OVERVIEW OF PHILIPPINE LITERATURE [NOTES]

II.

Literature Under the Spaniards (1565-1897)

Imposition of Spanish monarchy and Roman Catholic religion

Taga-bayan vs Taga-bukid Filipinos
Monopoly of the printing press by missionaries; only they got to publish written works
Oral literature was Christianized
The pasyon and sinakulo drama forms that gained popularity then; plays on the passion and

death of Christ
Francisco Balagtas the literary giant for awit; wrote Florante at Laura
Royal decree of 1863 complete educational system (primary, secondary and tertiary level)
19th century prose led by Pedro Paterno (wrote Ninay, 1885) and Jose Rizal (wrote Noli Me

Tangere and El Filibusterismo)

From Spanish, there was a shift to the use of Tagalog as the language of the nationalist

movement
Spain then ceded the Philippines to the U.S. in 1898

III.

Literature Under the U.S.

Plays were conducted to make Americans aware of the Filipinos cultural legacy and struggle

against the Spaniards

Sarsuwela love story drama with mild social comment, lifting music, and earthly humor
a. Walang Sugat (1902) by Severino Reyes
b. Hindi Aco Patay (1903) by Juan Matapang Cruz
Jose Corazon de Jesus (aka Batute) known to write passionate love poems which have an

anti-colonial streak
English became the medium of instruction; this led to the deterioration of Philippine resistance

and amplified the exploitation of Philippine political and economic fields

American popular culture introduced, saying bye bye to Philippine plays and saying hello to

IV.

American movies
Short story genre showcased Filipinos skill in writing
a. The Wound and the Scar by Arturo Rotor
b. How My Brother Leon Brought Home A Wife by Manuel Arguilla
Great Depression led to the rallying of peasants and labor workers
Novelists who wrote of the times and its social conflicts and clashes:
a. Lope K. Santos Banaag at Sikat (1904)
b. Faustino Aguilar Pinaglahuan (1907)
Pacific War broke out in 1941, bringing the Japanese to the Philippines

Literature Under the Republic (1946-1985)

Japanese occupation left the economy of the Philippines in ruins

Vitality of the Euro-Hispanic aspects of the Filipino literary tradition portrayed by:

a. Lazaro M. Francisco has a supple prose style responsive to the nuances of ideas and
sternest stuff of passions; wrote Ama (1930); Bayang Nagpatiwakal (1932)
b. Amado V. Hernandez wrote novels that reflected the political and economic troubles in the

1950s; wrote Luha ng Buwaya (1962) and Mga Ibong Mandaragit (1960)
Elements of the Anglo-American tradition in:
a. Alejandro Abadilla a poet who was a crusader of freedom, obsessed with the self for he
believed that individuals true to themselves would usher a better society; wrote Ako ang
Daigdig
b. Macario Pineda a young Tagalog fictionist who started as a writer using English; wrote 25

Pinakamabubuting Maikling Kuwento ng Taong 1943

Ramon Magsaysay epitome of the Filipino as willing tool of our American allies in manning

the ramparts of the Free World; died in a plane crash on March 17, 1957
Claro Recto challenged Magsaysays subservience to the dictates of the U.S.
Kerima Polotan writes on the psychology of women sensitive to the corruption of urban life;

wrote Stories (1968)

Rolando Tinio young playwright who translated Western works like Death of a Salesman and

Miss Julie into Pilipino; also a bilingual poet

Influential Filipino novelists who wrote on Filipino identity:
a. Nick Joaquin The Woman Who Had Two Navels (1961), Cave and Shadows (1983)
b. N.V.M. Gonzales Seasons of Grace (1956), The Bamboo Dancers (1959)
c. Bienvenido Santos Villa Magdalena (1965), The Volcano (1965)
There was a growing militancy of national consciousness in the 1960s
Kabataang Makabayan a militant youth organization founded in UP in 1964
In 1970, literature became purposive, both political in content and intent. Two dominant
thinkers include: Mao Zedong (Chinese leader) and Renato Constantino (Filipino Essayist).
Marcos placed the Philippines under Martial Law in 1972.
The following writers produced literary works meant to fire up resistance against Martial Law
a. Virgilio Almario wrote critical essays like Ang Makata sa Panahon ng Makina (1972)
b. Francisco Sionil Jose a literary giant who is known for his Rosales tetralogy (i.e., The

Pretenders; My Brother, My Executioner, etc.)

The most enduring legacy of the nationalist movement in the 1960s revival of Philippine

theater and playwriting

Malayang Kilusan ng Bagong Kababaihan (MAKIBAKA) an organization that produced new
women writers imbued with a specifically feminist consciousness