what is philippine literature

Philippine literature is a diverse and rich group of works that has evolved through generations, reflecting the countrys culture, society, and lifestyle. It encompasses various literary media, including poems, prose, proverbs, and more, written in different languages such as Tagalog, Bisaya, and other local dialects, as well as foreign ones like Spanish and English. Philippine literature has its roots in the pre-Spanish period, where literature was in oral form as printing technology was not yet available. Works such as epics, legends, folklore, salawikain, bugtong, sawikain, and songs such as the Oyayi or Hele were passed on from generations to generations and are still well-known up to this day. During the Spanish period, Philippine literature changed and was centered on Christian faith. Pre-Spanish literary types continued to develop, but there was a gradual shift of interest from nature and natural phenomena to the lives of the people. Philippine literature in English has its roots in the efforts of the United States, then engaged in a war with Filipino nationalist forces at the end of the 19th century. By 1901, public education was institutionalized in the Philippines, with English serving as the medium of instruction. According to journalist Nena Jimenez, the most common and consistent elements of Philippine literature are its short and quick, yet highly interpersonal sentences, with themes of family, dogmatic love, and more. Some of the best books in Philippine literature include Noli Me Tángere by Dr. José Rizal, which sparked the social awakening of Filipinos during the Spanish colonial era.