Chapter 2

THE PRE-
SPANISH
PERIOD
 Historical
Background
 Long before the Spaniard and other
foreigners landed on Philippine
shores, our forefathers already had
their own literature stamped in the
history of our literature
Our ancient race. shows our
customs and traditions in everyday
life as trace in our folk stories, old
plays and short stories.
Our ancestors also had their own
alphabet which was similar to that
of the Malayo-Polynesian alphabet.
 Whatever record our ancestors
left were either burned by the
Spanish friars in the belief that
Thewere
they Spaniards
workswho came
of the toor
devil the
Philippines
were writtentried to prove that
on materials that our
ancestors were really fond of
easily perished.
poetry, songs, stories, riddles and
proverbs which we still enjoy today
and which serve to show to
generations the true culture of our
people.
 Pre- Spanish
literature is
characterized
by
 LEGEND
S
Legends are a form of prose the
common theme of which is about
the origin of a thing, place,
location or name.

The events are imaginary, devoid

of truth and unbelievable.
Example: THE LEGEND OF
TAGALOGS
 B. FOLK
Folk talesTALES
are made up of
stories about life, adventure,
love, horror and humor
where one can derive lessons
about life.
Example: THE MOON AND THE
SUN
 C. THE EPIC
AGE
Epics are long narrative poems in
which a series of heroic achievements
or events, usually of a hero, are dealt
with Example
at length.
• Bidasari-Moro epic
• Biag ni Lam-ang-Ilokano epic
• Maragtas-Visayan epic
• “Dagoy”at “Sudsod”-Tagbanua
epic
• Indarapatra at Sulayman
 D. FOLK
SONGS
Folk songs are one of the oldest
forms of Philippine literature that
emerged in the pre-Spanish
period.

These songs mirrored the early

forms of culture.
Many of these have 12
syllables.
Example:
• Kundiman
• Kumintang o Tagumpay
• Ang Dalit o Imno
• Ang Oyayi o Hele
• Diana
• Soliraning
• Talindaw
OTHER FORMS
OF PRE-
SPANISH
POETRY
 e. Epigrams,
Riddles, Chants,
Maxims,
Proverbs or
Sayings
 1. Epigrams
(Salawikain)
These have been customarily
used and served as laws or
rules on good behavior by our
ancestors
These are like allegories or
parables that impart lessons for
the young.
• It is better to light the
candle than to curse the
darkness.
• Blessed are the
peacemakers.
• Kung ano ang puno, siya
ang bunga.
• Kung may tinanim, may
aanihin.
 2. Riddles
(Bugtong)
These are made up of
one or more measured
lines with rhyme and may
consist of four to 12
syllables
Example:
Three eyes I hav
 What
animal walks on
all fours in the
 What
gets wetter
and wetter
 I
have a tail, and I
have a head, but I

have no body. I a
m NOT a snake. Wh
 At
night they come w
ithout being fetc
What two word
s have thousa
What’s full
What comes once
He has married
Pronounced as one lette
 3. Chant
(Bulong)
Used in witchcraft or
Example:
enchantment.
Ikaw ang magnanakaw ng bigas
ko
Lumuwa sana ang mata mo
Mamaga sana ang katawan mo
Patayin ka ng mga anito
Bari-bari apo, umisbo lang ti tao
(Ilokano)
 4.
Maxims
Some are rhyming
couplets with verses of
5, 6 or 8 syllables, each
line having the same
number of syllables.
Example:
• Pag hindi ukol,
Hindi bubukol.
• Nothing ventured,
Nothing gained.
• We promise according to
our hopes,
and perform according to
our fears.
 5. Sayings
(Kasabihan)
Often used in teasing
or to comment on a
person’s actuations.
 pinanggalingan ay hindi
makararating sa paroroonan.
• Early to bed and early to rise,
makes a man healthy, wealthy
and wise.
• Absence makes the heart grow
fonder.
• Laugh and the world laughs with
you, weep and you weep alone.
• Its better to have loved and lost,
than never to have loved at all
 6. Sawikain
Sayings with no hidden
meanings
Has a phrase that has a
different meaning than
the literal meaning of the
phrase.
• Give it a shot
• Have second
thoughts
• Have a change of
heart
• It cost an arm and a
leg
• Piece of cake
• Call it a day