21st Century Literature

I. Literature
Literature – derived from the Latin term Litera which means letter.
– expresses anything that is printed as long as it is related to the ideas and feelings of the
people. (Webster)
– expresses anything the feelings of people to society. (Brother Azurin)
True Literature – is a piece of writing work which is undying. (Panitirang Filipino)

Filipino Writers in Spanish Who Became Conscious

• Marcelo H. Del Pilar – expressed his rebellious writing style through his work "Pasyon Dapat
Ipag Alab ng Puso".
• Pascual Poblete – used his work "Patnubay sa Binyagan" to associate Filipino's struggle for
independence with Jesus's life.
• Jose Rizal – wrote "Noli me Tangere" and "El Filibusterismo" and made a very powerful
contribution to the awakening of Filipinos.
– influenced the succeeding writers.
• Francisco Baltazar – wrote his immortal komedya "Florante at Laura" which embodied the
concept of colonization and oppression.

"Awit" at "Corido" – are narrative poems that talk about the world of royals, warriors, and lovers.

American Colonial Period (1898-1945)

• Philippine literature in Spanish started to lose track.
• Poems of Fernando Ma. Guerrero (Crisalidas), Balmori's "Se deshojo la Flor" novel, and
many others discussed revolution and sentiments for patriotism.
• Even though Philippine literature was in English, the preservation of the content for Filipino
experiences was achieved.
• Short story writers in English like Manuel Agilla were one of the foundations of Philippine
literature. Poetry in English was also founded.
• Sarzuela was overpowered by English drama.

Contemporary Period (1946 to Present)

• Started during the rebirth of freedom.
• The state of literature was marked by a kind of "kind of struggle of mind and spirit".
• Philippine literature in Tagalog was revived during this period. Most themes in the writing deal
with Japanese brutality, poverty, life under the Japanese government, and the brave guerillas'
exploits.
Literature in this Period
a. Heart of the Island (1947) – a collection of poems by Manuel Viray.
b. Philippine Cross Section (1950) – a collection of prose and poetry by Maximo Ramos and
Florentino Valeros.
c. Prose and Poems (1952) – by Nick Joaquin
d. Philippine Writing (1953) – by T.D. Agcaoh
e. Philippine Harvest – by Armando Daguio
f. Horizons Least (1967) – is a collection of words by the professors of U.E. Themes of most
poems dealt with the usual love of nature and social and political problems.
g. Who Spoke on Courage in His Sleep – by NVM Gonzales
h. Speak not, Speak also – by Conrado V. Patacsil
i. Tobia Maño, Edith Tiempo, and Jose Garcia Villas – are poets

Period of Activism (1970-1972)

- Due to many young people becoming activists asking for a change in the government, their
writing was fueled with nationalism to emphasize the importance of their petitions.
- The irreverence for the poor reached its peak during this period.
- Bomba Films (Chukchakan Films) started to come out to discredit our ways as Filipinos.
- Youth became completely rebellious which is proven not only in the bloody demonstrations but
also in literature. They held pens and wrote MAKIBAKA in red paint.
Period of the New Society (1972-1980)
- Started on September 24, 1972.
- Almost all themes of most writings dealt with the development and progress of the country.
- This period tried to stop chukchakan films and writings that badly influenced our morals.
- Tried to revive old plays and dramas like Tagalog zarzuela, Cenaculo, and the Embayoka.
- Most poems dealt with patience.
- Continued to patronize radio. Play series like "Si Matar Dahlia" and "Ito ang Palad ko" by
Mr. Lonely were forms of recreation for those without TV.
- The yearly Filipino Films Festivals usually lasted for a month and were held during this time.
Films like:
• Maynila… sa Kuko ng Liwanag – written by Eduardo Reyes and filmed under
the direction of Lina Brocka. Lead actor was Bembol Rocko.
• Minsay Isang Gamu-Gamo – a story by Marina Feleo-Gonzales and directed
by Lupita Aquino-Kashiwahara. Nora Aunor was the lead performer.
• Ganito Kami Noon… Paano Kayo Ngayon? – written by Roy C. Iglesias and
Eddie Romero who is also the director. The lead actors were Christopher De
Leon and Gloria Diaz.

