The United States bought the Philippines from Spain for $20 million in 1898, beginning the American colonial period. A bitter war ensued between American colonizers and Filipino rebels, resulting in around 4,000 American deaths but over 30,000 Filipino casualties. Economically, there was little industrial growth under American rule. Writers were divided between those who supported American rule and nationalists, and nationalist writers were often branded as seditious. English became the primary language of instruction in schools, establishing a new form of colonialism through the English language. Notable Filipino writers emerged during this period who wrote using new literary forms and in both English and Filipino languages.

1. American Colonial Period

2.  The Philippines was bought from Spain by the US for
$20 million!
 This led to subsequent questions on the value of the
Filipino “savages” in the eyes of the White Man.
 This was December 10, 1898!

3.  A bitter battle between the colonizers and the rebels
ensued.
 Notable events include:
 Gen. Jacob Smith’s infamous order to “Kill everyone over 10”.
 About 4,000 American soldiers were killed in the Fil-Am war.
The Philippine casualty was eight times larger.
 Economically, there was no industrial growth.

4.  There was great divide between pro-American writers
and the nationalists.
 Nationalist writers were branded “seditious”.
 The writers were divided into two:
 The writers who wrote in the vernacular;
 The writers who wrote in English.

5.  English became a medium of instruction in schools.
 A new form of colonialism emerged, thus English was
the medium of instruction in books and other forms of
literature.
 New literary forms such as free verse [in poetry], the
modern short story and the critical essay were
introduced.

6.  Alejandro Abadilla (“Ako ang Daigdig”)
 Manuel Arguilla
 Paz Marquez Benitez (“Dead Stars)
 Angela Manalang Gloria
 Jose Garcia Villa
 And… Lope K. Santos, Salvador Lopez and I.V. Mallari.