21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World, 2 nd Semester
Chapter 1
Lesson1: Various dimensions of Philippine literary history from pre-colonial to
contemporary
Learning Competencies: EN12Lit-Ia-21-23
Learning Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, the learners will be able to:
1. identify the geographic, linguistic, and ethnic dimensions of Philippine literary history
from pre-colonial to the contemporary.
2. identify representative texts and authors from each region (e.g. engage in oral history
research with focus on key personalities from the students’ region/province/ town).
3. value the contributions of local writers to the development of regional literary traditions.
Let’s start from
the past!
Spanish Occupation,
a. Spanish Colonial Period (1521–1898)
expeditions to the Philippines were sent by Spain in the 16th century. In their conquest, the Spaniards
brought Christianity with them. The clergy made a great impact on faith, education, and government.
b. Through the Manila-Acapulco trade (1565–1815)
liberal ideas entered the country. Also, the trade gave rise to a wealthier middle class. Children in middle
class families could then be sent to Europe to get an education. Upon their return, they brought European
ideals of liberty and freedom with them. Such ideals would then give rise to Filipino nationalism.
Philippine Literature during the Spanish Occupation
The Spanish missionaries taught the gospel through the native language, so they hired natives to
translate Spanish religious instructional materials.
Eventually, the natives became fluent in Spanish and became known as ladinos.
Ladinos mainly wrote devotional poetry.
Two of them were Fernando Bagongbanta and Gaspar Aquino de Belen.
Bagongbanta wrote “Salamat nang walang hanga/gracias de sin sempiternas,” which appeared
in Memorial de la vida cristiana en lengua tagala(1605), a book containing basic Catholic doctrines.
On the other hand, de Belen wrote “Ang Mahal na Passion ni Jesu Christong Panginoon natin na tola”
(1704), the earliest version of pasyon.
Also, the native drama called the komedya or moro-moro was popular. It depicted the war between
Christians and Muslims, wherein the former always wins.
The poet Jose de la Cruz (1746–1829) was a master of such art form.
Native literature continued. Though the Spaniards destroyed the written literature in their effort to
replace it with their own, the oral tradition survived and flourished in areas beyond the reach of the
Spaniards.
FILIPINO WRITERS either wrote in Spanish or in their own tongue or both.
1. Francisco Baltazar (1788-1862), the master of traditional Tagalog poetry,
became well-known for his work Florante at Laura(1838–1861), the most famous metrical romance of
the country.
2. Pedro Paterno (1857–1911) wrote Sampaguitas y poesias varias (1880), the first poetry collection in
Spanish by a Filipino; and the novel in Spanish Ninay (1885), considered to be the first Filipino novel.
3. Jose Rizal (1861–1896), a prominent ilustrado and the country’s national hero, is famous for the novels Noli
Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. These novels portray the corruption and abuse of the Spanish officials
and the clergy.
4. Andres Bonifacio (1863–1897), the founder of the Katipunan, wrote the poem “Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang
Lupa.” This poem appeared in the Kalayaan, the official newspaper of the Katipunan, in March 1896.
5. Leona Florentino (1849–1884), known as the “mother of Philippine women’s literature,” was a poet in
both Ilocano and Spanish. Twenty of her poems were preserved and exhibited in Europe. The poems were
included in the Encyclopedia International des Oeuvres des Femme in 1889.
21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World, 2 nd Semester
AMERICAN OCCUPATION (1898–1940)
The US established a civil government in 1901.
Free public education was introduced and English was the medium of instruction.
In 1934, President Roosevelt signed a bill making the Philippines a commonwealth. On May 14, 1935
Manuel L. Quezon was elected president.
LITERARY WORKS PRODUCED
The production of literary works in English is the direct result of the American colonization of the
Philippines.
The first collection of poetry in English is Filipino Poetry (1924), edited by Rodolfo Dato.
The short story “Dead Stars” (1925) by Paz Marquez Benitez is considered as the first Filipino
modern short story in English.
A Child of Sorrow (1921) by Zoilo M. Galang is the first Filipino novel in English. The novel His
Native Soil (1940) by Juan C. Laya won first prize in the First Commonwealth Literary Awards in
1940.
