Philippine Literature and Texts (Pre-colonial Times and Spanish Colonizations)

Philippine Literature
and Texts
(Pre-colonial Times and the Spanish
Colonization)
21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World

The variety and abundance of Philippine
literature evolved even before the colonial
periods. Folk tales, epics, poems and marathon
chants existed in most ethno linguistic groups
that were passed on from generation to
generation through word of mouth. Tales
associated with the Spanish conquest also took
part in the country’s rich cultural heritage.
Philippine Pre-colonial Literature

Some of these pre-colonial literary pieces
showcased in traditional narratives, speeches and songs
are tigmo in Cebuano, bugtong in Tagalog, patototdon
is Bicol and paktakon in Ilongo. Philippine epics and folk
tales are varied and filled with magical characters. They
are either narratives of mostly mythical objects, persons
or certain places, or epics telling supernatural events
and bravery of heroes, customs and ideologies of a
community.

Owing to the works of our own archaeologists,
ethnologists and anthropologists, we are able to know more
and better judge information about our pre-colonial times set
against a bulk of material about early Filipinos as recorded by
Spanish, Chinese, Arabic and other chroniclers of the past.
Pre-colonial inhabitants of our islands showcase a rich
past through their folk speeches, folk songs, folk narratives
and indigenous rituals and mimetic dances that affirm our
ties with our Southeast Asian neighbors.

1. Biag ni Lam-ang (Life of Lam-ang) of the
Ilocanos narrates the adventures of the
prodigious epic hero, Lam-ang who exhibits
extraordinary powers at an early age. At nine
months he is able to go to war to look for his
father’s killers. Then while in search of lady love,
Ines Kannoyan, he is swallowed by a big fish, but
his rooster and his friends bring him back to life.
Examples of ethno-epics popularized by
different ethnic groups in the country

2. The Agyu or Olahing of the Manobos is a
three part epic that starts with the pahmara
(invocation) then the kepu’unpuun ( a
narration of the past) and the sengedurog
(an episode complete in itself). All three
parts narrate the exploits of the hero as he
leads his people who have been driven out of
their land to Nalandangan, a land of utopia
where there are no landgrabbers and
oppressors.

3. Sandayo of the Subanon tells of the story of
the hero with the same name, who is
born through extraordinary
circumstances as he fell out of the hair of
his mother while she was combing it on
the ninth stroke. Thence, he leads his
people in the fight against invaders of
their land and waterways.

3. Aliguyon or the Hudhud of the Ifugaos
tells of the adventures of Aliguyon
as he battles his arch enemy,
Pambukhayon among rice fields
and terraces and instructs his
people to be steadfast and learn
the wisdom of warfare and of
peacemaking during harvest
seasons.

Biag ni Lam-ang
Sandayo
Aliguyon or the
Hudhud

3. Labaw Donggon is about the passionate
exploits of the son of a goddess Alunsina,
by a mortal, Datu Paubari. The
polygamous hero battles the huge
monster Manaluntad for the hand of
Abyang Ginbitinan; then he fights Sikay
Padalogdog, the giant with a hundred
arms to win Abyang Doronoon and
confronts the lord of darkness,
Saragnayan, to win Nagmalitong Yawa
Sinagmaling Diwata.

Other epics known to most Filipinos are
the Ibalon of Bikol, Darangan which is a Muslim
epic, the Kudaman of Palawan, the Alim of the
Ifugao, Bantugan of the Maranao, the
Hinilawod of Panay, and the Tuwaang of
Manobos.
The Tagalogs pride their Myth of
Bernardo Carpio, a folk hero said to hold the
mountains of San Mateo apart with his
powerful arms to prevent them from colliding.

There are shorter narratives that tell the
origins of the people, the stars, the sky and the
seas.
A famous story that tells of the origin of
man and woman is that of Malakas (man) and
Maganda (woman) who came out of a bamboo
after being pecked by a bird. This and other
stories of equal birthing of man and woman
throughout the archipelago assert a woman’s
equal position with a man within the tribal
systems.