II. Philippine Literature: A Timeline (Emeng sinend)

A. Pre-Colonial Period (B.C. – 1564)
1. Characteristics
• Based on oral tradition
• Crude on ideology and phraseology
• Consisted of both written and oral literature
• Language of the oral literature was the language of daily life
 • Earliest alphabet (Alibata), of Asokan origin, consisted of 3 vowels and 14
consonants.
2. Literature
• Oral Literature
➢ Bugtong (Riddles) – are puzzling questions to be solved or
guessed.
➢ Salawikain (Proverbs) – witty saying using metaphors
aimed at teaching virtues.
➢ Tanaga – a mono-rhyming heptasyllabic quatrain
expressing insights.
• Folk Songs
➢ Hele/Uyayi – a lullaby
➢ Kumintang – a war song
➢ Harana – serenade
➢ Diona/Ihiman – wedding song
➢ Talindaw – boating song
➢ Balitaw – love song
• Folk Tales
➢ Myths – explain how the world was created and other
phenomena.
➢ Legends – explain the origin of things.
➢ Epics – narratives revolving around supernatural events or
heroic deeds.
3. Notable Works
• Biag ni Lam-ang – an epic centered on the life and adventures of Ilocos
folk hero named Lam-ang.
• Hinilawod – an epic from Panay that recounts the exploits of three
Sulodnon demigod brothers.

B. Colonial Period (1565 – 1863)

1. Characteristics
• It has two distinct classifications: religious and secular.
• Spanish became the medium of communication.
• The alibata was replaced by Roman script.
• The Filipinos were introduced to an education system.
2. Literature
• Early colonial literature was limited to religious topics.
• Filipinos were introduced to religious materials such as prayer books,
novenas, doctrines, crucifixion, and the lives of saints.
• The once highly imaginative folk narratives were replaced by sober and
religious writings.
• Poetry developed in form and structure but the religious undertones were
evident.
• The epics were overshadowed by the emergence of awit (heroic poem) and
the corrido (legendary religious poem).
• Early forms of Philippine drama during the Spanish colonial period were
the duplo and the Karagatan.
 • More popular dramas were later introduced such as the cenaculo
(reenactment of life and suffering of Christ), the moro-moro (a play about
the conflict between Christians and Muslims), and the zarzuela (music
comedy).
3. Notable Works
• Ang Mahal na Passion ni Jesucristong Panginoon Namin – Gaspar
Aquino de Belen, a narrative poem intended by the religious authorities to
replace the heathen epics.
• Bernardo Carpio – a myth about a legendary strongman of Montalban.
• Ibong Adarna – a corrido about the mythical bird with healing powers
and the three brothers' quest for the magical bird.
• Florante at Laura – an awit on the struggle and love of Duke Florante
and Princess Laura of Albania.

C. Revolutionary Period (1864 – 1910)

1. Characteristics
• Planted seen for nationalism.
• Language shifted from Spanish to Tagalog.
• Addressed the masses instead of the elites.
2. Literature
• Propaganda Literature – reformatory in objective
➢ Political Essays – satires, editorials, and news
articles were written to expose the evils of Spanish
rule.
➢ Political Novels – Rizal's novels were meant to
awaken the minds of the Filipinos.
• Revolutionary Literature – more propagandistic than literary.
➢ Political Essays – helped inflame the spirit of
revolution.
➢ Poetry – poems of the period focus on love for the
country.
3. Notable Works
• Diariong Tagalog – founded by Marcelo H. Del Pilar.
• La Solidaridad – the famous publication of the propagandists.
• Noli me Tangere and El Filibusterismo – two novels written by Jose
Rizal that paved the way to the revolution.
• El Verdadero Decalogo (The True Dialogue) – Apolinario Mabini's
literary masterpiece which aims to propagate nationalism.