Filipino writers in English during the apprenticeship period (1900–1930) imitated American writing.
The poet Fernando Maramag writes in the Romantic tradition in his sonnet “Moonlight on Manila
Bay” (1912). Filipino fictionists copied Sherwood Anderson, William Saroyan, and Ernest
Hemingway.
Jose Garcia Villa used the Anderson pattern. Manuel Arguilla and N. V. M. Gonzalez were
influenced by Anderson and Hemingway. Francisco Arcellana was influenced by Saroyan.
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.
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
1. “Lupang Tinubuan” by Narciso G. Reyes,
2. “Uhaw ang Tigang na Lupa” by Liwayway Arceo,
3. “Nayon at Dagat-dagatan” by N. V. M. Gonzalez, and
4. “Suyuan sa Tubigan” by Macario Pineda.
Post-war and Contemporary Literature
- include all literary works written and published in the Philippines from 1946.
After World War II, the Philippines had to deal with the economy and the need for rehabilitation and
reconstruction of infrastructures.
- There was political, economic, and social confusion, as well as great poverty, and these issues found
their way into the short stories and novels during that time.
During the postwar period, Filipino writers got their inspiration from American teachers and were able
to learn their techniques, which also helped in mastering the English language.
- Writers wrote fiction that focused on courageous deeds as well as the sacrifices and suffering in the
lives of Filipinos.
o common for writers to write about the experiences of the Filipino people under the Spanish
and American rule and the Japanese Occupation.
21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World, 2 nd Semester
o Other subjects and themes include: 1. ) religious faith 2.)superstition 3.) fantasy
4.) social problems 5.) poverty 6.) politics 7.) nationalis 8.) immorality
Literary Works
Philippine literature flourished even more during the postwar and contemporary period.
o Writers were able to produce short stories, novels, essays, and poems that continue to be read
by Filipinos today.
Examples:
Some works written in the postwar and contemporary period are:
1. May Day Eve by Nick Joaquin, 1947
2. Waywaya by F. Sionil Jose, 1983
3. We Filipinos Are Mild Drinkers by Alejandro Roces, 1948
4. The Return by Edith L. Tiempo
5. History and Philippine Culture by Horacio de la Costa, 1965
6. Without Seeing the Dawn by Stevan Javellana, 1947
Explanation:
1. Nick Joaquin, a National Artist for Literature awardee, wrote articles under the name of Quijano de
Manila.
- His short story "May Day Eve," published in 1947, is about love in a patriarchal society.
- It also made use of magic realism.
2. F. Sionil Jose, one of the most widely read Filipino writers in English, wrote the short story "Waywaya,"
which is about
pre-Hispanic society and the people’s struggle for moral order.
3. Alejandro Roces, a Filipino author, essayist, and dramatist, wrote the short story "We Filipinos Are Mild
Drinkers."
-focuses on the drinking habits and culture of Filipinos and Americans.
4. Edith L. Tiempo's poem "The Return" is a sentimental piece that talks about life in old age.
5. Horacio de la Costa wrote the essay "History and Philippine Culture," which emphasizes the importance
of understanding
and presenting a nation’s culture.
6. Stevan Javellana wrote the first postwar Filipino novel in English, “Without Seeing the Dawn”.
-narrates what people experienced during World War II under the Japanese rule in the Philippines.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ***Do the task in Activity #1 (PS Worksheet) ***- -- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Chapter 1
Lesson 2. Canonical authors and works of Philippine National Artists in
Literature
Learning Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, the learners will be able to:
1. differentiate/compare and contrast the various 21st century literary genres and the ones
from the earlier genres/periods citing their elements, structures and traditions.
2. appreciate the contributions of the canonical Filipino writers to the development of
national literature.
21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World, 2 nd Semester
FOOD FOR
THE BRAIN!
21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World, 2 nd Semester
FOOD FOR
THE BRAIN!
21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World, 2 nd Semester
21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World, 2 nd Semester
Get to know!
