HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF PHILIPPINE LITERATURE

INTRODUCTION

The diversity and richness of Philippine literature evolved side by side with the
country's history. This can best be appreciated in the context of the country's pre-colonial
cultural traditions and the socio-political histories of its colonial and contemporary
traditions.

The average Filipino's unfamiliarity with his indigenous literature was largely due
to what has been impressed upon him: that his country was "discovered" and, hence,
Philippine "history" started only in 1521.

So successful were the efforts of colonialists to blot out the memory of the
country's largely oral past that present-day Filipino writers, artists and journalists are
trying to correct this inequity by recognizing the country's wealth of ethnic traditions and
disseminating them in schools and in the mass media.

The rousing of nationalistic pride in the 1960s and 1970s also helped bring about
this change of attitude among a new breed of Filipinos concerned about the "Filipino
identity."

OBJECTIVES:

To identify the theme of Philippine literature written during Ethnic/Pre-colonial and

Spanish era.
To recognize the notable Filipino writers of this genre.

ETHNIC/PRE-COLONIAL TIMES

Compared to other Asian nations, the Philippine Islands has very few artifacts that
show evidence of Asian writing. However, a script called Baybayin or Alibata, was used
in Luzon when the Spaniards settled the islands in 1521. The Spaniards recorded that
Indigenous people in Manila, and among other native groups in the Philippines, wrote on
bamboo, and specially prepared Arecaceae palm leaves, using knives, and styli.

BAYBAYIN - known in Unicode as the Tagalog script.

- a pre-Spanish Philippine writing system that originated from the Javanese script
Old Kawi. The writing system is a member of the Brahmic family and is believed
to have been in use as early as the 14th century.
- It continued in use during the Spanish colonization of the Philippines up until the
late 19th century.
 - the term literally means syllables.

Owing to the works of our own archaeologists, ethnologists and anthropologists,

we are able to know more and better judge information about our pre-colonial times set
against a bulk of material about early Filipinos as recorded by Spanish, Chinese, Arabic
and other chroniclers of the past.

Pre-colonial inhabitants of our islands showcase a rich past through their folk
speeches, folk songs, folk narratives and indigenous rituals and mimetic dances that
affirm our ties with our Southeast Asian neighbors.

FORMS OF LITERATURE DURING THE ETHNIC OR PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD

RIDDLE – the most seminal/influential of the folk speeches.

A riddle is a statement or question having a double or veiled meaning, put forth as

a puzzle to be solved.

- Tigmo in Cebuano
- Bugtong in Tagalog
- Paktakon in Ilonggo
- Patototdon in Bicol

The METAPHOR or Talinghaga is central to the riddle because it “reveals subtle

resemblance between two unlike objects” and one’s power of observation and wit are put
to the test.

PROVERBS OR APHORISMS – expressed norms or codes of behavior, community

beliefs or they instill values by offering nuggets of wisdom in short, rhyming verse.

TANAGA – extended form of proverb

- mono-riming heptasyllabic quatrain expressing insights and lessons on life

- “more emotionally charged than the terse proverb and thus has affinities with
the folk lyric”
- Some examples are the basahanon: extended didactic sayings from Bukidnon
(didactic-containing a political/moral message); daraida and daragilon from
Panay.

FOLK SONG - a form of folk lyric

- expresses hopes, aspirations, and the people's lifestyles as well as their loves
- are often repetitive and sonorous, didactic and naïve as in children’s songs:
Ida-ida in Maguindanao, tulang pambata in Tagalog, and cansiones para
abbing in Ibanag.
- Examples of POPULAR FOLK SONGS:
 Lullabies – Ili-ili in Ilonggo

Love songs – Panawagon and Balitao in Ilonggo, harana or serenade in

Cebuano, bayok in Maranao

Ambahan – seven-syllable per line poem of the Mangyans

o about human relationships, social entertainment and they also serve as

a tool for teaching the young

* Work songs that depict the livelihood of the people often sung to go with the
movement of the workers.

