17th Century

Long ago before the colonization of other countries to the Philippines, our forefathers
already had their own literary style. Philippine literature before includes legends, folktales,
epic age and folk songs. Literary pieces before Spanish period include lullabyes or ili-
ili(Ilongo), harana or serenade(Cebuano), bayok(Maranao); the seven- syllable per line
poem. Our country’s epics before are considered ethno-epics because unlike other countries,
our epics are not national because they belong to different varied groups that consider
themselves “nations”. Examples of these epics are: Biag ni Lam-ang of the Ilocano, Sandayo
of the Subanon, the Agyu of the Manobos and the Hudhud of the Ifugao. Epigrams, Riddles,
Chants, Maxims, Proverbs or Sayings were also some of the examples of pre- Spanish poetry.
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. But in 1565, the Spaniards colonized the Philippines and whatever our
ancestors had left were burned by the Spaniards for they believed that those are works of
evil spirits and brought the Spanish culture and language editors. The arrival of the
Spaniards created a great influence in the Philippine literature especially to its literary forms
and ideals.During the Spanish period, friars serve as the critic of the Philippine literature in
which they criticized the literary forms and oral traditions of the Philippines. They wanted
to undermine those traditions so they substitute it with their religious literary pieces and
ideas. One of which is the Doctrina Christiana which was the first book to be printed in the
Philippines and was written in Spanish but of course accompanied with Tagalog translation.

In the early 17th century, Tomas Pinpin, a Chinese Filipino printer wrote a book in romanized
phonetic script writer. Tomás Pinpin was a printer, writer and publisher from Abucay, a
municipality in the province of Bataan, Philippines, who was the first Filipino printer and is
sometimes referred as the "Prince of the Filipino Printers."Pinpin is remembered for being
the first native Filipino to publish and print a book, "Librong Pagaaralan nang mga Tagalog
nang Uicang Castilla" in 1610, entirely written by himself in the old Tagalog orthography. He
wrote the book for the Tagalog-speakers to learn the Spanish.

Also during 17th century, Ladinos, bilingual natives learned to read and write both in Spanish
and in their native tongue so they published their works mainly devotional poetry and the
verses were both written in Spanish and Tagalog because it is used to teach Filipinos the
Spanish language. The Tagalog lines, unlike in European Macaronic verse, are simply
translations of the Spanish lines. This is an example of what is known as ladino poetry, an
early (in the Philippines) instance of code-switching or bilingual poetry. Ladino here is
related but not identical to its present definition (i.e., Spanish-based creole language). Great
example of this is the “Salamat ng walang hanggan/gracias de sin sempiternas” written by
Fernando Bagonbanta. Another type of religious lyrics are the meditative verses in which
these are verses that contain no fixed meter nor rhyme scheme although the numbers are
written in octosyllabic quatrains and have a solemn tone and spiritual subject matter.

18th century

During 18th century, Filipino writers began to recognize the Philippines as a separate entity
from Spain and codified these in different form of expressions. It was also during 18th century
when secular literature from Spain in the form of medieval ballads inspired the native poetic-
drama form called the komedya, and later it was called the moro- moro because these
writings often dealt with the Christian themes triumphing against Muslims.

The authors who gain popularity during this period are: Jose Dela Cruz, a foremost exponent
of the komedya, is a poet with prodigious output and urbane style; and Francisco Baltazar,
an acknowledged master of Tagalog poetry because of his unique genius that he could switch
codes, provide insight and information to his oppressed fellow citizen. His narrative poem,
Florante at Laura, was written in sublime Tagalog and perceived to be about the tyranny in
his country.

Another type of religious lyric is the meditative verses attached to religious works, such as
novenas and catechisms. Examples of these poems, called dalit, include Felipe de Jesus’ “Dalit
na Pamucao sa Tauong Babasa Nitong Libro” (Song to Awaken the Reader of This Book) and
“Purihin ng Sansinukob” (Let the Whole World Praise God); Francisco de Salazar’s “Dalit sa
Caloualhatian sa Langit na Cararatnan nang mga Banal” (Song for the Heavenly Glory That
the Holy Will Come To) and “Dalit sa Pagsisisi sa Casalanan” (Song for Repentance); Pedro
Suarez Ossorio’s “Salamat nang Ualang Hoyang” (Unending Thanks). Being rather generic,
the dalit has no fixed meter nor rime scheme—although a number are written in octosyllabic
quatrains—and are identifiable only by their solemn matter. Aside from religious poetry,
there were various kinds of prose narratives written to prescribe proper decorum. Like the
pasyon, these prose narratives were also used for proselitization. Some forms are:
dialogo(dialogue), Manual de Urbanidad (conduct book); ejemplo (exemplum) and tratado
(tratado). The most well-known are Modesto de Castro’s “Pagsusulatan ng Dalawang
Binibini na si Urbana at si Feliza” (Correspondence between the Two Maidens Urbana and
Feliza) in 1864 and Joaquin Tuason’s “Ang Bagong Robinson” (The New Robinson) in 1879,
an adaptation of Daniel Defoe’s novel.

Metrical romance is also a type of popular secular poetry. This metrical romance comes into
two types, the awit and the korido. The awit is set in dodecasyllabic quatrains while the
korido is in octosyllabic quatrains. These colorful tales are of chivalry which came from
European countries written for singing and chanting. For example is the Gonzalo de Cordoba
and Ibong Adarna.
19th century

Culture of literacy has risen through 19th century because Filipino intellectuals educated in
Europe thus make them literate enough to make literary pieces that can influence Filipinos.
They are called the Illustrados who began to write about the downside of colonization. This
is a period when revolutionary and propaganda literature have created.

These Illustrados wrote different criticism against Spaniards. This led to the formation of
Propaganda movement. Jose Rizal was the leading writers of political essays and political
novels wrote the Noli me Tangere and El Filibusterismo were his great political novels that
helped usher in the Philippine revolution which caused the Spanish regime fell and planted
national consciousness among Filipinos. Some Illustrados were Graciano Lopez-Jaena(La
Solidaridad), Emilio Jacinto(Kalayaan), Andres Bonifacio(Katapusang Hibik ng Pilipinas),
and Emilio Jacinto(Liwanag at Dilim).

Secular works were written by different Filipino authors. Those notable of the secular lyrics
followed the conventions of a romantic tradition. These secular poets who wrote in the same
tradition as Francisco’s and Jose’s writings were Jose Corazon De Jesus(Huseng Sisiw), Leona
Florentino, a Pilipina poet who wrote both in Spanish and Ilokano. She is known as the
“mother of Philippine women’s literature” and the “bridge from oral to literary tradition” one
of her writings include the blasted hopes\nalpay a namnama;Jacinto Kawili, Isabelo de los
Reyes the "Father of Filipino Socialism" wrote Catequesis (Catechism);. and Rafael
Gandioco.Prose narratives were equally charged with nationalist consciousness. Pedro
Paterno’s Ninay, 1885, the first Filipino novel, takes the readers on a folkloristic tour of
Philippine customs and traditions, intended to bring out the uniqueness and exoticism of
Spain’s Asian colony. Subtitled Costumbres Filipinas (Filipino Customs) this melodrama
involving two love triangles strives for verisimilitude in the faithful evocation of middle-class
life in the Philippines.