Canonical Authors
a. Who is Jose Garcia Villa?
a Filipino literary critic, poet, painter, and short story writer.
born on August 5, 1908 in Manila.
he gained both local and international recognition for his works.
he was named as the National Artist for Literature in 1973, and he was also a recipient of the
Guggenheim Fellowship.
some of his well-known literary works are "Mir-i-nisa" (won in the Philippines Free Press in 1929), and
"Footnote to Youth" (published in 1933).
he died on July 7, 1997.
b. Who is Carlos P. Romulo?
a Filipino diplomat, statesman, journalist, and soldier.
was born on January 14, 1898 in Intramuros, Manila and grew up in Camiling, Tarlac.
first Filipino journalist who was awarded with the Pulitzer Prize in Journalism.
also, first Asian who served as the president of the United Nations General Assembly.
"I am a Filipino" is one of the many essays written by Carlos P. Romulo. It was published in The
Philippines Herald in August 1941.
wrote the book entitled I Saw the Fall of the Philippines, in which he narrated his personal experiences as
an aide-de-camp to General Douglas MacArthur in Corregidor.
followed by a sequel, I See the Philippines Rise, a journalistic account of the Philippine War in 1944.
conferred as National Artist for Literature in 1982.
died on December 15, 1985.
c. Who is Francisco Arcellana?
21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World, 2 nd Semester
a Filipino teacher and a contemporary writer.
one of the prominent Filipino fictionists in English.
known for innovating and exploring new literary forms and experimenting with different techniques in
short story writing.
a member of the group “The Veronicans”, which was composed of influential Filipino writers who aimed
to use sensible
literature in order to create a greater impact on the Philippines.
also the first director of the University of the Philippines Creative Writing Center.
Some of his well-known literary works are the short stories "The Man Who Would Be Poe," "Death in a
Factory," "A Clown Remembers," "The Mats," and "Lina."
was awarded as the National Artist for Literature in 1990.
his short stories "Flowers of May," "Christmas Gift," and "The Mats," were adapted as screenplays.
d. Who is N.V.M. Gonzalez (Nestor Vicente Madali Gonzalez)?
an award-winning Filipino poet, essayist, fictionist, journalist, editor, and teacher of creative writing.
first president of the Philippine Writers’ Association.
honored as one of the great Filipino writers who advanced literary traditions and culture.
a recipient of the following awards: The Republic Cultural Heritage Award, the Jose Rizal Pro-Patria
Award, the Carlos Palanca Memorial Award for Literature, and the National Artist Award for Literature
in 1997.
Some of his published works are Seven Hills Away (1947), Children of the Ash-Covered Loam and Other
Stories (1954), and The Bamboo Dancers (1949), which appeared in Russian translation in 1965 and 1974.
Seven Hills Away is a collection of short stories that sketch the daily lives of the Filipino kaingeros in his
hometown province, Mindoro.
The Bamboo Dancers is a diasporic novel that features the challenges faced by Filipinos in America.
e. Who is Edith L. Tiempo?
a Filipino writer in English.
She was a poet, fiction writer, and literary critic.
known for using intricate and witty representations to portray significant human experiences.
Some of her well known poems are "The Return," a poem that describes the characteristics of old age,
"Lament for the Littlest Fellow," a poem that presents a metaphor to describe the plight of a submissive
wife under her domineering husband, and "Bonsai," a poem that gives a look at how tangible objects could
be keepers of memories and emotions.
known for her moral profoundness.
One of her remarkable short stories, "The Black Monkey," won third prize in the Carlos Palanca Memorial
Award.
is set during the time when guerrillas were fighting against the Japanese during World War II, narrates the
tormenting encounter of a woman with a monkey.
wrote the novel A Blade of Fern, which depicts the problems of Filipino miners of Nibucal in southern
Philippines.
awarded as the National Artist for Literature in 1999.
