HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Long Long time time befo before re the the Span Spania iard rds s and and othe otherr fore foreig igne ners rs land landed ed on Philippine shores, our forefathers already had their own literature stamped in the history of our race. Our ancient literature literature shows shows our customs and traditions traditions in everyday everyday life as traced in our folk stories, old plays and short stories. Our ancient ancestors also had their own alphabet which was different from that brought by the Spaniards. The first alphabet used by our ancestors was similar to that of the Malayo-Polynesian alphabet. What Whatev ever er reco record rds s our our ance ancest stor ors s left left were were eith either er burn burned ed by the the Span Spania iard rds s fria friars rs in the the beli belief ef that that they they were were work works s of the the devi devill or were were written on materials that easily perished, like the barks of trees, dried leaves and bamboo cylinders which could not have remained undestroyed even if efforts were made to preserve them. Othe Otherr reco record rds s that that rema remain ined ed showe showed d folk folk song songs s that that prov proved ed the the existence of a native culture truly our own. Some of these were passed on by word of mouth till they reached the hands of some publishers or printers who took interest in printing the manuscripts of the ancient Filipinos. The Spaniards who came to the Philippines tried to prove that our ancestors were really fond of poetry, songs, stories, riddles and proverbs which we still enjoy today and which serve to show to generations the true culture of our people.
The Pre-Spanish Literature is characterized characterized by
LEGENDS
Are forms of prose, the common theme of which is about the origin of a thing, place, location or name. The events are imaginary, devoid of truth and unbelievable. Its aim is to entertain.
Example:
The Legend of the Tagalogs
In a certain wide region of Luzon, there was a village frequented by young men. The town was full of trees, beautiful flowers and a river where clear waters flowed. What attracted the young men more than the scenery was a beautiful nymph- like maiden. The maiden was Maria and she had lots of suitors who came from afar and who fought for her hand. But Maria remained unconcerned and very choosy. Because she was kind, her suitors remained undaunted so Maria thought of a plan. She called all the men together and told them, "You are all good and kind and it is difficult for me to choose one among you. Let me decide with a test. "I'll marry the first man who can bring me a big, live an d strong serpent," Maria said in jest. The young men were dumbfounded. After a while, the voice of Ilog broke the silence. "In promise to bring you one, Maria. Eve if I have to risk my like, I'll bring you what you wish. Ilog was a man known for his bravery. He left immediately to fulfill his promise. The men whispered among themselves. themselves. They were sure that Ilog would never be able to return return.. They waited waited for a long long while while but Ilog Ilog had not returne returned. d. Even Even Maria Maria was saddened saddened because because she also grieved the loss of a man as brave and accommodating accommodating as Ilog. After After many hours, Ilog returned.T returned.They hey crowded to see how Ilog would prove his bravery. bravery. Ilog held a big snake by its nape and tail. While the men were thus occupied, two Spaniards passed by. Their attention was caught not by what Ilog held but by the beauty of Maria. "Maria," "Maria," heroically heroically called called Ilog. "I've brought you the serpent you wished for. What else do you want me to do to make you happy?" The Spaniards were startled. They asked the people around where they were and in what place they were in but nobody paid attention for their attention were focused on the snake and on Maria. When Maria saw that the snake was still struggling, she shouted. "Taga, Ilog! Taga, Ilog!" (Cut, Ilog! Cut, Ilog!) which she addressed to Ilog so he would cut the snake up again. The two Spaniards, thinking that this was in answer to their question repeated the words TAGAILOG, TAGAILOG which later became TAGAL
The Legend of Makahiya Once the there lived a rich couple, Mang Dondong and Aling Iska. They had a twelveyear old daughter whose name was Maria. They loved their daughter so dearly. Maria Maria was a beauti beautiful ful and obedien obedientt daught daughter. er. Indust Industrio rious us and kind, kind, she made made hersel herself f endeared to everybody.But shyness was also one of Maria’s distinct characteristics. She was so shy that talking to people posed a great burden to her. In order to avoid encountering people, she usually locked herself in her room. Maria had a flower flower garden. The flowers flowers were beautiful and know all over the town. She took care of the plants patiently and tenderly. For the flower plants were her source of enjoyment and happiness. One day news