Pre-colonial Literature
The Bugtong (Tagalog) or Burburtia (Iloco)
Early Literature in the Philippines
The early inhabitants of the Philippine archipelago had a
native alphabet or syllabary which among the Tagalogs
was called baybayin, an inscription akin to Sanskrit. It
was through the baybayin that literary forms such as
songs, riddles and proverbs, lyric and short poems as
well as parts of epic poems were written. The bulk of
these early literature however was just passed on
through oral recitation and incantation and were
transcribed into the Roman alphabet only centuries later
by Spanish chroniclers and other scholars.
It is believed that replacement of the baybayin by the
Roman alphabet must have obliterated a significant
aspect of indigenous Philippine literature.
Literary Forms
A. The Awit or song
For the Tagalogs, there were some 16 song forms for
various occasions. Among these are the:
uyayi or hele, a lullaby for putting a child to
sleep;
the soliranin is a song for travelers while
the talindaw is the seafarers song;
the kumintang is a war song;
the maluway is a song for collective labor while
the kundiman is a melancholic love song.
The dalit, is a song-ritual usually sung to the
rhythm of dance.
The panambitan is a courtship song while
the pamanhikan is a song-ritual of the would-be
bridegroom to his would-be bride as he asks
permission to marry her.
The subli is another dance-ritual song of
courtship and marriage.
In the north, among the Ilocanos, the more popular song
forms are the
dallot and the duayya,both love songs, and
the dung-awwhich is a dirge or a wake song.
The Bontoc of Mountain Province have
the bagbagto, a song ritual for harvest,
the Ivatan up in the Batanes islands have three most
popular folk song forms:
the kantaand the kalusan.
The laji is a lyric rendition of a song usually sung
after a days work when people gather together
in their houses to chat and drink the native wine,
palekand just find time to be merry
B.
Usually,
riddles are made to rhyme and utilize
the talinghaga, a form of metaphor
whose signification eventually conveys
the meaning of the answer to the riddle.
Sometimes, the riddles are relayed
through familiar indigenous forms of
poetry such as the ambahan,which is a
monorhyming heptasyllabic poem
attributed to the Hanunuu-Mangyan
ethnic group in Mindoro. Apart from
relaying riddles, ambahans are also
used to narrate common folk
experiences.
A poetic form similar to the ambahan is
the tanaga. Unlike the ambahan whose
length is indefinite, the tanaga is a
compact seven-syllable quatrain. Poets
test their skills at rhyme, meter and
metaphor through the tanaga because
not only is it rhymed and measured but
also exacts skillful use of words to
create a puzzle that demands some
kind of an answer.
C. Tagalog proverbs are called salawikain or
sawikain while they are termed sarsarita in Iloko.
Like most proverbs the world over, Philippine
proverbs contain sayings which prescribes
norms, imparts a lesson or simply reflects
standard norms, traditions and beliefs in the
community. Classification of Philippine proverbs
according to subject matter:
(1) proverbs expressing a general attitude
towards life and the laws that govern life;
(2) ethical proverbs recommending certain
virtues and condemning certain vices;
(3) proverbs expressing a system of values;
(4) proverbs expressing general truths and
observations about life and human nature;
(5) humorous proverbs and
(6) miscellaneous proverbs.
D. Epics or Ethno-epics Almost all the major ethnic
groups in the country have an epic that is
chanted in a variety of rituals. Because chanting
is the mode by which these epics have been
produced, many of them still remain unwritten.
Aliguyon (Hudhud) from the Ifugao,
translated by Amador Daguio
Biag ni Lam-ang- from the Ilocano,
composite text by Leopoldo Yabes and
translated by Jovita Ventura Castro
Labaw Donggon - the Sulod epic, the
text by Dr. F. Landa Jocano and
translated by Rosella Jean Makasian-
Puno
 Agyu or Olahing or Ulahingan - from the
Manobos, composite text by Patricia
Melendres Cruz from transcriptions of E.
Arsenio Manuel
Sandayo from the Subanun, text and
translation by Virgilio Resma.
5 common characteristics of Filipino epics
1. most of these epics are designated by names which
means song, or chant, like the Ifugaohudhud, the
Manoboolagingor the Subanonsguman.
2. the epics are episodic and proceed through
constructions that are en palier. There are repetitions of
scenes at every episode the more familiar among these
would be the chewing of the betel nut, battle chants,
getting dressed for marriage, etc.
3. the epics abound with supernatural characters: the
diwatas, anitos, and other benign spirits who come to the
aid of the hero.
4. these epics are also reflective of the society where