She founded with her husband the Silliman University National Writers Workshop, which produced
great young writers of her time.
f. Who is F. Sionil Jose (Francisco Sionil Jose)?
widely known as F. Sionil Jose, was born on December 3, 1924 in Rosales, Pangasinan.
his life and most of his works are influenced by Dr. Jose P. Rizal.
edited various literary and journalistic publications, and he founded the Philippine PEN, an organization of
poets, playwrights, and novelists.
opened Solidaridad Publishing House in 1965. A year after, he founded Solidarity, a magazine that
produces content mainly focused on "current affairs, ideas, and the arts."
was a recipient of numerous awards. Some of which are the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism,
Literature, and Creative Communications in 1980, the Pablo Neruda Centennial Award in 2004, and
the Officer in the French Order of Arts and Letters in 2014.
conferred as National Artist for Literature in 2001.
Sionil Jose's Literary Works
21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World, 2 nd Semester
generally written in English and are translated to more than twenty languages and produced worldwide.
among his most celebrated works is the Rosales Saga. It is a series of novels that are set from the Spanish
colonial period to the proclamation of Martial Law in the 1970s. This saga includes the following
novels: Po-on, Tree, The Pretenders, Mass, and My Brother, My Executioner.
written several short stories, including the notable:
"The God Stealer".
a story about the friendship of Philip Latak, an Ifugao, and Sam Christie, an American who wanted to buy
a bulol, a sculpture of an Ifugao god. The story depicts the relationship and truths about the colonizer and
the colony.
Waywaya: Eleven Filipino Short Stories
a compilation of short stories about pre-Hispanic Philippine society.
In 2004, he published the children’s book The Molave and Other Children’s Stories.
g. Who is Virgilio S. Almario?
popularly known by his pen name Rio Alma, is a Filipino artist known for his poetry and literary criticism.
proclaimed National Artist for Literature in 2003.
Among his poetry collections are Makinasyon at Ilang Tula (1968), his very first
collection; Peregrinasyon at Iba Pang Tula (1970), which won first prize in poetry in the Carlos Palanca
Memorial Awards; Doktrinang Anakpawis (1979); Mga Retrato at Rekwerdo (1984); and Muli Sa
Kandungan ng Lupa (1994).
Ang Makata sa Panahon ng Makina (1982), now considered as the first book of literary criticism in
Filipino.
His other critical works include Taludtod at Talinghaga (1965), which tackles the traditional Tagalog
prosody; and Balagtasismo Versus Modernismo (1984), in which he presents the two main directions of
the Tagalog Poetry.
founded the Galian sa Arte at Tula (GAT) with the other poets Teo Antonio and Mike Bigornia in 1970;
and the Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika, at Anyo (LIRA), an organization of poets who write in Filipino,
in 1985. From 1986 to 1992, he served as chairman of the Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas
(UMPIL), considered to be the biggest umbrella organization of writers. From 1998 to 2001, he served as
executive director of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). -- In 2013 he became
the chairman of the Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino (KWF).
h. Who is Alejandro R. Roces?
a Filipino literary writer.
born on July 13, 1924.
a playwright, an essayist, and a short story writer.
also a columnist at the Philippine Star, the Manila Times, and the Manila Chronicle.
known for his short story "We Filipinos Are Mild Drinkers," a story about an American soldier in the
Philippines who brags about his drinking habits, but becomes overly drunk after drinking lambanog offered
by a Filipino farmer.
From 1961 to 1965, he served as the Secretary of Education under the regime of former president
Diosdado Macapagal.
served as chairman of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) in 2001.
His other literary works are "My Brother’s Peculiar Chicken," a story which talks about two brothers who
were arguing whether the chicken they caught was a hen or a rooster; Something to Crow About, the first
Filipino zarzuela in English about a man named Kiko who earns a living by means of cockfighting;
and Fiesta, a collection of essays about various Philippine festivals.
conferred as National Artist for Literature in 2003.
died on May 23, 2011.
i. Who is Bienvenido S. Lumbera?
21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World, 2 nd Semester
called Beny when he was a young boy, was born in Lipa, Batangas on April 11, 1932. His parents had
passed away before he turned five. Beny and his older sister were raised by Eusebia Teru, their paternal
grandmother.When Eusebia died, Beny came to live with his godparents, Enrique and Amanda Lumbera.
