CONTEMPORARY PERIOD (1946- present)
- freedom from colonization (JAPOS)
This was after the Philippines gained their independence from the shackles of colonialism on July 4,
1946.
Also known as “recovering era” from the war
FIlipinos in this era learned how to express themselves more confidently
Transitional period of Philippine literature from american style to modern style
FAMOUS WRITERS POST WAR
Macario Pineda - wrote and published “Ginto sa Makiling”, the first Philippine Literary work after the
World War II
Steven Javellana - wrote “ Without seeing the Dawn”, which is about experiences in World War II
Characteristics of Philippine Literature:
Romanticism
Nationalism
Independence
Nature
Expression of Feelings
- martial law repressed freedom of the press (MIGUEL)
writers used symbolisms and allegories to drive home their message at the face of heavy censorship
theater was used as a vehicle for protest such as the PETA (Phil. Education Theater Association) and
the UP Theater
Themes of literature during Martial Law
Protest literature- or the literature of circumvention defined as “body of works that expressed social
and political protest in veiled terms”
Prison literature
Proletarian literature
Notable Authors
Pete Lacaba
Mila Aguilar
Jose Ma. Sison
F. Sionil Jose
Many of the writers ended up behind bars from day one of martial law. Many of the poems written in prison
were later collected and published
- 1980s onwards, writers continue to show dynamism and innovation (JAPOS)
the appearance of new publications after the Martial Law years and the resurgence of committed
literature in the 1960s and the 1970s.
Filipino writers continue to write poetry, short stories, novellas, novels and essays whether these are
socially committed, gender/ethnic related or are personal in intention or not.
The various literary awards such as the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature, the
Philippines Free Press, Philippine Graphic, Home Life and Panorama literary awards encourage him
to compete with his peers and hope that his creative efforts will be rewarded in the long run.
With the requirement by the Commission on Higher Education to teach Philippine Literature in all
tertiary schools in the country, the teaching of the vernacular literature or literature of the regions was
emphasized.
Advancement of literature incorporated in technology and the internet. (MIGUEL)
During the current modern times literature is now widely incorporated with technology. Few
examples are e-libraries, and articles widely available on the internet. Kindle is also a new
advancement wherein you can read various books in a tablet and is solely for the purpose of accessing
and reading books.
We have a wide range of resources through the internet and this gave opportunities to people,
especially the youth, to begin writing and expressing their thoughts, ideas, and feelings. A perfect
example would be WattPad. It became popular to the Filipino youth in 2006.
- Magazines and blogs were published (JAPOS)
a periodical publication containing articles and illustrations, typically covering a particular subject or
area of interest.
Magazines in the philippines include:
Candy
Cosmopolitan
Preview
METRO
GENRES IN THE YEAR 2000s LITERATURE
Creative nonfiction (MIGUEL)
- Creative nonfiction can be an essay, a journal article, a research paper, a memoir, or a poem; it
can be personal or not, or it can be all of these.
Some of the creative nonfiction in the Philippines are:
“The Cardinal’s Sins, the General’s Cross, the Martyr’s Testimony, and Other Affirmations” by
Gregorio C. Brillantes
“Manananggal Terrorizes Manila and Other Stories” by Jessica Zafra
Hyper poetry (JAPOS)
- Hypertext poetry and hypertext fiction are new genres of literature that use the computer
screen as medium, rather than the printed page. The literary works rely on the qualities unique
to a digital environment, such as linked World Wide Web pages or effects such as sound and
movement. Hypertext “poetry” can consist of words, although not necessarily organized into
lines and stanzas, as well as, sounds, visual images, movement or other special effects.
Chick lit (MIGUEL)
- This is genre fiction, which “consists of heroin-centered narratives that focus on the trials and
tribulations of their individual protagonists”. The genre often addresses issues of modern
womanhood – from romantic relationships to female friendships to matters in the workplace –
in humorous and lighthearted ways.
Some of the chick lit in the Philippines are:
Spotlight New Adult by Mina V. Esguerra
Tall Story by Candy Gourlay
Speculative fiction (JAPOS)
- It covers all stories from fantasy to science fiction to slipstream to magic realism to urban
fantasy — so on and so forth.
Some of the speculative fiction in the Philippines are:
Smaller and Smaller Circles by FH Batacan
Sink by Isabel Yap
Blog (MIGUEL)
- A blog (shortening of “weblog”) is an online journal or informational website displaying
information in the reverse chronological order, with latest posts appearing first. It is a platform
where a writer or even a group of writers share their views on an individual subject.
Graphic novels (JAPOS)
- The ‘graphic novel’ has existed as an art form arguably from the time our species learned how to
paint. However, the term has only been in use since the 1960’s, and though it’s often a hotly
debated issue, it’s generally accepted that a graphic novel is a longer work or collection of works
presented in ‘comics’ style.
In addition, the technological developments of the 21st century have directed other writers to theoretically
write about the future, usually to comment on the present and suggest introspection. With increasing
globalization, intersections of cultures and more vocal discussions of women’s rights and LGBT rights,
identity has become a common theme in 21st century literature. Print, we might say, is gradually dying but
our appetite for information continues to grow and of course literature, along with technology still thrives. All
of this paved the way to the 21st century Literature, with various genres, themes and voices.
