Teaching Philippine

Literature in English
(RECALL)
Philippine Normal University
Prof. Victor Fumar

The Early Period (1900-1930)

coincided with the American occupation

English became the medium of instruction in 1900 in all
public schools
first teachers were American soldiers
in 1901 the Thomasites arrived
numerous newspapers in English were published
PNS was founded in 1901; UP was founded in 1910
first Filipino novel in English was written by Zoilo Galang
A Child of Sorrow (1921)

Characteristics of the Literature

formal and imitative

fiction is structurally simple
language is easy to understand
moralistic and quite didactic
sense of nationalism is evident
verbose and rhetorical
romantic and melancholic
grammatically uneven
tendency towards melodrama

Writers of the Early Period

POETS
Marcelo de Gracia Concepcion
Aurelio S. Alvero
Rafael Zulueta da Costa
Angela Manalang Gloria
Trinidad Tarrosa Subido
Vicente del Fierro
Luis Dato
Jose Garcia Villa

FICTIONISTS
Zoilo M. Galang
Paz Marquez Benitez
Tarcila Malabanan Katigbak
Arturo B. Rotor
Amador T. Daguio
Paz Latorena
Loreto Paras Sulit
Sinai Hamada

RAIN
After the rain,
darkness lifts to luminous acres
of space above
and earths sweet scents
breathe anew.

LONELY
I sit alone,
Thinking sharp thoughts
and as warmless as the glacial sun.
I sit alone like a frozen rock
left and embedded deep in glacial rivers

M. De Gracia Concepcion

lonely.

Sonnet I

Jose Garcia Villa

First, a poem must be magical,

Then musical as a sea gull.
It must be a brightness moving
And hold secret a birds flowering.
It must be slender as a bell,
And it must hold fire as well.
It must have the wisdom of bows
And it must kneel like a rose.
It must be able to hear
The luminance of dove and deer.
It must be able to hide
What it seeks, like a bride.
And over all I would like to hover
God, smiling from the poems cover

Paz Marquez
Benitez

Mr. Salazar, she broke into his silence. I wish to

congratulate you.
Her tone told her that she had learned, at last. That
was inevitable.
For what?
For your approaching wedding.
Some explanation was due her, surely. Yet what could
he say that would not offend?
I should have offered congratulations long before, but
you know mere visitors are slow about getting the
news, she continued.
He listened not so much to what she said as to the
nuances in her voice. He heard nothing to enlighten him
except that she had reverted to the formal tones of
early acquaintance. No revelation there; simply the old
voice cool, almost detached from personality, flexible,
and vibrant, suggesting potentialities of song.

ESSAYISTS
Zoilo M. Galang
Francisco Benitez
Jorge Bocobo
Amador Daguio
Fernando Ma. Guerrero
I.V. Mallari
Claro M. Recto
Carlos P. Romulo
Camilo Osias

The Middle Period (1930-1960)

continued influence of romanticism and later realism

from the United States
literary organizations were formed, e.g. Philippine Book
Guild (1936), Philippine Writers League (1939), The
Veronicans
the Philippine Commonwealth Government was
established on July 4, 1935
writers began to explore the idea of searching for a
national identity

S.P. Lopez and J.G. Villa clashed over the social function
of art and art for arts sake function of art
the short story flourished
journalistic writing and literary criticism emerged
the first Commonwealth Literary Awards were given in
1940
Philippine Independence was proclaimed on July 4, 1946
the 1950s were a time of political unrest the govt vs.
the Hukbalahap
Philippine literature in English greatly improved

Characteristics of the Literature

recurrent subject matter/themes rural life, love, selfsacrifice and suffering, novelty of city life, value of
education, struggle against poverty
recurrent setting the province, the barrio, the small
town
use of local color
recurrent characters the barrio lass/lad, the first
schooled/educated person in the barrio, the teacher,
hardworking farmer/fisherman, ardent lovers, the Filipino
expatriate educated in America

World War II/Japanese occupation

stylistic characteristics simple structure, simple plots,
mild climaxes, explicit symbols, slow pace or movement,
abundant description of people and places
reflected Filipino customs, traditions, practices, traits
culture clashes American vs. Filipino
the first Palanca Memorial Awards were given in 1950;
for English and the Tagalog one-act play in 1954

