MODULE Geographic, Linguistic and Ethnic Dimensions

1
of Philippine Literary History from Pre-Colonial
to the Contemporary
CONTENT STANDARD
The learner will be able to understand and appreciate the
elements and contexts of 21st century Philippine
literature from the regions.

LEARNING COMPETENCIY
Writing a close analysis and critical interpretation of
literary texts and doing an adaptation of these require from
the learner the ability to identify the geographic, linguistic,
and ethnic dimensions of Philippine literary history from
pre-colonial to the contemporary

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After going through this module, you are expected to:
1​ . identify the geographic, linguistic and ethnic dimensions of
Philippine history from the pre-colonial to the contemporary;
2. write a close analysis and critical interpretation of literary
texts; and
3. share your thoughts about the different themes during a
certain period

21ST CENTURY LITERATURE FROM THE PHILIPPINES AND THE WORLD

MODULE Geographic, Linguistic and Ethnic Dimensions

1
of Philippine Literary History from Pre-Colonial
to the Contemporary.
SESSION OUTLINE TRY THIS OUT!
Let's see how much you know about the geographic, linguistic and
TRY THIS OUT! PRE-TEST ethnic dimensions of Philippine literary history from pre-colonial to

GET READY! MOTIVATION the contemporary before we start the new lesson. Choose the letter
of the correct answer. Kindly access this link to do the answer the
DIG INTO IT! LESSON pre-assessment. [Link]
WORK IT OUT! ACTIVITIES GET READY!
WEIGH IT UP! POST-TEST TASK 1. LITERARY TIMELINE
Directions: Try to complete the literary timeline below. Choose the
letter of the correct answer. Write your answer on a separate sheet
HEADS-UP of paper.
This module is a standalone section that you can use based
on your needs and interests to improve your understanding of
the religion, culture, beliefs, and way of life that our
forefathers experienced in the past. In this module, we will
look back at the various literatures that existed in the a. Japanese Period f. 21st Century
Philippines from pre-colonial times to the present. b. Rebirth of Freedom g. Spanish Period
c. Post EDSA h. Period of Enlightenment
d. American Period i. Period of Activism and New Society
e. Pre-Spanish Period j. Period of Third Philippine Republic

21ST CENTURY LITERATURE FROM THE PHILIPPINES AND THE WORLD

 PHILIPPINE LITERATURE:
A TIMELINE
pre-colonial colonial revolutionary post- colonial japanese liberation modern the 21st
period period period period occupation period period century
ALIBATA FREE VERSES, DELICATE SUBJECT
17 LETTERS (3 ROMAN SCRIPT SEED OF FICTION MASTERED REALISTIC AND
NATIONALISM PLAYS AND OVER MATTER NATURALISTIC
VOWELS + CRITICAL ESSAYS ENGLISH
14 CONSONANTS) RELIGIOUS, POETRY SYMBOLISMS AND DELINEATION
SECULAR ALLEGORIES THEMES
ORAL TAGALOG LOVE FOR COUNTRY JOURNALISTIC &
TRADITION SPANISH SIMPLE LITERARY
LANGUAGE GAY AND LESBIAN
LIWAYWAY LANGUAGE AND CRITICISM
CRUDE ON LANGUAGE LITERATURE
MAGAZINE FREE VERSE REBELLIOUS
IDEOLOGY AND EMOTIONS
PHRASEOLOGY EDUCATION TAGALOG, SPANISH POETRY, FICTION, STRONG
MASS FEMINIST
SYSTEM & ENGLISH JAPANESE DRAMA, AND BILINGUAL
WRITTEN, ORAL WAS INTRODUCED OVER ELITES LANGUAGE ESSAY EDUCATION TENDENCIES
LITERATURE LANGUAGE
2000 -
B.C. - 1564 1565 - 1863 1864 - 1910 1910 - 1912 1942 - 1945 1945 - 1960 1990 - 1999
PRESENT

