TIMELINE

Timeline of the Philippine Literature History

📍 Pre-Colonial Period (Before 1521)

Literature was mostly oral (passed down by word of mouth).

Forms included folk tales, riddles, proverbs, epics, chants, and songs.

Reflected the beliefs, traditions, and daily life of early Filipinos.

📍 Spanish Colonial Period (1521–1898)

Literature was used by Spaniards mainly for Christianization.

Forms: Doctrina Christiana (1593), religious poetry, pasyon, awit, and corrido.

Secular writings emerged later, including zarzuela (musical plays). .

📍 American Colonial Perio d (18 98–1941)

Introduction of English language in literature.

Rise of short stories, essays, and free verse poetry .

Development of newspapers, magazines, and modern journalism.

📍 Japanese Occupation (1941–1945)

Japanese banned English; encouraged Tagalog and other native languages.

Literature in Filipino flourished: poetry, short stories, haiku, tanka.

📍 Contemporary/21st Century Literature (1986–Present)

Literature reflects globalization, diaspora, identity, digital media.

Growth of spoken word poetry, online literature, Wattpad stories, graphic novels.

Reference Verdeflor, S. M. (n.d.). Timeline of Philippine literature [Slide presentation]

HAPPY LEARNING