Bernardo College

Assignment in Philippine
Literature

Submmited by
Laiza Jane M. Blando
BSCS III
Date: December 7, 2018
What is Philippine Literature?
is the literature associated with the Philippines and includes the legends of prehistory,
and the colonial legacy of the Philippines. Pre-Hispanic Philippine literature were
actually epics passed on from generation to generation originally through oral tradition.
However, wealthy families, especially in Mindanao were able to keep transcribed copies
of these epics as family heirloom. One such epic was the Darangen, epic of the
Maranaos of Lake Lanao. Most of the epics were known during the Spanish era.
Brother Azurin, said that “literature expresses the feelings of people to society, to the
government, to his surroundings, to his fellowmen and to his Divine Creator.”
Literature are written works collectively, especially those of enduring importance,
exhibiting creative imagination and artistic skill (Funk and Wagnalls).
Literature comes from the Latin word literature meaning writing; literatus which means
learning; and thus is literate for learned.
It is both oral and written work characterized by expressive or imaginative writing,
nobility of thoughts, universality and timeliness.
The best way to understand human nature fully and to know a nation completely is to
study literature.
Literature appeals to man’s higher nature and its needs–emotional, spiritual, intellectual
and creative. Like all other forms of art, literature entertains and gives pleasure; it fires
the imagination and arouses noble emotions and it enriches man by enabling him to
reflect on life by filling him new ideas.
STANDARDS OF GOOD LITERATURE
Artistry, Intellectual value, Suggestiveness, Spiritual value, Permanence, Universality

VALUE OF LITERATURE

Literture nourishes our emotional lives.

Literature broadens our perpectives on the world.
The study of literature engages you in the kinds of problem solving important win a
variety of fields, from philosophy to science and technology.
One of the purposes of a college introduction to literature is to cultivate the analytic
skills necessary for reading well.

What are the Function of Literature?

Literature of knowledge has a function to teach. It means that literature gives particular
values, messages, and themes to the readers. Literature has a great function in
developing human's feelings, ideas, and interests.
 1. Literature is the art of written works. Published writings in a particular style on a
particular subject Any art form that uses language in either written or spoken
form. Literature is often accompanied by the other art forms (music, theater arts,
film making etc) in varying degrees and combinations to suit the preferences of a
particular audience group.

What are the Function of literature?

2. What does literature do?
3. Known as “pleasure reading”. In this function, literature is used to entertain its
readers. Literary works are consumed for the sake of one’s enjoyment.
4. Literature shows how society works around them. Literature helps the reader
“see” the social and political constructs around him/her and shows the state of
the people and the world around him/her.
5. Literature shapes our way of thinking based on the ideas of other people.
Literature also displays a person’s ideology placed in the text consciously and
unconsciously.
6. Literature may impart moral values to its readers. The morals contained in a
literary text, whether good or bad, are absorbed by whoever reads it, thus helps
in shaping their personality.
7. Literature preserves the language of every civilization from where it originated.
They are also evidences that a certain civilization has existed by recording the
language and preserving it through wide spans of time.
8. Literature orients us to the traditions, folklore and the arts of our ethnic group’s
heritage. Literature preserves entire cultures and creates an imprint of the
people’s way of living for others to read, hear, and learn.
9. Literature teaches us of many things about the human experience. Literature is
used to portray the facets of life that we see, and those that we would never
dream of seeing. Literature, therefore, is a conduit for the chance to experience
and feel things where we can learn things about life.
10. Ancient texts, illuminated scripts, stone tablets etc. keep a record of events that
happened in the place where they originate. Thus they serve as time capsules of
letters that is studied by scholars and researchers of today.
Language or Genre of Literature
A genre is a broad term that translates from the French to mean 'kind' or 'type.' In
entertainment, this can translate to horror, romance, science fiction, etc. In general,
these types differ for all sorts of reasons, from the actions in their plots to the feelings
they elicit from the audience. However, in literature, there are some more defined
genres. It is important to know which genre a piece of work falls into because the reader
will already have certain expectations before he even begins to read.
Genre, in broad terms, refers to any works that share certain characteristics. If enough
characteristics are in common, then the pieces are said to be in the same genre. In
literature, there are four main genres to help the reader focus their expectations for the
piece, though these genres can be broken down even further.
Poetry -All poems share specific characteristics. For example, poetry is written in lines
and stanzas instead of sentences and paragraphs. Some poems follow strict rules as to
the number and length of lines and stanzas, whereas many poems are much more free-
flowing.
Most poetry is abundant in figurative language. Using devices like a simile, metaphor,
hyperbole, onomatopoeia, alliteration, rhyme, and much more, poetry can claim an
emphasis on imagination, emotions, and heartfelt ideas.
Poetry is usually shorter than the other genres, but some poems are classified as epic
poetry, which is long narrative poetry chronicling heroic deeds and serious subject
matter. For example, John Milton's epic poem Paradise Lost focuses on Satan's fall
from grace and his following pursuit of revenge.
PROSE
Prose drama-a drama in prose form. It consists entirely of dialogues in prose, and is
meant to be acted on stage.
Essay-a short literary composition which is expository in nature. The author shares
some of his thoughts, feelings, experiences or observations on some aspects of life that
has interested him.

