THREE PERIODS IN THE

LITERARY HISTORY OF
THE PHILIPPINES
Pre – Colonialism
Colonialism
Post - Colonialism
 Pre - Colonialism
The early literary forms of the
Philippines were epics, legends,
riddles and proverbs which were
told and retold by the natives.
 The literature of the pre – colonial
Filipinos bore the marks of the
community.
 Filipinos managed to preserved
laws, legends, songs and epics by
inscribing them on barks of trees,
palm leaves and bamboos.
 Some of the literary forms have
managed to survived war and
tropical disasters because they
retained in the common minds and
were later reduced to permanent
forms.
 LITERARY FORMS

 RIDDLE (bugtong)
 EPIGRAMS / MAXIMS /
PROVERBS (SALAWIKAIN &
SAWIKAIN)
 Ex of salawikain
 Ang matapat na kaibigan, tunay na
maaasahan. - - -You will know a true
friend in time of need.
 Ex of Sawikain
 kumukulo ang dugo
"blood is boiling" = is very angry
 isulat sa tubig
"write on water" = forget about it

Ex of Maxims
 Pag hindi ukol,
Hindi bubukol.
-means
What is not intended for one will not bear
fruit.
CHANTS (BULONG)
used in witchcraft and/or
enchantment
 Tanaga
a quatrain expressing insights
and lessons in life
Ex. “Tahak ng tingin, tulak
ng sulyap, yakap, lapat
ng titig sa balikat.
hatak pa, kindat, hakat”
 traditional poetry of the Hanunoo
Mangyans of Oriental Mindoro which is
normally inscribed on bamboo using a
pre-Colonial syllabic writing system
called the Surat Mangyan .
 usually chanted
 teaches lessons about life
 recited by parents to educate their
children, by the youth to express their
love, by the old to impart experiences,
or by the community in tribal
ceremonies
 on some occasions like burial rites, the
ambahan is used for entertainment

Sugot nga maaw kunman

Tangdayan no ma-amban
Sabungan no manuywan
Impad las yami daywan
Hanggan buhok
timbangan
Hanggan sa balod
pangdan
Bugkat di way yamungan
Bilang dayi bunlagan
No kang tinaginduman
Kang magpahalimbaw-an
Ga bugtong ti bilugan
 Explain how the world was created,
how animals possess certain
characteristics, why some places
have volcanoes, mountains etc.
 Story of Bathala
 The Legend of Maria Makiling
 Presence of different deities
 Ex. Bathala
 Lakambakod
 Mythical creatures
 Aswang
 Dila
 Diwata
 Dwende
 Tikbalang
 Mankukulam
 Ifugao – Hudhud hi Aliguyon
 Ilocos – Biag ni Lam-ang
 Bicol - Ibalon
 Mindanao – Darangan
 Panay – Hinilawod
 Bagobo - Tuwaang
 Kalinga – Ulaliim
 Manobo – Agyu or Olahing
 Subanon - Sandayo
 Aliguyon
 the exploits of Aliguyon as he battles his
arch-enemy, Pambukhayon
 Biag ni Lam-Ang
 tells of the adventures of Lam-Ang who
exhibits extraordinary powers at a very
early age.
 Ibalon
 the story of three Bicol heroes: Baltog,
Handiong, Bantiong
 Hinilawod
 oldest and longest epic poem in Panay
 the exploits of three Sulodnon demigod
brothers, LabawDonggon, Humadapnon and
Dumalapdap of ancient Panay
 a form of folk lyric which expresses the
people’s hopes, aspirations, and lifestyles
 traditional songs and melodies
 inspired by the reaction of the people to
their environment
 uyayi – lullaby
 komintang – war song
 kundiman – melancholic love song
 harana – serenade
 Tagay (Cebuano/Waray) – drinking song
 mambayu – Kalinga rice-pounding song
 subli – dance-ritual song of courtship
/marriage
 Kanogan (Cebuano) – song of lamentation
for the dead.
 PHILIPPINE
LITERATURE
DURING SPANISH
COLONIZATION
A. Spanish Religious
Works
B. Formative
Language
C. Nationalist Stage
Philippine Literature
During American
Regime