21 CENTURY

ST

LITERATURE
 ?
WHAT IS LITERATURE FOR
AN INTRODUCTION
WHAT IS 21ST CENTURY LITERATURE?

▸The range of years in 21st

century literature was
written from (roughly) the
year 2001 to the present. ▸The 2000s (decade) saw a
steep increase in the
acceptability of all types,
inspired by the coming-of-
age of millions of people
who enjoyed the works of
writers such as C.S Lewis
and J.R.R Tolkien in their
youths.
WHAT IS 21ST CENTURY LITERATURE?

▸Many famous books like ▸Books on wars, guides for

Harry Potter series were exams, myths, etc. were
converted into movies. frequent sellers in this
decade.

▸Some books were written ▸Mythology was converted

in simple English and into graphic novel form to
works of old writers were build interest among
translated into language young readers.
that was easier to
understand.
ARE THESE FAMILIAR TO YOU?
 21ST CENTURY LITERATURE

▸New literary works

created within the last
decade
▸ Imaginative writing
▸ Deals with current ▸Often breaks
themes and reflects traditional writing
technological culture ▸ Traces artistic
representation of
shared and familiar
experiences
 Why 21st Century Literature?

“
▸Simply because SHS students were all born
in or just before the 21st century. This
century is their century. For them, the 20th
century is what the 19th century is to us
teachers.
▸-Isagani Cruz, Philippine Star
 Why 21st Century Literature?

“
▸“On or about December 1910 human
character changed, something major
happened to literature on or about
December 2000.” - Virginia Woolf
 PHILIPPINE
PRECOLONIAL
LITERATURE
PHILIPPINE PRECOLONIAL LITERATURE

▸Before the Philippines was colonized, it was

already brimming with a rich tradition of oral
literature.

▸Early Filipinos weaved together countless myths

and legends to explain certain phenomena in life.
They had stories on how the world was created-
why there is a sun in the morning and the moon at
night, how a mountain was formed, why there are
earthquakes, and other life events.
PHILIPPINE PRECOLONIAL LITERATURE

▸Most of what have been transcribed now are

taken from oral literature, which means that
these stories have been passed on from one
generation to another.
▸Most of that which survived are epics and
folklores.
 PROVERBS (SALAWIKAIN)

▸Proverbs are practical observations and

philosophy of everyday life and that are written
usually in a rhyming scheme.
▸It is meant to entertain while teaching basic
skills in surviving local life.
PROVERBS (SALAWIKAIN)

Kung ano ang puno, siya ang bunga.

(Whatever the tree, so is the fruit.)

Kung walang tiyaga, walang nilaga.

(If you don’t persevere, you can expect no
reward.)
 RIDDLES (BUGTONG)

Riddles are like proverbs with one main

difference: they demand and answer and
are used to test the wits of those who are
listening to them.
 RIDDLES (BUGTONG)

Usually, riddles are used in battle of wits,

where locals young and old join and/or
watch to see who is the smartest.
 RIDDLES (BUGTONG)

Another characteristic of Filipino riddles is

their flippant nature- they seem to be
referring to something laughable, but in
reality, the answer is more serious than
expected.
 RIDDLES (BUGTONG)

Heto na si Kaka, bubuka-bukaka.

(Here comes Kaka, walking with an open leg.)
Sa araw ay bungbong, sa gabi ay dahoon.
(Roll in the morning, leaf in the afternoon.
 FOLKSONGS

Folksongs are beautiful songs that are informal

expressions of our ancestors’ experiences in life.
These range from courtship (which they sing in a
harana or serenade for a girl), to lullabies,
harvests, funerals, and others.
 FOLKSONGS

▸These are folk lyrics that are usually chanted.

▸ These usually contain ideas on aspirations,
hopes, everyday life and expressions of love for
loved ones.
▸It is bounded by the learning of good morals.
▸It is easy to understand because it is
straightforward and not figurative in nature.
 FOLKSONGS (forms)

▸Lullabies- these is locally known as the Hele.

These are sung to put to sleep babies. The
content varies, but usually, parents sing these
with ideas on how hard life is and how they
hope that their child will not experience the
hardships of life.
 FOLKSONGS (forms)

▸Drinking Songs- these are

locally known as Tagay and are
sung during drinking sessions.
 FOLKSONGS (forms)

▸Love Songs- to many

Filipinos, these are known as
the Harana. It can also be
called Courtship Songs and are
used by young men to capture
the heart of the girl that they
love.

