PHILIPPINE LITERATURE

DURING AMERICAN PERIOD

(1898-1941)

PRESENTER:

CONCEPCION, IRAH
DELGADO, AIGEN
DEQUIÑA, MARRY GRACE
 Historical background
 The Filipino Revolutionists won against the Spaniards who
colonized us for more than 300 years.
 June 12, 1898 raised the Philippine flag as a symbol of our
independence.
 Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo was elected the first President of the
Philippine Republic but this was short-lived.
 The Filipino - American was resulted in the defeat of Gen.
Miguel Malvar in 1903. The peace movements started as early
as 1900.
 The languages used in writing were Spanish and Tagalog and
the dialects of the different regions, but Spanish and Tagalog
predominated.
 Historical background

In 1910

 Spanish, Tagalog, the Vernaculars and finally,

English, were the mediums used in literature during
these times.
 While the three groups were one in their ideas and
spirit, they differed in their methods of reporting.
 The writers in Spanish were wont to write on
nationalism like honoring Rizal and other heroes.
 Historical background

In 1910

The writers in Tagalog continued in their

lamentations on the conditions of the country
and their attempts to arouse love for one’s
native tongue.
The writers in English imitated the themes
and methods of the Americans.
 OPENING OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS

 Education became a very important issue

for the United States colonial government,
since it allowed it to spread their cultural
values, particularly the English language to
the Filipino people.
 By 1901, public education was
institutionalized in the Philippines with
English serving as the medium of
instruction.
 THREE TIME FRAMES DUTING THIS PERIOD

(1)The Period of Re-orientation (1898-1910).

English as a literary vehicle came with the
American occupation in August 13, 1898.

• 1900, English came to be used as a medium of

instruction in the public schools.
• 1908, the primary and intermediate grades were
using English.
 THREE TIME FRAMES DUTING THIS PERIOD

(2) The Period of Imitation (1910-1924).

1919
• UP College Folio published the literary
compositions of the first Filipino writers in
English.
• Resulted in a stilted, artificial and unnatural style,
lacking vitality and spontaneity.
 THREE TIME FRAMES DURING THIS PERIOD

(3) Period of Self-Discovery and

Growth (1925-1941).

• By this time, Filipino writers had

acquired the mastery of English
writing.
literary genre
FORMS OF LITERATURE THAT EXISTED IN THIS
PERIOD

News Reporting
Poetry
Short Stories
Plays
Essays
Novels
THE ACTIVE AROUSAL IN THE FIELD OF LITERATURE STARTED TO BE
FELT IN THE FOLLOWING NEWSPAPER:

 EL GRITO DEL PUEBLO (The Call of

the Nation) was established by Pascual
Poblete in 1900.
 EL RENACIMIENTO (The Rebirth) was
founded by Rafael Palma in 1901.
 EL NUEVO DIA (The New Day) was
established by Sergio Osmenia in 1900.
WRITTEN PLAYS THEMED WITH NATIONALISM:

 KAHAPON, NGAYON AT BUKAS

(Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow) by
Aurelio Tolentino
 TANIKALANG GINTO of Juan Abad
 MALAYA by Tomas Remigio
 WALANG SUGAT by Severino Reyes.
 LITERARY GENRE IN FILIPINO
 FLORANTE AT LAURA of Francisco Balagtas and
URBANA AT FELISA of Modesto de Castro became the
inspiration of the Tagalog writers.

Three kinds of Tagalog poets as classified by Julian

Cruz Balmaceda

1. Poet of the Heart (Makata ng Puso). These

included Lope K. Santos, Iñigo Ed. Regalado, Carlos
Gatmaitan, Pedro Deogracias del Rosario, Ildefonso
Santos, Amado V. Hernandez, Nemecio Carabana, and
Mar Antonio.
2. Poets of Life (Makata ng Buhay)

Led by Lope K Santos, Jose Corazon de

Jesus, Florentino Collantes, Patricio
Mariano, Carlos Garmaitan, and Amado V.
Hernandez.
3. Poets of the Stage (Makata ng
Tanghalan). Led by Aurelio Tolentino,
Patricio Mariano, Severino Reyes, and
Tomas Remigio.
 Columns where short stories started to appear

 Pangsandaliang Libangan (Short-time

Leisure) and Dagli (Fast) we find here
the names of Lope K. Santos, Patricio
Mariano, and Rosauro Almario.
 Liwayway Publications, we find
Deogracias Rosario, Teodoro Gener, and
Cirio H. Panganiban.
 Tagalog Drama

During the advent of the American period,

Severino Reyes and Hermogenes Ilagan
started the movement against the moro-moro ( a
play on the Spanish struggles against the
Muslims) and struggled to show the people the
values one can get from the zarzuela and the
simple plays.
 Tagalog Short Stories

 MGA KUWENTONG GINTO (Golden Stories)

published in 1936, written by Alejandro Abadilla
and Clodualdo del Mundo that contained the 25
best stories.
 KUWENTONG GINTO ng 50 BATIKANG
KUWENTISTA (50 Golden Stories by 50 Noted
Storytellers) in 1939 was written by Pedrito
Reyes.

