Josol, Jianne Shanley P. - Written Work 3

"The Philippine Literature"

3.1. Based on the given articles, identify and discuss the literary forms/elements from the following: 

a. Early Phil. Literature

    The early Philippine Literature stands for the literature of the Philippines before colonization. A notable element in the early Philippine literature is a native alphabet called baybayin. Natives wrote various literary forms through baybayin. However, people only passed on these literary forms orally through recitation and incantation. The Roman alphabet, later on, replaced Baybayin by Spanish chroniclers and other intellectuals. 

    The awit is an early form of Philippine literature that has persisted. The awit’s native tunes and song lyrics are remembered by most ethnolinguistic communities. The Tagalogs celebrated varied occasions where they needed and used 16 song forms. There exists the uyayi or hele, a lullaby to put a child to sleep. Next, there is the soliranin which is tailored for people who travel. Then comes the talindaw, which is referred to as the seafarers’ song. Additionally, there is the kumintang which is a song for war. Following that is the maluway, which is music for collective work. Next to that is the kundiman, a sad love song. Then, there is the panambitan which is a song used for courtship. In addition, the pamanhikan is a song-ritual for asking for permission to marry the bride-to-be. Lastly, the subli is a dance-ritual song involved with courting and marriage. 

    Moving on to the Ilocanos, this group has other popular song forms: the dallot, the duayya, and the dung-aw. The dallot and duayya are both songs about love. In contrast, the dung-aw is a lament or a song sung in the wake, a religious rite. The bagbagto, from the Bontoc of Mountain Province, is a song ritual associated with harvesting. The laji, the kanta, and the kalusan are the three most famous folk song forms from the Ivatan. The laji, a rendition of a lyric of a song, is sung after working when people gather and find time to be merry. 

    The Ilocanos have burburtia, a form of riddles. The riddles require rhyming and using a form of metaphor called talinghaga. People relay riddles through various indigenous forms of poetry, including the ambahan. The ambahan is a monorhyme heptasyllabic poem that has an indefinite length. Ambahans are helpful not only to relay riddles but also to narrate common folk adventures. 

    The tanaga, with a definite length, is a seven-syllable quatrain. The tanaga exacts intelligent use of words and terms to build a puzzle that demands some sort of answer. 

    In Iloko, proverbs are referred to as sarsarita. Philippine proverbs comprise sharing lessons or reflecting traditions, beliefs, and standard norms of a group of people. People can classify Philippine proverbs into six groups. The groups sorted according to the subject matter are the following: proverbs that express a general attitude towards life and its laws, ethical proverbs that recommend specific virtues and condemn specific vices, proverbs that express order of values, proverbs that express life and human nature’s truths and observations, proverbs that contain humor, and miscellaneous proverbs. 

    The early Philippine literature’s most interesting poetic and narrative forms are the Philippine epics; critics and anthropologists call them ethno-epics. An epic chanted in an assortment of rituals is typical and can be found in almost all major Philippine ethnic groups. As epics are produced through chanting, numerous of them remain unwritten. The Philippines has about 100 extant epics that have been discovered; most of the epics are from Palawan. The Aliguyon (Hudhud), Biag ni Lam-ang, Labaw Donggon, Agyu or Olahing or Ulahingan, and Sandayo are epics that are translated to English and Filipino, as the ASEAN anthology featured. 

    The epics mentioned show five common characteristics, as their editor/translators stated. First, the names of most of the epics mean song or chant. Second, the epics are labeled as episodic and advance through constructions that are en palier. Every episode comprises recurrences of scenes, such as battle chanting and getting clothed for marriage. Third, epics include supernatural characters in their plot, such as diwatas and anitos. Fourth, the epics reflect the society they are coming from. Fifth, the epics have many versions. There is also the proliferation of episodes, explanation of phenomena, and transmission through the periods. 

