2. Historical Background
Long before the Spaniard and other foreigners
landed on Philippine shores, our forefathers
already had their own literature stamped In the
history of our race.
Our ancient literature shows our customs and
traditions in everyday life as trace in our folk
stories, old plays and short stories.
Our ancestors also had their own alphabet which
was different from that brought by the Spaniards.
The first alphabet used by our ancestors was
similar to that of the Malayo-Polynesian alphabet.
3. Whatever record our ancestors left
were either burned by the Spanish
friars in the belief that they were
works of the devil or were written
on materials that easily perished,
like the barks of trees, dried leaves
and bamboo cylinders which could
not have remained undestroyed
even if efforts were made to
preserve them.
4. Other records that remained showed folk
songs that proved existence of a native
culture truly our own. Some of these were
passed on by word of mouth till they reached
the hands of some publishers or printers who
took interest in printing the manuscripts of the
ancient Filipinos.
The Spaniards who came to the Philippines
tried to prove that our ancestors were really
fond of poetry, songs, stories, riddles and
proverbs which we still enjoy today and which
serve to show to generations the true culture
of our people.
5. Pre-Spanish Literature is characterized by:
LEGENDS
Legends are a form of prose the common
theme of which is about the origin of a thing,
place, location or name. The events are
imaginary, devoid of truth and unbelievable.
Old Filipino customs are reflected in these
legends. Its aim is to entertain. Here is an
example of a legend is THE LEGEND OF THE
TAGALOGS.
6. Pre-Spanish Literature is characterized by:
FOLK TALES
Folk tales are made up of stories about life,
adventure, love, horror and humor where one
can derive lessons about life. These are useful
to us because they help us appreciate our
environment, evaluate our personalities and
improve our perspectives in life. An example of
this is THE MOON AND THE SUN.
7. Pre-Spanish Literature is characterized by:
THE EPIC AGE
Epics are long narrative poems in which a
series of heroic achievements or events, usually
of a hero, are dealt with at length. Nobody can
determine which epics are the oldest because
in their translations from other languages, even
in English and Spanish. We can only determine
their origins from the time mentioned in the said
epics.
8. Pre-Spanish Literature is characterized by:
Aside from the aforementioned epics, there are still other epics
that can be read and studied like the following epics.
a. Bidasari-Moro epic
b. Biag ni Lam-ang-Ilokano epic
c. Maragtas-Visayan epic
d. Haraya-Visayan epic
e. Lagda-Visayan epic
f. Hari sa Bukid-Visayan epic
g. Kumintang-Tagalog epic h. Parang Sabir-Moro epic
h. “Dagoy” at “Sudsod”-Tagbanua epic
i. Tatuaang-Bagobo epic
j. Indarapatra at Sulayman
k. Bantugan
l. Daramoke-A-Babay – Moro epic in “Darangan”
9. The Epic of Bidasari is the verse translation of
the romantic folk fairy tale poem, originally
published in a 1901 volume of translated
traditional tales from the Malayan
archipelago.
Bidasari- Moro Epic
10. In the Northern portion of the Philippines,
(Ilocos region) it has its only existing and
recorded epic, “Biag ni Lam-ang” (The Life of
Lam-ang). This epic was orally handed down
from generations to generations until it was
penned by the regarded Shakespeare of the
Ilokanos, Pedro Bucaneg at around 1640.
Biag ni Lam-ang- Ilokano epic
11. The Maragtas is a work by Pedro Alcantara
Monteclaro titled (in English translation) History
of Panay from the first inhabitants and the
Bornean immigrants, from which they
descended, to the arrival of the Spaniards. The
work is in mixed Hiligaynon and Kinaray-a
languages in Iloilo in 1907.
