The Rebirth of Freedom Newspapers and magazines publications were re-

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND opened like the Bulaklak, Liwayway, Ilang Ilang, and
Sinag Tala. Tagalog poetry acquired not only rhyme but
The Americans returned in 1945. Filipinos rejoiced and
substance and meaning. Short stories had better
guerrillas who fled to the mountains joined the
characters and events based on facts and realities and
liberating American Army.
themes were more meaningful. Novels became
On July 4, 1946, the Philippines regained the freedom
common but were still read by the people for
and the Filipino flag waved joyously alone. The chains
recreation. The people’s love for listening to poetic
were broken.
jousts increased more than before and people started to
The State of Literature During this Period flock to places to hear poetic debates.
There was a proliferation of newspapers like FREE
Many books were published during this time, among
PRESS, MORNING SUN, of Sergio Osmena Sr., DAILY
which was Mga Aklat ni Rizal: Many books about Rizal
NEWS of Manuel Roxas, MANILA TIMES and DAILY
came out during this period. The law ordering the
MIRROR of Joaquin Roces, EVENING NEWS of Ramon
additional study of the life of Rizal helped a lot in
Roces, PHILIPPINE HERALD of Soriano, CHRONICLES of
activating our writers to write books about Rizal.
the Lopezes and the BULLETIN of Menzi. This only
proved that there were more readers in English than in Chapter 5: Literature under the Republic
any other vernaculars like Tagalog, Ilocano or
Hiligaynon.
Isang Dipang Langit -Amado V. Hernandez
Some of the writers and their works of the periods are:
AMADO V. HERNANDEZ
September 13, 1903 (born) - May 24, 1970 (died)
THE VOICE OF THE VETERAN – compilation of the best
National Artist for Literature
works of some ex-USSAFE like Amante Bigornia, Roman
A poet, playwright, and novelist who is among the
de la Cruz, Ramon de Jesus and J.F. Rodriquez
Filipino writers who practiced “committed art.”
TWILIGHT IN TOKYO and PASSION and DEATH OF THE
In his view, the function of the writer is to act as the
USSAFE by Leon Ma. Guerrero
conscience of society and to affirm the greatness of the
FOR FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY – by S.P. Lopez
human spirit in the face of inequity and oppression.
BETRAYAL IN THE PHILIPPINES - by Hernando Abaya
SEVEN HILLS AWAY – by NVM Gonzales His works include Mga Ibong Mandaragit, Bayang
1. Poetry in English During this Period Malaya, Isang Dipang Langit, Luha ng Buwaya, Amado V.
The themes of most poems dealt with the usual love of Hernandez: Tudla at Tudling: Katipunan ng mga
nature, and of social and political problems. Nalathalang Tula 1921-1970, Langaw sa Isang Basong
Gatas at Iba Pang Kuwento ni Amado V. Hernandez,
Jose Garcia Villa’s HAVE COME, AM HERE won acclaim
Magkabilang Mukha ng Isang Bagol at Iba Pang Akda ni
both here and abroad.
Amado V. Hernandez.
2. Novels and Short Stories in English
ISANG DIPANG LANGIT (A STRETCH OF HEAVEN)
Longer and longer pieces were being written by writers
of the period. A poignant poem by Filipino writer Amado V.
Stevan Javellana’s WITHOUT SEEING THE DAWN tells of Hernandez, written during his imprisonment in
the grim experiences of war during the Japanese Muntinlupa on April 22, 1952.
Occupation. The poem reflects the harsh realities and emotional
turmoil of life in confinement.
The New Filipino Literature During This Period
Hernandez vividly describes the daily struggles and
Philippine literature in Tagalog was revived during this
sufferings of prisoners, using the sky as a metaphor for
period. Most themes in the writings dealt with Japanese
freedom and the longing for it.
brutalities, of the poverty of life under the Japanese
Ang Dapat Paniwalaan -Jose F. Lacaba
government and the brave guerilla exploits.
JOSE F. LACABA
More popularly known by his nickname Pete, was born
on November 25, 1945 in Cagayan de Oro City but grew story of a poor couple that cannot afford to buy food for
up in Pateros, Rizal. their child. The story starts when Mario got home one
He joined the Philippines Free Press in 1965, initially night. Gloria immediately ask him for money to feed
working as a copyeditor and proofreader and later as a Tita, their daughter. Mario stated he had no money.
staff writer and editor of the magazine’s Pilipino edition. Gloria didn't buy his statement, so Mario confess that
he was fired for stealing one apple.
Through his writings, he rebelled against the injustices The story portrays how Mario was forced to return to
of the Marcos administration, and in his films echoed his old wrongdoing path because of poverty. It tells a
the sentiments of the Filipino working class. story of a poor couple that cannot afford to buy food for
He is a multi-awarded journalist, poet, author and their child. The story starts when Mario got home one
screenwriter. night. Gloria immediately ask him for money to feed
Among the numerous awards and honors he has Tita, their daughter. Mario stated he had no money.
received are the CCP Centennial Honors for the Arts and Gloria didn't buy his statement, so Mario confess that
the Aruna Vasudev Lifetime Achievement Award for he was fired for stealing one apple.
