Philippine their reporting which bordered on the

libelous. Gradually, as normality was

Literature restored, the tones and themes of the

writings turned to the less pressing
The Rebirth of problems of economic survival.

Freedom (1946-1970) Some Filipino writers who had gone

abroad and had written during the
Historical Background
interims came back to publish their
The Americans returned in 1945.
works.
Filipinos rejoiced and guerillas who
Not all the books published during the
fled to the mountain joined the
period reflected the war year; some
liberating American Army.
were compilations or second editions of
On July 4, 1946, the Philippines
what have been written before.
regained is freedom and the Filipino
flag waved joyously alone. The chains
Some of the writers and their works of
were broken.
the periods are:
THE VOICE OF THE VETERAN –a compilation
A. THE STATE OF LITERATURE
of the best works of some Ex-USAFFE men
DURING THIS PERIOD
like Amante Bigornia, Roman de la Cruz,
Ramon de Jesus and J.F. Rodriguez.
TWILIGHT IN TOKYO andPASSION and DEATH
The early post-liberation period was
OF THE USAFFE by Leon Ma. Guerrero
marked by a kind of “struggle of mind
FOR FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY–by S.P. Lopez
and spirit”posed by the sudden
BETRAYAL IN THE PHILIPPINES–by Hernando
emancipation from the enemy, and the
Abaya
wild desire to see print.

SEVEN HILLS AWAY–by NVM Gonzales

Filipinos had, by this time, learned to
POETRY IN ENGLISH DURING THIS PERIOD
express themselves more confidently but
For the first twenty years, many books
post-war problems beyond language and
were published…both in Filipino and in
print-like economic stability, the
English.
threat of new ideas and mortality –had
Among the writers during this time
to be grappled with side by side.
were: Fred Ruiz Castro, Dominador I.
There was a proliferation of newspapers
Ilio, and C.B. Rigor.
like the FREE PRESS, MORNING SUN, of
Some notable works of the period
Sergio Osmeña Sr., DAILY MIRROR of
include the following:
Joaquin Roces, EVENING NEWS of Ramon
1. HEART OF THE ISLANDS (1947) –a
Lopezes and the BULLETIN of Menzi. This
collection of poems by Manuel Viray
only proved that there were more
readers in English than in any ocher
2. PHILIPPINES CROSS SECTION (1950) –a
vernaculars like Tagalog, Ilocano or
collection of prose and poetry by
Hiligaynon.
Maximo Ramos and Florentino Valeros
3. PROSE AND POEMS (1952) –by Nick
Journalists had their day. They
Joaquin
indulged in more militant attitude in
 4. PHILIPPINE WRITING (1953) –by T.D. Award for the Filipino novel in
Agcaoili English.
5. PHILIPPINE HAVEST –by Amador Daguio In 1968, Luis V. Teodoro Jr.’s short
6. HORIZONS LEAST (1967) –a collection story THE ADVERSARY won the Philippines
of works by the professors of UE, Free Press short story award; in 1969,
mostly in English (short stories, his story THE TRAIL OF PROFESSOR RIEGO
essays, research papers, poem and won second prize in the Palanca
drama) by Artemio Patacsil and Silverio Memorial Awards for Literature and in
Baltazar 1970, his short story THE DISTANT CITY
won the GRAPHIC short story award.
The themes of most poems dealt with the
usual love of nature, and of social and THE NEW FILIPINO LITERATURE
political problems. Toribia Maño’s DURING THIS PERIOD
poems showed deep emotional intensity.
7. WHO SPOKE OF COURAGE IN HIS SLEEP –
by NVM Gonzales Philippines literature in Tagalog was
8. SPEAK NOT, SPEAK ALSO –by Conrado V. revived during this period. Most themes
Pedroche in the writings dealt with Japanese
9. Other poets were Toribia Maño and brutalities, of the poverty of life
Edith L. Tiempo under the Japanese government and the
Jose Garcia Villa’s HAVE COME, AM brave guerilla exploits.
HEREwon acclaim both here and abroad. Newspapers and magazine publications
were re-opened like the Bulaklak,
Liwayway, Ilang Ilangand Sinag Tala.
NOVELS AND SHORT STORIES IN Tagalog poetry acquired not only rhyme
ENGLISH but substance and meaning. Short
stories had better characters and
events based on facts and realities and
Longer and longer pieces were being themes were more meaningful. Novels
written by writers of the period. became common but were still read by
Stevan Javellana’s WITHOUT SEEING THE the people for recreation.
DAWN tells of the grim experiences of
war during the Japanese Occupation. The people’s love for listening to
In 1946, the Barangay Writer’s Project poetic jousts increased more than
whose aim was to publish works in before and people started to flock to
English by Filipinos was established. places to hear poetic debates.
In 1958, the PEN Center of the Many books were published during this
Philippines (Poets, essayists, time, among which were:
novelists) was inaugurated. In the same 1. Mga Piling Katha (1947-48) by
year, Francisco Arcellana published his Alejandro Abadilla
PEN ANTHOLOGY OF SHORT STORIES. 2. Ang Maikling Kuwentong Tagalog
(1886-1948) by Teodoro Agoncillo
In 1961, Kerima Polotan’s novel THE
HAND OF THE ENEMY won the Stonehill
 3. Ako’y Isang Tinig (1952) collection
of poems and stories by Genoveva Edroza
Matute
4. Mga Piling Sanaysay (1952) by
Alejandro Abadilla
5. Maikling Katha ng Dalawampung
Pangunahing Autor (1962) by A.G.
Abadilla and Ponciano E.P. Pineda
6. Parnasong Tagalog (1964) collection
of selected poems by Huseng Sisiw and
Balagtas, collected by A.G. Abadilla
7. Sining at Pamamaraan ng Pag-aaral ng
Panitikan (1965) by Rufino Alejandro.

He prepared this book for teaching in

reading and appreciation of poems,
dramas, short stories and novels
8. Manlilikha, Mga Piling Tula (1961-
1967) by Rogelio G. Mangahas
9. Mga Piling Akda ng Kadipan
(Kapisanang Aklat ng Diwa at Panitik)
1965 by Efren Abueg
10. Makata (1967) first cooperative
effort to publish the poems of 16 poets
in Pilipino
11. Pitong Dula (1968) by Dionisio
Salazar
12. Manunulat: Mga Piling Akdang
Pilipino (1970) by Efren Abueg. In this
book, Abueg proved that it is possible
to have a national integration of
ethnic culture in our country.

13. Mga Aklat ni Rizal: Many books

about Rizal came out during this
period. The law ordering the additional
study of the life of Rizal helped a lot
in activating our writers to write
books about Rizal.
s