CHAPTER II – The Development of Philippine

Literature

LESSON 1
Understanding the Value of Literature

LEARNING OUTCOMES
Define literature.
Identify genres of Philippine literature.
Enumerate the benefits from studying literature.
Use context clue skills to find the meaning of a word.
Evaluate author’s purpose in writing.

BEFORE READING

An excerpt from “Southeast Asian

Literary Traditions and the Philippines”
An Article by Bienvenido L. Lumbera
ABOUT THE ARTICLE

Literature is the verbal expression, oral or written, of the experiences of the

people as influenced by their history. The paper ‘Southeast Asian Literary Traditions
and the Philippines’ by Bienvenido Lumbera describes the significance of
establishing a linkage between literary traditions found in the Philippines and the
traditions described in its ASEAN neighbors. It advances the idea that the oral
literature of the Philippines, being indexical to the country’s ‘precolonial’ past serves
as an important vehicle in shaping cultural bridge with its ASEAN neighbors, and in
establishing a sense of identity and the national interest it represents in the larger socio-
political, cultural and economic landscapes.

CASS-DELL | Literature of the Philippines 1

MAKE CONNECTIONS

Why is it important to maintain national identity in the age of globalization?

--National identity is crucial even in the age of globalization. Finally, a nation is the
largest natural unit of solidarity. As we advance through life and make decisions, we
tend to seek out new identities. Our nationality, which encapsulates our affiliations,
fealties, and pride, is the final major identity we hold to. In this age of globalisation,
however, no one identity should be considered superior to another. They should coexist
and develop together. There should also be ample room to appropriately critique all of
these identities in a constructive manner.

ANALYZE LITERATURE: Genres

In the study of Philippine literature, genres refer to the different forms and
classifications of literary pieces. Examples are riddles, proverbs, songs, myths, epics
and so on.

Riddle, which is bugtong in Tagalog, tigmo in Cebuano, paktakon in Ilonngo, is folk

speech from the precolonial times characterized as a mystifying, misleading, or
puzzling question posed as a problem to be solved or guessed.
e.g. Bibingka ng hari, hindi mo mahati.
(Rice cake of the king, that you cannot divide.)- Answer: water

Proverb expresses norms or codes of behavior, community beliefs. It generally

instills values by offering nuggets of wisdom in short, rhyming verse.
e.g. Lumilipas ang kagandahan, ngunit hindi ang kabaitan.

Song is a short lyric poem that is intended to be sung. It has that particularly
melodious quality required by a singing voice. E.g. Anak by Freddie Aguilar

Myth is a usually traditional story common to the members of a tribe, race, or

nation. It usually involves the supernatural and serves to explain natural
phenomena or suggest a religious or moral truth.
e.g. Tungkung Langit and Alunsina (A Panay-Visayan creation myth)

Folktale is an anonymous, timeless, and placeless story circulated orally among a

people. E.g. The Misadventures of Juan Tamad
 Epic is a long narrative poem in elevated style recounting the deeds of a legendary
or historical hero. E.g. Biag ni Lam-ang (Life of Lam-ang), an Ilocano epic.
USE READING SKILLS: The Author’s Purpose In oral culture, songs play a vital role. It makes
language learning more enjoyable, as well as assisting
Authors write with an aim or purposepeoplein mind. The style
in expressing of writing
feelings that areoften
difficult to
reflects the author’s purpose, which could be describe
to entertain, to inform, to instruct, or
in words. And I believe that withoutto music,
persuade. As you read the article below, identify
the worlddetails related
will be less to thewhich
entertained, author’s
can only lead
purpose and fill in the information in the Author’stoPurpose Chart. An of
the self-destruction example has
some people.
been done for you.