Prose fiction:
Novel-a long fictitious narrative with a complicated plot. It may have a main plot and one
or more subplots that develop with the main plot. Characters and actions representative
of the real life of past or present times are portrayed in a plot. It is made up of chapters.
Short story-a fictitious narrative compressed into one unit of time, place, and action. It
deals with a single character interest, a single emotion or series of emotions called forth
by a single situation. It is distinguished from the novel by its compression.
ELEMENTS OF FICTION
Characters-are the representation of a human being; persons involved in a conflict.
Round character-is a dynamic character who recognized changes in the circumstances;
is fully developed character, with many traits shown in the story.
Flat character-also known as the stock or the stereotype character who does not grow
and develop; a flat character is not fully developed and do not undergo changes.

protagonist-the main character

antagonist-a foil to the character

2. Setting-the locale and period in which the events occur. A stoyr must take place in
space, time, and therefore must have setting. But the importance of setting varies
greatly from story to story. The setting gives immediacy to the story, can lend
atmosphere to a story and can enter directly to the meaning of a story.

3. Conflict-the struggle of complication involving the characters; the opposition of

persons or forces upon which the action depends in drama and fiction.
Internal Conflict-occurs when the protagonist struggles within himself or herself; the
protagonist is pulled by two courses of action or by differing emotions.
Interpersonal conflict-pits the protagonist against someone else.
External conflict-person against society
4. Point of View- the writer’s feeling and attitude toward his/her subject; determines who
tells the story; it identifies the narrator of the story.

Genres of Fiction:

Drama is the genre of literature that’s subject for compositions is dramatic art in the way
it is represented. This genre is stories composed in verse or prose, usually for theatrical
performance, where conflicts and emotion are expressed through dialogue and action.

Poetry is verse and rhythmic writing with imagery that evokes an emotional response
from the reader. The art of poetry is rhythmical in composition, written or spoken. This
genre of literature is for exciting pleasure by beautiful, imaginative, or elevated thoughts.

Fantasy is the forming of mental images with strange or other worldly settings or
characters; fiction which invites suspension of reality.

Humor is the faculty of perceiving what is amusing or comical. Fiction full of fun, fancy,
and excitement which meant to entertain. This genre of literature can actually be seen
and contained within all genres.

A Fable is a story about supernatural or extraordinary people Usually in the form of

narration that demonstrates a useful truth. In Fables, animals often speak as humans
that are legendary and supernatural tales.

Fairy Tales or wonder tales are a kind of folktale or fable. Sometimes the stories are
about fairies or other magical creatures, usually for children.

Science Fiction is a story based on impact of potential science, either actual or

imagined. Science fiction is one of the genres of literature that is set in the future or on
other planets.

Short Story is fiction of such briefness that is not able to support any subplots.

Realistic Fiction is a story that can actually happen and is true to real life.

