This document provides an overview of Philippine literature across different historical periods, including pre-colonial, Spanish, American, post-EDSA, and contemporary times. It then focuses on two examples of literature from the pre-colonial period, including the Legend of Maria Makiling and the Tagalog legend of Banahaw. The Legend of Maria Makiling tells the story of a diwata named Maria Makiling who lives on Mount Makiling and has three suitors - a Spanish soldier, a mestizo student, and a common farmer. It describes how she chooses the farmer but the other two suitors plot against him out of jealousy, leading to conflict and Maria's curse. The legend of

1. Philippine
Literature
during
Pre-Colonial Period
Spanish Period
American Period
Post EDSA
Contemporary Period
The Philippine Literature

2. The word Literature is derived from the Latin term litera which means letter or
writings. It has defined differently by various writers.
Because literature deals with ideas, thoughts, and emotions of man, literature can be
said to be the story of man. Man’s loves, griefs, thoughts, dreams, and aspirations coached
in beautiful language is literature.
In order to know the history of a nation’s spirit, one must read its literature. Hence,
it is, to understand the real spirit of our country, one must “trace the little rills as they
course along down the ages, broadening and deepening into the great ocean of thoughts
which men of the present curse are currently exploring. Through the study of our
literature, we can trace the rich heritage of ideas handed down to us from our forefathers.
Then we can understand ourselves better and take pride in being a Filipino.
In this compilation, we students will provide literary text that have been in progress
on the following period namely, Pre-Colonial, Spanish, American Post EDSA, and
Contemporary. With this are questions that will process the five level thinking skills and
would probably serve as an activity.
Pre-Colonial Period
The Philippine Literature at the Pre-Colonial Period is characterized by native
Literary forms. The early literary forms of the Philippines in this period were epics,
legends, riddles and proverbs which were told and retold by the natives. These literatures
in the pre-colonial times of the Filipinos bore the marks of the community. That is why,
though Philippines are ethnically diverse and are consists of many tribes, they were easily
distinguished by the literary forms that they have.
To ensure the preservation of the literatures in this period, Filipinos managed to
preserved laws, legend, songs and epics by inscribing them on barks of trees, palm leaves
and bamboos. Some of the literary forms have managed to survived war and tropical
disasters because they retained in the common minds and were later reduced to permanent
forms.
Presented in this Period are literary forms from the different places in the
Philippines.
The Legend of Maria Makiling

3. Jose Rizal
Maria Makiling is a character in Philippine Mythology who is said to be a diwata (equivalent for
a fairy or a goddess). She inhabits Mount Makiling in Laguna Province, and protects the animals
and plants of the mountain from those who would harm or defile it. Folklore usually portrays her
as kind and generous towards human beings, giving those gifts and blessings. But when she is
provoked to anger by the greed and cruelty of humans, dispense frightening she withdraws her
favors and/or dispenses frightening punishments.
Once upon a time, a diwata lived in a mountain of Laguna. She was called Maria
Makiling. She has light olive skin, long shining black hair and twinkling eyes. She was
breathtakingly beautiful. Maria was always about helping other people. One time, the
children of a farmer got sick. When he went to Maria to seek help, he was given a bilao full
of ginger. The farmer sadly went home carrying the bilao of ginger. When he reached his
hut, he was greatly surprised: the ginger had turned to gold! Because of Maria's kindness,
the townsfolk had grown to love her. Maria was a great beauty. She was sought for and
wooed by many suitors. Three of them were very much determined to have her. One is
Captain Lara, a Spanish soldier who always brought her gifts from Europe. The other is
Joselito, a Spanish mestizo who was studying in Manila. Every time Joselito visits Maria,
he had many stories to tell her about foreign countries and the things that he had read in
books. He dreamed of going to Spain. He didn't like to live in the Philippines. Of the three,
it was Juan who is the most industrious. He is a common farmer. But he is so hard
working, and his fruits and vegetable grew fat and juicy. He also had many pet animals
and birds. But if truth be told, it was Juan who Maria secretly admired. As time passed,
her suitors became more and more impatient and demanded that Maria tell them who she
loves. So the diwata was forced to promise: "By the night of the full moon, I will tell you
my answer." When the night of the full moon arrived, all of her suitors climbed up the
mountain to know her decision. All was startled when Maria told them that it was Juan
whom she loved. The suitors went away feeling dejected. On the other hand, Joselito and
Captain Lara were very much angry with Juan. They thought of a plan against him. One
day, all was surprised when a huge fire devoured the cuartel of the Spanish. Because of the
fire, Captain Lara ordered many Filipinos to be captured. Secretly, Joselito helped him.
Juan was among those who they imprisoned and tortured. Many prisoners did not last long
from the tortures the Spanish had inflicted upon them. One night, Captain Lara and
Joselito secretly spoke with the prisoners. The next day, Juan was blamed for the burning
of the Spanish cuartel. "I did not do it!" cried Juan. But the prisoners pointed at him
because Captain Lara and Joselito frightened them. The soldiers brought Juan to the
plaza. In front of hundreds of people, Juan was shot as the enemy of the Spaniards. He was
killed even though he didn't commit any wrongdoing. But before he died, he managed to
shout out loud Maria's name. It was heard by the diwata so she quickly went down her

