JAPANESE PERIOD

1941-1945
JAPANESE PERIOD

The development of Philippine Literature was interrupted

when the Japanese came to the Philippines.
Almost all newspapers in English were censured by the
Japanese, except for “Tribune” and the “Philippine Review”.
Writers in English, such as Juan Laya, turned to writing in
Filipino.
JAPANESE PERIOD

The weekly “Liwayway”, a magazine, was placed under strict

surveillance until it was managed by Japanese named Ishiwara.
The Japanese language, Nippongo, was introduced but not well-
embraced by the Filipinos despite it is being forcefully taught
by the Japanese.
JAPANESE PERIOD

Many Filipino writers wrote plays, poems, short stories, etc. in

the Tagalog and other vernacular language.
Topics and themes were often about life in the provinces to
escape Japanese control and censorship.
FILIPINO POETRY IN THE JAPANESE PERIOD

The common theme of most poems during the

Japanese occupation was nationalism, country,
love, and life in the barrios, faith, religion and
the arts.
2 TYPES OF POEMS

Haiku
Tanka
HAIKU

A poem of free verse of Japanese origin

It has 17 syllables divided into 3 lines.
The first has 5 syllables, second has 7, and the third
has 5 syllables.
The Haiku is allegorical in meaning, is short and
covers a wide scope in meaning.
HAIKU

The famous haikus that were penned by the early

Japanese haiku masters such as Bashō, Issa, Buson
and Shiki.
The favorite topics of haiku writers include nature,
love, patriotism, nationalism, friendship and the
human emotions.
HAIKU SAMPLE

Tagalog                                                   English
Tutubi                                                     Dragonfly
Hila mo’y tabak,                    -5-                   You pull a saber,
Ang bulaklak nanginig,        -7-                   The flower is shivering,
Sa paglapit mo.                    -5-                   Moment you approached.
HAIKU SAMPLE

Tagalog                                                    English
Anyaya                                                     Invitation
Ulilang damo,                       -5-                   A lonely grass,
Sa tahimik na ilog,                 -7-                   By the edge of the river,
Halika, sinta.                        -5-                   Come with me, my love.
PHILIPPINE HAIKU

 Traditional English haiku is a 5-7-5 syllables and unrhymed poem,

Philippine haiku (locally known as Pinoy Haiku) is a concoction of
Japanese haiku and two lines of Tanaga.
 Tanaga is a poem composed of 4 lines with each line having 7
syllables, written in “aaaa” or “aabb”, “abba”, or “abab” rhyming
pattern. Tanaga have no titles.
PHILIPPINE HAIKU

Written in 7-5-7 with rhyming pattern of “a-a-a”, “a-b-a”, “a-

a-b”, “a-b-b”, or “a-b-c”
Tagalog words have more syllables, than English words.
Therefore, it is imperative not to follow the English haiku of
17-syllable structure.
PHILIPPINE HAIKU SAMPLE

Tagalog English
masid ang mga tala . . . -7- stargazing . . .
utak gumana -5- my brain begins
mga tuldok tinala -7- connecting dots
TANKA

It is very similar to haiku but Tanka poems have more

syllables and it uses simile, metaphor and personification.
This form of poetry dates back almost 1200 years ago.
Tanka poems are written about nature, seasons, love, sadness
and other strong emotions.
TANKA

Tanka is a very expressive yet reserved form of lyric

poem.
It captures your imagination by using short, catchy
and meaningful utterances.
TANKA

The 31 syllables are divided into 5 lines with: first

line with 5, second line with 7, third line with 5,
fourth line with 7,and the fifth line with 7.
TANKA SAMPLE

Winter
Beautiful mountains, -5-
Rivers with cold, cold water,               -7-
White cold snow on rock,                    -5-
Trees over the place with frost, -7-
White sparkly snow everywhere.       -7-
FILIPINO DRAMA IN THE JAPANESE PERIOD

The drama experienced a lull during the Japanese period

because movie houses showing American films were closed.
The big movie houses were just made to show stage shows.
Many of the plays were reproductions of English plays to
Tagalog.
FILIPINO DRAMA IN THE JAPANESE PERIOD

The translators were Francisco Soc Rodrigo, Alberto Concio,

and Narciso Pimentel.
They also founded the organization of Filipino players named
Dramatic Philippines.
FILIPINO DRAMA IN THE JAPANESE PERIOD

