The document discusses the rich history of pre-Spanish Philippine literature, illustrating the cultural customs and traditions of early Filipinos through folk stories, songs, and epics. While many original records were lost due to Spanish colonization, the remaining literature, such as legends and folk tales, reflect the values and creativity of the Filipino people. It also highlights the evolution of literature during Spanish colonization, introducing religious and secular texts that shaped the modern literary landscape.

1. Long before the Spaniards and other foreigners landed or set foot 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 traced 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 ancestor was similar to that of the Malayo-Polynesian alphabet.
Whatever records our ancestors left were either burned by the Spaniards 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. Other records that
remained showed folk songs that proved the 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. .
Pre-Spanish Literature

2. Long before the Spaniards and other foreigners landed or set foot 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 traced 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 ancestor was similar to that of the Malayo-Polynesian alphabet.
Whatever records our ancestors left were either burned by the Spaniards 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. Other records that
remained showed folk songs that proved the 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. .
Pre-Spanish Literature

3. Pre-Spanish Literature
A. LEGENDS
B. FOLK TALES.
C. THE EPIC AGE
D. FOLK SONGS

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. Other Epics:
Bidasari-Moro Epic
Kumintang-Tagalog Epic
Biag ni Lam-Ang Ilokano Epic
Parang Sabir-Moro Epic
Maragtas-Visayan Epic
Dagoy at Sudsod Epic
Lagda-Visayan Epic
Indarapatra at Sulayman Epic
Hari sa Bukid-Visayan Epic
Bantugan

8. Folk Songs
Kundiman
Ang Dalit O Imno
Kumintang O Tagumpay
Ang Oyayi O Hele
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:

9. Other forms of Spanish Poetry
Epigrams (Salawikain)
Riddles (Bugtong)
Chant (Bulong)
Maxims
Sayings (Kasabihan)
Sawikain (Sayings with no Hidden Meanings

10. 1. 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.
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.
3. Chant
(Bulong). Used in witch craft or enchantment.

11. 4. Maxims.
Some are rhyming couplets with verses 5,6 or 8
syllables, each line having the same number of
syllables.
5. Sayings (Kasabihan).
Often used in teasing or to comment on a person’s
actuations.
6. Sawikain
(Sayings with no hidden meanings)

12. Spanish colonization of the Philippines started in 1565
during the time of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, the first
Spanish governor-general in the Philippines. Literature
started to flourish during his time. The spurt continued
unabated until the Cavite Revolt in 1872.
Spanish Literature

13. RELIGIOUS LITERATURE
SECULAR
1.
2.
Types of Literature during
the Spanish Colonization

14. Religious Literature
Religious lyrics written by ladino poets or those versed in both
Spanish and Tagalog were included in early catechism and were
used toteach Filipinos the Spanish language.
a. Pasyon long narrative poem about the passion and death of Christ.
The most popular was "Ang Mahal na Passion ni Jesu Cristong
Panignoon Natin" byAguino de Belen
b.Senakulo - dramatization of the pasyon, it shows the passion and
death of Christ

15. Secular
(non-religious) Literature a.Awit colorful tales of chivalry made for singing
and chanting.
Example: Ibong Adarna
b. Korido - metrical tale written in octosyllabic quatrains Example: Florante
at Laura by Francisco Baltazar
c. Prose Narratives - written to prescribe proper decorum. Examples:
Modesto de Castro's "Pagsusulatan ng Dalawang Binibini na siUrbana at si
Feliza" and Joaquin Tuason's "Ang Bagong Robinson" (The New Robinson) in
1879.

16. Spanish Influences on the
Philippine Literature
1. ALIBATA
2. Christian Doctrine
3. Spanish language became the literary
language this time
4. European legends and traditions
5. Ancient literature was collected and
translated to Tagalog
6. Grammar books were printed in Filipino
7. Religious tone
Doctrina Christiana- It was
the first printed book in
1593.
1704- The year when the
roman alphabet was
introduced.

17. Literary Compositions
Arte y Reglas de la Lengua Tagala (Art
and Rules of the Tagalog language)
Compendio de la Lengua Tagala
(Understanding the Tagalog language)
Vocabulario de la Lengua Tagala
(Tagalog vocabulary)
Vocabulario de la Lengua Pampanga
(Pampango vocabulary)
Vocabulario de la Lengua
Bisaya (Bisayan vocabulary)
Arte de la Lengua llokana
(The Art of the Ilocano
language)
Arte de la Lengua Bicolana
(The Art of the Bicol
Language)

18. Folk Songs
Leron-Leron Sinta (Tagalog)
Pamulinawen (Iloko)
Dandansoy (Bisaya)
Sarong Banggi (Bicol)
Atin Cu Pung Singsing
(Kapampangan)

19. Recreational Plays
There were many recreational plays
performed by Filipinos during the
Spanish times. Almost all of them
were in poetic form.

20. Cenakulo
Dramatic performance of the passion and
death of Christ
Zarzuela
The father of drama, a musical comedy or melodrama three acts
which death with men's passion and emotions like love, hate,
revenge, cruelty, avarice or some political problem.

21. Lagaylay
A special occasion for the pilareños of
sorsogon during maytime to get together
Tibag
Dramatic performance for the purpose of
manifesting devotion for the holy cross.

22. Lagaylay
A special occasion for the pilareños of
sorsogon during maytime to get together
Tibag
Dramatic performance for the purpose of
manifesting devotion for the holy cross.

23. Panuluyan
Philippine Christmas dramatic ritual
narrating the whole family's search for a place to stay in
Bethlehem for Jesus Christ's birth through songs.
Sanlubong
Dramatizes the reunion of the risen Christ
and his mother.

24. Carillo
A form of dramatic entertainment
perform on a moonless night during a town fiesta or on
darknights after a harvest.
Sainete
A short musical comedy popular during the 18th
century. They were exaggerated comedy shown
between acts plays and were mostly performed by
characters from the lower class.

25. The Moro-Moro
Like the Cenaculo, the Moro-Moro is presented also on a
special stage. This is performed during town fiestas to
entertain the people and to remind them of their
Christian religion.
Example: "Prinsipe Rodante"
Karagatan
This is a poetic vehicle of a socio religious nature
celebrated during the death of a person.

26. Duplo
The Duplo replaced the Karagatan. This is a poetic joust
in speaking and reasoning.
The Balagtasan
This is a poetic joust or a contest of skills in debate on a
particular topic or issue.

27. The Dung-Aw
This is a chant in free verse by a bereaved person or his
representative beside the corpse of the dead.

28. Awit
is in dodecasyllabic verse.
are fabricated stories from writers' imagination
although the setting and characters are European.
refers to chanting.
Example: Florante at Laura by Francisco Balagtas

29. Corrido
is in octosyllabic verse.
were usually on legends or stories from European
countries like France, Spain, Italy and Greece
refers to narration.
Example:
Ibong Adarna by Jose de la Cruz

30. That is all thank you.

31. Group Members:
Bayani Balane
Francis Clamonte
Wilfredo Concepcion
Lorenzo Bernardo
Prince Aspiras
Mark Cepeda