Philippine Literature and Texts (Pre-colonial Times and Pambukhayon among rice fields and terraces and

Spanish Colonizations) instructs his people to be steadfast and learn the

wisdom of warfare and of peacemaking during harvest
1. Philippine Literature and Texts (Pre-colonial Times seasons. Examples of ethno-epics popularized by
and the Spanish Colonization) 21st Century Literature different ethnic groups in the country
from the Philippines and the World
9. Biag ni Lam-ang Sandayo Aliguyon or the Hudhud
2. The variety and abundance of Philippine literature
evolved even before the colonial periods. Folk tales, 10. 3. Labaw Donggon is about the passionate exploits
epics, poems and marathon chants existed in most of the son of a goddess Alunsina, by a mortal, Datu
ethno linguistic groups that were passed on from Paubari. The polygamous hero battles the huge monster
generation to generation through word of mouth. Tales Manaluntad for the hand of Abyang Ginbitinan; then he
associated with the Spanish conquest also took part in fights Sikay Padalogdog, the giant with a hundred arms
the country’s rich cultural heritage. Philippine Pre- to win Abyang Doronoon and confronts the lord of
colonial Literature darkness, Saragnayan, to win Nagmalitong Yawa
Sinagmaling Diwata. Examples of ethno-epics
3. Some of these pre-colonial literary pieces showcased popularized by different ethnic groups in the country
in traditional narratives, speeches and songs are tigmo
in Cebuano, bugtong in Tagalog, patototdon is Bicol and 11. Other epics known to most Filipinos are the Ibalon
paktakon in Ilongo. Philippine epics and folk tales are of Bikol, Darangan which is a Muslim epic, the Kudaman
varied and filled with magical characters. They are of Palawan, the Alim of the Ifugao, Bantugan of the
either narratives of mostly mythical objects, persons or Maranao, the Hinilawod of Panay, and the Tuwaang of
certain places, or epics telling supernatural events and Manobos. The Tagalogs pride their Myth of Bernardo
bravery of heroes, customs and ideologies of a Carpio, a folk hero said to hold the mountains of San
community. Philippine Pre-colonial Literature Mateo apart with his powerful arms to prevent them
from colliding.
4. Owing to the works of our own archaeologists,
ethnologists and anthropologists, we are able to know 12. There are shorter narratives that tell the origins of
more and better judge information about our pre- the people, the stars, the sky and the seas. A famous
colonial times set against a bulk of material about early story that tells of the origin of man and woman is that
Filipinos as recorded by Spanish, Chinese, Arabic and of Malakas (man) and Maganda (woman) who came out
other chroniclers of the past. Pre-colonial inhabitants of of a bamboo after being pecked by a bird. This and
our islands showcase a rich past through their folk other stories of equal birthing of man and woman
speeches, folk songs, folk narratives and indigenous throughout the archipelago assert a woman’s equal
rituals and mimetic dances that affirm our ties with our position with a man within the tribal systems.
Southeast Asian neighbors. Philippine Pre-colonial
Literature 13. Literary Forms during the Pre-colonial Period

5. 1. Biag ni Lam-ang (Life of Lam-ang) of the Ilocanos 14. Mythology, body of myths of a particular culture,
narrates the adventures of the prodigious epic hero, and also the study and interpretation of myth. Myth is a
Lam-ang who exhibits extraordinary powers at an early complex cultural phenomenon that can be approached
age. At nine months he is able to go to war to look for from a number of viewpoints. In general, myth is a
his father’s killers. Then while in search of lady love, narrative that describes and portrays in symbolic
Ines Kannoyan, he is swallowed by a big fish, but his language the origin of the basic elements and
rooster and his friends bring him back to life. Examples assumptions of a culture. Mythic narrative relates, for
of ethno-epics popularized by different ethnic groups in example, how the world began, how humans and
the country animals were created, and how certain customs,
gestures, or forms of human activities originated.