they originate . They portray ethnic society before the
coming of the Muslims (1380) and the Christians (1521)
and serve as vehicles for the transmission of ethnic
customs and wisdom
5. there are always several versions of these epics, as
well as a proliferation of episodes, phenomenon that is
explained by oralityof the genre and its transmission
through the ages to among the generations of the group.
Excerpts of the Epics
Aliguyon or the Hudhudof the Ifugaostells of the
exploits of Aliguyon as he battles his arch
enemy, Pambukhayonamong rice fields and
terraces and instructs his people to be steadfast
and learn the wisdom of warfare and of
peacemaking during harvest seasons.
Biag ni Lam-ang (Life of Lamang) tells of the
adventures of the prodigious epic hero, Lam-
angwho exhibits extraordinary powers at a very
early age. At nine months he is able to go to war
to look for his fathers 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.
Labaw Donggon is about the amorous exploits
of the son of a goddess Alunsina, by a mortal,
Datu Paubari. The polygamous hero battles the
huge monster Manaluntadfor the hand of
Abyang Ginbitinan; then he fights
SikayPadalogdog, the giant with a hundred arms
to win Abyang Doronoon and confronts the lord
of darkness, Saragnayan, to win
NagmalitongYawaSinagmaling Diwata.
The Agyu or Olahing is a three part epic that
starts with the pahmara (invocation) then the
kepuunpuun ( 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.
Sandayo, 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.
Other known epics are:
Bantugan of the Maranao, the Darangan which
is a Muslim epic, the Kudaman of Palawan
which was transcribed by Dr. Nicole McDonald,
the Alim of the Ifugao, the Hinilawod of Panay,
the Ibalon of Bikol and Tuwaang of the Manobo,
which was transcribed by anthropologist E.
Arsenio Manuel.
The Tagalog have no known epic but it is
generally believed that the story of Bernardo
Carpio, the man who has been detained by the
huge mountains of Montalban is their epic.
Philippine Literature During
the Spanish Period
Historical Background
Spanish colonization in the Philippines started in
1565 during the time of Miguel Lopez de
Legazpi, the first Spanish governor-general in
the Philippines.
Literature started to flourish during his time.
The Spaniards colonized the Philippines for
more than three centuries.
The Spanish colonizers wanted to undermine
the native oral tradition by substituting for it the
story of the Passion of Christ. However, the
native tradition survived and even flourished in
areas inaccessible to the Spaniards.
SPANISH INFLUENCES ON THE PHILIPPINE
LITERATURE
1. Christian Doctrine
2. Spanish language became the literary language
this time
3. European legends and traditions
 4. Ancient literature was collected and translated to
Tagalog
5. Grammar books were printed in Filipino
6. Religious tone
FOLK SONGS
Example:
Leron-Leron Sinta (Tagalog)
Pamulinawen (Iloko)
Dandansoy (Bisaya)
Sarong Banggi (Bicol)
Atin Cu Pung Singsing (Kapampangan)
RECREATIONAL PLAYS
There were many recreational plays performed by
Filipinos during the Spanish times. Almost all of them
were in poetic form.
1. CENAKULO -Dramatic performance of the
passion and death of Christ
2. ZARZUELA- The father of drama, a musical
comedy or melodrama three acts which death
with mens passion and emotions like love, hate,
revenge, cruelty , avarice or some political
problem.
3. LAGAYLAY- A special occasion for the pilareos
of sorsogon during maytime to get together
4. SALUBONG - Dramatizes the reunion of the
risen Christ and his mother.
5. CARILLO- A form of dramatic entertainment
perform on a moonless night during a town fiesta
or on darknights after a harvest.
6. SAINETE- A short musical comedy popular
during the 18th century. They were exaggerated
comedy shown between acts plays and were
mostly performed by characters from the lower
class.
7. THE MORO-MORO- Like the Cenaculo, the
Moro-Moro is presented also on a special stage.
This is performed during town fiestas to entertain
the people and to remind them of their Christian
religion.
Example: Prinsipe Rodante
8. KARAGATAN- This is a poetic vehicle of a
socio-religious nature celebrated during the
death of a person
9. DUPLO- The Duplo replaced the
Karagatan. This is a poetic joust in speaking and
reasoning.
10. THE BALAGTASAN -This is a poetic joust or a
contest of skills in debate on a particular topic or
issue.
11. THE DUNG-AW - This is a chant in free verse by
a bereaved person or his representative beside
the corpse of the dead.
12. AWIT -is in dodecasyllabic verse.
13. are fabricated stories from writers imagination
although the setting and characters are
European; refers to chanting.
Example:
Florante at Laura by Francisco Balagtas
14. CORRIDO- is in octosyllabic verse, were usually
