The Development of Literature in the Philippines

Philippine literature is the literature associated with the Philippines and includes the legends of prehistory, and the colonial legacy of the Philippines. Most of the notable literature of the Philippines was written during the Spanish period and the first half of the 20th century in Spanish language. Philippine literature is written in Spanish, English, Tagalog, and/or other native Philippine languages.

The Legendary Period

Mostly, our ancestors have different stories to tell which originated from different places and ethnic groups. Similarly, these stories were believed to be true and many people, particularly in the provinces, still believe they exist.

Philippine mythology include a collection of tales and superstitions about magical creatures and entities. Some Filipinos, even though heavily westernized and Christianized, still believe in these tales. The prevalence of belief in the figures of Philippine mythology is strong in the provinces. Because the country has many islands and is inhabited by different ethnic groups, Philippine mythology and superstitions are very diverse. However, certain similarities exist among these groups, such as the belief in Heaven (kaluwalhatian, kalangitan) Hell (impiyerno, kasamaan), and the human soul (kaluluwa).

Philippine mythology is derived from Philippine folk literature, which is the traditional oral literature of the Filipino people. This refers to a wide range of material due to the ethnic mix of the Philippines. Each unique ethnic group has its own stories and myths to tell.

Early Works

Doctrina Christiana, Manila,

1593, is the first book printed in the Philippines.

Tomas Pinpin wrote and printed in 1610 Librong Pagaaralan nang mga Tagalog nang Uicang Castilla, 119

pages designed to help fellow Filipinos to learn the Spanish language in a simple way. He is also credited with the first news publication made in the Philippines, "Successos Felices"

 Doctrina Christiana was an early book of Roman Catholic Catechism, written by Fray Juan de Plasencia, and is believed to be one of the earliest books printed in the Philippines, in the year 1593.
The Doctrina Christiana is remarkable not only for having been printed at such an early age in a elaborated Gothic font of the Spanish language, but also for having copies made in Tagalog versions, both in Latin script and the commonly used Baybayin script of the natives at the time, plus another translation made in traditional Chinese language.

The book consists of thirty-eight leaves and seventy-four pages of text in Spanish, Tagalog transliterated into roman letters, and Tagalog in Tagalog characters (Baybayin Script), under a woodcut of St. Dominic, with the verso originally blank, although in contemporary versions bears the manuscript inscription, "Tassada en dos reales", signed Juan de Cuellar. Literally translated from Spanish as Christian Doctrine the primary goal of the book was to propagate the Christian teachings across the Philippine archipelago. Common Catholic vocal prayers were all included in the book.

 Some historians dub Tomas Pinpin, as the "Prince of Filipino Printers" or the "Patriarch of Filipino Printing." He learned the art of printing about the end of 1608 in the Dominicanowned printing press in Abucay. In Abucay, Father Blancas employed in 1609 young Pinpin as an apprentice at the printing shop and taught him the art of printing.

Spanish Period (19th Century)

December 1, 1846 - La Esperanza, the first daily newspaper, was published in the country. Other early newspapers: 1847 - La Estrella 1848 - Diario de Manila 1852 - Boletin Oficial de Filipinas 1884 - El Eco de Vigan, the first provincial newspaper (issued in Ilocos). 1890 - "El Boletn de Ceb" (The Bulletin of Cebu) issued in Cebu City

 1863 - Spanish government introduced a system of free public education that had an important effect on the ability of the population to read in Spanish and further in the rise of an educated class called the llustrado (meaning, wellinformed).

Spanish - became the social language of urban places and the true lingua franca of the archipelago. A good number of Spanish newspapers were published until the end of the 1940s. *El Renacimiento - most influential of them (printed in Manila by members of the Guerrero de Ermita family).

Some members of the ilustrado group, while residing or studying in Spain, decided to start a literary production in Spanish with the aim of serving the autonomy and/or independence projects. Members of ILLUSTRADO: *Pedro Alejandro Paterno - wrote the novel Nnay (first novel written by a Filipino) *Jos Rizal - wrote excellent poetry and two famous novels in Spanish: 1.Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not), and 2.El Filibusterismo.

A potent tool in promoting Filipino nationalism in Spanish was the foundation of La Solidaridad (more fondly called La Sol by the members of the propaganda movement) in 15 February 1885. With the help of this organ, Filipino national heroes like Jos Rizal,Graciano Lopez Jaena, Marcelo H. del Pilar, etc. were able to voice out their sentiments.

Poetry and metrical romances Ladino Poems Were natives of first Tagalog versifiers who saw print: highly literate in both Spanish and the vernacular. Corridos Were widely read during the Spanish period that filled the populace's need for entertainment as well as edifying reading matter in their leisure moments. Awit like corrido's, these were also widely read during the Spanish period as entertaining, edifying, reading manner in their leisure time. It is also a fabrication of the writers imagination although the characters and the setting may be European. The structure is rendered dodecasyllabic quatrains.

Prose The prose works of the Spanish Period consisted mostly of didatic pieces and translations of religious writings in foreign languages.

Example:

Novels Short Stories Essays Works of Criticisms

Dramas Religious drama The Panunuluyan Literally, seeking entrance, the Tagalog version of the Mexican Las Posadas. Held on the eve of Christmas, it dramatizes Joseph's and Mary's search for Bethlehem. Cenaculo Was the dramatization of the passion and death of Jesus Christ. Salubong An Easter play that dramatizes the meeting of the Risen Christ and His Mother. Moriones Refers to the participants dressed roman soldiers, their identities hidden behind colorful, sometimes grotesque, wooden masks. The Santacruzan Performed during the month of May which have the devotion for the Holy Cross. It depicts St. Elena's search for the cross on which Christ died. Pangangaluwa An interesting socio-religious practice on All Saint's Day which literally means for The Soul.

Secular dramas These were generally held during the nine nights of vigil and prayers after someone's death, on the first death anniversary when the family members put away their mourning clothes. The Karagatan comes from the legendary practice of testing the mettle of young men vying for a maiden's hand. The maiden's ring would be dropped into sea and whoever retrieves it would have the girl's hand in marriage. The Duplo A forerunner of the balagtasan. The performances consist of two teams; One composed of young women called Dupleras or Belyakas; and the other, of young men calledDupleros or Belyakos. The Comedia It is about a courtly love between, a prince and a princess of different religions. It is about a Christian-Muslim relationship.