21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World

1. 21st Century Literature from
the Philippines and the World
Spanish Colonial Texts and Pre-colonial Texts

2. PRE-COLONIAL TEXTS
Literature

3. Some of the 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.

4. Poetry
 Dalawang Balon
Hindi Malingon
 Sa araw ay Bunbong
Sa gabi ay dahon
 Sang dalagang marikit
Nakaupo sa tinik
 Kung bayaa’y nabubuhay
Kung himasi’y namamatay

5. Ethno-epics
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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. Myths
Iloko
The Gods and the Goddesses
Cabalangegan was a formerly a jungle at the edge of the river Abra. On the far side of the river
were mountains, high and steep. On these mountains lived an old man named Abra, the father of
Caburayan. The old man controlled the weather. It is said that the river Abra was covered by a gathering of
water vapor at night, and during the days, it was always bright with sunlight.
At that time, Anianihan, god of harvests, was in love with Caburayan, goddess of healing. Her
mother, Lady Makiling, knew about their mutual attraction, but Abra did not know it because the three were
afraid to tell him since he might punish them as he disapproved of Anianihan. Abra wanted his daughter to
marry either Saguday, god of the wind, or Revenador, god of thunder and lightning. This being so,
Anianihan took Caburayan from her home. Abra wept a great deal. He sent Lady Makiling away after
beating her.
When Abra was alone, he wept day and night till Bulan, god of peace and calm, came. Though Bulan was
there to brighten Abra's spirits, Abra did not stop weeping. He could not express his anger. He begged the
other gods to bring back his daughter.
One day the sun, eye of Amman, shone so brightly that the water of the river Abra was
excessively heated. Smoke rose from the river. Soon, thick, black clouds began to darken the sky. Then
Saguday sent the strongest wind until the crowns of the trees brushed the ground. The god Revenador sent
down the largest strings of fire. The heaviest rains fell. All these frightful events lasted seven days. The river
Abra then rose and covered the trees. There rose a vast body of water until only the highest part of the
mountain could be seen. It looked like a back of a turtle from a distance. This was the spot where Abra
lived.
On the seventh day, Abra heard a cry. He also heard a most sorrowful song. Abra dried his
tears and looked around, but he saw no one. He was determined to find Maria Makiling, his grandchild. He
did not find her, for the cries of the baby stopped.
The search for the baby lasted three full moons but to no avail, and the poor old man returned
to his home very sad. He lost all hope; his wits were gone. At that time Maria Makiling was under the care
of the fierce dog, Lobo, who was under a god of the Underworld. He had been punished by the other gods,
and that is why he looked like a fierce dog. He was sent down to do charity.

11. Ibanag
Why There is High Tide during a Full Moon
Long, long ago only gods lived in this world, the earth, seas, and sky were ruled by three
different powerful gods.The sun god, who ruled the sky, had a very beautiful daughter, Luna, the moon.
Luna enjoyed going around the heavens in her golden chariot. One day she found herself taking another
path which led her outside her kingdom. She wandered on until she reached the place where the sky met
the sea. Beautiful and unusual sights greeted her eyes. As she was admiring the beautiful things around, a
voice startled her. It asked, "Where has thou come from, most beautiful one?"
Turning around she saw a young man who looked much like her father though fairer. She
wanted to run away, but when she looked at him again, she saw that he was smiling at her. Taking courage
she answered, "I am Luna, daughter of the sun god."
The young man smiled at her and answered, "I am Mar, the son of the sea god. Welcome to
our kingdom." Soon the two became good friends. They had many interesting stories to tell each other.
When it was time for Luna to go, they promised to see each other as often as they could, for they have
many more tales to tell. They continued meeting at the same spot until they realized that they were in love
with each other.
One day after one of their secret meetings, Luna went back to the heavens full of joy. She was
so happy that she told her secret to one of her cousins. The cousin, jealous of her beauty and her
happiness, reported the affair to the sun god. The sun god was angered at his daughter's disobedience to
the immortal laws. He shut her in their garden and did not allow her to get out. Then he sent a messenger
to the sea god informing him that his son Mar disobeyed the immortal law. The sea god, who was also
angered by his son's disobedience, imprisoned him in one of his sea caves.
Luna stayed in the garden for some time. She was very sad at not being able to see Mar. She
longed to be with him again. Feeling very restless one day, she escaped from the garden. She took her
golden chariot and rushed to their meeting place. Mar, who was imprisoned in the sea cave, saw her
reflection on the water. He wanted to get out to meet her. He tried hard to get out of his cave causing unrest
in the sea. Luna waited for Mar to appear, but he did not come. Then she went back home very sad. Each
time she remembered Mar, she would rush out in the golden chariot to the meeting place in hopes of seeing
him again.
The fishermen out in the sea believe that each time Luna, the moon, appears, the sea gets troubled. "It is