on legends or stories from European countries
like France, Spain, Italy and Greece; refers to
narration.
Example:
Ibong Adarna by Jose de la Cruz
Other information:
The church authorities adopted a policy of spreading the
Church doctrines by communicating to the natives in
their own language.
Doctrina Christiana (1593), the first book
to be printed in the Philippines, was a
prayerbook written in Spanish with an
accompanying Tagalog translation.
The task of translating religious instructional
materials forced the Spanish missionaries to
employ natives as translators.
Eventually, these natives learned to read and
write both in Spanish and in their native tongue.
Ladinos- bilingual natives
- They published their works,
mainly devotional poetry, in the first decade of the 17th
century.
Gaspar Aquino de Belen - the most gifted among the
Ladinos.
- he wrote the Mahal na Pasion ni Jesu Christo, a
Tagalog poem based on Christ's passion, was published
in 1704.
In the 18th century, secular literature from Spain in the
form of medieval ballads inspired the native poetic-
drama form called the komedya, later to be called moro-
moro because these often dealt with the theme of
Christians triumphing over Moslems.
Printing overtook the oral tradition, and it set for
the development of prose.
 The first Filipino novel was "Ninay," written in
Spanish by Pedro Paterno.
Prominent figures during Spanish Colonial Period
Fransisco Baltazar (1788-1862), popularly
called Balagtas, is the acknowledged master of
traditional Tagalog poetry.
His narrative poem, "Florante at Laura," written
in sublime Tagalog, is about tyranny in Albanya,
but it is also perceived to be about the tyranny in
his Filipino homeland.
Jose Rizal (1861-1896), our National Hero,
chose the realistic novel as his medium.
Rizal's two novels, "Noli Me Tangere" and its
sequel, "El Filibusterismo, chronicle the life and
ultimate death of Ibarra, a Filipino educated in
abroad, who attempts to reform his country
through education.
Inspired by Rizal and his two novels were
Andres Bonifacio (1863-1897) and his closest
aide, Emilio Jacinto (1875-1899). Both were
writers and social critics who were profoundly
influenced by the liberal ideas of the French
enlightenment.
The Philippine revolutionary period also had its share of
women writers.
Gregoria de Jesus, wife of Andres Bonifacio,
wrote notable Tagalog poetry.
In Vigan of the Ilocano North,
Leona Florentino, by her poetry, became the
foremost Ilocano writer of her time.
Japanese Period
1941 1945
Between 1941-1945,
Philippine Literature was interrupted in its development
when we were again conquered by another foreign
country, Japan.
Philippine literature in English came to a halt.
Except for the Tribune and the Philippine
Review, Pillars, Free Philippines, and Filipina,
almost all newspapers in English were stopped
by the Japanese.
During this time,
there was no freedom of speech and of the press.
Victoria Abelardo has described Filipino writing
during the Japanese occupation as being
pessimistic and bitter.
There were some efforts at escapist literature,
but in general, the literary output was minor and
insignificant. Because of strict censorship, few
literary works were printed during the war years.
The weekly Liwayway was placed under strict
surveillance until it was managed by a Japanese
named Ishiwara
The only contact with the outside world was
done with utmost secrecy through the
underground radio program called
Voice of Freedom.
Tagalog was favored by the Japanese military
authority and writing in English was consigned to
a limbo.
Japanese were able to influence and encourage
the Filipino in developing the vernacular
literature.
The only Filipino writers who could write freely
were those who were living in the United States.
Most writers and authors were lead to either go
underground or write in Tagalog.
So, Filipino literature was given a break during
this period.
Filipino literature also experienced renewed
attention because writers in English turned to
writing in Filipino.
Filipino Drama
-The drama experienced a lull during the Japanese
period because movie houses showing American films
were closed.
- The big movie houses were just made to show stage
shows. Many of the plays were reproductions of English
plays to Tagalog.
-The translators were Francisco Soc Rodrigo, Alberto
Concio, and Narciso Pimentel.
-They also founded the organization of Filipino players
named Dramatic Philippines.
A few of the playwriters were:
1. Jose Ma. Hernandez wrote PANDAY PIRA
2.Francisco Soc Rodrigo wrote sa PULA, SA PUTI
3.Clodualdo del Mundo wrote BULAGA (an
expression in the game Hide and Seek).
4. Julian Cruz Balmaceda
 wrote SINO BA KAYO?, DAHIL SA ANAK, and NVM Gonzales LUNSOD NAYON AT DAGAT-
HIGANTE NG PATAY. DAGATAN

