AMANDO COPE COLLEGE

A.A. Berces St., Baranghawon, Tabaco City

Albay Philippines 4511
Tel. No. (052) 487 – 4455
E-mail: amandocopecollege2004@gmail.com

College/Department: College of Criminology (BSC Level I)

Block: Block A & B
Course Code: LIT 1

Course Description: PHILIPPINE LITERATURE

Philippine Literature focuses on rediscovering the rich and diverse literature across
the regions of the Philippines and treats mainly on the development of Philippine
Literature from the Early Period to the Modern Period. The course attempts to bring
together within the covers of varied instructional materials the best that has been said
and taught in Philippine Literature. Emphasis is on the appreciation of vicarious
experiences and emulation of desirable values embodied on different genres. It also
provides varied and meaningful learning experiences that make the teaching and
learning experiences more relevant, more meaningful and value oriented. Selected
literary pieces written by great Filipino writers are studied in this subject.

Pre-requisite: None
Credit Units: 3 (54 hours)
Time:
Semester: 2nd
Instructor: Mr. Christian B. Llaguno, LPT

Course Outcomes:
1. Discuss the historical backgrounds and identify important contributions of various
regions in the field of literature that have shaped and have still been shaping the
Philippines;
2. Gain deeper insights into the different literary works of the Philippine’s great literati;
3. Relate the important contribution of the Philippine regions and integrate broad
philosophical connections as gleaned from the study of the present; deduce values from
the analyses and relate those to personal circumstances and real-life situations;
4. Analyze literary pieces of some representative regions; specifically noting their form,
structure and style;
5. Manifest appreciation of literary masterpieces so as to acquire better understanding
and develop insights of other people’s culture through diverse literary forms and
genres; and
6. Demonstrate proficiency in English within the context of the literary selections and
must have written a term paper of at least seven to ten pages with a plot map web
analyzing one literary text as specified in the syllabus.

Notes:
“What is literature?” is a mind-boggling question that has become the usual jargon
in classroom discussions. One needs to come face to face with literature itself to

ACC Vision: Provide a culture of excellence and globally competitive graduates.

ACC Mission: Produce highly dedicated and value-oriented and competent professionals
through integrated learning experiences.
understand and determine its meaning. This requires coming to terms with the past,
and one’s culture in comparison with other countries’ cultures and norms.
No other study is more important than that of literature. It is a product of life and
about life. A good piece of literature presents a slice of life; and makes the reader
capture truth and beauty. One needs to be sensitive and receptive enough to participate
in the significant experiences as he reads. He begins to think and compare, sees his own
self, his own experiences and those of others; laughs at his own follies and grimaces over
miseries and unpleasant memories he doesn’t wish to recall as he unfolds the pages of a
good literary piece. Hence, literature does not only supply the mind with cognitive
knowledge but most importantly it refines thoughts and feelings.

Literature is an art. It is a written record of man’s best thoughts, fine feelings and
emotions. The best thoughts of the world, knowledge and appreciation are embodied in
literature, and are essential elements of culture.

In its widest sense, literature may be regarded as including the aggregate body of
printed matters in the world, e.g., the accompanying printed brochures explaining the dosage
and indications of any available generic drug sold over the counter is also called literature; or
printed handouts explaining the process and how-to-prepare feeds for fowls and swine may
likewise be termed literature. Aggregate refers to a mixture or a result of combination
with a sense of value. In its restricted meaning, literature includes only those works that
are polished and artistic in forms and thoughts. Artistic means the work must express
truth and beauty. Any work that distorts one’s idea towards things is not artistic, e.g., if
after reading a literary piece which one claims ‘great’, he starts doing atrocities, crimes,
violence, or becomes a rapist, then this work is NEVER artistic but sheer rubbish. Within
the same context, if a book or treatise of leadership has the power to influence leaders to
become terroristic aggressors and virtual dictators, then it is NOT artistic.

On the other hand, a piece of literature is indeed artistic in a real sense, it elevates
the spirit and effects positive changes in a person; it enables his thoughts and moves
him to do good things.
Classical works of literature are those which present ideas of a general and
permanent interest in a highly artistic manner, and their quality of greatness goes beyond
time.
Literature is influenced by whatever affects thoughts and feelings of the people
from whatever race, epoch and surrounding.
What are these marks of greatness in literature as a classic work of art? The quality
of greatness in literature is determined by its effects which it produces on human life. If
a book has power to awaken in you a lively sense of pleasure or a profound emotion of
sympathy, if it quickens your love for beauty, truth or goodness; if it moves you to
generous thoughts or noble action, then that book is for you and for the time a great book.

