The Middle Period— 1930 to 1960

Filipino writers in English began by mastering vocabulary, learning the mechanics of grammar, and imitating established Western writers. Indeed, the early period of Philippine Literature in English was a time of learning by trial and error. But by 1925 the extent and quality of writing had greatly improved. Perhaps it is wrong to say that the early period ended in 1930. For it really faded out around the mid 20s and the middle period of Philippine Literature began somewhere in the early 30s. The transition was gradual and it overlapped.

Leopoldo Yabes has called the years 1930 to 1944 “. . . the most productive of distinctive work in the half century of Filipino writing in English.” There were several factors which encouraged writers at this time. Led by Francisco Arcellana and inspired by Jose Garcia Villa, a group formed “The Veronicans.” The writers chose this name because they wanted their work to bear the imprint of Christ’s face. Around the same time, some women writers formed “The Bachelorettes.” Among their number were Teresa Arzaga, Luisa Barrera, Sally Barrera, Nelly X. Burgos, Olivia Galumpang, Corazon Juliano, Carmen Perez, and Trinidad L. Tarrosa. Both groups explored new dimensions in literary forms. Some of their works appeared in the quarterly Expression and in The Leader, which was edited by Federico Mangahas.

Another important outlet for writers in the 39s was the Graphic Weekly. With Alfredo EIfren Litiatico as literary editor, new writers such as Estrella Alfon, Nick Joaquin, and Ligaya Victorio Reyes were discovered and encouraged.

The Philippine Commonwealth Government was established on July 4, 1935. This event encouraged writers to freely search for a national identity. On October 28, 1936, the Philippine Book Guild was organized. Its early leaders included Manuel E. Arguilla, Carlos Quirino, and Arturo B. Rotor. Their purpose was to create a wider reading public for Filipino writers by printing low-cost books. Among other projects they published Rotor’s The Wound and the Scar.

In 1937 a Brief history of the Philippine Literature was published by Teofilo del Castillo. This book was of special importance since it was one of the first authoritative and objective studies of Philippine Literature.

A few years later, on February 26, 1939, the Philippine Writers League was formed. This was a highly influential organization during its brief existance. Its aims were to provide a center for the cultural activities of Filipino writers, to uplift cultural standards, to stimulate the social consciousness of the writer, to arrange for lectures and conferences, to establish friendly relations with writers for other countries, and to defend freedom of thought and expression. Its first president was Federico Mangahas, while Salvador P. Lopez, Jose A. Lansang, and I. P. Caballero served as Vice-Presidents.

At this time one of the outstanding spokesman for more social consciousness in literature was Salvador P. Lopez. He defined proletarian literature as “The interpretation of the experience of the working class in a world that has been rendered doubly dynamic by its struggles.” He stressed that the writer must champion the cause of the proletariat and interpret the experience of the working class in the world. Lopez directed the writer’s attention to the real Philippines so that he saw and described things which had never been notice or portrayed before.

In 1940 the first Commonwealth Literary Awards were granted by President Quezon. In the English division the winners were: essay—Salvador P. Lopez for Literature and Society; short story—Manuel E. Arguilla for How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife and Other Stories; poetry—R. Zulueta da Costa for Like the Molave; and novel—Juan C. Laya for His Native Soil.

The recognition that these awards provided was an excellent stimulus for all writers. Hopes were high for further developments in Philippine literature. But these hopes were shattered on December 7, 1941, when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor and war began in the Pacific. A period of uncertainty and fear began as the Japanese entered Manila on January 3, 1942. Martial law was immediately proclaimed. Most writers left the city and fled to the mountains. Many joined the army and fought in Bataan and Corregidor

. Some died in prison camps or were executed. Among the promising writers who died during the war years were Manuel E. Arguilla, A. G. Dayrit, A. E. Litiaco, and Francisco B. Icasiano.

Victoria Abelardo has described Filipino writing during the Japanese occupation as being pessimistic and bitter, There were sonic efforts at escapist literature, but in general the literary output was minor and insignificant. Because of strict censorship, few literary works were printed during the war years. However, some publications were allowed such as The Tribune, Philippine Review, Pillars, Free Philippines, and Filipina.

On February 28, 1945, the long-exiled Commonwealth Government was reestablished in Malacanang. As the country recovered from the war, its writers turned first to journalistic efforts and then to creative works. The Filipino writer observed a country that was devastated by war, shattered economically, and struggling politically. Many journalists freely described what they saw and commented on necessary changes. It was a time of revaluation and rebuilding. There was a sudden growth of periodicals such as The Manila Post, The Evening News, The Philippine-American, The Manila Times, and The Manila Chronicle. At the same time Philippines Free Press and the Philippines Herald resumed publication. Once again various college journals appeared such as Literary Apprentice (University of the Philippines), Varsitarian (University of Santo Thomas), National (National University), and Advocate (Far Eastern University). Among the new journals were Crossroads (Far Eastern University), Sands and Coral (Silliman University), Standard (Arellano University), and Dawn (University of the East).

