PHILIPPINE LITERATURE REGIONS

COMMON LITERARY GENRE IN REGIONS

Etiological Legends (origin of things) Epics

➢ explain how things came to be or why things ➢ narrate the adventures of tribal heroes
are as they are ➢ The tribal heroes possess traits and values
➢ passed down through oral tradition considered ideal by the tribe of origin.
➢ anonymous authors.
Myths
Folktales/Folklore ➢ stories that involve the native pantheon of
➢ traditional stories passed down through oral gods/goddesses
tradition ➢ explain a belief, custom, or strange natural
➢ include fables, riddles, proverbs, folk songs, phenomenon
and sometimes superstitious beliefs.

3 major island groups of the Philippines: Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao

LITERATURE FROM LUZON

❖ Divided into 8 regions: Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley Region, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR),
National Capital Region (NCR), Bicol Region, Central Luzon, MIMAROPA, and CALABARZON
❖ 5 Major regional languages: Bikolano, Ilokano, Kapampangan, Pangasinense, and Tagalog
❖ Some ethnic groups: Aetas, Igorots, Ibalois, Mangyans, Apayaos, Kalingas, and Itnegs

EXAMPLES OF LITERATURE FROM LUZON

BIAG NI LAM-ANG (ILOCOS REGION)
This is an epic about Lam-ang, a man with extraordinary strength, who sets out to find his missing father
Don Juan.

”THE LEGEND OF MAGAT RIVER” (CAGAYAN VALLEY, FIRST VERSION)

This is a legend about Magat, a handsome and strong-willed youth, who saved a lovely maiden in a stream
from the clutches of a python.

ALIGUYON (CAR)
An epic, Aliguyon is about a series of mortal combats between Aliguyon and Pumbakhayon to settle a
tribal feud.

“FOOTNOTE TO YOUTH” (NCR)

This is a short story about Dodong, who wanted to marry Teang. Both were young, so when Dodong asked
his father, he was met with silence. The two ended up getting married, but later on, they both start to think
about and even regret doing so.

IBALON OR IBALONG (BICOL REGION)

 This is an epic about three heroes—Baltog, Handiong, and Bantong—who all defeated their
adversaries.

“ATIN CU PUNG SINGSING” (CENTRAL LUZON)

This is a children’s folk song about a child who lost the ring given to her by her mother.

TAGBANUA MYTH (MIMAROPA)

This is a myth about the first man, named Adan, who was like a stone, for he could not speak.

LITERATURE FROM VISAYAS

❖ divided into 3 regions: Western, Central, and Eastern
❖ 4 major regional languages: Cebuano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Kinaray-a, and Waray
❖ seven main islands: Bohol, Cebu, Panay, Samar, Negros, Leyte, and Masbate

❖ Poems: Binalaybay.
❖ Stories: Asoy or Sugilanon.
❖ Riddles: Paktakon.
❖ Proverbs are translated to Hurubaton. These are usually in two lines and rhymed.
❖ Lullabies: ili-ili.

❖ Ambahan is a long song alternately sung by a soloist and chorus.

❖ Siday is a long poetic battle between two paid poets representing the two families in the pursuit of
marriage.
❖ Balitaw is a love song sung by a man and a woman in a debating manner.

EXAMPLES OF VISAYAN LITERATURE | WESTERN VISAYAS

HINILAWOD
➔ It is the oldest and perhaps most well-known epic of Panay.
➔ It narrates the story of the goddess of the eastern sky named Alunsina who reached the age of maidenhood.
Every god from different places tried to win her heart. Soon, the goddess decided to marry a mortal from
Halawod, Datu Paubari.

THE FALL OF POLOBULAC

This is a tale from Panay about the seven deadly sins.

EXAMPLES OF VISAYAN LITERATURE | EASTERN VISAYAS

BOWAON AND TOTOON

➔ This is a Waray folktale with the English translation “Falsehood and Truth.”
➔ It is about two friends named Bowaon and Totoon who could not find work, so they decided to go away
from their place to look for their fortune elsewhere.
SI AMOMONGO AT SI IPUT-IPUT
➔ This is a fable about a gorilla and a firefly.
➔ lesson: one should never belittle those who are small because they could do big things that big people
cannot do.

EXAMPLES OF VISAYAN LITERATURE | CENTRAL VISAYAS

SICALAC AND SICAVAY

This is a Visayan creation myth about Captan and Maguayan who are both gods who created earth and all
living things. Captan planted a bamboo in the garden. One day it broke into two sections and out stepped a
man and woman who were respectively named as Sicalac and Sicavay.

CATALINA OF DUMAGUETE
➔ This is a legend about a 16-year-old girl named Catalina who was very beautiful and industrious but with
many strange ways.
➔ She was said to have mysterious powers and was said to have saved Dumaguete from the Moros.

LITERATURE FROM MINDANAO

❖ divided into 6 regions: Davao Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Soccsksargen, ARMM, and
Caraga Region
❖ 4 major regional languages: Chavacano, Maguindanao, Maranao, and Tausug
❖ generally inhabited by Muslims, but although they are no longer a majority, the Islamic culture is still evident
❖ Unlike Luzon and Visayas, Mindanao was not entirely colonized by the Spaniards.

