PHILIPPINE LITERATURE DURING AMERICAN PERIOD

Historical Background
The Filipino Revolutionists won against the Spaniards who colonized for more than 300 years.
June 12, 1898 raised the Philippine flag as a symbol of our independence. Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo was selected
the first president of the Philippine Republic but this was short lived.
Historical Background
The Filipino-American war resulted in the defeat of Gen. Miguel Malvar in 1903. The peace movements started
as early as 1900.
Many Filipino started writing again and the nationalism of the people remains undaunted. Filipino writers went
into all forms of literature like news reporting, poetry, stories, plays, essays and novels. Their writings clearly
depicted their love of country and their longings for independence.
In 1910
A new group started to write in English.
Hence, Spanish, Tagalog, the Vernaculars and finally, English, were the mediums used in literature during these
times.
The writers in Spanish were wont to write on nationalism like honoring Rizal and other heroes.
The writers in Tagalog continued in their lamentations on the conditions of the country and their attempts to
arouse love for ones native tongue. The writers in English imitated the themes and methods of the Americans.
In 1920
The UP College Folio was later replaced by the Philippine Collegian.
Dead Stars by Paz Marquez Benitez stand out as a model of perfection in character delineation, local color, plot
and message.
1933 - Footnote to Youth by Jose Garcia Villa

The active arousal in the field of literature started to be felt in the following newspaper:

- EL NUEVO DIA (The New Day) Established by Sergio Osmenia in 1900.

- EL GRITO DEL PUEBLO (The Call of the Nation) Established by Pascual Poblete in 1900.
- EL RENACIEMENTO (The Rebirth) Founded by Rafael Palma in 1900.

There were also plays written, included here were the following:
KAHAPON, NGAYON AT BUKAS (Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow) written by Aurelio Tolentino
TANIKALANG GINTO of Juan Abad
MALAYA by Thomas Remigio
WALANG SUGAT by Severino Reyes
Opening of Public Schools
Education became a very important issue for the United States colonial government, since it allowed it to spread
their cultural values, particularly the English language, to the Filipino people. By 1901, public education was
institutionalized in the Philippines, with English serving the medium of instruction.

CHARACTERISTICS OF LITERATURE DURING THIS PERIOD

A. Literature in Spanish
a) Cecilio Apostol - wrote "A RIZAL" and is considered the best poem in praise of the hero of Bagumbayan.
b) Fernando Ma. Guerero - he collected the best of his poem in a book called Crisalidas, and one of the poems written in
this book was "INVOCACION A RIZAL"
c) Jesus Balmori - well-known for his pen name of Batikuling. He and Manuel Bernabe participated in a debate on the
topic - "REMEMBRANCE and FORGETFULNESS". He was elected Poet Laureate in spanish besting Manuel Bernabe.
d) Manuel Bernabe - is a lyric poet. He was more attractive to the public in a debate with balmori because of the
melodious words he used. He defended OLVIDO
e) Claro M. Recto - he collected his poems in a book entitled BAJO LOS COCOTEROS. One of his writings dedicated to
Rizal is "ANTE EL MARTIR".
 OTHERS WRITERS IN SPANISH
1. Adelina Guerrea was first woman poet in the Philippines who was good in Spanish. She obtained the Nobel Prize in
her EL NIDO.
2. Isidro Marpori became famous for his four books entitled Aroma de Ensueno.
3. Macario Adriatico wrote of Legend of Mindoro entitled La Punta de Salto
4. Epifanio de los Santos

