PHILIPPINE LITERATURE DURING PRECOLONIAL PERIOD
Grade 12 21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World
Study Guides and definitions
Department of Education— Public and Private, State Universities
The precolonial literature includes all literature produced before the Spanish colonization like
chants, Bari-bari Apo, makidalan ti tao (Iloko chant) proverbs, salawikain, bugtong
(burburtia/burburcha in Iloko), songs such as the Oyayi or Hele, in Iloko are “Manang Biday”,
“Pamulinawen”, and “Naraniag a Bulan” and folk narratives. These were all passed down from
generation to generation by word of mouth. Philippine folk narratives are varied and distinct.
They depict the people’s livelihood, customs, and traditions.
TYPE OF PHILIPPINE LITERATURE DURING PRECOLONILA PERIOD:
 LEGEND: This is presented as history but is unlikely to be true.
Examples: The Girl who turned into a Fish
Ang Alamat ng Pinya
 MYTH: this is told to explain a belief, a practice, or a natural phenomenon.
Examples: The Creation (Igorot Myth wherein Igorot people tells that Lumawig, The
Great Spirit created People)
The Creation (Tagalog Myth wherein the Tagalog story tells that the first
man and woman came from a bamboo.)
 EPIC: this narrative poem celebrates the adventure and achievements of a hero. The
Philippine epics are sung or chanted in episodes. The feature supernatural characters
and reflect the society they originated.
Examples: Biag ni Lam-ang (Iloco)
Hinilawod (Panay)
 FABLE: This features animal characters or inanimate objects that behave like people.
The monkey is a common animal character in Philippine fables. It is often depicted as
a cunning animal.
Examples: The Monkey and the Crocodile (Tagalog)
Si Mahistrado Kuwago
 FOLKTALE: This is a characteristically anonymous, timeless, and placeless tale
circulated orally among people. Folktales about Juan are very popular. Some emphasize
certain virtues, and some serve as warning about behavior. Also, some are for the
reader’s amusement.
Examples: Juan Gathers Guavas (Tagalog)
Juan Pusong and his Father’s Cows (Visayan)