Lesson 2

Question 1

Year of the Pre-Spanish Period

Answer 1

(…-1564)

Question 2

Beforehand the Spaniards arrived or set foot on Philippine shores, our ancestors already had their own literature emblazoned in the history of our race. Literature occurred even prior to composing implements were invented. It used to be oral; therefore, the literature of ancient Filipinos was handed from one generation to another by word of mouth. The pre-Spanish poets and storytellers had gifts of good memory to be able to transmit oral literature without changing the original, omitting or changing details from it.

Answer 2

Pre-Spanish Period

Question 3

Pre-Spanish Literature is characterized by:

Answer 3

Legends, Folktales, Epics, Myths, Folk songs

Question 4

are in a form of prose and the general theme of which is about the origin of a thing, location, or name. The events are imaginary, devoid of truth and unbelievable. Old Filipino customs are reflected in these legends, and they aim to entertain.

Answer 4

Legends

Question 5

are made up of stories about life, adventure, love, horror, and humor where one can derive lessons about life. These are useful to us because they help us appreciate our environment, evaluate our personalities, and improve our life’s perspectives.

Answer 5

Folk tales

Question 6

are long narrative poems that dealt with the protagonists’ or heroes’ series of heroic achievements or events.

Answer 6

Epics

Question 7

are narratives that describe and portray in symbolic language the origin of the basic elements and assumptions of a culture. Mythic narratives relate, for example, how the world began, how humans and animals were created, and how certain customs, gestures, or forms of human activities originated. Almost all cultures possess or at one time possessed and lived in terms of myths.

Answer 7

Myths

Question 8

Year of Spanish Period

Answer 8

(1565-1898)

Question 9

Spain colonized the Philippines for more than ______ centuries.

Answer 9

Three (3)

Question 10

__________ was the first Filipino alphabet which was replaced by the Roman alphabet.

Answer 10

Alibata (should be Baybayin)

Question 11

Lessons on ___________ _________ became the basis of religious practices.

Answer 11

Christian Doctrine

Question 12

(True or False) The Spanish language which became the medium of instruction and literary language during this time lent many of its words to our language.

Answer 12

True

Question 13

What are the first books?

Answer 13

The Christian Doctrine(Doctrina Cristiana)
Nuestra Senora del Rosario
Libro de los Cuatro Post Primeras de Hombre
Ang Barlaan at Josephat
The Passion
Urbana at Felisa
Ang mga Dalit kay Maria (Pslams for Mary)

Question 14

This was the first book printed in the Philippines in 1593 in Xylography. It was written by Fr. Juan de Placencia and Fr. Domingo Nieva, in Tagalog and Spanish. It contained the Pater Noster (Our Father), Ave Maria (Hail Mary), Regina Coeli (Hail Holy Queen), and the Ten Commandments
of God, the Commandments of the Catholic Church, the Seven Mortal Sins, How to Confess, and the Cathecism.

Answer 14

The Christian Doctrine (Doctrina
Cristiana)

Question 15

This was the first book printed in the
Philippines in 1593 in Xylography.

Answer 15

The Christian Doctrine (Doctrina
Cristiana)

Question 16

This was the second book printed in the Philippines written by Fr. Blancas de San Jose in 1602. It contains the biographies of saints, novenas, and
questions and answers on religion.

Answer 16

Nuestra Senora del Rosario

Question 17

This is the first book printed in typography.

Answer 17

Libro de los Cuatro Post Primeras de Hombre

Question 18

This is the first Biblical story printed in the Philippines and translated from Greek to Tagalog by Fr. Antonio de Borja. The printed translation has 556 pages and believed to be the first Tagalog novel published in the Philippines. Fr. Agustin Mejia
translated this novel in Ilocano.