A few of playwriters were:

1. Jose Ma. Hernandez – wrote PANDAY PIRA 

2. Francisco Soc Rodrigo – wrote sa PULA, SA PUTI 

3. Clodualdo del Mundo – wrote BULAGA (an expression in the game Hide and
Seek). 

4. Julian Cruz Balmaceda – wrote SINO BA KAYO?, DAHIL SA ANAK, and

HIGANTE NG PATAY.
FILIPINO SHORT STORY IN THE JAPANESE PERIOD

 The field of the short story widened during the Japanese Occupation.
Many wrote short stories.
 Among them were: Brigido Batungbakal, Macario Pineda, Serafin
Guinigindo, Liwayway Arceo, Narciso Ramos, NVM Gonzales, Alicia
Lopez Lim, Ligaya Perez, and Gloria Guzman.
FILIPINO SHORT STORY IN THE JAPANESE PERIOD

 The best writings in 1945 were selected by a group of judges composed of

Francisco Icasiano, Jose Esperanza Cruz, Antonio Rosales, Clodualdo del Mundo
and Teodoro Santos.
 As a result of this selection, the following got the first three prizes:
1st Prize: Narciso Reyes with his LUPANG TINUBUAN

2nd Prize: Liwayway Arceo’s UHAW ANG TIGANG NA LUPA

3rd Prize: NVM Gonzales’ LUNSOD NAYON AT DAGAT-DAGATAN

PHILIPPINE LITERATURE IN ENGLISH

 Because of the strict prohibitions imposed b the Japanese in the writing

and publishing of works in English, Philippine literature in English
experienced a dark period.
 Writings that came out during this period were journalistic in nature.
 Writers felt suppressed but slowly, the spirit of nationalism started to seep
into their consciousness.
PHILIPPINE LITERATURE IN ENGLISH

Noteworthy writer of the period was Carlos P. Romulo who

won the Pulitzer Prize for his bestsellers I SAW THE FALL
OF THE PHILIPPINES, I SEE THE PHILIPPINES
RISE and his MOTHER AMERICA AND MY BROTHER
AMERICANS.
PHILIPPINE LITERATURE IN ENGLISH

Journalists include Salvador P. Lopez, Leon Ma. Geurrero, Raul

Manglapuz and Carlos Bulosan.

Nick Joaquin produced THE WOMAN WHO LOOKED LIKE

LAZARUS. Fred Ruiz Castro wrote a few poems.

F.B. Icasino wrote essays in The Philippine Review.

PHILIPPINE LITERATURE IN ENGLISH

Carlos Bulosan’s works included THE LAUGHTER OF

MY FATHER (1944), THE VOICE OF BATAAN, 1943,
SIX FILIPINO POETS, 1942, among others. Alfredo
Litiatco published With Harp and Sling and in 1943, Jose
P. Laurel published Forces that Make a Nation Great.
PHILIPPINE LITERATURE IN ENGLISH

The Commonwealth Literary Awards gave prizes to meritorious writers. Those who won were:
1. LIKE THE MOLAVE – by Rafael Zulueta da Costa (Poetry)

2. HOW MY BROTHER LEON BROUGTH HOME A WIFE – by Manuel E. Arguilla (Short

Story)

3. LITERATURE AND SOCIETY – by Salvador P. Lopez (Essay)

4. HIS NATIVE SOIL – by Juan Laya (Novel)

PHILIPPINE LITERATURE IN ENGLISH

President Manuel L. Quezon’s autobiography THE GOOD

FIGHT was published posthumously.
Radio broadcasts echoed the mingled fear and doubts in the
hearts of the people.
Other writers of this period were Juan Collas (19440, Tomas
Confesor (1945), Roman A. de la Cruz and Elisa Tabuñar.
CONTEMPORARY PERIOD
1946 – (1999)
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

The Americans returned in 1945. Filipinos rejoiced and

guerillas who fled to the mountain joined the liberating
American Army.
On July 4, 1946, the Philippines regained the freedom
and the Filipino flag waved joyously alone. The chains
were broken.

The flowering of Philippine literature in the various languages continue
especially with the appearance of new publications after the Martial Law
years and the resurgence of committed literature in the 1960s and the
1970s.
THE REBIRTH OF FREEDOM
1946 - 1970
THE STATE OF LITERATURE DURING THIS PERIOD

 The literary works here marked by struggle of mind and spirit.”

