.png)
Tunc Linee: Pre Colonial to Post Modern
- Earl L
- Nov 28, 2020
- 9 min read
Updated: Dec 14, 2020
I. PRE-COLONIAL (–BC TO 1564)
Characteristics
Based on storytelling named “oral traditions”
Common themes include the following: nature, supernatural events, and bravery of heroes.
Their literature mirrors their truth.
Their literature is straight to the point.
Language use is full of melody and rhythm.
The common themes found in the literary works are bravery of heroes, help from otherworldly powers, good harvest, good versus evil, love, and nature.
Literary Forms
1. Oral Literature
Riddles
i. Bugtong — battle of wits among participants
ii. Tigmo (Cebuano)
iii. Paktakon (Ilonggo)
iv. Patotdon (Bicolano)
Proverbs (salawikain) — wise saying that contain a metaphor used to teach as a food for thought.
Tanaga — a mono-riming heptasyllabic quatrain expressing insights and lessons on life is “more emotionally charged than the terse proverb and thus has affinities with the folk lyric”.
2. Folk Songs — a form of fold lyric which expresses the hopes and aspirations, the people’s lifestyles as well as their loves. These are often repetitive and sonorous, didactic and naïve.
Hele or oyayi (Ilongo) — lullaby
Mambagu (Kalinga) — rice pounding song
Ambahan (Mangyan) —7-syllable per line poem that are about human relationships and social entertainment.
Kalusan (Ivatan) — work songs that depict the livelihood of the people
Tagay (Cebuano and Waray) — drinking song
Kanogan (Cebuano) — song of lamentation for the dead
Kissa (Tausug) — Parang Sabil, song of a Muslim hero who seeks death at the hands of Non-Muslims
3. Folk Tales
Myths — explain how the world was created, how certain animals possess certain characteristics, why some places have waterfalls, volcanoes, mountains, flora or fauna.
Legends — explain the origin of things
Fables — used an animal characters and allegory
Fantastic Stories — deal with underworld characters such as “tiyanak”, “aswang” “kapre” and others.
4. Epics — these are narratives of sustained length based on oral tradition revolving around supernatural events or heroic deeds.
Guman (Subanon)
Darangen (Maranao)
Hudhud (Ifugao)
Ulahingan (Manobo)
Lam-ang (Ilocano)
Mangovayt Buhong na Langit (The Maiden of the Buhong Sky) (Tuwaang-Manobo)
Ag Tobig neg Keboklagan (Subanon)
Tudbulol (T’boli)
5. Love Songs
Panawagan and Balitao (Ilongo)
Harana (Cebuano) — serenade
Bayaok (Maranao)
II. SPANISH COLONIZATION PERIOD (1565–1863)
Characteristics
It has two distinct classifications: religious and secular.
“Oral traditions” was transcribed by Priests and added religious themes.
The conquerors introduced Spanish as the medium of communication.
The common themes found in the literary works are bravery of heroes, good vs. evil, grace, love, and nature.
Literary Forms
1. Religious Literature — religious lyrics written by Iadino poets or those versed in both Spanish and Tagalog were included in early catechism and were uses to teach Filipinos the Spanish language.
Memorial de la vida cristiana en lengua tagala (Guidelines for the Christian Life in the Tagalog Language) (1605)
i. Salamat nang walang hangan/gracias de sin sempiternas (Unending Thanks) (1605) by
Fernando Bagonbata
Pasyon — long narrative poem about the passion and death of Christ.
i. Ang Mahal na Passion ni Jesu Cristong Panginoon Natin (1703) by Gaspar Aquino de
Belen
ii. Casaysayan nang Pasiong Mahal ni Hesucristong Panginoon Natin na Sucat Ipag-alab
nang Puso nang Sinomang Babasa (1814) foreword by Dr. Mariano Pilapil
Senakulo — dramatization of the pasyon, it shows the passion and death of Christ .
