Philippine Literature

During Spanish Period

Group 2
Historical Background

• Spanish colonization of the

Philippines started in 1565
during the time Miguel Lopez
de Legaspi. ( They colonized
Philippines for 333 years.
• Literature flourished during his
time.
Changes in the lives of the Filipinos
 They embraced the Catholic religion
 They changed their names
 They were baptized
 They built houses made of stones and bricks
 They used beautiful furniture like the piano and used
kitchen utensils
 Carriages, trains and boats were used as means of
travel.
 They held fiestas to honor the saints, the pope and the
governors.
 They had cockfights, horse races and the theatre as
means of recreation.
Spanish Influences on Philippine
Literature

1. The first Filipino alphabet called ALIBATA

was replaced by the Roman alphabet.
2. The teaching of the Christian Doctrine
became the basis of religious practices.
3. The Spanish Language which became the
literary language during this time lent may
of its words to our language.
4. European legends and traditions brought
here became assimilated in our songs,
corridos and moro-moros.
Spanish Influences on
Philippine Literature
5. Ancient Literature was
collected and translated to
Tagalog and other dialects.
6. Many grammar books were
printed in Filipino, like Tagalog,
Ilocano and Visayan.
7. Our periodicals during these
times gained a religious tone.
The First Books
1. ANG DOCTRINA
CRISTIANA
First book printed in the
Philippines in 1593 in
xylography
Written by Fr. Juan de
Palencia (Tagalog) and Fr.
Domingo Nieva (Spanish)
It contained the following:
-Pater Noster (Our Father)
-Ave Maria (Hail Mary)
-Regina Coeli (Hail Holy Queen)
-Ten Commandments of God
-Commandments of the Catholic
Church
-Seven Mortal Sins
-How to Confess
-Catechism
2. Nuestra Senora del Rosario
 The second book printed in the
Philippines written by Fr.
Blancas de San Jose in 1602.
 Printed at the UST Printing Press
with the help of Juan De Vera .
 It contains the bioraphies of
saints. novenas, and questions
and answers on religion
3. Libro de los Cuatro
Postprimeras de Hombre
The first book printed in
typography.
4. Ang Barlaan at Josephat
A Biblical story printed in the
Philippines and translated to
Tagalog from Greek by Fr.
Antonio de Borja.
It is believed to be the first
Tagalog novel published in the
Philippines even if it’s only a
translation
5. The Pasion
A book about the life and
sufferings of Jesus Christ.
There were four versions of
this in Filipino (Pilapil, de
Belen, de la Merced and the
de Guia version)
FOLK SONGS
 Folk Song became
widespread in the
Philippines. They truly
manifest the artistic
feelings of the Filipinos.
They show the Filipinos’
innate appreciation for
love and beauty.
Examples of Folk Songs

• Leron – Leron Sinta (Tagalog)

• Pamulinawen (Iloko)
• Dandansoy (Bisaya)
• Sarong Banggi (Bicol)
• Atin Cu Pung Singsing
(Kapampangan)
RECREATIONAL PLAYS
CENAKULO
• Dramatic Performance of the
passion and death of Christ.
• Two kinds: The Cantada and the
Hablada.
• Cantada is chanted like the
Pasion
• In Hablada, the lines are spoken
in a more deliberate manner
showing the rhythmic measure
of each verse and the rhyming in
each stanza and is more
dignified in theme.
• Written in octosyllabic verse,
with 8 verses to the stanza. The
full length versions take about 3
nights of staging.
 Zarzuela
• The father or drama, a musical comedy or
melodrama three acts which death with men’s
passion and emotions like love, hate, revenge,
cruelty, avarice or some political problem.

Example:

Paglipas ng Dilim (After the

Darkness) (1920)
- A Spanish lyric-dramatic genre
- Written in Tagalog- language by
Filipino playwright and novelist
Precioso Palma
Panunuluyan

• Presented before 12am on

Christmas Eve.
• A presentation of the
search of the Virgin Mary
and St. Joseph for an inn to
deliver baby Jesus.
Salubong
• An Easter
play that
dramatizes
the meeting
of the Risen
Christ and
His Mother.
Balagtasan

• Balagtasan is
Filipino form of
debate done in
verse. The Term
is derived from
the surname of
Francisco
Balagtas (
Filipino Poet )
Carillo (shadow play)
• A form of dramatic entertainment
performed in a moonless night
during a town fiesta or on dark
nights after a harvest.
• It is made by projecting cardboard
figures before a lamp against a
white sheet.
• Various Names:
CARILLO – Manila, Rizal, Batangas and
Laguna
TITRES – Ilocos Norte, Pangasinan,
Bataan, Capiz and Negros
TITIRI – Zambales
GAGALO / KIKIMUT – Pampanga and
Tarlac
ALIALA – La Union
 Reference

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markvincentmillona1/literature-
during-the-spanish-period