Part 1 Les 2

A COURSE MODULE FOR PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
Lesson 2. Timeline of Philippine Literature and Its Development in English

Learning Objectives
At the end of this module, you should be able to:
1. identify and describe Philippine literature forms in different periods;
2. identify and explain the development of Philippine literature in English;
3. discuss the relationship between literature and history; and
4. make a poster on the importance of studying the timeline of Philippine literature and its
development in English.
Introduction
Literature is a term used to describe written or spoken material. Broadly speaking, "literature"
is used to describe anything from creative writing to more technical or scientific works, but the term
is most used to refer to works of the creative imagination, including works of poetry, drama, fiction,
and nonfiction.
Philippine literature had evolved much before colonization. It is full of legends and tales of
colonial legacy. Mexican and Spanish dominance over the land and the people, over varying periods,
witnessed the incorporation of English, Spanish, Filipino, and native languages, to express ideology
and opinion. Literature in the Philippines developed much later than in most other countries.
Evidence reveals the use of a script called Baybayin that flourished in 1521.
Motive Questions
Directions: Answer the following questions.
1. What is a timeline?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
2. The _____________ identifies the topic of the timeline.
A. Before Christ B. Era C. Title D. Chronological Order
PART 1: LESSON 2. TIMELINE OF PHILIPPINE LITERATURE AND ITS DEVELOPMENT IN ENGLISH| 7

3. A timeline can represent any length of time.
A. True B. False
4. Should the date on a timeline be spaced properly? For example, 1 inch = 20 years, and 2
inches = 40 years.
A. Yes B. No C. It does not matter if you have the information on the timeline.
5. Can Ad and BCE both be used on the same timeline? Yes, or no? Justify your answer.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
READ
Timelines in Philippine Literature
 Pre-Colonial Period (__B.C. to 1564)
 The Spanish Regime (1565-1863)
 The Nationalistic Period (1864-1896)
 The United States Colonial Rule (1910-1930,1920-1945)
 The Japanese Occupation (1942-1944)
 The Contemporary Period (1960-1986)
 Post-Edsa Literature (1986-onwards)
SIGNIFICANT EVENTS IN EACH PERIOD
Pre-Colonial Period (_ B.C. To 1564)
 The longest period in Phil. Literature.

 The literary outputs of this period cannot be called substantial because much of it was oral
(i.e. tales, songs, riddles, and proverbs.
 Riddles- gives an enigma or puzzle.
 Proverbs – wise saying or “salawikain”
 Songs –a part of pre-colonial literature and the people’s daily life.
 Mimetic Dances –often accompanied these songs and rituals and were the precursor of the
drama form.
 In prose, pre-colonial literature had myths, tales, fables, legends, and fantastic stories.
 Folk epic – the most significant and the longest form of pre-colonial poetry.
 Popular Epics: Biag ni Lam-Ang (Ilocos Region), Hinilawod (Panay Island), and Bantugan
and Indarapatra at Sulayman (Maguindanao).
The Spanish Regime (1565-1863)
 Christianization of the Philippines

 The literary scene during this era was focused on religious themes due to the Christianization
of the Philippines by the Spaniards.
 Introduced the first printing press
 Doctrina Christiana – the first published book (1593)
 Ladinos – they wrote poems in Spanish and Tagalog. They are we-versed in Spanish and
Tagalog.
 Pasyon – a long-time narrative poem about the passion and death of Christ. The most
popular form of religious literature.
 Ang “Mahal na Pasyon ni Jesu Cristong Panginoon Natin” – is Gaspar Aquilino de Belen’s
well known pasyon.
 Sinakulo/Cenakulo – A dramatization of the pasyon. It was performed during Holy Week.
 Komedya – the most popular drama form
 Prose: “Ang Pagsusulatan ng Dalawang Binibini na si Urbana at Feliza” by Marcelo de

Castro.
 Two Popular Narrative Poems:

 Awit - it talks about the heroes and their heroic deeds and life. Ex. Florante at
Laura by Francisco Balagtas– the Most Famous Awit
 Korido - it talks about faith, legend, and mysteries. It is intended to be sung or

chanted. Ex. Ibong Adarna by Jose De la Cruz.
 Other literary forms:
 Duplo – Replace the Karagatan. This is a poetic joust in speaking and reasoning.
The roles are taken from the Bible and proverbs and saying. It is usually played
during wakes for the dead.
 Karagatan – This is a poetic vehicle of a socio-religious nature celebrated during