Filipino Poetry Noteworthy writer of the period was Carlos P.

Three types of poems emerged during this
period.
Haiku
a poem of free verse that the Japanese liked.
It is made up of seventeen (17) syllables divided
into three (3) lines. The first line has five, the second
seven and the third five. It is allegorical in meaning,
short and covers a wide scope in meaning.
Tanaga
- like the haiku, it is short, but has measure and
rhyme. Each line has seventeen syllables and is also
allegorical in meaning.
Romulo who won the Pulitzer Prize for his
bestsellers
I SAW THE FALL OF THE PHILIPPINES,
I SEE THE PHILIPPINES RISE and his MOTHER
AMERICA AND MY BROTHER AMERICANS.
Journalists include Salvador P. Lopez, Leon Ma.
Geurrero, Raul Manglapuz and Carlos Bulosan.
Nick Joaquin produced THE WOMAN WHO LOOKED
LIKE LAZARUS. Fred Ruiz Castro wrote a few poems.
LITERATURE AND SOCIETY by Salvador P. Lopez
(Essay)
HIS NATIVE SOIL by Juan Laya (Novel)

Karaniwang Anyo (Usual Form) President Manuel L. Quezons autobiography

the usual and common form of poetry THE GOOD FIGHT was published posthumously.

Other writers of this period were Juan Collas

(19440, Tomas Confesor (1945), Roman A. de la Cruz
Filipino Short Stories and Elisa Tabuar.
-The field of the short story widened during the Philippine Literature During American Period
Japanese Occupation.
Historical Background
Many wrote short stories.
The Filipino Revolutionists won against the
-Among them were: Spaniards who colonized for more than 300
Brigido Batungbakal Macario Pineda years.