RA R CY
LITE
RIT ICISM
C

1 2 3
The term literature refers to both Literature represents the culture and tradition of a
Literature, which derives from the Latin
written and spoken materials (at times). language or a group of people. Many have attempted to
word litera, which means "letters," is most
Poetry, drama, fiction, nonfiction, and, on define the concept in precise terms, but the accepted
commonly used to refer to works of the
rare occasions, journalism are all definition of literature has been constantly changing,
creative imagination.
examples of this. just as life itself has.
 pre-colonial period
literature
oral folk folk
literature songs tales
bugtong (riddles) harana Balitaw myths
A puzzling question to be solved or A love song
Serenade Explain how the world was created and
guessed other phenomena

salawikain (proverbs) diona talindaw

A wedding song A boating song legends
Witty sayings using metaphors aimed at
teaching virtues
Kumintang Explain the origin of things

tanaga A war song

epics
A mono-rhyming heptasyllabic quatrain
expressing insights and lessons.
Hele/ Uyayi
A lullaby
Narratives revolving around supernatural
events or heroic deeds

Biag ni Lam-ang Hinilawod

notable
works 1 An epic centered on the life and adventures
of Ilocos folk hero named Lam-ang
2 An epic from Panay which recounts the
exploits of three Sulodnon demigod
brothers
 colonial period

literature notable
works
religious philippine
writings drama
literature duplo
1 Florante and Laura
An awit on the struggle and love of the Duke
Florante and Princess Laura of Albania.

2 Ibong Adarna
A poetic debate presented through song and
Early colonial literature was primarily concerned dance, which originated from indigenous
with religious issues. courtship customs.

materials karagatan
It comes from the legendary practice of testing
A corrido about the mythical bird with healing
powers and the three brothers in the quest for
the magical bird.
Prayer books, novenas, doctrines, the the mettle of young men vying for a maiden's

3 Bernardo Carpio
crucifixion, and saints' lives were among the hand.
religious materials.
cenaculo
poetry
The form and structure of the poetry evolved,
This is the dramatization of the life and death of
Jesus Christ and during the Lenten season.
A myth about the legendary strongman of
Montalban.

4
but the religious undertones remained.
moro-moro Ang Mahal na Passion ni
religious poem A street drama about the conflict between
Christians and Muslim Jesucristong Panginoon
The corrido (legendary religious poem) and
awit (heroic poem) surfaced. zarzuela Namin
An outstanding Christian narrative poem
Melodrama, usually in three acts, that uses
alternately spoken and sung words. intended by the religious authorities to replace
the heathen epics. it is written by Gaspar Aquino
de Belen
 revolutionary period
notable
works
literature
propaganda revolutionary
literature literature
1 Diariong Tagalog
Its primary aim was to educate Filipino farmers
and peasant to prepare them for independence
from Spain.
Reformatory in objective More propagandistic than literary in nature

La Solidaridad
The organization's goal was to raise Spanish

and to promote a closer relationship between Spain

and the Philippines.
2
awareness of the needs of its colony, the Philippines,
political essays
Satires, editorials and news
articles were written to expose the
evils of Spanish rule.
political essays
These helped inflame the
spirit of revolution.

3 El Verdadero
Decalogo
Apolinario Mabini’s literary masterpiece which
aims to propagate nationalism. political novels poetry
Noli me Tangere and El
4
Rizal’s novels were meant to Poems of the period focus on
awaken the minds of the Filipinos. love for the country
Filibusterismo
Two novels written by jose Rizal that paved the
way to the revolution.
 post-colonial period

literature notable
works
Period of Period of
Apprenticeship Emergence
1 Ninay
The very first Filipino novel written in
Tagalog. It marked the emergence of the
Filipino intelligentsia's awakening to
national consciousness.

Dead Stars
2
Filipino writers imitated English Highly influenced by Western
and American models. literary trends like Romanticism Written by Paz Marquez Benitez, the first
and Realism. short story in English written in the
country. It is about Alfredo who unwantedly
married with Esperanza and started his
own family.