3 Basic Standards for Good Literature:

1. Aesthetic aspect – emphasizes form or delightful sense of the beautiful and
pleasurable. This is achieved through artistic use of language, sounds, and imagery.
2. Intellectual aspect – requires that literature or a literary piece such as short story must
also give a sense of information, and should make the reader think or analyze. It must be
intellectually stimulating and focuses on content.
3. Spiritual aspect – a piece must also generate values and be spiritually uplifting.

ACC Vision: Provide a culture of excellence and globally competitive graduates.

ACC Mission: Produce highly dedicated and value-oriented and competent professionals
through integrated learning experiences.
Course Outline:

Chapter I – An Introduction to the Study of Philippine Literature

 Definition of Literature
 Why We Need to Study Philippine Literature?
 Of Philippine Literature and Time Frames
 Literature and History
 General Types of Literature

Chapter II – The Pre-Spanish Period (1565)

 Historical Background
 Legends
 Folk Tales
 The Epic Age
 Folk Songs
 Other Forms of Pre-Spanish Poetry
 Epigrams, Riddles, Chants, Maxims, Sayings, Sawikain

Chapter III – The Spanish Period (1565-1898)

 Historical Background
 Spanish Influences on Philippine Literature
 The First Books
 Literary Compositions
 Folk Songs
 Recreation Plays

Chapter IV – The Period of Enlightenment (1872-1898)

 Historical Background
 The Propaganda Movement
 Highlights of the Propaganda
 Period of Active Revolution
 Highlights of the Active Revolution
 Newspapers during the Revolution

Chapter V – The American Regime (1898-1941)

 Historical Background
 Characteristics of Literature during this Period

Chapter VI – The Japanese Period (1941-1945)

 Historical Background
 Filipino Poetry during this Period
 Filipino Drama
 The Filipino Short Story
 Literature in English during the Japanese Period

Chapter VII – The Rebirth of Freedom (1946-1970)

 Historical Background
 The State of Literature during this Period

ACC Vision: Provide a culture of excellence and globally competitive graduates.

ACC Mission: Produce highly dedicated and value-oriented and competent professionals
through integrated learning experiences.
  Poetry in English during this period
 Novels and short stories in English
 The New Filipino Literature during this Period
 The Palanca Awards
 Republic Cultural Heritage Awards

Chapter VIII – Period of Activism (1970-1972)

 Historical Background
 The seeds of Activism
 Period of the Bloody Placards
 The Literary Revolutions
 Writings during the Period of Activism
 Palanca Awardees for Literature in English
 Writers during this Period

Chapter IX – Period of the New Society (1972-1980)

 Historical Background
 Filipino Poetry during this Period
 The Play
 Radio and Television
 Filipino Films
 Comics, Magazines and other Publications
 Palanca Awardees
 Republic Cultural Heritage Awardees
 National Artists
 An Overview of Literature during this Period

Chapter X – The Period of the Third Republic

 Historical Background
 The Palanca Awards
 Filipino Poetry
 Filipino Songs
 Philippine Films during this period
 Poetry in English during the third republic
 Media in 1983
 Children’s Books
 Prose Fables
 The State of Philippine Literature during this period
 Some writers during this period

Chapter XI – Periods 1986

 Historical Background
 The State of Literature during this Period
 Filipino Songs during this Period

Reference Books:
 Philippine Literature Through the Years by Alicia Kahayon & Celia A. Zulueta
 Worktext in Philippine Literature by Mildred B. Go, et al.

ACC Vision: Provide a culture of excellence and globally competitive graduates.

ACC Mission: Produce highly dedicated and value-oriented and competent professionals
through integrated learning experiences.
  Philippine Literature An Introduction to Poetry, Fiction & Drama by Mercedita
R. Baritugo, et al.
 Interactive Reading-Responding to and Writing about Philippine Literature by
Ida-Yap Patron
 Philippine Literature A Regional Approch by Delia C. Enriquez

Prepared by:

CHRISTIAN B. LLAGUNO, LPT

Instructor

ACC Vision: Provide a culture of excellence and globally competitive graduates.

ACC Mission: Produce highly dedicated and value-oriented and competent professionals
through integrated learning experiences.