Period of Re-orientation

1898-1910

English as a literary vehicle

came with the American
Occupation in August 13, 1898
as the American soldiers came
to supposedly liberate the
Filipinos from the clutches
of the Spanish conquerors
(Battle of Manila).

1898 (Beginning of the

American Period)
English

Imitated the themes and

the methods of the
Americans

Spanish

Continued to talk about

nationalism

Filipino

Continued their attempts

to arouse love for ones
native tongue

1900
English was first taught as a
subject as the Spanish system
of education was allowed to
continue. English became the
medium of instruction in the
public schools. The American
forces were recruited as the
first teachers of English.

In 1901, the Philippine Normal

School was founded to train
Filipino teachers to take charge
of elementary education.
By 1908, the University of the
Philippines was established to
train young Filipinos for tasks
in colonial bureaucracy.

Notable Works
The first attempts in English
were in two periodicals of
this time:
El Renacimiento founded in
Manila by Rafael Palma in 1901
Philippines Free Press
established in Manila in 1905
by D. Theo Rogers and R.
McCullough

Works published in El
Renacimiento
Sursum Corda (1907) written by
Justo Juliano. This was the first
work to be published in English.
My Mother and his Air Castles
(1909) written by Jan F. Salazar.
To My Lady in Laoag (1909) a poem
written by Proceso Sebastian.