21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World
21ST CENTURY LITERARY
GENRES
ELEMENTS, STRUCTURES AND
TRADITIONS
LESSON 3
Alex A. Dumandan
Compare and contrast the various 21st century literary genres and the
ones from the earlier genres/periods citing their elements, structures
and traditions, EN12Lit-Id-25
define what literary genre is
identify the different literary genres of the 21st century and the earlier
periods in Philippine history
What is the definition of literary genre?
Literary genre is a category of literary composition. Genres may
be determined by literary technique, tone, content, or even (as
in the case of fiction) length. The distinctions between genres
and categories are flexible and loosely defined, often with
subgroups.
The most general genres in literature are epic, tragedy, comedy,
and creative nonfiction. They can all be in the form of prose or
poetry. Additionally, a genre such as satire, allegory or pastoral
might appear in any of the above, not only as a sub- genre, but
as a mixture of genres.
What are the Literary Genres in the Philippines?
The multiplicity of Philippine literature progressed alongside its rich
history. Its themes are rooted in the context of the Philippine’s pre-colonial
cultural traditions and the socio-political histories of its colonial and
contemporary ways. However, some Filipinos encounter unfamiliarity with
the literature of the past essentially due to what has been taught upon us,
that our country was ‘discovered’ and, hence, Philippine ‘history’ began in
March 1521.
The Pre-colonial Period
The Pre-colonial Filipinos demonstrated rich-lived
experiences orally expressed in their folk speeches,
songs, narratives, and indigenous rituals and mimetic
dances. These are passed down from generation to
generation.
a.Riddles
For the Visayans, these are called tigmo, for the
Tagalogs, bugtong. For the Ilongos, paktakon and for the
Bicolanos, atototdon.
Tigmo
Baboy sa lasang (A wild pig in the forest,)
Ang tunok puro lansang. (Is covered with spikes)
Answer: Nangka (Jackfruit)
Paktakon
Ano nga tuboran Masulog sa tag-init, (What spring flow in
summer)
Ginabubsan kong tag-ulan?. (and run dry on rainy days? )
Answer: Balhas (Sweat)
Paktakon
Ano nga tuboran Masulog sa tag-init, (What spring flow in
summer)
Ginabubsan kong tag-ulan?. (and run dry on rainy days? )
Answer: Balhas (Sweat)
b. Proverbs
These are called sawikain or salawikain in Tagalog or sarsarita
in Ilocano. Philippine proverbs are wise sayings that prescribe
codes of behavior, mirror societal norms, traditions, and
beliefs and impart lessons in brief, rhyming verse.
C. Songs
These are forms of folk lyric speak volumes of the typical rural
lives and reflect people’s aspirations and lifestyles. Here are
some song categories of our ancestors:
C. Songs
These are forms of folk lyric speak volumes of the typical rural
lives and reflect people’s aspirations and lifestyles. Here are
some song categories of our ancestors:
Folk Songs (Awit ng Bayan) – These are songs with lines often
described as repetitive, didactic, and sonorous. The following
are examples of famous Filipino folk songs:
Folk Songs (Awit ng Bayan) – These are songs with lines often
described as repetitive, didactic, and sonorous. The following
are examples of famous Filipino folk songs:
Lullaby (Oyayi) – These are soothing songs often sung to put
babies to sleep. The following is an Ilocano lullaby with its
English translation:
Serenade (Harana) – These are courtship songs used by
young men to capture the heart of the girl they love.
d. Chants (Bulong)
These are used to give respect, excuse, or apology to unseen
or other elemental spirits our ancestors believed in to deliver
them from danger or harm. Moreover, these are utilized in
enchantments and even in withcfraft.
Tabi-tabi po, Ingkong, makikiraan po lamang (Tagalog)
Bari-bari po, Apo, umisbo la ting tao. (Ilokano)
Ikaw ang nagnanakaw ng bigas ko
Lumuwa sana ang mata mo
Mamaga sana ang katawan mo
Patayin ka ng mga anito.
e. Epics
These are long narrative accounts of heroic exploits. Examples
of these are Darangen in Maranaw, Aliguyon at Hudhud in
Ifugao, Ibalon in Bicol.
Below is a guman or epic of the Subanen people of
Zamboanga, which is chanted during Buklog or festivals.
Ag Tobig Nog Keboklagan (The
Kingdom of Keboklagan)
Darangen in Maranaw,
Aliguyon at Hudhud
Religious matters were in the form of prose as prayer books,
novenas, biographies of saints, and the likes. Senakulo, a Filipino
dramatization of the life and times of Jesus Christ presented
during the Lent, was widely held. Pasyon, Philippine epic narrative
of the life of Jesus Christ, was written in stanzas with five lines of
eight syllables each and focused on his Passion, Death, and
Resurrection. Dalit (psalm), a song praising God or the Virgin
Mary and containing a philosophy of life, also became popular.
Revolutionary literature also loomed with exposes that sparked
revolution and resistance among the Filipinos. Andres
Bonifacio’s Katungkulang Gagawin ng mga Anak ng Bayan
(Obligations of our Countrymen) outlined the obligations of
Filipinos toward nationalism. Apolinario Mabini’s essay titled El
Desarollo y Caida de la Republica Filipina (The Rise and Fall of
Philippine Republic) highlighted the establishment of Philippine
Republic and its subsequent downfall due to disunity among the
Filipinos. Emilio Jacinto’s collection of essays called Liwanag at
Dilim (Light and Darkness) was on work, faith, freedom,
government, and patriotism.
The American Period
The literature during the American period was imitative of the form of
American writing. Forms of poetry still followed the old structure but had
contents that ranged from free writing and societal concerns under the
American regime. Some poems focused on non-traditional themes such that of
Jose Corazon de Jesus’ Mga Gintong Dahon (1920). This is a collection poem
that tackled themes on passion-slaying, grief-induced, insanity and lover’s
suicide. Drama also became popular as it was used to degrade the Spanish rule
and immortalized the heroism of Filipinos who fought under the Katipunan.
Remake novels also took up Dr. Jose Rizal’s portrayal of social conditions
under colonial repression.
Severino Reyes led the movement to
supplant the komedya with a new type of
drama, the sarswela (adaptation of the
Spanish zarzuela). Sarswelas such as
Juan Abad’s Tanikalang Guinto (1902),
Juan Matapang Cruz’s Hindi Ako Patay
(1903), and Aurelio Tolentino’s Kahapon,
Ngayon, at Bukas (1903) allegorically
presented the history of nationalist
struggle.
The Japanese Period and the Republic
With the coming of the Japanese invaders,
Philippine literature came to a halt. The
English language was banned and the Filipino
language was mandated under Japanese rule.
For some, this seemed to be a problem but for
others it was a blessing in disguise. Filipino
literature was given a break in this period as
many wrote plays, novels, poems, short stories
with themes circling on life in the province, the
arts, nationalism, and the likes. Many plays
were reproduced from English to Tagalog.
Writing during the Japanese reign were
journalistic in nature. People felt suppressed
but the spirit of nationalism slowly seeped into
their consciousness. Thus, essays were
composed to glorify Filipinos and to figuratively
attack the Japanese.