De La Salle Canlubang
Leandro V. Locsin Campus
School of Information and Communication Studies
______________________________________________________________________________________
Philippine Literature - LITFILI
(Philippine Fiction written in English)
Course title: Philippine Literature (Fiction written in English)
Course code: LITFILI
Course duration: 3 hrs/week, 14 weeks
Pre-requisite: LITFORM
Course Description and Objectives
LITFILI will expose the student to canonical and contemporary fiction written in English by
Filipinos. Thorough readings and discussions on the assigned texts will help facilitate the
understanding of the “Filipino condition” as constructed in literature, and how meanings can be
derived from careful analysis of literary elements, devices, techniques and styles. The regular
writing assignments (via blogs) will help the student to reconcile the texts with actual personal
experiences and social realities.
This course entails discussions around literary texts by Filipino authors in English in accordance to
two general aims: (1) to acquire a perspective of local fiction and understand its development in the
light of the country’s history; and (2) to gain insight into our personal experiences as we get to
know how Filipino writers imagine their country, their community and their own selves. An
ensuing but equally important aim of the course is to develop the literary student’s skills in
researching, reading and synthesizing information by using various web/digital tools. By keeping
abreast of current events and following notable writers/content producers of their choice, the
student is given a venue to think critically and creatively about the literary texts and assist his/her
own learning by relating the text to aspects of contemporary society.
This reader-response approach to literature provides a venue for the student to not only exercise
critical thinking and have an enlightened understanding of Philippine literature, but also to develop
an awareness of one’s social reality—an awareness that the student will find valuable and relevant
no matter what academic field he/she may belong to.
Course Outline and Readings
I.
Introduction to the course (3 meetings)
a. Requirements, policies, grading system, etc.
b. Overview of Philippine Literature in English
c. Guidelines for discussion facilitation (review of formal literary analysis)
d. Blog/ Reading response assignments
i. Reader-response writing
ii. online reading / researching tools
II.
The Canon (9 meetings)
a. “My Father Goes to Court” – Carlos Bulosan
b. “How My Brother Leon Brought Home Wife” – Manuel Arguilla
c.
“The Mats” – Francisco Arcellana
d. “Divide by Two” – Francisco Arcellana
e. “Bread of Salt” – N.V.M. Gonzalez
f.
“The Summer Solstice” – Nick Joaquin
g. “Love in the Cornhusks” Aida Rivera-Ford
h. “The Corral” Edith L. Tiempo
i.
III.
“Magnificence” Estrella D. Alfon
Contemporary (4 meetings)
a. “Games” – Noelle Q. De Jesus
b. “Document” – Luis Joaquin M. Katigbak
c. “The Tale of the Spinster and Peter Pan” – Cristina Pantoja-Hidalgo
d. “Generations” - Ninotchka Rosca
**outbound education class: 1 meeting
IV.
Novella (4 meetings)
a. A Wilderness of Sweets – Gilda Cordero Fernando
Reference:
1) Abad, G. (ed). (1998) The Likhaan anthology of Philippine literature in Enlgish. Quezon City:
University of the Philippines Press
2) Dimalanta, O. & Mata, V. (Eds.) (1993). Philippine contemporary literature in English: Tradition and
change (from the 20s to the present). Manila: UST
3) Hidalgo, CP (ed.)(2004). Filipino fiction in English: A reader (unpublished)
4) De Jesus, N.Q. (ed.)(2003). Fast food fiction. Paig: Anvil
5) Hidalgo, C.P. (2005). Sky blue after the rain: Selected stories and tales. Q.C.: University of the
Philippines Press
Course Requirements
The minimum requirements for the course are grammatical competence, basic research
writing, composition and oral communication skills. The basis of the final grade shall be the
following:




Regular blog entries
Oral reading response
Participation in class discussions
Final Creative Project
(25%)
(25%)
(25%)
(25%)
An incentive of 0.5 points will be added to the final grades of students who do not incur
absences (excused or not) during the term.
Outbound Education/alternative class
Ideally, there would be one outbound education trip or an alternative class for LITFILI. The
outbound education / alternative class will invaluably provide historical and political background
on a significant event in Philippine history. Ideally, this alternative class would be able to
contextualize some stories in the LITFILI reading list and help the learner realize the significant
connection between history and literature.
Class Policies
A maximum of five (5) absences (or 20% of meetings) will be allowed for LITFILI. In case your
absences go beyond this, you will either be advised to drop the course if your absences are incurred
before the deadline for dropping, or be given a failing mark. More than 20 minutes of the class time
late will be regarded as non-attendance for that particular meeting. Early or prolonged departure
from class will also be considered as absence especially if reasons for departure are deemed by the
instructor to be irrelevant or inconsequential. Additional policies on attendance, tardiness, proper
conduct, plagiarism/academic honesty, etc. will be based on relevant policies stated in the DLSC
student handbook, AY 2011-2012.
You will be required to participate in class discussions and activities, as well as to submit exercises
on most of the topics. These submissions will gauge your understanding of the lessons and
encourage participation. All requirements must be submitted directly to your LITFILI instructor or
through the prescribed medium. They shall not be left or posted anywhere else unless instructed
otherwise. The instructor will not be responsible for lost or misplaced (including online) materials.
Late submissions shall incur deductions point deductions and will not be considered for grading if it
has been posted more than one (1) week after the deadline.
Official consultation hours will be announced in class. Please feel free to inform your instructor in
advance if you wish to consult about course-related matters.
Prepared by:
Dianne Siriban
College Faculty
3rd trimester 2011-2012
Contact:
Email: dianne.siriban@dlsc.edu.ph
Twitter: @rubydlsc