21st Century Literature 8.

Literature makes you identify and

address issues that are personal,
social and global.
This is your engagement in the
appreciation and critical study of 21st
Century Literature from the Philippines Pre-Colonial Literature
and the World in the Philippines

Timeline of Philippines Literary

Periods
1. Oral Lore from Pre-colonial Time
(---1564)
2. Literature under Spanish
Colonialism
Prose (1565-1897)
- anything written in sentences & 3. Literature under Foreign
paragraphs; words in their best Colonialism
order. (1898-1945)
4. Literature under Republic
Poetry (1946-1985)
5. Contemporary Literature
- anything written in verses, lines, (1996)
stanzas; the best words in their 6. Modern Times
order.
Early Filipinos lived in villages
frequently found along sea coasts and
8 Reasons Why We Study Literature river banks, close to the major sources
of food and the most convenient
1. Literature provides you Wisdom transportation routes.
and Insights.
2. Literature makes you explore rules They were fishermen, jungle farmers
in human nature between the Logic and hunters. Variously referred to as
of evil & the heart of goodness. natives, tribal Filipinos, or ethnic
3. Literature makes you reflect and, minorities, these Filipinos had used oral
reconsider your reading experiences lore.
as parallel to reality.
Oral Lore
4. Literature makes you understand
Is a form of human communication
how the world is actually
where knowledge, art, ideas and
understood by others.
cultural material are received, preserved
5. Literature makes you flexible and
and transmitted orally from one
adaptable to the cultures across the
generation to another.
Philippines and the around the
world. Early Filipinos weaved together
6. Literature improves your use of countless myths and legends to explain
language. certain phenomena in life.
7. Literature develops your capacity to
sympathize and empathize.
 Coming from daily observations  Batlog, Handyong, and Bantong –
about life, oral lore became the bedrock The Monster Slayer
of Pre-Colonial Literature.  Urduja – The Fighting Princess
Forms of Oral Lore

Epic
A long narrative poem which tells
about the exploits or adventures of
heroes of great historical or legendary
importance that perform valorous
deeds.
 Epic has long narrative or story.
 Epic is serious and is based on oral
tradition
 Epic has reference to supernatural
events and heroic deeds.
 Epic has impact on the beliefs,
customs, ideals or life values of the
people.
Literary Epic
- Writers/Authors Are Unknown
Folk Epic
- Writers/Authors Are Known
Sample of Epic

