PHILIPPINE LITERATURE DURING

THE AMERICAN AND JAPANESE

COLONIZATION
G-3
American Colonialism (1898 – 1940)
 The US established a civil government in 1901.
 The Military Government was run by military generals
appointed by the American president. Gen. Wesley
Merritt; Gen. Elwell Otis; and Gen. Arthur McArthur.
 Americans introduced free education, many were given
the chance to study and English was used as the
language of instruction.
 In 1934, U.S. Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a bill
(Tydings-McDuffie Act) making the Philippines a
commonwealth.
 May 14, 1935 Manuel L. Quezon was elected president.
Literary Works Produced
The production of literary works in English is the
direct result of American colonization of the
Philippines.
 “Filipino Poetry” (1926) is edited by Rodolfo
Dato.
 “Dead Stars”(1925) by Paz Marquez Benitez
 “A Child of Sorrow”(1921) by Zoilo M. Galang
 “His Native Soil” (1940) by Juan C. Laya
 “Moonlight in Manila Bay” (1912) by Fernando
Maramang
Japanese Colonization (1941 – 1945)
 On Dec. 8, 1941, Japanese people attacked the
Philippines.
 The war ended on September 2, 1945
 The Japanese banned English newspapers.
 The Japanese censored Filipino writers’ works strictly.
 Theaters that were used to show English play, translated
into Filipino.
 Philippine Literature was interrupted in its development
when the Philippines was again conquered by another
foreign country.
3 TYPES OF POEM EMERGED DURING THE
JAPANESE PERIOD
 Haiku – is a poem with free verse that the
Japanese like. It was made up of 17
syllables divided into 3 lines.
 Tanaga – like Haiku , its short and it has a
measure and a rhyme. It also contains 17
syllables.
 Usual form – the usual common form of
poetry.
Literary Works

 During the Japanese Occupation,

publications were censored by the
military. Also, Tagalog was declared an
official language (together with
Nihonggo).
 Philippine literature in English came to a
halt. Some Filipino Writers then turned
to writing in Filipino.
Literary Works
 The best works were compiled by the
Liwayway magazine editors in Ang
Pinakamabuting Maikling Kathang Pilipino
ng 1943,which came out in 1944.
 It is a collection if storied that won a
contest sponsored by the Japanese.
 The top four stories were “Lupang
Tinubuan” by Narciso G. Reyes, “Uhaw ang
Tigang na Lupa” by Liwayway Arceo,
“Nayon at Dagat-Dagatan” by N.V.M.
Gonzalez, and “Suyuan sa Tubigan” by
Macario Pineda.