Philippine Literature and Famous Landmarks in the Philippines Francis C. Macansantos Priscilla S. Macansantos Philippine Literature in the Spanish Colonial Period The existing literature of the Philippine ethnic groups at the time of conquest and conversion into Christianity was mainly oral, consisting of epics, legends, songs, riddles, and proverbs. The Spanish colonial strategy was to undermine the native oral tradition by substituting for it the story of the Passion of Christ. Although Christ was by no means war-like or sexually attractive as many of the heroes of the oral epic tradition, the appeal of the Jesus myth inhered in the protagonist’s superior magic: by promising eternal life for everyone, he democratized the power to rise above death. The church authorities adopted a policy of spreading the Church doctrines by communicating to the native (pejoratively called Indio) in his own language. Doctrina Christiana (1593), the first book to be printed in the Philippines, was a prayer book written in Spanish with an accompanying Tagalog translation. This development marked the beginning of Indio literacy and thus spurred the creation of the first written literary native text by the native. These writers, called ladinos because of their fluency in both Spanish and Tagalog. Among the earliest writers of note were Francisco de San Jose and Francisco Bagongbata. Mahal Na Pasion ni Jesu Christo, a Tagalog poem based on Christ’s passion, was published in 1704. Thus, religious themes dominated the culture of the Christianized majority. But the native oral literature, whether secular or mythico-religious continued. Even among the Christianized ethnic groups, the oral tradition persisted in such forms as legends, sayings, wedding songs such as the balayan and parlor theater such as the duplo. In the 18th century, secular literature from Spain in the form of medieval ballads inspired the native poetic-drama form called the komedya, later to be called moro-moro because these often dealt with the theme of Christians triumphing over Moslems. Jose de la Cruz (1746 - 1829) was the foremost exponent of the komedya during his time. A poet of prodigious output and urbane style, de la Cruz marks a turning point in that his elevated diction distinguishes his work from folk idiom. Yet his appeal to the non-literate was universal. Francisco Baltazar (1788 - 1862), popularly called Balagtas, is the acknowledged master of traditional Tagalog poetry. Of peasant origins, he left his hometown in Bigaa, Bulacan for Manila, with a strong determination to improve his lot through education. To support his studies, he worked as a domestic servant in Tondo. He steeped himself in classical studies in schools of prestige in the capital. Great social and political changes in the world worked together to make Balagtas’ career as poet possible. The industrial revolution had caused a great movement of commerce in the globe, creating wealth and the opportunity for material improvement in the life of the working classes. But the crucial element in Balagtas’ unique genius is that, being caught between two cultures (the native and the colonial/classical) . His narrative poem Florante at Laura written in Tagalog. Printing overtook tradition. The printed page, by itself, became the mnemonic device, the stage set for the development of prose. The first Filipino novel was Ninay, written in Spanish by Pedro Paterno, a Philippine-born ilustrado. National Hero Jose Rizal (1861 - 1896) chose the realistic novel as his medium. Choosing Spanish over Tagalog meant challenging the oppressors on the latter’s own turf. Rizal’s two novels, the Noli Me Tangere and its sequel El Filibusterismo, chronicle the life and ultimate death of Ibarra, a Filipino educated abroad, who attempts to reform his country through education. At the conclusion of the Noli, his efforts end in near-death and exile from his country. In the Filibusterismo, he returns after reinventing himself as Simoun, the wealthy jeweler, and hastens social decay by further corrupting the social fabric till the oppressed react violently to overthrow the system. But the insurrection is foiled and Simoun suffers a violent death. In a sense, Rizal’s novels and patriotic poems were the inevitable conclusion to the campaign for liberal reforms known as the Propaganda Movement, waged by Graciano Lopez Jaena, and M.H. del Pilar. The two novels so vividly portrayed corruption and oppression that despite the lack of any clear advocacy, they served to instill the conviction that there could be no solution to the social ills but a violent one. Following closely on the failed reformist movement, and on Rizal’s novels, was the Philippine revolution headed by Andres Bonifacio (1863 - 1897). His closest aide, the college-bred Emilio Jacinto (1875 - 1899), was the revolutionary organization’s ideologue. Both were admirers of Rizal, and like Rizal, both were writers and social critics profoundly influenced by the liberal ideas of the French enlightenment, about human dignity. Bonifacio’s most important work are his poems, the most well-known being Pag-Ibig Sa Tinubuang Lupa. Jacinto wrote political essays expressed in the language of the folk. Significantly, although either writer could have written in Spanish (Bonifacio, for instance, wrote a Tagalog translation of Rizal’s Ultimo Adios), both chose