Teaching Philippine Literature in English (RECALL)

Philippine Normal University

Prof. Victor Fumar

The Early Period (1900-1930)

coincided with the American occupation English became the medium of instruction in 1900 in all

public schools first teachers were American soldiers in 1901 the Thomasites arrived numerous newspapers in English were published PNS was founded in 1901; UP was founded in 1910 first Filipino novel in English was written by Zoilo Galang

– A Child of Sorrow (1921)

Characteristics of the Literature

formal and imitative fiction is structurally simple language is easy to understand moralistic and quite didactic sense of nationalism is evident verbose and rhetorical romantic and melancholic grammatically uneven tendency towards melodrama

Writers of the Early Period

POETS Marcelo de Gracia Concepcion Aurelio S. Alvero Rafael Zulueta da Costa Angela Manalang Gloria Trinidad Tarrosa Subido Vicente del Fierro Luis Dato Jose Garcia Villa

FICTIONISTS Zoilo M. Galang Paz Marquez Benitez Tarcila Malabanan Katigbak Arturo B. Rotor Amador T. Daguio Paz Latorena Loreto Paras Sulit Sinai Hamada

RAIN

After the rain,

darkness lifts to luminous acres

of space above –

and earth’s sweet scents

breathe anew.

LONELY

I sit alone,

Thinking sharp thoughts

and as warmless as the glacial sun.

I sit alone like a frozen rock

left and embedded deep in glacial rivers –

lonely.M. De Gracia Concepcion

Sonnet I

First, a poem must be magical,Then musical as a sea gull.It must be a brightness movingAnd hold secret a bird’s flowering.It must be slender as a bell,And it must hold fire as well.It must have the wisdom of bowsAnd it must kneel like a rose.It must be able to hearThe luminance of dove and deer.It must be able to hideWhat it seeks, like a bride.And over all I would like to hoverGod, smiling from the poem’s cover

Jose Garcia Villa

“Mr. Salazar,” she broke into his silence. “I wish tocongratulate you.”Her tone told her that she had learned, at last. Thatwas inevitable.“For what?”“For your approaching wedding.”Some explanation was due her, surely. Yet what couldhe say that would not offend?“I should have offered congratulations long before, butyou know mere visitors are slow about getting the news,” she continued.He listened not so much to what she said as to the nuances in her voice. He heard nothing to enlighten himexcept that she had reverted to the formal tones ofearly acquaintance. No revelation there; simply the oldvoice – cool, almost detached from personality, flexible,and vibrant, suggesting potentialities of song.

Paz MarquezBenitez

ESSAYISTS Zoilo M. Galang Francisco Benitez Jorge Bocobo Amador Daguio Fernando Ma. Guerrero I.V. Mallari Claro M. Recto Carlos P. Romulo Camilo Osias

The Middle Period (1930-1960)

continued influence of romanticism and later realism from the United States

literary organizations were formed, e.g. Philippine Book Guild (1936), Philippine Writers’ League (1939), The Veronicans

the Philippine Commonwealth Government was established on July 4, 1935

writers began to explore the idea of searching for a national identity

S.P. Lopez and J.G. Villa clashed over the social function of art and art for art’s sake function of art

the short story flourished journalistic writing and literary criticism emerged the first Commonwealth Literary Awards were given in

1940 Philippine Independence was proclaimed on July 4, 1946 the 1950’s were a time of political unrest – the gov’t vs.

the Hukbalahap Philippine literature in English greatly improved

Characteristics of the Literature

recurrent subject matter/themes – rural life, love, self-sacrifice and suffering, novelty of city life, value of education, struggle against poverty

recurrent setting – the province, the barrio, the small town

use of local color recurrent characters – the barrio lass/lad, the first

schooled/educated person in the barrio, the teacher, hardworking farmer/fisherman, ardent lovers, the Filipino expatriate educated in America