the death of a person. In this contest, formal, a ritual is performed based on a legend
about a princess who dropped her ring into the middle of the sea and who offered
her hand in marriage to anyone who can retrieve it. A leader starts with an
extemporaneous poem announcing the purpose. He then spins a “lumbo” o “tabo”
marked with a white line. Whoever comes in the direction of the white line when the
spinning stops gets his turn to “go into the sea to look for the ring.” This means a
girl will ask him a riddle and if he can answer, he will offer the ring to the girl.
The Nationalistic Period (1864-1896)
 Nationalism – was the main agenda of this literary period.
 The period is divided into PROPAGANDA and REVOLUTION.
 At the close of the 19th century, the revolutionist took over and there was a shift not only in
language (from Spanish to Tagalog) but in the audience or readers from the “intelligentsia”
to the “masses.”
• Prop. And Rev. (Rizal, Lopez Jaena & Del Pilar)
 The last of the 19th century saw a new breed of writers.
 If religion is the thematic focus during the Spanish Era, a strong feeling of nationalism was
the main theme of the nationalistic period.

 This period was truly significant because it produced literature that was realistic and truly
Filipino.
 Bonifacio, Jacinto and Mabini – the prominent revolutionary writers.
The United States Colonial Rule (1910-1930, 1920-1945)
 Literature in three languages flourished: Spanish, English, and Filipino
 It was divided into two periods:
• The Period of Apprenticeship
Paz Marquez Benitez (Dead Star)
Paz M. Latorena (The Small Key)
Jose Garcia Villa (Footnote to Youth)
• The Period of Emergence (Before the war or Japanese Occupation)
Some of the noted short story writers are:
Manuel E. Arguila (How my brother Leon brought Home a Wife)
Arturo B. Rotor (The Wound and the Scar and The Men Who Play God)
N.V.M. Gonzales (Seven Hills Away)
Francisco Arcellana (The Flowers of May)
Bienvenido N. Santos (The Transfer)
The Japanese Occupation (1942-1944)
 Poets wrote in simple language and free verse.
 Portray Filipino Life and Culture through short stories
 The Flowering of Tagalog Short Poetry
 Palanca Awards/National Awards was launched

 This literary period broke away from tradition, especially among Tagalog poets. Instead of
writing in the Balagtas tradition (rhetorical, verbose, figurative), poets wrote in simple
language and free verse. (i.e., “Ako and Daigdig” by Alejandro Abdula)
 There was a bountiful harvest in poetry, fiction, and the fields of drama and essay in this
period.
The Contemporary Period (1960-1986)
 Upheavals in Nation’s History (First Quarter Storm of the Seventies)

 Martial Law Years
 Assassination of Ninoy Aquino
 A merging of the three traditions:
- Oral Lore –Ethnic Tradition
- Spanish Tradition
- American Colonial Tradition
 Literary Expressions
Give responses to the historical and political forces that have shaped Philippine Society
since the Pacific War.
Post-Edsa Literature (1986-__)
 The dominant language is largely English and Tagalog-based Filipino.
 Another characteristic of post-EDSA writing is the developing thrust toward the retrieval and
recuperation of writing in Philippine languages other than Tagalog.
 Post-EDSA publishing has been marked by adventurousness, and a willingness to gamble

on “non-traditional” projects.

Activity 1: Foldable Timeline
Directions: Make a foldable timeline of the “Timeline of the Philippine Literature. Make sure you have
the date on part of the fold, and then under it illustrate the event. The description of the event is to
the right of the date. Glued your work in the box below.
*Please see the attached rubric or criteria for checking on the last page.

Development/ Periods of Philippine Literature in English
 Period of Orientation (1898-1910)
 Period of Imitation (1910-1924)
 Period of Growth and Experimentation (1925-1941)
 Period of Propaganda (1942-1944)
 Post-Liberation Period (1945-onwards)
SIGNIFICANT EVENTS IN EACH PERIOD
The Period of Orientation (1898-1909)
 It began with the Occupation of Manila by the American forces on August 13, 1898.
 It extended to the publication of the College Folio in 1910.
 College Folio in 1910- it is when the Filipino writers made their first attempts at expression
in the new language.
 It consisted mostly of articles dealing with patriotism and nationalism.
 Only El Renacimiento and the Free Press published writings in English.
 The nationalistic and rebellious spirit against the American occupation also found expression
in Filipino literature in English of this period.
The Period of Imitation (1910-1924)
 It began in 1910 when the College Folio made its appearance at the University of the
Philippines.
 Filipino writers start using the English language in writing.
 This period was characterized by strict adherence to the conventional forms of literature and
by careful observance of the rules of grammar and rhetoric.
 Conventional forms of literature as exemplified in the works of Longfellow, Hawthorne,

Emerson, Tennyson, Thackerey, and Macaulay.

