LESSON 2

• NCR (National Capital Region) consists of

  • 16 cities
• NCR


  • Philippine political, economic, social, and cultural center
  • 18th most populous region in the world on 2016
  • One of the modern metropolises in South East Asia
  • 'Huge urban conglomeration' – Merly M. Alunan
  • Place of economic extremes – maraming mayayaman, malaki ung disparity between the rich and poor
• Languages used in NCR


  • Filipino/Tagalog - used for daily conversations
  • English - language for workplace and business
• The Tagalog literature has been born and developed in the provinces of Southern Luzon, Central Luzon, and the present Metropolitan Manila or the National Capital Region
• Regions where Tagalog has been predominantly used


  • Region IV-A (CALABARZON) - Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Quezon
  • Region IV-B (MIMAROPA) - Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan
  • Region III (Central Luzon) - Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, and Bulacan
• The Tagalog region is well-known nationwide as the birthplace of a rich tradition of Philippine culture in the aspects of language, politics, economy and literature
• The first printing press that was built in Manila made the publication of the first book Doctrina Cristiana possible in 1593, in the form of xylography. This was written in Spanish and Tagalog languages
• Pasyon, which narrated the life of Christ in the form of song and poetry was written in Tagalog by the various writers Gaspar Aquino de Belen and Fr. Mariano Pilapil
• Oral literature: Bugtong (riddle), proverbs, native songs, and other forms had always been in poetic forms
• Some writers of classic Philippine literature from the past


  • Francisco Balagtas Baltazar
  • Jose Rizal
  • Andres Bonifacio
  • Apolinario Mabini
  • Emilio Jacinto
  • Marcelo H. del Pilar
  • Jose P. Laurel
  • Lope K. Santos
  • Lazaro Francisco
  • Faustino Aguilar
  • Jose Corazon de Jesus
  • Alejandro Abadilla
  • Modesto de Castro
  • Claro M. Recto
  • Amado V. Hernandez
• Carmen Guerrero-Nakpil


  Filipino author, journalist, historian, and public servant, recipient of S.E.A. Write Award, wrote "Woman Enough and Other Essays"
• Nicomedes "Nick" Márquez Joaquín


  Filipino author, historian, and journalist, popular for his short stories and novels written in English, using the pen name Quijano de Manila, declared as the 1976 National Artist of the Philippines for Literature
• Alejandro Reyes Roces


  Dramatist, essayist, declared as the 2003 National Artist of the Philippines for literature, Secretary of Education from 1961 to 1965 during the presidency of Diosdado Macapagal
• Lualhati Bautista


  One of the historical Filipino female novelists in the present time, famous novels are Dekada '70, 'GAPÔ, and Bata, Bata, Pa'no Ka Ginawa?
• Gémino H. Abad


  His recent writing and research include "Upon Our Own Ground", "Our Scene So Fair", and "Where No Words break"
• Linda Ty Casper


  Has written and published over fifteen books, including the historical novel Dream Eden and the political novels The Stranded Whale, The Peninsulars, Awaiting Trespass, Wings of Stone, A Small Party in a Garden, and Fortress in the Plaza
• Gilda Cordero-Fernando


  A multi-awarded writer, publisher and cultural icon from the Philippines, has written the books We Live in the Philippines, The last Full Moon: Lessons on My Life, The Magic Circle, and other books
• Bebang Siy


  Wrote "It's Raining Mens" and "It's a Mens World", whose works are known to be funny and comical but thought-provoking
• Bob Ong


  Author of Stainless Longganisa, ABNKKBSNPLAKo, Ang Paboritong Libro ni Hudas, Kapitan Sino, MACARTHUR, Alamat ng Gubat, and others which were known to be written in an informal and comic manner but reflects the life of many as Filipinos
• Ricky Lee


  Known as one of the greatest scriptwriters in movie and television, author of Si Amapola sa 65 na Kabanata, Para kay B (o kung paano dinevastate ng pag-ibig ang 4 out of 5 sa atin), Trip to Quiapo, and other books
• Ferdinand Pisigan Jarin


  Author of "Anim na Sabado ng Beyblade at Iba Pang Sanaysay", a memoir about his son named Rebo, also a musician and teacher
• Paolo Manalo


  His first book of poems, Jolography, received the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature (2002) and the UP Gawad Chanselor (2004), student at the 15th New York State Summer Writers Institute (2001), fellow of the UP ICW National Writers' Workshop, artist-in-residence at The MacDowell Colony (2006)
• Cyan Abad Jugo


  Took her master's in Children's Literature at Simmons College, Boston, currently pursuing a PhD in English Studies: Creative Writing at the University of the Philippines, author of Father and Daughter: The Figures of Our Speech, Sweet Summer and Other Stories, and Leaf and Shadow: Stories About Some Friendly Creatures
• Carla M. Pacis


  Writer, teacher, former bookstore owner, has written several books for children, a couple of novels for young adults and has won several local awards for her stories, founder-member of KUTING, member of the Society for Children's Writer's and Illustrators (SCBWI)