Module 3

BICOL COLLEGE
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
INC.
Cor. J.P. Rizal St. & R. F Tabuena
DEPARTMENT
St. Daraga,
Albay

MODULE IN

21st Century Literature

From the Philippines and the World

Grade 12
Prepared by:

Jay R. Cervantes

Ailene M. Posillo

Loren C. Mesa

Subject Teachers

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INTRODUCTION

21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World Module 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.

This module allows the students to embark on a journey from Philippine

regions to the different parts of the world through various literary encounters.

Learning Competency: Value the contributions of local writers to the

development of regional literary traditions. (EN12Lit-Ic-23)

This module contains your expected learning outcomes, activities and tasks that are
meant to ensure your learning and enjoyment in exploring the world of Philippine
Literature and beyond. At the end of the lesson, you are expected to:

value the contributions of local writers to the development of regional literary traditions explain the

context of with the text’s meaning.

write a short essay to express valuing contribution of local writers to the

development of literary tradition

PRE – TEST
Direction: Using the given answer sheet, circle the letter of the correct answer.

1. It simply means such as accumulative process of handing down texts for future generations.
A. Literary tradition

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B. Literary symbol
C. Literary genre
D. Literary criticism
2. It refers to writing considered to be an art form or any single writing deemed to have artistic or
intellectual value, often due to deploying language in ways that differ from ordinary usage.
A. Literature
B. Poetry
C. Technical writing
D. Reading and writing

3. This is often defined as a short piece of writing on a particular subject, also defined as a short piece of
an account of historical, personal and academic events.
A. Literature
B. Essay
C. Poetry D. Fiction
4. It is an important component of writing for it shows the essay’s personality as much as you would if you
were the one telling the story to someone.
A. Writer’s Language
B. Writer’s Style
C. Writer’s Viewpoints D. Writer’s Voice
5. An award – winning Filipina fictionist who has written 5 short fiction, 2 novels, 11 essays, 4 literary
criticisms and won numerous awards. The author of the excerpt from New York City Post 9/11.
A. Fe Hidalgo
B. Maria Fe Hidalgo
C. Cristina Pantoja – Hidalgo
D.
E. Amanda Pantoja – Hidalgo

Read the essay and answer the questions that are ask regarding writer’s voice

Excerpt from “New York City, Post 9/11”

By : Cristina Pantoja – Hidalgo

At the NAIA, I was reminded yet again that my friend Preachy Legasto like to travel heavy. More than a
decade ago, she had come to visit me in our house in Westchester Country and had left two large suitcases in
one corner of our living room, which she picked up some days later, on her way to JKF Airport.

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Preachy and Fe Mangahas were travelling together to attend a conference. And because, Preachy had
apparently managed to fill a third suitcase with stuff to bring home to Manila, including bed linen and crockery,
and would have been charged a fortune in overweight luggage; Fe had to pretend that one of his suitcases
was hers. Few herself was actually travelling with just one small bag.
This time around, Preachy had two large suit cases and two carry – on bags. She informed me that they
contained mainly her “costumes”------ beaded ensembles, beaded shawl, chunky ethnic jewelry ( “performing
ethnicity nga diba?”) and pasalubong for relatives living both the east and west coasts.
I, on the other hand, had checked in just one medium – sized bag that could be dragged about on wheels, and
was hand – carrying a small duffel bag and soft of leather hand bag. All those years of living like gypsy had
taught me to never bring anything I couldn’t lift myself. Nonetheless, since I had also brought along my woolen
overcoat, I felt like I was travelling heavy. It was mid – October and my daughter Anna had warned me to
expect around 65 F, which for e definitely translated into overcoat weather.

