21st Century Canonical

• Literary works to notice:

  • Jose Rizal's Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo
  • Herminigildo Flores' Hibik ng Pilipinas sa Inang Espanya
  • Marcelo H. Del Pilar's Sagot ng Espanya sa Hibik ng Pilipinas
  • Aurelio Tolentino's Kahapon, Ngayon, at Bukas
  • Jose Corazon de Jesus' Sa Dakong Silangan
• Oppression in Philippine Literature:

  • Oppression is a recurring topic in Filipino Literature
  • Reflects engagement with historical realities
  • Specter of oppression continued post-independence, notably during the Marcos era
• Dramatic Situation and Persona in Poetry:

  • Poets use oppression as a starting point for creating dramatic situations
  • Poems present situations through a speaker (persona) involved or observing
  • Persona can be a character in the poem or an observer
• Marcos Dictatorship:

  • Marcos era considered one of the most oppressive periods in Philippine history
  • Some claims suggest it was the best time in Philippine history
  • Martial law declared on September 21, 1972 under Proclamation no. 1081 to curb insurgency
• Martial Law under Marcos:

  • 30,000 politicians, students, and journalists detained
  • News publications and TV broadcasts controlled
  • Numerous human rights violations occurred
• Canon and Representative Writers:

  • Writers like Bautista recognized as important and canonical
  • Writers and intellectuals arrested during Martial Law
  • Canon refers to works of significant value determined by society
• Markers in Literature:

  • Dramatic Situation: combination of setting, characters, and action in a poem
  • Persona: speaker or teller of the poem
  • Allegorical/Allegory: symbolic representations of truths
  • Canon: collection of works with significant value
  • Personification: giving human qualities to non-human objects
• Emerging Trends in Philippine Writing:

  • Essay found prominence during Spanish rule and American influence
  • Style became less formal over time
• Creative Non-Fiction:

  • Allows exploration of various topics
  • Seen as a category to differentiate from other essays
  • Controversial term, sometimes used interchangeably with literary essay
• Insight in Essays:

  • Essays can transcend into short story elements
  • Not all essays are meant to teach explicitly
  • Good essayists aim to have insights in their writing
• Insights in Writing:

  • Apart from description, narration is used in essays
  • Anecdotes and personal stories add texture
  • Characters and dialogue bring stories to life
• Quote:

  "Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing." - Benjamin Franklin