12. Ifugao
Why the Dead Come Back No More
A very long time ago, there lived a very kind woman with her three little children. She
loved her children so much that she worked hard to be able to feed them.
One day she fell ill, and in a short time she died. Her spirit went to Kadungayan, of
course, as she lived a good life, but one night she thought of her poor little children whom she left
on earth. She imagined that no one cared for them and that they must be hungry and cold. She
pitied them so much that she decided to go back to earth.
When she reached their house, she called her eldest child to open the door for her. The
children recognized their mother's voice and opened the door at once. She went in and spoke to
them, but they could not see her because it was so very dark and their fire had gone out. The
children had not built a fire since their mother died. The children were too small, and they did not
know how to build one.
So the woman sent her eldest child to beg for fire from the neighbors as she felt very
cold. The poor child went to the first house, but when she told them that she wanted fire for her
mother who had come back home, the people just laughed at her. They did not give her fire. She
went to the next house, but the same thing happened. Thus, she went to the next house, from
house to house, but no one believed that her mother had come back. They thought the poor child
had gone out of her mind. So the poor child went home without fire. The woman was very angry
with all the unkind people. She said, "Am I to die a second death because men are so selfish?
Come, my children, let us all go to that better place where I came from - Kandungayan. There are
no selfish people there."
She took a jar of water and went outside in the yard. She shouted to all the people,
"Ah, what selfish people you all are. From this time on all people will follow my example. No man
will ever come back again to earth after death." With these words she smashed the jar on a big
stone. This made a horrible sound. All the people became silent with fear.
The next morning the people came out to see what had caused the great voice. They
saw the bits of broken jar and they found the three children dead. They now knew that the woman
had really come back home that night and that in her anger at their selfishness had taken her three
children with her. The people were so sorry for not having given fire to the little girl.
Since then no dead person has ever come back to earth.

13. Tagalog
Mag-asawang Tubig
In the olden days, there was a small town in which few farmers'
families lived. Among them was the couple known as Ba Imo and Ba
Sinta. They were well liked and respected in that place, for although
they were well off, they were humble and generous.
One day Bathala put them to the test. A beggar in tattered
clothes came to their house and asked for lodgings. The couple very
hospitably welcomed their guest and even joined him for a meal at their
table. To the great amazement of the couple, although they had been
eating for some time, the food at the table did not decrease. Realizing
that their guest was God, the couple knelt before him and prayed. The
old man blessed them. In their prayer, the couple asked that they may
die at the same time, so that neither of them would experience grief
and loneliness which would surely happen if one of them died first.
God granted the wish of the couple. They died at the same
time and were buried in adjoining graves. Not long afterwards, a brook
sprang from their graves. This later grew and grew until it became a
river, which was named Mag-asawang Tubig in memory of the loving
couple.

14. Bukidnon (Mindanao)
How the Moon and the Stars Came to Be
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.

15. Legend
Kalinga
The Legend of the Sleeping Beauty
In those days, tribes were not in good terms with each other. Tribal wars were common.
There was a man in Tinglayan called Banna, who had extraordinary bravery and strength. He
had an unusual charm so people look up to him for leadership. He was also a very good "ullalim" singer.
One day Banna realized that he needed a life time partner, someone to share his life with, so
he went in search for a wife. Since there were no eligible women in his barrio he decided to ascend Mount
Patukan, a mountain east of Tinglayan and go to the sitio of Dacalan, Tanudan.
While it was still daylight, he stopped and rested under a big tree at a distance away from the
village so that no one could see him. This is because he might provoke trouble by his presence.
When night came, Banna slowly went down nearer to the village and searched for a place to
observe. After some time, he heard a soft, melodious female voice singing the ullalim. He was drawn to the
voice and moved closer to the hut. Peeping, he saw the most beautiful woman he had ever set eyes on.
Long, wavy hair, dark, fringed eyes, and a voice that grew sweeter and sweeter as he drew closer to the
hut. Banna was mesmerized...captivated by the lyrical voice. The leaves of the trees around him seemed to
be dancing in unison with the woman's ululations.
He knew it was extremely dangerous for him to reveal himself inside the village territory, but his burning
desire to meet the woman, was stronger than his sense of survival.
He knocked boldly at the "sawali" (bamboo made) walls of the hut.
" Anna tago," (Someone's here.)
" Umma sanat?" (Who is it?), the singing stopped, but the spoken words were the most
appealing sound Banna had ever heard.
" This is Banna" from Tinglayan.
He heard hurried movements from the house, then a male voice spoke harshly, "What do you
need?"
The natives were very protective of their women and properties, and Banna knew that he could
get killed by his boldness.

16. "I don't mean any harm, I come in peace. I would like to meet the woman who sings the ullalim
with passion."
The family was so nervous of letting a stranger in the house and had urged him to go home
instead. But Banna was persistent and had refused to go.
Dongdongan - the father of the woman - slowly opened the door and saw a young, handsome
man standing like a sentinel at the door. He repeated his plea for Banna to leave but the stance of the
Banna indicated, he would not be budged from where he stood. So, he reluctantly let him in.
"I am Banna from Tinglayan"
Once inside the house, as dictated by tradition, Dongdongan handed Banna a bowl of water. It
was an old tradition that once a stranger is accepted into a house, it is also understood that he will be
protected and kept safe by the host family. As a symbol of this unwritten agreement, the stranger would be
given a drink of water. This is called "paniyao". If a stranger is not given one, then it denotes an existing
hostility which may result to a deadly fight if the stranger does not leave immediately.
The second phase of the ritual continued. Dongdongan offered Banna the "buyo" - a bland,
powder which when chewed with certain leaves would produce red tinged saliva. This concoction is called
"moma".
Ullalim was the official means of communication then so they sang as they talked. Banna too had a strong,
masculine voice and it was apparent he could sing well.
In his ullalim Banna revealed his search for a wife. Dongdongan introduced him to her
daughter, Edonsan, who readily accepted Banna's handshake.
Banna, then and there proposed to Edonsan. Edonsan in turn, accepted the proposal and
there was a flurry of activity, as all the village folk were invited to a meeting and then a "canao" (festivities
with dancing and singing). Banna and Edonsan dance the "salidsid" (courtship dance) to the tempo of the
gongs, while the community participated in the "tadok" (dance for all). The celebration lasted the whole day,
with everyone in the village participating. No one had gone to the fields and to the kaingin as people usually
did. The village people were the witnesses to the exchange of vows between the two. There were no
officiating priests or Judges, no official documents to sign, but the vows were always kept and were
considered sacred by everyone in the village.
Tradition also dictated that Banna had to stay with Edonsan's family for 7 days to prove his sincerity and
purity of intention. Banna and Edonsan had their honeymoon along the slope of the Patokan Mountain
picking guavas and wild strawberries, making love and dropping by the river to catch fish for supper.

