PAMANTASAN NG CABUYAO

College of Education, Arts, and Sciences

Katapatan Subd. Banay-Banay, City of Cabuyao, Laguna

Week 7
Literature under Us colonization
 News paper
 El Renaciementio
 Philippine free press
 Plays

OBJECTIVES
At the end of the lesson the student should be able to:
1. Discuss about Literature under Us colonization.
2. Analyse the Literature under Us colonization.
3. Perform Exercise .

INTRODUCTION
The Philippines had been under Spain’s rule for 333 years. As war between the United
States and Spain became imminent, the commander of the U.S. Asiatic Squadron,
Commodore George Dewey, had discussions with Emilio Aguinaldo's government in exile
in Singapore and Hong Kong. The Treaty of Paris was signed on December 10, 1898. By
the Treaty, Cuba gained its independence and Spain ceded the Philippines, Guam, and
Puerto Rico to the United States for the sum of US$20 million. The Philippine flag was
hoisted on June 12, 1898, as a symbol of Philippine Independence. Given its own history
of colonial revolution, American
opinion was uncomfortable and divided on the moral principle of owning colonial
dependencies. Having acquired the Philippines almost by accident, the United States was
not sure what to do with them. On January 20, 1899, President McKinley appointed the
First Philippine
Commission (Schurman Commission) to make recommendations. Aguinaldo did not
need recommendations to decide what he would do. On January 23, 1899, he proclaimed
the Malolos Constitution and the First Philippine Republic. In 1901, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo
surrendered to the Americans. The peace movements started as early as 1900. Many
Filipinos started writing again and the nationalism of the people remain undaunted.
Filipino writers went into all forms of literature like news reporting, poetry, stories, plays,
essays, and novels. Their writings clearly depicted their love of country and their longings
for independence.
Philippine Literature Under The American Regime
Spanish and Tagalog and the Vernaculars (the language or dialect spoken by the ordinary
people in a particular country or region) were the languages used in writing during the
first years in American period, but Spanish and Tagalog were the predominated language.
In 1910, a new group started to write in English. Hence, Spanish, Tagalog, the
Vernaculars and finally English, were the mediums used in literature during these times.
The creation of Philippine literacy works during the American Period in the Philippines
was advanced by two significant developments in education and culture. Philippine
Literature during the American period were divided into three periods.
The Period of Re- Orientation (1898-1910)-

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 PAMANTASAN NG CABUYAO
College of Education, Arts, and Sciences
Katapatan Subd. Banay-Banay, City of Cabuyao, Laguna
The Period of Imitation (1910-1925)
The Period of Self- Discovery (1925-1941)
Journalism started in the Philippines during the late 1800’s. The emergence of several
publications was intended to inform and awaken the people about the abuses and
atrocities committed by the Spaniards and eventually by the Americans. It encourages
the people to become aware of the social and political circumstances at that time. La
Solidaridad was one of the most famous newspaper in the Spanish times created by
Reformists studying in Europe such as Dr. Jose Rizal, Marcelo H. Del Pilar and Antonio
Luna. The editor was Graciano Lopez-Jaena.
El Renacimiento (Rebirth) was a bilingual Spanish-Tagalog language newspaper. The
paper was first published on September 3, 1901 and was founded as a response to the
signing of the Treaty of Paris, which derailed the Philippines' struggle for sovereignty. The
paper was openly critical of the United States' colonial regime and its policies.It was
printed in Manila until 1910 by the members of the Guerrero de Ermita family. Its directors
were Fernando Ma. Guerrero, Teodoro M. Kalaw, and Rafael Palma and its editors were
Wenceslao Retana, Javier Gomez de la Serna, Dominador Gomez, Isabelo de los Reyes,
and Felipe Calderon.
El Renacimiento - was founded in 1901 by Rafael Palma and and fellow nationalist
writers in Manila - it’s meaning was “Rebirth” - the newspaper was put up as a result of a
perceived growth by Filipino nationalists of their countrymen’s inclination to accept
American sovereignity - less than a year later, the Tagalog section Muling Pagsilang was
added to the newspaper. - the newspaper became well-known for its anti-American
stance and nationalist ideals - it constantly drew threats of libel cases from American
officials but cooler heads and diplomacy intervened. In 1903, Palma left the Renacimiento
and he was replaced by his father-in-law Martin Ocampo as publisher. In 1907, Teodoro
M. Kalaw became director while Fidel Reyes was appointed as editor-in-chief. The paper
shut down due to official pressure after publishing an editorial that dealt with corruption in
the colonial.
There was an editorial article that came out on page 4 of the October 30, 1907 issue of
El Renacimiento that was written by Fidel Reyes. Aves de Rapiña (Birds of Prey), was an
editorial directed against Dean Conant Worcester, Secretary of the Interior for the Insular
Government of the Philippines, although the article did not mention any names. It was a
reaction against Worcester for his racist and self-serving policies in government. This
included the Special Government Province Act of 1905 which placed the ethnic Filipinos
under special administration by the Interior Department and his investments for
commercial and economic ventures in tribal lands. What is not known in our history was
that the editorial was an offshoot of an earlier editorial cartoon that appeared in Lipang
Kalabaw, a satirical magazine. The cartoon depicted Worcester as King Belshazzar of
Babylonia who was warned by God for his persecution of the Jews through the words
“Mene Thekel Phares” written on the walls of the palace. The cartoon itself showed that
the oracle (the Filipino people) warning “King” Worcester.