Beny showed natural aptitude for English.
In sixth grade, his writing impressed his teacher so much that she once asked him, in an accusatory tone, if
he did write his composition himself. In his third year in high school, his teacher gave him difficult works
of literature to read.
A year before his graduation, his first published work, the poem “Frigid Moon,” appeared in the Sunday
magazine of the Manila Chronicle. On a full scholarship granted by the Fulbright Committee, Lumbera
obtained his masters and doctorate degrees at Indiana University.
a strong advocate of the Filipino language. According to him, the gap between the well-educated
Filipinos and the majority cannot be bridged until Filipino becomes their true lingua franca.
received numerous awards for his work.
The most notable ones were the Special Prize from the Palanca Awards for his poetry collection Sunog sa
Lipa at Iba Pang Tula in 1975, the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature, and Creative
Communication Arts in 1993, and the Philippine Centennial Literary Prize for Drama in 1998.
received the title of National Artist for Literature in 2006.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ***Do the task in Activity # 2 PS Worksheet) ***- -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
-------------
Name: ________________________ Date: _______ Score: ____/25
Chapter 1
Lesson1: Various dimensions of Philippine literary history from pre-colonial to
contemporary
Learning Competencies: EN12Lit-Ia-21-23
QUICK TO DO THE TASK!:
Activity #1
A. Spanish Occupation Try it!!!
Direction:
Match column a with column B. Write the letter only.
.
Column A (Filipino Writers) Column B (Literary works)
1. Fernando Bagongbanta a. “Salamat nang walang hanga”
2. Pedro Paterno b. “Naangaw a Cablaw” (Good Greetings)
3. Andres Bonifacio c. Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa
4. Leona Florentino d. Florante at Laura
5. Gaspar Aquino de Belen e. Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo
f. Sampaguitas y poesias varias
g. “Ang Mahal na Passion ni Jesu Christong
Panginoon natin na tola”
B. American and Japanese Occupation
Direction: Identify the following.statement.
_________1. He was elected as the president of the Philippine Commonwealth.
_________2. The medium of instruction used for communication during American time.
21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World, 2 nd Semester
_________3. It was the first collection of poetry in English and edited by Rodolfo Dato.
_________4. The title of a short story written by Paz Marquez Benitez and considered as the first Filipino
modern short story in English.
_________5. The title of the first Filipino novel in English written by Zoilo M. Galang.
_________6. The date of Japanese attack in Manila.
_________7. On October 1943, it was the word declared by the Japanese officials to the Philippines.
_________8. He was elected as the President during this time.
_________9. It was the official language used by the Japanese during the colonizing period in the
Philippines together with the Nihonggo Japanese dialect.
_________10. It was the title of the story written by Narciso G. Reyes, a first in rank and one of the 4 top
stories won a contest sponsored by the Japanese.
C. Post War and Contemporary Period
Direction: Fill in the blanks.
1. After World War II, the Philippines had to deal with the economy and the need for ________and ________of
infrastructures.
2. Filipino writers got their inspiration from _____________and were able to learn their techniques, which also
helped in mastering the English language.
3. Writers wrote______that focused on courageous deeds as well as the sacrifices and suffering in the lives of
Filipinos.
4._____________literature flourished even more during the postwar and contemporary period.
5. Common for writers to write about the _________ of the Filipino people under the Spanish and American
rule and the Japanese Occupation.
Direction: Match column A with column B. Write the letter only.
Column A ( Definition)
___ 6. use of magic realism.
Column B (literary works)
___ 7. pre-Hispanic society and the people’s struggle for moral
a) Without Seeing the Dawn
order.
b) History and Philippine Culture
8. a sentimental piece that talks about life in old age.