Writers of the Middle Period

ESSAYISTS
Salvador P. Lopez
Francisco B. Icasiano
Pura Santillan Castrence
Maria Kalaw-Katigbak
Jose P. Laurel
Vicente Hilario
Federico Mangahas
Godofredo Rivera
Leopoldo Yabes

FICTIONISTS
Manuel E. Arguilla
Delfin Fresnosa
Nick Joaquin
Stevan Javellana
N.V.M. Gonzalez
Estrella D. Alfon
Edith L. Tiempo
Alejandro R. Roces
Kerima Polotan Tuvera

POETS
Angela Manalang Gloria
Maximo D. Ramos
Jose Garcia Villa
Ricaredo Demetillo
Carlos A. Angeles
Bienvenido Santos
Conrado V. Pedroche
Edith L.Tiempo
Toribia Mano

PLAYWRIGHTS
Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero
Wilfrido Nolledo
Severino Montano
Alberto S. Florentino
Jesus T. Peralta

The sun was in our eyes, for it was dipping into

the bright sea. The sky was wide and deep and
very blue above us: but along the saw-tooth rim of
the Katayaghan hills to the southwest flamed huge
masses of clouds. Before us the fields swam in a
golden haze through which floated big purple and
red and yellow bubbles when I looked at the
sinking sun. Labangs white coat, which I had
washed and brushed that morning with coconut
husk, glistened like beaten cotton under the lamplight and his horns appeared tipped with fire. He
faced the sun and from his mouth came a call so
loud and vibrant that the earth seemed to tremble
underfoot. And far away in the middle of the fields
a cow lowed softly in answer.

Manuel E.
Arguilla

Poems
1

Angela Manalang
Gloria

There are so many poems in my head

All wanting to be seen,
And some are bright in silver lace,
And some are plumed with green.
2
The gay and lovely ones pirouette
Like dancers in my mind,
And others, frail and wistful nuns
Tread somberly behind

The Modern Period (1960-1974)

there was a growing sense of nationalism and deeper

search for identity in the 60s
the Republic Cultural Awards were started in 1960 1st
winner was N.V.M. Gonzalez
the first Pro Patria awards were presented in 1961 1 st
winners were Jose Garcia Villa, N.V.M. Gonzalez, and
Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero
the first Asian Writers Conference was held in Baguio in
1962

themes of confusion and violence were evident in the

late 60s and 70s
one group of writers stressed the proletarian form of
literature that aimed at social reform and revolution
Lumbera, Mangahas, Rosca, Sikat
another group of writers was interested in the art of
literature itself Villa, Lacambra-Ayala, Polotan-Tuvera,
Edith Tiempo
Martial Law was declared in Sept. 21 1972

the National Artist Award was given in 1973 J.G. Villa

was the 1st recipient
mastery of English was evident among the writers
diverse writing techniques were explored
numerous magazines and weekly newspapers were
published
the short story continued to be popular
continued influence of the West upon Phil. Literature was
evident

Characteristics of the Literature

recurrent subject matter colonial mentality, guerilla and

wartime stories, consequences of the war (poverty,
disorientation, identity crisis), love, family, death, social
problems
recurrent setting the home, the city, the province,
America
recurrent characters rich/poor people, characters with
psychological problems, immigrants in America

stylistic characteristics occasional awkwardness and

lapses in grammar, easy to read and understand, vivid
description, beginning of experimentation with new
techniques/new forms, sophisticated and craft-conscious
style
renewed interest in folk literature and folk traditions

Writers of the Modern Period

POETS
Cirilo F. Bautista
Rolando Tinio
Emmanuel Torres
Virginia Moreno
Tita Lacambra-Ayala
Marra Lanot-Lacaba
Edith Tiempo
Erwin Castillo
Godofredo Burce Bunao
Ophelia Dimalanta

FICTIONISTS
Gregorio C. Brillantes
Gilda Cordero Fernando
Kerima Polotan Tuvera
Bienvenido Santos
Ninotchka Rosca
Lilia Pablo Amansec
F. Sionil Jose
Edilberto K. Tiempo
Nick Joaquin
Aida Rivera Ford