Translation of the "Aves de Rapiña" (Birds of Prey)

"On the surface of the globe some were born to eat and devour, others to be eaten and
devoured.
"Now and then the latter have bestirred themselves, endeavoring to rebel against an order
of things which makes them the prey and food of the insatiable voracity of the former. At
times they have been fortunate, putting to flight the eaters and devourers, but in a majority
of cases they do not obtain anything but a change of name or plumage.

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 PAMANTASAN NG CABUYAO
College of Education, Arts, and Sciences
Katapatan Subd. Banay-Banay, City of Cabuyao, Laguna
"The situation is the same in all spheres of creation; the
relation between the ones and the others is that dictated by the appetite and the power
to satisfy it at the fellow- creature's expense.

"Among men it is easy to observe the development of this daily phenomenon. And for
some psychological reason the nations who believe themselves powerful have taken the
fiercest and most harmful creatures as emblems; it is either the lion, or the eagle, or the
serpent. Some have done so by a secret impulse of affinity and others in the
nature of simulation, of infatuated vanity, making themselves appear that which they are
not nor ever will be.
"The eagle, symbolizing liberty and strength, is the bird that has found the most
adepts. And men, collectively and individually, have desired to copy and imitate the most
rapacious bird in order to triumph in the plundering if their fellow-men.
"There are men who, besides being eagles, have the characteristics of the vulture, the
owl and the vampire.
"Ascending the mountains of Benguet to classify and measure the skulls of the Igorots
and study and civilize them, and to espy in his flight with the eye of the bird of prey, where
are the large deposits of gold, the prey concealed amongst the lonely mountains, to
appropriate them to himself afterwards, thanks to legal facilities made and unmade at will,
but always for his own benefit.
"Authorizing, despite laws and ordinances an illegal slaughtering of diseased cattle in
order to derive benefit from the infected and putrid meat which he himself was obliged to
condemn by virtue of his official position.
"Presenting himself on all occasions with the wrinkled brow of the scientist who
consumes his life in the mysteries of the laboratory of science, when his whole scientific
labor is confined to dissecting insects and importing fish eggs, as if the fish eggs of this
country were less nourishing and savory, so as to make it worth the while replacing them
with species coming from other climes.
"Giving an admirable impulse to the discovery of wealthy lodes in Mindanao, in
Mindoro, and in other virgin regions of the archipelago, with the money of the people,
and under the pretext of the public good, when, as a strict matter of truth, the object is to
possess all the data and the key to the national wealth for his essentially personal benefit,
as is shown by the acquisition of immense properties registered under the names of
others. On November 5, 1908, the staff, and officials of El Renacimiento were informed
of their arrest for the charge of libel filed by Worcester.
According to Muling Pagsilang:
“ang dahil ng sakdal ay isang salaysay na lumabas noong ika-30 ng Oktubre sa El
Renacimiento at pinamagatang Aves de Rapina. Ang nilalaman ng salaysay ay
pinaghanguan di umano’y pagsirang-puri kay Dean C. Worcester...”
Charged with Libel before the sala of Judge Chas H. Smith at the Manila Court of
First Instance were:
El Renacimiento
1. Martin Ocampo - administrator
2. Teodoro M. Kalaw – director
3. Fidel Reyes – editor-in-chief
Muling Pagsilang
1. Lope K. Santos – director
2. Faustino Aguilar – editor-in chief
The defense team were composed of the best lawyers headed by Felipe Agoncillo.