 Philippine Literature in Tagalog was revived during this period.

Most themes in the writings dealt with Japanese

brutalities, of the poverty of life under the Japanese
government and the brave guerilla exploits.
THE STATE OF LITERATURE DURING THIS PERIOD

There was a proliferation of newspapers:

 FREE PRESS, MORNING SUN, of Sergio Osmeña Sr., DAILY
MIRROR of Joaquin Roces, EVENING NEWS of Ramon
Lopezes and the BULLETIN of Menzi.
This only proved that there were more readers in English than in
any ocher vernaculars like Tagalog, Ilocano or Hiligaynon.
THE STATE OF LITERATURE DURING THIS PERIOD

Some of the writers and their works of the periods are:

1. THE VOICE OF THE VETERAN – a compilation of the best
works of some Ex-USAFFE men like Amante Bigornia, Roman de
la Cruz, Ramon de Jesus and J.F. Rodriguez.

2. TWILIGHT IN TOKYO and PASSION and DEATH OF THE

USAFFE by Leon Ma. Guerrero
NOTABLE WORKS

Some notable works of the period include the following:

1. HEART OF THE ISLANDS (1947) – a collection of poems by Manuel

Viray
2. PHILIPPINES CROSS SECTION (1950) – a collection of prose and
poetry by Maximo Ramos and Florentino Valeros
3. PROSE AND POEMS (1952) – by Nick Joaquin
4. PHILIPPINE WRITING (1953) – by T.D. Agcaoili
NOTABLE WORKS

5. PHILIPPINE HAVEST – by Amador Daguio

6. HORIZONS LEAST (1967) – a collection of works by the

professors of UE, mostly in English (short stories, essays,
research papers, poem and drama) by Artemio Patacsil and
Silverio Baltazar. The themes of most poems dealt with the
usual love of nature, and of social and political problems.
Toribia Maño’s poems showed deep emotional intensity.
NOTABLE WORKS

7. WHO SPOKE OF COURAGE IN HIS SLEEP – by NVM Gonzales

8. SPEAK NOT, SPEAK ALSO – by Conrado V. Pedroche

9. Other poets were Toribia Maño and Edith L. Tiempo

10. Jose Garcia Villa’s HAVE COME, AM HERE won acclaim both here
and abroad.
PALANCA AWARDS

Palanca Awards started giving cash prizes for Filipino writers. It

was headed by Carlos Palanca Sr.
PALANCA AWARDS

The first awardees in its first year, 1950-51 in the field of the short story were the
following:
1st Prize: KUWENTO NI MABUTI by Genoveva Edroza

2nd Prize: MABANGIS NA KAMAY…MAAMONG KAMAY by Pedro S. Dandan

3rd Prize: PLANETA, BUWAN AT MGA BITUIN by Elpidio P. Kapulong

THE PERIOD OF ACTIVISM
1970 - 1972
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Many young people became activists to ask for changes in the

government.
According to Ponciano Pineda, youth activism was due to domestic and
worldwide causes.
Socialism should replace democracy
Many young activists were imprisoned in military camps together with
rebel writers.
THE SEED OF ACTIVITISM

 The seeds of activism resulted in the declaration of Martial Law in 1972.

 We can, however, say that he seeds were earlier sown from the times of
Lapu-lapu, Lakandula, and Rizal.
THE LITERARY REVOLUTION

 Campus newspapers showed rebellious emotions. The once aristocratic

writers developed awareness for society.
 They held pens and wrote on placards in red paint the equivalent of the
word MAKIBAKA (To dare!).
The frustrations of youth could be felt in churches and school.
Any establishment became the symbol of the ills that had to be
changed.
WRITING DURING THE PERIOD OF ACTIVISM

The irreverence for the poor reached its peak during this period
of the mass revolution. It was also during this period that
Bomba films that discredit our ways as Filipinos started to come
out.
 Writers during this period


Gregorio C. Brillantes

A Palanca Award Hall of Fame and a

multi-awarded fiction writer, is one of the

Philippines’ most popular writers in English.

Jose F. Lacaba

Better known as Jose F. Lacaba, is a Filipino poet,
journalist, and screenwriter.

Nick Joaquin

was a Filipino writer, historian and journalist, best known
for his short stories and novels in the English language.

