4-5 ppt

• The destruction brought by the war was entrenched in the Philippine psyche for a significant period of time
• Amidst the chaos that ensued, Philippine writers found their voices and our literary tradition endured
• Postcolonial Philippines continued to produce exquisite literary works
• Evolution of Philippine literature during the Japanese and Post-War Periods


  1. Rejecting the English language espoused by Americans, the Japanese colonizers sought to redefine Philippine literature by strengthening the vernacular languages

  2. 1946 marked the publication of “America is in the Heart” by Carlos Bulosan

  3. A year later, Stevan Javellana’s novel “Without Seeing the Dawn” came out, exposing uncomfortable social realities about the Japanese occupation

  4. In 1950, the Palanca awards were instituted to recognize the finest literary writers of the country

  5. Edilberto and Edith Tiempo established the Siliman Writer’s Workshop in 1961

  6. In 1964, the first Palanca award for Poetry was given to Carlos Angeles for his “A Stun of Jewels” which was published the year before

  7. Carmen Guerrero-Nakpil was a highly respected name among the essayists during that time, running a column named “My Humble Opinion” for 12 years in the Manila Chronicle

  8. The modernist movement continued to be dominant in the post-war period, particularly in the genre of poetry
• Characters heavily featured in Matute’s stories

  • Children
  • Women
• Author: 'Example: “Bughaw Pa sa Likod ng Ulap”'
• Edilberto and Edith Tiempo established the Siliman Writer’s Workshop in 1961
• In 1964, the first Palanca award for Poetry was given to Carlos Angeles for his “A Stun of Jewels” which was published the year before
• Carmen Guerrero-Nakpil ran a column named “My Humble Opinion” for 12 years in the Manila Chronicle
• A number of Nakpil’s works were published in the collection “Women enough and Other Essays” (1963)
• The modernist movement continued to be dominant in the post-war period, particularly in the genre of poetry
• As you read the poem that follows, notice the style and blend of images - a testament to the uniqueness of poetic voices during that literary epoch
• Analysis of the selection

  1. Describe the poem’s handling of standard English grammar – punctuation, capitalization, sentence/pattern structure. What effect do the liberties of the poem have on the message that it imparts?

  2. Why does the poem allude to Icarus and Daedalus? What is the story these figures of Greek mythology, and what does this story have to do with the poem?

  3. What persona is being invoked by this poem? Who or what could be the voice that unfolds each line of the poem?

  4. Compare Ilio’s use of the English language with Guerrero’s handling of English in “Condemned” (featured in the previous lesson). As suggested by “Icarus”, to what extent have our writers embraced the English language during the post-war period?
• Learning Targets


  1. To identify the geographic, linguistic, and ethnic dimensions of Philippine literary history in the late 20th century

  2. To identify the representative texts, genres, and authors of the late 20th century

  3. To appreciate the contributions of the canonical Filipino writers to the development of national literature
• Learning Targets


  1. To analyze the literary techniques and devices in the text

  2. To situate texts in the context of the region and the nation

  3. To explain the sociocultural context and discuss how it enhances the text’s meaning and enriches the reader’s understanding

  4. To explain the relationship of the context with the text’s meaning
• The dramatic political scene of the Philippines in the late 20th century shaped the literature at this time
• The 1987 constitution identified Filipino and English as the two official languages of the country
• Amado V. Hernandez, named National Artist for Literature, published "Bayang Malaya" in 1970, recalling the Japanese occupation through characters like Tanggol, Tala, and Lantay
• The dictatorship recognized the power of literature to open the minds of the Filipinos
• Publications like "Philippine Free Press" and "Philippine Graphic" were shut down, leading to an underground literature movement expressing dissatisfaction
• Notable novels during this period included "The Praying Man" (1982) by NVM Gonzales, "Great Philippine Jungle Energy Café" (1987) by Alfred Yuson, "Planet Waves" (1989) by Eric Gamalinda, "Bamboo in the Wind" (1990) by Asundon Grajo Uranza, "Dog Eaters" (1990) by Jessica Hagedorn, "The Honey, The Locusts" (1992) by Lina Espina-Moore, and "Killing Time in a Warm Place" (1992) by Jose Y. Dalisay Jr.
• In 1981, The Manila Critics Circle was established, awarding literary texts in English, Filipino, and other local languages
• Difficult Words


  • tinsel - threads, strips, or sheets of metal, paper, or plastic used to produce a glittering and sparkling appearance in fabrics, yarns, or decorations
  • tantalize - tease or torment by presenting something desirable to the view but continually keeping
• Manila Critics Circle tenders accolades upon literary texts in English, Filipino, and other local languages
• A plethora of genres reflects the abundance of local cultures across the archipelago
• Difficult words unlocked


  • tinsel - threads, strips, or sheets of metal, paper or plastic used to produce a glittering and sparkling appearance in fabrics, yarns or decorations
  • tantalize – tease or torment by presenting something desirable to the view but continually keeping it out of reach
  • molasses - a thick, dark brown liquid that is produced during the process of making sugar, used in cooking
  • plethora – plenty, abundance, embarrassment of riches
  • palate – a person’s appreciation of taste and flavor especially when sophisticated and discriminating
  • pastry - a dough that is used to make pies and other baked goods and typically has a high fat content
  • meringue - a dessert topping consisting of a baked mixture of stiffly beaten egg whites and sugar
• The diversity of contemporary literature is reflected in the essay "Puto – Bumbong, Bibingka, Salabat, atbp."
• The author Doreen Gamboa Fernandez (28 October 1934 – 24 June 2002) was a Filipino professor, historian, writer, and critic best known for her writings on Filipino food, food culture, and the theater arts
• Doreen Gamboa Fernandez wrote a regular column on food and dining for the Philippine Daily Inquirer and taught English at Ateneo de Manila University
• Selection in focus


  Read on pages 51-58 in the textbook
• Questions for analysis of the selection: 1. What particular season does the essay focus on? Have you tried any of the seasonal foods mentioned in the essay? If so, which ones? 2. Describe the author’s style of writing. What techniques make her portrayal of food effective? 3. Comment on the essay’s historical dimension. What information does the essay give about our country’s past colonizers? 4. Name other occasions in our country that also feature a seasonal set of food. Why do you think Filipinos favor specific food for specific seasons?