of :nited States rule, Filipinos turned to =nglish in increasing the numbers. Today, it is the principal language of Philippine literature.