Folklore are songs, stories, myths, and proverbs of a person of “folk” that was handed
down by word of mouth. Folklore is a genre of literature that is widely held, but false and
based on unsubstantiated beliefs.

Historical Fiction is a story with fictional characters and events in a historical setting.
Horror is an overwhelming and painful feeling caused by literature that is frightfully
shocking, terrifying, or revolting. Fiction in which events evoke a feeling of dread in both
the characters and the reader.

A Tall Tale is a humorous story with blatant exaggerations, swaggering heroes who do
the impossible with an here of nonchalance.

Legend is a story that sometimes of a national or folk hero. Legend is based on fact but
also includes imaginative material.

Mystery is a genre of fiction that deals with the solution of a crime or the unraveling of
secrets. Anything that is kept secret or remains unexplained or unknown.

Mythology is a type of legend or traditional narrative. This is often based in part on

historical events, that reveals human behavior and natural phenomena by its
symbolism; often pertaining to the actions of the gods. A body of myths, as that of a
particular people or that relating to a particular person.

Fiction in Verse is full-length novels with plot, subplots, themes, with major and minor
characters. Fiction of verse is one of the genres of literature in which the narrative is
usually presented in blank verse form.

The genre of Fiction can be defined as narrative literary works whose content is
produced by the imagination and is not necessarily based on fact. In fiction something is
feigned, invented, or imagined; a made-up story.

Sensory of Language
Writers use sensory writing as a means of making their writing more realistic and
descriptive. They integrate the five senses (sight, hearing, feeling, tasting, and smelling)
within their writing to give the reader more of an understanding of the text. This creates
a feeling of first-hand experience, which leads to a more engaging experience for
readers. This technique is extremely popular in novels. Most authors use sensory
language to create an emotional connection between the reader and the characters in
the story.
Types of figures of Speech
There are many types of figures of speech. Here are a few of them with detailed
descriptions:

Personification
It occurs when a writer gives human traits to non-human or inanimate objects. It is
similar to metaphors and similes that also use comparison between two objects. For
instance,
“Hadn’t she felt it in every touch of the sunshine, as its golden finger-tips pressed
her lids open and wound their way through her hair?”
(“The Mother’s Recompense” by Edith Wharton)
In the above lines, the speaker is personifying sunshine as it has finger tips that wound
their way into her hair. This is trait of using finger-tips in hair is a human one.

Understatement and Hyperbole

These two figures of speech are opposite to each other. Hyperbole uses extreme
exaggeration. It exaggerates to lay emphasis on a certain quality or feature. It stirs up
emotions among the readers, these emotions could be about happiness, romance,
inspiration, laughter or sadness.

I’ll love you, dear, I’ll love you

Till China and Africa meet,
And the river jumps over the mountain
And the salmon sing in the street.”
(“As I Walked Out One Evening” by W.H. Auden)

In this poem, Auden has used hyperbole to stress on how long his love his beloved
would last. Just imagine when China and Africa would meet and can river jump up over
the mountains? How salmon can be intelligent enough so that it could sing and evolve
enough and walk the streets?

Whereas understatement uses less than whatever is intended, such as,

“You killed my family. And I don’t like that kind of thing.”
(“The Chosen One” by Boon Collins and Rob Schneider)

In this line, the speaker is using an understatement because someone has killed his
family and he is just taking it very normal like nothing serious has happened.

Simile
It is a type of comparison between things or objects by using “as” or “like.” See the
following example:

My heart is like a singing bird

Whose nest is in a water’d shoot;
My heart is like an apple-tree
My heart is like a rainbow shell…

(“A Birthday” by Christina Rossetti)

Rossetti has used simile thrice in this part of the poem, comparing her heart to a
“singing bird”, “an apple-tree”, and a rainbow shell.” The poet makes comparison of
heart to a happy bird in a nest, an apple tree full with fruits and a beautiful shell in the
sea, full of peace and joy.

Metaphor
Metaphor is comparing two unlike objects or things, which may have some common
qualities.

