During the period of U.S. colonization of the Philippines, notable works of Philippine literature emerged including sarsuwelas, plays, short stories, novels, and poems. Many of these works were written in Tagalog, Cebuano, and other Philippine languages and explored themes of Philippine nationalism and family conflicts. Notable authors during this time included Severino Reyes, considered the "Father of Tagalog Plays", and Manuel Arguilla, known for the widely anthologized short story "How My Brother Brought Home a Wife". The introduction of free public education and use of English as the medium of instruction also influenced Philippine literature and culture.

1. PHILIPPINE
LITERATURE
Literature During U.S. Colonization
By: Lumahod, Arcelyn S.

2. NOTABLE WORKS
• Sarsuwela
• Footnote To Youth
• How my brother Leon brought home a wife?
• Kahapon, Ngayon at Bukas
• Wanted: Chaperon

3. SARSUWELA
• It is a play with singing and dancing
• Also known as “zarzuela”
• Dulang inawitan o dulang hinunihan

4. FOOTNOTE TO
YOUTH
• A short story
• A story of a boy who was only 17 years old
when he decides to marry his loved one.

5. HOW MY BROTHER
LEON BROUGHT
HOME A WIFE • A story written by Manuel Arguilla about a man
who comes home to his province to introduce
his wife from the city to his family.

6. KAHAPON, NGAYON
AT BUKAS
• A drama symbolic in three acts written by
Aurelio Tolentino in 1903.
• First staged at the “Teatro Libertad” in Manila
on May 15, 1903.
• Considered as Tolentino’s most significant
contribution to Filipino drama and most
seditious drama of the era.

7. WANTED:
CHAPERON
• A play in one act, written and directed by
Wilfredo Ma. Guerrero.
• Jose Villa Panganiban translated it as
“Kailangan Isang Tsaperon”
• This household comedy tells about conflicts
among a rich couple and their children because
of their opposing views on behavior and on
family norms.

8. NOTABLE AUTHORS
• Severino Reyes
• Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero
• Fernando Ma. Guerrero
• Cecilio Apostol
• Jose Corazon de Jesus
• Benigno R. Ramos

9. NOTABLE AUTHORS
• Patricio Mariano
• Carlos Bulosan
• Faustino Aguilar
• Manuel Arguilla
• Marcel Navarra
• Magdalena Jatandoni

10. DRAMATIST
• Severino Reyes
• Was a Filipino writer, playwright and director of plays
• He used the pen name “Lola Basyang.”
• He was nicknamed “Don Binoy.”
• Reyes is known as the “Father of Tagalog Plays” and as
the father of the tagalog “zarzuela”
• Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero
• Was born in Ermita, Manila
• He has extensively observed the theater and drama
school

11. POETRY
• Fernando Ma. Guerrero
• An author of “Crisalidas” (1914) and “To Spain”
• He was a Filipino politician, journalist, lawyer and
polyglot who became a significant figure during the
Philippine golden period of Spanish literature.
• Cecilio Apostol
• His poems were once used to teach Spanish language
under the Republic Act No. 1881
• He was born in Sta. Cruz, Manila
• Works: “Pentilicas” and “Crisalidad”
• Poetry collections representing Spanish writings at its
liveliest

12. POETRY
• Jose Corazon de Jesus
• Also known as “Huseng Batute”
• Is one of the greatest Philippine poets and is
acknowledged as the “King of Balagtasan”
• Works: “Mga Gintong Dahon” and “Sa Dakong
Silangan”
• Benigno R. Ramos
• Was an advocate for the independence of the Philippine
from the United States who collaborated with Japan
• Ramos was also noted as a writer of poetry with a
collection: “Mga Agam-agam” and other poems due for
publication

13. NOVELIST
• Patricio Mariano
• Was a Filipino nationalist, revolutionary, pundit, novelist
and short story writer.
• He was a katipunero member and the son of Petronilo
Mariano and Dionisia Geronimo
• Works: Anak ng Dagat, Ang Mga Anak ng Dalita, Ang
Tala sa Panghulo
• Carlos Bulosan
• Was an English language Filipino novelist and poet who
spent most of his life in the United States
• His best known work was the “America is in the Heart”

14. NOVELIST
• Faustino Aguilar
• Was a Filipino novelist, journalist and the editor of
the periodical “Taliba”
• He wrote novels in the social realist vein, including
Busabos ng Palad, Sa Ngalan ng Dios, and Ang Patawad
ng Patay
• He was also a member of the “Katipunan”

15. SHORT STORY
• Marcel Navarra
• Known as the “The Father of Modern Cebuano Literature”
• Born in Tuyom, Carcar
• He spent most of his life writing almost 80 short stories
which were published in Cebuano magazines
• Works: At Ako’y Inanod, Tungod sa Kayagang, Si Zosimo
• Manuel Arguilla
• Is an acclaimed short story writer as well as a patriot and a
guerilla hero
• He is known for his widely anthologize short story, “How my
brother brought home a wife”
• His other works are “Midsummer”, “Heat” and “A Son Is
Born”

16. SHORT STORY
• Magdalena Jalandoni
• Was a Filipino feminist writer
• She is now remembered as one of the most prolific
writers in the Hiligaynon language, from Western
Visayas
• Her works are said to have left permanent a
significant milestone in Philippine literature
• Works: Si Anabella, Sa Kapaang Sang Inaway (“In the
Heat of War”), Ang Dalaga sa Tindahan

17. SIGNIFICANT
DEVELOPMENTS
• The introduction of free public instruction for
all children of school age.
• The use of English as medium of instruction in
all levels of education in public school.

18. FREE PUBLIC
• Education made knowledge and information
accessible to a greater number of Filipinos
• The use of English as medium of instruction
introduced past Filipinos to Anglo-American
modes of thought, culture, and life ways that
would be embedded not only in literature
produced but also in the psyche of the
countries educated class.