The Modern Period

GUIMARAS STATE COLLEGE
GRADUATE SCHOOL
GUIMBAL CENTER
GUIMBAL, ILOILO
Reporter: Gladys Guirnela

Professor: Fortunato Gedalanga
THE MODERN PERIOD

In this Modern Period of Philippine Literature in English the literary style and
content have become more Filipino than ever before.
Essays: Since 1960, many Filipino essayist have written about social or
political question, history, or literary criticism. In the newspapers and magazines,
journalists such as Maximo V. Soliven, J. V. Cruz, Amelita Reysio-Cruz, and
George Sison were widely read and discussed. In the writing of history, works of
high quality were written by Horacio de la Costa, S. J., Ernacio Alzona, Teodora
Agoncillo, Guadalupe Fores-Ganzon, Domingo Abella, Gregorio Zaide, Esteban A.
De ocampo, and Carlos Quirino. These authors all received Republic Cultural
Heritage Awards for their historical writings. Leonard Casper’s The Wayward
Horizon (1961) and The Wounded Diamond (1964), as well as Miguel A.
Bernard’s Bamboo and Greenwood Tree (1961), were important contributions in
literary criticism. In 1967 Antonio G. Manuud edited Brown heritage. This book
contains essays of varying quality on Philippine cultural traditions, Tagalog
literature, other Philippine literature, and Philippine literature in English. Because
of its wide range of topics this book has become an important reference for work
for many teachers and students.
Among the modern essayists are: Francisco Arcellana, Miguel A. Bernad, S.
J., Renata Constantino, Horatio de la Costa, S. J., J. V. Cruz, Amelita Reysio-
Cruz, Jose L. Guevara, Ray Hulog, Jose Lansang, Teodoro M. Locsin, Nancy T.
Lu, Cris Magdiwang, Raul Manglapus, Ceasar Adib Majul, L. V. Mallari, Nestor
Mata, Sylvia Mayuga, Carmen Guerrero-Nakpil, Benjamin M. Pascual, Jose A.
Quirino, Francisco A. Robles, Alejandro R. Roces, Alfredo R. Roces, George Sison,
Maximo V. Soliven Doris Trinidad, Kerima Polotan Tuvera, Teodora F. Valencia,
Benjamin Villalva, and Leopoldo Y. Yabes.
Short Stories: During the Modern Period the artistic quality of the short-story
did not improve as rapidly as it did during the previous thrirty years. However,
there was development in the themes which the writers treated, for the authors
gradually shifted from these of private problems and rural life to themes of
national problems and city life. Gregorio C. Brillantes portrayed individual
anxieties in The Distance to Andromeda and Other Stories (1960). Gilda Cordero-
Fernando also centered on the individual in The Butcher, the Baker, the
Candlestick Maker (1962). Kerima Polotan Tuvera covered several different
themes. She treated people, politics, rural and city life, love and fashions in her
works which appeared in Stories (1968), Author’s Choice (1971), and Adventures
in a Forgotten Country (1975). The probelms of city life were depicted by Andres
Cristobal Cruz in White Wall, Selected Tondo Stories (1964).
Perhaps the most prolific writer of this period was Jose A. Quirino. Aside
from his numerous newspaper articles and essays, he published Loneliness is a
Volcano and New Stories (1966), Nocturme for Piano and Heartstrings and More
New Stories (1967), and Three Faces of the Hero and Other Stories (1969).
In the late 1960s the national crisis of social and political unrest was
reflected in several works. Bienvenido N. Santos vividly portaryed a man’s serach
for his national identity in The Day the Dancer’s Came (1967). The realities and
hardships of life were themes from the stories of Federico Licsi Espino, Jr. , in
The Country of Sleep (1969). Many young writers wrote to expose injustice or to
reval the conditions of the underprivileged. Among the talented young writers
was Ninotchka Rosca who published Bitter Country and Other Stories (1970).
Another promising young writer of today is Amadis Ma. Guerrero who published
Chidren of the City and Other Stories in 1974.
