1941 – 1945

• Between 1941-1945,
Philippine Literature was interrupted in its
development when we were again conquered
by another foreign country, Japan.
• Philippine literature in English came to a halt.
• Except for the Tribune and the Philippine
Review, Pillars, Free Philippines, and
Filipina, almost all newspapers in English
were stopped by the Japanese.
• During this time,
there was no freedom of speech and of the
press.
• Victoria Abelardo has described Filipino
writing during the Japanese occupation as
being pessimistic and bitter.
• There were some efforts at escapist
literature, but in general, the literary output
was minor and insignificant. Because of strict
censorship, few literary works were printed
during the war years.
The weekly Liwayway
was placed under
strict surveillance
until it was managed
by a Japanese named
Ishiwara
• The only contact with the outside world was
done with utmost secrecy through the
underground radio program called
“Voice of Freedom”.
• Tagalog was favored by the
Japanese military authority
and writing in English was
consigned to a limbo.
• Japanese were able to
influence and encourage
the Filipino in developing
the vernacular literature.
• The only Filipino
writers who could
write freely were
those who were
living in the United
States.
• Most writers and
authors were lead to
either go
underground or
write in Tagalog.
• So, Filipino
literature was given
a break during this
period.
• Filipino literature
also experienced
renewed attention
because writers in
English turned to
writing in Filipino.
-The drama experienced a lull during the Japanese
period because movie houses showing American
films were closed.
- The big movie houses were just made to show
stage shows. Many of the plays were
reproductions of English plays to Tagalog.
-The translators were Francisco Soc Rodrigo,
Alberto Concio, and Narciso Pimentel.
-They also founded the organization of Filipino
players named .
A few of the playwriters
were:

1. Jose Ma. Hernandez –

wrote PANDAY PIRA
2.Francisco Soc
Rodrigo – wrote
sa PULA, SA PUTI
3.Clodualdo del Mundo –
wrote BULAGA (an
expression in the game
Hide and Seek).

4. Julian Cruz Balmaceda

– wrote SINO BA KAYO?,
DAHIL SA ANAK, and
HIGANTE NG PATAY.
• Three types of poems emerged during this
period.

– a poem of free verse that the Japanese liked.

It is made up of seventeen (17) syllables
divided into three (3) lines. The first line has
five, the second – seven and the third – five. It
is allegorical in meaning, short and covers a
wide scope in meaning.
- like the haiku, it is short, but has measure
and rhyme. Each line has seventeen
syllables and is also allegorical in meaning.
(Usual Form)
– the usual and common form of poetry
-The field of the short story widened during the
Japanese Occupation.
Many wrote short stories.
-Among them were:
Brigido Batungbakal Macario Pineda
Serafin Guinigindo Liwayway Arceo,
Narciso Ramos NVM Gonzales,
Alicia Lopez Lim Ligaya Perez
Gloria Guzman
The best writings in
1945 were selected by
a group of judges
composed of

Francisco Icasiano,
Jose Esperanza Cruz,
Antonio Rosales,
Clodualdo del Mundo
and Teodoro Santos.
As a result of this selection,
the following got the first three prizes:
First Prize:
Narciso Reyes with his LUPANG TINUBUAN
Second Prize:
Liwayway Arceo’s
UHAW ANG TIGANG NA LUPA
Third Prize:
NVM Gonzales’
LUNSOD NAYON AT DAGAT-DAGATAN
Noteworthy writer of the period
was Carlos P. Romulo who won the Pulitzer
Prize for his bestsellers

I SAW THE FALL OF THE PHILIPPINES,

I SEE THE PHILIPPINES RISE and his MOTHER
AMERICA AND MY BROTHER AMERICANS.
Journalists include Salvador P. Lopez, Leon Ma.
Geurrero, Raul Manglapuz and Carlos Bulosan.
Nick Joaquin produced THE WOMAN WHO
LOOKED LIKE LAZARUS. Fred Ruiz Castro
wrote a few poems.
LITERATURE AND SOCIETY
by Salvador P. Lopez (Essay)

HIS NATIVE SOIL – by Juan Laya (Novel)

President Manuel L. Quezon’s autobiography

THE GOOD FIGHT was published posthumously.

Other writers of this period were Juan Collas

(19440, Tomas Confesor (1945), Roman A. de la
Cruz and Elisa Tabuñar.
 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.
 Literary Works Produced
• 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.