    The Aliguyon (Hudhud) of the Ifugaos conveys the adventures of Aliguyon as he goes into battle with his arch-enemy. The Biag ni Lam-ang of the Ilocano is about the experiences of Lam-ang, the hero in the epic, who displays extraordinary powers at a young age. The epic involves Lam-ang looking for his father’s killers, searching for lady love, being swallowed by a fish, and being brought back to life by friends. Labaw Donggon tells the adventures of goddess Alusina’s son by a mortal. The hero in the epic encountered numerous creatures such as a monster, a giant, and the lord of darkness. The Agyu or Olahing or Ulahingan of the Manobos is about the experiences of a hero as he leads his people, driven out of their land, to a place where landgrabbers and oppressors cease to exist. It is an epic that has three parts. It starts with the invocation, then narration of the past, and lastly, an episode that is complete in itself. The Sandayo of the Subanun narrates the story of a hero born through unusual and remarkable circumstances, such as the hero falling out of his mother’s hair. The epic includes battles of the hero and his community against invaders of land and waterways. Other popular epics include the Hinilawod of Panay, Bantugan of the Maranao, the Alim of the Ifugao, the Darangen (Muslim epic), the Ibalon of Bikol, the Kudaman of Palawan, and the Tuwaang of the Manobo. There are no known epics from the Tagalog, but the public believes that the story of Bernardo Carpio is their epic. 

    Philippine literature also involves shorter narratives that exhibit the origins of various people, of the sky, of the seas, and the stars. A familiar story of the origin of man and woman is that of Sicalac and Sicavay, who got out of bamboo after a bird pecked the bamboo. 

3.1. Based on the given articles, identify and discuss the literary forms/elements from the following: 

b. Phil Literature in Spanish Colonial Period 

    The colonization of the Spaniards happened in 1565. The effects of the Spanish colonization on Philippine literature surfaced in the late 19th century. The rise of journalism and a proper education system based on letters had its development in the 19th century. Only 541 books were published between the years 1593 and 1800. The Spanish language development was slow as the Spanish authorities were concerned that the Filipinos may foster a spirit of assertiveness and rebellion upon learning the Spanish language. The publication of Diario de Manila and El Comercio indicated the rise of popular journalism that happened in the second half of the 19th century. The writing of fiction and poetry rose due to expanded publishing outlets. Also, the birth of a secular public school system was due to the reforms that happened in 1865. 

    The Spanish government was the one that regulated the production and circulation of literature in the Philippines. They reinforced censorship and the banning of entries. Nevertheless, Filipino writing in Spanish started to emerge due to the force of social-economic changes. 

    At the period when Spaniards conquested and converted Filipinos to Christianity, the Philippine literature was mainly verbal. The conquistador destroyed the early written literature of the Philippines. That is why the native system of writing was rendered inoperable. The Spaniards planned to introduce and popularize the story of the Passion of Christ to Filipinos, undermining the native oral tradition. The character of Christ did not portray pro-war agenda, but people were attracted to it due to its special magic: granting eternal life for everybody. Nonetheless, the places that the colonizers could not access had native traditions that survived and flourished. The slow development of a public educational system resulted in the survival of oral tradition among conquered tribes. 

    The church doctrines were spread by communicating to the natives. The first book that was set in print in the Philippines was written in Spanish with Tagalog translation. Translating religious instructional materials put the Spanish missionaries out to hire native speakers as translators. Eventually, the native translator knew how to write and read both in their native language and Spanish. 

    The development generated the creation of written literary native text done by the native. Ladinos, writers who are fluent in both Spanish and Tagalog, mainly produced devotional poetry. They published their creations in the first decade of the 17th century. A milestone that was included in the history of Philippine letters is the lengthy poem called Mahal Na Pasion ni Jesu Christo. It had an authentic and folksy version of a humanized and nativized Jesus. The beginning of the end of the old mythological culture was marked by it. 

    The religious orders were the owners and managers of the printing presser until the 19th century. Such ownership and management paved the way for religious themes to overpower the culture of the Christianized majority of people. However, the oral tradition of the native people remained and continued. Even among the ethnic groups that were Christianized, the oral tradition endured in forms including sayings, legends, parlor theater, and wedding songs. 

    The komedya, or termed moro-moro later on, is a native poetic-drama form that was inspired by medieval ballads in the 18th century. The komedya often covered the theme of Christians triumphing over Moslems. The komedya is experienced as performance both by the illiterate but grateful and enthusiastic majority and the lettered minority; hence it gained popularity. 

    A master of traditional Tagalog poetry is Francisco Baltazar. He wrote Florante at Laura, a narrative poem about tyranny in Albanya, also perceived as a poem about the dictatorship in his homeland. His poems were sung to benefit the unlettered. Despite and because of the beginning of printing, the metrical regularity and rhyme of the poem still functioned. The tradition was overtaken by printing. The printed page turned into the stage set for the growth of prose. 

