Keshia Crog Gevero

 ESSAY QUESTIONS:

1. Based on the given articles, identify and discuss the literary forms/elements from the following:

a) Early Philippine Literature

    Philippine literature reflects the rich and thick culture of the Philippines no matter how hard colonialists make us believe otherwise. Most Filipinos are unfamiliar with Philippine literature and how it came to be because we have been excessively exposed to different cultures., making it difficult to recognize our own. But, with the help of many journalists, historians, and writers, we have come to realize that we have our own identity and ethnic traditions that influence our literature today through effectively disseminating them in schools and mass media. 

    Aside from our proud oral traditions, we had a native alphabet called baybayin. Unfortunately, it has been dormant since then, but it was through it that many other literary genres, including songs, riddles, proverbs, lyric, and short and epic poems, were composed. It was then just expressed through oral incantations and was later transcribed through roman alphabets shortly upon Spanish rule.

    Through baybayin, one of the early forms of early Philippine literature prevails today, which is awit or song. It is a form of oral literature that belongs to most ethnolinguistic communities, and according to some Spanish priests, there were sixteen song forms reserved for various occasions. They are uyayi or hele, soliranin, talindaw, kumintang, maluway, kundiman, dalit, panambitan, pamanhikan, and subli.

    The most seminal of these Tagalog oral traditions are riddles or bugtong. The talinghaga, or metaphor, is crucial to these riddles as it reveals subtle resemblances between two opposite items, putting one's powers of observation and wit to the test. It is the language of the educated, and those who can understand it appreciate it the most.

    There is more recorded Philippine oral literature, like Tagalog proverbs called salawikain and Philippine epics or ethno-epics. Proverbs convey norms or rules of behavior, communal views, or ideals by providing pearls of wisdom in a short, rhyming verse. Epics in the Philippines are well-known and are still relevant today. Some of which are Biag ni Lam-ang, Labaw Donggon, Agyu or Olahing, and Sandayo.

    As the new generation approaches, it is crucial to look back and understand our literature to know how things fell the way they were. Through these pieces of evidence, we can effectively see how certain events affect each other and could tremendously change even the identity of a nation to a maximum. Thankfully, many artists and writers continue to patronize these intellectual influences to revive the culture we sometimes forget.

b) Philippine Literature in Spanish Colonial Period

    During the Spanish colonial period, the country's daily customs underwent significant changes. It not only harmed the country's entire structure, but it also tarnished the purity of their traditional customs. During the conquest, the Spanish colonizers burned whatever literature they could discover in the Philippines, resulting in the disappearance of our ethnic alphabet, baybayin.

    During the Spanish colonial period, they forced our native people into believing the narrative of Christ and the promise of eternal life. Why we know so much Spanish today is also because we were told of the doctrine in that language and have forcefully adapted to it. Church authorities have forced Filipinos under submission, and they even went as far as to manipulate our educational system to work in their favor of diminishing what is left of our oral roots. 

    It sparked the beginning of Indio literature, with the earliest recorded writers releasing devotional poetry in the first decade of the 17th century. Everything was about Christ and how we should submit under his name. Poems like Gaspar Aquino de Belen, Mahal Na Pasion ni Jesu Christo, were released and immensely popular. All of this ended our tradition and beliefs of mythological culture as we shifted into the narrative of a God who had sacrificed himself on a cross. The works of Rizal were highlighted as the light after a long tunnel in this period. In his works, he expressed his dissent towards the Spanish rule in the form of art, which made him one of the best founding fathers of the Philippines.

c) Philippine Literature in American Period

    Philippine literature in the American period is another significant shift to the norms of the people at the time. During this time, English was introduced to the Filipino people through the introduction of free education for all children. Because of this, poems, fiction, plays, and novels were frequently written in English. But it was also a time when Tagalog writers thrived, and our longing for independence started. It was a literary period that witnessed a revolution.

    The period of re-orientation considered English a literary vehicle, which marked the start and the story of one of our official languages today. The period of imitation talked about the UP writer’s club and how they aimed to enhance the language of Shakespeare. During this time, short stories were a huge part of our literature; novels and fiction were influenced by it too. Seditious plays were mounted during this time. Some of the classics involve Tanikalang Ginto, Kahapon, Ngayon, at Bukas, and Hindi Ako Patay.

    The American period was the time of discovery for the Filipino people, and the different languages of this time proved that literature could uphold its significance and beauty through the mind of an artist, not just through identity alone. While it lacked unity and other experience, literary forms of this time constituted good writing and pride for Philippine literature.