2. Secular (non-religious) Literature
Awit — colorful tales of chivalry made for singing and chanting.
i. Korido at Buhay na Pinagdaanan ng Tatlong Prinsipeng Magkakapatid na anak ni
Haring Fernando at ni Reyna Valeriana sa Kahariang Berbany (Ibong Adarna)
Korido — metrical tale written in octosyllabic quatrains
Prose Narratives— written to prescribe proper decorum.
i. Dialogo (dialogue)
a. Pagsusulatan ng Dalawang Binibini na si Urbana at si Feliza (1864) by Modesto
de Casta
ii. Manual de Urbanidad (conduct book)
iii. Ejemplo (exemplum)
iv. Tratado
III. NATIONALISTIC/PROPAGANDA AND REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD (1864–1896)
Characteristics
Planted seeds of nationalism in Filipinos
Language shifted from Spanish to Tagalog.
Addressed the masses instead of the “intelligentsia”.
The common themes found in this period are appearance versus reality, betrayal, rich versus poor, love, motherland, patriotism, and wartime loss.
Literary Forms
Propaganda Literature—Reformatory in objective
Political Essays— satires, editorials and news articles were written to attack and expose the evils of Spanish rule.
i. La Vanguardia (1881)
ii. Diariong Tagalog (1882) —founded by Marcelo H. Pilar
iii. La Solidaridad (1889) — editor-in-chief is Graciano Lopez Jaena
iv. Liwanag at Dilim (1896) — Emilio Jacinto
Political/Non-political Novels
i. Ninay (1885) — considered the first Filipino novel by Pedro Paterno
ii. Noli Me Tangere (1887) and El Filibusterismo (1891) — Jose Rizal’s masterpieces that
paved the way to the revolution.
2. Revolutionary Literature — more propagandistic than literary as it is more violent in nature and demanded complete independence for the country.
Political Essays — helped inflame the spirit of revolution
i. Kalayaan (1886) — newspaper of the society, edited by Emilio Jacinto.
Poetry
i. El Verdadero Decalogo (True Decalogue) (1898) — Apolinario Mabini
ii. Hibik ng Filipinas sa Inang Espanya (The Appeal of the Philippines to Mother Spain)
(1888) – by Hermenegildo Flores talked about Philippines as a poor and abused
daughter of Spain. It has 66 quatrains.
iii. Sagot ng Espana sa Hibik ng Pilipinas (The Answer of Spain to the Appeal of the
Philippines) (1889) – by Marcelo H. del Pilar, having 82 quatrains, talked about the
wonderful plans of Spain for the Philippines but did not able to deliver them.
iv. Katapusang Hibik nang Pilipinas sa Ynang Espana (The Last Appeal of the Philippines
to Mother Spain) (1896) – by Andres Bonifacio expressed his disgust to Spain like a
mother who was negligent and a renegade to her daughter, the Philippines. It has 14
quatrains.
IV. AMERICAN COLONIAL PERIOD (1897–1945)
Characteristics
The common themes found in this period are betrayal, forgiveness, grace, love, motherland, patriotism, and revenge.
A. Period of Apprenticeship (1910–1930)
Filipino Writers imitated English and American models.
American troops used the English language to pacify the Filipino people and instill in them the American ideals of “universality, practicality, and democracy”.
Poems written were amateurish and sloppy, which phrasing and diction is awkward and artificial.
Local magazines and publications were established to further the Filipino literature.
i. Renacimiento Filipino (1910)
ii. La Nueva Era (1910)
iii.El Debate (1917)
Institutions were founded to help boost the spread of the English language.
i. Daily Bulletin (1900)
ii. Philippine Normal School (1901)
iii. The Cablenews (1902)
iv. Philippine Free Press (1905)
v. University of the Philippines (1908)
vi. Student Publications
a. The Filipino Students’ Magazine (1905) of the Berkeley, California Filipino
government scholars
b. UP College Folio (1910) of University of the Philippines
c. The Coconut (1912) of the Manila High School
d. The Torch (1913) of the Philippine Normal School
Literary Forms
1. Short Stories
Dead Stars (1925) — Paz Marquez Benitez
The Small Key (1927) — Paz Latorena; won third place in Jose Garcia Villa’s Roll of Honor for the year’s best short stories.