17. In the evening of each day for the seven days that Banna was there, Edonsan took Banna to
each of her relative's house. It is considered good luck to do so, as it is believed that the blessings and
approval of relatives are vital to the happiness of the couple.
At the end of the 7th day, the couple prepared to leave for Banna's village where they will
establish residence. The parents of Edonsan and the village people prepared native cakes and tobacco as
gifts for the departure of the newly married couple.
As dawn broke, the village people came together to see them off. The two left happily, with
their hands entwined against each other. The trail was adorned with guavas and strawberries and they had
a handful as they trek towards the summit of Patokan. It took them 8 arduous hours to get to the top.
As soon as they reached the top, they heard unusual noises coming from Banna's village which was a few
miles below them.
Banna had a premonition that it was something dangerous so he instructed Edonsan to stay
put and wait for him. He was going down to his village to investigate the cause of the ruckus.
Banna ran all the way down to the village. As soon as he was seen by the village people, a
cheer reverberated in the air. He was informed hastily that their village was under siege and that his
leadership was needed to drive the trespassers away.
The bloody, face to face encounter of the two warring tribes went on for hours, spears and
bolos clashed against each other as more bodies piled up in between the cluster of the nipa huts. The great
number of the invading tribe slowly weakened Banna's men. One by one they fell, bloodied, to the ground.
He could not possibly go back to Edonsan, Banna thought. He would fight up to his very last breath - but he
had to make sure Edonsan does not come down to the village.
Hastily, he instructed one of his men to warn Edonsan, but the man never made it far. He and
Banna were simultaneously wounded and fell bleeding to the ground. Banna died with his spear in his hand
and his last vision was the face of Edonsan .
Edonsan, on the other hand, waited and waited...and waited. But there was no Banna to take
her home. She was weak from weariness and heartache. She had no desire to live without her Banna.
When it was evident, Banna was not coming for her, she slowly crumpled to the grassy- matted forest and
wept uncontrollably. Tears flowed down from her cheeks as she grew weaker and weaker and the tears
flowed more and more copiously.

18. Night came and Banna had not returned yet...and Edonsan had grown
weak with grief and fatigue, her breath slowly coming out in gasps... until she closed
her eyes and breathed her last.
On the spot where her body was laid to rest, sprang two waterfalls which
are believed to be the tears of Edonsan.
In Tinglayan, one can clearly see from a distance, the beautifully, shaped
body of a reclining woman.
And that is the legend of "The Sleeping Beauty" folks, as handed down
orally, from one generation to another.
As the story is passed on, additions and omissions are done by each set of
generation. What is important is that the undying love of Banna and Edonsan will
always be remembered by the people of Kalinga.

19. Legend of the Dama de Noche
A thousand years ago, there was a rich maharlika, or nobleman, who spent his early bachelor
days recklessly, wining and dining in the company of nobility. He drank the finest wines, ate the most
delectable food and enjoyed the company of the loveliest, perfumed and bejewelled women of the noble
class.
After years of this kind of life, the maharlika finally felt it was time to settle down and marry the
woman of his choice. "But who is the woman to choose?" he asked himself as he sat in the rich splendour
of his home, "All the women I know are beautiful and charming, but I am tired of the glitter of their jewels
and the richness of their clothes!" He wanted a woman different from all the women he saw day and night,
and found this in simple village lass. She was charming in her own unaffected ways, and her name was
Dama.
They married and lived contentedly. She loved him and took care of him. She pampered him
with the most delicious dishes, and kept his home and his clothes in order. But soon, the newness wore off
for the maharlika. He started to long for the company of his friends. He took a good look at his wife and
thought, she is not beautiful and she does not have the air of nobility abouther, she does not talk with
wisdom. And so the maharlika returned to his own world of glitter and splendor. He spent his evenings
sitting around with his friends in their noble homes , drank and talked till the first rays of the sun peeped
from the iron grills of their ornate windows.
Poor Dama felt that she was losing her husband. She wept in the silence of their bedroom. "I
cannot give my husband anything but the delights of my kitchen and the warmth of my bed. He is tired of
me." She looked to the heavens. "Oh, friendly spirits! Help me. Give me a magic charm. Just one little
magic charm to make my husband come home again, that he will never want to leave my side, forever!"
It was midnight when the maharlika came home. He opened the door of their bedroom and
called for Dama to tell her to prepare his nightclothes. "Dama! Dama, where are you?" he called. He
shouted all around the bedroom. He sarched the whole house. Still the nobleman could not find his simple
wife. Finally the nobleman returned to their bedroom, tired and cross. But, as he opened the door, he
stopped.
He smelled a very sweet and fragrant scent. It was a scent he had never smelled before. He
entered the room and crossed to the window where the scent seemed to be floating from. A strange bush
was growing outside the window. Some of its thin branches had aleady reached the iron grills and were
twisting around. And all over the bush were thousands of tiny starlike, white flowers, from which burst forth
a heavenly, enchanting scent!

20. He stood there, completely enraptured by the glorious smell. "Dama..." he
whispered softly, onderingly, could this be Dama? The rich maharlika sat by the
window, and waited for the return of his loving simple wife. But she did not come
back. She never returned to him again. Only the fragrance of the flowers stayed with
him, casting a spell over his whole being.
In the moonlight, Dama of the night, or Dama de Noche would be in full
bloom, capturing the rich maharlika, making him never want to leave her side, forever.
The End.

