Revolutionary Literature

REVOLUTIONARY LITERATURE
Revolutionary period in our Philippine literary journey marked a drastic period of inflamed emotions and
fiery rhetoric on the account of achieving freedom from the shackles of tyranny. Revolutionary period
likewise saw various literary masterpieces written as ammunition and shield in the ever-changing tide of
war to independence. Periodicals and magazines were likewise continued to flourish as both avenue for
idea propagation and vehicle for literary initiatives. So, hang on as we explore this very significant
revolutionary period of our nation’s history and literary tradition.
Historical background
 The Filipinos did not get the reforms demanded by the propagandists.
 The government turned deaf ears to the oppression and abuses of the colonial officials.
 The good intention of Mother Spain was reversed by the friars.
 Many Filipinos affiliated with Rizal’s La Liga Filipina (The Filipino League).
 Events which triggered the outbreak of Revolution include:
1) The Banishment of Rizal to Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte;
2) The establishment of the then secret society KKK (Katipunan);
3) The execution of Jose Rizal; and
4) The discovery of Katipunan and arrest of its members.
REVOLUTIONARY WRITERS
Andres Bonifacio
 He was deemed as the “Father of Philippine Revolution.”

 He was called the Great Plebeian.
 He was recognized as the “Supremo” of “Katipunan” or Kataas-taasan, kagalang-galangang
Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (KKK).
 He was greatly inspired by the Noli and Fili of Rizal.
 Initially, he joined Rizal’s La Liga Filipina but established Katipunan when Rizal was banished in
Dapitan, Zamboanga.
 He used Agapito Bagumbayan as his nom de guerre (pen name).
 After the Tejeros Convention, he was charged with sedition and was executed by Aguinaldo’s
men in Maragondon, Cavite on May 10, 1897.
 His major written works include:
1) Ang Dapat Mabatid ng mga Tagalog (What the Tagalogs should Know) – an essay outlining the
basic tenets of Bonifacio’s ideas on nationalism.
2) Katungkulang Gagawin ng mga Anak ng Bayan (Obligations of our Countrymen) – an outline of
obligations just like the Ten Commandments, hence, it is likewise called Ang Dekalogo.
3) Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa (Love of One’s Native Land) – a poem describing love of one’s
country considered as his poetic masterpiece
4) Huling Paalam (Last Farewell) – his translation of Rizal’s Mi Ultimo Adios from Spanish into
Tagalog tongue.
Emilio Jacinto
 He was deemed as “The Brains of the Katipunan.”

 He was the adviser of Bonifacio and the secretary of the Katipunan.
 He served as editor of Kalayaan (Freedom), the official newspaper of Katipunan.
 He used Dimas-Ilaw as pen name.
 After the death of Bonifacio, he led the fight independently of Aguinaldo in his hometown in
Laguna.
 He became a general of the revolution and he died due to bullet wounds in Majayjay, Laguna.
 His major works include:
1) Ang Kartilya ng Katipunan (A Primer Book of Katipunan) – this served as the charter of the
Katipunan which is required to be read by all members.
2) Liwanag at Dilim (Light and Darkness) – a collection of essays on different subjects like freedom,
work, faith, government and love of country.
3) A Mi Madre (To my Mother) – a touching ode to his mother, Marina Dizon.
4) A La Patria (To my County) – an ode he composed believed as his poetic masterpiece.
Apolinario Mabini
 He was deeded as “The Sublime Paralytic.”

 He was regarded as The Brains of the Revolution.
 Due to sensitive and political inclination of his job as Aguinaldo’s adviser, he was called
Aguinaldo’s Dark Cabinet.
 He was a working honor student despite his handicap and finished his law degree.
 He wrote several works about government, society, philosophy and politics.
1) El Verdadero Decalogo (The True Decalogue) – this is considered as his literary masterpiece
which aims to propagate nationalism
2) El Desarollo y Caida de la Republica Filipina (The Rise and Fall of the Philippine Republic) – this
essay highlights the establishment of the Philippine republic and its subsequent doom due to
disunity among the Filipinos
3) Sa Bayang Pilipino (To the Filipino Nation)
4) Pahayag (News)
Jose Palma
 He was a poet, a writer and a revolutionary soldier.

