Documentos de Académico
Documentos de Profesional
Documentos de Cultura
Development of
Childrens
Literature in the
Philippines
Submitted by:
Submitted to:
Prof. Jade
with illustrations (Almario et. al. 1994, 89). This was due to the
brutality of Japanese colonisers. Works such as The Battle of Mactan by
Virgilio Floresca and Like the Molave by NVM Gonzales were published
(Almario et. al. 1994, 89). Childrens books at this time were used as
shield against Japanese censorship.
During martial law, censorship was applied. One authorCeres
Alabadohowever insisted on publishing books for older children, such
as I See Red in a Circle, 1973 (Almario, et. al. 1994, 94).
Today, books for children include collectibles from television
shows. Books like Matanglawin put into print those that have been
featured in episodes of an ABS-CBN show bearing the same title.
Activity books like collectibles from Super Inggo are usually colouring
books.
During the Spanish colonial years through 1950s, illustrators of
books were not given due credit. What mattered was that the author
was a widely known author, and that the publishing house had profits
(Almario et. al. 1994, 85). Illustrations were considered space-fillers or
decorations of magazines. Illustrators werent esteemed that time.
One of the very first illustrators of childrens stories was Jose Rizal. He
translated Hans Christian Andersens The Monkey and the Turtle into
Tagalog and supplied illustrations as well. The drawings were in black
and white (Almario et. al. 1994, 85).
Fernando Amorsolo and other artists were commissioned to do
drawings for the Osias Readers in 1920. Amorsolo later headed the
University of the Philippines School of Fine Arts in doing illustrations.
UP-SFA later expanded into offering electives in commercial arts
including illustration (Almario et. al. 1994, 88). Prof. Irineo Miranda
responded to the student cartoonists plea for more areas to harness
their talents. Encouraged by Amorsolo, Miranda offered more
commercially-related electives (Almario et. al. 1994, 88). President
Manuel Quezons move to lead the country in writing textbooks in
Filipino resulted to the publishing of Pepe and Pilar series for public
schools.
In the illustrations of Filipino life and Filipino people, there have
been issues. Filipino kings and gods were portrayed horribly, while
western fairies and deities were illustrated very well. Ceres
Alabados Multimedia Multicultural Childrens Literature in the
Philippines cites as example the drawing of a Filipino king. The books
points out that the royal was portrayed as a male witch, while the
knight Sir Galshad was illustrated correctly, complete with chain mail
armour.
The illustration of modern books was influenced by cartoons due
to concrete lines and curves (Almario et. a. 1994, 95). From black-andwhite, colours were introduced to enhance the drawings. Today, digital
art is also applied for illustrations. Depictions of Filipino characters are
no longer horrible and artists could draw their own interpretations of
deities without imitating western gods.
Childrens books in the Philippines have greatly evolved. From
Western books in the beginning, the Filipino child has found morals and
entertainment in stories that are familiar to him. He is provided with
materials that foster appreciation of his own culture and values, not a
foreigners.
With respect to illustrations, Virgilio Almario points out that
Filipino artists are committed to their work of illustrating for the Filipino
child and improving the quality of the output. From black-and-white
sketches to coloured two-dimensional drawings to digital and threedimensional arts, it can be said that illustrations have improved a lot.