Module 1 Lesson 1b

GRACE MISSION COLLEGE
Catiningan, Socorro, Oriental Mindoro

e-Mail: grace.missioncollege@yahoo.com
MODULE 1
Some Concurrent Significant Historical and Literary Events in the Philippines

At the end of this Module, you should be able to:
1. Identify historical events of

Philippine Literature in English
2. Create understanding about the
Literary works of Philippine
Literature in English
3. Appreciate the value of Philippine
Literature in English
1. identify historical events of Philippine Literature in English;
2. create understanding about the Literary works of Philippine Literature in English and
3. appreciate the value of Philippine Literature in English.
Introduction
Did you know that Philippine

Literature in English reveals the
spirit of the Filipino?
Your first lesson will provide you

gradual information about the
significance of Philippine Literature
in
English. It will inform you of some
remarkable Filipino-American
writers with their masterpieces.
Those
literature will help you to bring out
your true essence as a Filipino
citizen. In fact, literature serves for
human to express their deepest
experiences in words that create
memorable images. Furthermore,
this
lesson will also discuss some

important historical events in the
Philippine Literature in English.
Did you know that Philippine Literature in English reveals the spirit of the Filipino? Your first lesson will provide
you gradual information about the significance of Philippine Literature in English. It will inform you of some remarkable
Filipino-American writers with their masterpieces.
Those literatures will help you to bring out your true essence as a Filipino citizen. In fact, literature serves for
human to express their deepest experiences in words that create memorable images. Furthermore, this lesson will also
discuss some important historical events in the Philippine Literature in English.
TASK 1
“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know”!
Direction: Look at the images below, and try to search for the names of the following writers.
Actually, they are few among significant writers during the American settlement in the Philippines. Their contribution to
literature are indeed remarkable and it contains different genres and emotions which signify that most of the writers are
creative in literature.
Let us go back to the Historical events in the Philippine Literature in English!
History
1898- American forces occupy Manila
1900- On January 29th. Taal volcano erupts, killing 1,300 people and destroying 13 villlages.
1901- Civil government is inaugurated with Judge William H. Taft as governor.
1907- Establishment of the first Philippine Assembly. Sergio osmeña serves as the speaker from 1907-1922.
1908- University of the Philippine was founded.
1909- Manuel L. Quezon is appointed as Filipino resident Commissioner to the united states
1913-1931- Governor General Francis Burton Harrison initiates policy of Filipinizing the government.
Literary
1900- English becomes the official medium of instruction of all public schools
1901- The Philippine Normal School was founded. Its purpose was to train Filipinos in the art of Teaching so that they
could eventually take charge of elementary education.
1905- The Philippine Free Pres was founded.
1910- The college Folio is published at the University of the Philippines.
This magazine printed the works of the first promising writers in english. These early selections were mostly ghost
stories or folk tales explaining natural phenomena.
1920- The Philippine Herald began by Manuel L. Quezon and it’s Magazine section was edited by Paz Marquez Benitez.
1921- First Filipino novel in English. A Child of Sorrow, is written by Zoilo M. Galang.
First volume of of essays in English, Life and Success, published by Zoilo M. Galang.
1924- Philippine Education Magazine is started. It is later renamed Philippine Magazine.
1925- The Philippine Press offers a literary Prizes.
1927- The writers club was founded at the University of the Phillipines.The American Regime (1898- 1941)
Historical Background
The Philippine Revolutionist won against the Spaniards who colonized us for more than 300 years. Our flag was hoisted
on June 12, 1898 as a symbol of our independence. Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo was elected the first President of the
Philippine Republic but this was short lived.
The Fil-American was resulted in the defeat of Gen. Miguel Malvar in 1903.
The peace movement started as early as 1900. Many Flilpinos started writing agai and the nationslism of the
people remained undaunted.