B. Filipino Literature
a) Lope K. Santos - "Father of the National language Grammar", he was also called "Apo" of the Tagalog writers.
"BANAAG AT SIKAT" was his master piece.
b) Jose Corazon de Jesus - known as Huseng Batute, he was also called the poet of love in his time. "ANG ISANG
PUNONG KAHOY", an elegy, is believed to be his masterpiece.
c) Armando V. Hernandez - was dubbed "Poet of the Laborers", his masterpiece is "ANG PANDAY"
d) Valeriano Hernandez Pena - known as Tandang Anong, he considers "NENA AT NENENG" his masterpiece.
e) Inigo Ed Regalado - a popular story teller, novelist and newspaper man. He reached the peak of his success by the
"sumpong" of his pen.
Julian Cruz Balmaceda classified three kinds of Tagalog poets:
1. Poet of the Heart (Makata ng Puso).
These included Lope K. Santos, Iigo Ed. Regalado, Carlos Gatmaitan, Pedro Deogracias del Rosario, Ildefonso
Santos, Amado V. Hernandez, Nemecio Carabana, and Mar Antonio.
2. Poets of Life (Makata ng Buhay).
Led by Lope K Santos, Jose Corazon de Jesus, Florentino Collantes, Patricio Mariano, Carlos Garmaitan, and
Amado V. Hernandez.
3. Poets of the Stage (Makata ng Tanghalan).
Led by Aurelio Tolentino, Patricio Mariano, Severino Reyes, and Tomas Remigio.

C. Philippine Literature in English

In a way, we can say that we can trace the beginnings of Philippine literature in English with the coming of the
Americans. For this purpose, we can divide this period into three time frames, namely:

The Period of Re-Orientation (1898-1910)

