Historical background of the Philippine literature during the Commonwealth Government and the Japanese occupation from years 1930 to 1960.

1. THE MIDDLE PERIOD
(1930 – 1960)
Historical Background of Literature in the Philippines

2. Introduction
The Filipino writers began in English language by
mastering vocabulary, learning the mechanics of
grammar, and imitating established Western
writers.

3. By 1925, the extent and quality of writing has greatly improved and
perhaps it is wrong to say that the early period of Philippine literature
ended in 1930.

4. Leopoldo Yabes, a prominent Rizalist and a prolific writer, called the
years 1930 to 1944 the ‘most productive’ of distinctive work in the half
century of Filipino writing in English.

5. LITERARY ORGANIZATIONS
1. The Veronicans (1930)
2. The Bachelorettes (1930)
3. Philippine Book Guild (1936)
4. Philippine Writers’ League (1939)

6. The Philippine
Commonwealth Government
01
Established on July 4, 1935

7. During this time, writers began to explore the idea of searching for a
national identity that formed the organization of Philippine Book Guild.
This organization aimed for a purpose to create a wider reading that will
be available for Filipino writers by printing low-cost books. One of these
books is Arturo Rotor’s ‘The Wound and Scar’.

8. One of the famous writers during this time were Salvador Lopez and
Jose Garcia Villa who clashed with their ideas on how the social
function of art should be perceived. From here, journalistic writing and
literary criticism emerged.

9. SIGNIFICANT EVENTS
The very first Commonwealth Literary Awards were given
to these excellent writers:
1940
Salvador Lopez – Literature and Society (easy)
Manuel Arguilla – How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife
(short story)
Rafael Da Costa – Like the Molave (poetry)
Juan Laya – His Native Soil (novel)

10. SIGNIFICANT EVENTS
Japan bombed the Pearl Harbor and war began in the Pacific
that interrupted the developing literary culture of the
Philippines.
1941
Japanese entered Manila and Martial Law was immediately
proclaimed. Most of the writers during this time fled in the
mountains while some joined the military and fought.
1942

11. Victoria Abelardo who was also a writer described Filipino writing
during the Japanese occupation as being pessimistic and bitter. There
were some efforts in escapist literature but generally, literary outputs
were minor and insignificant.

12. SIGNIFICANT EVENTS
The long-exiled Commonwealth Government was
reestablished.
1945
The Philippine independence was proclaimed. Stevan
Javellana’s ‘Without Seeing the Dawn’ was the first postwar
Filipino novel published in the United States.
1946

13. The Barangay Writers’ Project was organized to publish books written
by Filipino writers in English and within a few years, they were able to
publish:
Heart of the Island by Manuel Viray in 1947
Philippine Cross Section by Maximo Ramos in 1950
Philippine Poetry Annual by Manuel Viray in 1950

14. SIGNIFICANT EVENTS
Political unrest emerged between the government and the
Hukbalahap guerillas however, the Philippine literature in
English has greatly improved.
1950
The first Philippine poetry magazine in English entitled
‘Signatures’ began publishing.
1955

15. The Characteristics of Literature
02
8 Major Styles of Writing in the Middle Period

16. CHARACTERISTICS OF LITERATURE
1. Recurrent subject matter or themes.
2. Recurrent setting.
3. Recurrent characters.
4. Use of local colors.
5. About the WWII or Japanese occupation.
6. Stylistic characteristics.
7. Reflects Filipino customs, traditions, practices, and traits.
8. Features culture clashes.

17. Writers of the Middle Period
Literature
03
The Essayists, Fictionists, Poets, and Playwrights

18. FAMOUS ESSAYISTS
1. Salvador Lopez 6. Vicente Hilario
2. Francisco Icasiano 7. Federico Mangahas
3. Pura Santillan Castrence 8. Godofredo Rivera
4. Maria Kalaw-Katigbak 9. Leopoldo Yabes
5. Jose Laurel

19. FAMOUS FICTIONISTS
1. Manuel Arguilla 6. Estrella Alfon
2. Delfin Fresnosa 7. Edith Tiempo
3. Nick Joaquin 8. Alejandro Roces
4. Stevan Javellana 9. Kerima Polotan Tuvera
5. Nestor Vicente Gonzalez

20. FAMOUS POETS
1. Angela Manalang Gloria 6. Bienvenido Santos
2. Maximo Ramos 7. Conrado Pedroche
3. Jose Garcia Villa 8. Edith Tiempo
4. Ricaredo Demetillo 9. Toribia Mano
5. Carlos Angeles

21. FAMOUS PLAYWRIGHTS
1. Wilfrido Maria Guerrero
2. Wilfrido Nolledo
3. Severino Montano
4. Alberto Florentino
5. Jesus Peralta

22. CREDITS: This presentation template was
created by Slidesgo, including icons by
Flaticon, infographics & images by Freepik
Thanks!
Submitted by:
Regine Kyle Regida
BSE English 2
Submitted to:
Prof. Imelda Ausa
Instructor
Sources:
http://litgroupone.blogspot.com/2009/08/middle-period.html
https://www.slideshare.net/wangsai/7-teaching-philippine-
literature-in-english