ENGLISH The Philippine Literature during American- Japanese Period

Professor Fulgencio

Submitted to:

Submitted By: Martha Rose C. Serrano Andrea Camille Alberto Danica Gil Fatima Mariano Danielle Senador Block 4c1- BSM Corporate Business

November 17, 2011

American Period (1898-1941)

With the promise made by the Americans to free the country, General Aguinaldo, declared the Philippine independence on June 12, 1898. He confirmed the establishment of Philippine Republic on January 23, 1899 with himself as president. The Spanish rule in the islands ended when Spain and the United States signed the treaty of Paris on December 10, 1898. It was an agreement between the two countries to pass the possession of the Philippines to the United States in exchange of $20 million. The invasion of the Americans moved the Filipinos to a more unfamiliar authority. English was chosen to be the official language of instruction in businesses and schools, the economy flourished and the countrys economy begun relying on the US. Under the supremacy of Governor Taft, systems were regulated in most districts. New government organizations were established along with the general establishments of schools and other related institutions. Construction of roads, highways, and ports were prioritized to consolidate more business all over the country. Over the years, Philippine literature has been into its emergence. From our prehistoric times until modern day, there were several discovery, creativity and wide range of imagination. All these things happened because of the experiences of our country whether slavery, freedom, poverty and independence. With a certain degree of freedom of the press from Spanish Slavery, the writers in tagalong began to express themselves more freely.

Source: http://www.camperspoint.com/spip.php?article230

Characteristics and Features of the Period

1. Zarsuelas- it started during 1893; however, Severino Reyes popularized new dramatic form and soon old forms slowly disappeared. In the first period of the American regime, theme was no longer more about Christians and Muslims but between Filipinos and Spaniards. Nationalistic writers took heart and during the first decade of the American Colonial Regime, wrote stage plays that were critical of the United Staes or advocating independence. Example of Stage Plays: Juan Abads Tanikalang Ginto, Aurelio Tolentinos Kahapon, Ngayon at Bukas and Luhang Tagalog, Tomas Remigios Malaya and Juan Matapang Cruzs Hindi Ako Patay. There were also less critical and revolutionary plays, like Sandugong Panaginip, the tagalong translation of a play in Spanish Written by Pedro Paterno, Tatlong pung Salapi, Kalahi, and Pulong Pinaglahuan. All these plays helped fortify nationalistic spirit of the Filipino; as a result, US authority ordered an arrest to writers whose play result to riots. Thus, harmless plays were showed such as Roman Reyes Salamin ng Pag-ibig, Severino Reyes Walang Sugat, Amobrosio De Guzmans Maga Karaniwang Ugali.

Severino Reyes was a Filipino writer, playwright, and director of plays. He used the pen name Lola Basyang. He was
nicknamed "Don Binoy". Reyes is known as the "Father of Tagalog Plays" and as the "Father of the Tagalog Zarzuela". Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Severino_Reyes Tanikalang Ginto by Juan Abad

(Golden Chain) is a drama in three acts, written by Juan Abad in 1902. this was first staged at the Teatro Libertad on 7 July 1902. At the performance in Batangas, Batangas, this was banned as "seditious" on 10 May 1903. Abad was sentenced to two years imprisonment and fined $2,000. After the Supreme Court acquitted him of seditious charges this was published in Amelia Lapea-Bonifacio, The "Seditions" Tagalog Playwrights: Early American