Presentiment – is that long shadow – on the lawn –

Indicative that Suns go down –
The notice to the startled Grass
That Darkness – is about to pass –
(“Presentiment is that long shadow on the lawn” by Emily Dickinson)

In this example, Dickinson presents presentiment as a shadow. Presentiment actually

means anxiety or foreboding, which she calls a shadow. In fact, she makes compares it
with shadow to provide a better description of anxiety that could creep up in a person’s
life and cause fear.
Pun
Pun is the manipulation of words that have more than one meanings. It brings humor in
an expression.

Whoever hath her wish, thou hast thy Will,

And Will to boot, and Will in overplus;
(“Sonnet 135” by William Shakespeare)

See the use of odd grammar rule, which is the capitalization of word “Will.” Usually in
the middle of a line or sentence, writers capitalize a name. Here it is the first name of
Shakespeare. It means he has created pun of his own name.

Function of Figure of Speech

Figure of speech is not only used to embellish the language, but also cause a moment
of excitement when reading. It is used equally in writing as well as in speech. It, in fact,
provides emphasis, clarity or freshness to expression. Clarity, however, may sometimes
suffer because a figure of speech introduces double meanings such as connotative and
denotative meanings. It also strengthens the creative expression and description along
with making the language more graphic, pointed and vivid.

The Literary Forms in Philippine Literature

by: Christine F. Godinez-Ortega

The diversity and richness of Philippine literature evolved side by side with the
country's history. This can best be appreciated in the context of the country's pre-
colonial cultural traditions and the socio-political histories of its colonial and
contemporary traditions.

The average Filipino's unfamiliarity with his indigenous literature was largely due to
what has been impressed upon him: that his country was "discovered" and, hence,
Philippine "history" started only in 1521.

So successful were the efforts of colonialists to blot out the memory of the country's
largely oral past that present-day Filipino writers, artists and journalists are trying to
correct this inequity by recognizing the country's wealth of ethnic traditions and
disseminating them in schools and in the mass media.

The rousings of nationalistic pride in the 1960s and 1970s also helped bring about
this change of attitude among a new breed of Filipinos concerned about the "Filipino
identity."

Pre-Colonial Times

Owing to the works of our own archaeologists, ethnologists and anthropologists, we

are able to know more and better judge information about our pre-colonial times set
against a bulk of material about early Filipinos as recorded by Spanish, Chinese, Arabic
and other chroniclers of the past.

Pre-colonial inhabitants of our islands showcase a rich past through their folk
speeches, folk songs, folk narratives and indigenous rituals and mimetic dances that
affirm our ties with our Southeast Asian neighbors.

The most seminal of these folk speeches is the riddle which is tigmo in Cebuano,
bugtong in Tagalog, paktakon in Ilongo and patototdon in Bicol. Central to the riddle is
the talinghaga or metaphor because it "reveals subtle resemblances between two unlike
objects" and one's power of observation and wit are put to the test. While some riddles
are ingenious, others verge on the obscene or are sex-related:
Gaddang:

Gongonan nu usin y amam If you pull your daddy's penis

Maggirawa pay sila y inam. Your mommy's vagina, too,

(Campana) screams. (Bell)

The proverbs or aphorisms express norms or codes of behavior, community beliefs

or they instill values by offering nuggets of wisdom in short, rhyming verse.

The extended form, tanaga, a mono-riming heptasyllabic quatrain expressing

insights and lessons on life is "more emotionally charged than the terse proverb and
thus has affinities with the folk lyric." Some examples are the basahanon or extended
didactic sayings from Bukidnon and the daraida and daragilon from Panay.

The folk song, a form of folk lyric which expresses the hopes and aspirations, the
people's lifestyles as well as their loves. These are often repetitive and sonorous,
didactic and naive as in the children's songs or Ida-ida (Maguindanao), tulang pambata
(Tagalog) or cansiones para abbing (Ibanag).

A few examples are the lullabyes or Ili-ili (Ilongo); love songs like the panawagon
and balitao (Ilongo); harana or serenade (Cebuano); the bayok (Maranao); the seven-
syllable per line poem, ambahan of the Mangyans that are about human relationships,
social entertainment and also serve as a tool for teaching the young; work songs that
depict the livelihood of the people often sung to go with the movement of workers such
as the kalusan (Ivatan), soliranin (Tagalog rowing song) or the mambayu, a Kalinga
rice-pounding song; the verbal jousts/games like the duplo popular during wakes.