Among the short story writers of the Modern Period are; Bautista, Gregorio
C. Brillantes, Ines, T. Camayo, Linda T. Casper, Isabelo T. Crisostomo, Andres
Cristobal Cruz, Morli Dharam, Antonio Enriquez, Federico Espino, Jr., Gilda
Codero-Fernando, Delfin Fresnosa, N.V. M. Gonzalez, Amadis Ma. Guerero, Nick
Joaquin, F.Sionil Jose Emmanuel Lacaba, Jaime A. Lim, Enato E Madrid,
ResilB.Mojares, Elsa Victoria Martinez, Wilfredo D. Nolledo, Ricardo I Pantalinjug,
C. V. Pedroche, Jose Quirino, Ninotchka Rosca, Bienvenido N. Santos, Luis V.
Teodoro Jr., Edilberto K Tiempo, Edith L. Tiempo, Kerima Polotan Tuvere, Romeo
P. Virtusio, and Alfredo Yuson.
Poems: Filipino poets showed further development in skill and originality in
the Modern Period. Like the other writers of literature, the poets reflected and
interpreted the events that were happening in the Philippines and throughtout
the world. In the 1960s the growing sense of nationalism made people conscious
of using their national language. This spirit influenced certain poets who began
writing “Bagay Poems”. These poems were experimental in that they used a
language which Blas F. Ople coined as “Taglish” or “Enggalog”. Among the
contributors to this movement were Rolando Tinio, Jose Lansang, Jr. , Emmanuel
Torres, and Cirilo Bautista.
The saritical mood of 1960s was captured by such poets as Florentino Dauz,
Alfredo O. Guenca, and especially Alejandrino G. Hufana. These poets turned
away from the influence of Jose Garcia Villa and expressed their own view of the
modern world. Hufana’s Poro Point (1961) presents an interesting anthology of
lives.
One poet and literary critic whose works span both the middle and modern
periods is Ricaredo Demetillo. His poems have been published in numerous
magazines and in his collections Daedalus and Other Poems (1961), Masks and
Signatures (1968), and Scarecrow Christ (1973). Another poet who has written in
both periods is G. Burce Burnao. His clear, forceful verse has been published in
The Quiver and the Fear (1968).
In the late 1960s several new poets reflected the mood of questioning and
unrest. Among the more talented poets f this period was Emmanuel Torres. He
won the Palanca Poetry Award for his collection Angels and Fugitives (1966). His
more recent poems have been Published in Shapes of Silence (1972). A later
Palanca Award winner was Federico Licsi Espino, Jr., who published A Rapture of
Distress (1968), Dark Sutra (1969), and Couterclockwise:Poems !965-69 (1969).
Another talented poet who emerged in the 1960s was Cirilo F. Bautista. He
has published some excellent verse in Summer Suns (1963), The Cave and the
Other Poems (1968), and The Archipelago (1970).
In the 1970s, many poets have contributed fine collections of verse. Mauro
R. Avena has revealed his personal insights in Rain and Other Poems (1970) and
Evening Poems (1971). Perhaps the most interesting among the modern poets is
Hilario Francia, Jr., who won the Palanca Poetry Award for his Selected Poems
(1970).
Among the modern poets are included: Celedonio G. Aguilar, Carlos A.
Angeles, Mauro R. Avena, Tita Lacambra-Ayala, Cirilo F. Bautistata, Godofredo
Burce Bunao, Rolando A. Carbonnell, Erwin E Castillo, Albert b. Casuga, Alfredo
O. Cuenca, Florintino Duz, Ricardo Demitillo, Federico Licsi Espino, Jr., Hilario
Francia, Jr., Rita B. Gadi, Edel E. Garcellano, Gloria Garchitorena Goloy,
Alejandrino G. Hufana, , Nick Joaquin, Marra Lanot-Lacaba, Jose M. Lansang Jr.,
Virginia Lichauco de Leon, Ofelia Fernandez Limcaco, Virginia R. Moreno,
Valdemar O. Olaguer, Donel B. Pascis, Wilfredo Pascua Sanchez, Epefanio San
Juan, Jr., Artemio Tadena, Edith L. Tiempo, Rolando Tinio, Emmanuel Torre,
Jose Garcia Villa, and Manuel A. Viray.

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GUIMARAS STATE COLLEGE

Reporter: Gladys Guirnela

THE MODERN PERIOD

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