2. A M E R I C A N C O L O N I A L
P E R I OD
(1898– 1945)

3. Intended Learning Outcomes:
By the time of completion of this topic, you should be
able to;
1. Trace the historical events and development of
Philippine Literature during the American Period,
2. Acquaint the three literary standards, the Spanish,
Filipino and English literatures, that prospered
during the American Period, and
3. Identify the contributions of American Period to the
Philippine Literary tradition.

4. A M E R I C A N C O L O N I A L
P E R I OD
(1898– 1945)

5. H I S T O R I C A L B A C K G R O U
N D O F A M E R I C A N P E R I O
D
 The Filipino
revolutionaries won
against the Spaniards
and the Philippine
Independence was
proclaimed on June 12,
1898. Our flag was
hoisted as a symbol of
our independence.

6. H I S T O R I C A L B A C K G R O U N D O F
A M E R I C A N P E R I O D
 On February 4, 1899, just
two days before the U.S
Senate ratified the treaty,
fighting broke out between
American and Filipino
nationalists led by Emilio
Aguinaldo known as the
1899 Battle of Manila. It
lasted for three years
(February 4,1899- January
2, 1902).

7. H I S T O R I C A L B A C K G R O U
N D O F A M E R I C A N P E R I O
D
 General Emilio Aguinaldo
was elected as the first
President of the Philippine
Republic but this was
short-lived. His term was
from January 23, 1899 to
March 23, 1901.

8.  The Philippine lost
in the Philippine-
American War with
the surrender of
Gen. Miguel
Malvar of
Batangas on April
1902.
H I S T O R I C A L B A C K G R O U
N D O F A M E R I C A N P E R I O
D

9. I M P A C T O F A M E R I C A N R
U L E
1. EDUCATION AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM
• America’s greatest achievement in the Philippines was the
introduction of the public school system.

10. I M P A C T O F A M E R I C A N R
U L E
2. IMPROVEMENT IN TRADE AND INDUSTRY
3. PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
• In 1901, the Americans created the Board of Public Health, which
later on become a bureau.

11. I M P A C T O F A M E R I C A N R
U L E
4. TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATION

12. I M P A C T O F A M E R I C A N R
U L E
5. DEMOCRACY AND CIVIL LIBERTIES
• The American regime recognized the equality of men before the
law and right of every man to all freedoms.

13. I M P A C T O F A M E R I C A N R
U L E
6. LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
• In 1910, a new group started to write in English. Hence,
Spanish, Tagalog, the Vernaculars and finally, English,
were the mediums used in literature during these days.
- The writers in Spanish were wont to write on
nationalism like honoring Rizal.
- The writers in Tagalog continued in their
lamentations on the conditions of the country and
their attempts to arouse love for one’s native
tongue.
- The writers in English imitated the themes and
methods of the Americans.

14. A. L I T E R A T U R E I N S P A N I
S H
• The inspiration of our Filipino writers in Spanish was Rizal, not
only because of his being a national leader but also because of
his novels NOLI ME TANGERE and EL FILIBUSTERISMO.
a. Cecilio Apostol – wrote poems dedicated to Rizal, Jacinto,
Mabini and all other heroes.
b. Fernando Ma. Guerrero – CRISALIDAS, meaning, a kind
black, wooly caterpillar (June 19, 1901)
c. Jesus Balmori – well known for his pen name Batikuling. He
was elected Poet Laureate in Spanish besting Manuel
Bernabe.
d. Manuel Bernabe – is a lyric poet and the fierceness of his
nationalistic spirit was unchanged in any topic he wrote about.
e. Claro M. Recto – He collected his poems in a book entitled
BAJO LOS COCOTEROS ( Under the Coconut Tree)

15. B. L I T E R A T U R E I N F I L I P I
N O
• FLORANTE AT LAURA of Francisco Balagtas and URBANA AT
FELISA of Modesto de Castro became the ispiration of the
Tagalog Writers.
• Julian Cruz Balmaceda classified three kinds of Tagalog Poets.
1. Poet of the Heart (Makata ng Puso) – These included Lopez K.
Santos, Inigo Ed. Regalado, Carlos Gatmaitan, Pedro Deogracias del
Rosario, Ildefonso Santos, Amado V. Hernandez, Nemecio Carabana,
and Mar Antonio.
2. Poets of Life (Makata ng Buhay) – Led by Lopez k. Santos, Jose
Corazon de Jesus, Florentino Collantes, Patricio Mariano, Carlos
Garmaitan, and Amado V. Hernandez.
3. Poets of the Stage (Makata ng Tanghalan) – Led by Aurelio Tolentino,
Patricio Mariano, Severino Reyes, And Tomas Remigio.