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 TALES
Tales are stories of origin for certain places, their
names and their creation. These are also known
as myths and legends.

They usually are used to explain certain events or

phenomena in our ancestor’s lives that cannot
be explained by the limited practical kind of
science they knew back then.
 EPICS
▸ Epics are long- winded poems about a hero
and his adventures and misadventures.
▸ It usually tells of a male hero who is born with
all the pleasing qualities that your ancestors
like in a person and who also has superhuman
qualities.
 EPICS
▸ This male hero is also paired
with a beautiful young
maiden, whom he fell in love
with and will usually have to
go to battle for.
▸ Sometimes, supernatural
elements are also introduced
to show the strength of the
hero and his capabilities.
▸The precolonial literature of the Philippines
was marked by our ancestors’ daily
observations about life, explanations for
natural phenomena, and beginnings of
rituals.
▸These also function as an explanation for
society and culture as they know it to be.
HOMEWORK:
Read the epic of Central Panay: HINILAWOD

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

1. How did Labaw Donggon win the hand

of Agnoy Gibintinan in marriage?
2. Who saved Halawod and Alunsina from
being drowned in a flood?
3. What are the names of the three sons
of Alunsina and Halawod?
 SPANISH COLONIAL
PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
 SPANISH COLONIAL PHILIPPINE LITERATURE

▸Philippine literature became

centered on the Christian faith,
and the stories about natural
phenomena suddenly became all
about the lives of saints and other
religious hymns.

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 SPANISH COLONIAL PHILIPPINE LITERATURE

▸Slowly, Philippine Literature started

to emulate the traditional Spanish
ways of themes and forms of writing,
including the repetitive plots and
obvious shadowy characters.

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 SPANISH COLONIAL PHILIPPINE LITERATURE

▸Despite these changes, Filipinos still

found a way to make Spanish
literature their own, as shown
through these common kinds:

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 CORRIDO
▸Corrido is a legendary religious narrative form that
usually details in the lives of saints or the history of
a tradition.
 AWIT

▸Awit is a chivalric poem about

a hero, usually about a saint.
▸It is usually sung and used in
religious processions.
▸Fabricated stories from
writers imagination although
the setting and characters are
European.
 PASYON

▸Pasyon is a narrative poem about the life of

Jesus Christ, beginning from his birth and up to
his death. This is usually sung during the
Lenten season.

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 CENACULO
▸Cenaculo is the dramatization of the passion
of Christ. It highlights the suffering and death
of Jesus Christ, and is also done during the
Lenten season.

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 MORO-MORO
▸Also known as Comedia de Capa y Espada, it is a
blood-and-thunder melodrama depicting the conflict of
Christians and Muslims.
▸It is usually about battles to the death and proofs of
faith.
 CARILLO
▸Carillo is a play that uses shadows as its main
spectacle.
▸This is created by animating figures made from
scrapboard, which are projected onto a white screen.

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 TIBAG

▸Tibag means “to excavate”

▸It is the dramatic reenactment of St.
Helena’s search for the Holy Cross.
▸St. Helena is the mother of Constantine
and is oftentimes credited to have
influenced her son to be the great
Christian leader he is known for today.

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DUPLO / KARAGATAN

▸Are native dramas that are

connected to Catholic mourning
rituals and harvest celebrations.
 ZARZUELA
▸Zarzuela is probably one of the
most famous forms of
entertainment back in the Spanish
era.
▸Zarzuelas are musical comedies
or melodramas that deal with the
elemental passions of human
beings.
▸It follows a certain plot, which
shows either a satirical look at
society or begrudged life.