❖ large groups of ethnic minorities: Maranao, Maguindanao, Ilanun, and Sangil; also referred to as Moro
❖ groups found in the uplands: the Bagobo, Bukidnon, Manadaya, Manobo, and Subanon
❖ Every ethnic minority has a number of raconteurs or narrators who deliver a story in a creative way, bearing
two or three or more folktales. The stories they tell have been conveyed to them by older members of their
respective families, friends, and acquaintances, some of whom have already died. Raconteurs can be young
or old, men or women.

EXAMPLES OF LITERATURE FROM MINDANAO

THE ORIGIN OF DAVAO (DAVAO REGION)
This is an account of the beginning of Davao. It is about the natives of Davao called Kalagans.

AG TOBIG NOG KEBOKLAGAN (ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA)

➔ This is an epic story translated as The Kingdom of Keboklagan.
➔ It is considered as one of the oldest epics in Zamboanga.
➔ It is chanted or performed during their week-long buklog festival, and it tells the life and adventures of an
extraordinary hero named Taake.

HOW CAGAYAN DE ORO GOT ITS NAME (NORTHERN MINDANAO)

This is a legend explaining the origin of the name of the province, which means “shameful peace.”
ULAHINGAN (SOCCSKSARGEN)
This is an epic about the adventures of Agyu and his relatives who had a conflict with their rulers. As they
flee from their place, they were guided by a diwata.

THE MAGUINDANAO TALE OF THE FAITHFUL WIFE (ARMM)

This folktale is about an aged man’s last words to his son, telling him that he should never marry a widow
and only choose a young lady.

TULALANG (CARAGA REGION)

➔ This folktale is about Tulalang, the firstborn of a poor couple.
➔ One day, he went into the forest to gather some food. When he was collecting crops, an old lady approached
him and pitied their poor life. She said that they will never be hungry, and they can get anything they want.
Soon after, they had a prosperous life.
8.1 AMERICAN LITERATURE

THE COLONIAL AND REVOLUTIONARY PERIODS

RELIGION, LITERATURE, AND TECHNOLOGY

➔ Puritans—Protestants who follow the Bible in the strictest manner— dominated England.
➔ Puritan ideals had influenced not only the British society but also its colonies.
➔ Puritans fled to America because of criticism of the Catholic Church and lack of political support.
➔ significant event: the invention of the printing press.
➔ During the colonial period, many places became the key spots of printing literary works:
❖ Cambridge ❖ New York ❖ Annapolis
❖ Boston ❖ Philadelphia

➔ Oral literature cherished by the Native Americans was soon replaced by printed literature.
➔ Native American literary heritage was almost eradicated from American literary history through violent
suppression.
➔ Many political and military events shattered indigenous American culture.
➔ English became the local language as well as the preferred language for literary writing.

WRITERS AND LITERARY PIECES

➔ During this time the pamphlet—which extolled the European conquerors— was the most prominent form
of literary piece.
➔ Since Puritans exalted religiosity, many early writings during this period centered on faith, including internal
struggles and hypocrisy of the faithful.

NOTABLE RELIGIOUS WRITERS

➢ John Winthrop – a Puritan who influenced the government and religions of other colonies through his
writings
➢ Edward Winslow – wrote several works that were of massive value to the historian of the Plymouth colony
➢ William Bradford – wrote a journal chronicling the Pilgrim venture
➢ Anne Bradstreet – one of the first poets to write English verse in the American colonies
➢ Edward Taylor – one of the foremost poets of colonial British North America
➢ Michael Wigglesworth – an author of rhymed treatises expounding Puritan doctrines
➢ Nicholas Noyes – wrote competent verses in the Puritan metaphysical tradition

BRITISH CULTURAL HEGEMONY

Because of the attempt of the British government to impose cultural hegemony and to dominate the
minority culture, some writings focused on typifying the contact and conflicts of the Britons with the Native
Americans.

Such themes are very evident in the works of

❖ Daniel Gookin ❖ Alexander Whitaker
 ❖ John Mason ❖ Mary Rowlandson
❖ Benjamin Church

RISE OF AFRICAN - AMERICAN LITERATURE

➔ There was an influx of Africans coming to America as slaves.
➔ Two notable African-American writers of this time were:
➢ Phillis Weatley - a slave brought to America
➢ Olaudah Equiano - known for writings that criticized the British Empire and America for its
tolerance of slavery

THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD IN AMERICA

➔ The Revolutionary Period, which ran from 1765 to 1783, was brought about by:
- Natives’ realization of the atrocities of their conquerors, such as their lack of representation in the
government
- Their desire to have the same rights as the British subjects

➔ Literature of this period was political in tone because it was seen as an avenue by the American writers to
express their protest against the British Empire.
➔ Two keynote personalities during this time were:
❖ Benjamin Franklin ❖ Thomas Paine

➔ As a subtle condemnation of England, satires came into the limelight.

➔ Satire is a kind of rhetoric that employs an assortment of devices to critique society, expose flaws, and
ridicule politics.
➔ Prominent satirists were:
❖ John Trumbull ❖ Francis ❖ Philip Morin
Hopkinson Freneau

“The enormous scientific, economic, social, and philosophical changes of the 18th century, called the Enlightenment,
impacted the authority of clergyman and scripture, making way for democratic principles. The increase in population
helped account for the greater diversity of opinion in religious and political life as seen in the literature of this time.”

-Norton Anthology for American Literature (2007), on the American Revolutionary Period