Historical Literature in the Philippines

Historical Literature and Key Events in the Philippines

• First printed book: Doctrina Christiana marked as the earliest printed book in the Philippines.
• Spanish Period: A time when Christianity significantly flourished, shaping cultural and literary narratives.
• Pre-Spanish Period: Characterized by oral traditions, including legends, folk tales, epics, and folk songs, shared in communities, along with the barangay system ruled by raja or datu.
• Martial Law: A noted period of dictatorship in the Philippines, declared on September 21, 1972, by Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr.
• American Regime Influence: Encouragement for Filipino writers to use the English language, with English as the medium of instruction in schools.
• Cenakulo: A dramatic performance focusing on the death of Jesus Christ, popular during the Spanish period.
• Zarzuela: A recreational play combining comedy and musical drama introduced by Spanish colonizers.
• Japanese Period Literature: Introduction of Haiku and Tanaga forms of poetry, with a halt in Philippine literature in English due to strict newspaper circulation limitations.

Notable Figures and Their Contributions

• Jose Palma: Filipino poet and soldier who wrote "Filipinas," which inspired the Philippine National Anthem lyrics.
• Julian Felipe: Composer of the Philippine National Anthem, originally known as "Marcha Nacional Filipina," now "Lupang Hinirang."
• Carlos Palanca Sr.: Founder of the prestigious Palanca Awards established in 1950, promoting literary excellence.
• Pedro Bukaneg: Recognized as the Father of Iloco Literature.
• Juan Crisostomo Soto: Known as the Father of Kapampangan Literature.
• National Artists for Literature: Francisco Arcellana, Nick Joaquin, and F. Sionil Jose celebrated for their literary contributions.

Contemporary Literature Concepts

• 21st Century Literature: Encompasses works created since 2001, dealing with current themes and reflecting technological culture.
• Graphic Novel: A narrative work told through comic form, providing a unique storytelling approach.
• Doodle Fiction: Literary presentations incorporating doodle drawings and handwritten graphics instead of traditional text.
• Chick-Lit: A genre addressing modern womanhood humorously and with light-hearted themes.
• Digital Poems: Poetic works reliant on technology, presenting challenges in format and presentation.
• Mobile Phone Text Tula: Short verses created for reading on mobile devices.

Literary Devices and Poetic Forms

• Digi Fiction: A multimedia literary experience combining books, movies, and internet platforms for an interactive story.
• Flash Fiction: Extremely brief fictional literature, often referred to as "very short stories."
• Business Blog: Blogs tailored for businesses that communicate brand identity and messaging.
• Spoken Word Poetry: An oral art form focusing on wordplay aesthetics.
• Alliteration and Repetition: Literary devices that enhance rhythm and focus within poetry.
• Persona: Refers to the speaker in a poem, which can either be the poet or a created character.

Themes and Structural Elements

• Mood and Tone: Mood pertains to the emotional atmosphere of a poem, while tone reflects the writer's attitude toward the subject.
• Imagery: Descriptive language that evokes sensory experiences, helping readers visualize scenes.
• Lyric Poem: A type of poetry that expresses personal emotions and has a musical quality.
• Sonnet: A poetic form consisting of 14 lines, typically with a structured rhyme scheme.
• Theme: The underlying message or central idea in a poem or story.
• Narrative Poem: A poem that tells a specific story with a defined plot structure.
• Point of View: The perspective or viewpoint from which a narrative is told, influencing the reader's understanding.