AMERICAN PERIOD

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE

AMERICAN PERIOD
• The Filipino revolutionaries won against the
Spaniards and the Philippine independence was
proclaimed on June 12, 1898.

• The flag was hoisted by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo and

the Philippine Republic was inaugurated but was
short-lived.
•The Philippines lost in the
Philippine – American War
with the surrender of Gen.
Miguel Malvar of
Batangas and Gen.
Simeon Ola of Bicol.
•The spirit of nationalism of the people remained
fearless.
•The Filipino men-of-letters wrote all forms of
literary genres like news, poetry, stories, plays
essays, novels which clearly depicted their love of
country and longing for independence.
 NEWSPAPERS CIRCULATED DURING THE AMERICAN
PERIOD
1. El Nuevo Dia (The New
Day) – established by Sergio
Osmena in 1900. American
sensors banned this newspaper
and threatened Osmena with
banishment.
NEWSPAPERS CIRCULATED DURING THE AMERICAN
PERIOD

2. El Grito del Pueblo

(The Call of the Nation)
– established by Pascual
Poblete in 1900.
NEWSPAPERS CIRCULATED DURING THE AMERICAN
PERIOD

3. El Renacimiento (The
Rebirth) – founded by
Rafael Palma.
PLAYS STAGED DURING THE AMERICAN PERIOD

•Kahapon, Ngayon,
Bukas (Yesterday,
Today And
Tomorrow) – written
by Aurelio Tolentino
PLAYS STAGED DURING THE AMERICAN PERIOD

•Tanikalang
Ginto – written
by Juan Abad
PLAYS STAGED DURING THE AMERICAN PERIOD

• Malaya – written by
Tomas Remigio
PLAYS STAGED DURING THE AMERICAN PERIOD

•Walang Sugat –
written by
Severino Reyes
THE PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
IN SPANISH LANGUAGE
 In the earlier years of American occupation, the
inspiration of our Filipino writers in Spanish was our
national hero, dr. Jose Rizal. His novels, Noli and El
Fili, contained the best qualities of a novel ever
written which inspired a lot of Filipinos to use the
Spanish language.
 Here are some of our outstanding writers in the Spanish
language:
• Cecilio Apostol wrote poems dedicated to Rizal, Jacinto,
Mabini and all other heroes.
• Fernando Ma. Guerrero is a another writer who, together
with Apostol, became Kings of Balagtasan in Spanish.
• Jesus Balmori used the pen name Batikuling.
• Manuel Bernabe is a lyric poet whose fierceness and
nationalistic spirit was unchanged in any topic.
• Claro M. Recto wrote poems and compiled them under the
title Bajo Los Cocoteros (Uunder the Coconut Trees).
• Adelina Guerea was the first woman poet in the Philippines. She obtained
the Zobel Prize in her song El Nido (The Nest).
• Isidro Marpori became famous for his books entitled Aromas de
Ensueno(Scents of Dreams).
• Macario Adriatico wrote the legend of Mindoro entitle La Punta de Salto
(The Place of Origin).
• Epifanio delos Santos (Don Panyong) was a good leader and biographer
in Spanish.
• Pedro Aunario wrote the Decalogo del Proteccionismo.
THE PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
IN FILIPINO (TAGALOG)
LANGUAGE
 The Philippine Literature in Filipino (Tagalog) language

Majority among the Filipinos were beginning to read

and write. Most of them started to read and became
informed with what is happening around. As a result, more
and more Filipinos became writers and poets and dramatists.
Francisco “Balagtas” Baltazar's epic poem, Florante at Laura
and father Modesto de Castro's social novel, Urbana at Felisa
became the inspiration of the Filipino (Tagalog) writers.
 Some of the more popular
writers during this period were:
• Lope K. Santos was a novelist, poet, author and
grammarian. He was called “Apo” of the Tagalog
writers. He was also dubbed as “Ama ng Balarilang
Filipino” (father of national language grammar). The
novel, “Banaag at Sikat” was his masterpiece.