Other folk songs are the drinking songs sung during carousals like the tagay
(Cebuano and Waray); dirges and lamentations extolling the deeds of the dead like the
kanogon (Cebuano) or the Annako (Bontoc).
 A type of narrative song or kissa among the Tausug of Mindanao, the parang sabil,
uses for its subject matter the exploits of historical and legendary heroes. It tells of a
Muslim hero who seeks death at the hands of non-Muslims.

The folk narratives, i.e. epics and folk tales are varied, exotic and magical. They
explain how the world was created, how certain animals possess certain characteristics,
why some places have waterfalls, volcanoes, mountains, flora or fauna and, in the case
of legends, an explanation of the origins of things. Fables are about animals and these
teach moral lessons.

Our country's epics are considered ethno-epics because unlike, say, Germany's
Niebelunginlied, our epics are not national for they are "histories" of varied groups that
consider themselves "nations."

The epics come in various names: Guman (Subanon); Darangen (Maranao);

Hudhud (Ifugao); and Ulahingan (Manobo). These epics revolve around supernatural
events or heroic deeds and they embody or validate the beliefs and customs and ideals
of a community. These are sung or chanted to the accompaniment of indigenous
musical instruments and dancing performed during harvests, weddings or funerals by
chanters. The chanters who were taught by their ancestors are considered "treasures"
and/or repositories of wisdom in their communities.

Examples of these epics are the Lam-ang (Ilocano); Hinilawod (Sulod); Kudaman
(Palawan); Darangen (Maranao); Ulahingan (Livunganen-Arumanen Manobo);
Mangovayt Buhong na Langit (The Maiden of the Buhong Sky from Tuwaang--Manobo);
Ag Tobig neg Keboklagan (Subanon); and Tudbulol (T'boli).

The Spanish Colonial Tradition

While it is true that Spain subjugated the Philippines for more mundane reasons,
this former European power contributed much in the shaping and recording of our
literature. Religion and institutions that represented European civilization enriched the
languages in the lowlands, introduced theater which we would come to know as
komedya, the sinakulo, the sarswela, the playlets and the drama. Spain also brought to
the country, though at a much later time, liberal ideas and an internationalism that
influenced our own Filipino intellectuals and writers for them to understand the
meanings of "liberty and freedom."

Literature in this period may be classified as religious prose and poetry and secular
prose and poetry.

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 hanga/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 rime 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
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
proselitization. Some forms are: dialogo (dialogue), Manual de Urbanidad (conduct
book); ejemplo (exemplum) and tratado (tratado). The most well-known are Modesto de
Castro's "Pagsusulatan ng Dalawang Binibini na si Urbana at si Feliza"
(Correspondence between the Two Maidens Urbana and Feliza) in 1864 and Joaquin
Tuason's "Ang Bagong Robinson" (The New Robinson) in 1879, an adaptation of Daniel
Defoe's novel.
 Secular works appeared alongside historical and economic changes, the
emergence of an opulent class and the middle class who could avail of a European
education. This Filipino elite could now read printed works that used to be the exclusive
domain of the missionaries.

The most notable of the secular lyrics followed the conventions of a romantic
tradition: the languishing but loyal lover, the elusive, often heartless beloved, the rival.
The leading poets were Jose Corazon de Jesus (Huseng Sisiw) and Francisco
Balagtas. Some secular poets who wrote in this same tradition were Leona Florentino,
Jacinto Kawili, Isabelo de los Reyes and Rafael Gandioco.

Another popular secular poetry is the metrical romance, the awit and korido in
Tagalog. The awit is set in dodecasyllabic quatrains 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 demise of Spanish so that by the 1930s, English writing had overtaken Spanish
writing. During the language's death throes, 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.

