Lesson 1: Timeline Of Philippine Literature

Pre- Spanish (1565)

Folk Tales – These are fictional stories about life, adventure, love, horror, and humor where one can derive lessons about life.

The Epics – These are long narrative poems in which a series of heroic achievements or events, usually a hero, are dealt with at length.

Folk Songs – These are oldest forms of Philippines Literature that emerged in pre-Spanish period.

Spanish (1566-1871)

Literary pieces during this time may be classified as religious prose and poetry and secular prose and poetry.

Spanish Influences on Philippine Literature – Alibata was replaced by the Roman alphabet.

European legends and traditions brought in the Philippines became assimilated in our songs, corridos, and moro-moros.

Folk Songs – These are literary pieces which features artistic feelings of the Filipinos and shows innate appreciation for love and beauty.

Recreational Plays – These are plays in poetic form like Cenakulo, Panunuluyan, Salubong, Zarzuela.

Period of Enlightenment (1872-1898)

The Propaganda Movement (1872-1896) – This movement was spearheaded by the intellectual middle-class like Jose Rizal, Marcelo del Pillar; Graciano Lopez Jaena, Antonio Luna, Mariano Ponce, Jose Ma. Panganiban, and Pedro Paterno.

American Regime (1898- 1941)

The language used in writing were in Spanish and Tagalog and the dialects in other regions.

Tagalog writers focused on literary pieces about lamentations on the conditions of the country and their attempts to arouse love for one’s native tongue and the writers in English imitated the themes and methods of Americans.

Japanese Period (1941-1945)

Filipino Poetry During this Period:

Common theme of most poems was nationalism, country, love, and life in the barrios, faith, religion, and the arts.

Poems:

Haiku, Tanaga, Karaniwang anyo

Philippine Literature in English

Philippine Literature in Tagalog was revived and most themes in the writings dealt with Japanese brutalities, poverty of life under Japanese government, and the brave guerilla exploits.

Period of Activism (1970-1972)

Youth activism rose in 1970-1972 due to domestic and worldwide causes. Because of the ills of society, the youth moved to seek reforms.

Literary Revolution – Youth demanded for a change in the government.

Period of New Society (1972-1980)

This period started on September 21, 1972. Poems dealt with patience, regard for new culture, customs, and beauties of nature and sorroundings.

News on economic progress, discipline, culture, and tourism were favoured more than the reports of killings, rapes, and robberies.

Period of Third Republic (1981-1985)

After a decade of military rule and some changes in the life of the Filipinos, Martial rule was lifted on January 2,1981. Poems in this period dealt with romance and revolution.

Many Filipino songs dealt with true-to-life grief, poverty, aspirations for freedom, love for God, of country and fellowmen.

POST EDSA 1 Revolution (1986-1995)

As Filipinos regained their freedom, several changes became evident in the new Filipino songs, newspapers, speeches, and even television programs.

21st Century Period (2001-present)

Trends have been used and introduced to meet the need and taste of the new generation. New style and format of writing have been circulating. New codes and lingos are also used to add flavor in the literary pieces produced nowadays.