2. Discuss the significant developments of the following periods.

a) Early Philippine Literature

    Early Philippine literature inspired our nation's identity while also documenting our ancestors' ways of life. It was the start of development and the stepping stone of how Philippine literature came to be in today’s society. It traced the earliest surviving example of Philippine literature and the country’s first recorded alphabet called baybayin, which became means of awit, bugtong, tula, sawikain, and epics to be written. During this time, stories revolved around the origins of the people, the stars, the skies, and the seas. It was a time when mythical creatures and beings were praised and worshipped. It deeply affected our beliefs and, of course, our contemporary culture.

b) Philippine Literature in Spanish Colonial Period

    Even though the Spanish colonial strategy forced our ancestors to submission, the Spanish language experienced a slow development in the country. At the time, Spanish elitist and racist colonizers feared it would cause disarray and rebellion. Nonetheless, it still influenced our language and literature today. 

    During Spain's reign, our ancestors were deprived of their oral traditions and forced to accept the narrative of Jesus Christ and his doctrines. Unlike the God they served, they were cruel and completely disrespected the beliefs of Filipino people to flaunt their elitist beliefs and colonial power. Slowly, the oral traditions of the Philippines, along with baybayin disappeared. As a result of the Spaniards' strong influence and forceful implication of their civilization, the locals' forms of expression on national issues and self-consciousness were replaced by political essays, novels, poems, and religious prose—a form of literature that eventually led to Filipinos' enlightenment pertaining the country's unacceptable colonial power.

    Led by Jose Rizal, writers wrote about their dissent to the unfair rule and how their rights as human beings were stepped on and disrespected. Along with their lines, they expressed their longing for their ethnic nature and identity. Because of this, Filipino people started to realize just how much they had enough of Spain’s rule over the country. It sparked their want of revolution and change, which eventually happened.

c) Philippine Literature in American Period

    During the American period, Filipinos were introduced to a new official language and free education. Free education benefited us and made us more knowledgeable, something the Spanish colonizers were afraid to do. This time, Filipinos had access to quality information and improved their social status through education.

    Our national university, the University of the Philippines, was built during the American period. As we all probably know, the academic culture of this institute is reserved for the elite and the brightest of students. Here, the U.P writers club was founded in 1926, which stated that they aim to enhance the language of Shakespeare.

    It was truly a time for Filipino writers to express their thoughts and ideas, which made them crave independence more. This time sparked their longing for their ethnic roots and traditions as they realized the value of literature in society and politics. For example, authors like Salvador P. Lopez discussed many articles and literary pieces about politics and governance.

    Of course, with a new language comes new consequences. Through English as a medium, we were introduced to Anglo-American culture, way of life, and though-processing. It was because of all these perks that we were able to be educated, even if we weren’t technically a free and independent country.

3. How have these literary periods shaped our (a) ideological perspectives, (b) societal values, (c) and political views? Discuss each. (30 points)

    Philippine literature will always correlate with the events captured and pinned to textuality. Creative writers will always have a profound send of history, as they are consistently dealing with phenomenological and sociological materials, just in the form of art, poetry, fiction, and drama. Nonetheless, Philippine literature from many literary periods has influenced our ideological perspectives, societal values, and political views.

    Our beliefs and interest as a nation were deeply influenced by all three periods of literature. It played a critical role in how we think and act as a nation. Like how it all started, we are still heavy believers of superstitions manifested in various legends, folk tales, chants, and religious poetry. Although most of these forms are no longer available today, like our alphabet, baybayin, we are still very connected to our roots of responding to unknown forces and the nature of our environment.

    After the Philippines was colonized by Spain, Philippine literature evolved into a more religious and romantic nation. Literature of this time consists of Christian doctrines and songs. It influenced the Philippines’ societal values tremendously. It has influenced our way of thinking and responding to events, as well as established a routine for us to attend masses and prayer groups and make friendships with other Christian believers. That includes our attitudes and opinions on homosexuality, women's societal roles, family traditions, and marriage ideas.

    Concerning political views, our country today stands by democracy, free speech, and free press. Its views on democracy and constitutional rights to freedom of speech and expression were heavily influenced by the United States model. Though we were not continuously democratic, the American period made us feel independent and free during their time in our country. Artists and writers alike were educated and free to voice their views on politics and governance. It was through the 1987 constitution that the presidential system became re-established after a dictator was booted out of power.

    Typically, studies of Philippine cultural heritage such as ideological perspectives, societal values, and political views compare the indigenous or pre-colonial period, the colonization period, and the post-colonial period. And rightfully so, as these literary periods of the Philippines did influence our culture to everything greatly. As much as what happened during the time of our ancestors was unfortunate, those historical moments were the groundwork of our rich and complex nation today.