6. 2. The Agyu or Olahing of the Manobos is a three part Almost all cultures possess or at one time possessed
epic that starts with the pahmara (invocation) then the and lived in terms of myths. MYTHS
kepu’unpuun ( a narration of the past) and the
sengedurog (an episode complete in itself). All three 15. Myths are traditional stories occurring in a timeless
parts narrate the exploits of the hero as he leads his past. They involve supernatural elements and are
people who have been driven out of their land to beyond the frontiers of logic. Long ago, when our
Nalandangan, a land of utopia where there are no ancestors heard the sound of thunder and saw
landgrabbers and oppressors. Examples of ethno-epics lightning, they were frightened because they could not
popularized by different ethnic groups in the country understand why these things happened. In order to
understand these and other natural events, they
7. 3. Sandayo of the Subanon tells of the story of the created stories. The stories were handed down from
hero with the same name, who is born through generation to generation all over the country. Although
extraordinary circumstances as he fell out of the hair of myths are not based on objective truth, they reflect
his mother while she was combing it on the ninth both universal worries and the worries of specific
stroke. Thence, he leads his people in the fight against cultures. MYTHS
invaders of their land and waterways. Examples of
ethno-epics popularized by different ethnic groups in 16. WORLD LITERATURE: In the cold northern countries,
the country where the sun disappears almost completely during the
winter season, great fires were lit in the midwinter to
8. 3. Aliguyon or the Hudhud of the Ifugaos tells of the help the sun to be reborn. The ancient Greeks tell a
adventures of Aliguyon as he battles his arch enemy, myth in which Prometheus stole fire from Zeus, the
chief god, and gave it to humans so that they could basahanon or extended didactic sayings from Bukidnon
keep themselves warm. To punish him, Zeus chained and the daraida and daragilon from Panay.
Prometheus to a rock where his liver was eaten by an
eagle every day but grew again every night. MYTHS 24. The folk song, a form of folk lyric which expresses
the hopes and aspirations, the people’s lifestyles as well
17. a. The Gods and Goddesses (Ilocos) b. Why There is as their loves. These are often repetitive and sonorous,
a High Tide during a Full Moon (Ibanag) c. Why the Dead didactic and naive as in the children’s songs or Ida-ida
Come Back No More (Ifugao) d. Mag-asawang Tubig (Maguindanao), tulang pambata (Tagalog) or cansiones
(Tagalog) e. How the Moon and the Stars Came to Be para abbing (Ibanag).
(Bukidnon – Mindanao) Myths from the Different
Regions of the Philippines 25. A few examples are the lullabyes or Ili-ili (Ilongo);
love songs like the panawagon and balitao
18. One day in the times when the sky was close to the (Ilongo);harana or serenade (Cebuano); the bayok
ground a spinster went out to pound rice. Before she (Maranao); the seven-syllable per line poem, ambahan
began her work, she took off the beads from around her of the Mangyans that are about human relationships,
neck and the comb from her hair, and hung them on the social entertainment and also serve as a tool for
sky, which at that time looked like coral rock. Then she teaching the young; work songs that depict the
began working, and each time that she raised her pestle livelihood of the people often sung to go with the
into the air it struck the sky. For some time she movement of workers such as the kalusan (Ivatan),
pounded the rice, and then she raised the pestle so high soliranin (Tagalog rowing song) or the mambayu, a
that it struck the sky very hard. Immediately the sky Kalinga rice-pounding song; the verbal jousts/games like
began to rise, and it went up so far that she lost her the duplo popular during wakes.
ornaments. Never did they come down, for the comb
became the moon and the beads are the stars that are 26. Made up of one or more measured lines with
scattered about. How the Moon and the Stars Came to rhymes and may consist of 4 to 12 syllables Showcase
Be (An Epic from Bukidnon) the Filipino wit, literary talent, and keen observation of
the surroundings Involves reference to one or two
19. Traditional narrative or collection of related images that symbolize the characteristics of an
narratives, popularly regarded as historically factual but unknown object that is to be guessed RIDDLES (Bugtong
actually a mixture of fact and fiction. The medieval Latin or Palaisipan)
word legenda means “things for reading”. During
certain services of the early Christian Church, legenda, 27. 1. Nagtago si Pedro, labas ang ulo. (Pedro hides but
or lives of the saints, were read aloud. A legend is set in you can still see his head. ) 2. Hindi pari, hindi hari,
a specific place at a specific time; the subject is often a nagdadamit ng sari-sari. (Not a priest, not a king but
heroic historical personage. LEGENDS wears different kinds of clothes.) 3. Bugtong-pala-
bugtong, kadenang umuugong. (Riddle me, riddle me,
20. A legend differs from a myth by portraying a human here comes a roaring chain). 4. Heto na si Kaka, bubuka-
hero rather than one who is a god. Legends, originally bukaka. (Here comes Kaka, walking with an open leg.) 5.
oral, have been developed into literary masterpieces. Buhok ni Adan, hindi mabilang. (Adam's hair, you can't
Legends are stories about real people who are famous count.) 6. Buhok ni Adan, hindi mabilang. (Adam's hair,
for doing something brave or extraordinary. Every time you can't count.) 7. Sa araw ay bungbong, sa gabi ay
the story was told, it became more exaggerated and so dahon. (Roll in the morning, leaf in the afternoon). 8.