Serafin Guinigindo Liwayway Arceo, June 12, 1898 raised the Philippine flag as a
symbol of our independence. Gen. Emilio
Narciso Ramos NVM Gonzales, Aguinaldo was selected the first president of the
Philippine Republic but this was short lived.
Gloria Guzman Ligaya Perez
The filipino-american war resulted in the defeat
Alicia Lopez Lim
of Gen. Miguel Malvar in 1903. The peace
The best writings in 1945 were selected by a group of movements started as early as 1900.
judges composed of Francisco Icasiano, Jose
Many filipino started writing again and the
Esperanza Cruz, Antonio Rosales, Clodualdo del Mundo
nationalism of the people remain undaunted.
and Teodoro Santos.
Filipino writers went into all forms of literature
As a result of this selection, the following got the like news reporting, poetry, stories, plays,
first three prizes: essays and novels. Their writings clearly
depicted their love of country and thier longings
First Prize: for independence.
Narciso Reyes with his LUPANG TINUBUAN In 1910
Second Prize: A new group started to write in English.
Liwayway Arceos UHAW ANG TIGANG NA LUPA Hence, Spanish, Tagalog , the Vernaculars and
finally , English, were the mediums used in
Third Prize:
literature during these times.
 The writers in Spanish were wont to write on
nationalism like honoring Rizal and other heroes.
The writers in Tagalog continued in their
lamentations on the conditions of the country
and their attempts to arouse love for ones native
tongue. The writers in English imitated the
themes and methods of the Americans.
In 1920
The UP college Folio was later replaced by the
Philippine Collegian.
Dead Stars by Paz Marquez Benitez stand out
as a model of perfection in character delineation,
local color, plot and message.
1933
Footnote to youth by Jose Garcia Villa
The active arousal in the field of literature
started to be felt in the following newspaper:
- EL NUEVO DIA (The New Day) Established by
Sergio Osmenia in 1900.
- EL GRITO DEL PUEBLO (The Call of the
Nation) Established by Pascual Poblete in
1900.
- EL RENACIEMENTO (The Rebirth) Founded
by Rafael Palma in 1900.
There were also plays written, included here
were the following:
KAHAPON, NGAYON AT BUKAS (Yesterday,
Today and Tomorrow) Written by Aurelio
Tolentino
TANIKALANG GINTO of Juan Abad
MALAYA by Thomas Remigio
WALANG SUGAT by Severino Reyes
Opening of Public Schools
Education became a very important issue for
the united states colonial government, since it
allowed it to spread thier cultural values,
particularly the english language, to the filipino
people. By 1901, public education was
institutionalized in the philippines, with english
serving the medium of instruction.
Characteristics of Literature During this Period.
A. Literature in Spanish
a) Cecilio Apostol - wrote "A RIZAL" and is considered
the best poem in praise of the hero of bagumbayan.
b) Fernando Ma. Guerero - he collected the best of his
poem in a book called Crisalidas, and one of the poems
written in this book was "INVOCACION A RIZAL"
c) Jesus Balmori - well-known for his pen name of
Batikuling. He and Manuel Bernabe participated in a
debate on the topic - "REMEMBRANCE and
FORGETFULNESS". He was elected Poet Laureate in
spanish besting Manuel Bernabe.
d) Manuel Bernabe - is a lyric poet. He was more
attractive to the public in a debate with balmori because
of the melodious words he used. He defended OLVIDO
e) Claro M. Recto - he collected his poems in a book
entitled BAJO LOS COCOTEROS. One of his writings
dedicated to Rizal is "ANTE EL MARTIR".
Others Writters in Spanish
1. Adelina Guerrea was first woman poet in the
Philippines who was good in Spanish. She obtained the
Nobel Prize in her EL NIDO.
2. Isidro Marpori became famous for his four books
entitled Aroma de Ensueno.
3. Macario Adriatico wrote of Legend of Mindoro
entitled La Punta de Salto
4. Epifanio de los Santos
B. Filipino Literature
a) Lope K. Santos - "Father of the National language
Grammar", he was also called "apo" of the tagalog
writers. "BANAAG AT SIKAT" was his master piece.
b) Jose Corazon de Jesus - known as huseng batute,
he was also called the poet of love in his time. "AG
ISANG PUNONG KAHOY", an elegy, is believed to be
his masterpiece.
c) Armando V. Hernandez - was dubbed "Poet of the
Laborers", his masterpiece is "ANG PANDAY"
d) Valeriano Hernandez Pena - known as Tandang
Anong, he considers "NENA AT NENENG" his
masterpiece.
e) Inigo Ed Regalado - a popular story teller, novelist
and newspaper man. He reach the peak of his success
by the "sumpong" of his pen.
Julian Cruz Balmaceda classified three kinds of