    A hero of the Philippines, Jose Rizal, chose the medium realistic novel. He challenged the oppressors on their turf by choosing Spanish over Tagalog. He separated with the Balagtas upon writing in prose. The novels and patriotic poems that Jose Rizal wrote were the conclusions of the Propaganda Movement. Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, Rizal's novels, portrayed oppression and corruption and the conviction that a violent solution to social problems is the only option. 

    Social critics and writers influenced by ideas about human dignity are Andres Bonifacio and Emilio Jacinto. Andres Bonifacio made poems, while Emilio Jacinto made political essays conveyed in the language of the folk. Both writers selected to communicate to their peers in their native language. 

    The education of the native and the Spanish ascendance was due to liberalism. However, the ideas of liberation undermined the Spanish, leading to its decline. Its downfall resulted in nativism and a renaissance of literature in the native languages. Powerful poetry was yielded by educated women of the time. 

3.1. Based on the given articles, identify and discuss the literary forms/elements from the following: 

c. Phil Literature in American Period

    The Philippines, after Spanish colonization, was governed by the American government. There are two notable evolutions in education and culture. These developments stimulated the Philippine literary production: (1) the introduction of free public schooling for all kids of academic age, and (2) utilizing the English language as a medium of instruction in all grade levels in public school.

    Philippine literature was deemed imitative of American models of writing. The poetry written during the period of apprenticeship by early poets shows elementary exercise in the English language. 

    The replication of the storytelling style and dedication to the craft of a short story is the mark of literary writing in English during the period of apprenticeship. The models of American Fiction influenced the early creations of Philippine story writers. 

    The writers club at the University of the Philippines had goals of enhancing and propagating the English language. Paz Benitez’s short story titled “Dead Stars” was made the milestone of the maturity of the Filipino writer in English. After the landmark of Benitez, short stories produced by Filipino writers were no longer imitative of American models. Stories published this time manifested skilled use of the English language while still maintaining keen Filipino sensibility. 

    The literary works of Filipino fictionists merged writing using a borrowed language and dwelling on Filipino traditions and practices. Subjects of the outputs during this period include nationhood, cultural identity, and being a Filipino. These outputs were done by using the English language. 

    The early American period was when agitating plays were mounted in the form of zarsuwela. Zarsuwelistas directed plays against the American imperialists. In theatre, Wilfredo Maria Guerrero gained dominance through one-act plays toured through a “mobile theatre” of his own. 

    The novel in Iloko, Sugbuanon, Tagalog, and Hiligaynon grew and expanded during the time, helped by publishing magazines that serialized the novels. A novel by Ishmael Amado titled Bulalakaw ng Pag-asa was one of the earliest of its kind and tackled American imperialism in the Philippines. Though, the novel was not released from the printing press. A novel by Valeriano Peña titled Nena at Neneng is about two women coping with their relationships. Other works, such as Pinaglahuan and Banaag at Sikat, were about love and its hindrances. A writer, Lope Santos, engages readers by including topics about socialism and capitalism. Many other writers also wrote pieces of the same theme: love, fate, and social justice.

    The American period paved the way for poetry in various languages to continue to flourish in every region of the Philippines. The balagtasan was created to honor Francisco Balagtas, the country’s foremost poet. The balagtasan is a poetic joust between people who debate over the pros and cons of a subject. The most admirable lyrics and poems were yielded during this period. Poets of this period grasped the language to translate it into practical poetry. The bukanegan of Ilocos and the Crissottan of Pampanga are the duplicates of the balagtasan. 

    Modernist poetry, intended for silent reading, began upon the publication of Alejandro Abadilla’s poem titled “Ako ang Daigdig.” Blank verses were notable features of Modernist poetry. 

    Alongside the novel, Fiction in various languages of the regions was progressed. Topics of works include the vicissitudes in life in a rural place and the appearing social elite. “Light” fiction was also introduced during this time. Liwayway Arceo and Genoveva Matute are the two women writers considered forerunners of said genre. “Light” fiction is a sort of storytelling that utilizes language through poignant rendition. The works of these women were used as models in the school system. 

    Literature and writing can survive and persist through the imagination of writers, regardless of the language and climate. The period only lacked the merging of writers in the different languages, sharing experiences, and arranging the elements that establish excellent writing in the Philippines. 