Footnote to Youth (1933) — Jose Garcia Villa; tackles the responsibilities and realities that come with marriage and the family life.
2. Novels
Child of Sorrow (1921) — first novel in English by Zoilo Galang; heavily influenced by the sentimentalism of the Tagalog prose narratives of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
B. Period of Emergence (1920–1942)
Newspapers and magazines were founded to help introduce to the reading public the works of Paz Marquez Benitez, Jose Garcia Villa, Loreto Paras, and Casiano Calalang among others.
i. Philippine Education Magazine (1924) — renamed Philippine Magazine (1928)
ii. Manila Tribune (1946)
iii. The Graphic
iv. The Woman’s Outlook (1924)
v. The Woman’s Home Journal (1926) — the official organ of the National Federation of
Women's Clubs of the Philippines
Highly influenced by Western literary trends like Romanticism and Realism.
Vernacular magazines published their first issues around this period.
i. Liwayway (1922) - contains Tagalog serialized novels, short stories, poetry, and many
others. In fact, it is the oldest Tagalog magazine in the Philippines.
ii. Bisaya (1930) - has the record of being the oldest magazine in Cebuano which is still
published, and "the most successful periodical in Cebuano".
iii. Hiligaynon (1934) - promotes Ilonggo culture and arts by printing articles in the native
language, thus giving non-English Ilonggo readers a better understanding of their own
heritage.
iv. Bannawag (1934) - contains serialized novels/comics, short stories, poetry, among
others, that are written in Ilokano, a language common in the northern regions of the
Philippines.
The 1940 First Commonwealth Literary Awards were given by President Manuel Quezon to the following winners:
i. Literature and Essay (Essay) — Salvador P. Lopez
ii. How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife and Other Stories (Short Story) —
Manuel Arguilla
iii. Like The Molave (Poetry) — R. Zulueta de Costa
iv. His Native Soil (Novel) — Juan C. Laya
Literary Forms
1. Poetry
Filipino Poetry (1924) — Rodolfo Dato
English-German Anthology of Filipino Poets (1934) — Pablo Laslo
Many Voices (1939) and Poems of Doveglion (1941) — Jose Garcia Villa
Poems (1940) — Angela Manalang
2. Short Stories — most prevalent literary form
Jose Garcia Villa — earned the international title “Poet of the Century”
V. JAPANESE OCCUPATION (1942–1960)
1. War Years (1942–1944)
Tagalog poets broke away from the Balagtas tradition and instead wrote in simple language and free verse
The common themes found in this period are grace, love, nature, patriotism, revenge.
Fiction prevailed over poetry.
i. 25 Pinakabuting Maikling Kathang Pilipino (1943)—compilation of the short story
contest by the military government
a. Suyuan sa Tubigan — Macario Pineda
b. Lupang Tinubuan — Narciso Reyes
c. Uhaw ang Tigang na Lupa — Liwayway Arceo
2. A. Period of Maturity and Originality (1945–1960)
Bountiful harvest in poetry, fiction, drama and essay
Filipino writers mastered English and familiarized themselves with diverse techniques.
Literary “Giants” prevailed
i. Palanca Awards for Literature
i. Nick Joaquin — La Vidal (1958) (Short Story)
ii. NVM Gonzales — Children of the Ash-covered Loam (1952) (Short Story)
— Lupo and the River (1953) (Short Story)
— On the Ferry (1959) (Short Story)
iii. Gilda Cordero Fernando - The Morning Before Us (1954) (Short Story)
— Sunburn (1957) (Short Story)
iv Bienvenido Santos
VI. CONTEMPORARY/MODERN PERIOD (1960–1999)
Characteristics
Martial Law repressed and curtailed human rights, including freedom of the press
The common themes found in this period are appearance versus reality, good versus evil, justice, love, and nature.
Writers symbolisms and allegories to drive home their message, at the face of censorship
Theater was used as a vehicle for protest, such as the PETA (Philippine Educational Theater Association) and University of the Philippines (UP) Theater.