 Lam-ang
 Bernardo Carpio – The earth shaker
 happy homes and sister of Alunsina,
who learned of the evil plot and warned
the two so they were able to seek refuge
on higher ground.
Hinilawod After the flood waters subsided,
An Epic from Central Panay Paubari and Alunsina returned to the
plains secretly. They settled near the
mouth of Halawod river.
The Hinilawod epic tells the story of Several months later, Alunsina
the exploits of the three demigod became pregnant and told Paubari to
brothers, Labaw Donggon, prepare the siklot, things necessary for
Humadapnon and Dumalapdap of childbirth. She delivered a set of triplets
Panay. and summoned the high priest Bungot-
Banwa to perform the rites of the gods
Anthropologist Dr. F. Landa Jocano
of Mount Madya-as (the mountain
recorded a version of the epic from the
abode of the gods) to ensure the good
inhabitants of Central Panay.
health of the children. The high priest
-Start- promptly made an altar and burned
some alanghiram fronds and a pinch of
When the goddess of the eastern sky kamangyan. When the ceremony was
Alunsina (also known as Laun Sina, over, he opened the windows of the
“The Unmarried One”) reached north side of the room and a cold
maidenhood, the king of gods, Kaptan, northerly wind came in and suddenly,
decreed that she should marry. All the the three infants were transformed into
unmarried gods of the different strong, handsome young men.
domains of the universe tried to win her
hand to no avail. She chose to marry a Labaw Donggon, the eldest of the
mortal, Datu Paubari, the mighty ruler three, asked his mother to prepare his
of Halawod. magic cape, hat, belt, and kampilan
(sword) for he heard a place called
The decision of Alunsina angered Handug where a beautiful maiden
her other suitors. They plotted to bring named Angoy Ginbitinan lived.
harm to the newlyweds. A meeting of
the council of gods was called by The journey towards Handug took
Maklium-sa-t’wan, god of the plains, several days. Labaw Donggon walked
where a decision by those present was across plains and valleys, climbed up
made to destroy Halawod by flood. mountains until he reached the mouth
of Halawod river. When he finally met
Alunsina and Paubari escaped harm the maiden’s father and asked for her
through the assistance of Suklang hand in marriage, the father asked him
Malayon, the goddess and guardian of to fight the monster, Manalintad, as part
of his dowry. He went off to fight the The trip to Gadlum required Labaw
monster and with the help of his magic Donggon to use his biday nga inagta
belt, he killed the monster. To prove his (black boat) on which he sailed across
feat, he brought to Angoy Ginibitinan’s the seas for many months, went across
father the monster’s tail. the region of the clouds, passed the land
of stones until finally he reached the
After the wedding, Labaw Donggon shores of Tulogmatian which was the
proceeded home with his new bride. seaside fortress of Saragnayan. The
Along the way, they met a group of moment he set foot on the ground
young men who told him that they were Saragnayan asked him, “Who are you
on their way to Tarambang Burok to and why are you here? “To which he
win the hand of Abyang Durunuun, answered, "I am Labaw Donggon, son
sister of Sumpoy, the Lord of the of Datu Paubari and goddess Alunsina
Underworld and whose beauty was of Halawod. I came for the beautiful
legendary. Malitong Yawa Sinagmaling Diwata."
Labaw Donggon and his bride Saragnayan laughed. He told Labaw
continued on their journey home. The Donggon that what he wished for was
moment they arrived home, Labaw impossible to grant because she was his
Donggon told his mother to take care of wife. Labaw Donggon then challenged
his wife because he is taking another Saragnayan to a duel saying that
quest. This time, he was going to whoever wins will have her.
Tarambang Burok.
The challenge was accepted and
Before Labaw Donggon can get to they started fighting. Labaw Donggon
Tarambang Burok, he has to pass a submerged Saragnayan under water for
ridge guarded by a giant named Sikay seven years, but when he let go of him,
Padalogdog who has a hundred arms. Saragnayan was still alive. The latter
The giant would not allow him to go uprooted a coconut tree and started
through without a fight. However, the beating Labaw Donggon with it. He
giant was no match to Labaw survived the beating but was not able to
Donggon’s prowess and skill in fighting surpass the powers of Saragnayan's
so he gave up and allowed him to pamlang (amulet) and eventually he
continue. gave up and was imprisoned by
Labaw Donggon won the hand of Saragnayan beneath his house
Abyang Durunuun and also took her Back home Angoy Ginbitinan and
home. Before long, he went on another Abyang Durunuun both delivered sons.
journey. He went to Gadlum to ask for Angoy Ginbitinan's child was named
the hand of Malitong Yawa Aso Mangga and Abyang Durunuun’s
Sinagmaling Diwata who is the young son was called Abyang Baranugon.
bride of Saragnayan, Lord of the Only a few days after they were born
Darkness.
Aso Mangga and Abyang Baranugon begged with Humadapnon to leave the
embarked to look for their father. They place with him but the latter refused.
rode their sailboats through the region
of eternal darkness, passed the region of After seven months passed, Buyong
the clouds and the land of stones, Matanayon remembered that they have
finally reaching Saragnayan’s home. brought with them some ginger. One
Saragnayan noticed that Abyang evening at dinner time Buyong
Baranugon's umbilical cord have not Matanayon threw seven slices of ginger
yet been removed, he laughed and told into the fire. When Pinganun smelled
the child to go home to his mother. the odor of burning ginger she left the
dinner table because sorcerers hated the
Abyang Baranugon was slighted by odor of ginger. Immediately, Buyong
the remarks and immediately Matanayon struck Humadapnon who
challenged Saragnayan to a duel. They became unconscious. He dragged his
fought and Abyang Baranugon defeated friend with him and they were able to
Saragnayan and won his father's escape.
freedom. Labaw Donggon's defeat and
subsequent imprisonment by the Lord They continued with their trek and
of Darkness also angered his brothers. everywhere they went they exacted
revenge on all of Saragnayan's people
Humadapnon was so enraged that he and relatives. One day they reached a
swore to the gods of Madya-as that he place called Piniling Tubig who was
would wreak revenge on all of ruled by Datu Umbaw Pinaumbaw.
Saragnayan's kinsmen and followers. There was a big gathering in the village
and when they asked what was going
Humadapnon prepared to go to on they were told that the datu was
Saragnayan's domain. He employed the giving his daughter for marriage to
aid of Buyong Matanayon of Mount whoever could remove the huge
Matiula who was well-known for his boulder that rolled from a mountain
skill in swordsmanship. For their into the center of the village. Many men
journey, they rode on a sailboat called tried their luck but no one so far was
biday nga rumba-rumba. They travelled able to even move the stone.
through the region of the clouds, passed
by the region of eternal darkness and Humadapnon took off his magic
ended up at a place called Tarambang cape and used it to lift the stone and
Buriraw. threw it back into the mountain. The
datu kept his word and Humadapnon
In Tarambang Burirawwas a ridge married his daughter. During the
called Talagas Kuting-tang where a wedding feast Humadapnon heared
seductive sorceress named Piganun about the beauty of the goddess of
lived. Piganun changed herself to a greed Burigadang Pada Sinaklang
beautiful maiden and captured the heart Bulawan from a guest minstrel who
of Humadapnon. Buyong Matanayon
sang at the celebration. After the There ensued a bloody battle between
wedding Humadapnon went to seek the the Humadapnon and the monster.
hand of the goddess in marriage. Along
the way he encountered Buyong Humadapnon and Uyutang fought
Makabagting, son of the mighty Datu for seven months and their skill and
Balahidyong of Paling Bukid who was prowess seemed to be equal. But on the
also travelling with the same purpose in seventh month, he was able to grab on
mind. to Uyutang's ankle and broke it. Then
he took his iwang daniwan (magic
Upon learning of Humadapnon's dagger) and stabbed Uyutang under the
intent, Buyong Makabagting challenged armpit. Uyutang cried out so loud that
him to a duel. They fought and Buyong the ridge where they were fighting
Makabagting was no match to broke into two and there was an
Humadapnon's strength and skill. The earthquake. Half of the ridge became
fight ended when Buyong Makabagting the island of Buglas (Negros) and the
surrendered and even promised to aid other became the island of Panay.
Humadapnon in his quest.
Humadapnon married the goddess and Dumalapdap married Lubay-Lubyok
brought her home. Hanginun si Mahuyokhuyokan and then
took her home. Datu Paubari was very
Meanwhile, right after Humadapnon happy when he was reunited with his
left to seek Saragnayan's followers and three sons and he prepared a feast in
relatives, his brother Dumalapdap left their honor. After the celebration, the
for Burutlakan-ka-adlaw where the three brothers left for different parts of
maiden Lubay-Lubyok Hanginun si the world. Labaw Donggon went to the
Mahuyokhuyokon lived. For the trip, he north, Humadapnon went south,
brought along Dumasig, the most Dumalapdap to the west and Datu
powerful wrestler in Madya-as. Paubari remained in the east.