It was October 2014, and we were on our way to New York City for an international conference and festival
called “Performing
Ethnicity” , organized by the Ma – yi Theater Company; the City College of New York; and a Fil – am group
called Philippine Forum. Joi Barrios and Preachy were co – conveners at the Manila end. The conference and
festival were meant to mark the 100th anniversary of the St. Louis World’s Fair, during thousands of ethnic
tribes from the new “empire’ (including Igorots and Moros) had been display put on display for the American
audiences.
I knew a little about Ma – yi because Joi was part of it. The company had been founded in the late 80’s,
mainly to present plays by Filipino Americans;but had now expanded to provide a venue for other Asian
American writers.
What had convinced me to take up Preachy’s invitation to read a paper in aconference was that it was to be
held in New York City, which meant that I could make a detour on the way back, and visit Anna, who was doing
her M.A. in Washington D.C.
This was my first trip to the U.S. after 9/11. Securuty checks were vtighter and the kines were miles long. But,
as usual, the difficulties had been exaggerated.
Running true to form , I barely got any sleep on the long flight to L.A., and tried to entertain myself by reading
fitfully from a collection of Latin American stories (edited by Carlos Fuentes and Jukio Ortega) and stuffing my
face. If there’s one thing you get from flying PAL (besides taking off and landing at the Centenial Airport) it’s a
full stomach.

The immigration officer of L.A. was young, Latino – looking, and avery pleasant. When I had told him
that I lived in the U.S. for a while some years back, he became even frienlier. And when I said I’d be in D.C. a
few days after New York to visit my daughter who was in graduate school,his smile broadly and said, “Ah, one
of the smart ones.”
I had a window seat at the American Airlines connecting flight to New York, and was able to catcht the dawn
breaking. Layers of colors above the blanket clouds – mauve, rose, gold, lemon yellow, powder blue,
torquoise, all shade of blue darkening to most violet, grayish violet… a splendid sight! And a good beginning to
see this brief sojourn into a land for which I have the most ambigous feeling.

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New York City is Mecca to any number of Pinoys. But I must admit that I too once dreamed – not just of
visiting there – but someday living there. And yet, when we did, in fact live there briefly….. ah but what I can
possibly say that won’t be caliche? Best to let that be.
New York City was wrapped in gray rain. But Ma – yi had sent people to meet our party, which
consisted of Bien Lumbera, Rio Almario, Rio’s daughter Ani, Preachy and myself. So, we were whisked off to
the Hotel Belleclaire Park on West 77th St., an interesting part of the city, not far from Lincoln Center and
Central Park. Its brochure described it has a “grand – style hotel, offering old world charm at affordable prices,”
built in 1903, but renovated in 2002. Mark Twain and Maxi Gorky were listed among its illustrious guests in the
past.
Befrore we had time to unpack, Ora Kapunan (Preachy’s sister’s sister – in – law) arrived, and announced that
she was taking us all to brunch at the Manhattan Dinner next door. This announcement was greeted with
enthusiasm by all, since we had been served only crackers and cheese by American Airlines on the L.A. New
York leg. In fact, iwas lightheaded from both sleep deprivation and hunger.
After lunch, Ora asked us where we wanted to go – she was at our disposal, she said (I began to underatand
why Preachy was carrying so many pasalubong.) we didn’t even have to consult each other. Where would a
bunch of writers and academics want to go in New York City? The Strand Bookstore, the museum of Modern
Art and the TKT on Times Square, where else?
“Don’t youwant to see Ground Zero? Ora asked, sounding not dissapointed to mush a surprised. “Oh…. Yes,
of course,” we murmured obediently. So first we went to the Ground Zero, which though converted into a
subway station, brought up images of incredible collapse of those towers, played so often on internationa TV
that they had become indelibly imprinnted on the imagination. (I had a sudden sharp recollection of BBC
anchor woman, saying, in a tone which combined shock and sadness:" and now we return you to New
York and its broken heart.”)

One of my favorite books about New York is Gone to New York, by Ian Frazier, a frequent contributor to The
New Yorker. A short chapter in it is called “The Mornings After.”
From the subsurd where I lived in New Jersy, you can see the skyline of Manhattan. When it appears through
the trees or beyond the edge of a hill, I find myself checking it and checking it again to see of the World Trade
Towers still aren’t there. What happened to them and to the people in them is unacceptable to the mind, and
we must use a lot of effort to get it straight. To accommodate ourselves to the facts is to feel a weight that gets
no lighter no matter how we adjust it. The weight has a particular heaviness in the early morning. After a
troubled and forgetful sleep., I wake up at five forty - five, before the first light. For a moment, I don’t remember
what happened; in the next momment. I fully awake I do.
He writes with the same incredibly which I’ve found in many other Americans.

