Timeline of Philippine Literature

Pre-Colonial Period

1

This refers to the alphabet of the early Filipino settlers.

Baybayin

2

These are beautiful songs that are informal expressions of our ancestors’ experiences in life. These range from courtship (which they sing in a harana or serenade for a girl), to lullabies, harvests, funerals, and others.

Folk songs

3

A narrative poem that relays stories of local characters with heroism and superhuman abilities.

Epic

4

This refers to the reason legends are told or written.

To explain the origin of things and places

Spanish Colonization

1

This is one of the greatest, long-lasting influences of Spanish colonization.

Religion/ Roman Catholicism/ Christianity

2

These are the two types of literature during the Spanish period.

Religious and secular

3

How many syllables are found per line of awit and korido?

Awit = 12 syllables
Korido = 8 syllables

4

This method ignited the revolutionary spirit of Filipinos.

Through publishing/writing political essays and novels, through disseminating words written to attack and expose the evils of Spanish rule

Japanese Occupation

1

Name one popular fictionist during this time.

NVM Gonzales, Carlos P. Romulo, Nick Joaquin, F. Sionil Jose, Bienvenido Santos

2

Because of these Japanese forms of poetry, Filipinos learned to simplify their words.

Haiku and Tanka

3

What is the primary difference between haiku and tanka?

Haiku = 3 lines
Tanka = 5 lines

4

How many years was the Japanese occupation in the Philippines?

four years

Random Questions 1

1

These are practical observations and philosophy of everyday life that are written usually in a rhyming scheme.

Proverbs (salawikain)

2

These are like proverbs with one main difference: they demand an answer and are used to test the wits of those who are listening to them. 

Riddles (bugtong)

3

"May ulo, walang mata; may katawan, walang mga kamay. Ano ito?"

• Translation: "Has a head but no eyes; has a body but no hands. What is it?"

Butil ng mais" (Corn kernel)

4

"Laging naglalakad, pero hindi gumagalaw. Ano ito?"

• Translation: "Always walking, but never moving. What is it?"

"Orasan" (Clock)

Random Questions 2

1

This is a legendary religious narrative form that usually details the lives of saints or the history of a tradition.

Corrido

2

This is the dramatization of the passion of the Christ. It highlights the sufferings and death of Jesus Christ, and it is also done during the Lenten season.

Cenakulo

3

"Heto na si Kaka, bubuka-bukaka."

(Here comes Kaka, walking with an open leg)

Scissors (gunting)

4

"Laging kasama sa mga larawan, ngunit hindi makikita sa totoo."

"Always in photographs, but cannot be seen in reality."

"Anino" (Shadow)