Answer 18

Ang Barlaan at Josephat

Question 19

This book is about the life and sufferings of Jesus Christ, and it is read only during lent. There were 4
versions in Tagalog, and each version is according to the name of the writer:
1. Pilapil version by Mariano Pilapil of
Bulacan, 1814
2. The de Belen version by Gaspar Aquino de Belen of Bataan, 1704
3. The de la Merced version by Aniceto de la Merced of Norzagaray, Bulacan,1856
4. The de Guia version by Luis de Guia in 1750.

Answer 19

The Passion

Question 20

This book was written by Modesto de Castro, known to as the Father of Classic Prose in Tagalog.The book contains the letters between two sisters Urbana at Felisa and has influenced greatly the behavior of people in society because the letters dealt with good behavior.

Answer 20

Urbana at Felisa

Question 21

This is a collection of songs praising Virgin Mary. It was written in 1865 by a Filipino priest, Fr. Mariano Sevilla, which became popular especially during Maytime festival or Flores de Mayo.

Answer 21

Ang Mga Dalit Kay Maria (Psalms for Mary)

Question 22

During the Spanish period, each region had its national song from the lowlands to the mountains of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Answer 22

Folk songs

Question 23

means to excavate. This is a ritual to remind the people about the search of Saint Helena for the Holy Cross where Jesus Christ was nailed and died.

Answer 23

Tibag

Question 24

is a special occasion to get together during the month of May for the Pilarenos of Sorsogon. As early as April, ladies are chosen, or mothers volunteer their girls to fulfill a vow or panata during illness or even for a favor received. In Bicol, the people do a ritual offering of praise, respect and love to the Blessed Cross by Saint Helena on the mound she had dug in.

Answer 24

Lagaylay

Question 25

is a dramatic performance to re-enact the passion and death of Jesus Christ.
There are two kinds of cenaculo: the Cantada which is chanted like the Passion, and the
Hablada which has a more dignified theme where the lines are spoken in a more deliberate
manner showing the rhythmic measure of each verse and stanza.

Answer 25

Cenaculo

Question 26

is a reenactment of Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph in search of an inn to deliver
the baby Jesus.

Answer 26

Panunuluyan

Question 27

is an Easter play that dramatizes the meeting of the Risen Jesus Christ and His
Mother.

Answer 27

Salubong

Question 28

or shadow play is a dramatic entertainment performed on dark nights projecting
cardboard figures before a lamp against a white sheet. The figures are moved like
marionettes whose dialogues are produced by experts and are drawn from Corrido, Awit or
some religious plays accompanied with songs.

Answer 28

Carillo

Question 29

is considered the Father of Drama. It is a musical
comedy or melodrama in three acts which dealt with man’s
passions and emotions like love, hate, revenge, cruelty, avarice or
some social and political problems.

Answer 29

Zarzuela

Question 30

is a short exaggerated musical comedy performed by characters from the lower class. The themes were taken from everyday life situations.

Answer 30

Sainete

Question 31

is performed during town fiestas to entertain the people and to remind them of their Christian religion. There is usually a Christian princess or a nobleman’s daughter who is captured by the Moros. The father organizes a rescue team where fighting between the Moros and the Christians takes place. The Christians usually win the battle by divine intercession, and the Moros are converted to Christianity, or the whole kingdom is baptized and converted.

Answer 31

Moro-Moro

Question 32

is a poetic competition where a ritual is performed based on a legend about a princess who dropped her ring into the middle of the sea and who offered her hand in marriage to anyone who can find it.

Answer 32

Karagatan

Question 33

is a poetic joust or a contest of skills in debate on a topic or issue. This is held in honor of Francisco “Balagtas” Baltazar.

Answer 33

Balagtasan

Question 34

is a chant in free verse by a grieving person beside the corpse of the dead. Without
definite meter or rhyming, the person recites in poetic rhythm according to his feelings,
emotions, and thoughts. Since it is personalized and usually deals with the life, sufferings,
and sacrifices of the dead, it also includes apologies for his misdeeds.

Answer 34

Dung-aw