And then, there’s Doris Lessing: “The judgement they ‘had it coming’, so angrily resented is perhaps
misunderstood,” Lessing wrote. “What people felt was that Americans had at last learned that they were like
everyone else, vulnerable to the snakes of Envy and Revenge, to bombs exploding on a street corner (as in
Belfast), or in a hotel using a government (as in Brington). They say themselves that they have been expelled
from their Eden. How strange they should ever thought they had a right to one.”
I wondered what Ora would think about that.
Ora figured we wouldn’t have time to do both Strand and the MOMA, so we chose the former (which was just
as well, because the MOMAwas under renovation, we later learned). Andshe drove us to the other end of

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town, pointing out the usual landmarks – Rockefeller Center, Lincoln Square, Times Square, Washinton
Square, NYU, the New School….while chatting with Preachy cheerfully the whole time, about relatives, about a
product which she and her husband were pushing. , a “chocolate fountain”, apparently a real hit in parties,
even if quite expensive about how much clearer and safer New York was these days; about how she
approved of George W. Bush’s foreign policy. None of us contributed much to the converation, not even
Preachy.
As usual, I went a little crazy at the Strand, spending much more than I mean to, on travel literature mainly,
and feeling deprived by having only a couple of hours browsing. Then we lined up for Broadway I a light
drizzle. And thought the wait was kind of long, entertainment was provided by two black men with dreadlocks,
beating reggae tunes on what looked like basins.
In the meantime, the afternoon had turned sunny and crisp, lovely fall weather. We had early supper at
Strumm’s. And then, with about two hours to kill, Preachy and Ani simply put their heads on the table which
had been cleared of dishes, and went to sleep. I was feeling pretty woozy myself.
But if I couldn’t sleep on a soft reclining seat in a darkened airplane cabin, I certainly couldn’t on acold
plastic chair in a brightly lit diner. I amused myself by listening to a group of black teenagers singing at a
nearby table. One of the girls as good that I came to the conclusion that Fantasia (the latest “American Idol”.)
was really not all that special out here.
Preachy and Bien had chosen Fiddler on the Roof. But Rio, Ani and I opted for Bombay Dreams, an Andrew
Lloyd Wenbber production based on an idea of Webber’s and Shekkar Khapur’s.
Funny how Bollywood should be a hit with American audencies, a long time before Slum Dog Millonaire was
sweep the oscars.
The music was by R.A. Rahman, and the lyrics by Don Black Manu Narayan played Akash, the slum boy who
dreams of becoming a Bollywood Movie back on his hometown; but repents and returns and promises to make
up and help improve life in his old neighborhood. All the sound of bright bouncy music and rhythm of lively
dances, with a lot of vjoking and tumbling about.
It reminds me of old Filipino films, the Nida Blanca – Nestor de Villa sort. (We could do this. Actually,
we’d be better at it!) and some of the ensemble did, in fact look not Indian but Pinoy.
Then we took the subway back, stopped at Westside Supermarket for fruits and other stuff we could have for
breakfast; and hen, still high, Preachy and I stayed up to chat with Joi in Preachy’s room. There’s no denying it:
New York does throb and glow!.

TASK 1
DIRECTION: Answer the following questions based from the story above.

1. What is Hidalgo’s essay all about?

2. Who is the target audience?
3. How does an author’s voice affect the essay?
4. How can an author establish his or her voice in writing an essay?

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ARCHIPELAGIC NONFICTION

Creative nonfiction or essay is all about life. When you read an essay you read
the thoughs, feelings, and eperiences of a writer about an important time in his or
her life. Thus, you also connect with the writer in his or her life. Thus, you also
connect with the writer and his or her experiences and may get insights on how to
handle your own current situations or issues.
Basically, a majority of eriters will wirte on their past history or what happened to
them in common a while. Events in asociety are highly associated with the culture
of that place. By writing on those traditions they help grow those literary traditions
both locally and regionally. They also remind people of those cultures that were
long forgotten.
Local writers will also help to explain events in details hence people locally or
regionally depending on the popularity of the writers is in a position to understand
the literary traditions. Philippine literature are written works made in the
philippines, such as books ans poems. These type of literature are produced by
writers. Writers express their ideas by creating various literature, which is contributed to the Philippinne
literature.

