8. What is literature?
The word literature is derived from the Latin term
litera which means letter. It has been defined
differently by various writers.
These are the following:
1.Literature expresses the feelings of people to
society, to the government, to his surroundings, to his
fellowmen, and to his Divine Creator. (Brother Azurin)
2. Literature is anything that is printed as long as
it is related to the ideas and feelings of the people,
whether it is true, or just a product of one’s
imagination. (Webster)
3. “True literature is a piece of written work
which is undying. It expresses the feelings and
emotions of people in response to his everyday efforts
to live, to be happy in his environment and, after
struggles, to reach his Creator.” (PANITIKANG
FILIPINO-written by Atienza, Ramos, Salazar and
Nazal)
13. - Refers to world literature in prose
produced during the 21st century. The
range of years in 21st century literature was
written from (roughly ) the year 2001 to the
present.
What is 21st Century literature?
14. Imaginative writing
Deals with current themes and
reflects technological culture
Often breaks traditional writing
Traces artistic representation of
shared and familiar experiences
What is 21st Century literature?
17. PRE – COLONIAL PERIOD
The evolution of Philippine literature depended on
the influences of colonization and the spirit of the
age.
The first Filipino alphabet called ALIBATA was
replaced by the Roman alphabet.
Indigenous Philippine literature was based on
traditions and customs of a particular area of the
country. Philippines is an archipelago. It consists
of several islands, (approximately 7,107 islands),
and each of this island has aunique cultures and
traditions, bearing different set of native literature.
Ancient literatures were written in some
perishable materials like dried leaves, bamboo
cylinder, and bark of the trees.
Literatures were handed down to us orally.
18.
19. Two literary forms during the pre-colonial period:
Written literatures
Examples:
a. Riddles or bugtong. These are effective ways to inculcate the ability of
logical thinking of a child.
b. Epigrams or salawikain. It reflects the hidden meaning through the good
lines. It provides good values.
c. Poems or tanaga – These are common forms of poetry which has a
quatrine with 7 syllables each with the same rhyme at the end of each line. It
also expresses insights and lessons in life.
B. Oral literatures
Examples:
a. Chant. It is used in witchcraft and enchantment. While, ambahan is a
traditional poetry of Hanunoo Mangyans of Oriental Mindoro which teaches
lesson about life. It is recited by parents to educate their children by the youth
expressing their love, by the old to impart experiences, or by the community in
tribal ceremony. (slideshare.net/mobile/jessacerbito…)
b. Balagtasan .This is a Filipino form of debate done in verse. The term is
derived from the surname of Francisco Balagtas the author of Filipino epic
Florante at Laura.
22. THE SPANISH COLONIAL PERIOD
(1565-1897)
Sixteenth Century was the start of the deprivation of
the indigenous Philippine literature. Spanish colonial
government finally got in the scene. They were able to
manipulate literature by monopolizing it under the
religious orders. Literature revolved mainly on the
themes of Spanish/ European culture and of course, the
Roman Catholic religion.
Literary Influences during Spanish colonization
a. Christian Doctrine or Doctrina Christiana was the
first book ever printed in the Philippines in 1593 by the
Dominican press.
b. Libro de la Lengua Tagala by Fernando Bagongbanta
is a tagalog translations to the Spanish lines, still with
the superiority of the Spanish language.
c. Pasyon is influenced by the Spanish contexts of
Christianity. At least, they embodied several Filipino
sentiments and values (the feeling of Filipino mother
towards a suffering son).
23. Filipino writers in Spanish became conscious for
the search of freedom
a. Pasyon Dapat Ipag-alab ng Puso by Marcelo H. del
Pilar expressed his rebellious writing style and was
identified.
b. Pascual Poblete’s Patnubay sa Binyagan associated
Filipinos’ struggle for independence with Jesus’ life.
c. Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo
made a very powerful contribution to the awakening of
Filipinos as it introduces the rejection of Spanish rule.
He also influenced the succeeding writers.
d. The narrative poems Awit and Corrido talked about
world of royals, warriors, and lovers (the basic concept
in Florante at Laura).
e. Komedya. Francisco Baltazar’s Florante at Laura
embodied the concept of colonization and oppression
which gave voice to their revolutionary action towards
freedom.
24. THE AMERICAN COLONIAL PERIOD
(1898-1945)
Philippine literature in Spanish time started to lose its track
on the first decade.
A. Characteristics:
- Period of Apprenticeship(1910-1930)
- Period of Emergence(1920-1930)
B. Literary Forms
-Period of Apprenticeship
a. Short stories( Dead stars by Paz Marquez Benitez
The Key by Paz Latorena
Footnote to youth by Jose Garcia Villa
b. Novels( Childe of Sorrow by Zoilo Galang
-Period of Emergence
Jose Garcia Villa
25. THE CONTEMPORARY PERIOD
(1946 TO PRESENT)
This period started during the rebirth of
freedom in (1946 to present). The
Americans returned in 1945. Filipinos
rejoiced and guerrillas fled to the mountain
and joined the liberating American Army.
On July 4, 1946, the Philippines regained
its freedom and the Filipino flag waved
joyously alone. The chains were broken.