3.2. Discuss the significant developments of the following periods

a. Early Phil. Literature

    The early Philippine literature held notable elements that represented who the Filipinos were. The early Philippine literature comprises a native alphabet called Baybayin used by natives in writing literary forms. The literary forms in the early Philippine literature were only passed on orally. Ethnic groups had varied forms of songs with different qualities and were used on different occasions. Literary forms in the early Philippine literature include the awit (song forms), riddles, proverbs, epics, and short narratives. The awit had different forms with different purposes. The riddles used rhymes and metaphors. The proverbs had lessons and traditions. The epics are chants about the lives of supernatural characters. The short narratives convey the origin of entities. Overall, the early Philippine literature featured general wisdom and experiences in life through verbal means. 

3.2. Discuss the significant developments of the following periods

b. Phil Literature in Spanish Colonial Period

    The Philippine literature in the Spanish Colonial Period featured new developments. Journalism and proper education rose in this period. Works are now printed and published, unlike the restriction of the early Philippine literature to oral recitations and incantations. A new language, Spanish, and a new religion, Christianity, was also introduced to Filipinos. Fiction and poetry were added to the knowledge of Filipinos during this time. The Spanish Colonial Period was not entirely positive as censorship and banning were evident in this term. 

    Moreover, this period paved the way for natives to create written literary text. The natives now create poems, poetic dramas, novels, and essays. As years passed, the natives learned how to fight for their country. Literary works had themes about Christianity, dictatorship, corruption, and oppression. Natives created literary works to fight against the Spanish colonization to achieve freedom. Filipinos were then more educated about the happenings in their nation and the oppression that they were still facing. The Filipinos had more chances of speaking up and being heard.

3.2. Discuss the significant developments of the following periods

c. Phil Literature in American Period

The Philippine literature in the American Period had progressed more since the Spanish Colonial Period. There were significant developments in the education and culture of the Filipinos. Free public schooling and utilization of the English language are notable features of the American Period. At first, Philippine literature was imitative of American models of writing. However, this changed after a few years. Filipinos then knew how to use the English language, preserving Filipino sensibility skillfully. 

Furthermore, the Philippine literature in the American Period highlighted the English language usage while having themes of Filipino traditions and practices. Plays, and other literary works such as novels and fiction, were introduced in this period. The plays were used to fight against American imperialism. Filipino writers tackled various topics for the entertainment and enlightenment of other Filipinos. Poetry in various languages also advanced in this period—the imagination of writers during this period aided literature and writing to thrive. The collaboration of writers was required to constitute exemplary writing in the Philippines. 

3.3. How have these literary periods shaped our (a) ideological perspectives

The literary periods shaped the system of belief of a person. As Filipinos were subjected to colonization, exposure to different ideologies was inevitable. Our experiences impacted our actions and beliefs. Individualism rose as our worth was tested during colonization. Equality of opportunity also grew as Filipinos were subjected to unfair circumstances, prejudice, and discrimination. There are also harmful ideologies that rose as they are difficult to avoid, especially as they are rooted in the earlier literary periods. A patriarchal ideology emerged as women were not given equal rights and opportunities. The ideological perspectives of individuals were shaped by their environment and experiences, but if these ideological perspectives possess negative traits, they should be altered fast and developed into better ones. 

3.3. How have these literary periods shaped our (b) societal values

The literary periods shaped our societal values in the best way possible. There are multiple advantages that the literary period brought to our people’s values. The literary periods enabled people to acknowledge and fight against prejudice and discrimination in society. People now have a good sense of justice and can identify injustices happening in the world. People now know when and how to demand freedom as they possess sufficient knowledge about their rights. People are more respectful towards their family, friends, and acquaintances. In conclusion, society now has a better set of values as the literary periods helped shape it. 

3.3. How have these literary periods shaped our (c) and political views

The last thing that the literary periods shaped is our political views. The literary periods allowed Filipinos to know what type of government was suitable for the Philippines. The Filipinos can now differentiate a good government from a corrupted one. The literary periods have helped us learn how the government should operate to maximize its presence. Filipinos are now more critical of the government's plans, actions, and objectives as they were under corrupt ones before. Filipinos also possess better judgment of acts and people, knowing whether they are lawful. In summary, our political views are shaped into their best form due to the occurrences during the literary periods.