Author’s Purpose Chart

Author’s Purpose: to inform

Author’s Purpose: to inform

Myths and folktales are for both young and old, for
these help them understand their environment and I believe that the reason an author wrote this for
relationships with one another, and they allow them
Details: us is because they want us to learn about things
My Evaluation: The author
to cope with mundane problems that are out of our reach, because these things
The factand with
that, tothe
this day, included this information to
emphasize us
reconnect to to
theour genuine
mysterious
epics continue to bePurpose: to instruct
Author’s readers theselves,
role bringing us
collected among ethnic backliterature,
of oral to our hearts and innermost
specifically epics, essence.
and the threatening.
groups is an indication in performing cultural identities.
of the deep roots of this This information helps me
literary form in various understand why the author
Unstable economies, and theseare
cultural common in
communities. asserts the idea that oral literature
Asia, Africa and Latin America, will have to
translated in Filipino language can
stand up to the aggressive, rich industrialized Because both Southeast Asia and the Philippines are highly
serve as our cultural bridge to
countries in order to survive inthe globalized different regions, they require each other.countries
The Philippines
Globalization
other has benefited
ASEAN nations. industrialized while
international economic order. requires Southeast Asia to keep its firm hold on its sense of
sometimes having negative consequences. However, in order
The Philippines needs Southeast Asia in the era of identity and integrity as
to
Author’s Author’s
Purpose: survive
Purpose: and
torestore
entertainoura people in theheritage,
pre-colonial country.weIt empowers
need the
globalization. the Filipino bywhich
reconnecting them
local language, will enable uswith a pastoral
to create thatliterature
colonial
on a dailyschooling
basis, ashad previously
well as retain isolated themand
our cultural from.
linguistic
Songs take many forms, and once again,
ties, which will help us maintain our pride as authentic
it is function that determines the occasion Filipinos.
and

the manner of the singing.

PREVIEW VOCABULARY

Key Words and Words and Phrases Definition Practice

Phrases in Context
Read each key Read to see how the Write down what Practice using the
word and rate it key word or phrase you think the word key words and
using this scale: can be used in a or phrase means. phrases by
① I don’t know sentence. Then use a completing the
this word or dictionary to check following
phrase at all. your definition. sentences.
② I’ve seen this
word or phrase
before.
③ Know this word
or phrase and use
it.

form Narrative, lyric, and a type of something Song is a form of

[ˈfȯ rm] dramatic are forms of or way of doing lyric poetry that is
noun poetry. something intended to be sung.
③ know this word
or phrase and use it

rudimentary You need to have at involving or limited One rudimentary

ru·di·men·ta·ry least a rudimentary to basic principles. function of
[ ˌrü -də-ˈmen-tə-rē] understanding of computer is Data
adjective technology before you Input
③ I've see this can upload a video on
word or phrase that website.
before
sophisticated Some sophisticated Having a good The encryption
so·phis·ti·cat·ed programs require that understanding, codes being used by
[sə-ˈfi-stə-ˌkā -təd] passwords contain showing a lot of criminals are
adjective letters and numbers. experience and incredibly
③ Know this word knowledge about the sophisticated and
or phrase and use it world. quick witted.

Legacy A monumental legacy a gift by will Ferdinand

leg·a·cy in astronomy is especially of money Magellan’s
[ ˈle-gə-sē] Galileo’s telescopic or other personal expedition in 1522
noun observations of the property left a legacy of
③ know this word heavens. being the first man
or phrase and use it to circumnavigate
the globe that
proved that the
world is round.
contextualize Module writers must Place or study in Teacher Lea
con·tex·tu·al·ize contextualize texts context contextualizes the
[kən-ˈteks-chə-wə- and genres to enhance stories in her
ˌlīz] the students’ learning module to organize
verb processes. the topic.
③ know this word
pr phrase amd use it

contemporary Contemporary artists Living or occurring at Online platforms

con·tem·po·rary were selected to paint the same time, are now used to
[kən-ˈtem-pə-ˌrer- the museum’s ceiling. occurring in the publish
ē] present contemporary
adjective poetry because it's
③ know this word the new mode of
pr phrase and use it learning.

heritage Though he was proud property that is or It can be exciting to

her·i·tage of his Italian heritage, may be inherited; an explore your
[ ˈher-ə-tij] he really had never inheritance. heritage and learn
noun visited the country. more from it.
③ know this word
or phrase and use it

globalization The process of Globalization is a Not everyone has

glob·al·i·za·tion globalization is the stage constituting the been benefiting the
[ˌglō -bə-lə-ˈzā - profound economic world economy as a same from
shən] change of the current whoe globalization and
noun era. technological
③ know this word change because it
or phrase and use it consists of open
borders and with it
the entire planet
might fall into total
global ruin which
believed by some of
the people.

