Pre-Colonial and Spanish Colonial Literature

Pre-Colonial Literature

• Literature records human experiences, thoughts, and feelings.
• It's a systematic expression of life through language.
• Literature imitates life (mimesis) to evoke emotional cleansing (catharsis).
• It embodies culture, tradition, and human nature.
• Proverbs (salawikain) are simple, traditional sayings offering wisdom about life.
• Riddles (bugtong) are playful statements with hidden meanings.
• Folksongs (traditional songs) are passed down generations.
• Tales/Myths/Legends explain origins of things.
• Epics are long poems narrating heroic deeds and adventures.

Spanish Colonial Period Literature

• A significant shift in literary form occurred in the Spanish colonial era.
• Literature focused on Christian values and beliefs.
• Spanish language became the literary language.
• Cenaculo is a play depicting the life of Jesus Christ.
• Pasyon is a narrative poem about the life of Jesus Christ, sung during Lent.
• Awit is a narrative poem about the life of Jesus Christ, often sung during Lent.

Literary Forms in Philippine Literature

• Zarzuela is a form of musical comedy, often satirical.
• Corrido are narrative songs about oppression, history, and society.
• Moro-moro (Comedia de Capa y Espada) is a blood-and-thunder melodrama depicting conflicts between Christians and Muslims.
• Carillo is a play using shadows to project figures.
• Tibag stories reenact the search for the Holy Cross.
• Duplo/Karagatan are dramas tied to Catholic mourning rituals and harvest celebrations.

Representative Authors and Texts

• Jose Rizal: A polymath who wrote and advocated for Filipino rights.
• Francisco Balagtas: Known for "Florante at Laura," a narrative poem.
• Nick Joaquin: Wrote about Philippine history, identity, culture.
• Lualhati Bautista: Focused on Filipino women's lives and social issues.
• Virgilio S. Almario/Bienvenido Lumbera, key figures in literary criticism.
• Nestor Vicente Madali Gonzales: A leading Filipino writer in English, known for his mastery of the Filipino experience.
• Maximo D. Ramos: Known for folklore studies and contributions to Philippine folklore and regional literature.
• Felipe Landa Jocano: Significant figure in Philippine cultural anthropology, documented and translated the "Hinilawod".
• Leoncio P. Deriada: "Father of Contemporary West Visayan Literature" known for novels, plays, and poems.
• Peter Solis Nery: Multi-awarded poet, fictionist, and playwright.
• John Iremil E. Teodoro: Pioneers in Philippine gay literature, multi-awarded poet and playwright(and university professor).
• Santiago B. Villafania Focused on Mindanao and regional themes in literature.
• Norma L. R. Rojas: Writer, educator, journalist whose work centers on ordinary people in Mindanao.