Writing on and for Cinema. Another Invitation to the Pope to visit Tondo-
He is the author of the Tagalog poem Ang Dapat Emmanuel Torres
Paniwalaan.
EMMANUEL S. TORRES
This poem depicts the culture, traditions, and beliefs of
He is a poet, art critic, professor of English and
Filipino people, especially in terms of superstitious
Comparative Literature at the Ateneo de Manila.
beliefs.
He was born on the third republic of the Philippines
Gabi ng Isang Piyon-Lamberto Antonio
when the country was already considered independent
LAMBERTO ANTONIO
on April 29, 1932.
He was born in Manila in 1946.
He witnessed the administration of Manuel Roxas,
Former editor of the University of the East’s newspaper
Elpidio Quirino, Ramon Magsaysay, Carlos P. Garcia, and
Dawn.
Diosdado Macapagal.
A great Filipino poet who has won the Palanca award at
He won the Outstanding Young Men award for literature
least ten times.
in 1961.
He is also essayist, translator, and short-story writer.
He started the Ateneo Arts Club in the same year and
He wrote Isang Gabi ng Piyon, a Tagalog poem, in 1946.
was curator of the art gallery from 1960 to 2001.
It is about the life of a Filipino laborer.
He passed away on September 13, 2021.
The World is an Apple -Alberto Florentino
Valediction sa Hillcrest -Ronaldo S. Tinio
ALBERTO S. FLORENTINO ROLANDO SANTOS TINIO
He was born in Nueva Ecija on July 28 ,1931. He was a Filipino poet, dramatist, director, actor, critic,
He wrote "The World is an Apple" at the age of 23. essayist and educator.
He was an accounting student at University of the East. He was known for translating Western classics, which
He wrote The Cadaver, The Dancers, Cavort with Angels, includes the works of Shakespeare, Ibsen, Puccini and
and Oli Impan. Verdi, into Tagalog. He did these translations in order to
He wrote plays for TV and cinema, drama anthologies, advance the Filipino language.
poems, short stories, and newspaper articles. He was the sole inventor of "Taglish" in Philippine
A (TOYM) Ten Outstanding Young Men awardee for poetry. Through this he gave an authentic tone to the
literature in 1960 poetry of native middle-class Filipino.
A two-time Arena Theater winner.
A Patnubay ng Kalinganan awardee in 2008.
VALEDICTION SA HILLCREST
A Manila Presidential of Merit awardee in 2008.
Valediction sa Hillcrest was a poem about a person
He passed away on September 2, 2008, at the age of 87. having a dilemma to decide between two places, Tondo
Summary and New York and how it affects his whole being. The
poem is rather complex because it uses two languages
The story portrays how Mario was forced to return to
his old wrongdoing path because of poverty. It tells a
which is Filipino and English that creates a unique form and lost all train of thought. So when he finally managed
of writing. to gather up all the confidence he had left to invite them
to his house, they would just move away or say, "No,
In the poem, he uses a lot of metaphors and symbolism.
thanks, we’re too busy."
While traveling, he reminisces about the memories in
Later that night, he ended up going to the show alone
his hometown, Tondo.
since Tony hadn’t yet returned from the doctor. Despite
The Day the Dancers came- Bienvenido N. Santos
the disappointment he had earlier that day, Fil
Bienvenido Nuqui Santos
contemplated that if he would just record the show on
He was a Filipino-American fiction, poetry and
his tape recorder, he would have the sounds with him to
nonfiction writer.
help him remember the dancers, the show brings back
He lived in the United States for many years where he is
past memories.
widely credited as a pioneering Asian-American writer.
When he got home, he noticed that Tony was back. Tony
He is novelist, short story writer, poet, and activist.
commented that the dancers weren’t with him and that
CHARACTERS
he knew they never would’ve came home him in the
Filemon Acayan was a Filipino immigrant in Chicago who first place. Fil then started to listen to his tape recorder
missed his native country and worked as a special and his failure from earlier that day no longer mattered
policeman at the post office. to him because his recording had brought him a certain
Tony Bataller, on the other hand, was a retired pullman feeling and it just filled him up with different memories
porter who battles a skin condition known as tinea flava. and emotions.