spread that a group of bandits raided a nearby village. The bandits killed every man they found and took their money of the residents. The next day the bandits came to the village where Mang Dondong and Aling Iska and their their daughte daughterr lived. lived. Mang Mang Dondong Dondong noticed noticed at once the arriva arrivall of the bandits. bandits. Fearin Fearing g for Maria’s safety, he decided to hide Maria in the garden, which he did. Aling iska hid herself in the house. She trembled with fear when she heard the bandits forcing their way to the gate. Then she prayed, preparing herself for whatever would happen. “Oh, my God!” prayed Aling Iska, “Save my daughter.” Suddenly Suddenly the door opened. The bandits entered entered the house and hit Mang Dondong on the head. Mang Dondong lost consciousness and fell on the floor. Aling Iska tried to escape but was also hit on the head. The bandits ransacked every place in the house. After taking the money and jewelry, they searched for Maria. But Maria was nowhere to be found. So the bandits left the house to plunder another village. When Mang Dondong and Aling Iska regained regained consciousnes consciousness, s, the bandits bandits left already. already. They quickly ran to the garden to look for Maria. But Maria was not there. Again and again, they searched every corner in the garden but poor Maria could not be found. “My poor daughter! They took my poor daughter!” wept Aling Iska. All of a sudden mang Dondong felt something that pricked his feet. To his surprise, he saw a tiny plant quickly closing its leaves. It was the first time he saw that kind of plant. He knelt on his knees and took a close look at the plant. Aling Iska did the same. After looking at the plant for a long time, the couple came to the belief that theplant was Maria. For indeed maria had been transformed by into a plant to save her from the bandits. Aling Iska wept uncontrollab uncontrollably ly and to Mang Dondong’s Dondong’s amazement, amazement, every tear was transformed into a small and round rosy flower of the new plant they found in the garden. Since then Mang Dondong and Aling Iska tended the plant with out most care. They knew that the plant was, in reality, their child Maria. And, like their child, the plant was very shy. So they called the plant “makahiya” because it showed an important characteristic of Maria – shyness – which in Tagalog means “makahiya.”
FOLK TALES
made up of stories about life, adventure, love, horror and humor where one
can derive lessons about life. These are useful to us because they help us appreciate our environment, evaluate our personalities and improve our perspectives in life. Example:
THE MOON AND THE SUN (Tingguian folk tale) In the olden days, like the moon, the sun had also star children which were yellowish yellowish in color, very bright and very hot. He star children of the moon, however, were reddish and cool. That moon was scared hat his stars would wither and die if they play with the star children of the sun. The moon suggested to the sun that they kill their children who were crowding the heavens with their number. When the sun had killed her children, the moon merely hid behind the clouds. In the evening, when the clouds faded, the moon stars appeared. This angered the sun so he gave chase to the moon. Thus when he overtakes the moon, we have the so-called eclipse. Every morning, the kills the moon stars that he catches. Until now, this chase continues and because the moon still continues to give birth to stars, these moon stars are still around.
EPIC
are long narrative poems in which a series of heroic achievements or events, usually of a hero, are dealt with at length. Nobody can determine which epics are the oldest because in their translations from other languages, even in English and Spanish.
Aside from the aforementioned epics, there are still other epics that can be read and studied like the following epics: a. Bidasari – Moro Epic b. Biag ni Lam-ang – Ilokano Epic c. Maragtas – Visayan Epic d. Haraya – Visayan Epic e. Lagda – Visayan Epic f. Hari sa Bukid – Visayan Epic g. Kumintang – Tagalog Epic h. Parang Sabir – Moro Epic i. “Dagoy” at “Sudsod – Tagbanua Epic j. Tatuaang – Bagobo Epic k. Indarapatra at Sulayman
BIAG NI LAM-ANG
Namongan (Lam-ang’s Mother) and Don Juan (Lam-ang’s Father) had recently been unified unifi ed in marriage. Shortly Shortly after, Namongan became pregnant and Don Juan perfo performed rmed the various tasks needed to prepare for the birth. Don Juan sets out to engage into a fight with the checkered checker ed Igorots. Namongan Namongan gives birth to a baby boy who is able to speak and reques requests ts to be named Lam-ang. At nine months, Lam-ang discovers that his father, Don Juan, has been gone and sets out to search for him. Lam-ang brings various magic stones on his journey as well as weapons. Eventually, Lam-ang Lam-an g encounters an Igorot gathering gathering and learns that his fathe fatherr was kill killed ed and head severed. Lam-ang then engages into battle and wins the fight