Philippine Literature – An Expression of National Identity and Heritage
The literature of the Philippines is a vibrant and vast corpus, stemming from the complex and multicultural history of the country. It has developed over time from oral traditions, to colonial adaptations, to themes that appeal to the current day audience, spanning years. This paper examines the different epochs, motifs, and genres through which literature was produced, outlining the evolution and contributions of the literary canon to the Philippine state.
The Earliest Period: The Use of Oral Literature within the Socio-Political Fabric of the Archipelago
Prior to the 1500 during the reign of the Spanish empire, storytelling through art forms such as song and dance were dominant in the archipelago; this was anchored within the practices and customs of the people in Asia. These folk traditions included:
- Epic Poems: Such as Hinilawod, Biag Ni Lam-Ang, climaxing the stories of heroic characters, these types of stories were narrated during social events or performed in the form of dances.
- Folk songs: These were an expressive form of singing such as kundiman, and did capture people’s feelings, stories or values such as proverbs (salawikain).
- Folklore: These include magic, explanations of normal day life and also the local animist cultures just about encapsulating the entire set of early Filipinos beliefs.
Oral traditions practiced pre-colonial period indicate a people who understood their environment, valued ancestor worship and emphasised collectivism.
Spanish Period: Existence of Written Literature In Other Words the Development of Literature
It was in 1565 when the Spaniards conquered and advanced to Mindanao, and it is during this period that a new era of Philippine literature was introduced. With the Spaniards clutching the land, new religion, culture, and even literacy was introduced to the people and this ushered a whole new era where religion and predominantly Christian faith were spread through the means of literature.
- Religious Works:
- Pasyon: A narrative that expresses itself and focuses on the life of Jesus Christ (his Life, Death and Resurrection) and is most frequently celebrated during Holy Week.
- Senakulo: Passion play or passion of Christ literally focuses upon the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ.
- Also famous were devotional poems, the most indelible of which is that written by Fr. Gaspar Aquino de Belén.
- Secular Literature:
- Awit and Korido: A mix of European and local imagery and writing to tell a tale in the form of a poem, other prime examples include “Ibong Adarna” and “Florante at Laura” by Francisco Balagtas as they both implied patriotism for the Colonies.
- Plays and Zarzuelas: Literature was even performed on stage and used as a tool to depict the societal issues. It was mostly used as an entertaining hobby.
Revolutionary Modern Periods: Literature and Writing Being A Defence Mechanism
The beginning phase of the revolution was when recent literature focused on how the nation can be liberated from the Spanish oppression which increased after the Philippines revolted. During this increase of literature, famous heroes’ praises were being introduced.
- José Rizal: The most famous novels of the Philippines El Filibusterismo and Noli Me Tangere harshly criticised the French friars and wrote about oppression stating there needs to be change.
- Andrés Bonifacio: A self-taught teacher, he was revered as the “Father of the Philippine Revolution”, whose passionate nationalistic works included Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa.
- Marcelo H. del Pilar and Graciano López Jaena: Their editorial and essay contributions to La Solidaridad worked for the Filipino nationalists’ cause.
Revolutionary literature demonstrated how writing and literature had the capacity to become powerful tools for promoting action and therefore the liberation of the Filipinos.
American Period: The Start of New Impact with a New Language
The American colonisation started in 1898 and subsisted until 1946; this introduced the teaching and usage of English as a way of communication; this brought about a great change in Philippine literature. Authors began to write more in English while incorporating Filipino themes in their work.
- Writers of the Early Twentieth Century
- Journalism and Short Stories Development:
- Beginning with short stories revolving around love, tradition, and culture, English fiction writers became well known in the Philippines. The historical writers include Paz Marquez Benitez (Dead Stars) and Manuel Arguilla (How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife).
- English Language Early Promotion of Filipino Poetry:
- Early promotion of Filipino poetry included poems written by Jose Garcia Villa and Angela Manalang-Gloria, with their own distinctive styles and their self-taught themes.
Japanese Occupation: The Flowering of Filipino Languages
Following the devastation of the Second World War, English was denied state support, thereby setting the stage for the revival of Filipino and the region’s languages. This era was characterised by the blossoming of Tagalog literature and an increased sense of nationalism.
- Poetry and Short Stories in Filipino:
- The likes of Francisco Rodrigo and Macario Pineda were quite instrumental in the growth of Filipino prose and especially poetry.
- Themes: These were often numerous, but centred on struggles to survive, patriotism, and the ugliness of wars.
Post-War and Contemporary Literature
Philippine literature would take some new form after the Second World War, with modernist themes, agitation in social politics, and the emergence of new forms.
Post-War Writers:
- Authors F. Sionil José (The Rosales Saga) and Edilberto Tiempo cited issues such as poverty, inequality and colonial mentality in almost all their works.
Regional Literature:
- More café scandals arose; regional languages such as Cebuano, Ilocano, and Hiligaynon also greatly contributed to the growth and enrichment of literature.
Contemporary Trends:
- Recent days in Philippine literature have been characterised by increased diversity.
Writers tackle issues such as globalisation, gender, migration, and environmental concerns.
- The emergence of new voices such as social media and digital platforms has made the practice and consumption of literature more open.
Themes and Significance of Philippine Literature
Philippine literature is a transient image of the country in terms of how it has excelled and also in recounting the challenging experiences it has endured. A few themes that some of the sources see emerging are:
- Colonial and Post-Colonial Identity: The effect of many years of foreign oppression on Filipino culture and mentality.
- Social Justice: These issues, alongside many others, of disparities and poverty, and human rights issues are quite common in literature that bears an element of protest.
- Cultural Diversity: There are many works that address, honour, and incorporate other ethnic groups of the Philippines and their languages and traditions.
- Migration and Diaspora: New age literature focuses on Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and other Filipino communities abroad.
Conclusion
The literature of the Philippines is a vital source for studying Filipinos’ ingenuity and creativity. The literature ranges from oral to digital and keeps changing as it encapsulates the lives of Filipinos, their culture, and society. That diversity of Philippine literature as a form of literature that serves history, and as a form of literature that is artistic, reflects the overall social and cultural values of the nation and helps in building national consciousness as well as solidarity among all Filipinos now and in the future.