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▸Despite being colonized, most Filipinos
back then still treasured the old myths and
folklores of their ancestors.
▸One of these is Jose Rizal. Eventhough he
is an ilustrado, he still firmly championed
the literature of precolonial Philippines and
had also spent time researching on them.
 FOR YOUR OUTPUT

▸ Read MARIA MAKILING as retold by Gat. Jose

P. Rizal.
▸ Give your reflection/s about the distinctive
values that are shown in the story of Maria
Makiling. As a student, how can you apply
those values in real life?
REFERENCE:

Chua, R. (2016). 21st Century Literature from the World and

the Philippines. Makati, Philippines. Diwa Learning Systems
Inc.
 AMERICAN &
JAPANESE COLONIAL
PHILIPPINE
LITERATURE
▸Who wrote during the American and
Japanese Periods?
▸What kind of literary forms did they
produce?
 Notes on the American Occupation

▸(1898–1940)
▸The US established a civil
government in 1901. Free public
education was introduced.
▸Also, 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.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF LITERATURE DURING THIS
PERIOD

LITERATURE IN SPANISH

▸ Cecilio Apostol - wrote "A RIZAL" and is considered the

best poem in praise of the hero of bagumbayan.
▸ Fernando Ma. Guerero - he collected the best of his poem
in a book called Crisalidas, and one of the poems written
in this book was "INVOCACION A RIZAL"
▸ Claro M. Recto - he collected his poems in a book entitled
BAJO LOS COCOTEROS. One of his writings dedicated to
Rizal is "ANTE EL MARTIR".
 CHARACTERISTICS OF LITERATURE DURING THIS
PERIOD

FILIPINO LITERATURE

▸Lope K. Santos - "Father of the National language

Grammar", he was also called "apo" of the tagalog writers.
"BANAAG AT SIKAT" was his master piece.
▸Jose Corazon de Jesus - known as huseng batute, he
was also called the poet of love in his time. "AG ISANG
PUNONG KAHOY", an elegy, is believed to be his
masterpiece.
▸Armando V. Hernandez - was dubbed "Poet of the
Laborers", his masterpiece is "ANG PANDAY"
CHARACTERISTICS OF LITERATURE DURING THIS
PERIOD

PHILIPPINE LITERATURE IN ENGLISH

In a way, we can say that we can trace the

beginnings of Philippine literature in English
with the coming of the Americans. For this
purpose, we can divide this period into three
time frames, namely:
 CHARACTERISTICS OF LITERATURE DURING THIS
PERIOD

THE PERIOD OF RE- ORIENTATION (1898-1910)

▸ English as a literary vehicle came with the American

occupation in August 13, 1898 and as they say, a choice
bestowed on us by history.
▸ By 1900, English came to be used as a medium of instruction in
the public schools. From the American forces were recruited
the first teachers of English.
▸ By 1908, the primary and intermediate grades were using
English. It was also about this time when UP, the forerunner in
the use of English in higher education, was founded.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF LITERATURE DURING THIS
PERIOD

PERIOD OF IMITATION (1910-1924)

▸ By 1919, the UP College Folio published the literary

compositions of the first Filipino writers in English. They were
the pioneers in short story writing.
▸ They were then groping their way into imitating American and
British models which resulted in a stilted, artificial and
unnatural style, lacking vitality and spontaneity.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF LITERATURE DURING THIS
PERIOD

PERIOD OF SELF-DISCOVERY AND GROWTH (1925-

1941)

By this time, Filipino writers had acquired the mastery of English

writing. They now confidently and competently wrote on a lot of
subjects although the old-time favorites of love and youth
persisted. They went into all forms of writing like the novel and
the drama.
 PERIOD OF SELF-DISCOVERY AND GROWTH (1925-
1941)

Poetry. Noteworthy names in this field ,they wrote in free verse,

in odes and sonnets and in other types. Poetry was original,
spontaneous, competently written and later, incorporated social
consciousness.
Short Story (1925-1941) Poetry and short story flourished during
these times.
Publications. The Philippine Free Press provided the first
incentives to Filipino writers in English by offering prizes to
worthwhile contribution. Other publication followed suit.
The Drama.(1925-1941) Drama during this period did not reach
the heights attained by the novel or the short story.
 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.
 Rodolfo Guevarra Dato

▸Si Rodolfo Guevarra Dato sarong

Bikolanong edukador asin poeta.
Nagsurat siya nin mga rawitdawit
orog na sa Ingles. Tugang siyang
matua ni Luis Dato asin nagin siyang
Dekano sa Unibersidad kan Nueva
Caceres. Siya nagsurat man nin mga
artikulo dapit sa kulturang bikolnon.
Saro sa pinakaenot na antolohiya
nin mga Ingles na rawitdawit tinipon
asin pinag'edit niya,
tituladong Filipino Poetry kan taon
1924.
 Literary Works Produced

▸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.
 LITERARY WORKS PRODUCED

▸ 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).
 LITERARY WORKS PRODUCED

▸ 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.
 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.
 Notes on the Japanese Occupation
(1941–1945)

▸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.
 The Japanese period

▸ The Philippine literature came into a halt.