Poems written during the period

were amateurism and mushy.
Literary works were carefully and
intelligently crafted.
3 Child of Sorrow
Written by Zoilo Galang, the first Philippine
novel in English. It's a classic coming-of-
age story about friendship, desire, and the
loss of innocence.

Footnote to Youth
Written by Jose Garcia Villa, one of the early
short stories during the period which tackles
a delicate subject matter on teenage marriage.
4
 japanese occupation
notable
works
literature
themes and new literary
language forms
1 Suyuan sa Tubigan
It is written by Macario Pineda. His story

01 01
"Suyuan sa Tubigan" won second prize in a
literary contest held by Liwayway in 1943.
haiku
Lupang Tinubuan
It is written by Narciso Reyes In 1943,
Lupang Tinubuan was named the best
Tagalog short story.
2 A free verse of Japanese origin, with 17
syllables divided into three lines (5-7-5).

Tree branch sways slowly (5)

As a child sings a sweet song (7)
Gracefully it goes (5)
Many Filipino writers wrote plays,
poems, short stories, etc. in Tagalog
and other vernacular language.

3 02 02
Uhaw ang Tigang na tanka
Lupa
It is written by Liwayway Arceo. In 1975,
Similar to Haiku but with 31 syllables divided
into five lines (5-7-5-7-7)
Topics and themes were often life in
National Artist Ishmael Bernal adapted Arceo's Grandma's last night (5) the provinces ro escape Japanes
short story Lumapit, Lumayo ang Umaga into
an award-winning film. Elizabeth Oropes, a
sky bleeds in black (7) control and censorship.
Filipina actress, won a FAMAS Best Actress in the atrium (5)
Award for her performance in the film in a dappled moonlight (7)
1976. weeps with me (7)
 LIBERATION period

literature notable
works
LITERARY literary
GIANTS
Nick Joaquin
National Artist for Literature (1976).
works
Literary guilds and awards were
created to recognize and reward
1 Wedding Dance
Amador Daguio's "The Wedding Dance" is a
short story about a husband and wife. Awiyao
feels compelled to remarry in order to have a
son. Lumnay couldn't bear the thought of her
Many consider Nick Joaquin to be the outstanding works. husband marrying another woman because
most distinguished Filipino writer in she couldn't bear children for him.
English, writing so diversely and well

Children of the City

2
about so many aspects of the Filipino.

NVM GONZALEZ Filipino authors learned English

and became acquainted with a
Children of the City by Amadis Ma. Guerrero
centers on an abandoned child in the streets of
National Artist for Literature (1997). variety of literary techniques.
Nestor Vicente Madali Gonzalez, also Manila. The plot revolved around Victor, an eight-
known as N.V.M. Gonzalez, was a year-old son of a dockworker and an
fictionist, essayist, poet, and teacher impoverished mother who lived in the slums. He
who captured the Filipino spirit in rural surrendered to vices after realizing how unfair
and urban settings. Filipino authors learned English the world is and that no one can truly escape the
and became acquainted with a cruelty of reality.
BIENVENIDO SANTOS variety of literary techniques.
Santos, a novelist, short story writer,
poet, and activist, began writing in the
English language he learned in school.
In the Philippines, his first two novels,
Villa Magdalena and The Volcano, were
published in 1965.
3 The Day the Dancers
Came
The day the dancers came by Bienvenido
Santos talks about homesickness of an
expatriate.
 modern period
notable
works
literature
attributes literature
1 Dekada 70
It is written by Lualhati Bautista which focuses

01 01
on the life of Filipinos during the Martial Law
regime. It follows Amanda Bartolome and her The declaration of Martial Law made it
five sons as they live under Martial Law. difficult for Filipino writers to write
The Carlos Palanca Awards recognized
about sensitive subjects, particularly the

2
literary masterpieces on an annual basis.

The Rosales Saga

ongoing crisis.

