Philippine Literature All records were burned by the Spanish friars for The Period of Enlightenment

believing that all of these are some part of

The Pre-Spanish Period demonic ritual. And it had been easy for them (1872 – 1898)
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND since all of our records are written in bark of HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
trees, dried leaves, cave walls, and bamboo
Our ancient literature shows our customs and cylinders. started when the GOMBURZA (Mariano Gomez,
traditions in everyday life as traced in our folk Jose Burgos, Jacinto Zamora) were guillotined on
stories, old plays and short stories. Our ancient literature also involves mythical February 17, 1872 at Bagumbayan.
creatures like:
The first alphabet used by our ancestors was THE PROPAGANDA MOVEMENT
similar to that of the Malayo-Polynesian alphabet ● Minokawa (Bagobo) - dragon-bird made
of silver ❖ To get equal treatment for the Filipinos
also known as Alibata.
and the Spaniards under the law.
● Balbal (Tigbanua) - corpse-eating witch
❖ To make the Philippines a colony of
● Numputol (Ifugao) - self-beheading
Spain.
wherein his head breathes fire
❖ To restore Filipino representation in the
● Buso (Bagobo) - shadow that sips
Spanish Cortes.
everything from a corpse except the
bones ❖ To Filipinize the parishes.
● Tikbalang (Tagalog) - mixed centaur ❖ To give the Filipinos freedom of speech,
● Sigbin (Waray) - combination of dog and of the press, assembly and for redress of
kangaroo that walks backwards grievances.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Our ancient literature is presented in the ● Batibat (Ilocano) - huge woman that sits Dr. Jose Rizal
on the chest if you cut her tree (Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado Alonzo y Realonda)
following forms:
● Palasekan (Ilonggo) - invisible whistling
● Legends  born on June 19, 1861 at Calamba,
creature who loves dirty secrets Laguna
● Folk tales ● Santelmo - also known as St. Elmo’s Fire Educational Background:
● Epics ● Danag (Cebuano) - helps in cultivating
❖ Teodora Alonzo – mother and his first
● Folk Songs taro plant but also sips blood
teacher
● Epigrams, riddles, chants ❖ studied in Ateneo Manila
● Proverbs and sayings.
 ❖ started medicine in University of Santo - poem dedicated to the Filipino young ❖ last year in law school was interrupted
Tomas and finished in Universidad students at UST for 8 years after he had a quarrel with
Central of Madrid the priest during a baptism on San
Miguel, Manila in 1880
❖ also studied in the University of Berlin,
❖ El Consejo De Los Dioses (The Council of
Leipzig and Hiedelberg ❖ died on July 4, 1896 at Barcelona, Spain
the Gods)
due to Tuberculosis
❖ died on December 30, 1896 in
- an allegorical play manifesting admiration
Bagumbayan (musketry) ❖ his pen-names were: Plaridel, Pupdah,
for Cervantes
Piping Dilat, and Dolores Mandapat
❖ his pen-names were: Laong Laan and
❖ Junto Al Pasig (Beside the Pasig River)
Dimasalang ❖ established Diariong Tagalog* in 1882
- written when he was 14 years old
❖ Noli Me Tangere (Touch-Me-Not) (*exposed the evils of Spanish government and
❖ Me Piden Versos (You Asked Me for avid false accusations hurled at him by priests.)
- exposed the evils in the society
Verses) and A Las Flores De Hiedelberg
❖ to avoid banishment, he was forced
❖ El Filibusterismo (The Reign of Greed) (To the Flowers of Hiedelberg)
(exiled) to go to Spain in 1888.
- exposed the evils in the government and - two poems manifesting Rizal’s unusual
depth of emotion ❖ replaced Graciano Lopez Jaena as editor
church
of La Solidaridad*
❖ Mi Ultimo Adios (My Last Farewell) ❖ Notas A La Obra Sucesos De Las Filipinas
(*a paper which became the vehicle thru which
For El Dr. Antonio De Morga (Notes on
- his poem when he was incarcerated at Fort reforms in the government could worked out.)
Philippine Events by Dr. Antonio de
Santiago Morga; 1889) ❖ assisted by Fr. Serrano Laktaw in
❖ Sobre La Indolencia De Los Filipinos (On ❖ P. Jacinto: Memorias De Un Estudiante
publishing a different Catechism and
The Indolence of the Filipinos) Passion Book wherein they made fun of
De Manila (P. Jacinto: Memoirs of a
the priest
- essay about the so-called Filipino indolence Student of Manila; 1882)
❖ they also made Dasalan at Tocsohan and
❖ Filipinos Dentro De Cien Aňos (The ❖ Diario De Viaje De Norte America (Diary
Kaiingat Kayo*
Philippines within a Century) of a Voyage to North America)
(*from the word IGAT, a kind of snake fish in
- essay about his prediction that if there is Marcelo H. Del Pilar
politics)
any other colonizer of the Philippines in the born on August 30, 1850 at Cupang, San
future, it will be United States. Literary works:
Nicholas, Bulacan
❖ A La Juventud Filipina (To The Filipino ❖ Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa (Love of
Educational Background:
Youth) Country)
 - translated from the Spanish AMOR PATRIA - a compilation of poems about the oppression by - explains the tragedy of marrying a Spaniard
of Rizal, published on August 20, 1882, in the priests in the Philippines
Diariong Tagalog. ❖ Sa Mga Pilipino…1891
❖ La Soberania En Pilipinas (Sovereignty in
- speech aimed to improve the condition of the
❖ Kaiingat Kayo (Be Careful) the Philippines)
Filipino to become free and progressive
- used his pen-name Dolores Mandapat here - injustice of the friars in the Philippines
❖ Talumpating Pagunita Kay Kolumbus (An
- humorous and sarcastic dig in answer to Fr. Jose ❖ Por Telepono (By Telephone) Oration to Commemorate Columbus)
Rodrigez in the novel Noli Me Tangere.
❖ Pasiong Dapat Ipag-alab ng Puso ng - speech delivered in Madrid on the 39 th
- published in Barcelona in 1888 Taong Babasa (Passion that should anniversary of the discovery of America
arouse the hearts of the readers)
❖ Dasalan at Tocsohan (Prayers and Jokes) ❖ En Honor Del Presidente Morayta De La
Graciano Lopez Jaena Associacion Hispano Filipino 1884
- a cathecism but sarcastically done