Several months later they came to a - The End-

place called Tarambuan-ka-banwa
where they encountered the two-headed
monster Balanakon who guarded a
narrow ridge leading to the place where
the maiden lived. With the aid of
Dumasig, Dumalapdap killed
Balanakon. However, upon
approaching the gate of the palace
where the maiden lived, he was
confronted by Uyutang, a batlike
monster with sharp poisonous claws.
 our people… They seemed like plants
sown and reared in darkness, having
flowers without perfume and fruits
without sap.
(8th sentence in the letter)
No longer does the Filipina stand
with her head bowed nor does she
spend her time on her knees, because
she is quickened by hope in the future.
Quickened: to be stimulated or affected
so much
(11th sentence in the letter)
Prudence does not consist in blindly
obeying any whim of the little tin god,
but in obeying only that which is
reasonable and just.
Prudence: common sense and wisdom
Literature under the Whim: impulse or desire
Spanish Colonialism
(16th sentence in the letter)
The tyranny of some is possible only
through cowardice and negligence on
the part of others.
(18th sentence in the letter)
Ignorance is servitude.
Servitude: state of being a slave
(19th sentence in the letter)
He who loves his independence
must first aid his fellowman, because he
who refuses protection to others will
find himself without it; the isolated rib
To the Women of in the buri is easily broken, but not so
the broom made of the ribs of the palm
Malolos bound together.
Jose Rizal Buri: a hat made from strips of palm
leave
(This is the 1st and the last sentence of the 1st : Masculine pronouns (he, his, himself)
paragraph of the letter) generally refers to mankind which
When I wrote Noli Me Tangere, I includes women.
asked myself whether bravery was a (23rd sentence in the letter)
common thing in the young women of
 God did not create man to be a
slave; nor did he endow him with
intelligence to have him hoodwinked,
or adorn him with reason to have him
deceived by others.
Hoodwinked: fooled or betrayed
(2nd to the Last sentence in the letter)
May your desire to educate yourself
be crowned with success; may you in
the garden of learning gather not bitter,
but choice fruit, looking well before
you eat because on the surface of the
globe all is deceit, and the enemy sows
weeds in your seedling plot.

Important points contained in this

letter
1. The rejection of the spiritual
authority of the friars.
2. The defense of private judgment.
3. Qualities Filipino mothers need to
possess.
4. Duties and responsibilities of
Filipino mothers to their children.
5. Duties and responsibilities of a
wife.
6. Counsel to young women on their
choice of a lifetime partner.
3 Qualities Filipino Women need to
possess (according to Rizal)
1. Filipino women should know how
to protect their dignity and honor.
2. Filipino women should educate
themselves aside from retaining
their good racial values.
3. Faith is not merely reciting prayers
and wearing religious pictures. It is
living the real Christian way with
good morals and manners