REVIEWER IN LIT 01 Characteristics of Literature during this

period
The American Regime (1898-1941)
• Three group of writers contributed to
Historical Background
the Philippine Literature during this
• Filipino revolutionist won against the period.
Spaniards who colonized us for more • The writers in Spanish were wont to
than 300 years. Our flags were hoisted write on nationalism like honoring
on JUNE 12, 1898, as a symbol of our Rizal and other heroes.
independence. • The writers in Tagalog continued in
• Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo was elected the their lamentations on the conditions of
first President of the Republic of the the country and their attempt to arouse
Philippines. love for one’s native tongue.
• The Fil-American war resulted in the • The writers in English imitated the
defeat of Gen. Miguel Malvar in 1903. themes and methods of the Americans.
• Many Filipinos started writing again
Literature in Spanish
and the nationalism of the people
remained undaunted. • The Inspiration of our Filipino writers
• Filipino writers went into all forms of in Spanish was Rizal not only because
literature like news reporting, poetry, of his being a national leader but also
plays, stories, essays and novels. because of his novels NOLI and FILI.
• Their writing clearly depicted their love These two novels contained the best
of the country and their longings for qualities of a novel ever written.
independence. • Those who were inspired to write in
• The active arousal in the field of praise of him were Cecilio Apostol,
literature started to be felt in the Fernando Ma. Guerrero, Jesus
following newspapers: Balmori, Manuel Bernabe and Claro M.
➢ EL NUEVO DIA (The new day) Recto
established by Sergio Osmena in
Literature in Tagalog
1900.
➢ EL GRITO DEL PUEBLO (The Call of • Florante at Laura of Francisco Balagtas
the Nation) established by Pascual and Urbana at Felisa of Modesto Castro
Poblete in 1900. became the inspiration of the Tagalog
➢ EL RENACIMIENTO (The Rebirth) writers.
founded by Rafael Palma in 1901. • Julian Cruz Balmaceda classified three
• There were also plays written then but kinds of tagalog poets:
after the first and second presentation, ➢ Poets of the Heart
the Americans put a stop to this ➢ Poets of Life
because of the consistent theme of ➢ Poets of the Stage
nationalism:
Noted biographers, novelist were Lope K.
➢ KAHAPON, NGAYON AT BUKAS by
Santos, Jose Corazon De Jesus, Amado V.
Aurelio Tolentino
Hernandez, Valeriano Hernandez Pena,
➢ TANIKALANG GINTO of Juan Abad
Inigo Ed Regalado.
➢ MALAYA by Tomas Remigio
➢ WALANG SUGAT by Severino Reyes Philippine Literature in English
• In a way, we can say that we can trace
the beginnings of Phil Lit. in English
with the coming of the Americans. We
can divide this period into three-time
frames:
➢ The Period of Re-orientation 1898-
1910
➢ The Period of Imitation 1910-1925
➢ The Period of Self Recovery 1925-
1941
The Period of Re-Orientation

• El Renacimiento
• Philippine Free Press
POETRY

• Sursum Corda by Justo Juliano

• My Mother by Jan F. Salazar
• Air Castles also by Jan F. Salazar
The Period of Imitation

• Essays – their essays were truly

scholarly characterized by sobriety,
substance and structure, they excelled
in the serious essay especially the
editorial type. The next group of writers
introduced the informal essay, criticism
and journalism column they spiced
their work with humor, satire and wit.
• Short Stories – Dead Stars by Paz
Marquez Benitez written in the 1920’s
stand out as a model of perfection, char
delineation, local color and plot.
Period of Self Discovery and Growth

• Poetry
• Short Stories
• Essays and Other Prose Styles
• Biography
• History
• Publications
• The Drama
 renewed attention because writers in
English turned to writing in Filipino.
For instance, Juan Laya, who used to
write in English turned to Filipino
because of the strict prohibitions of the
Japanese regarding any writing in
English.
• The weekly Liwayway was placed under
strict surveillance until it was managed
by a Japanese named Ishiwara.
• In other words, Filipino literature was
given a break during this period. Many
wrote plays, poems, short stories, etc.
Topics and themes were often about life
in the province.
Filipino Literature During the Period

• The common theme of most poems

during the Japanese occupation was
nationalism, country, love, life in the
barrios, faith, religion and the arts.
• Three types of poems during the period.
1. Haiku – a poem of free verse that the
Japanese liked. It was made up of 17
syllables divided into three lines. The
first line had 5 syllables, the second, 7
syllables and the third, five. The haiku
is allegorical in meaning, short and
covers a wide scope in meaning.
2. Tanaga – consists of four lines with
Lesson 8 seven syllables each with the same
rhyme at the end of each line.
Literature during the Japanese Regime 3. Karaniwang Anyo (Usual Form)
(1941-1945)
Historical Background

• Between 1941-1945, Philippine

literature was interrupted in its
development when the Philippines was
again conquered by another foreign
country, Japan. Philippine literature in
English came into a halt. Except for the
Tribune and the Philippine Review,
almost all newspaper in English were
stopped by the Japanese.
• This had an advantageous effect on
Filipino literature, which experienced
Filipino Drama During the Japanese Panay Island particularly in Iloilo. The
Period second part, Night, begins with the
start of World War II in both the U.S.
• The drama experienced a lull during
and the Philippines, and retells the
the Japanese period because movie
story of the resistance movement
houses showing American films were
against the occupying Japanese
closed. The big movie houses were just
military forces of the barrio people first
made to show stage shows. Many of the
seen in Day. It narrates the people's
plays were reproductions of English
"grim experiences" during the war.
plays to Tagalog.
The Filipino Short Story During the
Japanese Period