Filipino writers went into all forms of literature like news, reporting, poetry, stories, plays, essays, and
novels.their writing clearly depicted their love of the country and their longings for independence.
The active arousal in the field of literature started to be felt in the following newspapers.
1. EL NUEVO DIA (The New Day). Established by Sergio Osmeña in 1900. The American censors twice banned tis
and thretened Osmeña with banishment because of his nationalistic writings.
2. EL GRITO DEL PUEBLO ( The Call of The Nation). Established by Pascual Poblete in 1900.
3. EL RENACIEMENTO (The Rebirth). Founded by Rafael Palma in 1901.There were also plays written then but
after the first and second presentation, the American put a stop to this because of the consistent theme of natinaalism.
Included here were the following.
1. KAHAPON, NGAYON AT BUKAS ( Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow). Written by Aurelio Tolentino depecting the
suppression done by the Americans and their plan to colonize the Philippines.
2. TANIKALANG GINTO of Juan Abad.
3. MALAYA by Tomas Remigio
4. WALANG SUGAT by SEverino Reyes.
The characteristics of literature during this period.
Three groups of writers contributed to Philippine Literature during this period.
During the first year of the American period. The languages used in writing were Spanish and Tagalog and the
dialects of different regions, but the Spanish and Tagalog predominated.
In 1910, a new group started to write in English. Hence, Spanish and Tagalog, the Vernacular and finally, English
were the mediums used in Literature during these times. Were the three groups were one in their ideas and spirit, they
differed in their methods of reporting. The writers in spanish were wont to write in nationalism like honoring Rial and
other heroes.
PHILIPPINE LITERATURE IN ENGLISH
In a way, we can say that we can trace the beginnings of Philippine Literature in English with the coming of the
Americans.
For this purpose, we can drive this period into three time frames, namely:
1. The Period of Re-Orientation: 1898-1910
2. The period of imitation: 1910-1925
3. The Period of self discovery: 1925-1941
The Period of Re-Orientation (1898-1910)
English as a literary vehicles came with the American occupation in August 13, 1898 and as they say, a choice
bestowed on us by history. By 1900, English came to be used as a medium of instruction in the public schools. Fro the
American forces were recruited the first teachers of English.
By 1908, the primary and intermidiate grades were using English. It was also about this time when UP, the
forerunner in the use of English as the in higher education, was founded.
Writers of this period were still adjusting to the new found freedom after the paralyzing effect of repression of
thought and speech under the Spanish regime. They were adjusting the idea of democracy to the idea of phraseology of
the englush language and to the standards of the English literary style. Writers had to learn direct expression as
conditioned by direct thinking. They had to learn that sentence constructions; sounds and speech in English were not the
same as in vernacular. They had to discard sentimentality and floridity of language for the more direct and precise
English language.Not much was produced during this period and what literature was produced was not much of literary
worth.
The first attempts in English were in two Periodicals of this time:
a. El Renacimiento: founded in manila by Rafael Palma in 1901.
b. Philippine Free Press: established in Manila in 1905 by R. McCullough Dick and D. Theo Rogers.
Poetry
In 1907, Justo Juliano’s SURSUM CORDA, which appeared in the Renacimiento was the first work to be
published in English.In 1909, Jan F. Salazar’s MY MOTHER and his AIR CASTLES were also published in this paper.It was
also in 1909 when Proceso Sebastian followed with his poem TO MY LADY IN LAOAG, also in the same paper.
The Period of Imitation (1910-1924)
By 1919, the UP college Folio published the literary compositions of the first Filipino writers in English. They were the
pioneers in short story writings.They were then groping their way into imitating American and British models were
resulted in a stiltrd, artificial and unnatural style, lacking vitality and spontaneity. Their models included Longfellow and
Hawthorne, Emerson and Thoreau, Wordsworth and Tennyson, Thackeray and Macaulay, Longfellow, Allan Poe, Erving
and other American writters of the Roman school.
Writers of this Folio included Fernando Maramang (the best Editorial writerof this period) Juan F. Salazar, Jose