▸ The use of the English language was forbidden, and
the use of the Filipino language was mandated
under the Japanese rule.
▸ For some this was a problem, but to most writers,
it was a blessing in disguise.
▸ Almost all news papers were stopped except for
some.
▸ Filipino literature was given a break during this
period. Many wrote plays, poems, short stories, etc.
Topics and themes were often about life in the
provinces.
 The Japanese period

Drama
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.

Newspapers
Writings that came out during this period were journalistic
in nature. Writers felt suppressed but slowly, the spirit of
nationalism started to seep into their consciousness. While
some continued to write, the majority waited for a better
climate to publish their works.
 The Japanese period

Poetry
The common theme of most poems during the Japanese
occupation was nationalism, country, love, and life in the
barrios, faith, religion and the arts.

Fiction
The field of the short story widened during the Japanese
Occupation. Many wrote short stories.

Essays
Essays were composed to glorify the Filipinos and at the same
time to figuratively attack the Japanese.
 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 Liwaywaymagazine editors in Ang
Pinakamabuting Maikling Kathang Pilipino ng
1943, which came out in 1944.
 Literary Works Produced

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
 Summary

The American occupation of the Philippines spurred the

writing of Filipinos in English. On the other hand, the
Japanese occupation censored literary works yet
contributed to the maturity of the Tagalog short story.
Philippine Literature
in the Postwar and
Contemporary Period
 Postwar and Contemporary Literature

▸Postwar and contemporary literature

include all literary works written and
published in the Philippines from 1946.
 Postwar and Contemporary Literature

▸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.
 Postwar and Contemporary Literature

▸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.
 Postwar and Contemporary Literature

▸Writers wrote fiction that focused on

courageous deeds as well as the sacrifices and
suffering in the lives of Filipinos. It was also
common for writers to write about the
experiences of the Filipino people under the
Spanish and American rule and the Japanese
Occupation.
Postwar and Contemporary Literature

▸Other subjects and themes include:

▸ religious faith
▸ superstitions
▸ fantasy
▸ social problems
▸ poverty
▸ politics
▸ nationalism
▸ morality
 CONTEMPORARY PERIOD

The flowering of Philippine literature in

the various languages continue especially
with the appearance of new publications
after the Martial Law years and the
resurgence of committed literature in the
1960s and the
1970s
 CONTEMPORARY PERIOD

With the requirement by the

Commission on Higher Education to teach
Philippine Literature in all tertiary schools in
the country, the teaching of the vernacular
literature or literatures of the regions was
emphasized.
 Literary Works

Philippine literature flourished even more

during the postwar and contemporary period.

Writers were able to produce short stories,

novels, essays, and poems that continue to
be read by Filipinos today.
 Literary Works

Some works written in the postwar and contemporary

period are:
▸ May Day Eve by Nick Joaquin, 1947
▸ Waywaya by F. Sionil Jose, 1983
▸ We Filipinos Are Mild Drinkers by Alejandro Roces,
1948
▸ The Return by Edith L. Tiempo
▸ History and Philippine Culture by Horacio de la Costa,
1965
▸ Without Seeing the Dawn by Stevan Javellana, 1947
 Nick Joaquin

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.
 F. Sionil Jose

▸F. Sionil Jose is 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.
 Alejandro Roces
▸Alejandro Roces, a Filipino author, essayist, and
dramatist, wrote the short story "We Filipinos Are Mild
Drinkers." This story focuses on the drinking habits
and culture of Filipinos and Americans.
 Edith L. Tiempo

▸Edith L. Tiempo's poem

"The Return" is a
sentimental piece that
talks about life in old age.
 Stevan Javellana

▸Stevan Javellana wrote the first postwar Filipino

novel in English, Without Seeing the Dawn. This novel
narrates what people experienced during World War II
under the Japanese rule in the Philippines.
 REFERENCES

▸ philippineliterature04.snack.ws/american
-regime-1898- 1941.html
▸ britannica.com/event/Philippine-
Revolution
▸ philippineliteraryfestival.com
▸ ncca.gov.ph