Spanish period
SPANISH INFLUENCES ON
PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
• ALIBATA was the first Filipino
alphabet which was replaced by
the Roman alphabet.
• Lessons on Christian Doctrine
became the basis of religious
practices.
SPANISH INFLUENCES ON
PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
• The Spanish language which
became the medium of instruction
and literary language.
• Legends and traditions from
Europe were assimilated in our
songs, corridos, and moro-moros.
SPANISH INFLUENCES ON
PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
• Ancient literature was collected and
translated to Tagalog and other
dialects.
• Grammar books were printed in
Filipino, like Tagalog, Ilocano and
Visayan.
• Our magazines and periodicals
gained a religious tone.
FIRST BOOKS
The Christian Doctrine (Doctrina Cristiana)
• This was the first book printed in the
Philippines in 1593 in Xylography. It
was written by Fr. Juan de Placencia
and Fr. Domingo Nieva, in Tagalog
and Spanish.
FIRST BOOKS
Nuestra Senora del Rosario
• This was the second book printed in
the Philippines written by Fr. Blancas
de San Jose in 1602, and printed at
the UST Printing Press with the help of
Juan de Vera, a Chinese mestizo.
FIRST BOOKS
Libro de los Cuatro Post Primeras de
Hombre (in Spanish and Tagalog)
• This is the first book printed in
typography.
FIRST BOOKS
Ang Barlaan at Josephat
This is the first Biblical story printed in the
Philippines and translated from Greek to
Tagalog by Fr. Antonio de Borja. The
printed translation has 556 pages and
believed to be the first Tagalog novel
published in the Philippines. Fr. Agustin
Mejia translated this novel in Ilocano.
FIRST BOOKS
The Passion
This book is about the life and
sufferings of Jesus Christ, and it is
read only during lent.
There were 4 versions in Tagalog, and each
version is according to the name of the
writer:
1. Pilapil version by Mariano Pilapil of
Bulacan, 1814
2. The de Belen version by Gaspar Aquino
de Belen of Bataan, 1704
3. The de la Merced version by Aniceto de
la Merced of Norzagaray, Bulacan,1856
4. The de Guia version by Luis de Guia in
1750.
FIRST BOOKS
Urbana at Felisa
This book was written by Modesto
de Castro, known to as the Father
of Classic Prose in Tagalog.
FIRST BOOKS
Ang Mga Dalit Kay Maria (Psalms for Mary)
This is a collection of songs
praising Virgin Mary. It was written
in 1865 by a Filipino priest, Fr.
Mariano Sevilla, which became
popular especially during Maytime
festival or Flores de Mayo.
FOLK SONGS
Some examples of folk songs are:
a. Leron-Leron Sinta
b. Dandansoy
c. Atin Cu Pung Singsing
d. Pamulinawen
e. Sarong Banggi
RECREATIONAL PLAYS
Tibag
means to excavate. This is a
ritual to remind the people about
the search of Saint Helena for the
Holy Cross where Jesus Christ was
nailed and died.
RECREATIONAL PLAYS
Lagaylay
is a special occasion to get
together during the month of May
for the Pilarenos of Sorsogon.
RECREATIONAL PLAYS
Cenaculo
• is a dramatic performance to
re-enact the passion and death
of Jesus Christ.
• is written in octosyllabic verse,
with 8 verses in each stanza.
RECREATIONAL PLAYS
Panunuluyan
is a reenactment of Virgin
Mary and Saint Joseph in
search of an inn to deliver the
baby Jesus.
RECREATIONAL PLAYS
Salubong
is an Easter play that
dramatizes the meeting of the
Risen Jesus Christ and His
Mother.
RECREATIONAL PLAYS
Carillo or Shadow Play
is a dramatic entertainment
performed on dark nights
projecting cardboard figures
before a lamp against a white
sheet.
RECREATIONAL PLAYS
Zarzuela
• is considered the Father of Drama.
It is a musical comedy or
melodrama in three acts which
dealt with man’s passions and
emotions like love, hate, revenge,
cruelty, avarice or some social
RECREATIONAL PLAYS
Sainete
is a short exaggerated musical
comedy performed by characters
from the lower class. The themes
were taken from everyday life
situations.
RECREATIONAL PLAYS
Moro-Moro
is performed during town
fiestas to entertain the people
and to remind them of their
Christian religion.
RECREATIONAL PLAYS
Karagatan
is a poetic contest where a ritual
is performed based on a legend
about a princess who dropped
her ring into the middle of the
sea and who offered her hand in
marriage to anyone who can find
RECREATIONAL PLAYS
Dung-aw
is a chant in free verse by a
bereaved person beside the
corpse of the dead. Without
definite meter or rhyming, the
person recites in poetic rhythm
according to his feelings,
emotions and thoughts.
Spanish period