Literary Forms during the
Pre-colonial Period

Mythology, body of myths of a particular culture,
and also the study and interpretation of myth. Myth is a
complex cultural phenomenon that can be approached
from a number of viewpoints. In general, myth is a
narrative that describes and portrays in symbolic
language the origin of the basic elements and
assumptions of a culture. Mythic narrative relates, for
example, how the world began, how humans and
animals were created, and how certain customs,
gestures, or forms of human activities originated.
Almost all cultures possess or at one time possessed
and lived in terms of myths.
MYTHS

Myths are traditional stories occurring in a
timeless past. They involve supernatural elements and
are beyond the frontiers of logic. Long ago, when our
ancestors heard the sound of thunder and saw
lightning, they were frightened because they could not
understand why these things happened. In order to
understand these and other natural events, they
created stories. The stories were handed down from
generation to generation all over the country. Although
myths are not based on objective truth, they reflect
both universal worries and the worries of specific
cultures.
MYTHS

WORLD LITERATURE: In the cold northern
countries, where the sun disappears almost
completely during the winter season, great fires
were lit in the midwinter to help the sun to be
reborn. The ancient Greeks tell a myth in which
Prometheus stole fire from Zeus, the chief god,
and gave it to humans so that they could keep
themselves warm. To punish him, Zeus chained
Prometheus to a rock where his liver was eaten
by an eagle every day but grew again every
night.
MYTHS

a. The Gods and Goddesses (Ilocos)
b. Why There is a High Tide during a Full Moon
(Ibanag)
c. Why the Dead Come Back No More (Ifugao)
d. Mag-asawang Tubig (Tagalog)
e. How the Moon and the Stars Came to Be
(Bukidnon – Mindanao)
Myths from the Different Regions of
the Philippines

One day in the times when the sky was close to the
ground a spinster went out to pound rice. Before she began
her work, she took off the beads from around her neck and
the comb from her hair, and hung them on the sky, which at
that time looked like coral rock.
Then she began working, and each time that she
raised her pestle into the air it struck the sky. For some time
she pounded the rice, and then she raised the pestle so high
that it struck the sky very hard.
Immediately the sky began to rise, and it went up so
far that she lost her ornaments. Never did they come down,
for the comb became the moon and the beads are the stars
that are scattered about.
How the Moon and the Stars Came to Be
(An Epic from Bukidnon)

Traditional narrative or collection of related
narratives, popularly regarded as historically factual but
actually a mixture of fact and fiction. The medieval Latin
word legenda means “things for reading”. During
certain services of the early Christian Church, legenda,
or lives of the saints, were read aloud. A legend is set in
a specific place at a specific time; the subject is often a
heroic historical personage.
LEGENDS

A legend differs from a myth by portraying a
human hero rather than one who is a god. Legends,
originally oral, have been developed into literary
masterpieces. Legends are stories about real people
who are famous for doing something brave or
extraordinary. Every time the story was told, it became
more exaggerated and so it is now difficult to tell how
much of the story is really true.
LEGENDS

WORLD LITERATURE: One of the greatest legendary figures
in Britain is King Arthur. He was the son of King Uther
Pendragon, a Celtic King. King Uther gave his child to Merlin
the wizard. Merlin taught Arthur everything he knew so that
he could become a great king. When King Uther died, Merlin
stuck a sword into a rock and said, ‘This sword is in the stone
by magic. Only the true king will be able to pull it out’. Many
men tried but none succeeded. When Arthur tried, the sword
slipped out easily. Arthur was made king. He went on to
found the Round Table, an order to knights who became
famous for fighting the wicked and helping the poor.
LEGENDS

a. The Legend of the Sleeping Beauty (Kalinga)
b. Legend of the Dama de Noche
c. Legend of the Banana Plant
d. Legend of the Firefly
Legends from the Philippines

The proverbs or aphorisms express
norms or codes of behavior, community beliefs
or they instill values by offering nuggets of
wisdom in short, rhyming verse.
The extended form, tanaga, a mono-
riming heptasyllabic quatrain expressing
insights and lessons on life is “more emotionally
charged than the terse proverb and thus has
affinities with the folk lyric.”
Some examples are the basahanon or extended didactic
sayings from Bukidnon and the daraida and daragilon from Panay.

The folk song, a form of folk lyric which
expresses the hopes and aspirations, the people’s
lifestyles as well as their loves.
These are often repetitive and sonorous, didactic
and naive as in the children’s songs or Ida-ida
(Maguindanao), tulang pambata (Tagalog) or cansiones
para abbing (Ibanag).

A few examples are the lullabyes or Ili-ili (Ilongo); love
songs like the panawagon and balitao (Ilongo);harana
or serenade (Cebuano); the bayok (Maranao); the
seven-syllable per line poem, ambahan of the Mangyans
that are about human relationships, social
entertainment and also serve as a tool for teaching the
young; work songs that depict the livelihood of the
people often sung to go with the movement of workers
such as the kalusan (Ivatan), soliranin (Tagalog rowing
song) or the mambayu, a Kalinga rice-pounding song;
the verbal jousts/games like the duplo popular during
wakes.