PAROLANG GINTO (Golden Lantern) and

TALAANG BUGHAW (Blue List) of Abadilla
became popular during this period.
 Tagalog Poetry

Even if poetry writing is as old

as history, poetry still surfaces
with its sweetness, beauty, and
melody.
 LITERARY GENRE IN ENGLISH

Pioneer English Newspapers

(Period of Re-orientation)

(a) El Renacimiento: founded in Manila

by Rafael Palma in 1901
(b) Philippines Free Press: established
in Manila in 1905 by R. McCullough
Dick and D. Theo Rogers.
 Newspapers and periodicals
(Period of Imitation)

1. UP College Folio which became

Philippine Collegian
2. Bulletin
3. The Philippines Herald (1920),
4. The Philippine Review,
5. The Independent,
6. Rising Philippines and Citizens,
7. the Philippine Education Magazine 1924.
 Poetry
(Period of Self-Discovery and Growth 1925-1941)

They wrote in free verse, in odes and

sonnets and in other types. Poetry was
original, spontaneous, competently
written and later, incorporated social
consciousness.
THE SHORT STORY (1925-1941).

Publications

1. Philippine Free Press

2. The Graphic
3. The Philippine Magazine
4. UP Literary Apprentice
authors and their literary
works
 LITERATURE IN SPANISH

a) Cecilio Apostol – wrote “A RIZAL” and is considered the best poem in

praise of the hero of Bagumbayan.
b) Fernando Ma. Guerero (Kings of Balagtasan in Spanish) – collected
the best of his poem in a book called CRISALIDAS (a kind of black, wooly
caterpillar) and one of the poems written in this book was “INVOCACION
A RIZAL”.
c)Jesus Balmori - well-known for his pen name of Batikuling. He and
Manuel Bernabe participated in a debate on the topic – (Remembrance and
Forgetfulness). He was elected Poet Laureate in Spanish besting Manuel
Bernabe.
d) Manuel Bernabe – is a lyric poet. He was more attractive to the public in
a debate with Balmori because of the melodious words he used. He defended
OLVIDO (Forgetfulness).
e) 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”.
 OTHER WRITERS IN SPANISH

• Adelina Guerrea -first woman poet in the Philippines. She

obtained the Zobel prize in her song El Nido (The Nest).
• Isidro Marpori became famous for his four books entitled
Aromas de Ensueño (Scents of Dreams).
• Macario Adriatico who wrote of a legend of Mindoro
entitle La Punta de Salto (The Place of Origin).
• Epifanio de los Santos (known as Don Panyong); He was
a good leader and biographer during the whole period of
Spanish literature.
• Pedro Aunario wrote the Decalogo del Proteccionismo.
 FILIPINO LITERATURE

Noted novelists or biographers

 Lope K. Santos (Father of the National Language

Grammar) novelist, poet and author, and grammarian. He
was also called the “Apo” of the Tagalog writers. BANAAG
AT SIKAT was his masterpiece.
 Jose Corazon de Jesus popularly known as Huseng Batute.
He was also called the Poet of Love in his time. ANG
ISANG PUNONG KAHOY (A TREE), an elegy, is believed
to be his masterpiece.
 Amado V. Hernandez was dubbed Makata ng mga
Manggagawa (Poet of the Laborers). His
masterpiece is ANG PANDAY.
 Valeriano Hernandez Peña known as Tandang
Anong and his pen name was Kuntil Butil (Small
Grain). He considers NENA AT NENENG his
masterpiece.
 Iñigo Ed. Regalado popular story- teller, novelist
and newspaperman, reached the peak of his success
by the “sumpong” (whim) of his pen.
 The Tagalog Drama

 Severino Reyes. Father of the Tagalog Drama and author

of the immortal WALANG SUGAT.
 Aurelio Tolentino. The dramatist in whom the
Kapampangans take pride. Included in his writings were
LUHANG TAGALOG, his masterpiece, and KAHAPON,
NGAYONG AT BUKAS that resulted in his incarceration.
 Hermogenes Ilagan. Founded the group Campaña Ilagan
that presented many dramas in Central Luzon.
 Patricio Mariano. Wrote the novel NINAY and ANAK NG
DAGAT (Son of the Sea), his masterpiece.
 Julian Cruz Balmaceda. Wrote BUNGANGA NG PATING
(Shark’s Mouth). This gave him much honor and fame.
 Other Forms of Literature

ILOCANO LITERATURE:

 Pedro Bukaneg. Father of Ilocano Literature. From

his name was derived the word Bukanegan, which
means Balagtasan (a poetic contest) in Ilocano.
 Claro Caluya. Prince of Ilocano Poets. Known as
poet and novelist.
 Leon Pichay. Known as the best Bukanegero (from
Bukaneg). Also a poet, novelist, short story writer,
dramatist and essayist.
LITERATURE OF THE KAPAMPANGANS
(Pampango Literature)

 Juan Crisostomo Soto (Father of Kapampangan

Literature). The word CRISOTAN (meaning
Balagtasan) in Tagalog is taken from his name