Maragtas- Visayan Epic
12. Haraya is a Visayan collection of morals with stories
that champion those morals. It is not considered by
most as an epic because of how it was written. The
Haraya is another epic poem from Panay. It is a
collection of rules of conduct told in the form of
heroic tales. The "Hari sa Bukid" of Negros is a
mythical epic of Kanlaon
Haraya- Visayan Epic
13. It is an epic work of Pedro Alcantara Monteclaro that
tells something about the history of Panay. It is based
through the real experience of
Lagda- Visayan Epic
14. Hari sa Bukid is an epic about a king governing his
people who produced much tobacco in his wide
plantations. It was written by Silva Paz
Hari sa Bukid- Visayan Epic
15. Ang Kumintang ay kasaysayan ng mga pakikidigma ng
mga kawal nina Datu Dumangsil ng taal, Datu
Balkasusa ng Quezon, at Baing Talim. Ito ay galing sa
Panulaang Tagalog, noong 1947 ni Inigo Ed.
Regalado-Manila
Kumintang- Tagalog Epic
16. An epic of the Tagbanua in Palawan.
Type of narrative that is long but has an epic melody.
“Dagoy” at “Sudsod”- Tagbanua Epic
17. The Bagobo tribe has an epic hero named Tuwaang
(Tatuwang), Tuwaang was a brave and strong warrior
with various powers.
Arsenio Manuel is the Author of Tuwaang
Tuwaang- Bagobo Epic
18. One of the masterpiece of Bartolome Del Valle
This is the story of King Indarapatra and his brother
Sulayman.
Indarapatra at Sulayma
19. It is an epic story told in the great oral tradition of the
maranao tribe. A story about the great Prince
Bantugan, the greatest warrior of the kingdom
Bantugan. Written by Brian Saludes
Bantugan
20. A sequel to Bantugan.
Recounts the bravery and might of Bantugan.
In the battles, no one equals his courage and fighting
skills.
Daramoke-A-Babay- Moro epic in Darangan
21. Folk songs are one of the oldest forms of
Philippine literature that emerged in the
pre-Spanish period. These songs
mirrored the early forms of culture. Many
of these have 12 syllables. Here are the
examples:
a. Kundiman
b. Kumintang o Tagumpay
c. Ang Dalit o Imno
d. Ang Oyayi o Hele
e. Diana
f. Soliraning
g. Talindaw
Folk Songs
22. Kundiman
A genre of traditional Filipino love songs and
the traditional song of serenade in the
Philippines. An expression of their sentimental
nature, It was later that the implementation of
operatic style, written accompaniment for
plano, that made the kundiman suffice to be
called an art song.
23. Kumintang o Tagumpay
Kumintang the name given to several distinct
styles, techniques, and forms in music and
dance. Known as the chant national,
describing them as dance-songs performed by
pairs of men women, with texts concerning
love and courtship.
24. Ang Dalit o Imno
Ito ay isang awit ng papuri, luwalhati,
kaligayahan o pasasalamat, karaniwang para
sa Diyos, sapagkat nagpapakita.
nagpaparating o nagpapadala ng pagdakila
at pagsamba
25. Ang Oyayi o Hele
A soothing song or piece of music that is
usually played for (or sung to) children to make
them fall asleep.
26. Diana
These are songs about love written and first
performed by Paul Anka, who recorded it in
May 1957 at Don Costa's studio in New York
City.
29. OTHER FORMS OF PRE-SPANISH POETRY
Epigrams (Salawikain)-
These have been customarily used and served as laws or rules
on good behavior by our ancestors. To others, these are like
allegories or parables that impart lessons for the young.
30. OTHER FORMS OF PRE-SPANISH POETRY
2. Riddles (Bugtong) or Palaisipan-
These are made up of one or more measured lines with rhyme
and may consist of four to 12 syllables.
31. OTHER FORMS OF PRE-SPANISH POETRY
3. Chant (Bulong)-
Used in witchcraft or enchantment.
32. OTHER FORMS OF PRE-SPANISH POETRY
4. Maxims-
Some are rhyming couplets with verses of 5, 6 or 8 syllables,
each line having the same number of syllables.
33. OTHER FORMS OF PRE-SPANISH POETRY
5. Sayings (Kasabihan)-
Often used in teasing or to comment on a person’s actuations.
34. OTHER FORMS OF PRE-SPANISH POETRY
6. Sawikain-
(Sayings with no hidden meanings)