- Kalusan of the Ivatan

- Solarin: a Tagalog rowing song

- Mambayu: a Kalinga rice-pounding song

- Magtanim ay di biro Tagalog song of farmers

- Duplo: verbal joust game popular during wakes

- Tagay of the Cebuanos and Waray: drinking songs sung during

carousals

- Kanogon of the Cebuanos or Annako of Bontoc: dirges and lamentations

extolling the deeds of the dead (dirges-funeral hymn, mournful music,
funeral service; extol-to praise somebody or something)

Parang Sibil – a type of narrative song (kissa among the Tausugs of Mindanao)

- uses for its subject matter the exploits of history and legendary heroes
- it tells of a Muslim hero who seeks death at the hands of non-Muslims

FOLK NARRATIVES – explain how the world was created, how certain animals possess
certain characteristics, why some places have waterfalls, volcanoes, mountains, flora or
fauna and, in the case of legends, an exploitation of the origins of things.

FABLES – are about animals and these teaches moral lessons.

EPICS – our country’s epics are considered ethno-epics since they are not national but
are “histories” of varied groups that consider themselves “nations.” These epics revolve
around supernatural events or heroic deeds and they embody or validate the beliefs and
customs and ideals of a community. These are sung or chanted to the accompaniment of
indigenous musical instruments and dancing performed during harvests, weddings or
funerals by chanters. The chanters who were taught by their ancestors are considered
"treasures" and/or repositories of wisdom in their communities. The epics come in
various names: Guman (Subanon); Darangen (Maranao); Hudhud (Ifugao); and
Ulahingan (Manobo).

Examples of these epics are the Lam-ang (Ilocano); Hinilawod (Sulod); Kudaman
(Palawan); Darangen (Maranao); Ulahingan (Livunganen-Arumanen Manobo);
Mangovayt Buhong na Langit (The Maiden of the Buhong Sky from Tuwaang--Manobo);
Ag Tobig neg Keboklagan (Subanon); and Tudbulol (T'boli).

SPANISH COLONIAL TIMES

While it is true that Spain subjugated the Philippines for more mundane reasons,
this former European power contributed much in the shaping and recording of our
literature. Religion and institutions that represented the European civilization enriched
the languages in the lowlands, introduced theater which we would come to know as
komedya, the sinakulo, the sarswela, the playlets and the drama. Spain also brought into
the country, though at a much later time, liberal ideas and internationalism that
influenced our own Filipino intellectuals and writers for them to understand the meaning
of “liberty and freedom.”
Literature during this period may be classified as religious prose and poetry and
secular prose and poetry.

RELIGIOUS LYRICS – those versed both in Spanish and Tagalog were included in early
catechism and were used to teach Filipino the Spanish language.
SALAMAT NG WALANG HANGAN/GRACIAS DE SIN SEMPITERNAS (Unending
thanks) – fine example of religious lyrics found in the Memorial de la vida Cristiana en
lengua tagala (Guidelines for the Christian life in the Tagalog language)
- written by Fernando Bagonbanta, published in 1605.

Other examples of religious lyrics:

Dalit/novenas and catechisms – meditative verses
- has neither fixed meter nor rime scheme although a number are written in
octosyllabic quatrains and have a solemn tone and spiritual subject matter.
Pasyon – in octosyllabic quintillas
- became entrenched in the Filipino’s commemoration of Christ’s agony and
resurrection at Calvary.
- Other known pasyons chanted during the Lenten season are in Ilocano,
Pangasinan, Ibanag, Cebuano, Bicol, Ilongo and Waray.
“Ang Mahal na Pasion ni Jesu Christong Panginoon natin na tola” (Holy
Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ in Verse) – the country’s earliest known pasyon
- written by Gaspar Aquino de Belen, was put out in 1704.
PROSE NARRATIVES – were written to prescribe proper decorum.
- were also used for proselitization like the pasyon