Quijano de Manila was his pen name.
PERIOD OF THE NEW SOCIETY
1972 - 1980
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

The period of the New Society started on September 21, 1972.

The Carlos Palanca Awards continued to give annual awards.
Almost all themes in most writings dealt with the development
or progress of the country – like the Green Revolution, family
planning, proper nutrition, environment, drug addiction and
pollution.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Stopped pornography
 Stopped school newspapers and organization
 Revived the Senakulo, Zarzuela, and Embayoka
FILIPINO POETRY IN THE NEW SOCIETY

Many more composers added their bit during this period.

Among them were Freddie Aguilar, Jose Marie Chan and the
group Tito, Vic and Joey.
PERIOD OF THE THIRD REPUBLIC
1981-1985
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

After ten years of military rule and some changes in the life of
the Filipino which started under the New Society, Martial Rule
was at last lifted on January 2, 1981.
To those in government, the lifting of military rule heralded a
change. To their perceptions, the Philippines became a new
nation and this; former President Marcos called “The New
Republic of the Philippines.”
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

A historian called this the Third Republic. The First Republic he

claimed was during the Philippine Republic of Emilio Aguinaldo
when we first got our independence form the Spaniards on June
12, 1898.
The Second was when the Americans granted us our
independence on July 4, 1946.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

This was further aggravated when former Senator Benigno S.

Aquno Jr., the idol of the Filipino masses, whom they hoped to
be the next president, was president, was brutally murdered on
August 21, 1983.
PALANCA AWARDS

In 1984, the Palanca Awards started choosing the best in novel

writing. This contest, held every three years.
FILIPINO POETRY

Poems during this period of the Third Republic were

romantic and revolutionary.
Writers wrote openly of their criticism against the
government.
FILIPINO SONGS

Many Filipino songs dealt with themes that were really true-to-
life like those of grief, poverty, aspirations for freedom, love of
God, of country and of fellowmen.
PHILIPPINE FILMS

The yearly Festival of Filipino Films continued to be

held during this period. The people’s love for sex films
also was unabated. Many producers took advantage of
this at the expense of public morality.
POETRY IN ENGLISH

Elemental to us (poets or writers) was how to grasp to some

meaning – in a symbol, a phrase or word – in the language of
heart and tongue, the poet’s only candles.
MEDIA OF 1983

Sheila S. Coronel, a PANORAMA staff stalwart, reporting on

the state of the media during these times said: it was a year of
ferment, and change, of old problems made more oppressive by
the new throbbing beat of the times.”
For journalists, it was a year loaded with libel charges, lawsuits
and seditious trials which they gallantly bore as harassment
suits.
PERIODS
1986 - 1999
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

History took another twist. Once more, the Filipino people

regained their independence which they lost twenty years ago.

In the span of four days form February 21-25, 1986, the so-
called People Power (Lakas ng Bayan) prevailed.
THE STATE OF LITERATURE DURING THIS PERIOD

In the short span of the existence of the true Republic of the

Philippines, several changes already became evident. This in
noticed in the new Filipino songs, in the newspapers, in the
speeches, and even in the television programs.
THE STATE OF LITERATURE DURING THIS PERIOD

1. On Newspapers and other publications: Newspapers which

were once branded crony newspapers became instant opposition
papers overnight. This was true of BULLETIN TODAY which
became the opposition paper. The now crony newspapers that
enjoyed an overnight increase in circulation were THE
INQUIRER, MALAYA, and the PEOPLE’S JOURNAL.
THE STATE OF LITERATURE DURING THIS PERIOD

2. On Books: Philippine literature is still in the making…we are

just beginning a new era.
The Phillippine revolution of 1986 and the fire of its spirit that
will carry the Filipinos through another epoch in Philippine
history is still being documented just as they have been in the
countless millions who participated in body and spirit in its
realization.
THE STATE OF LITERATURE DURING THIS PERIOD

Two books were conceived during the period. PEOPLE POWER was
produced under a grant by the PCI Bank Human Resources Development
Foundation, edited by Monina Allarey Mercado and published by the James
B. Reuter, S.J. Foundation.
Another one BAYAN KO was published by Project 28 Days LTD. in June,
1986 in Kowloon, Hong Kong and co-published in the Philippines by
Veritas Publications and Communications Foundation.