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 PAMANTASAN NG CABUYAO
College of Education, Arts, and Sciences
Katapatan Subd. Banay-Banay, City of Cabuyao, Laguna
Their bail money was put up by friends and close
contacts. The libel case lasted for six years and was a test run between American colonial
policies and the freedom of the press – the defendants became instant celebrities equal
to the unpopularity of Worcester, Filipino, Spanish, and even some American newspapers
lent their support to El Renacimiento and "Promoting through secret agents and partners,
the sale of the city worthless land at fabulous prices which the city fathers dare not refuse
from fear of displeasing the one who is behind the motion, and which they do not refuse
to their own good.
"Patronizing concessions for hotels on filled-in lands, with the prospects of enormous
profits, at the expense of the blood of the people.
"Such are the characteristics of the man who is at the same time an eagle who surprises
and devours, a vulture who gorges himself on the dead and putrid meats, an owl who
affects a petulant omniscience and a vampire who silently sucks the blood of the victim
until he leaves it bloodless.
"It is these birds of prey who triumph. Their flight and aim are never thwarted.
"Who will detain them?
"Some share in the body and plunder, Others are too weak to raise a voice to protest.
And mothers die in the disconsolating destruction of their own energies and interests.
"And then there appears, terrifying, the immortal legend:

"MANE, TECEL, PHARES."

On November 5, 1908, the staff, and officials of El Renacimiento were informed of
their arrest
for the charge of libel filed by Worcester.
According to Muling Pagsilang:
“ang dahil ng sakdal ay isang salaysay na lumabas noong ika-30 ng Oktubre sa El
Renacimiento at pinamagatang Aves de Rapina. Ang nilalaman ng salaysay ay
pinaghanguan
di umano’y pagsirang-puri kay Dean C. Worcester...”
Charged with Libel before the sala of Judge Chas H. Smith at the Manila Court of First
Instance were:
El Renacimiento
1. Martin Ocampo - administrator
2. Teodoro M. Kalaw – director
3. Fidel Reyes – editor-in-chief
Muling Pagsilang
1. Lope K. Santos – director
2. Faustino Aguilar – editor-in chief

"Promoting through secret agents and partners, the sale of the city worthless land at
fabulous prices which the city fathers dare not refuse from fear of displeasing the one
who is behind the motion, and which they do not refuse to their own good.
"Patronizing concessions for hotels on filled-in lands, with the prospects of enormous
profits, at the expense of the blood of the people.
"Such are the characteristics of the man who is at the same time an eagle who surprises
and devours, a vulture who gorges himself on the dead and putrid meats, an owl who
affects a petulant omniscience and a vampire who silently sucks the blood of the victim
until he leaves it bloodless.
"It is these birds of prey who triumph. Their flight and aim are never thwarted.

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 PAMANTASAN NG CABUYAO
College of Education, Arts, and Sciences
Katapatan Subd. Banay-Banay, City of Cabuyao, Laguna

"Who will detain them?

"Some share in the body and plunder, Others are too weak to raise a voice to protest.
And others die in the disconsolating destruction of their own energies and interests.
"And then there appears, terrifying, the immortal legend:
"MANE, TECEL, PHARES."
The defense team were composed of the best lawyers headed by Felipe Agoncillo.
Their bail money was put up by friends and close contacts. The libel case lasted for six
years and was a test run between American colonial policies and the freedom of the press
– the defendants became instant celebrities equal to the unpopularity of Worcester,
Filipino, Spanish, and even some American newspapers lent their support to El
Renacimiento and condemned the suit for its interference to press freedom, but the
defense was not just fighting a libel suit, it was fighting a government enforcing laws to
supress the nationalism of a people
On January 14, 1910, Ocampo and Reyes were found guilty and sentence to six months
imprisonment and a P2000 fine plus payment of one-fifth of legal costs.
On March 8, Kalaw was pronounced guilty and sentenced to nine months imprisonment
and a P3000 fine plus payment of one-fifth of the legal costs.
Both Santos and Aguilar were found not guilty.
The verdict on the civil suit put the El Renacimiento out of business. In a decision penned
on January 19, 1910, the defendants were ordered to pay the amount of P60,000 divided
as follows: - P35,000 “for damages on account of wounded feelings, mental suffering,
and injuries” on Worcester;
- P25,000 “for punitive damages In order to pay the penalty, the equipment of the
newspaper was sold in a public auction on January 28. The last issue of the Renacimiento
was an issue of homage to the people who helped them in their time of need. The editorial
was a message of thanks from the editors and writers as well as a cry against the
continuing oppression by the Americans.
In 1914, Governor-General Francis Burton Harrison issued pardons for both Ocampo and
Kalaw. Both didn’t spend a day in jail. But the Renacimiento libel case was not an entire
victory for Worcester. By the time, the case ended, Kalaw was a Batangas representative
in the Second Philippine Assembly while Ocampo and Reyes continued their careers as
writers and businessmen. In 1910, Ocampo put out a new weekly magazine that again
was nationalist in nature. It was called Renacimiento Filipino.

