Pre-Colonial Literature in the Philippines

Teacher Jellie

5 Sept 202010:16

Summary

TLDRIn this 21st-century literature lesson, 'Teacher Jolly' introduces the pre-colonial phase of Philippine literary history, highlighting its geographic, linguistic, and ethnic dimensions. The lesson explores the rich diversity of literature in the archipelago, from the ancient alibata script to oral traditions like chants and debates. It emphasizes the importance of literature as a reflection of people's feelings and ideas, showcasing examples of riddles, epigrams, and poems that were integral to the cultural fabric of pre-colonial Philippines. The session concludes with a quiz to reinforce the understanding of the material covered.

Takeaways

📘 The lesson is about 21st-century Philippine literature, focusing on its geographic, linguistic, and ethnic dimensions.
🏛️ The discussion is divided into four parts: pre-colonial, Spanish colonial, American colonial, and contemporary literature.
📚 The focus for today is on pre-colonial literature, which is the first part of Philippine literary history.
📖 Literature is derived from the Latin term 'littera' and is defined in various ways, expressing feelings towards society, government, and the divine.
📜 The first Filipino alphabet was called 'alibata', which was later replaced by the Roman alphabet.
🌴 Philippine literature was influenced by the traditions and customs of its many islands, each with unique cultures and literatures.
📃 Pre-colonial literature was based on perishable materials and was passed down orally, including written forms like riddles, epigrams, and poems.
🧩 Riddles (salawika) and poems (tanaga) were common forms of written literature, often reflecting values and life lessons.
🎭 Oral literature included chants (ambahan) used in traditional ceremonies and debates in verse (balagtasa).
📝 The quiz at the end of the lesson tests understanding of the pre-colonial literature discussed, with a passing score of three out of five.
👩‍🏫 The teacher, Jolly, emphasizes the importance of self-accountability in learning and encourages students to review the material for better understanding.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the lesson presented in the transcript?
-The main topic of the lesson is the pre-colonial literature of the Philippines, which is the first part of the geographic, linguistic, and ethnic dimensions of Philippine literary history.
What are the four parts into which the Philippine literary history is divided according to the transcript?
-The four parts of Philippine literary history are pre-colonial literature, Spanish colonial literature, American colonial literature, and contemporary literature.
What is the origin of the term 'literature' as mentioned in the transcript?
-The term 'literature' is derived from the Latin term 'littera', which means 'letter'.
How does Brother Azereen define literature in the transcript?
-According to Brother Azereen, literature expresses the feelings of people to society, the government, their surroundings, fellowmen, and their divine creator.
What does Webster define literature as in the transcript?
-Webster defines literature as anything that is printed as long as it is related to the ideas and feelings of people, whether it is true or false, or just a product of one's imagination.
What was the first Filipino alphabet mentioned in the transcript?
-The first Filipino alphabet mentioned in the transcript is the alibata, which was later replaced by the Roman alphabet.
How many islands does the Philippines consist of, as stated in the transcript?
-The Philippines consists of 7,107 islands, each with unique cultures and traditions.
What types of literature existed during the pre-colonial period in the Philippines?
-During the pre-colonial period, there were two types of literature: written and oral literature.
What are some examples of written literature from the pre-colonial period mentioned in the transcript?
-Examples of written literature from the pre-colonial period include riddles, epigrams or salawika, and poems or tanaga.
What is an 'ambahan' as described in the transcript?
-An 'ambahan' is a traditional poetry of Hanunuo Magnanzen of Oriental Mindoro, used in teaching life lessons, expressing love, imparting experiences, or in tribal ceremonies.
What is 'balagtasa' and how is it related to the pre-colonial literature?
-Balagtasa is a Filipino form of debate done in verse, derived from the surname of Francisco Balagtas, the author of the Filipino epic 'Florante at Laura'. It is an example of oral literature from the pre-colonial period.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to 21st Century Philippine Literature

The video script begins with an introduction to 21st century Philippine literature by the teacher, Jelly. It outlines the structure of the lesson, which is divided into four parts: pre-colonial, Spanish colonial, American colonial, and contemporary literature. The focus of the lesson is on pre-colonial literature. Literature is defined in various ways, emphasizing its role in expressing human emotions and ideas. The script introduces the concept of the 'alibata', the first Filipino alphabet, and discusses the geographical and cultural diversity of the Philippines, which influences its literature. The pre-colonial period is characterized by both written and oral literature forms, such as riddles, epigrams (salawika), and poems (tanaga), which are presented with examples.

05:03

🎭 Exploration of Pre-Colonial Oral Literature

This paragraph delves deeper into the oral literature of the pre-colonial period in the Philippines. It explains the significance of chants, such as 'ambahan', which serve educational and cultural purposes, and 'balagtas', a form of debate in verse. The script provides an example of a chant and describes its use in different social contexts, including parental teachings, expressions of love, imparting of wisdom, and community ceremonies. The paragraph also includes a quiz to test the viewer's understanding of the material covered, with questions about the first Filipino alphabet, the use of literature in witchcraft, and the forms of pre-colonial literature.