Occupations

Synopsis: This play is an allegory hidden in the love story of "Liwanag" and "Kaulayaw". This stressed on the rise of the spirit of independence and struggle as defended by the Filipino revolutionist from the American Government. Source: http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Tanikalang_Guinto http://reginalao.multiply.com/photos/album/21/Tanikalang_Guinto_Synopsis#photo=2 2. Tagalog Prose Fiction- Lope K. Santos Salawahang Pag-ibig, Modesto Santiagos Pagsintang Naluoy, and Valeriano Hernandez Penas Unang Bulaklak. Authors of these prose were sentimental and opted more for romantic escapades than for burning issues of the day. 3. Novel- Lope K. Santos Banaag at Sikat. This novel showed the sentimental character of each Filipino using the tents of provinces. Lope K. Santos, novelist, poet, lawyer and considered as the "Father of the Philippine National Language and Grammar. Fondly called by his friends and admirers as Mang Openg, his love for Tagalog began when he won the "Dupluhan," a popular debate competition which can be compared to "Balagtasan," a similar contest but with shorter discourse.This developed further when he went into journalism and became editor of different Tagalog publications starting in 1900. His "Balarila ng Wikang Pambansa" is the basis for the grammar of the Filipino language while his "Banaag at Sikat" (Rays and Sunshine), the first Tagalog sociological novel, won him the title of Pillar of Philippine Literature. He sought to propagate a national language through organized lectures, cultural societies which he founded all over the country, and also as head of the Department of National Language in leading universities. Source: http://www.interaksyon.com/article/13808/today-in-history-poet-lawyer-lope-k-santos-was-born-in-1879 Banaag at Sikat One of the first literary novels written by Filipino author Lope K. Santos in the Tagalog language in 1906. As a book that was considered as the "Bible of working class Filipinos". The pages of the novel revolves around the life of Delfin, his love for a daughter of a rich landlord, while Lope K. Santos also discusses the social issues such as socialism, capitalism, and the works of the united associations of laborers. The novel is about two friends: Delfin and Felipe. Delfin is a socialist, while Felipe advocates the works of an anarchist. As a socialist, Delfin believes and wishes to spread the principles of socialism to the public, where the citizens could have more right in all the businesses, properties, and other national activities. Although he is poor who studies law and works as a writer for a newspaper, Delfin still strongly believes that a society inclined to the cause of the poor through peaceful means, a challenge that could be achieved through violence. On the other hand, Felipe who advocates anarchy believes in the forceful way of destroying the existing powers and cruelty harbored by the rich landowners. He wants to dispel the abusive members of society who rule society. Even though he is the son of a rich town leader, Felipe hates the cruel ways of his father. He would rather see a society with equal rights and equal status for all its citizens: where there is no difference between the poor and the rich classes. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banaag_at_Sikat 4. Poetry- Noteworthy names in this field include Marcelo de Gracia Concepcion, Jose Garcia Villa, Angela Manalang Gloria, Abelardo Subido, Trinidad Tarrosa Subido and Rafael Zulueta da Costa. They turned our not only love poems but patriotic, religious, descriptive and reflective poems as well. They wrote in free verse, in odes and sonnets and in other types. Poetry was original, spontaneous, competently written and later, incorporated social consciousness. Marcelo de Gracia Concepcion was listed on the staff of the Three Stars as an editor in 1931. He was the first Filipino poet to have his collected poems published as a book in the U.S. Published in 192. He was a romantic

poet whose greatest influences, he wrote, were Edgar Allan Poe, Rabindranath Tagore, and Lafcadio Hearn. De Gracia Concepcion returned to the Philippines shortly after an episode of what appeared to be harassment by Los Angeles police officers. Source: http://www.commonwealthcafe.info/poetry