16. B. L I T E R A T U R E I N F I L I P I
N O
Filipino Writers:
a. Lopez K. Santos – a novelist, poet, author and grammarian.
He was called the “Apo” of the Tagalog writers. BANAAG
AT SIKAT was his Masterpiece.
b. Jose Corazon De Jesus – popularly known as Huseng
Batute. ANG ISANG PUNONG KAHOY (A Tree), an elegy,
is believed to be his masterpiece.
c. Amado V. Hernandez – was dubbed Makata ng mga
Manggagawa (Poet of the Laborers). He was known as
Tandang Anong. He considers NENA at NENENG his
masterpiece.
d. Iñigo Ed Regalado –a popular story-teller, novelist, and
newspaperman.

17. B. L I T E R A T U R E I N F I L I P I
N O
The people who should not be forgotten in the field
of Tagalog Drama.
a. Severino Reyes – Father of Tagalog drama and
author WALANG SUGAT.
b. Hermogenes Ilagan – Founded the group Campaña
Ilagan that presented many dramas in Central
Luzon.
c. Patricio Mariano – wrote ANAK NG DAGAT (Son of
the Sea), his masterpiece.
d. Julian Cruz Balmaceda – wrote BUNGANGA NG
PATING (Shark’s Mouth). This gave him much
honor and fame.

18. C. L I T E R A T U R E I N E N G L I
S H
We can divide this period into three time
frames, namely:
1. The Period of Re-Orientation: (1898-1910)
2. The Period of Imitation: (1910-1925)
3. The Period of Self-Discovery: (1925-1941)

19. C. L I T E R A T U R E I N E N G L I
S H
1. The Period of Re-Orientation: (1898-1910)
• Writers during this period were still adjusting to the
newfound freedom after paralyzing effect of
repression of thought and speech under the
Spanish Regime.
• The first attempts in English were in two periodicals
of this time:
a. El Renacimiento: founded in Manila by
Rafael
Palma in 1901.
b.Philippine Free Press: established in Manila

20. C. L I T E R A T U R E I N E N G L I
S H
2. The Period of Imitation: (1910-1924)
• By 1919, the UP College Folio published the literary
compositions of the first Filipino writers in English.
• They were then groping their way into imitating American and
British models which resulted in stilted, artificial and unnatural
style, lacking vitality and spontaneity.
L I T E R A R Y W O R K S:
1. ESSAYS. The noted essayist of this time were: Carlos P.
Romulo, Jorge C. Bocobo, Mauro Mende, and Vicente Hilario.
2. SHORT STORIES. DEAD STARS by Paz Marquez Benitez
written in the early 1920’s stand out as a model of perfection in
character delineation, local color, plot and massage.

21. C. L I T E R A T U R E I N E N G L I
S H
3. The Period of Self-Discovery and Growth: (1925-
1941)
• By this time, Filipino writers had acquired the mastery of
English writing. They now confidently and competently wrote
on a lot of subjects although the old-time favorites of love and
youth persisted. They went into all forms of writing like novel
and the drama.
L I TE R A R Y W O R K S
1. POETRY. Poetry was original, spontaneous, competently written
and later, incorporated social consciousness. Noteworthy names in
this field include Marcelo de Gracia Concepcion, Jose Garcia Villa,
Angela Manalang Gloria, Abelardo Subido, Trinidad Tarrosa
Subido and Rafaela Zulueta.

22. C. L I T E R A T U R E I N E N G L I
S H
3. The Period of Self-Discovery and Growth: (1925-
1941)
2. THE SHORT STORY. Short stories flourished
during these times. Characteristics of short stories:
(a) still remnants of Spanish influence and (b) the
influence of the Western culture also was already
evident.
3. PUBLICATIONS. The Philippine Free Press
provided the first incentives to Filipino writers in
English by offering prizes to worthwhile contribution.
4. ESSAYS. Essays during these period improved.
5. DRAMA. Drama during these period did not reach

23. Thank you
for
listening.
God bless!