10:03

👋 Conclusion and Farewell

The final paragraph of the script concludes the lesson with a summary of the topics discussed, which include the definition of literature and the types of literature present during the pre-colonial period in the Philippines. The teacher, Jolly, invites any questions and then guides the viewers through a quiz to reinforce their learning. After the quiz, the teacher provides the correct answers and encourages self-assessment, emphasizing personal accountability in learning. The script ends with a farewell from the teacher, looking forward to the next session.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡21st Century Literature

21st Century Literature refers to literary works and movements that have emerged or gained prominence in the current century. In the video, this term sets the stage for the discussion, indicating that the content will focus on modern literary developments and their historical context.

💡Geographic, Linguistic, and Ethnic Dimensions

These dimensions are critical in understanding the diversity and richness of Philippine literature. The video emphasizes that literature is influenced by the geographical spread, linguistic diversity, and ethnic identities within the Philippines, which contribute to the unique characteristics of its literary history.

💡Pre-Colonial Literature

Pre-Colonial Literature refers to the body of written and oral works that existed in the Philippines before the arrival of foreign colonizers. The video discusses this as the first part of Philippine literary history, highlighting its significance in understanding the roots of the country's literary traditions.

💡Alibata

Alibata is the ancient Filipino script, which is mentioned in the video as the first alphabet used in the Philippines before it was replaced by the Roman alphabet. It symbolizes the indigenous writing system and its role in early Philippine literature.

💡Roman Alphabet

The Roman Alphabet is the writing system currently used in the Philippines and many other parts of the world. In the context of the video, it represents the cultural shift and influence of colonization on the way literature was recorded and transmitted.

💡Indigenous Literature

Indigenous Literature refers to the literature that is native to a particular region, reflecting its traditions, customs, and cultural identity. The video describes how pre-colonial Philippine literature was based on the traditions and customs of different areas within the archipelago, emphasizing the diversity of indigenous expressions.

💡Archipelago

An archipelago is a group of islands. The Philippines is an archipelago consisting of 7,107 islands, as mentioned in the video. This geographical feature contributes to the varied cultural and literary expressions found across the country.

💡Oral Literature

Oral Literature consists of literary works that are transmitted orally from generation to generation. The video discusses oral literature as a significant part of pre-colonial Philippine literature, including forms like chants and debates in verse, which were integral to cultural practices and traditions.

💡Riddles

Riddles are a form of written literature that pose a question or statement typically presented as a game. In the video, riddles are given as an example of written literature from the pre-colonial period, showcasing the playful and intellectual aspects of early literary works.

💡Salawika

Salawika is a type of epigram or short poem that reflects hidden meanings and provides good values. The video uses salawika as an example of the depth and moral teachings embedded in pre-colonial Philippine literature.

💡Ambahan

Ambahan is a traditional poetry form from Hanunuo Mangyan of Oriental Mindoro, mentioned in the video as an example of oral literature. It serves various purposes, such as teaching life lessons, expressing love, imparting experiences, and being used in tribal ceremonies.

💡Quiz

A quiz is a form of assessment used to test knowledge or understanding. In the video, the teacher uses a quiz to engage the audience and evaluate their comprehension of the topic discussed, which in this case is pre-colonial Philippine literature.

Highlights

Introduction to 21st century literature by teacher Jelly.

Lesson divided into four parts: pre-colonial, Spanish colonial, American colonial, and contemporary literature.

Focus on pre-colonial literature for today's discussion.

Definition of literature from various perspectives.

Literature derived from Latin term 'littera' meaning letter.

Brother Azereen's view on literature expressing people's feelings.

Webster's definition of literature as anything printed related to people's ideas and feelings.

History of Philippine literature divided into four periods.

Influence of colonization and the spirit of the age on the evolution of Philippine literature.

Alibata as the first Filipino alphabet, later replaced by the Roman alphabet.

Indigenous Philippine literature based on local traditions and customs.

Philippines as an archipelago with 7,107 islands, each with unique cultures and literature.

Ancient literature written on perishable materials like dried leaves, bamboo, and tree bark.

Pre-colonial literature categorized into written and oral literature.

Examples of written literature: riddles, epigrams (salawika), and poems (tanaga).

Riddles as a game to guess the correct answer.

Salawika reflecting hidden meanings and providing good values.

Tanaga as a four-line poem with seven syllables and same rhyme.

Examples of oral literature: chants (ambahan) and debates in verse (balagtasa).

Ambahan as a traditional poetry used for education, love expression, and imparting experiences.

Balagtasa as a Filipino form of debate done in verse, derived from Francisco Balagtas.

Summary of the discussion on literature and pre-colonial literature.

Quiz to test understanding of the topic.

Instructions for the quiz and checking answers.

Emphasis on being accountable for one's own learning.

Conclusion and farewell from teacher Jolly.