it is now difficult to tell how much of the story is really Iisa ang pasukan, tatlo ang labasan. (It has one
true. LEGENDS entrance, but has three exit. ) Examples of Riddles
21. WORLD LITERATURE: One of the greatest legendary
figures in Britain is King Arthur. He was the son of King 28. Answers 1. Pako - (Nails) 2. Sampayan - (Clothesline)
Uther Pendragon, a Celtic King. King Uther gave his child 3. Tren - (Train) 4.Gunting - (Scissors) 5. Ulan - (Rain) 6.
to Merlin the wizard. Merlin taught Arthur everything Tubig - (Water) 7. Banig - (Mat) 8. Damit/Baro - (Dress)
he knew so that he could become a great king. When
King Uther died, Merlin stuck a sword into a rock and 29. A proverb is a simple and concrete saying, popularly
said, ‘This sword is in the stone by magic. Only the true known and repeated, that expresses a truth based on
king will be able to pull it out’. Many men tried but none common sense or experience. They are often
succeeded. When Arthur tried, the sword slipped out metaphorical. A proverb that describes a basic rule of
easily. Arthur was made king. He went on to found the conduct may also be known as a maxim. These have
Round Table, an order to knights who became famous been customarily used and served as laws or rules on
for fighting the wicked and helping the poor. LEGENDS good behavior by our ancestors. To others, these are
like allegories or parables that impart lessons for the
22. a. The Legend of the Sleeping Beauty (Kalinga) b. young. PROVERBS or EPIGRAMS (Salawikain or
Legend of the Dama de Noche c. Legend of the Banana Sawikain)
Plant d. Legend of the Firefly Legends from the
Philippines 30. 1. A broom is sturdy because its strands are tightly
bound. Matibay ang walis, palibhasa'y magkabigkis.
23. The proverbs or aphorisms express norms or codes People gain strength by standing together. 2. It is hard
of behavior, community beliefs or they instill values by to wake up someone who is pretending to be asleep.
offering nuggets of wisdom in short, rhyming verse. The Mahirap gisingin ang nagtutulog-tulugan. While it is
extended form, tanaga, a mono- riming heptasyllabic easy to tell people something they do not know, it is
quatrain expressing insights and lessons on life is “more much harder if they are willfully choosing not to see
emotionally charged than the terse proverb and thus what is before them. Examples of Proverbs
has affinities with the folk lyric.” Some examples are the
31. 3. If you persevere, you will reap the fruits of your Spaniards.  The church authorities adopted a policy of
labor. Pag may tiyaga, may nilaga. They don't call them spreading the Church doctrines by communicating to
the fruits of labor for nothing. Hard work and the natives in their own language. DOCTRINA
perseverance are needed to reach your goals. But if you CHRISTIANA (1593) The first book to be printed in the
keep trying, one day you will enjoy the results of your Philippines, was a prayer book written in Spanish with
efforts. 4. New king, new character. Bagong hari, an accompanying Tagalog translation.
bagong ugali. New leadership always brings new ways.
Examples of Proverbs 42.  The task of translating religious instructional
materials forced the Spanish missionaries to employ
32. Chants are used in witchcraft and enchantments. native as translators.  Eventually, these natives learned
Our ancestors also believe in unseen spirits or to read and write both in Spanish and in their native
elemental spirits like dwarfs. They give respect, ask for tongue. Ladinos – bilingual natives; they published their
permission, and excuse or apology to these spirits in works, mainly devotional poetry, in the first decade of
order to deliver them from trouble and danger. Example the 17th century. GASPAR AQUINO DE BELEN – the
of chants, Tabi, tabi po, Ingkong, makikiraan po lamang. most gifted among the ladinos. He wrote the Mahal na
Bari-bari Apo, umisbo lang ti tao. (Ilokano) CHANTS Pasion ni Jesu Christo, a Tagalog poem based on Christ’s
(Bulong) passion, was published in 1704.

33. Sayings are used in teasing or to comment on a

persons’ actuations. Example of sayings, Nag-almusal 43. 1. The first Filipino alphabet called ALIBATA was
mag-isa; Kaninglamig, tinapa; Nahulog ang kutsara; Ikaw replaced by the Roman alphabet. 2. The teaching of the
na sana, sinta. SAYINGS (Kasabihan) Christian Doctrine became the basis of religious
practices. 3. The Spanish language which became the
34. A quatrain with seven syllables each with the same literary language during this time lent many of its words
rhyme at the end of each line Example of tanaga, to our language. 4. The periodicals during these times
“Tahak ng tingin, tulak ng sulyap, yakap, lapat ng titig sa gained a religious tone. Spanish Influences on the
balikat, hatak pa, kindat, hakat.” TANAGA Philippine Literature

35.  A form of folk lyric which expresses the people’s 44. 5. Many grammar books were printed in Filipino,
hopes, aspirations and lifestyles.  Repetitive and like Tagalog, Ilocano, and Visayan. 6. European legends
sonorous, didactic and naïve.  Traditional songs and and traditions brought here became assimilated in our
melodies.  Inspired by the reaction of the people to songs, corridos and moro- moros.
