21st Century Literature

from the Philippines

and the World
General Description
This course aims to engage students in appreciation and
critical study of 21st Century Literature from the
Philippines and the World encompassing their various
dimensions, genres, elements, structures, contexts, and
traditions.

Course Description
Study and appreciation of the literature of the region
where the school is located in relation to the
literature of the other regions of the country.
EXPECTED FINAL
REQUIREMENT
produce a creative representation
of a literary text by applying
multi-media skills
 Literature?

a body of written (oral)
works portraying
aesthetic quality
 Literature?

Story of man

Helps to understand human nature

Provides entertainment and pleasure

Helps appreciate out literary
heritage
 General Types of Literature

PROSE POETRY
PROSE
 utilizes natural language, resembling
everyday speech, to convey stories,
ideas, and emotions without the
structured patterns of poetry

Written in sentences and paragraphs

PROSE Novel
Short Story
Legend
Fables
Essay
Biography
Autobiogra
phy
POETRY
 frequently employs rhythmic and
metrical patterns through techniques
like rhyme, meter, and syllabic
structures, creating a musical quality
that distinguishes it from prose
POETRY
 relies heavily on figurative
language such as metaphors, similes,
personification, and symbolism,
which enhance the depth and layers
of meaning within the text
POETRY Epic
Ballad
Sonnet
Elegy
Ode
Psalm
Narrative Poetry
Lyric Poetry
Dramatic Poetry
 Activity 1: LITERARY TIMELINE
Try to complete the literary TIMELINE below.
Choose your answers from the given choices

1520 1521- 1872- 1868- 1641- 1646- 1670- 1681- 1686- 2001-
1871 1868 1644 1645 1670 1680 1685 1666 present

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
21st Century Period of Literature in English

American Period Pre-Spanish Period

Japanese Period Post EDSA

Period of Activism & Rebirth of Freedom

New Society

Period of Enlightenment Spanish

 Dimensions of Philippine
Literary History


GEOGRAPHY

LANGUAGE

ETHNICITY
 GEOGRAPHY


the study of places and the
relationships between people
and their environments

Location of where the
literary text is located
 LANGUAGE


a system of
conventional spoken,
manual (signed), or
written symbols by
which individuals
express themselves
 ETHNICITY

The quality or fact of

belonging to a
population group or
subgroup made up of
people who share a
common cultural
background
Tagalog
Cebuan
Ilocan
Maguindana
Tausug
Igoro
LITERARY TIMELINE
-Pre-colonial
-Spanish
-American
-Japanese
-Contemporary/Modern
Period
What do we know
about these eras?
 1
PRE-COLONIAL
PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD
The first period of the Philippine literary
history is the longest. Long time before the
Spaniards and other foreigners landed on
Philippine shores, our forefathers already
had their own literature stamped in the
history of our race.
PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD
• all literature produced before the Spanish
colonization like chants, proverbs, songs,
and folk narrative

These were all passed down from

generation to generation by word of mouth

They depict the people’s livelihood,

customs, and traditions.
 BUGTONG
A riddle is a statement, question or
phrase having a double or veiled
SALAW
meaning, put forth as a puzzle to
be solved
A prove
IKAIN
rb is a
traditio s i mp
nal say le and insigh
perceiv ing tfu
ed truth that express l,
sense e
or expe based on com s a
rience. mon
BUGTONG
I can't see it in the light but I can see
it in the dark.
Ans: STAR
What has holes on each side, but can
still can hold water?
Ans: SPONGE
BUGTONG
The more you take, the more you
leave behind.
Ans: STEPS
What goes up and never comes
down?
Ans: AGE
SALAWIKAIN
“ D o not do unto you r fellow men what
y o u do not wish done to you.”
Meaning: Treat other people with the concern and kindness you
would like them to show toward you.

Do not put off for tomorrow what you can do

today.
Meaning: You should not delay doing something if you can do it
immediately.
SALAWIKAIN
Don’t judge a book by its cover
Meaning: Don’t form an opinion or make a judgment about someone or
something based on its outward appearance.

Don’t bite the hand that feeds you

Meaning: Don’t treat badly the person or people on whom you
depend on, or who take care of you in some way.
CHANTS OR BULONG
This was used in witchcraft or
enchantment especially in
remote places in the Visayas.
LEGENDS
folklore that consists of a
narrative featuring human actions
perceived or believed both by
teller and listeners to have taken
place within human history
FOLKTALES
These are made up of stories
about life, adventure, love,
horror, and humor where one can
derive lessons.
Activity 2. Thinker’s View

Directions: Given below is a sample

of a Filipino Folktale in the Pre
Spanish Period. Answer the
questions that follow.
 THE SUN AND THE MOON
In the olden days, like the moon, the sun had also star children which were
yellowish in color, very bright and very hot. The star children of the moon, however,
were reddish and cool. That moon was scared that his stars would wither and die if
they play with the
star children of the sun.
The moon suggested to the sun that they kill their children who were
crowding the heavens with their number.
When the sun had killed her children, the moon merely hid behind the
clouds.
In the evening, when the clouds faded, the moon stars appeared.
This angered the sun so he gave chase to the moon. Thus, when he
overtakes the moon, we have the so-called eclipse.
Every morning, the sun kills the moon stars that he catches.
Until now, this chase continues and because the moon still continues …
1. What is the concern of the moon regarding his
stars?