- published in Barcelona in 1888 ❖ died in a charity hospital in Barcelona on - he praised Gen. Morayta for his equal
January 20, 1896. treatment of the Filipinos
- because of this he was called a “filibuster”
Stood for: ❖ En Honor De Los Artistas Luna Y
❖ Ang Cadaquilaan ng Dios (God’s Resurreccion Hidalgo 1884
Goodness) ❖ separation of church and state for FREE
Education - praise for the paintings of Hidalgo on the
- a sarcastic cathecism but with a philosophy of condition of the Filipinos under the Spanish
the power and intelligence of God and ❖ better government and schools
❖ Amor A Espaňa O A Las Jovenes De
appreciation for and love for nature
❖ freedom of worship Malolos (Love for Spain or To The Youth
❖ Sagot sa Espanya sa Hibik ng Pilipinas of Malolos)
❖ independent and FREE university
(Answer to Spain on the Plea of the
- how girls were taught Spanish in schools and
Filipinos) Literary works:
whose teachers were the governor-general of the
- a poem pleading for a change from Spain but ❖ Ang Fray Botod (Friar Botod) place
that Spain is already old and weak to grant any
- written in Jaro, Iloilo in 1876, after the Cavite ❖ El Bandolerismo En Pilipinas (Banditry in
aid to the Philippines.
revolt the Philippines)
- answer to Hermenigildo Flores’ Hibik sa Pilipinas
- exposed that some friars are greedy, ambitious - refuted the existence of banditry in the
(A plea from the Philippines)
and immoral Philippines and of how there should be laws on
❖ Dupluhan…Dalit…Mga Bugtong (A robbery and other reforms
poetical contest in narrative sequence, ❖ La Hija Del Fraile (The Child of the Friar)
and Everything is Hambug (Everything is ❖ Honor En Pilipinas (Honor in the
psalms, riddles)
mere show) Philippines)
- triumphant exposition of Luna, Resurrecion colony of Spain but who think of
Pardo de Tavera of the thesis that intellect or Filipinos as foreigners when
knowledge gives honor to the Philippines collecting taxes from stamps Pedro Paterno

❖ Pag-alis sa Buwis sa Pilipinas (Abolition ❖ scholar, dramatist, researcher and

 La Casa De Huespedes (The Landlady’s novelist (Propaganda Movement)
of Taxes in the Philippines)
House)
❖ Institucion ng Pilipinas (Sufferings of the - depicts a landlady looking for ❖ 1st Filipino writer who escaped
Philippines) boarders, not for money but for a censorship of the press during the last
husband to her child. day of Spanish colonization
- refers here to the wrong management of
education on 1887 His works dealt with: Literary works:

❖ Filipino customs  Ninay

OTHER PROPAGANDISTS
- the first social novel in Spanish
Antonio Luna ❖ accusations on how Spaniards ran the by a Filipino
government  A Mi Madre (To My Mother)
❖ pharmacist banished to Spain - shows the importance of a
Mariano Ponce
mother inside the house
❖ pen-name: Tagailog
❖ editor-in-chief, biographer and especially at home
❖ died on June 1899 by Aguinaldo’s researcher (Propaganda Movement)  Sampaguita Y Poesias Varias
soldiers (Sampaguitas and Varied Poems)
❖ pen-names: Tikbalang, Kalipulako, - collection of his poems
Literary works: Naning
Jose Ma. Panginiban
 Noche Buena (Christmas Eve) Literary works:
- pictured true Filipino Life ❖ pen-name: JORMAPA
 Mga Alamat ng Bulacan (Legend of
 Se Devierten (How They Diverted
Themselves)
Bulacan) ❖ photographic mind
- contains folklore and legends
- a dig at a dance of the Spaniards Literary works:
about his hometown
where people are very crowded
 Pagpugot Kay Longinos (The Beheading 
 La Tertulia Filipina (A Filipino Conference Ang Lupang Tinubuan (My Native Land)
of Longinus)  Ang Aking Buhay (My Life)
or Feast)
- a play sown at the plaza of  Su Plano Estudio (Your Study Plan)
- depicts a Filipino custom which
Malolos, Bulacan  El Pensamiento (The Thinking)
he believed was much better
than the Spanish.  Sobre Filipinos (About The Filipinos)
 Por Madrid (For Madrid)  Ang Mga Filipino sa Indo-Tsina (The
- denouncement of Spaniards who Filipinos in Indo-China)
claim that the Philippines is a
Period of Active Revolution ❖ intelligent assistant of Bonifacio

(1896 – 1898) ❖ Brains of Katipunan Jose Palma

❖ edited Kalayaan (Katipunan’s ❖ Himno Nacional Filipino (The Philippine

newspaper) National Anthem) which set to music by
La Liga Filipina– caused Rizal’s exile to Dapitan Julian Felipe
Literary works:
Gist of Literature: Literary works:
 Kartilya ng Katipunan (A primer book on
● accusation to the government  El Melancolias (Melancholies)
the Katipunan)
● unite and purpose for independence  Liwanag at Dilim (Light and Darkness)  collection of his poems
collection of essays on different subjects  De Mi Jardin (In My Garden)
like freedom, work, faith, government  poem expressing one’s longing for his
Andres Bonifacio and love of country sweetheart
 A Mi Madre (To My Mother)
NEWSPAPERS DURING THE REVOLUTION
❖ Father of Filipino Democracy touching ode to his mother
 A La Patria (To My Country) a)Heraldo De La Revolucion
❖ Father of Katipunan (KKK)
considered as his masterpiece
- printed the decrees of the Revolutionary
Literary works:
Apolinario Mabini Government, news and works in Tagalog that
 Ang Dapat Mabatid ng mga Tagalog aroused nationalism
❖ sublime paralytic
(What the Tagalogs Should Know)
b) La Independencia (Independence)
 Katungkulan Gagawin Ng Mga Anak Ng ❖ Brains of Revolution
Bayan (Obligations of Our Countrymen) - edited by Antonio Luna and whose aim was for
- outline of obligations just like Literary works: Philippine Independence
the 10 commandments of God  El Verdadero Decalogo (The True c) La Republica Filipina (The Philippine Republic)
 Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa (Love of Decalogue or Ten Commandments)
One’s Native Land)  propagating the spirit of nationalism established by Pedro Paterno in 1898
 Huling Paalam (Last Farewell)  El Desarollo Y Cadia De La Republica d) La Libertad (Liberty)
- Tagalog translation of Mi Ultimo Pilipina (The Rise and Fall of the
Adios of Rizal Philippine Republic) edited by Clemente Zulueta
 Sa Bayang Pilipino (To the Filipino
Nation)
 OPahayag (News)

Emilio Jacinto
Other Revolutionist American Regime (1898 – 1941)
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND written by Aurelio Tolentino depicting  Spanish writers – about nationalism like
the suppression done by the Americans honoring Rizal and other heroes
● independence from Spain
and their plan to colonize the Philippines  Tagalog writers – continued on
● June 12, 1898 → independence (waving
 Tanikalang Ginto lamentations, and love of native tongue
of the flag by General Emilio Aguinaldo)
written by Juan Abad  English writers – imitated the theme and
● Fil. – American War → resulted in the
style of writing of the Americans
defeat of General Miguel Malvar in 1903
 Malaya
● early 1900 (peace movements and
 written by Tomas Remigio
Filipino writers about nationalism)
 Walang Sugat
 written by Severino Reyes

NEWSPAPERS

● El Nuevo Dia (The New Day)

 established by Sergio Osmeňa in 1900.
CHARACTERISTICS
The Americans censors this twice and
threatened him with banishment  first year of the American period, the
because of his nationalistic writings. language used were Tagalog, Spanish
● El Grito Del Pueblo (The Call of the and the dialects of the different regions
Nation)  1910, new groups started to write in
 established by Pascual Poblete in 1900. English
● El Renacimiento (The Rebirth)  Other Vernaculars
 founded by Rafael Palma in 1901.

PLAYS
The Writers
 Kahapon, Ngayon at Bukas (Yesterday,
Today and Tomorrow)