to communicate to their fellowmen in their own native language. The figure of Rizal dominates Philippine literature until the present day. Liberalism led to education of the native and the ascendancy of Spanish. But Spanish was undermined by the very ideas of liberation that it helped spread, and its decline led to nativism and a renaissance of literature in the native languages. PHILIPPINE HISTORICAL SITES IN NCR AMERICAN WAR CEMETERY AND MEMORIAL, Makati - Battles of World War 2 are engraved on the walls of the memorial and graphically depicted in the map rooms. ARCHDIOCESAN MUSEUM OF MANILA, Intramuros - The collection includes ecclesiastical, liturgical and various antique items. AYALA MUSEUM - Sixty-three dioramas depict stages of Philippine history. Also houses a display of traditional boats. BAHAY TSINOY, Intramuros - Displays the history and culture of Chinese Filipinos. BALINTAWAK MONUMENT, Balintawak - Site of the launching of the Philippine Revolution by Andres Bonifacio in 1896. BONIFACIO MONUMENT, Caloocan - The monument marks the first encounter between Andres Bonifacio and his revolutionary group, Katipunan, with Spanish soldiers on Augusta, 1896 CHINESE CEMETERY, Blumentritt - Has streets lined with mausoleums, and richly adorned with marble and wrought iron, sidewise stained-glass windows. FORT SANTIAGO, Intramural - Spain's major defense position in the islands. Many Filipinos were killed and imprisoned here in World War 11. GUADALUPE RUINS, Makati - Doric architecture with massive buttresses. Built in 1629, the wales still stand intact. IGLESIA NI CRISTO MUSEUM, Quezon City - Exhibits posters and dioramas depicting the lglesia's beginnings, culture, ritualsand processions. LIBERATION MARKER, Mandalufong - Constructed in memoryof all whodiedfighting thelapanese. LIBINGAN NG MGA BAYANI, Makati - The burial ground of 33,520 Filipinos killed during World War 11, it containable Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. MABINI SHRINE, Pandacan - Former home of the intellectual leaderof the Philippine Revolution. MALACARANG PALACE, San Miguel - Seat of government of the Philippines since Spanish times. Name means 'There Lives a Noble mane's MANILA HOTEL, Manila - A classic example of American colonial architecture. METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF MANILA – Collection of pre-colonial gold and pottery. MUSEO NG MAKATI - Houses the artifacts, relics and treasures of Makati's past. PACO PARKAND CEMETERY - Former burial place of Spanish Governors and cholera victims, the park is now the site of cultural concerts. PEOPLE POWER MONUMENT, Quezon City - Dedicated to the famous People Power Revolution of 1986. PHILIPPINE ARMY MUSEUM, Fort Bonifacio - Antique guns, cannons, tanks and other relics of World War 11', as well as, captured ammunition and weapons of the New People'sArmy. PHILIPPINE MUSEUM OF ETHNOLOGY - Located at Nayong Pilipino, the museum exhibits the various cultural attractions of the country. PINAGLABANAN SHRINE, San Juan - Site of the first battle of the revolution. PLAZA DILAO, Paco - Has a statue of Japanese Feudal Lord, Wukon Takayama, who was exiled to the Philippines in l6l4 for refusing to disavow his Christian beliefs. PLAZA SAN LUIS, Intramural - A complex of restored and reconstructed houses, which represent different eras of Filipino-Hispanic architecture. QUEZON MEMORIAL, Quezon City - The tallest structure in the city at 66 meters. A fitting tribute to the founder of the city and one of the country's greatest statesman, President Manuel L. Quezon. RIZAL MONUMENT, Rizal Park - A monument built through public subscription to honor the Philippine patriot. The statue was cast in Switzerland. RIZAL SHRINE, Fort Santiago - Houses memorabilia of the national hero, who was incarcerated on the site in the days before his execution. UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS MUSEUM OF ARTS AND SCIENCE, Manila CHURCHES AND RELIGIOUS SHRINE BINONDO CHURCH - founded bathe Dominican Friars in 1596. Only the octagonal bell tower remains of the original structure. Glenda NI Frito CHURCH, Quezon City - Gothic concept mixed with Moorish influence. Looks like a fairy tale palace. MALATE CHURCH Unique church of Moslem - Baroque architecture. MANILA CATHEDRAL, lntramuros - Reconstructed six times since 1581 due to earthquakes and warfare. A popular venue for grand weddings. QUIAPO CHURCH - Famous for its large crucifix of blackfoot, the Black Nazarene. REDEMPTORIST CHURCH, Parañaque - Declared the national shrine of the Mother of Perpetual Help. It is one of the largest churches in the country. SAN AGUSTIN CHURCH, Intramuros - The oldest of standing church in the Philippines built in 1605. Has a museum of religious paintings and artifacts. SAN PEDRO BAUTISTA, Quezon City - The bones of San Pedro Bautista are buried here. SAN SEBASTIAN CHURCH, Manila - Unusual structure with metal walls and ceilings that were manufactured in Belgium. ST. JOSEPH PARISH CHURCH, Las Piñas - Famous for its immense bamboo organ. STA. ANA CHURCH, Manila - The first mission outside of the walls of Manila. STA. CRUZ CHURCH, Manila - Originally built by the Jesuits for Chinese converts, the present structure was rebuilt in 1957. STO. DOMINGO CHURCH, Quezon City - Home to the four century-old image of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary.