ESSAYISTS
Maximo V. Soliven
Carmen Guerrero Nakpil
Benjamin M. Pascual
Nestor M. Torre
Sylvia Mayuga
Cesar Majul
Teodoro F. Valencia
Alejandro R. Roces

PLAYWRIGHTS
Amelia Lapea Bonifacio
Estrella D. Alfon
Wilfrido Nolledo
Rolando S. Tinio
Mar Puatu
Nestor Torre, Jr.
Julian Dacanay, Jr.
Azucena Grajo Uranza
Cirilo F. Bautista

Cactus
Excuse the cactus
thirsting on the sill
excuse its quills
stuck out:
theyre only an attempt
at self-defense
See how it bleeds
to fossils the old sand
itself looking to be such
a fussy fossil

Tita Lacambra
Ayala

Not quite futile

It should require
some sort of guile
some genius
to subsist on sun
some lake sand
(have both for free!)
and come out looking
freshly green,
(juicy even)
As if in spite of
as if in fun.

Second Invitation to the Pope

To Visit Tondo
Next time Your Holiness slums through our lives,
We will try to make our poverty exemplary,

Emmanuel
Torres

***
The best is a typhoon month. It never fails
to find us, like charity, knocking on
all sides of the rough arrangements we live in.
mud must be plenty for the feet of the pious.
We will show you how we pull things together
from nowhere, life after life,
prosper with children whom you love. Therefore
we will have more for you to love.

The Contemporary Period (1970 to present)

Martial Law was lifted in 1981

Filipino novelists in English have come of age
themes have changed from sentimentalized romanticism
to a more realistic and naturalistic delineation
excellent mastery of the English language and literary
forms is evident
1986 EDSA Revolution occurred
gay and lesbian literature came out
strong feminist tendencies are evident

more social problems are tackled

TV and films have become more popular
younger writers have entered the literary scene
more literary criticisms have been written
more writing workshops are held for budding writers
more writing contests (some with big prize money) are
held
university presses have published collections and
anthologies

Characteristics of the Literature

daring or controversial choice of subject matter

very innovative in structure and style
influence of different isms and literary trends from the
West
characters have become more three-dimensional
characters, plot structure and narrative techniques are
more complex

Writers of the Contemporary Period

Fatima Lim
Merlinda Bobis
Alfredo Navarra Salanga
Gemino Abad
Benilda Santos
Ophelia Dimalanta
Ma. Luisa Igloria
Danton Remoto
Paulino Lim, Jr.

Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo

Jessica Zafra
Isagani R. Cruz
Alfred Yuson
Charlson Ong
Arlene Chai
Cristina Manguerra Brainard
Rosario Cruz Lucero
Connie Jan Maraan

Connie Jan
Maraan

So it was. Without warning, without even the

excuse of an earthquake, the foundation gave way
and came thundering down on congested Rizal
Avenue. A commuter train plying the route at that
time jumped through the missing racks and fell into
the street, mashing hundreds of pedestrians and
passengers through the pavement. Many of us were
decapitated: I myself was found beyond recognition.
But I was fortunate enough to have been identified
by the shoe that remained on one, unmangled foot
half a pair of good Brazilian loafers I had inherited
from a friend.

Positive, she said cheerily, as if I shouldnt

go out and hang myself this instant. I held on to
the phone for a long time; I was sure that if I
let go I would fall down. The coffee turned to
mud in my mouth I ran to the sink and heaved.
Congratulations, its a fetus. You frigging idiot.
Afterwards I sat at the kitchen table and tried
to make sense of the stuff swirling around in my
head. Visions of blood and umbilical cords and
feeding bottles whirled before my eyes like
malevolent frisbees. The newspaper was lying
next to the platter of toast; I read the headline
about two hundred times. May use poison gas,
Iraq warns. Next to it is a picture of a dead
Kurdish woman clutching the body of her child.
Mother. Child. I felt like throwing up all over
again. I imagined a creature ripping out of my
stomach in a gory mess, like the monster in
Alien.

Jessica Zafra