21. Legend of the Banana Plant
In the early days when the world was new, spirits and ghosts lurked everywhere.
They lived in gloomy caves, they hid in anthills and tree trunks they frolicked in nooks and
corners under the houses. In the dark, sometimes their tiny voices could be heard dimly, or
their ghostly presence be felt. But they were never seen.
It was during these days of phantoms and unseen spirits that a young and
beautiful girl lived. Her name was Raya, and she was a girl bold and daring. She was never
afraid of spirits. She would walk in the shadowy forests, bringing along a lighted candle.
Then she would tiptoe into dark and dirty caves, searching the place for spirits.
Raya only felt or heard them never having seen them. But Raya always felt the presence of
one kind spirit, whenever she walked in the forest the spirit was with her at all times.
One day she heard someone call her name, and she looked up to see a young
handsome man. She asked him who he was, and he replied that his name was Sag-in, and
he was the spirit who followed her around, and even confessed that he had fallen in love
with a mortal.
They married had a child and lived happily, but Sag-in knew that his time on earth
was short for he was a spirit-man, and would have to return to the spirit world soon. When
he knew his time had come, he called Raya and explained why he had to leave. As he was
slowly vanishing, he told Raya that he would leave her a part of him. Raya looked down and
saw a bleeding heart on the ground. She took the heart and planted it. She watched it night
and day. A plant with long green leaves sprouted from the grave.
One day, the tree bore fruit shaped like a heart. She touched the fruit and caressed it.
Thinking could this be Sag-in's heart? Slowly the fruit opened , Long golden fruits sprouted
from it. Raya picked one, peeled it and bit into it. Then, she heard Sag-in's voice floating in
the air:
"Yes, Raya, it is my heart. I have reappeared to show you that I will never forsake
you and our child. Take care of this plant, and it will take care of you in return. It's trunk and
leaves will give you shelter and clothing. The heart and fruits will be your food. And when
you sleep at night, I will stand and watch by your window. I will stay by your side forever!"

22. Legend of the Firefly
Fireflies!
Lovely little creatures, glittering, sparkling, throwing fragments of light in the dark night skies.
How did the fireflies or alitaptap come about?
Once, along time ago, in the valley of Pinak in Central Luzon, one of the islands in the
Philippines. There was a deep large lake rich with fish. There, the people of Pinak fished for their food, and
always, there was plenty for all. Then suddenly, the big river dried up. In the shallow mud, there wasn't a
fish to catch. For months, there were no rains. Out in the fields, the land turned dry. The rice-stalks slowly
withered. Everywhere in Pinak, there was hunger. Night after night, the people of Pinak prayed hard.
"Dear Bathala," they would recite together in their small and poorly-built chapel, “send us rains,
give us food to eat. For the people are starving, and there is want among us!"
Then one black and starless night, the good Bathala answered the prayers of the faithful
people of Pinak. For suddenly up in the dark skies appeared a blaze of gold! A beautiful chariot of gold was
zooming thru the sky. The people started to panic but a big booming voice came from the chariot soothing
them with words.
" I am Bula-hari, and I have come with my wife, Bitu-in. We are sent to the heavens to rule
Pinak from now on. We have come to give you good life!" As Bulan-hari spoke, the black skies burst open.
The rain fell in torrents. Soon the dry fields bloomed again. The large lake rose and once again was filled
with fish. The people were happy once more under the rulership of Bulan-hari.
Soon Bulan-hari and Bitu-in had a daughter. She grew up to be a beautiful maiden. Such long
dark hair! Such lovely eyes under long curling lashes! Her nose was chiselled fine. Her lips like rosebuds.
Her skin was soft and fair like cream. They named her Alitaptap for on her forehead was a bright sparkling
star.
All the young, brave handsome men of Pinak fell in love with Alitaptap. They worshipped her
beauty. They sang songs of love beneath her windows. They all sought to win her heart.
But alas! The heart of Alitaptap wasn't human. She was the daughter of Bulan-hari and Bitu-in,
who burst from the sky and were not of the earth. She had a heart of stone, as cold and as hard as the
sparkling star on her forehead. Alitaptap would never know love.

23. Then one day, an old woman arrived at the palace. Her hair long and dirty. Her clothing
tattered and soiled. Before the king Bulan-hari, Balo-na, the old, wise woman whined in her sharp
voice... that she had come from her dwelling in the mountains to bear the king sad news. The
news being that she saw the future in a dream and it betold of their fate... the warriors of La-ut are
coming with their mighty swords to conquer the land, the only solution is to have a marriage
between Alitaptap and one of the young men, so as to have a heir to win the war.
At once Bulan-hari pleaded with his daughter to choose one of the young men in their
village. But how could the beautiful maiden understand? Alitaptap's heart of stone merely stood in
silence. Bulan-hari gripped his sword in despair... " Alitapatap!" he bellowed in the quiet palace,
"You will follow me, or you will lay dead this very minute!"
But nothing could stir the lovely young woman's heart. Bulan-hari blind with anger and
fear of the dark future finally drew his sword. Clang! the steel of his sword's blade rang in the
silence of the big palace. It hit the star on Alitaptap's lovely forehead!
The star burst! Darkness was everywhere! Until a thousand chips of glitter and light
flew around the hall. Only the shattered pieces of the star on Alitaptap's forehead lighted the great
hall, flickering as though they were stars with tiny wings.
Alitaptap, the lovely daughter from the heavens lay dead.
And soon, Balo-na's prediction had come true. Riding in stamping wild horses, the
warriors of La-ut came like the rumble and clashes of lightning and thunder. They killed the people
of Pinak, ruined crops, and poisoned the lake. They spread sorrow and destruction everywhere.
When it all ended, the beautiful, peaceful valley of Pinak had turned into an empty and
shallow swamp. At night, there was nothing but darkness. But soon, tiny sparkles of light would
flicker and lend glimmers of brightness in the starless night.
And so, the fireflies came about. Once, a long time ago, they were fragments from the
star on the forehead of Bulan-hari's daughter, the beautiful Alitaptap.
The End.

