Pre-Colonial Philippine Literature

• Literature is derived from the Latin word "littera," meaning "a letter of the alphabet."
• The Britannica Dictionary defines literature as a body of prose and poetry with aesthetic excellence.
• The Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary defines literature as writings with excellent form or expression that convey ideas of permanent or universal interest.

Pre-Colonial Philippine Literature

• Most literary works were orally passed on through generations.
• Literary works included folk speeches, folk songs, folk narratives, indigenous rituals, and mimetic dances.
• Oral literature pertained to everyday experiences like food gathering, caring for children, and dealing with nature.
• Riddles are influential in oral literature, revealing subtle resemblances between unlike objects and testing wit.
• Proverbs, also called aphorisms, are short sayings expressing truth and giving advice.
• If you plant, you harvest which means your actions today will result in your future, so work hard.
• A broom is sturdy because its strands are tightly bound which means your actions today will result in your future, so work hard.
• Tanaga is a short Filipino poem of four lines with seven to eight syllables each, utilizing the same rhyme at the end of each line.

Tagalog Riddles

• Ate ko, ate mo, ate ng lahat ng tao - Answer is "Atis" (sugar apple).
• Baboy ko sa pulo, ang balahibo'y pako - Answer is "Langka" (jackfruit).
• Dumaan ang hari, nagkagatan ang mga pari - Answer is "Zipper"

Folk Songs

• Folk songs express the hopes and aspirations of ancient Filipinos and describe their lifestyles.
• Examples of folk songs include oyayi (lullaby), harana (serenade), and ambahan.
• Ambahan of the Mangyan is about human relationships, serving as social entertainment, and a teaching tool for the young.
• Work songs describe the livelihood of forefathers, such as Kalusan (Ivatan), Soliranin (Tagalog), and Mambayu (Kalinga).
• Parang Sabil is a Tausug narrative ballad about a Muslim hero's death at the hands of non-Muslims.
• Folk narratives like epics and folk tales are varied, exotic, and magical.
• Myths and legends narrate and describe the creation of the world and origins of places.
• Epics narrate the deeds and adventures of a heroic or legendary figure.
• Examples of epics include "Hinilawod," "Darangen," "Ulahingan," and "Biag ni Lam-ang."

Philippine Literature Under Spanish Colonization

• The Spaniards destroyed written literature to impose their own in the early 15th century.
• The literary tradition before the Spanish arrival was predominantly oral, including songs, riddles, epics, legends, and proverbs.
• Spaniards introduced the Passion of Christ, which became attractive promising eternal life.
• Church authorities used the local language to communicate with natives.
• Doctrina Christiana, authored by Fray Juan de Plasencia released in 1593, was the first book printed in the Philippines, serving as an early guide on Roman Catholic catechism with a Tagalog translation.
• Spanish missionaries used native speakers to translate instructional materials and teach Catholic teachings.
• Ladinos, native people who learned Spanish, published devotional poetry in the early 17th century.
• Gaspar Aquino de Belen published his Tagalog rendition of the Passion of Christ in 1704.
• Pasyon is a poetic narrative recounting the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ in numerous versions.
• The change marked the beginning of the end of mythological literary works.
• Komedya was later called moro-moro, depicting Christian armies defeating Moslems.
• Jose Dela Cruz "Huseng Sisiw" was a notable proponent of komedya during the Spanish regime, with works like La Guerra Civil de Granada and Reyna Encantada o Casamiento por fuerza.
• Francisco "Balagtas" Baltazar, the "Prinsipe ng Manunulang Tagalog," composed works in Filipino during the spread of the Spanish language
• Balagtasan is an origin of the Filipino debate in extemporaneous verses.
• Florante at Laura which is his most notable work authored by Balagtas.
• Pedro Alejandro Paterno authored "Ninay", showcasing the country's unique culture which is the first novel written in Spanish by a native Filipino writer.
• Ilustrados like Jose Rizal and Marcelo H. Del Pilar, educated in Europe, wrote about Spanish colonization.
• Jose Rizal authored Noli Me Tangere (The Social Cancer) and El Filibusterismo (The Reign of Greed) awaken nationalism.
• Andres Bonifacio authored Pag-ibig sa Tinuang Lupa (Love of Country) and Ang Dapat Mabatid ng mga Tagalog + Rizal's Mi Ultimo Adios (Tagalog translation).
• Emilio Jacinto was Bonifacio’s closest aide.
• Jacinto is credited for Kalayaan - the Katipinunan newspaper and Kartilya ng Katipunan (Primer of Katipunan).
• Filipino Writers: Claro M. Recto, Teodoro M. Kalaw, Epifanio delos Santos, Vicente Sotto, Trinidad Pardo de Tavera, Rafael Palma.