2. Why does the moon anger the sun?

3. What particular phenomenon is described in

the Filipino Folktale?
EPICS
These are long narrative poems
in which a series of heroic
achievements or events, usually
of a hero, are dealt with at length.
FOLK S O N GS
These are one of the oldest
forms of Philippine literature that
emerged in the pre-Spanish
period. These songs mirrored the
early forms of culture.
 SPANISH PERIOD
(1565 to 1898)
The Spanish Period in the Philippines, which lasted
for over three centuries, began in 1565 when Spanish
explorer Miguel López de Legazpi arrived and
ended in 1898 when the Philippines declared
independence. During this time, Spain's influence
left a lasting impact on Philippine culture, language,
religion, and society, making it a significant era in
the nation's history.
SPANISH PERIOD
predominantly written in
Spanish, reflecting the
colonial influence

Early works included

"Doctrina Christiana,"
which aimed to propagate
Christianity and educate
Filipinos about the
Catholic faith
SPANISH PERIOD
Secular literature emerged, including various
forms of poetry like the "Awit" and "Corrido,"
which often depicted love, heroism, and chivalry
SPANISH PERIOD
The "Florante at Laura"
by Francisco Balagtas
is a notable epic poem,
illustrating themes of
love and patriotism
SPANISH PERIOD
laid the foundation for
the development of
Filipino literature in
the centuries that
followed, as it
introduced new
literary forms and
themes to the culture
Religious Writings
A significant portion of literature
during this period was devoted to
religious themes. This included
religious texts like the "Doctrina
Christiana," sermons, and
theological treatises.
Awit at Corrido
These were forms of narrative
poetry. "Awit" typically dealt with
themes of love, while "Corrido"
often focused on heroic tales.
Cenaculos
These were dramatic plays that
reenacted biblical stories and
were often performed during
religious festivals, particularly
during Holy Week.
Pasyon
The "Pasyon" is a narrative of the
Passion, Death, and
Resurrection of Jesus Christ. It
was a popular religious literary
form, often chanted or sung
during Holy Week.
Panunuluyan
tradisyonal na dula sa bisperas
ng Pasko hinggil sa paghahanap
ng matutuluyan nina Birheng
Maria at San Jose sa Herusalem
at pagsisilang kay Hesus sa
isang sabsaban
"Noli Me Tangere" and "El
Filibusterismo" by Jose Rizal:
These novels are considered among the
most influential works in Philippine
literature. "Noli Me Tangere" (1887) and its
sequel, "El Filibusterismo" (1891), exposed
the social injustices and corruption under
Spanish colonial rule and inspired the
Filipino nationalist movement.
 AMERICAN PERIOD
(1898 to 1946)
This era saw significant changes in Philippine
society and governance, including the establishment
of a democratic government, the introduction of
English as the medium of instruction, and the
implementation of modern infrastructure and
education systems.
 AMERICAN PERIOD
American period is considered a golden age of Tagalog
literature because it was a time of significant growth and
development in the field. The promotion of the Tagalog
language, the emergence of various literary forms, the
prevalence of nationalistic themes, the presence of literary
publications, and the contributions of notable writers all
contributed to the flourishing of Tagalog literature during
this period. Additionally, this era played a crucial role in
shaping the cultural and linguistic identity of the Philippines.
One of the most noticeable changes during this
period was the shift from Spanish to English as the
primary
language of literary expression. The American
colonial government promoted English as the
medium of instruction in schools, and this policy
had a profound impact on Philippine literature.
The American period saw the
introduction of new
literary
forms, such as the short
story and the essay, which
were popularized by
writers like Manuel
Arguilla and Carlos
Bulosan. These forms
allowed for concise and
Despite the American
influence, many
Filipino writers
continued to express
their nationalist and
patriotic sentiments.
Known for his short
stories like "How
My
Brother Leon
Brought Home a
Wife," which depicted
rural life and the
struggle for identity.
Amado Hernandez: His
novel "Mga Ibong
Mandaragit"
addressed issues
of social injustice
and exploitation.
Several literary publications and
magazines played a significant
role in promoting and shaping
Filipino
literature.
 JAPANESE PERIOD
(1941 to 1945)
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.
JAPANESE PERIOD
(1941 to 1945)
The Japanese established a puppet
government under President José P. Laurel.
This government had limited autonomy but
was ultimately controlled by the Japanese
military. The Japanese occupation was
marred by numerous human rights abuses,
including massacres, torture, and atrocities
committed by Japanese soldiers against
Filipino civilians and resistance fighters.
The weekly LIWAYWAY was
placed under strict surveillance
until it was managed by
the Japanese.
 Three types of poems emerged
during this period.
Haiku, Tanaga and
Karaniwang Anyo
CONTEMPORARY PERIOD
The contemporary period in Philippine
literature refers to the literary landscape from
the late 20th century to the present day. This
period has been marked by a rich diversity of
voices and themes, reflecting the evolving
social, political, and cultural landscape of the
Philippines.
Contemporary Period

