GLAIZA W.

SEGUIN
STEM- WISDOM

JAPENESE COLONIZATION EFFECT ON PHILIPPINE LITERATURE

The sudden attacked of Japanese were a big shocked to the

Filipinos. It was not predicted nor hinted, resulting of Japanese occupation
that lasted from 1941-1945 and considered as the darkest interludes in the
history of the Philippines. Although, it was the shortest year of colonization
compared to the other country that colonized the Philippines, It was
noticeable that there were a lot of events happened that made a big impact
on Filipinos. One of those things was the status of the Philippine Literature.
The Philippine Literature during the occupation of the Japanese was greatly
affected. During this time, there was no freedom of speech and of the
press, because of the strict censorship, few literary works were printed
during the war years. The Japanese military authority favoured Tagalog
than writing in English because it was considered to be a limbo and they
were able to influence and encourage the Filipino in developing the
vernacular language. So, Filipino Literature was given a break during this
year and also experienced a renewed attention because writers in English
turned writing in Filipino. Many wrote play, poems, short stories, etc. Topic
and themes were often about life in the provinces. A great example of this
were the Filipino Poetry like Haiku, Tanaga, and Karaniwang anyo. For the
Flipino Drama there were like PANDAY PIRA by Jose Ma. Hernandez,
PULA, SA PUTI by Francisco SocRodrigo, BULAGA by Clocualdo del
Mundo, and SINO BA KAYO?, DAHIL SA ANAK and HIGANTE NG PATAY
by Julian Cruz Balmaceda. In Filipino Short Story were like LUPANG
TINUBUAN by Narciso Reyes, UHAW ANG TIGANG NA LUPA by
Liwayway Arceo’s, and LUNSOD NAYON AT DAGAT-DAGATAN by NVM
Gonzales’. While the Philippine Literature in English experienced a dark
period, but there were some writers who were brave enough to face the
reality like Carlos P. Romulo who wrote I SAW THE FALL OF THE
PHILIPPINES, I SEE THE PHILIPPINES RISE, Nick Joaquin who
produced THE WOMAN WHO LOOKED LIKE LAZARUS , F.B. Icasiano
who wrote essays THE PHILIPPINE REVIEW, Alfredo Litiatco who
published WITH HARD AND SLING, and Jose P. laurel who also published
FORCES THAT MAKE A NATION GREAT. This literary pieces were the
evidences that Filipinos was indeed a great writer of his own story. It was
what inspired a lot of Filipino writer in doing what they love and had a
passion, it was visible how they fight against all odds, how they fight as a
true son of this country, Philippines.