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Philippine literature is literature associated with the Philippines from prehistory, through its colonial legacies, and on to the present.
According tojournalist Nena Jimenez, the most common and consistent element of Philippine literature is its short and quick yet highly interpersonal sentences, with themes offamily,dogmatic love, and persistence.[1] The use of commas,conjunctions, and a variation of English known asFilipino-English orTaglish are also most present in Philippine literature.[2][3][4]
Similarly, writer Ronica Valdeavilla described modern Filipino literature as a reflection of the country's rich folk tales,socio-political histories, and real-life events. She emphasized that Filipino values are inherently part of their literature, telling the struggles felt by Filipinos as well as attempting to instillremarkable lessons.[5] Many of these elements used by Filipino writers had an impact in the history of literature as a whole.
According to Filipino historianTeodoro Agoncillo, the ethnicity that had the richest history in terms of story-telling were theIlocano people, whosenomadic lifestyle in the highlands bred stories of adventures far more than other Filipinos living in the lowlands. Ilocano used an improvised, versified, and at times impromptu, long epic poem called adallot, delivered and narrated in a song-like manner.[6] The most famous of these epics was theBiag ni Lam-ang.[7]
Other forms of literature written by pre-colonial Ilocano were songs (kankanta), dances (salsala), poems (dandaniw), riddles (burburtia), proverbs (pagsasao), and lamentations (dung-aw). Other traditional Filipino epics by other ethnicities include theHudhud ni Aliguyon of theIfugao,Hinilawod ofPanay,Ibalon fromBicol, andDarangen of theMaranao.[8] During this time, different oral myths and folk tales were developed, eventually leading to their embedment in Filipino culture, such asIbong Adarna,Bernardo Carpio,Maria Makiling, andseveral creation myths.[7]
TheSpanish colonization of the Philippine islands led to the introduction of European literary traditions. Many of these were influenced heavily by the Spanish language and theCatholic faith.[9] These traditions include poetry such astanaga,ladino,corridos, andawit; religious dramas such asmoriones,santacruzan,panunuluyan andsenakulo; and secular dramas likecomedia,duplo, andkaragatan.[10] Many Filipino authors rose to prominence during this time, such asFrancisco Balagtas, the author ofFlorante at Laura (1838); andHuseng Sisiw, author ofSingsing ng Pagibig. Balagtas' title, which combines history, romance, and religion, became the premier Filipino story taught in schools nationwide.[11] Another influential writer wasLeona Florentino, the mother of Philippine women's literature whose work catapulted feminism to the forefront of the revolution.[12][13]
On December 1, 1846, the first daily newspaper,La Esperanza, was published in the country.[9] Other early newspapers wereLa Estrella (1847),Diario de Manila (1848) andBoletin Oficial de Filipinas (1852). The first provincial newspaper wasEl Eco de Vigan (1884), which was issued in Ilocos. In Cebu City,El Boletín de Cebú (The Bulletin of Cebu) was published in 1890. One of the most influential Spanish-language Filipino newspaper also includeEl Renacimiento (1901), printed in Manila by members of the Guerrero de Ermita family until the 1940s.[15]
ThePhilippine Revolution brought a larger wave of nationalistic literary works. A bulk of the writers of the era were propagandists and revolutionaries who wanted either representation of the Filipino people or total independence from Spanish authority. These include the works ofIlustrados likePedro Alejandro Paterno, who wrote the first novel written by a Filipino,Nínay (1885);[16]Graciano López Jaena and later on byMarcelo H. del Pilar, who edited and published the pro-Filipino newspaperLa Solidaridad (1889);[17] and the Philippine national hero,José Rizal, who wrote two famous novels in Spanish,Noli Me Tángere (1887) andEl Filibusterismo (1891).[18]
TheAmerican occupation and eventual colonization of the Philippines paved the way for newer styles and genres. Compared to the more rigid literature of the Spanish era, the American period saw the popularity of the "free verse" in the Philippines, allowing for flexible poetry, prose, and other word craft.[10][2] The introduction of the English language was also of equal importance, as it became one of the most common languages that Filipino writers would use back then until today.
The first English novel written by a Filipino wasThe Child of Sorrow (1921) written byZoilo Galang.[19] The early writings in English were characterized bymelodrama, unreal language, and unsubtle emphasis on local color. Short stories also gained popularity during this period with many serials and stories published independently or through newspapers. The most well-known wasManuel Arguilla and his anthologyHow My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife and Other Short Stories (1940), which won first prize in the Commonwealth Literary Contest.
