Literary periods - refer to specific eras, their generation to the next.

They require thinking

language and culture, and also formal in order to solve them.
characteristics shared by literature of different To titillate: Many old Filipino riddles contain
times and places. “double entendre’ that were intended to
PHILIPPINE LITERARY HISTORY amuse the men and surprise the women.
PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD To curse implicitly. A riddle could be made up
BC - 1564 against an enemy, rival town, or suitor.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND - happened To preserve the culture. Riddles communicate
before the Spaniards claimed the Philippines the old ways from one generation to the next.
in 1565. 2. PROVERBS, EPIGRAMS, MAXIMS
- The pre-colonial Philippine archipelago was - Known as Salawikain or Sawikain in Filipino
home to numerous kingdoms and sultanates. - Short poems that have been customarily
-The society was organized in strict social been used and served as laws or rules on
classes, such as Datu, Maginoo, Maharlika, good behavior by our ancestors
Timawa, and Alipin. Allegories or parables that impart lessons for
- The items much prized in the islands the young
included jars, which were a symbol of wealth - Often expressing a single idea, that is
throughout South Asia, and later metal, salt usually satirical and had a witty ending
and tobacco. In exchange, the people would 3. TANAGA - short poetic form that is the
trade feathers, rhino horns, horn bill beaks, Filipino equivalent of Japanese Haiku
beeswax, bird's-nests, resin, and rattan. - Consists of four lines with seven syllables
- Works of literature were oral in nature— each with the same rhyme at the end of each
literature that has been passed on by word of line.
mouth. - The focus is to express insights and lessons
- Subjects of literary works were about life, its in life and is more emotionally charged than
blessings, and its consequences; contained the proverb, thus, has affinities with folk lyric
ideas from birth to the grave. 4. CHANTS - Used in witchcraft or
- Baybayin was the oldest writing system. enchantments
Characteristics, forms, examples - Known as Bulong Filipino
A. ORAL LITERATURE - Used by our ancestors to ask for permission
Forms: from spirits or supernatural beings so as not
1. Riddles to have bad things happen to them.
2. Proverbs/Maxims/Epigrams 5. SAYINGS -Known as Kasabihan in Filipino
3. Tanaga - Used in teasing or to comment on a
4. Chants person’s actuations
5. Sayings .
1. RIDDLES - Known as Bugtong in Filipino
- Known as Tigmo in Cebuano
- Made up of one or more measured lines
with rhymes and may consist of 4 to 12
syllables Characteristics, forms, examples
B. FOLK SONGS
Forms:
1. Lullabies
2. Drinking songs
3. Serenade
PURPOSE OF RIDDLES : 4. Songs of death
To entertain: Before the advent of electricity, 5. Religious songs
families would sit around the fire and the 1. LULLABIES - Locally known as Hele or
elders would quiz the younger generation Uyayi.
with riddles. - Sung to put babies to sleep.
To educate: Riddles serve the function of - Content varies, but is usually sung by
passing down knowledge from one parents with ideas on how hard life is and
how they hope that their child will not 1) Ceremonies to appease the deities
experience the hardships of life. 2) Pre-and-post apocalypse
EXAMPLE 3) Life and Death
Ili-ili Tulog Anay (Ilonggo) 4) Gods and Goddesses
2. DRINKING SONGS - Locally known as 5) Heroes and Heroines
Tagay 6) Supernatural beings
- Sung during drinking sessions 7) Animals
1. MYTHS - Tackle the natural to strange
3. SERENADE occurrences of the earth and how things were
- Locally known as Harana in Cebuano and in created with an aim to give an explanation to
Filipino things
- These are Courtship Songs used by young 2. LEGENDS - Through legends, the natives
men to capture the heart of the girl they love understood mysteries around them
4. SONGS OF DEATH -Locally known as Stories usually come with lessons that give
Tagulaylay credit to supernatural powers, supernatural
- These are lamentations that contain the role occurrences, and other out-of-this-world
of good deeds that the dead usually done to native imagination
immortalize his/her good image 3. FABLES AND FOLKTALES - Employ
5. RELIGIOUS SONGS - These are songs or animals, plants, inanimate objects, or forces
chants that are usually given during of nature as characters
exorcisms and thanksgiving during good - Narrates fantastic stories that deal with
harvest underworld characters, including but not
- Exorcism was usually done by Babaylans, limited to:
or Philippine shamans (i.e. almost always tiyanak- babies who died before receiving
women or feminized men) were shamans of baptism rites and are believed to transform
the various ethnic groups of the pre-colonial into evil spirits and eat living victims;
Philippines, specialized in communicating, aswang; and
appeasing, or harnessing the spirits of the kapre– or “Agta” in Cebuanos, they are filthy
dead and the spirits of nature. giants who like to smoke huge rolls of cigars
- There were also various subtypes of 4. EPICS - These are narratives of sustained
Babaylan specializing in the arts of healing length based on oral tradition revolving
and herbalism, divination, and sorcery. around supernatural events or heroic deeds.
Ifugao