their environment. FOLK SONGS
7. Ancient literature was collected and translated to
36. 1. Uyayi – lullaby 2. Komintang – war song 3. Tagalog and other dialects. 8. Until the 19th century,
Kundiman – melancholic love song 4. Harana – serenade the printing presses that published literary works were
5. Tagay – drinking song 6. Mambayu – Kalinga rice- owned and managed by religious order. Thus, religious
pounding song 7. Subli – dance ritual song of courship themes dominated the literature of the time.
or marriage 8. Tagulaylay – songs of the dead Examples
of Folk Songs 45. Religion and institutions that represented European
civilization enriched the languages in the lowlands,
37. The ambahan is a literary product and poetic introduced theater which we would come to known as
expression of the Southern Mangyans of Mindoro, komedya, the sinakulo, the sarswela, the playlets and
Philippines. As a definition, it can be stated that the the drama. Spain also brought to the country, though at
ambahan is: a. A rhythmic poetic expression with a a much later time, liberal ideas and an internationalism
meter of seven syllable lines and having rhythmic end- that influenced our own Filipino intellectuals and
syllables. b. It is most often presented as a chant writers for them to understand the meanings of “liberty
without a determined musical pitch or accompaniment and freedom.” Literature in this period may be classified
by musical instruments. c. Its purpose is to express in an as religious prose and poetry and secular prose and
allegorical way, liberally using poetic language, certain poetry.
situations or certain characteristics referred to by the
one reciting the poem. AMBAHAN 46. Religious lyrics written by ladino poets or those
versed in both Spanish and Tagalog were included in
38. 1. Buli sa may kaingin Noong s'ya pa'y musmusin early catechism and were used to teach Filipinos the
Hindi ko pinapansin Nang gumulang, pagsapit Tanggi ko Spanish language. Fernando Bagonbanta’s “Salamat
ang lumain Sariwa kong kukunin Bayong kong lalalain nang walang hanga/gracias de sin sempiternas”
Lagi kong sasakbitin! Example of Ambahan (Unending thanks) is a fine example that is found in the
39. Philippine Literature during the Spanish Colonization Memorial de la vida cristiana en lengua tagala
40.  Spanish colonization in the Philippines started in (Guidelines for the Christian life in the Tagalog
1565 during the time of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, the language) published in 1605.
first Spanish governor-general in the Philippines. 
Literature started to flourish during his time.  The 47. Another form of religious lyrics are the meditative
Spaniards colonized the Philippines for more that three verses like the dalit appended to novenas and
centuries. Historical Background catechisms. It has no fixed meter nor rime scheme
although a number are written in octosyllabic quatrains
41.  The Spanish colonizers wanted to undermine the and have a solemn tone and spiritual subject matter.
native oral tradition by substituting for it the story of But among the religious poetry of the day, it is the
the Passion of Christ. However, the native tradition pasyon in octosyllabic quintillas that became
survived and even flourished in areas inaccessible to the entrenched in the Filipino’s commemoration of Christ’s
agony and resurrection at Calvary. Gaspar Aquino de 55. There were many recreational plays performed by
Belen’s “Ang Mahal na Passion ni Jesu Christong Filipinos during the Spanish times. Almost all of them
Panginoon natin na tola” (Holy Passion of Our Lord were in poetic form. 1. Tibag – the word tibag means to
Jesus Christ in Verse) put out in 1704 is the country’s excavate. This ritual was brought here by the Spaniard
earliest known pasyon. to remind the people about the search of St. Helena for
the Cross on which Jesus died through a dramatic
48. NUESTRA SENORA DEL ROSARIO It contains the performance RECREATIONAL PLAYS
biographies of saints, novenas, and questions and
answers on religion. LIBRO DE LOS CUATRO 56. 2. Lagaylay – this is a special occasion for the
POSTRIMERIAS DEL HOMBRE First written book in Pilareños of Sorsogon during Maytime to get together.
typography. ANG BARLAAN AT JOSEPHAT Biblical Story This also shows praise, respct and offering love to the
printed in the Philippines and the first Tagalog novel Blessed Cross by St. Helena and the mound she dug in.
printed in the Philippines even though it is only a 3. The Cenaculo – this is a dramatic performance to
translation. Some of the books published commemorate the passion and death of Jesus Christ. 4.