During this time, there was also a resurgence of interest in Filipino mythology and folklore, and many works concerning them would be published, with the most well-known being the many anonymous stories about the folk characterJuan Tamad (1919).[20] The level of poetry in the Philippines had also risen, with poetJose Garcia Villa making impacts in poetry history for introducing the style of comma poetry and the "reversed consonance rhyme scheme".[3]
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As the Philippines gained its sovereignty from America, patriotism once again became a central theme in Filipino literature. Besides stories of Filipino mythology and history, there was also a boom in tales depicting the simple life of the common Filipino.[21] These stories often took place in the countryside, and portrayed every day Filipino activities like church-going, farming,courting, andcockfighting. The most well-known example was the short storyMy Brother's Peculiar Chicken byAlejandro Roces.[21] Other prominent writers during the mid-20th century wereCarlos Bulosan,Nick Joaquin,Bienvenido Santos, andRolando S. Rinio.[22][23] Carlos Bulosan, in particular, published the novelAmerica Is In The Heart (1946), which became one of the earliest glimpses and representations of the life ofAsian-American immigrants in the West.[24]
Later on, political and protest literature became wildly present, especially during theMartial Law era. By this time, there became a focus on criticizing and satirizing the current status of the Philippines, rather than just celebrating the nation like those before it.Lualhati Bautista was one of the earliest to infuse activism in her writing, crafting stories with heavy social commentaries, mainlyfeminism and injustice, such asDekada '70 (1983) andBata, Bata... Pa'no Ka Ginawa? (1988).[25] Although her books were written in Filipino, they were translated into multiple languages and adapted into award-winning films.[26][27]F. Sionil Jose is also a similar author who tackled social injustice andelitism in hisRosales Saga (1973-1984).[28] Other works included the powerfulMga Ibong Mandaragit (1969) byAmado V. Hernandez and theConjugal Dictatorship (1976) byPrimitivo Mijares.[29]
The last decade and a half of the 20th century, after the ouster of the Marcos dictatorship by the civilian-ledPeople Power Revolution of 1986, was characterized by rapid social and technological change. Some of the notable fiction from this period was strongly influenced bymagic realism, including the works ofCésar Ruiz Aquino,Alfred Yuson, and poet-fictionist Mario Gamalinda.[30]
The rise of mass printing and digital technology led to better accessibility for Filipino authors who wanted to publish their work. Theinternet had become a revolutionary tool for Filipino authors to reach readers outside of the Philippines. Publishing houses likePSICOM flourished, as well as a rise in popularity ofself-publishers andweb fiction sites likeWattpad; many of which favoredromance andromantic-comedy books that were later adapted into high-grossing films.[31][32] The first titles to achieve this includeBob Ong'sABNKKBSNPLAko?! (2001),Ramon Bautista'sBakit Hindi Ka Crush ng Crush Mo? (2012), andDanny R.’s web novelDiary ng Pangit (2013).[33][34][35]
Around this time, several Filipinos began to dabble into current literary trends, tackling modern issues ofdiversity andmental health, while also introducing international readers toFilipino culture and language. Two of the most popular international Filipino writers of the early 21st century includeRin Chupeco, who made a name for herself publishingYoung Adult fiction, many of which were inspired by Filipino mythology fromMaria Makiling to theMangkukulam;[36] andLouis Bulaong, who is an important figure in thepop culture fiction genre, and one who popularized the use of Filipino terms like “kilig” in his stories.[37][38]
The 21st century also saw the rise in popularity of many Filipina writers. One of the most famous isIvy Alvarez, a Filipino-Australian who gained acclaim for her collection of poems entitledDisturbance (2013), which contained themes ofdomestic abuse.[1] Another writer isYvette Fernandez, a children's book author fromSummit Media whose books tackled history and morality.Patricia Evangelista, journalist-writer of bothRappler andEsquire, wrote the bookSome People Need Killing (2023) that became one of the primary accounts of the brutalPhilippine Drug War.[39] Other contemporary Filipina writers includeMarites Vitug andMerlie M. Alunan.[40][41]
TheOrder of National Artists of the Philippines is conferred to Filipinos with "exquisite contribution to Philippine art". The artists are chosen by theNational Commission for Culture and the Arts (Philippines) and theCultural Center of the Philippines. The Order is given by the President of the Philippines. The award is currently not retroactive, so Filipino artists who have passed before 1973, including those from the Spanish colonial era, are not given the award even though they have made significant contributions to the country, with the "special exemption" of three individuals who died at the final years of the Third Republic. Some individuals currently not allowed by law to become National Artists include national hero,Jose Rizal, and the mother of Philippine women's literature,Leona Florentino. At the moment, no changes that would allow pre-1973 individuals to become National Artists have been made by Congress.
Awardees of the National Artist of the Philippines Order, for Literature, include:[42][43]
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