4. mountain. But Juan was already dead when Maria arrived. Tears falling down her face,
she embraced tightly his lifeless body. Afterwards, she faced the crowd. "Why did you not
take care of him?" she shouted. Meanwhile, Captain Lara and Joselito fled to Manila
because they were afraid of Maria. When she learned of this, she cursed the two. She also
cursed those men who cannot accept failure in love. Soon, the curse took effect. Joselito
suddenly became ill. There was no cure for his illness. Captain Lara, on the other hand,
was called back to Laguna when the Filipinos revolted against the abuse that the Spaniards
had inflicted upon them. The revolution quickly spread too many parts of the Philippines.
The revolutionary Filipinos killed Captain Lara. From then on, Maria never let herself be
seen by the people. Every time somebody got lost on the mountain, they remember the
curse of the diwata. They remember the great love of Maria Makiling.
Questions:
Literal Level:
 Who are the characters of the story?
 Who is Maria Makiling?
 Who is the author of the story?
 How will you describe Maria Makiling?
 Who are the antagonists in the story?
Interpretative Level:
 How will you interpret the character and dreams of Joselito?
 How will you interpret the character and description of Maria Makiling in the story?
 What is Juan portraying in the story?
 What does the gifts of Captain Lara for Maria Makiling implies?
 How will you interpret the whole plot of the story?
Applied Level:
 If you were Maria Makiling, to whom will you choose among your suitors?
 In relation with the first question, explain why would you choose him?
 If you were Captain Lara, will you also get jealous to Juan? Then plot revenge against
him?
 If you were imprisoned together with Juan as the one who caused the fire in the cuartel,
will you follow as what they command or not?

5.  If you were Maria Makiling, will you also curse those Spaniards who killed Juan?
Evaluative Level
 In what era did this story happened?
 What kind of culture do these characters have during those times?
 During those times, why is it that Filipino are being oppressed by the Spaniards?
 How painful was the death of Juan that Filipinos revolted against the Spaniards?
 During those times, how will you describe the unity of the Filipinos?
Creative Level:
 What song can you portray upon the story?
 How can you portray a painting of the story?
 How can you make a play out of the story?
 What symbol can you use to convey the message of the story?
 Make a poem out of the message of the story?
Banahaw
(A Tagalog Legend)

