Lesson 1: The Precolonial Period

Most literary works during the precolonial period were passed down by word of mouth. This form of
transmission is called Oral Tradition. But in some cases, our ancestors were able to make use of a
writing system to pen down some works of literature.

The following are the conventions of oral literature:

1. Common experiences of the community as subject matter
2. Communal authorship
3. Formulaic repetitions
4. Stereotyping of characters
5. Regular rhythmic and musical devices However, the early literary written forms of precolonial
Filipinos were destroyed by the Spanish friars.

The literary forms we know now that survived to this day were restored because of resistance and
geographical isolation. E. Arsenio Manuel, a literary scholar notable for his studies on Philippine folk
literature, divided Philippine precolonial literature into three, namely the Mythological Age, Heroic
Age, and Folktales from all ages.

Mythological Age
This is the period when our ancestors told stories about the creation of human beings and the world,
natural phenomena, and deities and spirits.
Heroic Age
In this period, the characters in stories evolved. Ordinary mortals and cultural heroes became the
chief subject matter in this period. Epics became a popular genre. They were chanted during
important events in the community to inspire people. These were also performed to remind the
community of their ideals and values.
Folktales
Philippine folktales are traditional stories that had humans, animals, and even plants as characters.
These are fictional tales that have been modified through successive retellings before they were
finally recorded and written down. The writing system used by Filipinos during the precolonial period
is the baybayin. This was derived from Kavi, a Javanese (Indonesian) script.

To write, the early Filipinos used palm leaves or bamboo, which they wrote on using knives as pens
and sap from plants and trees as ink. The ancient Tagalog script had seventeen basic syllables
composed of three vowels and fourteen consonants. The vowels were a, e/i, and o/u. The
consonants were ba, ka, da/ra, ga, ha, la, ma, na, nga, pa, sa, ta, wa, and ya. The symbols used could be
modified to present different vowel sounds. This could be done with the use of the kudlit, which may
be a short line, a dot, or even an arrowhead placed at the top or the bottom of the symbol being
modified.
Lesson 2: Philippine Folk Narratives
Myths
These are stories that make use of gods, goddesses, and other fantastical creatures as characters.
These became a means for our ancestors to explain the occurrence of supernatural events, the
beginning of cultural traditions, and the existence of mysteries. A myth may also attempt to explain
the origin of the world and of the people. There are many versions of the creation of the world, one
of which is “The Creation Story” of the Tagalogs.

Legends
Believed to be historical but cannot be verified as true, legends are stories handed down through
generations. These stories are often about famous persons or events. These may tell of an encounter
with marvelous creatures, which the folks still believe in: fairies, ghosts, water spirits, the devil, and
the like. An example is the legend “How the Angels Built Lake Lanao” of the Maranaws. This version
is narrated by Gregorio F. Zaide and Mamitua Saber.

Folktales
Folktales are prose narratives usually told to amuse or entertain. These are also instructional in
nature, dealing with events set in an indefinite time and space. Examples of folktales are animal tales
or fables and magical tales such as “The Monkey and the Turtle” (Bilaan) and “The Story of the
Orphan Girl” (Subanon).

Epics
An epic is a long narrative poem that describes the adventures of a hero, warrior, god, or king. It is
influenced by the traditions, culture, beliefs, moral code, and attitudes of the people who created it.
The characteristics of a classical epic include the following:
● The main character or protagonist of the story is considered a hero.
● The hero’s actions are presented without bias; the epic presents both the character’s faults and virtues.
● Epics often involve battles, which reveal the extraordinary strength of the protagonist as he engages in acts of
bravery.
● The setting may span several countries, involve the whole world, or even be set in the universe.
● Gods and other divine beings are portrayed as having a role in the outcome of events.
Examples of these epics include:
1. Hinilawod. This is considered as the oldest and longest among the epics of Panay. It narrates the
adventures of three brothers: Humadapnon, Dumalapdap, and Labaw Denggan.
2. Ibalon. Somehow similar to Hinilawod, this epic is about three brothers: Baltog, Bantiong, and
Handiong. This epic originated from the Bicol region.
3. Hudhud. This epic tells about the lives of native Ifugao heroes, the most notable of which is Aliguyon
of the village Gonhandan. Aliguyon was endowed with supernatural powers and boundless energy. He
has the ability to travel long distances without needing food and rest. Upon arriving at his destination,
he still has the same energy as he did when he started his journey. Aliguyon was invincible in battle; he
could catch spears in mid-flight and could fight against many combatants.
4. Darangan. This epic is about the sentimental and romantic adventures of noble Maranao warriors; the
most famous is about a warrior or prince named Bantugan. Prince Bantugan was the brother of the
chieftain of a village called Bumbaran. Bantugan owned a magic shield, was protected by divine spirits,
and was capable of rising from the dead.
5. Biag ni Lam-Ang. This is an epic that tells the story of Lam-Ang, who exhibits extraordinary abilities
even in his early years. This epic originated from the Ilocos region.
Lesson 3: Philippine Mythology and Philippine Folk Lyric and Speech
The base form of Philippine folk lyric and speech is poetry. Poetry is a form of literature that
emphasizes rhythm, metrical structure, and the use of imagery and sound patterns. This literary form
is organized in stanzas, which are groups of consecutive lines in a poem, with each stanza forming a
single unit.

Ancient Tagalog Deities

Filipinos practiced worshipping gods and goddesses during the precolonial period. This practice is
known as animism, which is a belief that souls or spirits exist in plants, animals, or objects. Animism
comes from the Latin word anima, which, according to psychologist Carl Jung, means a person’s
inner self or soul. In the Philippines, deities vary in different regions. Kaluwalhatian is the term used
to refer to the home of ancient Philippine gods and goddesses.
● Bathala or Bathalang Maykapal is the king of the gods in Tagalog myths. He married a mortal, with
which he had three children: Apolaki (god of war and guardian of the sun), Mayari (goddess of the
moon), and Tala (goddess of the stars).
● Apolaki and Mayari (or Adlaw and Bulan in Visayan) ruled the earth at different times. This is
because of a conflict between them when Bathala died and he did not pass the title to any of his
children.
● Tala is the goddess who warns Mayari that the sun god is gone and that it is safe for her to come
out along with the stars.
● Amihan is believed to be a bird, which is said to be the first creature that inhabited the earth. It is
linked to the story of creation of the Tagalogs.
● Bacunawa, or the “moon eater,” is the god of the underworld. Believed to have an image of a
serpent or dragon, he is the one responsible for eclipses.

Folk Songs
Folk songs are repetitive and sonorous and have a playful melody. They may be about love and
courtship, a long day’s work, or may be songs sung at a funeral. “Doon Po Sa Amin” is a song about
struggle or hardship, while “Leron Leron Sinta” is a popular Tagalog folk song about courtship.

Proverbs
Proverbs or salawikain are short sayings enveloped in rhymed verse that are meant to give advice to
the young, offering words of wisdom or stating how one should live.

Riddles
Riddles, locally called bugtong, are perplexing questions meant to be guessed or solved. These are
used for entertainment, and they require one to observe, analyze, and imagine to provide the right
answer.