 Aurelio Tolentino. He truly proved his being a

Kapampangan in his translation of KAHAPON,
NGAYON AT BUKAS into Kapampangan which he
called NAPON, NGENI AT BUKAS.
VISAYAN LITERATURE

 Eriberto Gumban. (Father of Visayan

Literature). He wrote a zarzuela, moro-
moro and a play in Visayan
 Magdalena Jalandoni. She devoted her
talent to the novel. She wrote ANG MGA
TUNUK SAN ISA CA BULACLAC.
 PHILIPPINE LITERATURE IN ENGLISH

Pioneer Filipino English writers (POETRY)

1907
• Justo Juliano - SURSUM CORDA appeared
in the Renacimiento was the first work to be
published in English.
1909
• Juan F. Salazar - MY MOTHER and his
AIR CASTLES
• Proceso Sebastian - TO MY LADY IN
LAOAG.
Poets (Period of Imitation)

1. Fernando Maramag (the best editorial writer of this

period)
2. Juan F. Salazar
3. Jose M. Hernandez
4. Vicente del Fierro
5. Francisco M. Africa
6. Victoriano Yamzon

Essayist

7. Carlos P. Romulo
8. Jorge C. Bocobo
9. Mauro Mendez
10. Vicente Hilario
Informal essayist

1. Ignacio Manlapaz
2. Godefredo Rivera
3. Federico Mangahas
4. Francisco B. Icasiano
5. Salvador P. Lopez
6. Jose Lansang
7. Amando G. Dayrit.

Short Story

1. Paz Marquez Benitez - DEAD STARS written in thee

early 1920 stand out as a model of perfection in character
delineation, local color, plot and message.
 POETRY
(Period of Self-Discovery and
Growth)

1.Marcelo de Gracia Concepcion

2. Jose Garcia Villa
3. Angela Manalang Gloria
4. Abelardo Subido
5. Trinidad Tarrosa Subido
6. Rafael Zulueta da Costa.
 THE SHORT STORY
(1925-1941) Writers

1. Osmundo Sta. Romana

2. Arturo Rotor
3. Paz Latorena (Sunset)
4. Jose Garcia Villa (Mir-in-isa)
 The Golden Era of Filipino writing in English
(1930-1940)

1. Jose Lansang (The Broken Parasol)

2. Sinai C. Hamada (Talanata’s Wife)
3. Fausto Dugenio (Wanderlust)
4. Amando G. Dayrit (His Gift and Yesterday)
5. Amador T. Daugio (The Woman Who Looked
Out of the Window)
 ESSAYS AND OTHER PROSE STYLES
(1925-1941).
a. Political, social reflective essays:
1. Federico Mangahas 4. Vicente Albano Pacis
2. Salvador P. Lopez 5. Ariston Estrada
3. Pura S. Castrence 6. Jose A. Lansang

b. Critical essays
4. Salvador P. Lopez
5. I.V. Mallari
6. Ignacio Manlapaz
7. Jose Garcia Villa
8. Arturo B. Rotor
9. Leopoldo Y. Yabes
10.Maximo V. Soliven (THEY CALLED IT
BROTHERHOOD)
c. Personal or Familiar essays
1. F.B. Icasiano (Mang Kiko)
2. Alfredo E. Litiatco
3. Solomon V. Arnaldo
4. Amando G. Dayrit
5. Consuelo Gar (Catuca).

Some of the notable works during this time were:

1940: Salvador P. Lopez’ LITERATURE AND SOCIETY
which is a collection of critical reflections and serious essays
and which won first prize in the Commonwealth Literary
Contest of 1940.

1940: Camilo Osias published THE FILIPINO WAY OF

LIFE, a series of essays on the Filipino way of life as drawn
from history, folkways, philosophy and psychology of the
Philippines.
• 1941: F.B. Icasiano (Mang Kiko) was reprints of
the best of Icasiano’s essays in the Sunday Times
Magazine under the column From My Nipa Hut. It
is an essay of the common “tao” and is written
with humor and sympathy.

• August 16, 1941: Carlos P. Romulo had an

editorial printed in the Philippines Herald. Entitled
I AM A FILIPINO, it was reprinted in his book
MY BORTHER AMERICANS in 1945 in New
York by Doubleday & Co.
 BIOGRAPHY (1925-1941).

 1935, I.P. Caballero and Marcelo de Gracia

Concepcion wrote about QUEZON.
 1938, THE GREAT MALAYAN won a prize in
the national contest sponsored by the
Commonwealth of the Philippines. This was
written by Carlos Quirino, the most famous
biographer of the period. He also wrote Quezon,
the Man of Destiny.
 1940, I.V. Mallari’s The Birth of Discontent
revealed the sensitive touch of a writer who in
simple language was able to reveal his profound
thoughts and feelings.
 HISTORY.

1937. Teofilo del Castillo’s The Brief History of the

Philippine Islands.

PUBLICATIONS.

The Philippine Free Press provided the first incentives to

Filipino writers in English by offering prizes to
worthwhile contributions.

THE DRAMA (1925-1941).

The UP provided the incentives when they introduced

playwriting as a course and established the UP Little
Theater.
THANK YOU!