24. Riddles/ Bugtong
 My sister, your sister, everyone’s
sister.
◦ (Atis) Sugar Apple

25. Epigrams/ Sawikain/
Salawikain
 You will know a true friend in time of
need.
 Blood is boiling.
 Write on water.
 What is not intended for one will not
bear fruit.

26. Bulong/ Chants
 Tabi, tabi po, Ingkong
Makikiraan po lamang.

27. Kasabihan/ Sayings
 Nag-almusal mag-isa
Kaning lamig, tinapa;
Nahulog ang kutsara
Ikaw na sana, sinta

28. Tanaga
 “Tahak ng tingin, tulak
ng sulyap, yakap, lapat
ng titig sa balikat.
hatak pa, kindat, hakat”

29. Ambahan
 Isn’t this the truth with all:
If the wife is good and kind,
the husband reasonable,
you have always friends around,
like long hair drooping so nice.
Till the final burial mount,
you’ll be sleeping on one mat.
You don’t want to separate
Putting down my thoughts like this:
An example very clear,
being TWO, you’re only ONE.

30. Folk Songs
 Uyayi – Lullaby
 Komintang – War Song
 Kundiman – Melancholic Love Song
 Harana – Serenade
 Tagay – Drinking Song

31. SPANISH COLONIAL
TEXTS
Literature

32. The Spanish colonial strategy was to undermine
the native oral tradition by substituting for it the story of
the Passion of Christ (Lumbera, p. 14). Although Christ
was by no means war-like or sexually attractive as many
of the heroes of the oral epic tradition, the appeal of the
Jesus myth inhered in the protagonist’s superior magic: by
promising eternal life for everyone, he democratized the
power to rise above death. It is to be emphasized,
however, that the native tradition survived and even
flourished in areas inaccessible to the colonial power.
Moreover, the tardiness and the lack of assiduity of the
colonial administration in making a public educational
system work meant the survival of oral tradition, or what
was left of it, among the conquered tribes.
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.”

33. Church Doctrines
 Doctrina Christiana (1593)

35. Books
 Nuestra Senora del Rosario
 Libro de los Cuatro Postprimeras de
Hombre
 Ang Barlaan at Josephat
 The Pasion
 Urbana at Felisa
 Psalms for Mary

36. Literary Compositions
 Arte y Reglas de la Lengua Tagala
◦ Art and Rules of the Tagalog language
 Compendio de la Lengua Tagala
◦ Understanding the Tagalog language
 Vocabulario de la Lengua Tagala
◦ Tagalog vocabulary
 Vocabulario de la Lengua Pampanga
◦ Pampango vocabulary
 Vocabulario de la Lengua Bisaya
◦ Bisayan vocabulary

37. Poem
 Mahal Na Pasion ni Jesu Christo
(1704)
 Sampaguitas
 Pag-Ibig Sa Tinubuang Lupa

38. Metrical Romances
 Gonzalo de Cordoba (Gonzalo of
Cordoba)
 Ibong Adarna (Adarna Bird)
 Florante at Laura

39. Songs
Balayan – Wedding Song
Dalit
Pamulinawen (Iloko)
Dandansoy (Bisaya)
Sarong Banggi (Bicol)

40. Pasyon
 Ang Mahal na Passion ni Jesu
Christong Panginoon natin na tola
(Holy Passion of Our Lord Jesus
Christ in Verse)

41. Novels
 Ninay

43. “Noli Me Tangere”
The novel Noli Me Tangere contains 63 chapters and epilogue. It begins with a
reception given by Capitan Tiago (Santiago de los Santos) at his house in Calle Analogue (now
Juan Luna Street) on the last day of October. The reception or dinner is given in honor of
Crisostomo Ibarra, a young and rich Filipino who had just returned after seven years of study in
Europe. Ibarra was the only son of Don Rafael Ibarra, friend of Capitan Tiago, and a fiancé of
beautiful Maria Clara, supposed daughter of Capitan Tiago.
Among the guests during the reception were Padre Damaso, a fat Franciscan friar who
had been parish priest for 20 years of San Diego (Calamba), Ibarra’s native town; Padre Sybila, a
young Dominican parish priest of Binondo; Señor Guevara, as elderly and kind lieutenant of the
Guardia Civil; Don Tiburcio de Espadaña, a bogus Spanish physician, lame, and henpecked
husband of Doña Victorina; and several ladies.
Ibarra, upon his arrival, produced a favorable impression among the guests, except
Padre Damaso, who has rude to him. In accordance with a German custom, he introduced himself
to the ladies.
During the dinner the conversation centered on Ibarra’s studies and travels abroad.
Padre Damaso was in bad mood because he got a bony neck and a hard wing of the chicken
tinola. He tried to discredit Ibarra’s remarks.
After dinner, Ibarra left Capitan Tiago’s house to return to his hotel. On the way, the
kind Lieutenant Guevara told him the sad story of his father’s death in San Diego. Don Rafael, his
father, was a rich and brave man. He defended a helpless boy from the brutality of an illiterate
Spanish tax collector, pushing the latter and accidentally killing him. Don Rafael was thrown in
prison, where he died unhappily. He was buried in consecrated ground, but his enemies, accusing
him being a heretic, had his body removed from the cemetery.
On hearing about his father’s sad story, Ibarra thanked the kind Spanish lieutenant and
vowed to find out the truth about his father’s death.
The following morning, he visited Maria Clara, his childhood sweetheart. Maria Clara
teasingly said that he had forgotten her because the girls in Germany were beautiful. Ibarra replied
that he had never forgotten her.
After the romantic reunion with Maria Clara, Ibarra went to San Diego to visit his
father’s grave. It was All Saint’s Day. At the cemetery, the grave digger told Ibarra that the corpse
of Don Rafael was removed by order of the parish priest to be, buried in the Chinese cemetery; but
the corpse was heavy and it was a dark and rainy night so that he (the grave-digger) simply threw