World War II/Japanese occupation stylistic characteristics – simple structure, simple plots,

mild climaxes, explicit symbols, slow pace or movement, abundant description of people and places

reflected Filipino customs, traditions, practices, traits culture clashes – American vs. Filipino the first Palanca Memorial Awards were given in 1950;

for English and the Tagalog one-act play in 1954

Writers of the Middle Period

ESSAYISTS Salvador P. Lopez Francisco B. Icasiano Pura Santillan Castrence Maria Kalaw-Katigbak Jose P. Laurel Vicente Hilario Federico Mangahas Godofredo Rivera Leopoldo Yabes

FICTIONISTS Manuel E. Arguilla Delfin Fresnosa Nick Joaquin Stevan Javellana N.V.M. Gonzalez Estrella D. Alfon Edith L. Tiempo Alejandro R. Roces Kerima Polotan Tuvera

POETS Angela Manalang Gloria Maximo D. Ramos Jose Garcia Villa Ricaredo Demetillo Carlos A. Angeles Bienvenido Santos Conrado V. Pedroche Edith L.Tiempo Toribia Mano

PLAYWRIGHTS Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Wilfrido Nolledo Severino Montano Alberto S. Florentino Jesus T. Peralta

The sun was in our eyes, for it was dipping into the bright sea. The sky was wide and deep and very blue above us: but along the saw-tooth rim ofthe Katayaghan hills to the southwest flamed hugemasses of clouds. Before us the fields swam in agolden haze through which floated big purple andred and yellow bubbles when I looked at the sinking sun. Labang’s white coat, which I hadwashed and brushed that morning with coconuthusk, glistened like beaten cotton under the lamp-light and his horns appeared tipped with fire. He faced the sun and from his mouth came a call soloud and vibrant that the earth seemed to trembleunderfoot. And far away in the middle of the fieldsa cow lowed softly in answer.

Manuel E.Arguilla

Poems

1

There are so many poems in my headAll wanting to be seen,And some are bright in silver lace,And some are plumed with green.

2

The gay and lovely ones pirouetteLike dancers in my mind,And others, frail and wistful nunsTread somberly behind

Angela ManalangGloria

The Modern Period (1960-1974)

there was a growing sense of nationalism and deeper search for identity in the 60’s

the Republic Cultural Awards were started in 1960 – 1st winner was N.V.M. Gonzalez

the first Pro Patria awards were presented in 1961 – 1st winners were Jose Garcia Villa, N.V.M. Gonzalez, and Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero

the first Asian Writers’ Conference was held in Baguio in 1962

themes of confusion and violence were evident in the late 60’s and 70’s

one group of writers stressed the proletarian form of literature that aimed at social reform and revolution – Lumbera, Mangahas, Rosca, Sikat

another group of writers was interested in the art of literature itself – Villa, Lacambra-Ayala, Polotan-Tuvera, Edith Tiempo

Martial Law was declared in Sept. 21 1972

the National Artist Award was given in 1973 – J.G. Villa was the 1st recipient

mastery of English was evident among the writers diverse writing techniques were explored numerous magazines and weekly newspapers were

published the short story continued to be popular continued influence of the West upon Phil. Literature was

evident

Characteristics of the Literature

recurrent subject matter – colonial mentality, guerilla and wartime stories, consequences of the war (poverty, disorientation, identity crisis), love, family, death, social problems

recurrent setting – the home, the city, the province, America

recurrent characters – rich/poor people, characters with psychological problems, immigrants in America

stylistic characteristics – occasional awkwardness and lapses in grammar, easy to read and understand, vivid description, beginning of experimentation with new techniques/new forms, sophisticated and craft-conscious style

renewed interest in folk literature and folk traditions

Writers of the Modern Period

POETS Cirilo F. Bautista Rolando Tinio Emmanuel Torres Virginia Moreno Tita Lacambra-Ayala Marra Lanot-Lacaba Edith Tiempo Erwin Castillo Godofredo Burce Bunao Ophelia Dimalanta

