American Colonial Literature (1899-1940)

American Colonial Literature (1899-1940)

• Explores American influences, characteristics of literature, major literary periods (3), and different literary works.
• Jose Garcia Villa: "First, a poem must be magical, then musical as a sea-gull and it must hold fire as well."

American Influences - Governance

• American colonizers became the new leaders in the Philippines.

American Influences - Education

• A new education system was established, which was used to promote "benevolent assimilation".
• Many public and private schools were established
• American soldiers were the first teachers.
• Trained teachers replaced soldiers and are known as "Thomasites".

American Influences - Politics

• American teachers taught students about democracy and progress

American Influences - Other Fields

• Art illustration, advertising, and commercial design gained popularity
• Fine arts were incorporated with new design styles
• Cleanliness and hygiene became important
• Freedom of speech was promoted
• English language was taught and used

Schools and Universities founded during the American Colonial Period

• 1901: Philippine Normal College (now PNU), National University, Silliman University, and El Colegio de San Beda (now SBU)
• 1902: Negros Oriental High school and Ilo-ilo Normal School
• 1904: St. Paul University, Filamer Christian University, and Zamboanga Normal School
• 1904: Escuela de Farmacia del Liceo de Manila (now MCU)
• 1905: Central Philippine University
• 1908: University of the Philippines
• 1914: University of Manila
• 1915: Cebu Normal School
• 1919: Philippine Women's University and Jose Rizal University
• 1925: Mapua Institute of Technology
• 1933: Far Eastern University
• 1938: Arellano University
• 1941: San Sebastian College - Recoletos

Period of Re-Orientation (1898-1910)

• English became the main language for literature and teaching in public schools
• English was used in primary and intermediate grades starting in 1908
• UP was founded and became known for using the English language.

Period of Imitation (1910-1925)

• Essays were sober, substantive, and carefully structured.
• Informal essayists wrote criticisms, essays, and journalistic pieces with humor, wit, and satire.
• Noted essayists included: Carlos P. Romulo, Jorge C. Bocobo, Mauro Mendez, Vicente Hilario, Ignacio Manlapaz, Godefredo Rivera, Federico Mangahas, Francisco Icasiano, Salvador Lopez, Jose Lansang, and Amando Dayrit.

Noted Fictionists

• When UP was founded in 1908, a cultural group of English writers began to exert influence.
• The UP Writers Club was formed in 1926 with the goal of promoting the language of Shakespeare.
• Prominent fictionists: Francisco Arcellana, Consorcio Borje, Aida Rivera, Conrad Pedroche, Amador Daguio, Sinai Hamada, Hernando Ocampo, Fernando Maria Guerrero, and Jose Garcia Villa.

Period of Self-Discovery and Growth (1925-1941)

• Filipino writers mastered English writing during this period
• Filipino writers competently wrote on a lot of subjects such as love and youth
• Poetry was original, spontaneous, socially conscious, and competently written.

Characteristics of Literature during the American Colonial Era

• Wellspring of a vibrant Philippine Literature in English
• Imitates of American models of writing
• Writers used Spanish, English, Filipino, and mother tongue languages
• Increased love for mother tongue among Filipinos
• Reflected the condition of the country during the period

Literary Works of the American Colonization Era

• Essays
• Newspapers
• Novels
• Plays
• Poetry
• Short Stories

Short Stories

• Dead Stars by Paz Marquez Benitez (1925) was the first short story in English and the landmark of Filipino writers maturity in English
• The Small Key by Paz Latorena
• How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife by Manuel Arguilla
• Children of the Ash Covered Loam by N.V.M. Gonzales
• Footnote to Youth by Jose Garcia Villa
• Clay by Juan Gatbonton

Novels

• Served as discourses on cultural identity, nationhood, and being Filipino written in English language
• Child of Sorrow by Zoilo Galang was the first novel written in English (1921)
• Filipino Rebel by Maximo M. Kalaw
• His Native Soil by Juan C. Laya

Plays

• 1902: Walang Sugat by Severino Reyes; Tanikalang Ginto by Juan Abad
• 1903: Kahapon, Ngayon, at Bukas by Aurelio Tolentino; Hindi Aco Patay by Juan Matapang Cruz
• 1922: Anak ng Dagat by Patricio Mariano
• Other playwrights: Hermogenes llagan, Fulgencio Tolentino, Bonifacio Abdon, Leon Ignacio, and Juan Hernandez

Jose Garcia Villa

• National Artist of the Philippines for literature in 1973
• A poet, a critic, a short story writer, and painter
• Guggenheim Fellowship in creative writing by Conrad Aiken
• Known as the "Comma Poet"
• Introduced the "reversed consonance rhyme scheme" and extensive use of punctuation marks
• Used the pen name "Doveglion" (Dove, Eagle, Lion)

Poetry - Filipino Poetry (1909-1925)

• An anthology of poems edited by Rodolfo Dato
• Included poets: Proceso Sebastian, Maximo Kalaw, Fernando Maramag, Leopoldo Uichanco, Jose Ledesma, Vicente Callao, Santiago Sevilla, Bernardo Garcia, Francisco Africa, Pablo Anzures, Carlos P. Romulo, Francisco Tonogbanua, Juan Pastrana, Maria Agoncillo, Paz Marquez Benitez, and Luis Dato.