 He wrote the lyrics of the Himno Nacional Filipino (The Philippine National Anthem) composed
by Julian Felipe which was originally entitled, Marcha Magdalo.
 He was born in Tondo, Manila, together with his brother Rafael Palma who later became
President of UP Diliman, Quezon City.
 He joined the fight against the Americans together with Gen. Gregorio del Pilar.
1) Himno Nacional Filipino (Philippine National Anthem) – his poem which became the lyrics of
our national anthem, which was composed by Julian Felipe.
2) Melancolias (Melancholies) – his collection of poems.
3) De Mi Jardin (In my Garden) – a poem expressing one’s desire for his sweetheart.
Jose Rizal
 Dr. Jose P. Rizal is the national hero of the Philippines.

 He was the one who led the Filipinos to start a revolution against the Spanish Government to attain freedom and to
gain control of the country.
 He is well-known for being a propagandist and his way of fighting the Spanish Government through his writing by
revealing the inhumane manipulation of the Spanish Government in the Philippines.
 His works and his words made him a major target during the revolution, and he was put on trial and executed for
his beliefs, making him a martyr of the revolution.
 He chose to have a silent war and not a bloody war because he thinks that it is the only way to gain freedom.
Through that, other Filipinos were motivated to get that freedom. They started many revolts against the Spanish
Government.
 He was born in Calamba, Laguna, Philippines. He died on December 31, 1896 in Bagumbayan Manila, Philippines.
Rizal was the seventh child of their eleven children.
1) The Social Cancer (Noli Me Tangere)

2) The Reign of Greed (El Filibusterismo)
REVOLUTIONARY LITERATURE WRITTEN WORKS
EL FILIBUSTERISMO
El Filibusterismo was written in dedication to the three martyred priests Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora,
whose deaths left an indelible mark in his mind.
Like Noli Me Tangere, Fili aims at enlightening the society, at bringing the Filipinos closer to the truth. But whereas in the
first novel, we are encouraged to ask and aspire for change and liberation, in this novel, the society is urged to open its eyes
to reality and rebel against the Spanish government for its oppression and abuse.
In Noli, there is aspiration, beauty, romance, and mercy. In Fili, all the reader will feel is bitterness, hatred, and antipathy.
The romance and aspirations are gone. Even the characters' personalities seem to have undergone radical change. This is how
different Rizal's second novel is. Considering that both were written by the same author, the plots are poles apart.
Outright scorn and bitterness may already be felt at the beginning of the story, where Simoun promotes abuse and tyranny in
the Spanish government, in the hope that the people will reach the limits of their endurance and declare a revolution.
Simoun, who is actually Noli's Ibarra in disguise, conveys an entirely different personality in Fili. While Ibarra is trusting,
aspiring, and loving, Simoun is now cunningly careful in his dealings, distrusting, and extremely bitter. Something changed
in Rizal; and this is reflected in the personalities he gave his El Filibusterismo characters.

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REVOLUTIONARY LITERATURE

 He was deemed as the “Father of Philippine Revolution.”

 He was deemed as “The Brains of the Katipunan.”

 He was deeded as “The Sublime Paralytic.”

 He was a poet, a writer and a revolutionary soldier.

 Dr. Jose P. Rizal is the national hero of the Philippines.

gain control of the country.

revealing the inhumane manipulation of the Spanish Government in the Philippines.

his beliefs, making him a martyr of the revolution.

Rizal was the seventh child of their eleven children.

 His major works include:

1) The Social Cancer (Noli Me Tangere)

REVOLUTIONARY LITERATURE WRITTEN WORKS

whose deaths left an indelible mark in his mind.

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