02 02
It is written by F. Sionil Jose. Po-on (written in PETA and UP Theater, for example, used
1984), Tree (written in 1978), My Brother, My theater as a means of protest. Campus
Executioner (written in 1973), The Pretenders newspapers reflected rebellious Almost all themes in most writings were
(written in 1962), and Mass (written in 1973) feelings. concerned with the country's progress.
are the five interwoven novels.

03 03
Most poems' themes dealt with patience,

3
Bilingual education began in both public

The Flowers of and private schools. From the 1980s respect for native culture and customs,
onward, writers maintained their and the beauty of nature and

May
dynamism and innovation. surroundings.

04 04
During this time, there was a high level
It is written by Francisco Arcellana. The narrator of disregard for the poor. The
describes his father's profound grief and his Symbolism and allegory were used by government took the lead in
mother's perhaps futile attempt to console him. writers to convey their message. resurrecting old plays and dramas.
He mentions a number of deceased members of
his family. Although the story is well-crafted,
the issues are universal.
 The 21st Century

literature notable
works
attributes literature
1 Ladlad
It is written by Danton Remoto chronicles the

01 01
lifestyle of gays and dilemma they encounter
in life. This is the first book in the Philippines
Themes have changed from to raise diverse gay voices in the current call
The subject matter for the literary
sentimentalized romanticism to a for diversity and equality.
piece was a daring and controversial
more realistic and naturalistic
choice.

Women Loving:
2
delineation.

Gay and lesbian literature came out;

Strong feminist tendencies were
evident.
02 Structure and style in literature
were very innovative during this
time period.
02 Stories and a Play
Women Loving: Stories and a Play (Anvil

03 03
Publishing, 2010), Jhoanna Lynn B Cruz's
first book, is the Philippines' first single-
author anthology of lesbian-themed writing.
More social problems were The influence of Western different-
discussed. isms and literary trends was

3 Twisted Series
TV and films have became more

04
noticeable.
popular.
It is written by Jessica Zafra, a collection
The characters, plot structure and of essays about current events, technology,
narrative techniques are more complex. and life in the society.
WORK IT OUT! Mr. Spider kept his word, and even today one can see the hatred of
the spider for the fly.
ACTIVITY 1. What is that piece?
Directions: Identify what period/time the given literary piece
1. What is a fable?
was written. Write the letter of the correct answer on a
2. What do you think are the characteristics of Filipino are
separate sheet of paper.
depicted in the given fable?
____________1. Hinilawod ____________6. Women Loving 3. What is the moral lesson in the story?
____________2. Diariong Tagalog ____________7. Dekada 70
____________3. Bernardo Carpio ____________8. Children of the City ACTIVITY 3. Thought to Ponder
____________4. Suyuan sa Tubigan ____________9. Dead Stars Directions: share your thoughts about the different themes
____________5. Ladlad ____________10. La Solidaridad during a certain period. Use the given template. Write your
answer on a separate sheet of paper.
ACTIVITY 2. One's Thoughts
Directions: Read and analyze the fable. Answer the processing As a student, I know......
questions after the fable. Write your answer on a separate sheet
As a student, I do.....
of paper.
As a student, I feel.....
The Spider and the Fly
Fable
Mr. Spider wanted to marry Miss Fly. Many times, he told her of WEIGH IT UP!
his love and begged her to become his wife, but she always
Let's see how much you learned about the lesson. Choose the
refused, for she did not like him.
letter of the correct answer. Access the link below to answer the
post-assessment.
One day when she saw Mr. Spider coming again, Miss Fly closed
[Link]
all the doors and windows of her house and made ready a pot of
boiling water. She waited, and when Mr. Spider called, begging her
to allow him to enter, she answered by throwing boiling water at
him. This made Mr. Spider very angry and he cried, “I will never
forgive you for this, but I and my descendants will always despise
you. We will never give you any peace.”
21ST CENTURY LITERATURE FROM THE PHILIPPINES AND THE WORLD