The Japanese colonial period in the Philippines promoted the rise of Filipino literature by prohibiting English works and allowing only literature written in Filipino. Filipino poetry during this time was influenced by Japanese poetry and typically featured themes of nationalism, life in rural villages, faith, and the arts. Examples included haiku poems about nature and tanaga poems that used metaphors and similes to describe agricultural life, beauty, and the hot season.

1. Japanese Colonial Period

2. The Japanese colonial period was
said to be the steppingstone for the
rise of the Filipino Literature. The
English literature was prohibited by
the Japanese leaving all of the
literary pieces in Filipino.

3. FILIPINO POETRY DURING THIS
TIME WAS ADOPTED FROM THE
JAPANESE WITH THE COMMON
THEME OF NATIONALISM, COUNTRY,
LOVE, LIFE IN BARRIOS, FAITH,
RELIGION, AND THE ARTS.

4. Haiku
“TUTUBI” by Gonzalo K. Flores
Hila mo’y tabak,
Ang bulaklak naginig,
Sa paglapit mo

5. Haiku
ANYAYA” by Gonzalo K. Flores
Ulilang Damo
Sa tahimik na ilog
Halika, sinta
Tanaga
“PALAY” by Ildefonso Santos
Palay siyang matino
Nang humangi’y yumuko
Ngunit muling tumayo
Nagkabunga ng ginto

6. Tanaga
“KABIBI” by Ildefonso Santos
Kabibi, ano ka ba?
May perlas maganda ka
Kung idikit sa tainga
Nagbubuntunghininga
Tanaga
“TAG-INIT” by Ildefonso Santos
Alipatong lumapag
Sa lupa, nagkabitak
Sa kahoy, nalugayak
Sa puso, naglagablab