HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF ANCIENT PHILIPPINE LITERATURE

Spanish colonization of the Philippines started in 1565 during the time of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, the first Spanish governor-general in the Philippines. Literature started to flourish during his time. Our ancient literature shows our customs and traditions in everyday life as traced in our folk stories, old plays and short stories. Our ancestors also had their own alphabet which was different from that brought by the Spaniards. The first alphabet used by our ancestor was similar to that of the MalayoPolynesian alphabet. Certain things existed in their physical environment must have intrigued the ancient Filipinos as it did other early peoples. In their effort to define their world, to account for the realities in it, and to explain their feelings, beliefs, and judgments, they made up interesting narratives. These have come down to us in the form of origin myths, legends, fables, tales of the supernatural, and humorous accounts about some trickster, like Pusong or Pilandok, or some bungling character who got by in spite of or because of his lack of wit. The spurt continued unabated until the Cavite Revolt in 1872. The Spaniards colonized the Philippines for more than three centuries.

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Enriched our national language called FILIPINO there are 5,000 Spanish loanwords in our national language (ex. Pobre, decisiete, 'pakialamero' (from Tag. 'pakialam' and the Sp. suffix 'ero')) European legends and traditions Ancient literature was collected and translated to Tagalog Grammar books were printed in Filipino Religious tone Ang Doctrina Cristiana (The Christian Doctrine) Nuestra Senora del Rosario Libro de los Cuatro Postprimeras de Hombre (in Spanish and Tagalog) Ang Barlaan at Josephat The Pasion Urbana at Felisa Ang mga Dalit kay Maria (Psalms for Mary) Arte y Reglas de la Lengua Tagala (Art and Rules of the Tagalog language) Compendio de la Lengua Tagala (Understanding the Tagalog language) Vocabulario de la Lengua Tagala (Tagalog vocabulary) Vocabulario de la Lengua Pampanga (Pampango vocabulary) Vocabulario de la Lengua Bisaya (Bisayan vocabulary) Arte de la Lengua Ilokana (The Art of the Ilocano language) Arte de la Lengua Bicolana (The Art of the Bicol Language) ANG DOCTRINA CRISTIANA (THE CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE)

FIRST BOOKS

LITERARY COMPOSITIONS

SPAINS CONTRIBUTION TO FILIPINO NATIONALISM

SPANISH INFLUENCES ON THE PHILIPPINE LITERATURE

NOTABLE WORKS

- This was the first book printed in the Philippines in 1593 in xylography (printing using engraved wood blocks). -written by Fr. Juan de Placencia and Fr. Domingo Nieva, in Tagalog and Spanish. -derives its name from the Latin Doctrina Christiana, meaning the "teachings of the church." - The first part of the book presents the set of sounds and symbols of the old writing system called baybayin. It is followed by the texts of the prayers The Our Father, Hail Mary, The Creed, Hail Holy Queen, and the basic teachings of the Christian faith in Spanish, old Tagalog, and baybayin texts. BARLAAN AT JOSAPHAT -printed in the Philippines by Fr. Antonio de Borja, S.J. in 1708 -1712although a translationis considered by researchers as the first novel in Tagalog. (J. Villa Panganiban, et al., 1987) -story traces its origin to a Manichaean tract produced in Central Asia -referred to as the Christianized version of Buddhas life with Josaphat reaching enlightenment through he love of Jesus Christ. IBONG ADARNA -a mythical story, formed in narrative song and poetry called corrido -considered a big part of the Philippine literature -written by Jose dela Cruz a great poet here also known as Huseng Sisiw -is about love, sacrifice and fantasy. FLORANTE AT LAURA -Literature classic -by Francisco Baltazar (also known as Balagtas) -The name "Florante at Laura" is an abbreviation of the actual title which, written in archaic Tagalog, is: -Pinagdaanang Buhay ni orante at ni aura sa Caharian ania uinuha sa ad an uadro

hist ri o o inturan na sasa i sa nan a ari nan unan anah n sa erio n re ia at tinu a ng isng matouain sa versong Tagalog." URBANA AT FELISA -By Modesto De Castro th -During 1938, 19 century emerged in Europe during the Renaissance -used the epistolary style -Main characters: Urbana and Feliza -Projecting the code of conduct in church at home, in school, toward ones fellowmen, mentors, parents and God which has cleansing effect of moral principles ANG PASYON -A narrative poem about life and sufferings of Jesus in the hearts and mind of the natives -The first Filipino writer is Fr. Gaspar Aquino de Belen -Publish during 1704 in Manila.

