US Colonialism in the Philippines

Contributions of the Americans to Philippine Literature

• Introduction of public education in the Philippines, marking a significant milestone in the country's literary history
• English language was introduced as the medium of instruction, replacing Spanish and other local languages
• Establishment of public schools, leading to increased accessibility of education for the masses
• Curriculum reforms were implemented, shaping the country's educational system

Development of the Newspaper Industry

• The newspaper industry experienced rapid growth during the American period
• Newspapers served as an essential platform for literary and political discourse
• Notable newspapers that emerged during this time include the Philippine Free Press, Philippine Herald, and The Manila Times

Emergence of Filipino Writers in English

• A new era in Philippine literature began with the rise of Filipino writers writing in English
• This marked a significant shift from traditional forms of writing in Spanish and local languages

First Generation of Filipino Writers in English

• Paz Marquez Benitez wrote "Dead Stars"
• Jose Garcia Villa wrote about "Love, Beauty, and Identity"
• Bienvenido Santos wrote about the "Immigrant Experience"
• Carlos Bulosan wrote "America is in the Heart"
• Manuel Arguilla wrote about "Rural Life in the Philippines"
• Pedro Paterno wrote "Ninay"

Emergence of Filipino Writers in English

• The Commonwealth Literary Awards were established to incentivize writers and develop Philippine literature
• Notable Commonwealth Literary Awardees include Salvador P. Lopez for "Literature and Society" and Manuel Arguilla
• The formation of literary groups and organizations, such as the U.P. Writers' Club, fostered a supportive community for writers

Dead Stars by Paz Marquez Benitez

• The story is about Alfredo Salazar, an over thirty years old bachelor who gets engaged to Esperanza
• Alfredo's love and passion for Esperanza start to fade as he becomes attracted to Julia Salas
• Alfredo marries Esperanza to please his family, but eight years later, he visits Julia and realizes he no longer feels attracted to her
• Alfredo compares his love for Julia to "dead stars", a memory of a past love that has lost its intensity

Characters in Dead Stars

• Alfredo Salazar: son of Don Julian, over thirty years old, and a bachelor who believes in true love and optimism
• Esperanza: the first woman Alfredo falls in love with and gets engaged to
• Julia Salas: the woman Alfredo becomes attracted to after his engagement to Esperanza

This quiz explores the notable events and developments under US colonial rule in the Philippines, including the introduction of public education and the English language, as well as the rise of the newspaper industry.