Poetry - The English German Anthology of Poets (1924-1934)

• Published by Pablo Laslo
• Included poets such as: Teofilo D. Agcaoili, Aurelio Alvero, Horacio de la Costa, Amador T. Daguio, Salvador P. Lopez, Angela Manalang Gloria, Trinidad Tarrosa, Abelardo Subido, and Jose Garcia Villa

Poetry - “Chorus for America: Six Philippine Poets”

• Included poets such as: Jose Garcia Villa, Rafael Zulueta de Costa, Rodrigo T. Feria, C. B. Rigor, Cecilio Baroga and Carlos Bulosan

Newspapers

• El Nuevo Dia (The New Day) established by Sergio Osmeña in 1900. It was censored and twice banned due to nationalistic writings.
• El Grito del Pueblo (The Call of the Nation) established by Maximo Kalaw in 1900
• El Renacimiento (The Rebirth) established by Rafael Palma in 1901
• The Philippines Free Press published in 1905
• Manila Bulletin established by Hermogenes Pobre in 1900

Spanish Literature

• Cecilio Apostol wrote poems dedicated to Filipino heroes
• Fernando Ma. Guerero compiled his best poems in “Crisalidas” and mostly used eternal sadness as the theme.
• Jesus Balmori (Batikuling) won the Premio Zobel Awardee and declared a "Poet Laureate" for defending Remembrance.
• Manuel Bernabe defended the topic of Forgetfulness.
• Claro M. Recto, famous for his nobility of speech, compiled his poems in “Bajo Los Cocoteros".

Tagalog Literature - Short Stories

• “50 Kwentong Ginto ng 50 Batikang Kwentista” (Aklat 1, 1936; Aklat 2, 1939) was compiled by Pedrito Reyes.

Tagalog Literature - Amado V. Hernandez (1903-1970)

• National Artist for Literature and known as "Makata ng Manggagawa."
• His poems showed the intense love of poor workers.
• Famous works: Bayani (1928), Munting Lupa (1957), Hagdan sa Bahaghari (1958), Mga Ibong Mandaragit (1969), Luha ng Buwaya (1972), Langaw sa Isang Basong Gatas, Isang Dipang Langit, Tula at Tudling, and Ang Panday.

Tagalog Literature - Iñigo Ed. Regalado (1888-1976)

• Son of "Odalger" and a popular writer during the Spanish period.
• He was a popular story-teller, novelist, and newspaper man.
• His pen name was "sumpong"
• Famous works: May Pagsinta'y Walang Puso, Madaling Araw, Sampagitang Walang Bango, and Damdamin: Mga Piling Tula.

Tagalog Literature - Deogracias A. Rosario

• Known as the "Father of Tagalog Short Stories.“
• Modernized the genre and gave short stories a tighter structure.
• Uses realism.
• Famous Works: The Democracy, The Vaguard, Dahil sa Pag-Ibig, Ako'y Mayroong Isang Ibon, Bulaklak ng Bagong Panahon, and Walang Panginoon.

Ilocano Literature

• Pedro Bukaneg was a blind poet, known as "Father of Ilocano poetry and literature".
• Likely the author of Biag ni Lam-ang, and the term "bukanegan" (Balagtasan) was coined after him.
• Claro Caluya was a poet and novelist, known as the "Prince of Ilocano poets"
• Leon Pichay, a novelist, short story writer, dramatist, and essayist; Known as the “Best Bukanegero” (Balagtasero)

Kapampangan Literature

• Juan Crisostomo Soto (1867-1918) is known as the "Father of Kapampangan literature”
• Aurelio Tolentino (1867-1915) translated the play Kahapon, Ngayon, at Bukas into Napon, Ngeni, at Bukas

Visayan Literature

• Eriberto Gumban is known as "Father of Visayan literature" and a playwright of Zarzuela, Moro-Moro, and other plays
• Magdalena G. Jalandoni (1891-1978) was a feminist Filipino writer in Hiligaynon language, and wrote the novel "Tunuksan Isa Ca Bulaklak"