A TAKE –AWAY TO THE

LITERATURE OF LUZON
Readings in Philippine Regional
Literature
Region Characteristics
Region 1 It is known as the one of the
most colorful regional
Ilocos literature. Prior to the Spanish
Region colonial period, the Ilocano
literature is purely alive in
form of written and oral
literature. Ancient poets
expressed themselves through
folk and war songs
Representative Prominent Authors
Literary and Contributions
genres
riddles, folk song- PEDRO BUCANEG- father of
Kuomintang, epic Ilocano Literature, acknowledged
poems- Biag ni Lam-ang author of Bi-ag nil Lam-ang,
modern short stories
translated Doctrina Christiana
into Ilocano
(How my brother Leon
brought home a wife) LEONORA FLORENTINO-mother
comedia, zarzuela, of Philippine Women Literature
moro-moro CARLOS BULOSAN (My Father
Goes to Court)
F.SIONIL JOSE (National Artist for
Literature, 2001)
 Region Characteristics Representative Prominent Authors
Literary and Contributions
genres
Region 2 The literature of this Irrayas and FLORENTINO HORNEDO- a
Cagayan region is a product of Gaddangs- two Palanca awardee for
the fusion of colonial earliest chronicles of literature in 1989
Valley
and ethnic traditions. Cagayan Valley FERNANDO MARAMAG-
The Ibanag dialect was Veradad- bilingual wrote the history of English
a strong factor in the weekly newspaper Language in the Phils.
evangelization of the in Tuguegarao EDITH L. TIEMPO-
pagan and the hostile Ibanag poetry- foundress of the Siliman
songs for recreation National Writers Workshop,
inhabitants. and ceremonies, National Artist of Literature
speculative,
romantic, ridiculing
or titillating
Regions Characteristics Representative Prominent Authors
Literary and Contributions
genres

Region 3 This is known as the oral traditions- Francisco Balagtas- poet

Central Tagalog Literature poems, bugtong, of Florante at Laura
Luzon because of its grand proverbs,
use of the language. kundiman songs,
legends
Regions Characteristics
Region 4 Literature from this region
CALABARZON is many times classified as
MIMAROPA
folk literature or pre-
colonial works in the form
of short stories and
poetry, post –colonial and
colonial works reflect
extreme nationalism
Representative Prominent Authors
Literary and Contributions
genres
Dead Stars- first JOSE RIZAL- country’s national
modern short story hero
PAZ MARQUEZ BENITEZ- first
modern short story writer
legends, myths,
MARS RAVELO- Filipino graphic
short stories and
poems, heroic and novelist (Darna, Dyesebel )
BIENVENIDO LUMBERA-
nationalistic texts National Artist of Literature,
poet, critic
Region Characteristics Representative Prominent Authors
Literary genres and Contributions

Region This literature is corridos- metrical MARNE KILATES- Palanca

romances were
5- Bicol influenced by a awardee, recipient of
translated to Bikol lingo
Region writing tradition with comedia or moro-moro-
Southeast Asian Writers
roots in ancient lasted for long time due Awards
folkways, folk poems to local adaptation
and verses with zarzuela- boomed CHRISTINE BELLEN-
during the
mythical content.
commonwealth period children’s book author
rawit-dawit- narrative
poem which is vehicle of
social and political
criticism
 Regions Characteristics Representative Prominent Authors and
Literary genres Contributions
National The literature of this region awiting bayan, EMILIO JACINTO, ANDRES
Capital bears the influence of the kwentong bayan, folk BONIFACIO
Region Tagalog, where it has been songs, short stories and
SEVERINO REYES- father of
born and cradled poems
the Zarzuela
AMADO V. HERNANDEZ-
poet, playwright and
novelist, National Artist for
Literature
LIWAYWAY A. ARCEO-
Palanca Awardee for
Literature, fictionist,
journalist
Cordillera The literature which best epics, songs, short MA. LUISA B. AGUILAR-
Administrat describes the rich culture stories, legends and CARINO- award winning
ive Region which have been poet and fictionist,
myths
preserved and practiced as consistent Palanca Awardee
customs and traditions that for Literature
ideally show the unique
and bountiful writings.