• Jose Corazon De Jesus was also known as “Huseng

Batute.” He was deemed as “Makata ng Pag-ibig.” He
wrote the nationalistic poem, “Bayan Ko” and “Isang
Punong Kahoy,” an elegy, was his masterpiece.
• Amado V. Hernandez was crowned
“Makata ng mga Manggagawa” because
his poems revolve on the lives of city
laborers. He wrote the poems “Isang
Dipang Langit,” “Bayang Malaya,”
“Munting Lupa” while being imprisoned
in the Muntinlupa Jail because of his
involvement in labor riots. The famous
poem, “Ang Panday” was his
masterpiece.
• Valeriano Hernandez Peña was popularly
known as “Tandang Anong”. He used “Kuntil
Butil” as his pen name. The novel “Nena at
Neneng” was his masterpiece.

• Iñigo Ed. Regalado was the son of Odalager,

a popular writer during Spanish Period. He
was a popular story-teller, novelist and
newspaperman during the American period.
FILIPINO (TAGALOG)
POETRY
 Inspired by the propagandists and
revolutionists writers and poets, more and more
Filipinos started using the pen to share their
sentiments and emotions. A lot of Filipino poets
emerged during this period. Hence, Julian Cruz
Balmaceda, a popular writer, dramatist and critic
classified these poets based on the poems that
they wrote.
•They are classified as:
Poets of the Heart (Mga Makata ng Pag-ibig)
A. Lope K. Santos H. Ildefonso Santos
B. Inigo Ed. Regalado I. Amado V. Hernandez
C. Carlos Gatmaitan J. Nemecio Carabana
D. Pedro Gatmaitan K. Mar Antonio
E. Jose Corazon De Jesus
F. Cirilo Panganiban
G. Deogracias Del Rosario
Poets of Life (Mga Makata ng Buhay)
A. Lope K. Santos
B. Jose Corazon de Jesus
C. Florentino Collantes
D. Patricio Mariano
E. Carlos Gatmaitan
F. Amado V. Hernandez
 Poets of the Stage (Mga Makata ng
Entablado)

A. Aurelio Tolentino
B. Patricio Mariano
C. Severino Reyes
D. Tomas Remigio
 Filipino (Tagalog) Short Story
The emergence of the english short story was
instrumental in the development of this literary genre
called “Maikling Kuwento” or simply referred to
as “Dagli” since they can be read in one sitting. Short
stories began to appear
in pangsandaliang libangan (short-time leisure)
and dagli (fast) columns.
 Filipino (Tagalog) Short Story

Popular short story writers include:

1. Lope K. Santos
2. Patricio Mariano
3. Rosauro Almario
 Filipino (Tagalog) Short Story
In “Liwayway,” a popular weekly
publication who publishes short stories, we
find the names:
1. Deogracias Rosario
2. Teodoro Gener
3. Cirio H. Panganiban
 Filipino (Tagalog) Drama
In the American period, a lot of changes
began to unravel. Almost all literary genres were
affected with the coming of the Americans and the
English language. However, there are still Filipino
men-of-letters who wanted to use the Tagalog
medium and sought to improve various literatures
using it.
 Filipino (Tagalog) Drama
In Tagalog drama, Severino Reyes and
Hermogenes Ilagan criticized the Spanish Moro-
Moro and showed that dramas can be powerful
vehicles for propagation of Filipino values for the
audiences. Aside from these values, these dramas
were extensively used as a way to promote
nationalism as well.
 The popular dramatists during this period
include:
1. Severino Reyes was called the “Father of Tagalog Drama.” His immortal
play, “Walang Sugat” was his masterpiece.
2. Aurelio Tolentino was deemed the “Father of Kapampangan Drama.” His
work, “Luhang Tagalog” was his masterpiece and his “Napon, Ngeni at Bukas”
was a translation of his other masterpiece, “Kahapon, Ngayon at Bukas.”
3. Hermogenes Ilagan was a dramatist who founded the group Campaña
Ilagan, presenting many dramas in Central Luzon.
4. Patricio Mariano wrote the play entitled “Ninay.” His masterpiece was
“Anak ng Dagat.”
5. Julian Cruz Balmaceda was a playwright who wrote “Bunganga ng
Pating.”
 Vernacular Poetry
Aside from the flowering of Spanish,
Filipino and English languages as literary
media, several vernaculars writers and poets
gained popularity in their respective localities.
Let us take a look at some of them.
 Ilokano Poetry
1. Pedro Bukaneg was deemed as the “Father of
Ilocano Literature.” The Ilocano Bukanegan was the
Ilokano form of Balagtasan which was periodically
held to honor his name.
2. Claro Caluya was the “Prince of Ilocano Poets.”
3. Leon Pichay was crowned as the “Best
Bukanegero.” He was also a poet, novelist, short
story writer, dramatist and essayist.
 Kapampangan Poetry
1. Juan Crisostomo Soto was called the
“Father of Kapampangan Literature.” The
Crisotan was the Kapampangan form of
Balagtasan held in his honor.
2. Aurelio Tolentino was a dramatist and his
“Napon, Ngeni at Bukas” was a translation of
his masterpiece “Kahapon, Ngayon at Bukas.”
 Visayan Poetry
1. Eriberto Gumban was dubbed as the
“Father of Visayan Literature.” He wrote a
number of zarzuela, moro-moro and plays in
Visayan language.
2. Magdalena Jalandoni was a notable
female novelist who wrote “Ang mga Tunuk
san isa ca Bulaclac.”
 The Philippine Literature in English
Language
With the arrival of the English language, a new
way of writing literature has emerged. The Filipinos,
being lovers of languages and natural linguists,
began using this new medium to record their
thoughts, sentiments, ideas and views, dreams and
fears as well as everyday life-matters. In short, a
new weapon was added to their arsenal.
 As students of Philippine Literature, we need
to understand how Philippine Literature in
English developed and improved from its early
years during the American period and beyond.
To begin with, let us take a look at the three
periods, namely:
1. Period of Re-orientation
2. Period of Imitation
3. Period of Self-Discovery and Growth
Period of Re-orientation (1898-1910)