 The publication of magazines and newspapers in English gave budding writers a chance to
see their compositions in print. For example, Philippine Review, Independent, Rising
Philippines, and Citizens, in addition to the Philippine Collegian, the UP-student organ.
 The Philippines Herald became the pioneer Filipino newspaper in English in 1920.
 Paz Marquez Benitez gained some measure of mastery far ahead of the period as
exemplified in her short story “Dead Star.”
• Dead Star - was, for a long time, considered “a model of perfection in character
delineation, local color, plot, and message.
• Local color - interesting characteristic features: unusual or traditional features of

a particular place that make it interesting
 The first book of poems and the first novel in English written by a Filipino were published
during this period Procopio Solidum’s Never Mind and Other Poems and Zoilo M. Galang’s
A Child of Sorrow.
• Zoilo’s A Child of sorrow uses very ornate language. (mabulaklak na salita)
Period of Growth and Experimentation (1925-1941)
 Filipino writers mastered, not only the fundamentals but also the nuances of the English
language sufficiently to be able to write in it with more confidence.
 They tried all forms of writing including the novel and drama.
 Some critics considered this period from 1930 until 1940 as the Golden Era of Filipino writing
in English.
 A deep attachment to the soil and a strong spirit of liberalism took possession of the writers.
 A deep spirit to the soil.
 Jose Garcia Villa (aka Doveglion) excelled as a critic, short story writer, and poet and
tremendously influenced Filipino writing.
 Marcelo de Gracia Concepcion’s “Azucena” became the first book of Filipino verse to be
printed in America.
 Several of short story writers arrived with Villa – Manuel Argulla, Paz latorena, Loreto Paras,
Arturo B. Rotor, and Alfredo E. Litiaco.

 Filipino writers were also influenced by Sherwood Anderson, Ernest Hemingway, William
Saroyan, and Dorothy Parker.
 Other poets were Amador T. Daguio, Angela Manalang Gloria, and Luis Dato.
 In 1940, through the initiative and efforts of the Philippine Writers’ League, the
Commonwealth Government started a yearly literary contest.
 The first Filipino biographer to write in English is Carlos Quirino with his “The Great
Malayan.” “Mallari’s The Birth of Discontent” showed the mastery of the art of irony as well
as of the English Language.
 In the essay, the notable writings included Salvador P. Lopez’s prize-winning collection
“Literature and Society” and Francisco P. Icasiano’s “Horizons from my Nipa Hut.”
 Filipino playwrights flourished during this period: Augusto C. Cantanjal (The Oil Lamp), Vidal
A. Tan (The Husband of Mrs. Cruz), Severino Montano (The Land of our Fathers), and
Wilfrido Ma. Guerero (13 Plays), became the most prolific dramatist.
Period of Propaganda (1942-1944)
 The war year – WWII

 The war dampened the literary enthusiasm of the preceding period.
 The writings of this period were largely journalistic, and the literary output was negligible for
two reasons: (1) it was, in the main, insincere, and (2) there was very little opportunity for
publication.
 This period saw the rise of Carlos P. Romulo.
 Carlos P. Romulo – the first Filipino writer and journalist to win international recognition. He
won the Pulitzer Prize, and his “I Saw the Fall of the Philippines,” “I See the Philippine Rise,”
and “Mother America” became the best seller.
Post-Liberation Period (1945-onwards)
 The most significant achievement of this period was the recognition afforded to Filipino
writers abroad.
 The militancy which might be expected because of the war was very evident among
journalists and editors.

 Carlos Bulosan –put a book of poems called “Voice of Bataan” immediately after the
outbreak of WWII. This volume was followed by “The Laughter of My Father,” and America
is in the Heart.”
• The Laughter of my Father is a collection of humorous short stories.
• America is in the Heart sometimes subtitled as a personal History is an

autobiography.
 Stevan Javellana -published his novel “Without Seeing the Dawn.”
• Without Seeing a Dawn is a war novel comparable to Rizal’s masterpieces.
 Jose Garcia Villa’s collection of poems “Have Come, Am Here” revealed great power both
in thought and expression and elicited the warmest praises from American and English
critics.
Activity 2: Foldable Timeline
Directions: Make another foldable timeline of the topic “Development of Philippine Literature in
English.” Make sure you have the date on part of the fold, and then under it illustrate the event. The
description of the event is to the right of the date. Glued your work in the box below.
**Please see the attached rubric or criteria for checking on the last page.

Culminating Activity 1
Directions: Answer the given question.
1. What is the relationship between literature and history? Elaborate on your answer.
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Culminating Activity 2
Directions: Made a poster about the importance of studying the timeline of Philippine Literature and
its development in English.