FORMS OF PROSE NARRATIVES

o Dialogo (dialogue)
o Manual de Urbanindad (conduct book)
o Ejemplo (exemplum)
o Tratado (tratado)
o “Pagsusulatan ng Dalawang Binibini na si Urabna at si Feliza”
(Correspondence between the Two Maidens Urbana and Feliza) by
Modesto de Castro in 1864 and “Ang Bagong Robinson” (The New
Robinson) an adaptation of Daniel Defoe’s novel by Joaquin Tuason in
1879 – were considered the most well-known prose narratives of the
Spanish Colonial Times

Secular works appeared alongside historical and economic changes, the

emergence of an opulent class and the middle class who could avail of a European
education. These Filipino elite could now read printed works that used to be the exclusive
domain of the missionaries.

SECULAR LYRICS – portrayed the languishing but loyal lover, the elusive, often
heartless beloved, the rival.

Examples of secular lyrics:

o Historia Famoso de Bernardo Carpio– by Jose Corazon de Jesus or

Huseng Sisiw – Baltazar’s mentor
o Florante at Laura – Fracisco Balagtas

Other secular poets who wrote in the same tradition:

o Leona Florentino – "mother of Philippine women's literature", "bridge

from oral to literary tradition”. Born to a wealthy and prominent family in
Vigan, Ilocos Sur, Florentino began to write her first verses in Ilocano at a
young age. Despite her potential, she was not allowed to receive a
university education because of her gender. Florentino was instead tutored
by her mother, and then a series of private teachers. An educated Ilocano
priest taught her advanced Spanish and encouraged her to develop her
voice in poetry. Due to the feminist nature of her writings, Florentino was
shunned by her husband and son, and so was forced to live alone in exile
and separately from her family.
o Jacinto Kawili
o Isabelo de los Reyes - won a silver medal at the Exposición Filipina in
Madrid for a huge Spanish-language manuscript he called El folk-lore
filipino
o Rafael Gandioco
 METRICAL ROMANCE – awit and korido in Tagalog

- another popular secular poetry

- colorful tales in chivalry from European sources made for singing and
chanting
- there are numerous metrical romances in Tagalog, Bicol, Ilongo, Pampango,
Ilocano and in Pangasinan
- AWIT – set in dodecasyllabic quatrains; as popular poetic genre reached new
heights in Balagtas’ “Florante at Laura”, the most famous of the country’s
metrical romances
- KORIDO – set in ocotsyllabic quatrains
- examples: Gonzalo de Cordoba (Gonzalo of Cordoba) and Ibong Adarna
(Adarna Bird)

In 1863, a rise in the educated class called the “Ilustrado” took place when the
Spanish government introduced public education. “Ilustrado” means well-informed.
Members of this group included the Philippine national hero, Jose Rizal, who wrote
literary novels in Spanish. His novels included “Noli Me Tangere” (Touch Me Not), and
“El Filibusterismo” (The Reign of Greed), considered a Philippine classical literature.
Other popular Philippine writers include Francisco Balagtas who was recognized for his
novel “Florante at Laura” (Florante and Laura).
The Philippine historical documents such as the national anthem, the Malolos
Constitution or Constitucion Politica de Malolos, and the revolutionary propaganda are
also considered a classical literature. Philippine Literature propagated in the Spanish
language, especially in the writings of Marcelo H. Del Pilar, who introduced the La
Solidaridad (The Solidarity). In Cebu City, the first Spanish newspaper, “El Boletin de
Cebu” (The Bulletin of Cebu) was published in 1886.

Ilustrados – well-informed

- composed of Filipino intellectuals educated in Europe

- the winds of change began to blow in the 19th century when they began to
write about the downside of colonization
- calls for reforms by the masses
- led to the formation of the Propaganda Movement that helped usher in the
Philippine revolution resulting in the downfall of the Spanish regime, and, at
the same time, planted the seeds of a national consciousness among Filipinos.
- The Filipino intellectuals, Jose Rizal, Marcelo H. Del Pilar, Graciano Lopez
Jaena, etc., implanted Enlightenment principles of rationality, civic humanism
and autonomy (sovereignty of all citizens) in the program of the revolutionary
forces of the Katipunan and the first Philippine Republic. It was during this
period that Rizal’s two famous novels were written with the aim of
“conscientization.”