44. Ibarra was angered by the grave-digger’s story. He left the cemetery. On the way, he met
Padre Salvi, Franciscan parish priest of San Diego. In a flash, Ibarra pounced on the priest, demanding
redress for desecrating his father’s mortal remains. Padre told him that he had nothing to do with it, for he
was not the parish priest at the time of Don Rafael’s death. It was Padre Damaso, his predecessor, who
was responsible for it. Convinced for Padre Salvi’s innocence, Ibarra went away.
In his town Ibarra met several interesting people, such as the wise old man, Tasio the
philosopher, whose ideas were too advanced for his times so that the people, who could not understand
him, called him “Tasio the Lunatic;” the progressive school teacher, who complained to Ibarra that the
children were losing interest to their studies because of the lack proper school house and the discouraging
attitude of the parish friar towards both the teaching of Spanish and of the use of modern methods of
pedagogy; the spineless gobernadorcillo, who catered to the wishes of the Spanish parish friars; Don Filipo
Lino, the teniente-mayor and leader of the cuardrilleros (town police); and the former gobernadorcillos who
were prominent citizens Don Basilio and Don Valentin.
A most tragic story in the novel is the tale of Sisa, who was formerly a rich girl but became poor
because she married a gambler, and a wastrel at that. She became crazy because she lost her two boys,
Basilio and Crispin, the joy of her wretched life. These boys were sacristanes (sextons) in the church,
working for a small wage to support their poor mother. Crispin the younger of the two brothers was accused
by the brutal sacristan mayor (chief sexton) of stealing the money of the priest. He was tortured in the
convent and died. Basilio, with his brother’s dying cries ringing in his ears, escaped. When the two boys did
not return home, Sisa looked for them everywhere and, in her great sorrow, she became insane.
Capitan Tiago, Maria Clara, and Aunt Isabel (Capitan Tiago’s cousin who took care of Maria
Clara, after his mother’s death) arrived in San Diego. Ibarra and his friends give picnic at the lake. Among
those present in this picnic, were Maria Clara and her four girl friends the merry Siñang, the grave Victoria,
the beautiful Iday, and the thoughtful Neneng; Aunt Isabel, chaperon of Maria Clara; Capitana Tika, mother
of Siñang; Andeng, foster sister of Maria Clara; Albino, the ex-theological student who was in love with
Siñang; and Ibarra and his friends. One of the boatmen was a strong and silent peasant youth named Elias.
An incident of the picnic was the saving of Elias’ life by Ibarra. Elias bravely grappled with a
crocodile which was caught in the fish corral. But the crocodile struggled furiously so that Elias could not
subdue it. Ibarra jumped into the water and killed the crocodile, thereby saving Elias. After the crocodile
incident, was the rendering of a beautiful song by Maria Clara who had a sweet voice and they went
ashore. They made merry in the cool, wooded meadow. Padre Salvi, Capitan Basilio (former
gobernadorcillo and Siñang’s father) the alferez (lieutenant of the Guardia Civil) and the town officials were
present. The luncheon was served, and everybody enjoyed eating.

45. The meal over, Ibarra and Capitan Basilio played chess, while Maria Clara and her friends
played the “Wheel of Chance”, a game based on a fortune-telling book. As the girls were enjoying their
fortune-telling game, Padre Salvi came and tore to pieces the book, saying that it was a sin to play such
game. Shortly thereafter, a sergent and four soldiers of the Guardia Civil suddenly arrived, looking for Elias,
who was hunted for assaulting Padre Damaso and throwing the alferez into a mud hole. Fortunately Elias
had disappeared, and the Guardia Civil went away empty-handed. During the picnic also, Ibarra received a
telegram from the Spanish authorities notifying him the approval of his donation of a schoolhouse for the
children of San Diego.
The next day Ibarra visited old Tasio to consult him on his pet project about the schoolhouse.
He saw the old man’s writings were written in hieroglyphics. Tasio explained to him that he wrote in
hieroglyphics because he was writing for the future generations who would understand them and say, “Not
all were asleep in the night of our ancestors!”
Meanwhile San Diego was merrily preparing for its annual fiesta, in honor of its patron saint
San Diego de Alcala, whose feast day is the 11th of November. On the eve of the fiesta, hundreds of visitors
arrived from the nearby towns, and there were laughter, music, exploding bombs, feasting and moro-moro.
The music was furnished by five brass bands (including the famous Pagsanjan Band owned by the
escribano Miguel Guevara) and three orchestras.
In the morning of the fiesta there was a high mass in the church, officiated by Padre Salvi.
Padre Damaso gave the long sermon, in which he expatiated on the evils of the times that were caused by
certain men, who having tasted some education spread pernicious ideas among the people.
After Padre Damaso’s sermon, the mass was continued by Padre Salve. Elias quietly moved to
Ibarra, who was kneeling and praying by Maria Clara’s side, and warned him to be careful during the
ceremony of the laying of the cornerstone of the schoolhouse because there was a plot to kill him.
Elias suspected that the yellowish man, who built the derrick, was a paid stooge of Ibarra’s
enemies. True to his suspicion, later in the day, when Ibarra, in the presence of a big crowd, went down into
the trench to cement the cornerstone, the derrick collapsed. Elias, quick as a flash, pushed him aside,
thereby saving his life. The yellowish man was the one crushed to death by the shattered derrick.
At the sumptuous dinner that night under a decorated kiosk, a sad incident occurred. The
arrogant Padre Damaso, speaking in the presence of many guests, insulted the memory of Ibarra’s father.
Ibarra jumped to his seat, knocked down the fat friar with his fist, and then seized a sharp knife. He would
have killed the friar, were it not for the timely intervention of Maria Clara.