References:
Lacia, Ferdilyn, C., et al. (3rd Ed.), (2015). The Literatures of the Philippines. Quezon City, Metro
Manila, Philippines: Rex Book Store, Inc.
Saymo, A. S. (2014). Philippine Literature. Manila, Philippines: Erehwon Artworld Corporation
Ang, J. G. (2012). Literature 101 (Philippine Literature: A Course Reader). Manila, Philippines:
Mindshapers Co., Inc.
Marco, L.L. et al. (2009). Philippine Literary Heritage (from Spanish Period to Present). Manila,
Philippines: Mindshapers Co., Inc.
PNU Reviewer: General Education. (2019)
Rubrics/ Criteria for Grading
Rubric for Activity 1 & 2. Foldable Timeline
Completion - 4 points
Content - 5 points
Presentation - 6 points
15 points
Rubric for Culminating Activity 1. Essay
Focus and Details - 1 point
Organization - 1.5 point/s
Voice - 1.5 point/s
Word Choice - 3 points
Sentence Structure, Grammar, Mechanics, & Spelling - 3 points
10 points

Rubric for Culminating Activity 2. Poster
Visual Clarity and Appeal - 6 points -
Message/Content - 8 points
Presentation - 6 points
20 points

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A COURSE MODULE FOR PHILIPPINE LITERATURE

Lesson 2. Timeline of Philippine Literature and Its Development in English

At the end of this module, you should be able to:

1. identify and describe Philippine literature forms in different periods;

2. identify and explain the development of Philippine literature in English;

3. discuss the relationship between literature and history; and

Directions: Answer the following questions.

2. The _____________ identifies the topic of the timeline.

A. Before Christ B. Era C. Title D. Chronological Order

PART 1: LESSON 2. TIMELINE OF PHILIPPINE LITERATURE AND ITS DEVELOPMENT IN ENGLISH| 7

3. A timeline can represent any length of time.

Timelines in Philippine Literature

 Pre-Colonial Period (__B.C. to 1564)

 The Spanish Regime (1565-1863)

 The Nationalistic Period (1864-1896)

 The United States Colonial Rule (1910-1930,1920-1945)

 The Japanese Occupation (1942-1944)

 The Contemporary Period (1960-1986)

 Post-Edsa Literature (1986-onwards)

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS IN EACH PERIOD

Pre-Colonial Period (_ B.C. To 1564)

 The longest period in Phil. Literature.

PART 1: LESSON 2. TIMELINE OF PHILIPPINE LITERATURE AND ITS DEVELOPMENT IN ENGLISH| 8

The Spanish Regime (1565-1863)

 Christianization of the Philippines

 Sinakulo/Cenakulo – A dramatization of the pasyon. It was performed during Holy Week.

 Komedya – the most popular drama form

 Prose: “Ang Pagsusulatan ng Dalawang Binibini na si Urbana at Feliza” by Marcelo de

 Two Popular Narrative Poems:

PART 1: LESSON 2. TIMELINE OF PHILIPPINE LITERATURE AND ITS DEVELOPMENT IN ENGLISH| 9

 Korido - it talks about faith, legend, and mysteries. It is intended to be sung or

 Other literary forms:

 Karagatan – This is a poetic vehicle of a socio-religious nature celebrated during

The Nationalistic Period (1864-1896)

 Nationalism – was the main agenda of this literary period.

 The period is divided into PROPAGANDA and REVOLUTION.

• Prop. And Rev. (Rizal, Lopez Jaena & Del Pilar)

 The last of the 19th century saw a new breed of writers.

PART 1: LESSON 2. TIMELINE OF PHILIPPINE LITERATURE AND ITS DEVELOPMENT IN ENGLISH| 10

 Bonifacio, Jacinto and Mabini – the prominent revolutionary writers.

The United States Colonial Rule (1910-1930, 1920-1945)

 Literature in three languages flourished: Spanish, English, and Filipino

 It was divided into two periods:

• The Period of Apprenticeship

Paz Marquez Benitez (Dead Star)

Paz M. Latorena (The Small Key)

Jose Garcia Villa (Footnote to Youth)

• The Period of Emergence (Before the war or Japanese Occupation)

Some of the noted short story writers are:

Manuel E. Arguila (How my brother Leon brought Home a Wife)

N.V.M. Gonzales (Seven Hills Away)

Francisco Arcellana (The Flowers of May)

Bienvenido N. Santos (The Transfer)

The Japanese Occupation (1942-1944)

 Poets wrote in simple language and free verse.

 Portray Filipino Life and Culture through short stories

 The Flowering of Tagalog Short Poetry

 Palanca Awards/National Awards was launched

PART 1: LESSON 2. TIMELINE OF PHILIPPINE LITERATURE AND ITS DEVELOPMENT IN ENGLISH| 11