Panunuluyan – this is presented before 12:00 on
49. THE PASION This is the book about the life and Christmas Eve. This is a presentation of the search of
sufferings of Jesus Christ. URBANA AT FELISA by the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph for an inn wherein to
Modesto de Castro, Father of Classical Prose in Tagalog deliver the baby Jesus.
Influenced greatly the behavior of the people in the
society. ANG MGA DALIT KAY MARIA (Psalms of Mary) 57. 5. Salubong – an Easter play that dramatizes the
Collection of songs praising the Virgin Mary. meeting of the Risen Christ and his Mother. 6. Carillo
(Shadow Play) – this is a form of dramatic
50. 1. Arte y Reglas de la Lengua Tagala (Art and Rules entertainment performed on a moonless night during a
of the Tagalog Language) Translated to Tagalog by town fiesta or on dark nights after a harvest. This
Tomas Pinpin in 1610 Written by Fr. Blancas de San Jose shadow play is made by projecting cardboard figures
2. Compendio de la Lengua Tagala (Understanding the before a lamp against a white sheet. The figures are
Tagalog Language) Written by Fr. Gaspar de San Agustin moved like marionettes whose dialogues are produced
in 1703 Vocabulario de la Lengua Tagala (Tagalog by some experts. 7. The Zarzuela – considered the
vocabulary) First Tagalog dictionary written by Fr. Pedro father of the drama; it is a musical comedy or
de San Bueneventura in 1613. Literary Compositions melodrama three acts which dealt with man’s passions
and emotions like love, hate, revenge, cruelty, avarice
51. 3. Vocabulario de la Lengua Pampanga (Pampanga or some social or political proble.
vocabulary) - the first book written in Pampango written
by Fr. Diego in 1732 4. Vocabulario de la Lengua Bisaya 58. 8. Sainete – a short musical comedy that were
(Bisayan Vocabulary) - Best Visayan language book - exagerrated and shown between long plays. 9. The
Written by Mataeo Sanchez in 1711 5. Arte de la Lengua Moro-Moro – a play that depicts a Christian princess
Ilokana (The Art of the Ilocano Language) - First Ilocano who is captured by the Mohammedans. The father
grammar book by Francisco Lopez 6. Arte de la Lengua organizes a rescue party where fighting between the
Bicolana (The Art of the Bicol Language) - First book in Moros and Christians ensues. 10. Awit – fabricated
the Bicol Language by Fr. Marcos Libson in 1754 stories from writer’s imagination although the setting
and characters are European; refers to chanting. 11.
52. 1. Mi Ultimo Adios, Noli Me Tangere and El Corrido – were usually on legends or stories from
Filibusterismo by Jose Rizal 2. Dasal at Tocsohan by European countries like France, Spain, Italy, and Greece;
Marcelo H. del Pilar 3. Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa by refers to narration.
Andres Bonifacio 4. Ninay by Pedro Paterno 5. Florante
at Laura by Francisco Baltazar 6. Ibong Adarna by Jose 59. 12. Karagatan – this is a poetic vehicle of a socio-
dela Cruz Filipino Works during Spanish Times religious nature celebrated during the death of a
person. 13. Duplo – this replaced the Karagatan; this is
53. Folk songs became widespread in the Philippines. just a poetic joust in speaking and reasoning. 14.
Each region had its national song from the lowlands to Balagtasan – a poetic joust or a contest of skills in
the mountains of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. debate on a particular topic or issue. 15. Dung-aw – a
Examples of Folk Songs A. Leron-leron Sinta (Tagalog) B. chant in free verse by a bereaved person or his
Pamulinawen (Iloko) C. Dandansoy (Bisaya) D. Atin Cu representative beside the corpse of the dead.
Pung Sing-sing (Kapampangan) E. Sarong Banggi (Bicol)
FOLK SONGS 60. Submitted by: Joann Sinilong Alyssa Marie Ursal
Love Laine Caayon Atthea Jane Lepiten 12 – Faraday
54. LERON-LERON SINTA – this song depicts Students Submitted to: Mrs. Julie Ann Fernan Subject
humbleness. It’s the story of a man who tries to show Teacher
what he got to win the heart of his beloved one.
PAMULINAWEN – a song about a man courting and
pledging his love to a beautiful girl named
Pamulinawen. DANDANSOY – a farewell song; the title
is the name of the boy to whom the singer is saying
goodbye. ATIN CU PUNG SING-SING – the song is a
request from a lady who lost her ring given by her
mother. She will give her heart to a man who can find
the beloved ring.