46. The fiesta over, Maria Clara became ill. She was treated by the quack Spanish physician,
Tiburcio de Espadaña, whose wife, a vain and vulgar native woman, was a frequent visitor in Capitan
Tiago’s house. This woman had hallucinations of being a superior Castillan, and, although a native herself,
she looked down on her own people as inferior beings. She added another “de” to her husband’s surname
in order to more Spanish. Thus she wanted to be called “Doctora Doña Victorina de los Reyes de De
Espadaña.” She introduced to Capitan Tiago’s young Spaniards, Don Alfonso Linares de Espadaña, cousin
of Don Tiburcio de Espadaña and godson of Padre Damaso’s brother in law. Linares was a penniless and
jobless, fortune hunter who came to the Philippines in search of a rich Filipino heiress. Both Doña Victorina
and Padre Damaso sponsored his wooing of Maria Clara, but the latter did not respond because she loved
Ibarra.
The story of Elias like that of Sisa, was a tale of pathos and tragedy. He related it to Ibarra.
Some 60 years ago, his grandfather, who was then a young bookkeeper in a Spanish commercial firm in
Manila, was wrongly accused of burning the firm’s warehouse. He was flogged in public and was left in the
street, crippled and almost died. His was pregnant, beg for alms and became a prostitute in order to
support her sick husband and their son. After giving birth to her second son and the death of her husband,
she fled, with her to sons to the mountains.
Years later the first boy became a dreaded tulisan named Balat. He terrorized the provinces.
One day he was caught by the authorities. His head was cut off and was hung from a tree branch in the
forest. On seeing this gory object, the poor mother (Elias’ grandmother) died.
Balat’s younger brother, who was by nature kindhearted, fled and became a trusted laborer in
the house of rich man in Tayabas. He fell in love with the master’s daughter. The girl’s father, enraged by
the romance, investigated his past and found out the truth. The unfortunate lover (Elias’ father) was sent to
jail, while the girl gave birth to twins, a boy (Elias) and a girl. Their rich grandfather took care of them,
keeping secret their scandalous origin, and reared them as rich children. Elias was educated in the
JesuitCollege in Manila, while his sister studied in La Concordia College. They lived happily, until one day,
owing to certain dispute over money matters, a distant relative exposed their shameful birth. They were
disgraced. An old male servant, whom they used to abuse, was forced to testify in court and the truth came
out that he was their real father.
Elias and his sister left Tayabas to hide their shame in another place. One day the sister
disappeared. Elias roamed from place to place, looking for her. He heard later that a girl answering to his
sister’s description, was found died on the beach of San Diego. Since then, Elias lived a vagabond life,
wandering from province to province – until he met Ibarra.

47. Elias, learning of Ibarra’s arrest, burned all the papers that might incriminate his friend and set
Ibarra’s house on fire. Then he went to prison and helped Ibarra escape. He and Ibarra jumped into a
banca loaded with sacate (grass). Ibarra stopped at the house of Capitan Tiago to say goodbye to Maria
Clara. In the tearful last scene between the two lovers, Ibarra forgave Maria Clara for giving up his letter to
her to the Spanish authorities who utilized them as evidence against him. On her part, Maria Clara revealed
that those letters were exchanged with a letter from her late mother, Pia Alba which Padre Salvi gave her.
From his letter, she learned that her real father was Padre Damaso.
After bidding Maria Clara farewell, Ibarra returned to the banca. He and Elias paddled up the
PasigRiver toward Laguna de Bay. A police boat, with the Guardia Civil on board, pursued them as their
banca reached the lake. Elias told Ibarra to hide under the zacate. As the police boat was overtaking the
banca, Elias jumped into the water and swam swiftly toward the shore. In this way, he diverted the attention
of the soldiers on his person, thereby giving Ibarra a chance to escape. The soldier fired at the swimming
Elias, who was hit and sank. The water turned red because of his blood. The soldiers, thinking that they
had killed the fleeing Ibarra returned to Manila. Thus Ibarra was able to escape.
Elias seriously wounded, reached the shore and staggered into the forest. He met a boy,
Basilio, who was weeping over his mother’s dead body. He told Basilio to make a pyre on which their
bodies (his and Sisa) were to be burned to ashes. It was Christmas eve, and the moon gleamed softly in
the sky. Basilio prepared the funeral pyre. As life’s breath slowly left his body. Elias looked toward the east
and murmured: “I die without seeing the dawn brighten over my native land.” You, who have it to see,
welcome it! And forget not those who have fallen during the night.
The novel has an epilogue which recounts what happened to the other characters. Maria Clara,
out of her loyalty to the memory of Ibarra, the man she truly loved, entered the Santa Clara nunnery. Padre
Salvi left the parish of San Diego and became a chaplain of the nunnery. Padre Damaso was transferred to
a remote province, but the next morning he was found dead in his bedroom. Capitan Tiago the former
genial host and generous patron of the church became an opium addict and a human wreck. Doña
Victorina, still henpecking poor Don Tiburcio, had taken to wearing eye-glasses because of weakening
eyesight. Linares, who failed to win Maria Clara’s affection, died of dysentery and was buried in Paco
cemetery.
The Alferez, who successfully repulsed the abortive attack on the barracks, was promoted
major. He returned to Spain, leaving behind his shabby mistress, Doña Consolacion.
The novel ends with Maria Clara, an unhappy nun in Santa Clara nunnery – forever lost to the
world.