decolonize To decolonize a Leaving independent There is a need to

de·col·o·nize territory is easier than decolonize our
[dē-ˈkä -lə-ˌnīz] to decolonize our practices if we want
verb consciousness. to make a better
③ know this word progress in achieving
or phrase and use it. a better goal.
 precolonial Precolonial Filipinos Time before a An example of
pre·co·lo·nial made good armor for country became a precolonial
[ˌprē-kə-ˈlō -nē-əl] use in the battlefield, colony weapon is balaraw
adjective and swords were an
③ know this word important part of
or phrase and use it native weaponry.
Link The presentation of the make, form, or Her Youtube video
[ˈliŋk] past is linked to all suggest a connection links important
verb forms of image with or between stories from her
③ know this word consciousness and past life that makes
or phrase and use it manipulation. her video content
worthy to watch.

identity In fostering our the fact of being who You can show your
i·den·ti·ty Filipino identity, we or what a person or appreciation of
[ ī-ˈden-tə-tē] must devote ourselves thing is. your Filipino
noun to our studies and the identity through
③ know this word appreciation of history, showing your talent
or phrase and use it culture, and literature. as how Filipino are
used to be, and
being proud of it.

DURING READING

An excerpt from “Southeast Asian Literary

Traditions and the Philippines”
An Article by Bienvenido L. Lumbera
THE ORAL LITERATURE OF THE FILIPINOS

Philippine oral literature comes in many forms [ˈfȯrm] noun, classification or

and many languages. The forms range from the types

simplest to the most complex, depending on their

functions within the community. The most
rudimentary are the riddles and the proverbs, ru·di·men·ta·ry [ ˌrü -də-ˈmen-
tə rē] adjective, basic or
which function principally as vehicles for fundamental
familiarizing the younger members of the Genres: Enumerate the various forms of
community with their immediate environment
Philippine oral literature and the
and for instructing them on the basic values which
functions Analyze Literature
they serve.
the older members of the community hold in
common. Songs take many forms, and once Riddles and proverbs- which functions
again,
principally
it is function that determines the occasion and as vehicles for familiarizing the
younger members of the community
the manner of the singing. Children have their
own songs—lullabies to put them to sleep, game
Songs- it is functions that determines the
songs to entertain them, learning songs to initiate
occasion and the manner of singing.
them into tasks appropriate for their age and
physical development. The adults have Myth
songs for
courtship, worship, work and entertainment.
Folktales
Myths and folktales are for both young Epics
and old,
for these help them understand their
environment and relationships with one
another, and they allow them to cope with
mundane problems and with the mysterious
Genres: What special function does an
and the threatening. epic serve?

Celebrate the heroic deeds and important

The lengthiest and most sophisticated form so·phis·ti·cat·ed [sə-ˈfi-stə-
historical
of Philippine oral literature is the epic. As of events.
1994, ˌkā -təd]
thirty epics have been recorded, published or adjective, complex, elaborate
translated out of supposedly a hundred,”
according to the most recent review (Epics).
The fact that, to this day, epics continue to be
Analyze Literature
collected among ethnic groups is an indication
of the deep roots of this literary form in various
cultural communities. These epics are treasured
by the community as bearers of identity and
preservers of values and traditions which bind
the members.

The cultural legacy that oral literature leg·a·cy [ ˈle-gə-sē] noun,

represents demands to be incorporated into inheritance, something
the literary component of the curriculum for transmitted by or received from
an ancestor or from the past
Philippine schools. Unfortunately, this legacy is
hardly accessible even to the most assiduous
student of Philippine literature in the form Note the Facts
which will allow it to claim a place in literary
studies. The epics, in particular, are in many
different languages, many of these only beginning
to be described by linguists. This means that,
even after they have been recorded and
transcribed, translation into a language accessible
to many and reflective of the artistic genius of the
original remains a problem.