___ 9. focuses on the drinking habits and culture of Filipinos and
c) The Return
___ d) We Filipinos Are Mild Drinkers
Americans.
e) Waywaya
10. emphasizes the importance of understanding and
f) May Day Eve
___ presenting a nation’s culture.
II. Essay.
How to value the contributions of local writers of regional literary traditions? (20 pts)
Name: ________________________ Date: _______ Score: ____/25
Chapter 1
21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World, 2 nd Semester
Lesson2: Canonical authors and works of Philippine National Artists in
Literature
Learning Competencies: EN12Lit-Ic-24; EN12Lit-Id-25
QUICK TO DO THE TASK!:
Activity #2 Literary Genres
I. Reading Comprehension Try it!!!
FOLKTALE (example);
Juan Pusong and His Father’s Cows (A Visayan Folktale)
One day Juan Pusong's father put his cows out to pasture. Juan slipped away from home and took the
cows into the forest and tied them there. When his father found out that the cows were missing, he looked
around for them. While looking, he ran into his son.
“Where did you come from?” he asked.
“I just came from school, Father. Where are you going?”
“I am looking for our cows.”
“Don’t tell me the cows were missing, Father!" said Juan.
By that time, everybody knew about Juan’s power as a seer (manghuhula). So, he took a little book
from his pocket and looked into it. He said, “Our cows are tied together in the forest.” So, his father went to the
forest and found the cows.
Later on, people would discover that Juan could not read even his own name. Consequently, his father
beat him for the trick he had played on him.
Question:
1. If you are the son in the story, would you do the same trick to your father/ mother?Why?
2. What does folktale tells the reader?
FABLE(example);
NOTE: The monkey is a common animal character in Philippine fables. It is often depicted as a
cunning(clever) animal.
The Monkey and the Crocodile (A Tagalog Fable)
One day, a monkey saw a tall macopa tree laden with ripe fruits, which stood by a wide river. It was
hungry, so it climbed the tree and ate all of the fruits. When it climbed down, it could find no means by which to
cross the river. Then it saw a young crocodile who had just woken up from its siesta. It said to the crocodile in
a friendly way, “My dear crocodile, will you do me a favor?”
The crocodile was greatly surprised by the monkey’s amicable salutation. So, it answered humbly, “Oh,
yes! If there is anything I can do for you, I shall be glad to do it.” The monkey then told the crocodile that it
wanted to get to the other side of the river. Then the crocodile said, “I’ll take you there with all my heart. Just
sit on my back, and we’ll go at once.”
The monkey sat firmly on the crocodile’s back, and they began to move. In a short while they reached the
middle of the stream. Then the crocodile began to laugh aloud. “You foolish monkey!” it said, “I’ll eat your
liver and kidneys, for I’m very hungry.” The monkey became nervous. Trying to conceal its anxiety, it said,
“I’m very glad that you mentioned the matter. I thought myself that you might be hungry, so I have prepared my
liver and kidneys for your dinner. Unfortunately, in our haste to depart, I left them hanging on the macopa tree.
Let us return, and I’ll get them for you.”
Convinced that the monkey was telling the truth, the crocodile turned around and swam back to the
direction of the macopa tree. When they got near the riverbank, the monkey nimbly jumped up onto the land
and scampered up the tree. The crocodile came to realize what happened and said, “I am a fool.”
Question:
1. In what scene do you like the story most?Why?
2. What does fable tells the reader?
21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World, 2 nd Semester
LEGEND(example);
NOTE: There are different Filipino legends of the great flood. The story of Bukidnon, for instance, tells
that a huge crab caused the water to rise by going into the sea. On the other hand, the Igorot story tells
that the sons of Lumawig the Great Spirit caused the flood.
The Flood Story (A Legend of Bukidnon)
A long time ago there was a very big crab which crawled into the sea. When it went in, it crowded the
water out so that it ran all over the earth and covered all the land.
Now about one moon before the flood happened, a wise man had told the people that they must build a
large raft. They did as he commanded and cut many large trees until they had enough to make three layers.
These they bound tightly together; when it was done, they fastened the raft with a long rattan cord to a big pole
in the earth.
Soon after the raft was done, the flood came. White water poured out of the hills, and the sea rose and
covered even the highest mountains. The people and animals on the raft were safe, but all the others drowned.
Soon the waters went down, and the raft was again on the ground. It was near their old home, for the rattan
cord had held.
The people on the raft together with the animals were the only ones left on the whole earth.