LITERARY PIECES
MYTH -an account of the deeds of a god or of a supernatural being; a kind of imaginative precursor of scientific investigation. - are permanent, they deal with the greatest of all problems the problems which do not change because men and women do not change. They deal with love (the romantic element), war, sin, tyranny, courage, and faith; all in the same way in relation to man. Examples: How the World Was Made, The Creation (Igorot), How the Moon and the Stars Came to Be (Bukidnon), Origin (Bagobo), The Story of the Creation (Bilaan), In the Beginning (Bilaan), The Children of the Limokon (Mandaya), The Creation Story (Tagalog). The gods in philippine mythology Bathala (or Abba), chief god of the ancient Tagalogs (but referred to by historians and writers as chief deity in the

Philippines so that he had become accepted as the main god, the father-god in Philippine mythology). Assisting Bathala as Superintendents: AMANIKABLE: lord of the sea ANITUN TABU: goddess of the wind and the rain Daughters of Bathala by a mortal: MAYARI: goddess of the moon HANAN: goddess of the morning TALA: goddess of the stars Bathala took them up to the sky and made them divine after their mother died. Deities of lesser importance & w/ limited powers (children of the gods and goddesses): DUMANGAN: god of good harvest IKAPATI: goddess of fertile fields ANAGOLAY: (daughter of Ikapati) goddess of lost things DIAN MASALANTA: (granddaughter of Ikapati) goddess of lovers ANITOS: ancestral spirits, sent down to earth w/ specific orders, such as to guard a brave man in war or to cure a sick person; gradually assumed the office of intercessor between men and gods. -Sacrifices were made to the anito by the priest called a catalonan. LEGENDS Are forms of prose, the common theme of which is about the origin of a thing,place, location or name. The events are imaginary, devoid of truth andunbelievable. Its aim is to entertain. EXAMPLE: The Legend of the Tagalogs, The Legend of Makahiya, FOLK TALES made up of stories about life, adventure, love, horror and humor where one can derive lessons about life. These are useful to us because they help us appreciate our environment, evaluate our personalities and improve our perspectives in life. EXAMPLE:THE MOON AND THE SUN FOLK SONGS

folk songs are one of the oldest forms of Philippine literature that emergedIn the Pre-Spanish period. These songs mirrored the early forms of culture. Many of these have 12 syllables. KINDS: KUNDIMAN (Awit ng Pag-ibig Songs of Love), ANG DALIT O IMNO (Song to the God of the Visayans), KUMINTANG O TAGUMPAY (War song), ANG OYAYI O HELE (Lullaby), DIANA (Wedding Song), SOLIRANING(Song of the Laborer) EXAMPLES: Leron-Leron Sinta (Tagalog), Pamulinawen (Iloko), Dandansoy (Bisaya), Sarong Banggi (Bicol), Atin Cu Pung Singsing (Kapampangan) EPIC are long narrative poems in which a series of heroic achievements or events, usually of a hero, are dealt with at length. Nobody can determine which epics are the oldestbecause in their translations from other languages, even in English and Spanish.A s i d e f r o m t h e aforementioned epics, there are still other epics that can be r e a d a n d studied like the following epics: a. Bidasari Moro Epic b. Biag ni Lam-ang -- an Ilocano epic which recounts the deed of the legendary Ilocano hero, Lam-ang. -- popularized by Pedro Bukaneg, a blind poet known to be the Father of Ilocano Literature c. Maragtas Visayan Epic d. Haraya Visayan Epic e. Lagda Visayan Epic f. Hari sa Bukid Visayan Epic g. Kumintang Tagalog Epic h. Parang Sabir Moro Epic i. Dagoy at Sudsod Tagbanua Epic j. Tatuaang Bagobo Epic k. Indarapatra at Sulayman FABLE short literary composition in prose or verse, conveying a universal cautionary or moral truth. The moral is usually summed