Made up of one or more measured lines with rhymes
and may consist of 4 to 12 syllables
Showcase the Filipino wit, literary talent, and keen
observation of the surroundings
Involves reference to one or two images that
symbolize the characteristics of an unknown object
that is to be guessed
RIDDLES (Bugtong or Palaisipan)

1. Nagtago si Pedro, labas ang ulo. (Pedro hides but you can still
see his head. )
2. Hindi pari, hindi hari, nagdadamit ng sari-sari. (Not a priest,
not a king but wears different kinds of clothes.)
3. Bugtong-pala-bugtong, kadenang umuugong. (Riddle me,
riddle me, here comes a roaring chain).
4. Heto na si Kaka, bubuka-bukaka. (Here comes Kaka, walking
with an open leg.)
5. Buhok ni Adan, hindi mabilang. (Adam's hair, you can't count.)
6. Buhok ni Adan, hindi mabilang. (Adam's hair, you can't count.)
7. Sa araw ay bungbong, sa gabi ay dahon. (Roll in the morning,
leaf in the afternoon).
8. Iisa ang pasukan, tatlo ang labasan. (It has one entrance, but
has three exit. )
Examples of Riddles

Answers
1. Pako - (Nails)
2. Sampayan - (Clothesline)
3. Tren - (Train)
4.Gunting - (Scissors)
5. Ulan - (Rain)
6. Tubig - (Water)
7. Banig - (Mat)
8. Damit/Baro - (Dress)

A proverb is a simple and concrete saying,
popularly known and repeated, that expresses a truth
based on common sense or experience. They are often
metaphorical.
A proverb that describes a basic rule of conduct
may also be known as a maxim.
These have been customarily used and served as
laws or rules on good behavior by our ancestors. To
others, these are like allegories or parables that impart
lessons for the young.
PROVERBS or EPIGRAMS
(Salawikain or Sawikain)

1. A broom is sturdy because its strands are tightly bound.
Matibay ang walis, palibhasa'y magkabigkis.
People gain strength by standing together.
2. It is hard to wake up someone who is pretending to be
asleep.
Mahirap gisingin ang nagtutulog-tulugan.
While it is easy to tell people something they do not
know, it is much harder if they are willfully choosing
not to see what is before them.
Examples of Proverbs

3. If you persevere, you will reap the fruits of your labor.
Pag may tiyaga, may nilaga.
They don't call them the fruits of labor for nothing.
Hard work and perseverance are needed to reach
your goals. But if you keep trying, one day you will
enjoy the results of your efforts.
4. New king, new character.
Bagong hari, bagong ugali.
New leadership always brings new ways.
Examples of Proverbs

Chants are used in witchcraft and enchantments.
Our ancestors also believe in unseen spirits or
elemental spirits like dwarfs. They give respect, ask for
permission, and excuse or apology to these spirits in order to
deliver them from trouble and danger.
Example of chants,
Tabi, tabi po, Ingkong, makikiraan po lamang.
Bari-bari Apo, umisbo lang ti tao. (Ilokano)
CHANTS (Bulong)

Sayings are used in teasing or to comment on a
persons’ actuations.
Example of sayings,
Nag-almusal mag-isa;
Kaninglamig, tinapa;
Nahulog ang kutsara;
Ikaw na sana, sinta.
SAYINGS (Kasabihan)

A quatrain with seven syllables each with the
same rhyme at the end of each line
Example of tanaga,
“Tahak ng tingin, tulak
ng sulyap, yakap, lapat
ng titig sa balikat,
hatak pa, kindat, hakat.”
TANAGA

 A form of folk lyric which expresses the people’s
hopes, aspirations and lifestyles.
 Repetitive and sonorous, didactic and naïve.
 Traditional songs and melodies.
 Inspired by the reaction of the people to their
environment.
FOLK SONGS

1. Uyayi – lullaby
2. Komintang – war song
3. Kundiman – melancholic love song
4. Harana – serenade
5. Tagay – drinking song
6. Mambayu – Kalinga rice-pounding song
7. Subli – dance ritual song of courship or marriage
8. Tagulaylay – songs of the dead
Examples of Folk Songs

The ambahan is a literary product and poetic
expression of the Southern Mangyans of Mindoro,
Philippines.
As a definition, it can be stated that the ambahan is:
a. A rhythmic poetic expression with a meter of seven syllable
lines and having rhythmic end-syllables.
b. It is most often presented as a chant without a determined
musical pitch or accompaniment by musical instruments.
c. Its purpose is to express in an allegorical way, liberally using
poetic language, certain situations or certain characteristics
referred to by the one reciting the poem.
AMBAHAN