Question:
1. What are some legends do you know in your place?
2. What does Legend tells the reader?
MYTH (example);
NOTE: There are Philippine versions of the creation myth. The Igorot’s story tells that Lumawig the Great
Spirit created people. On the other hand, the Tagalog story tells that the first man and woman came
from a bamboo.
The Creation (An Igorot Myth)
In the beginning, there were no people on the earth. Lumawig, the Great Spirit, came down from the sky
and cut many reeds. He divided the reeds into pairs which he placed in different parts of the world, and then he
said to them, “You must speak.” Immediately the reeds became people, and in each place was a man and a
woman who could talk. However, the language of each couple differed from that of the others.
Then Lumawig commanded each man and woman to marry, which they did. By and by there were many
children, all speaking the same language as their parents. The children married and had many children of their
own. In this way, there came to be many people on the earth.
Now Lumawig saw that there were several things which the people on the earth needed to use, so he set
to work to supply them. He created salt and told the inhabitants of one place to boil it down and sell it to their
neighbors. However, the people could not understand the directions. The next time he visited them, they had not
touched the salt. So, he took the salt away from them and gave it to the people of a place called Mayinit.
The people of Mayinit did as Lumawig directed. Because of their obedience, he told them that they
should always be owners of the salt and that the other peoples must buy of them.
Then Lumawig went to the people of Bontoc and told them to get clay and make pots. They got the clay, but they
did not understand the molding; the jars were not well shaped. Because of their failure, Lumawig told them that
they would always have to buy their jars, and he removed the pottery to Samoki.
Lumawig told the people of Samoki what to do, and they did just as he said. Their jars were well shaped
and beautiful. Then Lumawig saw that they were fit owners of the pottery, and he told them that they should
always make many jars to sell.
In this way, Lumawig taught the people and brought to them all the things which they now have.
Question:
1. Do you like the idea of Creation in the story? Does it relate to the Christian Bible? If yes, In what
chapter and verse do we find the same version of the story in the bible?
21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World, 2 nd Semester
2. What does Myth tells the reader?
EPIC (example);
NOTE: The Philippine epics are sung or chanted in episodes. They feature supernatural characters and
reflect the society where they originated. Also, there are different versions of a story.
Biag ni Lam-ang
This Ilocano epic tells the adventures of Lam-ang, a man with supernatural powers. He goes to war at nine-
months-old and seeks the killers of his father. He embarks on a quest with his animal friends and meets his
future wife, Innes Kanoyan. He is swallowed by a fish and resurrected from death by his animal friends.
Question:
1. What scene or part of the story do you like the most? Why? (You can do some research in the
internet for full reading.)
2. What does Myth tells the reader?
II. Direction: Identify the following definition as Folktale, Legend, Myth, Epic and Fable.
__________________1. This is a characteristically anonymous, timeless, and placeless tale circulated orally
among a people.
__________________2. This features animal characters or inanimate objects that behave like people.
__________________3. This is presented as history but is unlikely to be true.
__________________4. This is told to explain a belief, a practice, or a natural phenomenon.
__________________5. This narrative poem celebrates the adventures and achievements of a hero.
III. Compare and Contrast fiction from non-fiction.
Contrast Comparison Contrast
Your text here
III. Canonical Authors.
Direction: Match column A with column B. Write the letter only.
21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World, 2 nd Semester
Column A (Literary Works) Column B (Canonical Authors)
1. "FOOTNOTE TO YOUTH“ a. Carlos P.Romulo
___ 2. “I AM A FILIPINO” b. Jose Garcia Villa
___ 3. “The Mat” c. Nestor V. Madali Gonzalez
___ 4. "Children of the Ash-Covered Loam” d. Francisco Arcellana
___ 5. "The Return “ e. Bienvenido Lumbera
___ 6. “The God’s Stealer” f. Edith L. Tiempo
___ 7. “High Society” g. Francisco Sionil Jose
___ 8. “My Brother’s Peculiar Chicken” h. Alejandro R. Roces
9. “A Eulogy of Roaches(1965)” i. Virgilio S. Almario
___
___