It must be noted that, traditionally, the language

of research in the Philippine academe is
English. This already poses a problem in the
proper contextualization of a literary work
which is intricately woven into the cultural
con·tex·tu·al·ize [kən-
fabric of the community. Producing a reasonably ˈteks-chə-wə-ˌlīz] verb, to
accurate rendition of the oral work into an place something in a
particular context which
English version further complicates the problem. may provide important
The English version often serves only as some kind clues about the its social
of crib, guiding the reader through the and cultural meaning.
difficulties in the proper understanding and
appreciation of the text. No wonder, teachers
of Philippine literature have often recoiled from
a presentation of oral literature as part of their
courses. If they themselves cannot derive
enjoyment from the texts that are available for
their use, what can they expect from students who
see the epics as even more alien than Beowulf,
and the language into which they have been as
more impenetrable than Anglo-Saxon itself.
What makes it difficult for oral
With English as the medium of instruction literature
in the such as epics to be
Philippine educational system, the likelihood is
incorporated into the literary
remote that pleasurable translations of Filipino
oral lore will form part of the literature ourcomponent
students of the curriculum for
are taught to appreciate. The contemporary Philippine schools?
con·tem·po·rary [kən-
student will continue to be suckled on the works
- because this ˈtem-pə-ˌrer-ē]adjective,
legacy represents
of Filipino writers in English, both young and old, modern, relating to present
demands to betime incorporated into the
for these are the works that have familiar subject
literary component of the curriculum
matter and “artistic” language. Because much of our
for Philippine schools.
literature is in the “unexciting” and often “clumsy”
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
___________________
English of scholars, young Filipinos have been effectively
cut off from a valuable part of their literary
her·i·tage [ ˈher-ə-tij]noun,
heritage, a heritage that can make them proud tradition, something handed
of their past and give them a secure sense of down from one's ancestors or
the past
identity as a people. Fortunately, there are
literature teachers who have kept up with the
times and have come to recognize the loss of the
past that the omission of oral literature from their
courses has occasioned. These teachers have now
begun to devise ways and means of restoring
oral literature to the history of Philippine
literature through videos and live performances.

Reconnecting Asia with Southeast Asia

Three years before the new millennium, in

this conference, the Philippines is being asked
to link up with the literary traditions of Southeast glob·al·i·za·tion [ˌglō -
bə-lə-ˈzā -shən] noun,
Asia. In the so-called “era of globalization,” the expansion of many
isn’t the Philippines taking a rather belated businesses into markets
step toward what is then a necessary retrieval of throughout the world

its non-Western past? And isn’t the effort

altogether anachronistic at this time when we are
being enticed to “abolish national boundaries”
in the name of “global competitiveness”?

Contemporary Filipinos lost not only a good part

of their literary legacy when English was installed
as the language of instruction in Philippine
schools; they also lost a cultural bridge that would
have firmed up their relations with their neighbors.
Reclaiming its place in the culture of Southeast Asia de·col·o·nize [dē-ˈkä -lə-
cannot be too late, if Filipinos will recognize that ˌnīz] verb, to free from
colonial status
the decolonization of their consciousness is a
process which remains to be completed.
[ˈliŋk] verb, to couple or connect
The oral literature which will link them once by or as if by a link
again to Southeast Asia allows the Filipinos a
“precolonial” past which is still recoverable.
That past is a special weapon it can be wield pre·co·lo·nial [ˌprē-kə-ˈlō -nē-əl]
adjective, existing or occurring
before an area undergoes
colonization
in resisting neocolonial hegemony that
“globalization” proposes to legitimize and
naturalize. Globalization, with the IMF and
the World Bank behind it, proposes to erase Use Reading Skills
national boundaries purportedly to ease
commercial intercourse among peoples of the Evaluate the author’s
world. Doubtless, this is going to take place purpose.
and it will be to the advantage of strong Evaluate the author’s purpose
economies. Unstable economies, and these for writing about globalization
are common in Asia, Africa and Latin America, and the need for the
Philippines, as a country with
will have to stand up to the aggressive, rich
unstable economy, to recover
industrialized countries in order to survive in its precolonial past through its
the globalized international economic order. oral literature. Record your
In devising a strategy for survival, it is never evaluation in your Author’s
Purpose Chart provided above.
too late for a people to gear itself toward a
struggle. The Philippines, through its oral
literature, has a “precolonial” past which is
Note the Facts
still recoverable. To recover that past, it needs
a native language that will allow it to make its
oral literature a living part of its contemporary
culture. That language is Filipino, so the
struggle for a native language that will also be
the language of instruction in the educational
system is part and parcel of recovering the past.
In a globalizing world, even as English is held
up as the global language, it may seem
paradoxical that the Philippines which has
been educating its youth through the medium
of English, must be urged to shift toWhat
its language is proposed by the
national language. author to be used in reclaiming
Philippine oral literature?
- Filipino
To be able to maintain a firm hold on a senseis the
of author's proposed
language for reclaiming Philippine oral
identity and the national interest it represents,
literature.________________________________
the Philippines needs Southeast Asia. At the i·den·ti·ty [ ī-ˈden-tə-tē]noun,
___________________________________
outset, it may seem that it is only a literary The set of characteristics by
which a person or group is
tradition that it stands to recover in linking up definitively recognizable or
with the cultures of its neighboring countries. known
However, in the context of a period when “nation”
is claimed to be on the way to obsolescence, the
ob·so·lete [ˌä b-sə-ˈlēt]
Philippines needs a sense of region that adjective, no longer in use
will give it a larger identity when globalization
begins to eat away national identities.
Reconnecting with Southeast Asia fortifies the Use Reading Skills
Filipino by giving him a past that colonial Evaluate the author’s
Education had closed off to him. purpose