•
Most Philippine writers are educators. Various
writers’ guild and award-giving bodies were
institutionalized during this period. Its main goals is
to produce finest literary writers in the English
Language.
Martial Law Literature
As years went by, Political unrest buffeted the young
Republic. Campus newspapers showed rebellious
emotions. They held pens and wrote on placards in red
paints. There is a direct military control and suspension of
ordinary law, which is characterized by extreme controlled
society. Prominent political figures and media
personalities who openly criticized the government were
arrested, incarcerated and/or went missing.
Protest Literature
Sometime called as revolutionary literature, refers to
works that express distaste, disagreement, or transgression
to the present government, applicable to the current
political social, and/or economic conditions of the country
when the works were written. An example as Lualhati
Bautista’s Dekada ‘70.
Prison Literature
Prison literature refers to literary works produced by authors who
are incarcerated or confined in a secluded area such as prison
cell.
During martial law, the government arrested not only political and
media dissidents but also writers and scholars such as Bienvenido
Lumbera, Ricardo Lee, and among others. Some examples of
prison literature include Pintig sa Malamig na Bakal: Poems and
Letters from the Philippine Prison (1979) and Mila Aguila’s Why
Cage Pigeons? (1984
CONTEMPO Literature

Gay and women writings, including male authors writing about

women, and gay and feminist discourses developed. Post EDSA
writings paved the way for the development of vernacular literature,
or literature written using the daily speech of common people, which
is also became a source of regional literary histories.
CONTEMPO Literature

From conservative plots, literary works nowadays are gender-

sensitive, exploring the plurality of culture and challenging social
normality. Technology plays an important role. From blogs, stories
are materialized and turned into books: such is the case for Bob Ong
and Marcelo Santos III, a popular anonymous writer who uses this
pseudonym.
CONTEMPO Literature

Stories uploaded via Wattpad not only materialize into books but a
areal so adapted into movies such as Diary ng Panget, She’s
Dating the Gangster.
CONTEMPO Literature

Women, lesbian and gay writings continue to flourish and become

recognized and accepted. More regional works are being
recognized, and these literary texts are now included in workshops
and awards.
Writers also embark on translating their works into another
language or dialect or translating a foreign work into Filipino, such
as Remoto’s translation of John Green’s The Fault in our Stars.
LAZY
JUAN
 Juan Tamad was, like, this super chill dude in
the Philippines, right? He was famous for being,
well, lazy AF. He lived with his mom, and all he
wanted to do was sleep all day and avoid any kind
of work.
One day, his mom was like, "Juan, you gotta
do something with your life, bro. Get off that lazy
butt of yours!" She told him to go out and look for
some bayabass because they needed to eat. Juan
was like, "Ugh, seriously, Ma?" but he did it
 So, he goes to this bayabas tree, and instead
of climbing it like a normal person, he just lays
under it and waits for a bayabas to fall into his
mouth. He thought, "Why work when gravity can
do the job for me?" Genius, right?
But of course, bayabas didn't just
magically drop into his mouth. He lay there for
hours, and nothing happened. Juan Tamad was
getting frustrated, but he refused to budge.
Finally, a passerby saw this dude lying there and
was like, "Dude, what are you doing?" Juan Tamad
replied, "I'm waiting for a bayabas to fall. Why
bother climbing the tree?"
The passerby shook his head and said,
"Man, you gotta put in some effort. Life doesn't
work that way." He showed Juan how to climb the
tree, pick the bayabas, and actually do some work.
 Juan Tamad learned his lesson that day – that
life isn't about waiting for things to fall into your
lap, but you gotta hustle and put in the effort. So,
he started working hard and stopped being such a
lazy bum. But hey, his story still reminds us that
sometimes, we all need a little kick in the butt to
get going.
 What modern twist to the classic
Philippine folktale was added to the
story?

What is the impact of this modern

twist to the overall impression to the
story?
Activity 1 :
Short Reflection

Write a 5-6 SENTENCE PARAGRAPH to answer the given question below. Refer
to the rubric for scoring.

In what ways can you as a Filipino reader be affected

by such works (short stories in Tagalog) that endeavor
to open the minds of people on socio-political and
moral issues confronting the country.
 Rubric:
CRITERIA 3 2 1
Content, Organization, and The paragraph has a topic The paragraph has a topic The paragraph has one to
Completeness sentence, three supporting sentence, three supporting two lacking sentences. One
sentences, and a concluding sentences, and a concluding or more details are NOT
sentence. It provides sentence. It provides related to the given question.
meaningful and relevant meaningful and relevant The first sentence is
details that answer the given details that answer the given indented.
question. All the sentence are question. The first sentence is
coherent. The first sentence indented.
is indented.

Grammar and Mechanics There are no grammar and There are no grammar and There are three-five (3-5)
spelling errors. All the spelling errors. All the grammar and spelling errors.
sentences are written with sentences are written with
proper capitalization and proper capitalization and
punctuation marks. punctuation marks.
The paragraph has minimal
erasures.
Thank you,
Bosconians!