Notes on the American Occupation

(1898–1940)
 The US established a civil government in 1901. Free public education was introduced.

Also, English was the medium of instruction.

 In 1934, President Roosevelt signed a bill making the Philippines a commonwealth.

On May 14, 1935 Manuel L. Quezon was elected president.

Literary Works Produced
The production of literary works in English is the direct result of the American colonization
of the Philippines. The first collection of poetry in English is Filipino Poetry (1924), edited
by Rodolfo Dato. The short story “Dead Stars” (1925) by Paz Marquez Benitez is
considered as the first Filipino modern short story in English. A Child of Sorrow (1921) by
Zoilo M. Galang is the first Filipino novel in English. The novel His Native Soil (1940) by
Juan C. Laya won first prize in the First Commonwealth Literary Awards in 1940.
Filipino writers in English during the apprenticeship period (1900–1930) imitated
American writing. The poet Fernando Maramag writes in the Romantic tradition in his
sonnet “Moonlight on Manila Bay” (1912). Filipino fictionists copied Sherwood Anderson,
William Saroyan, and Ernest Hemingway. Jose Garcia Villa used the Anderson pattern.
Manuel Arguilla and N. V. M. Gonzalez were influenced by Anderson and Hemingway.
Francisco Arcellana was influenced by Saroyan.
Notes on the Japanese Occupation
(1941–1945)
  On December 8, 1941, the Japanese attacked Manila.
 On January 2, 1942, Japanese occupied Manila. They set up a Council of State in

the country and started propaganda to remold the Filipinos.

 In October 1943 the Japanese declared the Philippines “independent.” On

September 20, Jose P. Laurel was elected president.

 MacArthur and his Allied forces returned to the country in 1944. They landed on

Leyte on October 20, and the biggest naval battle in history ensued.
 The Japanese surrendered formally on September 2, 1945.

Literary Works Produced

During the occupation, publications were censored by the military. Also, Tagalog was
declared an official language (together with Nihonggo). In effect, Philippine literature in
English came to a halt. Some Filipino writers then turned to writing in Filipino.
The Tagalog short story reached its maturity during the period. The best works were
compiled by the Liwayway magazine editors in Ang Pinakamabuting Maikling Kathang
Pilipino ng 1943, which came out in 1944. It is a collection of stories that won a contest
sponsored by the Japanese. The top four stories were “Lupang Tinubuan” by Narciso G.
Reyes, “Uhaw ang Tigang na Lupa” by Liwayway Arceo, “Nayon at Dagat-dagatan” by
N. V. M. Gonzalez, and “Suyuan sa Tubigan” by Macario Pineda.
The American occupation of the Philippines spurred the writing of Filipinos in English. On
the other hand, the Japanese occupation censored literary works yet contributed to the
maturity of the Tagalog short story.