Why does the author assert

that the Philippines needs
Southeast Asia in the era of
globalization? Write your ideas
in the Author’s Purpose Chart.
Think and Reflect

AFTER READING

Name: Santander, Julia Marie K. ________

Yr/Cr/Sec: 1 ABPSYCH-B___

Subject: LIT 111________________________________

Date: August 27, 2021_____________

READING CHECK

Circle the letter of the correct answer.

1. Which of the following is NOT true about literature?

A. It is one of the ways people in the community shape their own worlds, and
value their traditions.
B. It speaks of life—emotions, situations, and ideas.
 C. It orients and guides the young.
D. It devalues the cultural fabric of the community where it comes from.

2. Which of the following oral literary genre is in rhyming verse and expresses
norms and community beliefs?
A. folktale C. riddle
B. proverb D. myth

3. Which of the following literary genre begins with the line, “In the beginning, the
earth was dark…”?
A. spic C. creation myth
B. Song D. folktale

4. Which of the following is a long narrative poem that talks about the adventures
of a hero?
A. song C. folktale
B. epic D. myth

5. What determines the occasion and manner of singing of a song?

A. function C. style
B. artistic conventions D. central idea

6. What value does the following proverb teach?

“You will not know what is coming unless you make a trip.”
A. intelligence C. initiative
B. guilt D. industry

7. What value does the following proverb teach?

“Natutuwa kung pasalop. Kung singili’y napopoot.”(Full of good cheer while
borrowing a measure of rice. Full of wrath when you ask him to pay it back.)
A. honesty C. loyalty
B. responsibility D. understanding

8. Which of the proverbs is NOT about alertness?

A. If you want a chance, be quick in moving.
B. If the chicken is not on guard, the eagle sweeps upon it.
C. If you can spot the quarry, you are the winner.
D. Not all that glitters is gold.
9. According to the article, what makes the reading of our literature unexciting and
less meaningful?
A. the subject of the literary pieces
B. the function of the literary piece
C. English as the medium of translation and instruction
D. the rich symbolisms and creative expressions used in the literature

10. Members of a tribe or race can have common myths which serve varied
purposes, EXCEPT:
A. trace a portion of their history C. suggest a religious or moral truth
B. explain natural phenomena D. predict future calamities.

VOCABULARY CHECK

Circle the letter of the correct answer.

1. “Mundane matters such as paying bills and shopping for food do not interest
her.” What does mundane mean?
A. ordinary C. exceptional
B. noble D. unique

2. “The Benedictines have been best known as educators and as preservers of

antique texts.” What does preserver mean?
A. A person that destroys something
B. A person who maintains something in its original form
C. A person who exacts punishment or in return for an injury.
D. A person that mends or repairs something.

3. “Jake was an assiduous student, commonly spending fourteen hours a day

among his books.” What does assiduous mean?
A. careful C. passive
B. weird D. diligent

4. “Voters legitimize the government through the election of public officials"

Which is NOT a meaning of legitimize?
A. make official C. make legal
B. nullify D. validate

5. “It sounds paradoxical: the events that made the universe habitable were
catastrophic.” Which is NOT a meaning of paradoxical?
A. temporary C. incongruous
 B. Inconsistent D. inconsistent

USE READING SKILLS: Evaluate Author’s Purpose

1. Review your Author’s Purpose Chart. Why did the author write this article?

_The author wrote this article to help us understand the value of oral literature,

including its various forms and functions, as well as how it is linked to each Filipino's

cultural identity. The author wants us to learn and rediscover our culture, which we

had been losing touch with, as well as use it as a cultural bridge to other

countries.__________________________________________________________________________________

________________________

2. How do the details and information included in the article enhance the
author’s purpose?

-Because such informational sentences and details are meant to teach them, it

provides a fact that gives readers a deeper

knowledge.________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________