Lit 112: Philippine Literature
I. Pre-Colonial Period (1565)
- Literature was oral, funny and entertaining
- Early Filipinos wrote on clay, barks of trees, leaves, and bamboo tubes, using
knives and other pointed instruments for pens, and the sap of certain trees and
sooth for ink.
Alibata (baybayin) - consisted of 17 symbols: 3 for vowels and 14 for consonants
Literary Genres:
A. Folk Narratives
1. Myth - a traditional story about heroes or supernatural beings, often attempting to
explain the origins of natural phenomena or aspects of human behaviour.
 Visayan Creation Myth
2. Legend - traditional narrative the common theme of which is about the origin of a
thing, place, location or name. Events are imaginary, devoid of truth and
unbelievable. Filipino customs are reflected in these legends.
 The Legend of Mayon Volcano
3. Fables - a short allegorical tale with a moral, especially one in which the characters
are animals.
 The Monkey and the Crocodile
4. Folktales - made up of stories about life, adventure, love, horror and humor where
one can derive lessons about life. They usually help us appreciate our environment,
evaluate our personalities and improve our perspectives in life.
 Misadventures of Juan Tamad
B. Early Poetry
1. Riddles (Bugtong o Palaisipan) - made up of one or more measured lines with
rhyme and many consist of four to twelve syllables.
 Bungbong kung liwanag
Kung gabi ay dagat. (Mat (banig))
2. Proverbs - terse statements of practical wisdom based on long experience and
observations about life.
 Nahangad ng kagitna
Isang salop ang nawala.
3. Chants (Bulong) - used in witchcraft or enchantment.
 Ikaw ang nagnanakaw ng bigas ko
Lumuwa sana ang mga mata mo
Mamaga sana ang katawan mo
Patayin ka ng mga anito.
4. Sayings (Kasabihan) - often used in teasing or to comment on a person’s
actuations.
 Putak, putak
Batang duwag
Matapang ka’t
Nasa pugad.
5. Sawikain - sayings with no hidden meanings
 Nasa Diyos ang awa
Nasa tao ang gawa.
6. Folk Songs - one of the oldest forms of Philippine literature that mirrors the early
forms of culture.
 Kundiman (Song of Love)
 Kumintang or Tagumpay (War Song)
 Ang Dalit o Imno (Song to the God of the Visayans)
 Oyayi o Hele (Lullaby)
 Diana (Wedding Song)
 Soliraning (Song of the Laborer)
 Talindaw (Boatman’s Song)
7. Epics - long narrative poems in w/c a series of heroic achievements or events,
usually a hero, are dealt with at length.
 Biag ni Lam-ang (Ilokano) - written by Pedro Bukaneg, the Father of Ilokano
 Literature (Bukanegan) - the Ilokano version of Balagtasan in Tagalog)
 Ibalon (Bikol)
 Ulalim (Kalinga)
 Hudhud and Alim (Ifugao)
 Hinilawod (Sulod) - perhaps the longest recorded Filipino epic
 Agyu and Baybayan (Bukidnon)
 Tuwaang (Manuvu)
 Maragtas (Visayan Epic)
 Haraya (Visayan Epic)
 Hari sa Bukid (Visayan Epic)
 Lagda (Visayan Epic)
 Kumintang (Tagalog)
 Guman (Subanon)
 Bantugan (Maranaw)
 Parang Sabil (Tausug)
 Indarapatra at Sulayman (Maguindanaon)