with the Igorots of the various Igorot towns and villages. Lam-ang then returns home and achieves various tasks, such as cleaning the barn, washing his hair, and defeating the crocodile. Lam-ang then determines that he would like to visit Dona Ines Kannoyan of Kalanutian and attempt to court her. Dona Ines Kannoyan is described as a “perfect” woman who has many suitors. She is the daughter of Unnayon. Un nayon. Against the wishes of his mother, Lam-ang travels to Kalanutian to meet Kannoyan. During his journey he encounters two people, a man named Sumarang, a man killed by Lam-ang who shared the same task as Lam-ang, and Saridaadan, a woman Lam-ang ignore ign ores. s. Upo Upon n arr arrivi iving ng in Kal Kalanut anutian ian,, Lam Lam-ang -ang obs observ erves es var variou iouss sui suitor torss of Kann Kannoya oyan. n. The animals Lam-ang travel with create a disturbance and therefore achieves Kannoyan’s attention. Lam-ang finds that Kannoyan has been expecting him and moves on to meet the parents. Lam-ang asks for the permission to marry Kannoyan. Kannoyan’s parents allow it only if Lamang is capable of producing the same wealth the family possess. Lam-ang proves his prosperity and a wedd wedding ing is pla planne nned. d. Lam Lam-an -ang g tra travel velss hom homee to pre prepar paree for the wed weddin ding g and returns returns to Kalanutian Kalanu tian with his mothe mother, r, townspeople, townspeople, and wedding supplies. Lam-ang and Kannoy Kannoyan an get married in a church on a Monday and a celebration takes place shortly after. The townspeople of the bride and groom, as well as the family members, travel on the two ships of Lam-ang to Lamang’s home town where another chain of festivities take place. Afterward, Kannoyan’s Afterward, Kannoyan’s parents leave Kannoyan to live with Lam-ang and the couple begins their lives together. The town head delegates a task to Lam-ang in which he must fish for raring rar ing.. Lam Lam-ang -ang attains attains a pre premon monit ition ion of an inc incide ident nt in whi which ch the ber berkak kakan, an, a mon monste sterr fis fish, h, consumes his entire body. The premonition also includes an omen in which, “a dancing staircase and the kasuuran breaking into pieces.” Undoubtedly, the premonition and omen become true, and Lam-ang is devour dev oured ed by a ber berkak kakan. an. Kannoyan Kannoyan has seen the ome omen n and searches searches for a div diver er to loc locate ate the bones of her husband. Kannoyan brings the animals of Lam-ang to the bones and the white rooster, hen, and hairy dog perform p erform a ritual on the bones which bring Lam-ang back to life.
FOLK SONGS
folk songs are one of the oldest forms of Philippine literature that emerged In the Pre-Spanish period. These songs mirrored the early forms of culture. Many of these have 12 syllables.
Examples:
KUNDIMAN (Awit ng Pag-ibig – Songs of Love)
KUMINTANG O TAGUMPAY (War song)
Noong unang panahon nung ako ay bata pa, Natisod mo na ay di pa alintana, Nang ako ay lumaki at maging dalaga, Tila sa Wari ko y may pagbabanta pa.
Ang nuno nating lahat Sa kulog di nasisindak, Sa labanan di naaawat, Pinuhunang buhay, hirap, Upang tayong mga anak, Mabuhay ng mapanatag.
Pagsinta mo sa akin ay di ko tatanggapin Pagka’t akong ito ay alangan sa tingin, Ako ay mahirap, pangit pa sa tingin,
ANG DALIT O IMNO (Song to the God Of the Visayans) Puamanaog-pumanaog Si Mansilatan Saka si Badla ay bababa, Mamimigay ng olakas, Pasayawin ang mga Baylan, Pagligiran ng mga Baylan.
ANG OYAYI O HELE (Lullaby) Matulog ka na bunso Ang tatay mo ay malayo Hindi nya tayo masundo Pagkat ang daa’y maputik at mabalaho.
DIANA (Wedding Song)
Hala gaod tayo, pagod ay tiisin Ang lahat ng hirap pag-aralang bathin Kahit malayo man, kung ating ibigin, Daig ang malapit na ayaw lakbayin.
Umawit tayo at ipagdiwang Ang dalawang pusong ngayon ay ikakasal Ang daraanan nilang landas Sabuyan natin ng bigas
Kay pagkasawing palad ng lanak sa hirap, Ang bisig hindi iunat Di kumita ng pilak.
SOLIRANING (Song of the Laborer)
EPIGRAMS (Salawikai (Salawikain) n) these have been been customaril customarily y used and served served as laws or rules rules on
good behavior by our ancestors. To others, these are like allegories or parables that impart lessons for the young.
Examples: ➢ ➢ ➢ ➢ ➢ ➢
“May tainga ang lupa, may pakpak ang balita.” “Kahit saang gubat, ay mayruong ahas.” “Walang lumura sa langit na di sa kanyang mukha nagbalik.” “Bago ka bumati ng sa ibang uling, uling mo muna ang iyong pahirin.” “Ang umaayaw ay di nagwawagi, ang nagwawagi ay di umaayaw.” "Although beauty may be skin deep, many have drowned there."
RIDDLES (Bugtong or Palaisipan)
These are made up of one or more measured lines with rhyme and may consist of 4 to 12 syllabes. Examples: ➢
Hiyas na puso, kulay ginto, mabango kung amuyin, masarap kung kainin. (mangga) Nanganak ang birhen, itinapon ang lampin. (saging) May langit, may lupa, May tubig, walang isda. (niyog) Buhok ni Adan, hindi mabilang. (ulan) Nagsaing si Hudas, kinuha ang tubig itinapon ang bigas. (gata ng niyog)