The Period of Re-orientation covered

the early years of American period and
the landing of the Americans to
Philippine shores including the
Philippine-American War.
 Period of Re-orientation (1898-1910)
The Americans established public school system in areas
that have been pacified.
English language was used as medium of instruction in
public schools as early as 1900 in the Corregidor Island.
The first English teachers were the American soldiers
stationed in various areas.
Later on, the professional teachers arrived via US Army
transport ship “USS Thomas” hence, these pioneering
teachers were called “Thomasites.”
 Period of Re-orientation (1898-1910)
These Thomasites established numerous public Elementary,
Secondary and Tertiary schools throughout the archipelago.
They established the University of the Philippines with
Murray Bartlett, a Thomasite, as the First President; which
was the first to use English language in the higher education.
They also established Philippine School of Arts and Trades
(which became Polytechnic University of the Philippines),
Philippine Normal School (which became Philippine Normal
University), Silliman University and Xavier University, in the
Visayas and Mindanao.
 Period of Imitation (1910-1924)
This period was characterized by the
Filipino writers imitating the American and
English writers. The UP College Folio, the
school publication of the University of the
Philippines, published literary compositions
in English written by the pioneers in English
poetry, essays and short stories.
Many Filipino writers became popular during this period
due to their masterful works. Notable writers include:
1. Paz Marquez Benitez who wrote the “Dead Stars”
which stand out as model of perfection in character
delineation, local color, plot and message.
2. Bernardo P. Garcia wrote the poem “George
Washington.”
3. Eulogio B. Rodriguez was a research writer of UP
College of Liberal Arts who won Villamor Prize in the
Provincial History Competition
 Many Filipino writers became popular during this period
due to their masterful works. Notable writers include:

4. Marcelo de Gracia Concepcion wrote the award-winning

poem “Azucena.”
5. Procopio Solidum wrote “Never mind and Other Poems.”
6. Lorenzo E. Paredes wrote the first poetry anthology
“Reminiscenses.”
7. Zoilo Galang published his first volume of essay entitled
“Life and Success.”
8. Eliseo Quirino and Vicente Hilario wrote the essay
“Thinking for Ourselves.”
Many Filipino writers became popular during this period
due to their masterful works. Notable writers include:

9. Zoilo Galang published the first anthology of

short stories in “Tales of the Philippines.”
10. Rodolfo Dato published his anthology “Filipino
Poetry.”
11. Carlos P. Romulo published a collection of plays
entitled “Daughters for Sale and other Plays.”