1. Buli sa may kaingin
Noong s'ya pa'y musmusin
Hindi ko pinapansin
Nang gumulang, pagsapit
Tanggi ko ang lumain
Sariwa kong kukunin
Bayong kong lalalain
Lagi kong sasakbitin!
Example of Ambahan

Philippine Literature during
the Spanish Colonization

 Spanish colonization in the Philippines started
in 1565 during the time of Miguel Lopez de
Legazpi, the first Spanish governor-general in
the Philippines.
 Literature started to flourish during his time.
 The Spaniards colonized the Philippines for
more that three centuries.
Historical Background

 The Spanish colonizers wanted to undermine the
native oral tradition by substituting for it the story of
the Passion of Christ. However, the native tradition
survived and even flourished in areas inaccessible to
the Spaniards.
 The church authorities adopted a policy of spreading
the Church doctrines by communicating to the
natives in their own language.
DOCTRINA CHRISTIANA (1593)
The first book to be printed in the Philippines,
was a prayer book written in Spanish with an
accompanying Tagalog translation.

 The task of translating religious instructional materials
forced the Spanish missionaries to employ native as
translators.
 Eventually, these natives learned to read and write both
in Spanish and in their native tongue.
Ladinos – bilingual natives; they published their
works, mainly devotional poetry,
in the first decade of the 17th
century.
GASPAR AQUINO DE BELEN – the most gifted
among the ladinos.
He wrote the Mahal na Pasion ni Jesu
Christo, a Tagalog poem based on Christ’s
passion, was published in 1704.

1. The first Filipino alphabet called ALIBATA was
replaced by the Roman alphabet.
2. The teaching of the Christian Doctrine became the
basis of religious practices.
3. The Spanish language which became the literary
language during this time lent many of its words to
our language.
4. The periodicals during these times gained a religious
tone.
Spanish Influences on the Philippine
Literature

5. Many grammar books were printed in Filipino, like
Tagalog, Ilocano, and Visayan.
6. European legends and traditions brought here
became assimilated in our songs, corridos and moro-
moros.
7. Ancient literature was collected and translated to
Tagalog and other dialects.
8. Until the 19th century, the printing presses that
published literary works were owned and managed
by religious order. Thus, religious themes dominated
the literature of the time.

Religion and institutions that represented
European civilization enriched the languages in the
lowlands, introduced theater which we would come to
known as komedya, the sinakulo, the sarswela, the
playlets and the drama.
Spain also brought to the country, though at a
much later time, liberal ideas and an internationalism
that influenced our own Filipino intellectuals and
writers for them to understand the meanings of “liberty
and freedom.”
Literature in this period may be classified as
religious prose and poetry and secular prose and poetry.

Religious lyrics written by ladino poets or those
versed in both Spanish and Tagalog were included in
early catechism and were used to teach Filipinos the
Spanish language.
Fernando Bagonbanta’s “Salamat nang walang
hanga/gracias de sin sempiternas” (Unending thanks) is
a fine example that is found in the Memorial de la vida
cristiana en lengua tagala (Guidelines for the Christian
life in the Tagalog language) published in 1605.

Another form of religious lyrics are the
meditative verses like the dalit appended to novenas and
catechisms. It has no fixed meter nor rime scheme
although a number are written in octosyllabic quatrains
and have a solemn tone and spiritual subject matter.
But among the religious poetry of the day, it is
the pasyon in octosyllabic quintillas that became
entrenched in the Filipino’s commemoration of Christ’s
agony and resurrection at Calvary.
Gaspar Aquino de Belen’s “Ang Mahal na Passion
ni Jesu Christong Panginoon natin na tola” (Holy Passion
of Our Lord Jesus Christ in Verse) put out in 1704 is the
country’s earliest known pasyon.

NUESTRA SENORA DEL ROSARIO
It contains the biographies of saints, novenas,
and questions and answers on religion.
LIBRO DE LOS CUATRO POSTRIMERIAS DEL HOMBRE
First written book in typography.
ANG BARLAAN AT JOSEPHAT
Biblical Story printed in the Philippines and the
first Tagalog novel printed in the Philippines even
though it is only a translation.
Some of the books published

THE PASION
This is the book about the life and sufferings of
Jesus Christ.
URBANA AT FELISA by Modesto de Castro, Father of
Classical Prose in Tagalog
Influenced greatly the behavior of the people in
the society.
ANG MGA DALIT KAY MARIA (Psalms of Mary)
Collection of songs praising the Virgin Mary.