The American Colonial Period

A new set of colonizers brought about new changes in Philippine literature. New
literary forms such as free verse [in poetry], the modern short story and the critical
essay were introduced. American influence was deeply entrenched with the firm
establishment of English as the medium of instruction in all schools and with literary
modernism that highlighted the writer's individuality and cultivated consciousness of
craft, sometimes at the expense of social consciousness.

The poet, and later, National Artist for Literature, Jose Garcia Villa used free verse
and espoused the dictum, "Art for art's sake" to the chagrin of other writers more
concerned with the utilitarian aspect of literature. Another maverick in poetry who used
free verse and talked about illicit love in her poetry was Angela Manalang Gloria, a
woman poet described as ahead of her time. Despite the threat of censorship by the
new dispensation, more writers turned up "seditious works" and popular writing in the
native languages bloomed through the weekly outlets like Liwayway and Bisaya.
 The Balagtas tradition persisted until the poet Alejandro G. Abadilla advocated
modernism in poetry. Abadilla later influenced young poets who wrote modern verses in
the 1960s such as Virgilio S. Almario, Pedro I. Ricarte and Rolando S. Tinio.

While the early Filipino poets grappled with the verities of the new language,
Filipinos seemed to have taken easily to the modern short story as published in the
Philippines Free Press, the College Folio and Philippines Herald. Paz Marquez
Benitez's "Dead Stars" published in 1925 was the first successful short story in English
written by a Filipino. Later on, Arturo B. Rotor and Manuel E. Arguilla showed
exceptional skills with the short story.

Alongside this development, writers in the vernaculars continued to write in the

provinces. Others like Lope K. Santos, Valeriano Hernandez Peña and Patricio Mariano
were writing minimal narratives similar to the early Tagalog short fiction called dali or
pasingaw (sketch).

The romantic tradition was fused with American pop culture or European influences
in the adaptations of Edgar Rice Burroughs' Tarzan by F. P. Boquecosa who also
penned Ang Palad ni Pepe after Charles Dicken's David Copperfield even as the realist
tradition was kept alive in the novels by Lope K. Santos and Faustino Aguilar, among
others.

It should be noted that if there was a dearth of the Filipino novel in English, the
novel in the vernaculars continued to be written and serialized in weekly magazines like
Liwayway, Bisaya, Hiligaynon and Bannawag.

The essay in English became a potent medium from the 1920's to the present.
Some leading essayists were journalists like Carlos P. Romulo, Jorge Bocobo, Pura
Santillan Castrence, etc. who wrote formal to humorous to informal essays for the
delectation by Filipinos.

Among those who wrote criticism developed during the American period were
Ignacio Manlapaz, Leopoldo Yabes and I.V. Mallari. But it was Salvador P. Lopez's
criticism that grabbed attention when he won the Commonwealth Literay Award for the
essay in 1940 with his "Literature and Society." This essay posited that art must have
substance and that Villa's adherence to "Art for Art's Sake" is decadent.
 The last throes of American colonialism saw the flourishing of Philippine literature in
English at the same time, with the introduction of the New Critical aesthetics, made
writers pay close attention to craft and "indirectly engendered a disparaging attitude"
towards vernacular writings -- a tension that would recur in the contemporary period.

The Contemporary Period

The flowering of Philippine literature in the various languages continue especially

with the appearance of new publications after the Martial Law years and the resurgence
of committed literature in the 1960s and the 1970s.

Filipino writers continue to write poetry, short stories, novellas, novels and essays
whether these are socially committed, gender/ethnic related or are personal in intention
or not.

Of course the Filipino writer has become more conscious of his art with the
proliferation of writers workshops here and abroad and the bulk of literature available to
him via the mass media including the internet. The various literary awards such as the
Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature, the Philippines Free Press,
Philippine Graphic, Home Life and Panorama literary awards encourage him to compete
with his peers and hope that his creative efforts will be rewarded in the long run.

With the new requirement by the Commission on Higher Education of teaching of

Philippine Literature in all tertiary schools in the country emphasizing the teaching of the
vernacular literature or literatures of the regions, the audience for Filipino writers is
virtually assured. And, perhaps, a national literature finding its niche among the
literatures of the world will not be far behind.