FICTIONISTS Gregorio C. Brillantes Gilda Cordero Fernando Kerima Polotan Tuvera Bienvenido Santos Ninotchka Rosca Lilia Pablo Amansec F. Sionil Jose Edilberto K. Tiempo Nick Joaquin Aida Rivera Ford

ESSAYISTS Maximo V. Soliven Carmen Guerrero Nakpil Benjamin M. Pascual Nestor M. Torre Sylvia Mayuga Cesar Majul Teodoro F. Valencia Alejandro R. Roces

PLAYWRIGHTS Amelia Lapeña Bonifacio Estrella D. Alfon Wilfrido Nolledo Rolando S. Tinio Mar Puatu Nestor Torre, Jr. Julian Dacanay, Jr. Azucena Grajo Uranza Cirilo F. Bautista

Cactus

Excuse the cactusthirsting on the sillexcuse its quillsstuck out:they’re only an attemptat self-defense

See how it bleedsto fossils the old sanditself looking to be sucha fussy fossil

Not quite futile

It should require some sort of guilesome geniusto subsist on sunsome lake sand(have both for free!)and come out lookingfreshly green, (juicy even)

As if in spite ofas if in fun.

Tita LacambraAyala

Second Invitation to the Pope To Visit Tondo

Next time Your Holiness slums through our lives,We will try to make our poverty exemplary, * * *The best is a typhoon month. It never failsto find us, like charity, knocking onall sides of the rough arrangements we live in.mud must be plenty for the feet of the pious.

We will show you how we pull things togetherfrom nowhere, life after life,prosper with children whom you love. Thereforewe will have more for you to love.

EmmanuelTorres

The Contemporary Period (1970 – to present)

Martial Law was lifted in 1981 Filipino novelists in English have come of age themes have changed from sentimentalized romanticism

to a more realistic and naturalistic delineation excellent mastery of the English language and literary

forms is evident 1986 EDSA Revolution occurred gay and lesbian literature came out strong feminist tendencies are evident

more social problems are tackled TV and films have become more popular younger writers have entered the literary scene more literary criticisms have been written more writing workshops are held for budding writers more writing contests (some with big prize money) are

held university presses have published collections and

anthologies

Characteristics of the Literature

daring or controversial choice of subject matter very innovative in structure and style influence of different –isms and literary trends from the

West characters have become more three-dimensional characters, plot structure and narrative techniques are

more complex

Writers of the Contemporary Period

Fatima Lim Merlinda Bobis Alfredo Navarra Salanga Gemino Abad Benilda Santos Ophelia Dimalanta Ma. Luisa Igloria Danton Remoto Paulino Lim, Jr.

Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo Jessica Zafra Isagani R. Cruz Alfred Yuson Charlson Ong Arlene Chai Cristina Manguerra Brainard Rosario Cruz Lucero Connie Jan Maraan

So it was. Without warning, without even the excuse of an earthquake, the foundation gave wayand came thundering down on congested RizalAvenue. A commuter train plying the route at thattime jumped through the missing racks and fell intothe street, mashing hundreds of pedestrians andpassengers through the pavement. Many of us weredecapitated: I myself was found beyond recognition. But I was fortunate enough to have been identified by the shoe that remained on one, unmangled foot – half a pair of good Brazilian loafers I had inherited from a friend.

Connie JanMaraan

Positive, she said cheerily, as if I shouldn’tgo out and hang myself this instant. I held on tothe phone for a long time; I was sure that if Ilet go I would fall down. The coffee turned to mud in my mouth – I ran to the sink and heaved.Congratulations, it’s a fetus. You frigging idiot. Afterwards I sat at the kitchen table and triedto make sense of the stuff swirling around in myhead. Visions of blood and umbilical cords andfeeding bottles whirled before my eyes likemalevolent frisbees. The newspaper was lying next to the platter of toast; I read the headline about two hundred times. “May use poison gas, Iraq warns.” Next to it is a picture of a deadKurdish woman clutching the body of her child.Mother. Child. I felt like throwing up all over again. I imagined a creature ripping out of mystomach in a gory mess, like the monster inAlien.

Jessica Zafra