INFORGRAPHIC TIMELINE OF
PHILIPPINE
LITERATURE
SPANISH COLONIZATION
1565-1863
Spanish is the medium of
communication. Religious literature
was introduced in this
period.  Pasyon is one form of a
religious literature that tells of
about the passion and death of
Christ. Secular literature or non-
religious literature also arose during
this era. Iodino poets wrote
religious lyrics that are versed in
both Filipino and Spanish.
NATIONALISTIC/PROPAGANDA
AND REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD
1864-1896
This era planted the seeds of
nationalism to the hearts of Filipinos.
The language shifted from Spanish to
Tagalog. Two literary forms was born
during this time; propaganda literature
which is objective and revolutionary
literature which is more violent in
nature as it demanded complete
independence of the country.
JAPANESE OCCUPATION
PERIOD
1942-1944
Filipino poets broke away from Balagtas
tradition simply writing in simple
language and free verse. Fiction is
known over poetry. A compilation of
short stories was also made during this
time. Filipino writers bloomed in this
era as they came to master English and
familiarize themselves with diverse
techniques in writing.
Danielle Joei R. Nazareno
PRE-COLONICAL PERIOD
based on oral traditions and has crude
ideology. The karagatan which is a form of
drama was developed. it was a debate
verse wherein the problem is resolved. It
was called duplo during the Spanish
period and later on known as balagtasan
during the American period. Meanwhile,
folksongs have different forms such as
Cebuano and Waray's "tagay" or drinking
song.
AMERICAN PERIOD
1910-1945
Filipino writers imitated English and
American models. The poems that
were written was of an amateur which
made the phrasing and diction
awkward and seemed artificial. The
systems of education was introduced
by the Americans. The first teachers
during this period was called
"thomasites". Philippine literature of
this era was greatly influenced by
western literary trends such as realism
and romanticism.
CONTEMPORARY PERIOD
After martial law, writers broke free from
oppression and the literary period of
Philippine literature continued and kept
on blossoming up to the present time.