ESSAY

Takes the same passion craft, and artistry as any literary

genre. It is also known to be immensely popular because

newspapers nowadays still bears essay in the forms of
editorials, columns and bylines. Some of the most
popular news paper columnist who are known to write in
the essay form are Conrado de Quiros of the Philippine
Daily Inquirer, Jessica Zafa of the Philippine Star and
Business World, and most recently, Patricia Evangelista
and Shakira Sison of the online news portal Rappler.

In publishing, Carlos Bulusan’s America in the Heart has

always been a staple for creative non fiction. In this

work, he writes about his migration to the United States
and the painful life he has lived there, and yet, ends the
whole memoir with a declaration that America will always
be in the “heart.”

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NEWS PAPER COLUMNIST

Conrado de Quiros
(Philippine Daily Inquirer
)

ONLINE PORTAL COLUMNIST

CREATIVE NON-FICTION (WRITER)

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TASK 2
Direction: Complete the word being described in each statement by filling in the letters inside the box.

1. Simply means such an accumulative process of handing down texts for future generations.

2. This is often defined as a short piece of writing on a particular subject, also defined as a short piece of
an account of historical, personal and academic events.

3. It refers to writing considered to be an art form or any single writing deemed to have artistic or
intellectual value, often due to deploying language in ways that differ from ordinary usage.

TASK 3
Direction: Using the given answer sheet, circle the letter of the best answer for each item.

1. It simply means such an accumulative process of handing down texts for future generations.
A. Literary tradition B. Literary Symbol C. Literary Genre D. Literary Criticism
2. It refers to writing considered to be an art form or any single writing deemed to have artistic or
intellectual value, often due to deploying language in ways that differ from ordinary usage.
A. Literature B. Poetry C. Technical Writing D. Reading and Writing
3. This is often defined as a short piece of writing on a particular subject, also defined as a short piece of
an account of historical, personal and academic events.
A. Literature B. Essay C. Poetry D. Fiction
4. It is an important component of writing for it shows the essay’s personality as much as you would if you
were the one telling the story to someone else.
A. Writer’s Language B. Writer’s Style C. Writer’s Viewpoints D. Writer’s Voice
5. An award-winning Filipina fictionist who has written 5 short fiction, 2 novels, 11 essays, 4 literary
criticisms and won numerous awards. The author of the excerpt from New York City Post 9/11.
A. Fe Hidalgo B. Maria Fe Hidalgo C. Cristina Pantoja-Hidalgo D. Amanda Pantoja-Hidalgo
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TASK 4
Direction: Read the short biography of these two local writers and write a short essay on the question “How
could we value their contribution to the development of literary tradition? Write your answer on the space
provided.

J. NEIL GARCIA

He is the author of numerous poetry collections and works in literary

culturaland
criticism, including Our Lady of the Carnival (1996), The Sorrows of
Water (2000), Kaluluwa (2001) Philippine Gay Culture: The Last Thirty Years
(1996)
, Slip/pages: Essa
ys in Philippine Gay Criticism (1998), Performing the Self:
occasional Prose (2003), The Garden of Worldlessness (2005), The Mysterios
and Other Poems (2005). He recently edited the anthology: Aura: The Gay
Philippine Fiction in English.
themed

__________________________________________________________________

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GEMMA NEMENZO

She was one of those who conceptualized and created the Batibot, the
acclaimed children’s educational TV show. Abstract/editor for US based electronic
databasepublisher; Managing Editor and columnist of Filipinas
- the only monthly
glossy magazine for the Fil
-Am community in the US.

Photo Source https://www.rappler.com/previous-articles?

filterMeta=shakira%20sison
https://digitalcollections.lib.washington.edu/digital/collection/portraits/i
d/35/
https://teamarkongbato.wordpress.com/conrade-de-quiros/
http://cnnphilippines.com/life/culture/literature/2018/11/16/jessica-zafrainterview.html
https://www.rappler.com/about-rappler/staff-profiles/2519-patriciaevangelista
http://www.readersandwritersfestival.com/panelist-info.php?panelist=J% 20Neil
%20Garcia&img=up-press http://upbsi.org/upbsfnorcalchapter/12upaasv/upaasv.html

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