6. A vast majority of the early Philippine literary types is the legend. A legend talks about the
origin of a place, an object, or anything that is visible, for that matter. The Tagalogs, inhabitants
of Central and Southern Luzon, are among those with rich collections of legend.
Long before the mountain in the center of Luzon came to be known as Banahaw,
many places, especially those near the river, were already inhabited.
Among the many families living there were the couple Lukban and Bayabas. They
had an only son, Limbas, of unusual strength, bravery, and swiftness. Rare was thye deer,
boar, monkey, or bird that could elude his arrow, so that in no time at all, the name
Limbas became known in the area surrounding the big mountain. He was the center of
admiration for all, and news of his bravery reached even distant places.
One day, Limbas disappeared, to the great anxiety of his parents, who could not eat
and sleep from worrying about him. After seven long days of anxious waiting, however,
Limbas suddenly came home. He brought with him a bundle containing different kinds of
clothes and delicious food. This was his story:
He had been befriended by a bearded gentleman, an encantado, who brought him to
a magnificent house located at the top of the mountain.
There all animals- deer, fowls, among others- were white. There was a vast cacao
plantation, its trees heavy with fruit. A carriage drawn by two white horses served as
means of transportation in travelling all over Luzon. Every time Limbas would consent to
go on this trip, he would be given gifts. The bundle of food and clothes he brought was the
first gift given by the gentleman. He, however, instructed Limbas to kiss the hands of his
parents first before giving them the gift. Failure to do this would change the content of the
bundle. Several times after that, Limbas disappeared for seven-day periods and each time,
he came with a variety of clothes and food, which pleased his parents very much.
One time, Limbas arrived bringing a bundle of little gold balls as the gift of the
gentleman. In his great joy and eagerness to show them to his parents, he forgot to kiss
their hands. He immediately opened the bundle saying: “here are riches for us, small
golden balls!”
But when the bundle was opened, it contained, not golden balls, but only a fruit of
anahaw.
In his grief and disappointment, Limbas shouted:
“Ba! Anahaw!,” “ Ba! Anahaw!,” “ Ba! Anahaw!,”

7. Since then the mountain in the center of Luzon has been named Banahaw.
Similarly, the present towns of Lukban and Tayabas were name after Bayabas and
Lukban, the parents of Limbas.
Questions:
Literal Level:
 How did the mountain center of Luzon named Banahaw?
 Who is Limbas?
 Where did the names of the present town Lukban and Tayabas named from?
 How will you describe the character of Limbas in the story?
 Who befriend Limbas while he was long gone for 7 days?
Interpretative Level:
 How did Limbas act when he was about to go home bringing a bundle of little gold balls?
 What character did Limbas show when he showed grief and disappointment upon
knowing that his bundle of little gold balls turned into fruits of Anahaw?
 How will you interpret the kindeness of the bearded gentlemen who defriended Limbas?
 Why do you think that the consequences of Limbas not kissing the hands of his parents
will lead him to failure?
 In your own interpretation, why do you think the encantado lived at the top of the
mountain?
Applied Level:
 If you were on the shoe of Limbas, will you also be disappointed when you found out that
the bundle of little gold balls toward into fruits of Anahaw?
 If you where the encantado, what act that will lead to bad consequence will make for
Limbas?
 How do you think the encantado felt when Limbas forgot to kiss his parents hand and his
bundle of gold balls turned into fruits of Anahaw; and, eventually Limbas had grief and
disappointment towards the happenings?
 If you wre Limbas, will you also forgot to kiss your parents and have a bad opportunity
toward the gift-bundle of gold balls?
Evaluative Level:

8.  What characteristics of the Filipinos are shown by Limbas?
 Aside from explaining the origin of places and things, what do you think is the other
function of legend?
 How did the author describe the house of the Filipinos during those times?
 Based on the setting of the story, in what era did you think did this story happen?
Creative Level
 What symbol will you use to portray the role and characteristics of Limbas in the story?
 Pick one of the scenes on the story and draw it. How would you explain what you have
drawn?
 If you would be asked to retell this tagalog legend based on the modern era, what would
be the setting of the story and why?
 How would you make a collage