M. Hernande, Vicente del Fierro and Francisco M. Africa and Victorano Yamson. They pioneered in English poetry.
ESSAYS
The noted Essayists of this time were: Carlos P. Romulo, Jeorge c. Bocobo, Mauro Mendez, and Vicente Hilario.Their
essays were truly scholarly characterized by sobriety, substance and structure. They excelled in the serious essay,
especially the editorial type.
The next group of writers introduced the informal essay, critcism and the journalistic column. They spiced their work
with humor, wit and satire. These group include Ignacio Manlapaz, Godefredo Rivera, Federico Mangahas, Francisco B.
Icasiano, Salvador P. Lopez, Jose Lansang and Amando G. Dayrit.SHORT STORIESIn the field of short stories, DEAD STARS
by Paz Marquez Benitez written in the early 1920’s stand out as amodel of perfection in chracter delineation, local color,
plot and message. Other short stories published during this time were but poor imitation of their foreign models.
The UP college Folio was later replaced by the Philippine Collegian, Newspapers and periodicals also saw print during
this time like the Bulletin, the philippines herald(1920), the Philippine Review, the Independent, Rising Philippines and
Citizens, and the philippine education Magazine in 1924.Period of Self-Discovery and Growth (1925-1941)By this time,
Filipino writers had acquired the mastery of English writing. They now confidently and competently wrote on a lotof
subjects although the old time favorite of love and youth persisted. They went into all forms of writing like the novel and
the drama.
1. POETRY
Noteworthy names in this field include Marcelo de Gracia Concepcion, Jose Garcia Villa, Angela Manalang Gloria,
Abelardo Subido, Trenidad Tarrosa Subido and Rafael Zulueta da Costa. They turned out not only love poems but
patriotic, religious desciptive and reflective poems as well.
They wrote in free verse, in odds and sonnets and in other types. Poetry was original, spontaneous,competently
written and later, incorporated social consciousness.
2. THE SHORT STORY (1925-194)
Probably because of the incentives provided by publications like the Philippine free press, The Graphic, The
Philippine Magazine and College Publications like the UP Literary Apprentice, Poetry and the Short Story flourished
during this times.Other writers during this time include Osmundo Sta. Romana, Arturo Rotor, Paz Latorena’s Sunset, and
Jose Garcia Villa’s Mirin-isa. From 1930 to 194, the Golden Era of filipino Writing in English saw the short story writers
“who have arrived” like Jose Lansang’s The Broken Parasol, Sinai C. Hamada’s Talanata’s Wife, Fausto Dugenio’s
Wanderlust, Amado G. Dayrit’s His Gift and Yestreday, Amador T. Daugio’s The woman who Looked Out of the
Window.Characteristics of the Short Stoies during this times:There were still remnants of spanish influenced in the use
of expression that were florid, sentimental,, exaggerated, and bombastic. The influence of the Western culture also was
alredy evident.
3. ESSAYS AND OTHER PROSE STYLES (1925-1941)
Essays during this period improved with the years in quality and quantity, in content subject and style. Essayist
like Carlos P. Romulo, became even more eminent editorial writers.The notable writers of essays during this period
were:a. Political, social reflective essays: Through their newspaper columns the following became very popular: Federico
Mangahas, Salvador P. Lopez, Pura S. Castrence, Vicente Albano Pacis, Ariston Estrada and Jose A. Lansang.b. Critical
essay was espoused by Salvador P. Lopez, I.V. Mallari, Ignacio Manlapaz, Jose Garcia Villa, Arturo B. Rotor, and Leopoldo
Y. Yabes. An example of this is Maximo V. Soliven’s THEY CALLED IT BROTHERHOOD.c. Personal or familiar essays were
written by F.B Icasiano (Mang KIko), Alfredo E. Litiaco, Solomon V. Arnaldo, Amando G. Dayrit and Consuelo Gar
(Catuca).
Some of the notable works during this time were:
1940:Salvador P. Lopez’ LITERATURE AND SOCIETY which is a collection of critical reflection and serious essays and which
won first price in the Commonwealth Literary Contest of 1940.
1940:Camilo Oasias published THE FILIPINO WAY OF LIFE, a series of essays on the Filipino way of life as drawn from
history, folkways, philosophy and psychology of the Philippines.
1941: F.B. Icasiano (Mang KIko) was reprints of the best of the icasiano’s essays in the Sunday Times of Magazine under
the Column From My Nipa Hut. It is an essay of the common “tao” and is written with humor and symphaty.
August 16, 1941: Carlos P. Romulo had an editorial printed in the Philippines Herald. Entitled I AM A FILIPINO, it was
