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4.4 Abstraction (15min.) Before the Philippines was colonized, it was already
brimming with a rich tradition of oral literature. Here are
the forms of literature that were passed on by the early
Filipinos to today’s generation.
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Quarter 2, English 8 DLP-LC
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Republic of the Philippines
DIVISION OF BOHOL
Department of Education
Region VII, Central Visayas
Prepared by:
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Quarter 2, English 8 DLP-LC
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Republic of the Philippines
DIVISION OF BOHOL
Department of Education
Region VII, Central Visayas
Reference: Chua, Rina G.(2016) 21st Century Literature from the Philippines
and the World. Makati City: DIWA Learning Systems Inc.
ATTACHMENT NO. 1
Forms of literature that were passed on by the early Filipinos to today’s generation.
1. Proverbs – are practical observations and philosophy of everyday life that are
written usually in a rhyming scheme. It is obviously meant to entertain while
teaching basic skills in surviving local life. In Filipino, these are called salawikain.
Here are some examples:
Kung ano ang puno, siya ang bunga.
(Whatever the tree, so is the fruit.)
Kung walang tiyaga, walang nilalga.
(If you don’t persevere, you can expect no reward.)
2. Riddles - are like proverbs with one main difference: they demand an answer and
are used to test the wits of those who are listening to them. Usually, riddles (or, in
Filipino, bugtong) are used in a battle of wits, where locals young and old join
and/or watch to see who is the smartest. Another characteristic of Filipino riddles is
their flippant nature – they seem to be referring to something laughable, but in
reality, the answer is more serious than expected. Can you guess the answers to
these riddles?
Heto na si Kaka, bubuka-bukaka.
(Here comes Kaka, walking with an open leg.)
Sa araw ay bungbong, sa gabi ay dahoon.
(Roll in the morning, leaf in the afternoon.)
3. Folksongs – are beautiful songs that are informal expressions of our ancestors’
experiences in life. These range from courtship (which they sing in a harana or a
serenade for a girl), to lullabies, harvests, funerals, and others.
4. Tales – are stories of origin for certain places, their names, and their creation.
These are also known as myths and legends. They usually are used to explain certain
events or phenomena in our ancestors’ lives that cannot be explained by the limited
practical kind of science they knew back then. Some examples are the origin of
mountains such as Mount Makiling or Mount Arayat, legends of great heroes like
Bernardo Carpio.
5. Epics – are long-winded poems about a hero and his adventures and
misadventures. It usually tells a male hero who is born with all the pleasing qualities
that your ancestors like in a person and who also has superhuman capabilities. This
male hero is also paired with a beautiful young maiden, whom he will fall in love
with and will usually have to go to battle for. Sometimes, supernatural elements are
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Quarter 2, English 8 DLP-LC
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Republic of the Philippines
DIVISION OF BOHOL
Department of Education
Region VII, Central Visayas
also introduced to show the strength of the hero and his capabilities. One of the best
epics of the Philippines comes from Negros, which is the Hinilawod.
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Quarter 2, English 8 DLP-LC