NOTABLE WRITERS:
 - Jose Rizal – his novels are political
- Marcelo H. Del Pilar – La Solidaridad (The Solidarity)
- Mariano Ponce - "Cartas Sobre La Revolución" (Letters on the
Revolution), director of "El Renacimiento" (The Renaissance)
- Emilio Jacinto – Brains of the Katipunan, wrote the primer of
Katipunan known as the Kartilla
- Andres Bonifacio – founder of the Katipunan, 1st Philippine president
- Antonio M. Abad - poet, fictionist, playwright and essayist
- Pedro Paterno – novels are largely cultural; Ninay (1885) is considered
the first Filipino novel
- Francisco Balagtas - Florante at Laura

OTHER NOTABLE ESSAYISTS AND FICTIONISTS:

- Claro M. Recto - Bajos Los Cocoteros (Under the Coconut Trees,

1911), a collection of his poems in Spanish
- Teodoro Kalaw - one of the most outstanding trilingual writers and
historians of the Philippines
- Epifanio Delos Santos - considered one of the best Filipino writers in
Spanish of his time
- Vicente Sotto
- Trinidad Pardo de Tavera
- Rafael Palma - was involved in the Propaganda campaign against the
Spaniards. He co-founded with Gen. Antonio Luna the revolutionary
newspaper, La Independencia. Later, he also founded El Nuevo Dia,
Cebu's first daily
- Enrique Laygo (Caretas or Masks, 1925)
- Jesus Balmori – mastered the prosa romantica or romantic prose

PUBLISHED ESSAYS AND SHORT FICTIONS IN SPANISH

- La Vanguardia
- El Debate
- Renacimiento Filipino
- Nueva Era

The introduction of English as medium of instruction in the Philippines hastened

the demise of Spanish. By the 1930s, English writing in the romantic tradition, from the
awit and korido, would continue in the novels of Magdalena Jalandoni. Patriotic writing
continued under new colonialists. These appeared in the vernacular poems and modern
adaptations of works during the Spanish period and which further maintained the Spanish
tradition.
CONCLUSION

Pre-colonial inhabitants of our islands showcase a rich past through their folk
speeches, folk songs, folk narratives and indigenous rituals and mimetic dances.

Literature during this Spanish Colonial Period may be classified as religious prose
and poetry and secular prose and poetry. Religion and institutions that represented the
European civilization enriched the languages in the lowlands, introduced theater which
we would come to know as komedya, the sinakulo, the sarswela, the playlets and the
drama. Spain also brought into the country, though at a much later time, liberal ideas and
internationalism that influenced our own Filipino intellectuals and writers for them to
understand the meaning of “liberty and freedom.”

Through his novels, Rizal depicted his sense of nationality by emphasizing the
qualities of Filipinos: devotion of a Filipina and her influence to a man's life, the deep
sense of gratitude, and the solid common sense of the Filipinos under the Spanish regime.
The Noli was instrumental in creating a unified Filipino national identity and
consciousness, as many Filipinos previously identified with their respective regions to the
advantage of the Spanish authorities. It lampooned, caricatured and exposed various
elements in the colonial society.

REFERENCES

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literature
http://www.boondocksnet.com/centennial/sctexts/esj_96b.html
http://www.buenosairespe.com.ar/images/rizal.jpg
http://www.seasite.niu.edu/trans/tagalog/modules_in_Tagalog/lahing_pilipino_files/
marcelo_del_pillar.jpg
http://www.globalpinoy.com/ch/images/ch_heroes/gracianolopezjaena.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riddle
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baybayin