up at the end of the story, which generally tells of conflict among animals that are given the attributes of human beings. DRAMA as a literary form had not yet begun to evolve among the Filipinos when the Spanish conquest took place. From the evidence of anthropological and ethnological studies, it appears that Philippine theater at this stage consisted largely in its simplest form, of mimetic dances imitating natural cycles and work activities. At its most sophisticated form, theater consisted of religious rituals presided over by a priest or priestess and participated in by the community. EXAMPLES: the Chalong, Pag-Huaga, Runsay and Pagdiwata. RIDDLES (Bugtong or Palaisipan)These are made up of one or more measured lines with rhyme and may consist of 4 to 12 syllabes. EXAMPLES: Hiyas na puso, kulay ginto, mabango kung amuyin, masarap kung kainin. (mangga) Nanganak ang birhen, itinapon ang lampin. (saging) May langit, may lupa, May tubig, walang isda. (niyog) Buhok ni Adan, hindi mabilang. (ulan) Nagsaing si Hudas, kinuha ang tubig itinapon ang bigas. (gata ng niyog) BULONG (CHANT) Used in witchcraft or enchantments EXAMPLES: -Tabi, tabi po, Ingkong Makikiraan po lamang. -Sa hinaba-haba ng prusisyon Sa simbahan din pala ang tuloy SAYING Used in teasing or to comment on a persons acutations EXAMPLES:

-Catitibay ca tolos Sacaling datnang agos Aco I momonting lomot Sa iyo I popolopot -Nag-almusal mag-isa Kaning lamig, tinapa; Nahulog ang kutsara Ikaw na sana, sinta EPIGRAMS (Salawikain)these have been customarily used and served as laws or rules ongood behavior by our ancestors. To others, these are like allegoriesor parables that impart lessons for the young. EXAMPLES: May tainga ang lupa, may pakpak ang balita. Kahit saang gubat, ay mayruong ahas. Walang lumura sa langit na di sa kanyang mukha nagbalik. Bago ka bumati ng sa ibang uling, uling mo muna ang iyong pahirin. Ang umaayaw ay di nagwawagi, ang nagwawagi ay di umaayaw. "Although beauty may be skin deep, many have drowned there." PROVERBS -or aphorisms express norms or codes of behavior, community beliefs or they instill values by offering nuggets of wisdom in short, rhyming verse. EXAMPLES: -Ang tunay na pag-anyaya, dinadamayan ng hila. A sincere invitation is augmented by a pull -Bago mo sabihin at gawin, makapitong iisipin. Before you say and do, think about it seven times. -Nasa Diyos ang awa, nasa tao ang gawa. God helps those who help themselves. TANAGA

A quatrain with seven syllables each with the same rhyme at the end of each line EXAMPLES: Tahak ng tingin, tulak ng sulyap, yakap, lapat ng titig sa balikat. hatak pa, kindat, hakat MAXIMS rhyming couplets (5,6,8 syllables) EXAMPLES: Pag hindi ukol, Hindi bubukol. What is not intended for one will not bear fruit.

RECREATIONAL PLAY
TIBAG Dramatic performance for the purpose of manifesting devotion for the holy cross. CENACULO Dramatic performance of the passion and death of Christ MORO-MORO Also known as Comedia an old spanish play depicting Spains struggles against the Moors, who at one invaded the Spain. THEATRE Early forms of drama: -KARAGATAN This is a socio religious play which is part of the rites held in connection with the death of a person. This ritual done four times. -DUPLO Another socio religious play also played in the connection with the death of the person to comfort the bereaved family. LAGAYLAY A special occasion for the pilareos of sorsogon during may time to get together ZARZUELA The father of drama, a musical comedy or melodrama three acts which death with

mens passion and emotions like love, hate, revenge, cruelty , avarice or some political problem. PANUNULUYAN Philippine Christmas dramatic ritual narrating the whole familys search for a place to stay in Bethlehem for Jesus Christ s birth through songs. SALUBONG Dramatize s the reunion of the risen Christ and his mother AWIT Have measures of twelve syllables and slowly sung to the accompaniment of a guitar or banduria. CORRIDO Have measures of eight syllables and recited to a martial beat. ex. Ibong Adarna BALAGTASAN A poetic joust or contest of skill in debate on a particular topic. DUNG- AW A chant in free verse by a bereaved person or his representative besides the corpse of the dead. CARILLO A form of dramatic entertainment perform on a moonless night during a town fiesta or on darknights after a harvest. SAINETE A short musical comedy popular during the th 18 century. They were exaggerated comedy shown between acts plays and were mostly performed by characters from the lower class.