POEMS BY M. DE GRACIA CONCEPCION SHADOW A shadow pushed the door-bell and the bell was terrified in cold reverberations, -- strange it seems for a noon-day dream. But I opened the door and intently searched the threshold for the likely visitor - but strange it seems that the visitor was I -- the other self of me that died. CHIMERAS THIS - in the City of Chimeras. Beyond the fringes of its throbbing life, one hears the singing and the beating of one mighty ocean - and the heart aches to hear its songs - for they are as invitations to some undreamed of country, and the Will could always hold the Soul to its power: "stay, stay in this City of Grotesque Dreams." Other voices there are that one hears on a noon-day, or when the sun has set, or when the moon placidly sails the Milky Way, and silent as the tombs are the hills. "DO not go," the Will is heard repeating its exhortation to the doubtful Soul, wearied and looking weirdly in the eyes like a madman," it is a siren singing your doom in the depth of the sea; it is a dryad calling you from the groves upon the hills." THIS - in the City of Chimeras. Beyond the fringes of its throbbing life, one hears the singing of the sea. "It seems that I could hear there," the Soul is wistfully mumurring, "it seems that I could hear there the lost songs of my youth." AND from the hill at noon-day or when the sun has set, or when the moon limpidly sails across the Milky Way . . . . and silent . . . . as the tombs . . . are the hills . . . . a voice is heard calling,

calling . . . . "It seems that I could see there," the Soul is wistfully lisping to the breeze, "it seems that I could see there the lost dreams of my youth." "Let me go!" cries the Soul impetuously, "let me go the sea and the hills." And the Soul like a white-winged bird flew. Source: http://www.palhbooks.com/concepcion.htm
5. Short Story (1925-1941) because of the incentives provided by publications like the Philippine Free Press, The Graphic, The Philippine Magazine and college publications like the UP Literary Apprentice, poetry and the short story flourished during these times.

Other writers during this time include Osmundo Sta. Romana, Arturo Rotor, Paz Latorenas Sunset, and Jose Garcia Villas Mir-in-isa. From 1930 to 1940, the Golden Era of Filipino writing in English saw the short story writers who have arrived, like Jose Lansangs The Broken Parasol, Sinai C. Hamadas Talanatas Wife, Fausto Dugenios Wanderlust, Amando G. Dayrits His Gift and Yesterday, Amador T. Daugios The Woman Who Looked Out of the Window. Characteristics of the short stories during these times: There were still remnants of Spanish influence in the use of expressions that were florid, sentimental, exaggerated and bombastic. The influence of the Western culture also was already evident.

THREE PERIOD EMERGED DURING AMERICAN PERIOD

(1) The Period of Re-orientation (1898-1910) The word of reorientation came into existence during this period. English as a literary vehicle came with the American occupation in August 13, 1898 and as they say, a choice bestow on us by history. By 1900, English came to be used as a medium of instruction in the public schools. (2) The Period of Imitation (1910-1924) by 1919, schools particularly the UP College Folio published the literary compositions of the first Filipino writers in English. They were the pioneers in short story writing. They were then examining their way into imitating American and British models which resulted in a mannered, artificial and unnatural style, lacking vigor and spontaneity. Their models included Longfellow and Hawthorne, Emerson and Thoreau, Wordsworth and Tennyson, Thackeray and Macaulay, Longfellow, Allan Poe, Irving and other American writers of the Romantic School. Writers of this folio included Fernando Maramag (the best editorial writer of this period) Juan F. Salazar, Jose M. Hernandez, Vicente del Fierro, and Francisco M. Africa and Victoriano Yamzon. They pioneered in English poetry. (3) Period of Self-Discovery and Growth (1925-1941) By this time, Filipino writers had acquired the mastery of English writing. They now confidently and competently wrote on a lot of subjects although the old-time favorites of love and youth persisted. They went into all forms of writing like the novel and the drama.

References: Books: Agoncillo T.A.(2003) History and Culture, Language and Literature.UST Publishing House Dimalanta, O etal.(2004) Philippine Contemporary Literature in English. UST Publishing House Online Sources: Retrieved on November 11, 2011 from http://www.seasite.niu.edu/Tagalog/Literature/literary_forms_in_philippine_lit.htm Retrieved on November 11, 2011 from http://www.etravelpilipinas.com/about_philippines/philippine_culture.htm Retrieved on November 11, 2011 from http://www.thinkphilippines.com/life/4-foreign-influences-onfilipino-culture.html Retrieved on November 11, 2011 from http://www.slideshare.net/raileeanne/philippine-literature-boa