Philippine Free Press

BODY:

The Philippines Free Press is a weekly English language news magazine published
weekly since 1908. It is the Philippines' oldest weekly English language periodical still in
print. It is renowned for being one of the few newspapers in the years leading up to the
establishment of Martial Law that ventured to criticize Ferdinand Marcos' government,
and for being one of the first magazines to close down once Martial Law was declared.
Its editorials and editorial cartoons, as well as its features, left a lasting impression on
Filipino culture and politics: The Free Press coined the word "Pinoy" and gave it to Juan
de la Cruz, the Filipino everyman. R. McCoullough Dick, the editor-in-chief, oversaw the
publication from 1908 through the 1960s. Teodoro M. Locsin and then his sons published
it after that. Teodoro L. Locsin Jr., who followed his father as editor-in-chief of the Free

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 PAMANTASAN NG CABUYAO
College of Education, Arts, and Sciences
Katapatan Subd. Banay-Banay, City of Cabuyao, Laguna
Press, continues to write for Interaksyon and hosts ANC's
The World Tonight's weekly feature, "Teditorial." The following articles provide
background on the Philippines Free Press's history and crusading editors:
Frederic S. Marquardt's "The Bible of the Filipinos" covers the time before WWII. Gigi
Galang's book, 80 Years of the Free Press, provides an account of the free press's
history, including its founding, repression under the Japanese occupation and Martial
Law, and revival. Mr. Dick, by Teodoro M. Locsin, is a character study of the Free Press's
longest-serving Editor-in-Chief. Manuel L. Quezon III's novel The Poet, The Fighter, The
Locsin of Memory depicts the first Filipino Editor-in-Chief of the Free Press.

Plays
A play is a work of drama, usually consisting mostly of dialogue between characters and
intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. The writer of a play is a
playwright. ... Stage plays are those performed on any stage before an audience.

Portrait of the artists as Filipino by Nick Joaquin

Known as the Philippine national play, Nick Joaquin’s Portrait of the Artists as Filipino
from 1952 is currently onstage at Vineyard’s Dimson Theatre. The play’s immense
popularity in its homeland is due as much to the author’s loving look at the multiple cultural
components of Philippine high society as to the reassuring ending for the Marasigan
family conflict, which is the main plot.

Background
Nick Joaquin (1917-2004) is a Philippine novelist, poet, playwright, biographer, and
essayist writing in English, the National Artist for Literature. Joaquin wrote largely about
the Spanish colonial period and the diverse heritage of the Filipino people. Often he dealt
with the coexistence of “primitive” and “civilized” dimensions inside the human psyche.
After World II Joaquin worked as a journalist, gaining fame as a reporter for the free press.
His most acclaimed play is A portrait of the Artists Filipino (1952).
Summary
Set in the pre-war Manila, it tells of two spinster sisters who stay on in their ancestral hime
with their frail artist father, in spite of conflicts that arise among family members to
abandon the old house.

Candida and Paula, Don Leonardo’s two unmarried daughters, are barely able to maintain
the sprawling family house to except through the contributions from their “successful”
brother and sister Pepang and Manolo. By taking in male boarder Tony, they survive in
the face of their father’s artistic drought. The daughters resist the temptation to sell
father’s self-portrait, which could fetch a small fortune, and ignore their siblings’ coercion
to dispose of the family house. Personal liberation begins when Paula briefly elopes with
Tony, destroys the painting and the two daughters apologize to their father for their ill
treatment of him. Imminent war, practice blackouts and sleazy figures from Manila
nightfall make a colorful context.

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 PAMANTASAN NG CABUYAO
College of Education, Arts, and Sciences
Katapatan Subd. Banay-Banay, City of Cabuyao, Laguna

Week 7 SEM 116

ACTIVITY/ACTIVITIES
Name__________________ Date:__________ Section ______ Score:_______
Professor:_____________
Writing Thought / Reflections

REFERENCES
Sources:
https://sites.ualberta.ca/~vmitchel/fw4.html
https://cs2group1lit1.wordpress.com/the-american-regime/
https://prezi.com/d_ypnltg1chc/philippine-literature-during-american-period/

Prepared by :

MARIA JOSEFA C. ORCEGA

CEAS Faculty