Tagalog poets:
1. Poet of the Heart (Makata ng Puso).
These included Lope K. Santos, Iigo Ed.
Regalado, Carlos Gatmaitan, Pedro Deogracias
del Rosario, Ildefonso Santos, Amado V.
Hernandez, Nemecio Carabana, and Mar
Antonio.
2. Poets of Life (Makata ng Buhay).
Led by Lope K Santos, Jose Corazon de Jesus,
Florentino Collantes, Patricio Mariano, Carlos
Garmaitan, and Amado V. Hernandez.
3. Poets of the Stage (Makata ng Tanghalan).
Led by Aurelio Tolentino, Patricio Mariano,
Severino Reyes, and Tomas Remigio.
C. Philippine Literature in English
In a way, we can say that we can trace the
beginnings of Philippine literature in English with
the coming of the Americans. For this purpose,
we can divide this period into three time frames,
namely:
The Period of Re-Orientation (1898-1910)
English as a literary vehicle came with the
American occupation in August 13, 1898 and as
they say, a choice bestowed on us by history.
By 1900, English came to be used as a medium
of instruction in the public schools. From the
American forces were recruited the first teachers
of English.
By 1908, the primary and intermediate grades
were using English. It was also about this time
when UP, the forerunner in the use of English in
higher education, was founded.
The Period of Imitation (1910-1924)
By 1919, the UP College Folio published the
literary compositions of the first Filipino writers in
English. They were the pioneers in short story
writing.
They were then groping their way into imitating
American and British models which resulted in a
stilted, artificial and unnatural style, lacking
vitality and spontaneity.
Period of Self-Discovery and Growth (1925-1941)
By this time, Filipino writers had acquired the
mastery of English writing. They now confidently
and competently wrote on a lot of subjects
although the old-time favorites of love and youth
persisted. They went into all forms of writing like
the novel and the drama.
Poetry. Noteworthy names in this field ,they wrote in
free verse, in odes and sonnets and in other types.
Poetry was original, spontaneous, competently written
and later, incorporated social consciousness.
Short Story (1925-1941) Poetry and short story
flourished during these times.
Publications. The Philippine Free Press provided the
first incentives to Filipino writers in English by offering
prizes to worthwhile contribution. Other publication
followed suit.
The Drama.(1925-1941) Drama during this period did
not reach the heights attained by the novel or the short
story.
Philippine Literature
The Contemporary Period
The Rebirth of Freedom (1946-1970)
The Americans returned in 1945. Filipinos
rejoiced and guerillas who fled to the mountain
joined the liberating American Army.
On July 4, 1946, the Philippines regained is
freedom and the Filipino flag waved joyously
alone. The chains were broken.
THE STATE OF LITERATURE DURING THIS PERIOD
The early post-liberation period was marked by a
kind of struggle of mind and spirit posed by the
sudden emancipation from the enemy, and the
wild desire to see print.
1. HEART OF THE ISLANDS (1947) a collection of
poems by Manuel Viray
2. PHILIPPINES CROSS SECTION (1950) a collection
of prose and poetry by Maximo Ramos and Florentino
Valeros
3. PROSE AND POEMS (1952) by Nick Joaquin
4. PHILIPPINE WRITING (1953) by T.D. Agcaoili
5. PHILIPPINE HAVEST by Amador Daguio
6. HORIZONS LEAST (1967) a collection of works by
the professors of UE, mostly in English (short stories,
essays, research papers, poem and drama) by Artemio
Patacsil and Silverio Baltazar
The themes of most poems dealt with the usual love of
nature, and of social and political problems. Toribia
Maos poems showed deep emotional intensity.
7. WHO SPOKE OF COURAGE IN HIS SLEEP by
NVM Gonzales
8. SPEAK NOT, SPEAK ALSO by Conrado V.
Pedroche
9. Other poets were Toribia Mao and Edith L. Tiempo,
Jose Garcia Villas HAVE COME, AM HERE won
acclaim both here and abroad
THE NEW FILIPINO LITERATURE DURING THIS
PERIOD
 Philippines literature in Tagalog was revived
during this period. Most themes in the writings
dealt with Japanese brutalities, of the poverty of
life under the Japanese government and the
brave guerilla exploits.
Period of Activism (1970-1972)
Many young people became activists to ask for
changes in the government. In the expression of
this desire for change, keen were the writings of
some youth who were fired with nationalism in
order to emphasize the importance of their
petitions.
THE LITERARY REVOLUTION
The youth became completely rebellious during
this period. This was proven not only in the
bloody demonstrations and in the sidewalk