• Because of the strict prohibitions

imposed by the Japanese in the writing
and publishing of works in English,
Philippine literature in English
experienced a dark period. The few who
dared to write did so for their bread
and butter of for propaganda.
• Writings that came out during this
period were journalistic in nature.
Writers felt suppressed but slowly, the Lesson 9
spirit of nationalism started to seep Literature during the Rebirth of
into their consciousness. While some Freedom (1946-1970)
continued to write, the majority waited
for a better climate to publish their Historical Background
works. The Americans returned in 1945. Filipinos
The Filipino Novel During the Japanese rejoiced and guerillas who fled to the
Period mountains joined the liberating American
Army.
• Without Seeing the Dawn – regarded as
the best literary document of Japanese On July 4, 1946, the Philippines regained
occupation. its freedom and the Filipino flag waved
• Written by Stevan Javellana who left joyously alone. The chains were broken.
his studies as a law student to go to The State of Literature During this
the mountain and join the guerilla Period
movement.
• The title of Stevan Javellana's only • The early post-liberation period was
novel in English Without Seeing the marked by a kind of “struggle of mind
Dawn was derived from one of Jose and spirit” posed by the sudden
Rizal’s character in the novel Noil Me emancipation from the enemy and the
Tangere or Touch Me Not. Javellana's wild desire to see print. Filipinos had,
368-paged book has two parts, namely by this time, learned to express
Day and Night. themselves more confidently but post-
• The first part, Day, narrates the story war problems beyond language and
of a pre-war barrio and its people in the pint-like economic stability, the threat
 of new ideas and mortality, had to be ➢ Who Spoke of Courage in His Sleep –
grappled with side by side. NVM Gonzales
• There was a proliferation of newspapers II. Novels and Short Stories in English
like the Free Press, Morning Sun of
Longer and longer pieces were being
Sergio Osmeña, Sr., Daily News of
written by writers of the period. Stevan
Manuel Roxas, Manila Times and Daily
Javellana’s “Without Seeing the Dawn”
Mirror of Joaquin Roces, Evening News
tells of the grim experiences of war during
of Ramon Roces, etc.
the Japanese occupation.
• This only proved that there were more
readers in English than in any other In 1958, the PEN Center of the Philippines
vernaculars like Tagalog, Ilocano or (Poets, Essayists and Novelists) was
Hiligaynon. inaugurated. In the same year, Francisco
• Journalists had their day. They Arcellana published his PEN Anthology of
indulged in more militant attitude in Short Stories.
their reporting which bordered in on
The New Filipino Literature During this
the libelous. Gradually, as normality
Period
was restored, the tones and themes of
the writings turned to the less pressing • Philippine literature was revived during
problems of economic survival. this period. Most themes in the
• Some Filipino writers had gone abroad writings dealt with Japanese
and had written during the interims brutalities, of the poverty of life under
came back to publish their works. the Japanese government and the
• Not all books published during the brave guerilla exploits.
period reflected the war years; some • Newspaper and magazines publications
were compilations or second editions of were re-opened like the Bulaklak,
what had been written before. Liwayway, Ilang-Ilang and Sinag Tala.
• Some of the writers and their works of • Tagalog poetry acquired not only rhyme
the periods are: but substance and meaning. Short
➢ The Voice of the Veteran – a stories had better characters and
compilation of the best works of events based on facts and realities and
some ex-USAFFE men themes were more meaningful.
➢ Twilight in Tokyo and Passion and • Novels became common but were still
Death of the USAFFE by Leon Ma. read by the people for recreation. The
Guerrero people’s love for listening to poetic
➢ For Freedom and Democracy by S.P. jousts increased more than before and
Lopez people started to flock to places to hear
➢ Seven Hills Away by NVM Gonzales poetic debates.
I. Poetry in English During This Period
The Palanca Awards
For the first twenty years, many books
• Another inspiration for writers in
were published both in Filipino and in
Fiipino was the launching of the
English.
Palanca Awards for literature headed
➢ Heart of the Islands (1947)– a collection by Carlos Palanca, Sr. n 1950 (until
of poems by Manuel Viray now, the awards are still being given
➢ Prose and Poems (1952) – by Nick although the man who founded it has
Joaquin passed away). The awards were given to
 writers of short stories, plays and Many young people became activists to
poetry. ask for changes in the government. In the
• The first awardees in its first year, expression of this desire for change, keen
1950-1951 in the field of short story were the writings of some youth who were
were the following: fired with nationalism in order to
➢ First Prize: Kuwento ni Mabuti by emphasize the importance of their
Genoveva Edroz Matute petitions.
➢ Second Prize: Mabangis na
Many activists were imprisoned in military
Kamay…Maamong Kamay by Pedro S.
camps together with rebel writers. As early
Dandan
as this period of history, we can say that
➢ Third Prize: Planeta, Buwan At Mga
many of those writers who were
Bituin by Elpidio P. Kapulong
imprisoned were true nationalists and
Lesson 10 heroes of their time.

Literature during the Period of Activism

(1970-1972)

Historical Background
According to Ponciano Pineda, youth
activism in 1970 – 1972 was due to
domestic and worldwide causes.
Activism is connected with the history of
our Filipino youth.
Because of the ills of society, the youth
moved to seek reforms. Some continued to
believe that the democratic government is
stable and that it is only the people
running the government who is fault.
Some believed that socialism or
communism should replace democracy.
Some armed groups were formed to bring
down the democratic form of government.