49. “El Filibusterismo”
This article is based from the book of Jose Rizal (blue covered book) which was
written by Zaide.
This novel is a sequel to the Noli. It has a little humor, less idealism, and less
romance than the Noli Me Tangere. It is more revolutionary and more tragic than the first
novel.
The hero of El Filibusterismo is a rich jeweler named Simoun. He was
Crisostomo Ibarra of the Noli, who, with Elias’ help, escaped from the pursuing soldiers at
Laguna de Bay, dug up his buried treasure, and fled to Cuba where he became rich and
befriended many Spanish officials. After many years he returned to the Philippines, where
he freely moved around. He is a powerful figure not only because he is a rich jeweler but
also because he is a good friend and adviser of the governor general.
Outwardly, Simoun is a friend of Spain. However deep in his heart, he is secretly
cherishing a terrible revenge against the Spanish authorities. His two magnificent
obsessions are to rescue Maria Clara from the nunnery of Santa Clara and to foment a
revolution against the hated Spanish masters.
The story of El Filibusterismo begins on board the clumsy, roundish shaped
steamer Tabo, so appropriately named. This steamer is sailing upstream the Pasig from
Manila to Laguna de Bay. Among the passengers are Simoun, the rich jeweler; Doña
Victorina, the ridiculously pro-Spanish native woman who is going to Laguna in search of
her henpecked husband, Tiburcio de Espadaña, who has deserted her; Paulita Gomez, her
beautiful niece; Ben-Zayb (anagram of Ibañez), a Spanish journalist who writes silly articles
about the Filipinos; Padre Sibyla, vice-rector of the University of Santo Tomas; Padre
Camorra, the parish priest of the town of Tiani; Don Custodio, a pro-spanish Filipino holding
a position in the government; Padre Salvi, thin Franciscan friar and former cura of San
Diego; Padre Irene, a kind friar who was a friend of the Filipino students; Padre Florentino, a
retired scholarly and patriotic Filipino priest; Isagani, a poet-nephew of Padre Florentino and
a lover of Paulita; and Basilio, son of Sisa and promising medical student, whose medical
education is financed by his patron, Capitan Tiago.

50. Simoun, a man of wealth and mystery, is a very close friend and confidante of the Spanish
governor general. Because of his great influence in Malacañang, he was called the “Brown Cardinal” or the
“Black Eminence”. By using his wealth and political influence, he encourages corruption in the government,
promotes the oppression of the masses, and hastens the moral degradation of the country so that the
people may become desperate and fight. He smuggles arms into the country with the help of a rich Chinese
merchant, Quiroga, who wants very much to be Chinese consul of Manila. His first attempt to begin the
armed uprising did not materialize because at the last hour he hears the sad news that Maria Clara died in
the nunnery. In his agonizing moment of bereavement, he did not give the signal for the outbreak of
hostilities.
After a long time of illness brought about by the bitter loss of Maria Clara, Simoun perfects his
plan to overthrow the government. On the occasion of the wedding of Paulita Gomez and Juanito Pelaez,
he gives a wedding gift to them a beautiful lamp. Only he and his confidential associates, Basilio (Sisa’s
son who joined his revolutionary cause), know that when the wick of his lamp burns lower the
nitroglycerine, hidden in its secret compartment, will explode, destroying the house where the wedding
feast is going to be held killing all the guests, including the governor general, the friars, and the government
officials. Simultaneously, all the government buildings in Manila will be blown by Simoun’s followers.
As the wedding feast begins, the poet Isagani, who has been rejected by Paulita because of
his liberal ideas, is standing outside the house, watching sorrowfully the merriment inside. Basilio, his
friend, warns him to go away because the lightened lamp will soon explode.
Upon hearing the horrible secret of the lamp, Isagani realizes that his beloved Paulita was in
grave danger. To save her life, he rushes into the house, seizes the lightened lamp, and hurls it into the
river, where it explodes.
The revolutionary plot was thus discovered. Simoun was cornered by the soldiers, but he
escaped. Mortally wounded, and carrying his treasure chest, he sought refuge in the home of Padre
Florentino by the sea.
The Spanish authorities, however, learns of his presence in the house of Padre Florentino.
Lieutenant Perez of the Guardia Civil informs the priest by letter that he would come at eight o’clock that
night to arrest Simoun.
Simoun eluded arrest by taking poison. As he is dying, he confesses to Padre Florentino,
revealing his true identity, his dastardly plan to use his wealth to avenge himself, and his sinister aim to
destroy his friends and enemies.

51. The confession of the dying Simoun is long and painful. It is already night
when Padre Florentino, wiping the sweat from his wrinkled brow, rises and begins to
meditate. He consoles the dying man saying: “God will forgive you Señor Simoun. He
knows that we are fallible. He has seen that you have suffered, and in ordaining that
the chastisement for your faults should come as death from the very ones you have
instigated to crime, we can see His infinite mercy. He has frustrated your plans one
by one, the best conceived, first by the death of Maria Clara, then by a lack of
preparation, then in some mysterious way. Let us bow to His will and render Him
thanks!”
Watching Simoun die peacefully with a clear conscience and at peace with
God. Padre Florentino falls upon his knees and prays for the dead jeweler. He takes
the treasure chest and throws it into the sea; as the waves close over the sinking
chest.

52. Poets
 Salamat nang walang hanga/ gracias
de sin sempiternas

53. THANK YOU
Sean Cyril Tan
Julius Ceasar
Gomez
Louela Maglasang
Rez Dulangon