Philippine Literature Quiz

Poetry during the Spanish Colonial Period

• Pre-colonial Philippine poems focused on epics, riddles, folk songs, and proverbs, reflecting spiritual beliefs and daily life.
• Spanish colonial poetry emphasized religion and values, instrumental in spreading Christianity and Spanish cultural influences.
• Ladino is a bilingual poem in Tagalog and Spanish, often with religious themes. It also refers to Filipinos fluent in both Spanish and Tagalog.
• Complimentary verses, often sonnets, were used to inspire reading.
• Memorial de la vida Cristiana en lengua Tagala (Guidelines for the Christian Life in the Tagalog Language) included a ladino, or bilingual poem by Francisco Bagongbanta, known by its first line "Salamat nang walang hangga" ("Unending thanks").

Types of Poems

• Pasyon: A narrative poem about the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It replaced pre-colonial oral traditions, and is still recited in churches. It consists of five-line stanzas with eight syllables per line. The Ang Mahal na Pasión ni Jesu Christong Panginoon natin na Tola is the earliest known example, from 1704.
• Awit: A narrative poem with twelve syllables per line and four lines per stanza. Its rhythm is slow, commonly accompanied by a guitar or bandurya, and often expresses adoration of the Virgin Mary or platonic and courtly love. Florante at Laura by Francisco Baltazar is a famous example.
• Korido: A narrative poem with eight syllables per line and four lines per stanza. The rhythm is faster than an awit. An example is Ibong Adarna with 1,722 stanzas and five parts.
• Dalit: A religious poem dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Prose during the Spanish Colonial Period

• Pre-colonial prose focused on stories about the supernatural, creatures, spirits, deities, and origins of things.
• Spanish friars tried to eliminate these stories, replacing them with religious stories to convert natives.
• Spanish missionaries produced meditations, translations, and Philippine studies.
• In 1593, Doctrina Christiana en lengua Española y tagala (Christian Doctrine in the Spanish and Tagalog Languages) was one of the first printed books in the Philippines.
• Spanish friars worked to learn local languages to communicate. Arte y reglas de la lengua tagala (The Art and Rules of the Tagalog Language) was the first book explaining Tagalog language principles.
• Tomas Pinpin's Librong Pagaaralan nang manga Tagalog to Study the Spanish Language was a Filipino's first published work, including a likely first Filipino essay in a preface.

Types of Prose

• Anecdotes: Short, amusing stories with lessons in life, often used in sermons. Example includes a Tagalog translation of Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe.
• Pláticas (Sermons): Lectures by Spanish priests on religious, biblical, and moral topics. Padre Modesto de Castro compiled 25 sermons in Pláticas Doctrinales (Sermons on Doctrines) in 1864.
• Novenas: Series of prayers repeated for nine days, typically for requests or thanksgivings.
• Novels: Long narrative stories with fictional characters and a sequence of events, divided into chapters. Examples include Pedro Paterno's Ninay (considered the first Filipino novel), Urbana at Feliza by Padre Modesto de Castro, and Noli Me Tangere by Jose Rizal.
• Essays: Personal writings from the author's perspective. A notable essay during this period is Ang Dapat Mabatid ng mga Tagalog by Andres Bonifacio, published in Kalayaan.

Drama during the Spanish Colonial Period

• Pre-colonial performances were in the forms of rituals.
• During the Spanish regime, rituals were replaced by drama.
• Drama was used to spread Christianity, and most dramas focused on the life of Jesus Christ, still performed today mostly during Holy Week.

Types of Drama

• Karagatan: A poetic contest, often part of death rites, based on a legend about a lady's ring. The reward for retrieving the ring was the lady offering her hand in marriage.
• Duplo: A poetic contest held during times of mourning or festivity, using puns, jokes, and riddles to alleviate sadness.
• Senakulo: A play portraying the life, passion, and crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
• Tibag: A play about Saint Helena's search for the cross of Jesus on Mount Calvary.
• Moriones: A festival celebrating Saint Longinus, a Roman soldier who drove a spear through Jesus.
• Moro-moro: A play about the victory of a Christian Filipino army over Muslim forces.
• Sarsuwela: Play with songs and dances with up to five acts. It portrays romantic love.
• Lagaylay: A song-and-dance performance by women in the Bicol region to petition, vow, or express devotion to religious icons.
• Panunuluyan: A presentation before Christmas Eve of the search for an inn by the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph.
• Salubong (or Panubong): A depiction of the meeting of the Risen Christ with his mother on Easter morning.
• Carillo (Shadow Play): A form of dramatic entertainment using cardboard figures projected onto a sheet to create a performance. Used during festivals.
• Sainéte: Short musical comedies popular during the 18th century. The format was often exaggerated comedic plays; portrayed with characters from the lower classes and everyday themes.

Hand Mime Instructions

• Choose a Christian song
• Understand the song lyrics
• Develop the appropriate motions to accompany the song.
• Create transitions between verses.
• Build an emotional climax that reflects the song's message.

Test your knowledge on Philippine literature, including traditional performances, types of prose, and poetry during the Spanish colonial period. This quiz covers significant works, authors, and cultural practices in Filipino literature. Dive into key concepts that shaped the Philippine literary landscape.