D. Post-Colonial Period – American Regime (1910 – 1912)

1. Characteristics
• English was introduced in the second decade of the 20th Century.
• Literary works were written in three languages: Tagalog, Spanish, and
English.
• More Filipino writers emerged and free verses, plays, and critical essays.
 •
Philippine literature became commercialized in the 1920s when weekly
magazines Liwayway and Bisaya published stories.
• Most literary works centered on nationalism, love for country, sense of
belongingness, loss of identity, and heroism.
2. Period of Apprenticeship (1910 – 1912)
• Filipino writers imitated English and American models.
• Poems written during the period were amateurism and mushy.
3. Period of Emergence (1920 – 1942)
• Highly influenced by Western literary trends like Romanticism and
Realism.
• Literary works were carefully and intelligently crafted.
4. Notable Works
• Child of Sorrow – by Zoilo Galang, the first Philippine novel in English.
• Dead Stars – by Paz Marquez, the first short story in English written in
the country
• Footnote to Youth – by Jose Garcia Villa, one of the early short stories
during the period that tackles the delicate subject matter of teenage
marriage.
• Ninay – the very first Filipino novel written in Tagalog.

E. Japanese Occupation (1942 – 1945)

1. Characteristics
• Tagalog writers started to write in simple language and free verse.
• Fiction prevailed over poetry.
• The Japanese censured all publications, except Tribune and the Philippine
Review.
• The Japanese language Nippongo was introduced but not well embraced
by the Filipinos.
2. Literature
•
Writers were exposed to new literary forms
➢ Haiku – a free verse of Japanese origin, with 17
syllables divided into three lines (5 – 7 – 5).
➢ Tanka – similar to haiku but with 31 syllables (5 –
7 – 5 – 7 – 7).
• Many Filipino writers wrote plays, poems, short stories, etc. in Tagalog
and other vernacular language.
• Topics and themes were often life in the provinces or escape Japanese
control and censorship.
3. Notable Works
• Suyuan sa Tubigan – by Macario Pineda
• Lupang Tinubuan – by Narciso Reyes
• Uhaw ang Tigang na Lupa – by Liwayway Arceo
F. Liberation Period (1945 – 1960)
1. Characteristics
• Filipino writers mastered English and familiarized themselves with literary
techniques.
• Bountiful harvest in poetry, drama, fiction, and essays.
• Journalistic ad literary criticism emerged.
2. Literature
• Literary "Giants" appeared like Nick Joaquin, NVM Gonzales,
Bienvenido Santos, and Gila Cordero Fernando among others.
• Literary guilds and awards were established to honor outstanding works.
• Common themes focused search for identity, homesickness, rural life, and
conditions in rural communities.
3. Notable Works
• Wedding Dance – by Amador Daguio which dwells on love and
language.
• Children of the City – by Amadis Ma. Guerrero which centers on an
abandoned child in the streets of Manila.
• The Day the Dancers Came – by Bienvenido Santos which talks the
about homesickness of an expatriate.

G. Modern Period (1960 – 1999)

1. Characteristics
• The declaration of Martial La repressed Filipino writers to write delicate
subject matters, particularly about the prevailing crisis during the period.
• Writers used symbolism and allegories to drive home their message.
• Theater was used as a vehicle for protest such as the PETA and UP
theater.
• Campus newspapers showed rebellious emotions.
• Bilingual education was initiated in public and private schools.
• From the 80s onward, writers continued dynamism and innovation.
2. Literature
• The irreverence of the poor reached its peak during this period.
• The Carlos Palanca Award continued to give annual awards to literary
masterpieces.
• Almost all themes in most writing dealt with the development of progress of the
country.
• Themes of most poems dealt with patience, regard for native culture,
customs, and the beauties of nature and surroundings.
• The government led in reviving old plays and dramas.
3. Notable Works
• Dekada 70 – by Lualhati Bautista which focuses on the life of Filipinos
during the Martial Law regime.
• Rosales Saga – by F. Sionil Jose
• The Flowers of May – by Francisco Arcellana
H. The 21st Century (2001 to present)
1. Characteristics
• Themes have changed from sentimentalized romanticism to a more
realistic and naturalistic delineation.
• Gay and Lesbian literature came out.
• Strong feminist tendencies are evident.
• More social problems tackled.
• TV and films have become more popular.
2. Literature
• Daring and controversial choice of subject matter.
• Very innovative in structure and style.
• Influence of differentisms and literary trends from the West.
• Characters, plot structures and narrative techniques are more complex.
3. Notable Works
• Ladlad – by Danton Remoto chronicles the lifestyle of gays and dilemma
they encounter in life.
• Women Loving: Stories and a Play – by Jhoanna Lynn Cruz an
anthrology of lesbian-themed stories.
• Twisted Series – by Jessica Zafra a collection of essays about current
events, technology, and life in the society.