expressions but also in literature. Campus
newspapers showed rebellious emotions. The
once aristocratic writers developed awareness
for society. They held pens and wrote on
placards in red paint the equivalent of the word
MAKIBAKA (To dare!).
WRITING DURING THE PERIOD OF ACTIVISM
The irreverence for the poor reached its peak
during this period of the mass revolution. It was
also during this period that Bomba films that
discredit our ways as Filipinos started to come
out.
PALANCA AWARDEES FOR LITERATURE IN
ENGLISH
Established in 1950, the Palanca Memorial
Awards for Literature had been giving cash
prizes for short story, poetry and one-act play
writing as an incentive to Filipino writers. The
prizes come from La Tondena, Inc., the firm
founded by the late Carlos Palanca Sr.
Period of the New Society (1972-1980)
The period of the New Society started on
September 21, 1972. The Carlos Palanca
Awards continued to give annual awards.
Almost all themes in most writings dealt with the
development or progress of the country like the
Green Revolution, family planning, proper
nutrition, environment, drug addiction and
pollution. The New Society tried to stop
pornography or those writings giving bad
influences on the morals of the people. All
school newspapers were temporarily stopped
and so with school organizations.
FILIPINO POETRY DURING THE PERIOD OF THE
NEW SOCIETY
Themes of most poems dealt with patience,
regard for native culture, customs and the
beauties of nature and surroundings.
THE PLAY UNDER THE NEW SOCIETY
The government led in reviving old plays and
dramas, like the Tagalog Zarzuela, Cenaculo
and the Embayoka of the Muslims which were
presented in the rebuilt Metropolitan Theater, the
Folk Arts Theater and the Cultural Center of the
Philippines.
RADIO AND TELEVISION
Radio continued to be patronized during this
period. The play series like SI MATAR, DAHLIA,
ITO AND PALAD KO, and MR. LONELY were
the forms of recreation of those without
television
FILIPINO FILMS
A yearly Pista ng mga Pelikulng Pilipino (Yearly
Filipino Film Festival) was held during this time.
During the festival which lasted usually for a
month, only Filipino films were shown in all
theaters in Metro Manila.
COMICS, MAGAZINES AND OTHER PUBLICATIONS
During this period of the New Society,
newspapers donned new forms. News on
economic progress, discipline, culture, tourism
and the like were favored more than the
sensationalized reporting of killings, rape and
robberies.
OVERVIEW OF THE LITERATUE DURING THE NEW
SOCIETY
Bilingual education which was initiated by the
Board of National Education as early as 1958
and continued up to the period of Martial Rule in
September 21, 1972, resulted in the
deterioration of English in the different levels of
education. The focus of education and culture
was on problems of national identity, on re-
orientation, renewed vigor and a firm resolves to
carry out plans and programs.
Period of the Third Republic (1981-1985)
After ten years of military rule and some
changes in the life of the Filipino which started
under the New Society, Martial Rule was at last
lifted on January 2, 1981.
FILIPINO POETRY
 Poems during this period of the Third Republic
were romantic and revolutionary. Writers wrote
openly of their criticism against the government.
The supplications of the people were coached in
fiery, colorful, violent, profane and insulting
language.

FILIPINO SONGS

Many Filipino songs dealt with themes that were

really true-to-life like those of grief, poverty,
aspirations for freedom, love of God, of country
and of fellowmen.

PHILIPPINE FILMS DURING THE PERIOD

The yearly Festival of Filipino Films continued to

be held during this period. The peoples love for
sex films also was unabated.

Periods (1986-1999)

History took another twist. Once more, the

Filipino people regained their independence
which they lost twenty years ago.

In the span of four days form February 21-25,

1986, the so-called People Power (Lakas ng
Bayan) prevailed. Together, the people
barricaded the streets petitioning the
government for changes and reforms.

On Newspapers and other publications

Newspapers which were once branded crony

newspapers became instant opposition papers
overnight. This was true of BULLETIN TODAY
which became the opposition paper.

On Books

The Philippine revolution of 1986 and the fire of

its spirit that will carry the Filipinos through
another epoch in Philippine history is still being
documented just as they have been in the
countless millions who participated in body and
spirit in its realization.