1. Arte y Reglas de la Lengua Tagala (Art and Rules of the
Tagalog Language)
Translated to Tagalog by Tomas Pinpin in 1610
Written by Fr. Blancas de San Jose
2. Compendio de la Lengua Tagala (Understanding the
Tagalog Language)
Written by Fr. Gaspar de San Agustin in 1703
Vocabulario de la Lengua Tagala (Tagalog vocabulary)
First Tagalog dictionary written by Fr. Pedro de San
Bueneventura in 1613.
Literary Compositions

3. Vocabulario de la Lengua Pampanga (Pampanga
vocabulary)
- the first book written in Pampango written by Fr.
Diego in 1732
4. Vocabulario de la Lengua Bisaya (Bisayan Vocabulary)
- Best Visayan language book
- Written by Mataeo Sanchez in 1711
5. Arte de la Lengua Ilokana (The Art of the Ilocano
Language)
- First Ilocano grammar book by Francisco Lopez
6. Arte de la Lengua Bicolana (The Art of the Bicol
Language)
- First book in the Bicol Language by Fr. Marcos Libson
in 1754

1. Mi Ultimo Adios, Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo by Jose Rizal
2. Dasal at Tocsohan by Marcelo H. del Pilar
3. Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa by Andres Bonifacio
4. Ninay by Pedro Paterno
5. Florante at Laura by Francisco Baltazar
6. Ibong Adarna by Jose dela Cruz
Filipino Works during Spanish Times

Folk songs became widespread in the Philippines.
Each region had its national song from the lowlands to the
mountains of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
Examples of Folk Songs
A. Leron-leron Sinta (Tagalog)
B. Pamulinawen (Iloko)
C. Dandansoy (Bisaya)
D. Atin Cu Pung Sing-sing (Kapampangan)
E. Sarong Banggi (Bicol)
FOLK SONGS

LERON-LERON SINTA – this song depicts humbleness.
It’s the story of a man who tries to show what he
got to win the heart of his beloved one.
PAMULINAWEN – a song about a man courting and
pledging his love to a beautiful girl named
Pamulinawen.
DANDANSOY – a farewell song; the title is the name of
the boy to whom the singer is saying goodbye.
ATIN CU PUNG SING-SING – the song is a request from a
lady who lost her ring given by her mother. She
will give her heart to a man who can find the
beloved ring.

There were many recreational plays performed
by Filipinos during the Spanish times. Almost all of them
were in poetic form.
1. Tibag – the word tibag means to excavate. This ritual
was brought here by the Spaniard to remind the people
about the search of St. Helena for the Cross on which
Jesus died through a dramatic performance
RECREATIONAL PLAYS

2. Lagaylay – this is a special occasion for the Pilareños
of Sorsogon during Maytime to get together. This also
shows praise, respct and offering love to the Blessed
Cross by St. Helena and the mound she dug in.
3. The Cenaculo – this is a dramatic performance to
commemorate the passion and death of Jesus Christ.
4. Panunuluyan – this is presented before 12:00 on
Christmas Eve. This is a presentation of the search of
the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph for an inn wherein to
deliver the baby Jesus.

5. Salubong – an Easter play that dramatizes the meeting of
the Risen Christ and his Mother.
6. Carillo (Shadow Play) – this is a form of dramatic
entertainment performed on a moonless night during a town
fiesta or on dark nights after a harvest. This shadow play is
made by projecting cardboard figures before a lamp against a
white sheet. The figures are moved like marionettes whose
dialogues are produced by some experts.
7. The Zarzuela – considered the father of the drama; it is a
musical comedy or melodrama three acts which dealt with
man’s passions and emotions like love, hate, revenge,
cruelty, avarice or some social or political proble.

8. Sainete – a short musical comedy that were
exagerrated and shown between long plays.
9. The Moro-Moro – a play that depicts a Christian
princess who is captured by the Mohammedans. The
father organizes a rescue party where fighting between
the Moros and Christians ensues.
10. Awit – fabricated stories from writer’s imagination
although the setting and characters are European;
refers to chanting.
11. Corrido – were usually on legends or stories from
European countries like France, Spain, Italy, and Greece;
refers to narration.

12. Karagatan – this is a poetic vehicle of a socio-
religious nature celebrated during the death of a
person.
13. Duplo – this replaced the Karagatan; this is just a
poetic joust in speaking and reasoning.
14. Balagtasan – a poetic joust or a contest of skills in
debate on a particular topic or issue.
15. Dung-aw – a chant in free verse by a bereaved
person or his representative beside the corpse of the
dead.

Submitted by:
Joann Sinilong
Alyssa Marie Ursal
Love Laine Caayon
Atthea Jane Lepiten
12 – Faraday Students
Submitted to:
Mrs. Julie Ann Fernan
Subject Teacher

Philippine Literature and Texts (Pre-colonial Times and Spanish Colonizations)

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