Module in 21 Century Literature From The Philippines To The World
Module in 21 Century Literature From The Philippines To The World
Module in 21 Century Literature From The Philippines To The World
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
may of its words to our language.
4. European legends and traditions brought here became assimilated in our songs,
corridos and moro-moros.
5. Ancient literature was collected and translated to Tagalog and other dialects.
6. Many grammar books were printed in Filipino, like Tagalog, Ilocano and Visayan.
7. Our periodicals during these times gained a religious tone.
1. Religious Literature
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 hanggan/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 rhyme 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 (Spanish poetry
of verse with eight syllables in five stanzas) 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.
Other known pasyons chanted during the Lenten season are in Ilocano, Pangasinan, Ibanag, Cebuano,
Bicol, Ilongo and Waray.
Aside from religious poetry, there were various kinds of prose narratives written to prescribe proper
decorum. Like the pasyon, these prose narratives were also used for proselytization to attempt to convert
someone to one's own religious faith).
http://www.seasite.niu.edu/Tagalog/Literature/literary_forms_in_philippine_lit.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qI2i4pAxb_Y
Another popular secular poetry is the metrical romance, the awit and korido in Tagalog. The awit is
set in dodecasyllabic quatrains (which means it has 12 syllables per line, 4 line per stanza) while
the korido is in octosyllabic quatrains. These are colorful tales of chivalry from European sources made
for singing and chanting such as Gonzalo de Cordoba (Gonzalo of Cordoba) and Ibong Adarna (Adarna
Bird). There are numerous metrical romances in Tagalog, Bicol, Ilongo, Pampango, Ilocano and in
Pangasinan. The awit as a popular poetic genre reached new heights in Balagtas' "Florante at Laura"
(ca. 1838-1861), the most famous of the country's metrical romances.
Again, the winds of change began to blow in 19th century Philippines. Filipino intellectuals educated
in Europe called Ilustrados began to write about the downside of colonization. This coupled with the
simmering calls for reforms by the masses gathered a formidable force of writers like Jose Rizal, Marcelo
H. del Pilar, Mariano Ponce, Emilio Jacinto and Andres Bonifacio.
This led to the formation of the Propaganda Movement where prose works such as the political essays
and Rizal's two political novels, Noli Me Tangere and the El Filibusterismo helped usher in the
Philippine revolution resulting in the downfall of the Spanish regime and at the same time planted the
seeds of a national consciousness among Filipinos.
But if Rizal's novels are political, the novel Ninay (1885) by Pedro Paterno is largely cultural and is
considered the first Filipino novel.
Although Paterno's Ninay gave impetus to other novelists like Jesus Balmori and Antonio M. Abad to
continue writing in Spanish, this did not flourish.
Other Filipino writers published the essay and short fiction in Spanish in La Vanguardia, El
Debate, Renacimiento Filipino, and Nueva Era. The more notable essayists and fictionists were Claro M.
Recto, Teodoro M. Kalaw, Epifanio de los Reyes, Vicente Sotto, Trinidad Pardo de Tavera, Rafael Palma,
Enrique Laygo (Caretas or Masks, 1925) and Balmori who mastered the prosa romantica or romantic
prose.
But the introduction of English as medium of instruction in the Philippines hastened the end of
Spanish so that by the 1930s, English writing had overtaken Spanish writing. During the language's death
suffering, however, writing in the romantic tradition, from the awit and korido, would continue in the
novels of Magdalena Jalandoni. But patriotic writing continued under the new colonialists. These appeared
in the vernacular poems and modern adaptations of works during the Spanish period and which further
maintained the Spanish tradition.
PRACTICE EXERCISES 1
If you were to examine the linguistic dimension (meaning) of the given excerpt of letter, what
conduct is being emphasized by Urbana? Do you agree that this behavior is still important given
that we are now in the new millennium?
RUBRICS
20-18 17-15 14-10
Content indicates synthesis of Content indicates thinking and Shows some thinking and
ideas, in depth analysis and reasoning applied with original reasoning but most ideas are
evidences original thought and thought on a few ideas. underdeveloped
support for the topic.
PRACTICE EXERCISES 2
Ninay is considered the first Filipino and Tagalog novel. It was written
by Pedro Paterno and published in the year 1908. It illustrates the
richness of the Philippine environment and culture through intertwined
narratives and descriptions of national scenes and rituals. This served to
undermine the Spanish statement that the Philippines had no culture.
The novel explores the life and love story of the female protagonist named
Ninay, a heartbroken young woman who died of cholera. Her heartbreak
was due to her separation from her lover Carlos Mabagsic. Ninay's
misfortune became harder to bear because of the loss of her parents.
A pasiam, the novena for the dead, was being said and offered for the
lifeless Ninay. Framed with this melancholic atmosphere of nine-day
prayer for the departed (pasiyam), the novel opens up a succession of
narratives that present "variations of unrequited love".
____________________________________________________________________________
With reference to the novel NINAY and the rich ethnicity of the Philippines. Research and
give a short description of 9 different indigenous burial practices in the Philippines long
before and even during the Spanish Colonization. At the center of the chain, compose a short
prayer for departed souls due to the pandemic COVID-19.
RUBRICS
20-18 17-15 14-10
Content indicates synthesis of Content indicates thinking and Shows some thinking and
ideas, in depth analysis and reasoning applied with original reasoning but most ideas are
evidences original thought and thought on a few underdeveloped
support for the topic. ideas.
EVALUATION:
After reading the discussion, brainstorm for keywords that can describe the kind of literature we have
during the Spanish Period. Then, think also of a symbol that is representative of this literary period. Use
that keywords to create the symbol. I encourage you to do a rough draft first so you can play with the
layout of the words. You may lightly sketch out the lines of your drawing and then place the words on top.
Some words may need to be larger or smaller than others. If needed, you are allowed to repeat key
words. Give a short explanation about your WORD ART.
Explanation:
RUBRICS
20-18 17-15 14-10
Content indicates synthesis of Content indicates thinking and Shows some thinking and
ideas, in depth analysis and reasoning applied with original reasoning but most ideas are
evidences original thought and thought on a few underdeveloped
support for the topic. ideas.
References Cited
http://www.seasite.niu.edu/Tagalog/Literature/literary_forms_in_philippine_lit.htm
Agoncillo T.A. (2003) History and Culture, Language and Literature. UST Publishing
House Dimalanta, O et.al. (2004) Philippine Contemporary Literature in English. UST Publishing House ncca.gov.ph