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) required teaching of Philippines Literature in all tertiary schools in the country emphasizing vernacular literature.
From the eighties onward, writers continue to show dynamism and innovation
Literary “giants” awards continued .
i. Nick Joaquin — Doña Jeronima (1965) (Short Story)
—The Beatas (1976) (Full-Length Play)
ii. NVM Gonzales — The Tomato Game (1972) (Short Story)
iii. Gregorio Brillantes — Faith, Love, Time & Dr. Lazaro (1960) (Short Story)
—Journey to the Edge of the Sun (1962) (Short Story)
— Janice Joplin, The Revolution and the Melancholy Widow of Gabriela
Silang Street (1977) Short Story)
—Rizal, Balaguer, and Teilhard: Convergence at the Luneta (1983) (Essay)
iv. Gilda Cordero Fernando — A Wilderness of Sweets (1964) (Short Story)
National Artist for Literature Awardees
i. Jose Garcia Villa (1973)
ii. Nick Joaquin (1976)
iii. Carlos P. Romulo (1982)
iv. Francisco Arcellana (1990)
v. Ryan Christopher Joson (1997)
vi. Rolando S. Tinio (1997)
vii. Levi Celerio (1997)
viii. Edith L. Tiempo (1999)
VII. POSTMODERN AND CURRENT (2000-)
Characteristics
Writers gained access to a wide array of resources via the Internet and give people opportunities, especially the youth, to begin writing and expressing their youths, ideals, and feelings. One example is thru WattPad.
The common themes found in the current period are appearance versus reality, isolation, motherland, nature, and patriotism.
Many works deal with events, movements, and literary works of the past in order to make sense of the present.
Literary “giants” awards continued
National Artist for Literature Awardees
i. F. Sionil Jose (2001)
ii. Virgilio S. Almario (2003)
iii. Alejandro Roces (2003)
iv. Lazaro A. Francisco (2009)
v. Cirilo F. Bautista (2014)
Literary Genres
Creative Nonfiction – can be an essay, a journal article, a research paper, a memoir, or a poem consisted of a mixture of flavors, ideas and techniques.
i. The Cardinal Sins, the General’s Cross, the Martyr’s Testimony, and
Other Affirmations (2007) by Gregorio C. Brillantes
ii. Sapay Koma (2008) by Jhoanna Lynn Cruz
Hyper Poetry – uses the computer screen as the medium, rather than the printed page relying on the qualities unique to a digital environment, such as World Wide Web pages.
Mobile Phone Text Tula – written originally on a cellular phone via text messaging that came from Japan yet spread throughout China, United States, Germany, and South Africa.
Chick Lit – addresses issues of modern womanhood – from romantic relationships to female friendship to matters in the workplace – in humorous and lighthearted ways.
i. The Harder We Fall (Spotlight New Adult) (2014) by Mina V. Esguerra
ii. Tall Story (2010) by Candy Gourlay
iii. All’s Fair in Blog and War (2013) by Chrissie Perla
Speculative Fiction – deals with observations of the human condition but offers the experience through a different lens and challenges to see what tomorrow
i. Smaller and Smaller Circles (2002) by FH Batacan
ii. "Sink," Philippine Speculative Fiction Volume V (2010) by Isabel Yap
iii.The Secret Origin of Spin-Man (2009) by Andrew Drilon
Flash Fiction – also named as microfiction, microstories, short short stories and nanoficiton, based on word count and considering several features such as clarity, brevity, background and purpose.
i.100 Kislap (2011) by Abdon M. Balde Jr.
ii. Karapote: Antolohia Dagiti 13 a Nasuerte A Sarita (2011) by Ariel S. Tabag
Blog – short for weblog, is a journal or informational website displaying information in the reverse chronological order.
Graphic Novel – a longer work or collection of works presented in comic style
i. The Mythology Class (Nautilus Comics) (1999) by Arnold Arre
ii. Light (Anino Comics) (2015) by Rob Cham
iii. Sixty Six (Anino Comics) (2015) by Russell Molina
iv. Maktan 1521 (2011) by Tepai Pascual
Comments