Characteristics, forms, examples

B. FOLKTALES
- Locally known as “Mga Kwentong Bayan”,
pre-canonical stories contained ideas about
dealing with the power of nature— 1) Hudhud ni Aliguyon
personified, their submission to a deity— - Tells a daring feat of Aliguyon as he battles
usually Bathala— and how this deity is his arch-enemy, Pambukhayon
responsible for the blessings and calamities Ilocos
Pre-canonical Philippine folk tales also tackle
about irresponsibility, lust, stupidity, 2) Biag ni Lam-ang
deception, and fallibility that eventually leads - Tells the adventures of Lam-ang who
to the instilling of good moral exhibits extraordinary power at a very young
Themes of Pre-canonical Phil. folk tales age
- Introduced Spanish as the medium of
SPANISH COLONIZATION communication.
PERIOD - Spanish became the language of Philippine
1565 - 1863 literature.
- The first Filipino alphabet, was replaced by - The teaching of the Christian Doctrine
the Roman alphabet. became the basis of religious practices.
- Spaniards brought European legends and - One influential work in the awit form is
traditions and were assimilated in our songs, Florante at Laura, an 1838 narrative poem
corridos, and moro-moros. written by Francisco Balagtas.
Works of ancient literature were collected and 2. Korido - the generic name for Philippine
translated to Tagalog and other dialects. romances.
CHARACTERISTICS - It is a metrical romances in octosyllabic (i.e.
1.Non-secular - (Religious literature) 8 syllables) verse called hakira.
(Subjects revolved around the life and death - Odulia de Guzman's "Ibong Adarna" is a
of Jesus Christ.) well-known example of korido
2. Secular - (Non-religious literature) Subjects 3. Prose Narratives - are written to prescribe
revolved around tales of valiance and proper decorum
adventure. - A good example of a prose narrative is the
FORMS OF non-SECULAR (RELIGIOUS) "Pagsusulatan ng Dalawang Binibini na si
LITERATURE Urbana at Feliza", written by Presbitero
1. Pasyon - is a Philippine epic narrative of Modesto de Castro in 1864.
the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of What makes a Filipino National Artist in
Jesus Christ. In stanzas of five lines of eight Literature?
syllables each, the standard elements of epic Ø Their form and content of writings created
poetry are interwoven with a colorful, a sense of nationhood or instilled nationalism.
dramatic theme. Ø They pioneered a unique style of creative
- The entirety of the text is chanted during the expression in the literary arts that inspired
Lenten season and particularly Holy Week, younger generations of writers.
and is a popular Filipino Catholic devotion. Ø They displayed consistent excellence in the
2. Senakulo - derived from the Spanish word quality of their works.
cenáculo which means the “place where Ø They gained recognitions and awards from
Jesus Christ celebrated the Last Supper with prestigious national or international literary
his disciples.”, is a play or re-enactment institutions.
depicting the life and passion of Jesus Christ Who selects these National Artists?
(Senakulo, 2019). Ø Panel of literary experts
3. Komedya - a theatrical tradition by Ø Commissioners of the National
Filipinos, sometimes comes in a form of Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA)
singing, describes conflicts between Ø Board of Governors of the Cultural Center
- It is brought to the Philippines for of the Philippines (CCP)
entertainment, likewise, to spread the Ø President of the Republic of the Philippines
Christian faith. NATIONAL ARTISTS OF PHILIPPINE
1. Religious Komedya,- usually seen during LITERATURE
church celebrations, portrays the life of Christ 1.Amado V. Hernandez (1973) - was born in
or any saint. Hagonoy, Bulacan but grew up in Tondo,
2. Secular Komedya - is a form of Manila. He was a poet, playwright, and
entertainment usually performed at the local novelist. He practiced “committed art” and he
fiestas. A well-known example of Secular was known as the “Manunulat ng
Komedya is Manggagawa”. His works talked about the
3. Santacruzan - a story that portrays the struggles of Filipino laborers.
search for the Holy Cross by queen Elena of 2.Nick Joaquin (1976) was a versatile Filipino
the Roman Empire and her son, Emperor from San Juan, Manila. He is considered as
Constantine. the most distinguished Filipino writer in
FORMS OF secular (NON-RELIGIOUS) English with a pen name of Quijano de
LITERATURE Manila. His main contribution is the
1. Awit - a Filipino poem written in exploration of the Philippine colonial past
dodecasyllabic (i.e.12-syllable) verse called under Spain and probe into the psychology of
plosa, social danger as seen by the young. He has
- Subjects of awit are tales of chivalry where written plays, novels, poems, short stories,
a knight saves a princess. essays, reportage and journalism.
3. Lazaro Francisco (2009), who hails from years of public service as educator, soldier,
Orani, Bataan, developed a social realist university president, journalist and diplomat.
tradition in Philippine fiction. His novels He was the very first Asian President of
embodied the author’s commitment to United Nations General Assembly and the
nationalism. His novels exposed the evils of Philippine Ambassador to US. He was a
the tenancy system, exploitation of farmers reporter at 16, newspaper editor at 20, and
by unscrupulous landlords, and foreign publisher at 32. His broadcast during the
domination. His pen dignifies the Filipino and Japanese colonization was known as the
accents all the positives about the Filipino “VOICE OF FREEDOM”. He was the only
way of life.He is known as the MASTER OF Asian to win Pulitzer Prize for journalism for a
TAGALOG NOVEL. series of articles predicting the outbreak of
4.Edith Tiempo (1999), who hails from the Second World War.
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, was widely 4.Jose Garcia Villa (1973) was a Manileño,
acknowledged as the Mother of Philippine from Malate’s Singalong St. He was known
Literature. She was a poet, fictionist, teacher as DOVEGLION and the “COMMA Poet”. He
and literary critic. Her works are was the finest contemporary poet regardless
characterized by remarkable fusion of style of race and language. He introduced the
and substance, of craftsmanship and insight. reversal consonance and the comma poems.
Her poems “The Little Marmoset” and 5.Alejandro Roces (2003) is a short story
“Bonsai” are intricate verbal transfigurations writer and essayist from Manila, and is
of significant experiences. regarded as the country’s best writer of comic
5.Cirilo F. Bautista (2014) is a poet, fictionist short stories.He wrote innumerable
and essayist from Sampaloc, Manila with newspaper columns that focused on the
exceptional achievements and significant neglected aspects of the Filipino cultural
contributions to the development of the heritage. His works were published in
country’s literary arts. He held regularly international magazines.
funded and unfunded workshops throughout REGION 1:PANGASINAN
the country to bring poetry and fiction closer - Mighty C. Rasing is a blogger, writer,
to people who otherwise would not have the Ilocano poet and fictionist, and a New Media
opportunity to develop their creative talent. practitioner.
He is a teacher of literature and realized that HIS SAMPLE WORK:
classroom is an important training ground for May Powers Ka to be #SuperEpic- A
Filipino writers. leadership book for youth and teenagers,
CANONICAL FILIPINO AUTHORS written in conversational Taglish (a mixture of
1. F. Sionil Jose (2001) is a native of Rosales, Tagalog and English), that uses superheroes
Pangasinan. He often gleans local legends in inspiring young people to use their
and epics from his hometown as well as from potentials to create a big impact to their
the Ilocos region to include in his short stories world.
and novels. His writings since the late 60s REGION 3: AURORA PROVINCE
when taken collectively can be described as Rommel N. Angara (born 20 August 1980) is
epic. His works reflect the consistent a Filipino poet. His poems saw print in
espousal of the aspirations of Filipinos: Pambata, a magazine for Filipino children;
NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY and SOCIAL Sipag Pinoy, a publication of the Department
JUSTICE. His works were translated into of Labor and Employment (DOLE); and
various languages Liwayway, the oldest existing Tagalog weekly
2.NVM Gonzalez (1997), a native of Romblon magazine in the Philippines.
Island, was a poet, essayist, novelist and
teacher who depicted with his pen the Filipino
spirit in rural and urban settings. He HIS SAMPLE WORK:
distinctively wrote of the Filipino life and of Who Got ‘Hugot,’ ’Tol?―Pagkilala sa
the Filipino in the world. Malikhaing Pananalitang Cool • Rommel N.
3. Carlos P. Romulo (1982) was a 4’11” son Angara
of Camiling, Tarlac. His career spanned 50
Ang hugot line ay nakatutuwang pananalitang
tila nakikipag-usap na madaling makatawag-
pansin kapag binasa o pinakinggan.

NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION:

Marcelo Santos III finished Advertising and
Public Relations at Polytechnic University of
the Philippines last 2011. He was known as a
writer as of 2009 by his Love Stories On
Video that he posted on Youtube at
Facebook. Year 2011, He published his 1st
book “Para sa Hopeless Romantic”. He is
now an influencer and a writer.
HIS SAMPLE WORK:
TINTA(mula sa librong Muntik ng Maging
Tayo)
REGION 7:Cebu
Cecilia Manguerra Brainard- although born in
the Post-WWII era, continues to be a
productive writer of the new millennium. Her
works for the 21st century includes:Out of
Cebu: Essays and Personal Prose (2012);
and Fundamentals of Creative Writing (2009).
HER SAMPLE WORK:
“Cecilia Manguerra Brainard’s essays are
invaluable to students as they reflect on their
own life journey. These essays celebrate a
pride in a heritage.” (Edmundo F. Litton,
Professor of Education, Loyola Marymount
University, Los Angeles
REGION 11: Davao
Candy Quimpo Gourlay-was born in Davao
City but now residing in the United Kingdom.
In 2010, her debut novel Tall Story won the
2011 Europe Crystal Kite Award and the 2012
Philippine National Children’s Book Award.
Again in 2014, her second novel Shine won
the Crystal Kite Award for Britain and Ireland.
Her sapmple work:
- Philip Ardagh, The Guardian