21st Century Literature: Pre-Colonial Oral Traditions

Study Notes

Oral traditions like storytelling, chants, and songs are vital for cultural heritage preservation.
Folk speech consists of prose stories passed down orally through generations.
Riddles serve as traditional guessing expressions that engage the audience.
Proverbs (salawikain) are concise, wise sayings that encapsulate cultural values.
Folk tales, primarily prose narratives, are essential to oral storytelling traditions.
Legends narrate tales of heroes, treasures, enchanters, and saints, often intertwining historical facts.
Fables use animal characters endowed with human traits to convey moral lessons.
The epic form delivers long narrative poems, with "Biag ni Lam-ang" as the oldest recorded epic in the Philippines.

"Doctrina Christiana" was the first published book in the Philippines.
"Nuestra Señora del Rosario" marked the first typographical book written by Fr. Francisco Blancas de San Jose, including biographies of saints and novenas.
"Barlaan at Josaphat" is recognized as the first Tagalog novel translation.
"Florante at Laura" is considered a metrical romance integral to the literature of the period.
Epistolary literature involves works written in letter form.
"Ang Mga Dalit Kay Maria" is a collection of songs honoring the Virgin Mary, authored by Fr. Mariano Sevilla.
Andres Bonifacio wrote "Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa," emphasizing patriotism.
Emilio Jacinto authored "Liwanag at Dilim," contributing to the revolutionary literature.
"Tibag" is a ritual performance reflecting devotion to the Holy Cross, while "Sinakulo" dramatizes the life of Jesus Christ.
"Laglaglay" is a two-hour performance dedicated to praising the Holy Cross through song and dance.
"Sainete" represents the 18th-century Spanish comic opera format.

Balagtasan is a verse debate where poets improvise while defending a specific position.
"Ang Pangginggera" showcases the narrative talent of poet-novelists during this era.
José Corazon de Jesus, known as Huseng Batute, made significant contributions to poetry and songwriting.
Valeriano Hernandez Peña is credited as the father of the Tagalog novel, shaping literary development during American rule.

The National Artist Award, established by Proclamation No. 1001, recognizes excellence in literature every four years.
The award is not limited to living individuals, honoring contributions that transcend time.
Severino Montano founded the Arena Theater and had performances reach 47 provinces, impacting Filipino theater.
Amado V. Hernandez, a National Artist and labor leader, is known for notable works such as "Mga Ibong Mandaragit" and "Bayang Malaya."
Atang Dela Rama is celebrated for her contributions to Philippine theater and performing arts.