English as a literary vehicle came with the American occupation in August 13, 1898 and as they say, a choice
bestowed on us by history.
By 1900, English came to be used as a medium of instruction in the public schools. From the American forces
were recruited the first teachers of English.
By 1908, the primary and intermediate grades were using English. It was also about this time when UP, the
forerunner in the use of English in higher education, was founded.
The Period of Imitation (1910-1924)
By 1919, 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 groping their way into imitating American and British models which resulted in a stilted, artificial
and unnatural style, lacking vitality and spontaneity.
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.
Poetry. Noteworthy names in this field, they wrote in free verse, in odes and sonnets and in other types. Poetry
was original, spontaneous, competently written and later, incorporated social consciousness.
Short Story (1925-1941) Poetry and short story flourished during these times.
Publications. The Philippine Free Press provided the first incentives to Filipino writers in English by offering
prizes to worthwhile contribution. Other publication followed suit.
The Drama. (1925-1941) Drama during this period did not reach the heights attained by the novel or the short
story.
 Walang Sugat (summary) ni Severino Reyes
1. Walang Sugat Dulang akda ni Severino Reyes
2. Ibinatay sa Pahanon ng Rebolusyon ng 1896, ang
dulang Walang Sugat ay unang naipalabas sa Teatro
Libertad noong 1902. Tungkol ito sa kawalan ng
hustisyang tinamasa ng mga Pilipino noong panahon
ng mga Kastila. Ang mga temang gamit nito ay
pagmamahalan sa gitna ng digmaan, sakripisyo,
pagkawalay, at kontradiksyon ng indibidwal sa
pamilya. Isinulat ito ni Severino Reyes upang ipakita
sa lahat ang kanyang pahayag laban sa imperyalismo.
Ang orihinal na musikang kasama nito ay nagmula kay
Fulgencio Tolentino.
3. Buod ng Unang Eksena (ACT I Scene I) Dumating si
Tenyong sa bahay ng kasintahan niyang si Julia.
Inabutan niyang nagbuburda si Julia ng isang panyo.
Ayaw ni Julia ipakita kay Tenyong ang kanyang gawa.
Nakita ni Tenyong na ang panyo ay may mga letra ng
kanyang pangalan (Antonio Narcisso Flores) ngunit
sabi ni Julia ay para raw ito sa Prayle (Among Na
Frayle). Nagalit tuloy si Tenyong at gustong sunigin
ang panyo. Sinabi ni Julia na para nga kay Tenyong
ang panyo at silay nagsumpaan na ikakasal sa altar.
Biglang dumating si Lucas/Lukas, isang alalay ni
Tenyong, na nagsabing inaresto ang ama ni Tenyong
at ilan pang kalalakihan ng mga Guardia Civil sa pag-
aakalang sila ay mga rebelde.
4. Buod ng Unang Eksena (ACT I Scene II) Ang mga
pamilya at kaibigan ng mga inaresto ay naghandang
bumisita at magbigay ng pagkain sa kulungan.
Sumakay sila sa tren papunta ng kapitolyo. Inutusan
ng mga Kastilang frayle si Kapitan Luis Marcelo na
paluin at saktan pa ang mga nakakulong kahit na
mayroon ng namatay at nag aagaw- buhay na si
Kapitan Inggo, ang tatay ni Tenyong.
5. Buod ng Unang Eksena (ACT I Scene III ) Sinabi ng
punong-frayle na papakawalan na si Kapitan Inggo sa
kanyang asawa. Sinabi rin niyang pupunta siya sa
Maynila upang sabihin sa Gobernador-Heneral na
pakawalan na ang iba pang mga inaresto. Ngunit iba
ang plano sabihin ng prayle pagdating duon.
Ipapapatay niya ang mga mayayaman at edukadong
Pilipino. Nakapiling ni Kapitan Inggo ang kanyang
pamilya at mga kaibigan bago siya mamatay.
Pagkamatay nito, sinumpa ni Tenyong na maghiganti!
6. Buod ng Unang Eksena (ACT I Scene IV) Pinili ni
Tenyong na sumali sa mga rebelde kahit anong-pilit ni
Julia na tigilan ito. Sa huli, pumayag si Julia at ibinigay
kay Tenyong ang kanyang medalyon/agimat.
Nagsumpaan muli sila na mamahalin ang isat-isa
habang-buhay.
7. Buod ng Ikalawang Eksena (ACT II Scene I ) Sinabi ng
ina ni Julia na ikakasal ito kay Miguel, isang
mayamang illustrado. Inayawan ito ni Julia. Hindi alam
ng kanyang ina na hinihintay niya ang pagbabalik ni
Tenyong. Sa kabilang banda, nagsimulang
magkarelasyon ang mga alalay nina Julia at Tenyong
na sina Monica at Lucas/Lukas.
8. Buod ng Ikalawang Eksena (ACT II Scene II/III)
Sumunod na linggo, dumating sina Miguel, ang
kanyang ama, at isang pari sa bahay nina Julia upang
ayusin ang pag-iisang-dibdib nina Miguel at Julia.
Kabado si Miguel at hindi masabi ng tama ang
kanyang panliligaw kay Julia. Naiba ang usapin ng
kasalan nang naging pagrereklamo ito ng pari sa
lumalaking problema tungkol sa mga Pilipinong hindi
na nagsisimba.
9. Buod ng Ikalawang Eksena (ACT II Scene III ) Sa kuta
ng mga katipunero, biglang dumating si Lucas/Lukas
na may bitbit na sulat para kay Tenyong na galing kay
Julia. Nalaman ni Tenyong na namatay na ang
kanyang ina at ikakasal na si Julia kay Miguel. Balisa at
malungkot sa nabasa, humingi siya ng tulong sa
kaniyang heneral. Umatake ang mga Kastila at
nagsimula ang labanan.
10. Buod ng Ikatlong Eksena (ACT III - Scene I) Bumalik si
Lukas kay Julia na walang nakuhang sagot mula kay
Tenyong. Bumisita muli si Miguel kay Julia at
nagsabing magiging engrande ang kanilang kasalan.
Nagkunwari si Julia na masakit ang ulo upang iwasan
si Miguel.
11. Buod ng Ikatlong Eksena (ACT III Scene II / III)
Dumating na ang nakatakdang araw ng kasal at
napilitan na rin si Julia na pumayag, sa pag-akalang
patay na si Tenyong at sa kagustuhang hindi mapahiya
ang kanyang ina. Engrandeng selebrasyon ang
magaganap at nakatipon ang buong bayan. Pero bago
mairaos ang seremonya, dumating si Lucas na may
balitang nakita na si Tenyong pero agaw-buhay itong
nakaratay sa karte. Dinala si Tenyong sa pinagdausan
ng kasal ni Julia. Sa muling pagtatagpo ng
magkasintahang sawi, hiniling ni Tenyong sa pari na,
yaman din lamang na mamamatay na siya, ikasal na
sila ni Julia. Sa pagkamatay daw ni Tenyong, maaari
nang pakasalan ni Julia si Miguel. Dahil mukhang
matutuluyan na nga si Tenyong, pumayag na rin si
Miguel sa kakaibang huling hiling ni Tenyong. Kinasal
si Tenyong at Julia ng paring Kastila. Matapos ang
seremonya ng kasal, biglang tumayo si Tenyong, at
lahat ay napamanghang sumigaw; Walang sugat!
Walang sugat!.