The Philippine Dancers, the group that Fil wants to see While he listened, Tony was yelling from his room telling
dance and perform in Chicago. him to shut his recorder off. When he asked Tony what
SETTING the doctors had to say, Tony wouldn’t answer. Tony then
The story begins in the West Sheridan Road apartment asked what the dancers were like and Fil told him that
in Chicago where the main characters, Fil and Tony, were they were really beautiful, young and graceful. He heard
shared in the same apartment. The Hamilton Hotel in Tony let out a sigh but as he looked down to the tape
Chicago was the next location, where Fil went to meet recorder he held in his hands, he noticed that the spools
the Philippine Dancers. The theatre, where the dancers were spinning and he finally realized that he had
perform, was also mentioned, and Fil recorded them to pressed erase. When he tried to play it back, there was
show to Tony. nothing except for a screaming part of the finale with
SUMMARY drums and the tolling of the bell. When he looked
Fil and Tony were both old Filipino men living in Chicago outside, it was already morning.
ever since World War II ended. Fil described himself as THEME
an ugly old man and described Tony as a good-looking
Homesickness and belongingness
gentleman that looked younger than he really was.
Spend your time by cherishing the moments you have
The story was basically about how a group of Philippine
now rather than spend it looking back on past
dancers were arriving in Chicago that day and Fil
memories. You’ll never know when death catches up
thought that it would be an excellent idea if he took the
with you.
dancers around the city, showed them the sights and
It symbolizes his waking up to the reality that even
invite them back to his place for some adobo and
though he plays the recorded sounds to reminisce
chicken relleno.
moments, present time would always be the superior.
For the first part of the story, Fil constantly talked about
Time and memory are villains indeed.
the dancers to his friend and roommate Tony. Fil and
Tony have been friends pretty much ever since they
Genoveva Edroza Matute
moved to the US and the entire time, Tony had been
(January 3, 1915 – March 21, 2009)
suffering from a disease that frustrated many doctor sin
She was a Filipino Feminist author.
which caused gradual peeling all over his body. When
In 1951, she was the recipient of the first ever Palanca
Tony left for the doctor, Fil left a little later to meet the
Award for Short Story in Filipino For "Kuwento ni
dancers at the hotel. When he got there and saw all the
Mabuti", which has been cited as the most anthologized
dancers, he completely forgot what he wanted to say
Tagalog language short story. taken care of by Ms. Sanchez.
CHARACTERS Kumander Hantik
- A member of the Hukbalahap guerillas who
Mabuti
encourages Lino to join their group to end the corrupt
– an ordinary public school teacher who is trying to
agrarian system.
make her students realize the importance of studying.
Colonel Carlos Roda
She always says “mabuti” and that is the reason why
- The military leader in the operation against the
students called her Mabuti. She is trying to show her
Hukbalahap and to surrender Lino's group. He is
positive side to her students despite the problems she is
tolerant of his love for Ms. Sanchez.
encountering.
Don Tito
Fe
- A powerful landlord.
– student of Mabuti who idolized her.
Tisyo
SUMMARY
- Lino's right-hand man.
There is a teacher named Mabuti. It is not her real
SUMMARY
name, but her students used to call her Mabuti. She is a
Lino is the son of a farmer and suffered in the feudal
teacher in public school. One day, she heard and saw
system.
her student crying in one corner of the library, and she
He returned to Pinyahan after the war and looked for his
asked her student if she wanted to share the reason
son, Ernesto. He will meet Commander Hantik who will
behind those tears. Mabuti was also crying that time.
urge him to join the movement to end the agrarian
Fe tried to ask Mabuti why she is crying and Mabuti just system. Lino will refuse.
responded that Fe is too young to understand. Mabuti Father Armando, who owns vast lands, will come into
has one child and she wanted her to be a doctor. She his life and propose a change. Lino's life would have
didn’t tell something about her husband. One day, Fe been quiet, especially since he fell in love with Bb.
heard that the father of Mabuti’s child died but not laid Sánchez.
in their house but to other woman’s house. And now, Fe The moment will come when he will be involved in
understand why Mabuti is not telling story about her trouble and will be accused of killing a man. He will be
husband. imprisoned, but will escape, along with other prisoners,
THEME and return to his province.
"Positivity and Resiliency in facing life's challenges." Lino's group will serve as the protector of the oppressed
Maganda pa ang Daigdig- Lazaro Francisco farmers. he will also join the group of Don Tito, who is a
Lázaro Francisco y Angeles powerful landlord.
also known as Lazaro A. Francisco. The novel will end with a battle between rebels and
(February 22, 1898 – June 17, 1980) government troops. Later, it can be revealed that Lino is
He was a Filipino novelist, essayist and playwright. innocent contrary to the accusation that he is a
He was posthumously named a National Artist of the murderer.
Philippines for Literature in 2009.
THEME
CHARACTERS
How people suffer because of feudalism and poverty
Lino Rivera Lino
and the widening gap between rich and poor.
- Is a farmer's son who suffered under the feudal
system. He has a son named Ernesto and was also a
soldier in Bataan.

Ms. Loreto Sanchez (Luring)

- A principal and a woman known for her holiness. She
took care of Ernesto while his father, Lino, was working
in the fields. She secretly loves Lino.
Padre Amando
- Ms. Sanchez's uncle. He owns a lot of land and
proposes changes. Ernesto is the only child of Ernesto,