reprinted in his book MY BROTHER AMERICANS in 1945 in New York by Doubleday @ Co.OTHER ESSAYISTS
INCLUDE:Ignacio Manlapaz, Vicente Albano Pacis, I.V. Mallari, Jose M. Fernandez, Leopoldo Y. Yabes, Isidro L. Ritizos,
Pura Santillan.The Philippine Writer’s League put out a collection of essays called Literature Under the
Commonwealth.Amado G. Dayrit with his column Good Morning Judge led others like Leon Ma. Guerrero, Salavador P.
Lopez, Vicente Albano Pacis, Jose A. Lansang and Federico Mangahas.4. BIOGRAPHY (1925-1941)
In 1935, I.P. Caballero and Marcelo de Gracia Concepcion wrote about QUEZON.
In 1938, THE GREAT MALAYAN, won a prize in the national contest sponsored by the Commonwealth of the Philippines.
This was written by Carlos Quirino, the most famous biographer of the period. He also wrote Quezon, the Man of
Destiny.In 1940, I.V. Mallari’s The Birth of Discontent revealed the sensitive touch of a writer who in simple language
was able to reveal his profound thoughts and feelings.
5. HISTORY
Not much about history has been written by Filipino writers, in 1937, with regard to literary history,we can cite Teofilo
del Castillio’s The Brief History of the Philippine Islands.
6. PUBLICATIONS
The Philippine Free Press provided the first incentives to Filipino writers in english by offering prizes to worthwhile
contributions. Other publications followed suit.
7. THE DRAMA ( 1925-1941)
Drama during this period did not reach the heights attained by the novel or the short story. The UP provided the
incentive when they introduced playwriting as a course and established the UP little Theater.
000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
TASK 2:
Directions: Fill in the blanks with the correct answer.
1. In 1910,_____________________is published at the university of the Philippines.
2. In 1921, the first Filipino novel in English ,_____________________is written by Zoilo M. Galang3. In 1920, the
Philippine herald began publication. It was founded by _____________________ and its magazine section was edited
by____________________
4. In_____________, English has become the official medium of instruction of all public schools.
5. In 1901, the___________________ was founded. Its purpose was to train Filipinos in the art of teaching so that they
could eventually take charge of elementary education.
6. In 1905, the_____________________ was founded.
7. First volume of essays in English, Life, and Success, is published by__________________
8. In __________, Philippine Education Magazine is started. It is later renamed Philippine Magazine.
9. The Filipino revolutionists won against the Spaniards who colonized us for more than _______ years.
10. __________________ He elected the first president of the Philippine Republic.
11. ___________________ was established by Sergio Osmeña in 1900.
12. ____________________ during this period, English as a literary vehicle came with the American occupation in
August 13, 1898.
13. By__________ the primary and intermediate grades were using English.
14. __________________ writers of this period were still adjusting to the newfound freedom after the paralyzing effect
of repression of thought and speech under the Spanish regime.
15. ___________________ during this period, writers had to learn direct expression as conditioned by direct thinking.
They had to learn that sentence constructions; sounds and speech in English were not the same as in vernacular.16. By
___________, English came to be used as medium of instruction in public schools. From the American forces were
recruited the first teachers of English.
17. We can trace the beginning of Philippine literature in English by the coming of ________________________.
18. By 1919, the __________________published the literary compositions of the first Filipino writers in English. They
were the pioneer in short story writing.
19. In 1907, Justo Juliano’s _____________________ which appeared in the Renacimiento was the first work to be
published in English.
20.Philippine Free Press: established in Manila in 1905 by___________________________ and
______________________________.
Prepared by:
ROSWELL O. TOLENTINO, EdD
Be an agent of CHANGE!

Module 1 Lesson 1b

Uploaded by

Module 1 Lesson 1b

Uploaded by

GRACE MISSION COLLEGE

Catiningan, Socorro, Oriental Mindoro

Some Concurrent Significant Historical and Literary Events in the Philippines

1. Identify historical events of

Did you know that Philippine

Your first lesson will provide you

lesson will also discuss some

ROSWELL O. TOLENTINO, EdD

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