With the proclamation of Philippine Independence on July 4, 1946, most writers felt a new sense of responsibility and freedom. The writers seemed more perceptive of their country and the world around them. At first, a number of guerrilla and liberation stories appeared: Stevan Javellana’s Without Seeing the Dawn was the first postwar Filipino novel published in the United States. In 1946 the Barangay Writers Project was organized to publish books by Filipino writers in English. N. V. M. Gonzalez served as first president. Within a few years, they published Heart of the Island (1947) by Manuel A. Viray, Philippine Cross Section (1950) by Maximo Ramos and Florentino B. Valeros, and Philippine Poetry Annual (1950) by Manuel A. Viray.

At this time literary awards provided further encouragement for creative writing. Delfin Fresnosa and Manuel A. Viray began in 1947 to publish annual honor roles for the best short stories and poems. The Free Press in 1949, resumed its annual short story awards with first place going to Nick Joaquin fur his “Guardia de Honor” In 1950 the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature were created. Juan T. Gatbonton’s “Clay” won first prize in the English Short Story division.

The early l950s were a time of political unrest and even warfare as the government struggled with the Hukbalahap guerrillas. The writers read each others works as well as the works of American and European models. Their study of techniques and thematic treatments resulted in a literature that was varied in form and content. N. V. M. Gonzales explored his Mindoro land, while Nick Joaquin wrote old Manila legends in modern form.

Signatures, the first Philippine poetry magazine in English, began publishing in 1955. It was founded by Clemente Cancio, poet and neurosurgeon. The first editors were A. G. Hufana and R. V. Diaz. In that same year, a new Philippine Writers Association was organized with N. V. M. Gonzalez as its first president.

edited poster

Interview with EVP

Maybe we may have encountered the name Bienvenido Santos. But we have nothing information about him except of his name and being a writer.

It is grateful to know that we have her daughter here in our university. She will be our instrument to know Bienvenido Santos better. Therefore, we conducted an interview about him from a daughter’s memory of his late father

Mr. Bienvenido “Bening” Nuqui Santos was born in Tondo, Manila on March 22, 1911. He was married to Beatriz Nidea Santos of Albay, Bicol. Ben and Beatriz were blessed with four children: 3 daughters and a son who inherited his father’s expertise in writing and currently studying at Colorado State University.

Bening was an elementary classmate of the late Philippine President Diosdado Macapagal and he also became Dean of Arts and Sciences here in our university while his wife is Dean of Graduates Studies.

Their youngest daughter, were proud that she’s our Executive Vice President, Madam Lourdes S. Anonas, gladly she accepted our invitation for an interview about his late father, famous writer, Bienvenido Santos.

Q: How can you describe Mang Bening as a father, a friend and a husband?

A: My father is a very sentimental person. He is humorous, fun loving, funny and a very generous man. He is excellent in everything and a good lecturer to all his children. He was opposite to my mother’s attitude of being very serious considering that she is 6yrs older to him. My father possesses beautiful eyes. He is fond of embracing and he is a very good friend. He was very friendly and demonstrative. He used to say that,”when I love, I love…” Perhaps, I inherited that from him.

Q: When did he start writing? Does he have any ways and “rituals” in writing his pieces?

A: It was at the age of 12 when he started his fondness in writing. His teacher used to see him reading most of the time at the public library. At the age of 16, he had started writing at the University of the Philippines- Phil. Collegians. He has a favorite typewriter but most of his writings are written in long hand such as his novel, his autobiography and memories fiction. His favorite characters in his writings were people he knew in life. Everyday, be would ask for four newspapers: The Manila Standard, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin and The Philippine Star. He would read it from cover to cover. The funny and amazing thing about him is after an hour, he had already finished reading all the four newspaper given to him. My father has an extraordinary love and talent for writing. He writes anytime and he can write poems in just one sitting.

Q: Can you give us a brief history of Mr. Bening before or during the World War II broke out and how he handles his life being away from his family?

A: He went to US for his master’s degree in English at Columbia State University. That was before the World War II broke out in 1940. At the time of Pearl Harbor in 1941, He became a Pensionado and in 1946, he came back home. All throughout the war, he used to write letter for us everyday but were never sent because of the war. Those letters were given to my mom. He didn’t fail to give birthday cards to us, his children. When he was in the country, he used to stay at La Salle since he was a member of La Salle Brothers. In 1958, he went back to us for scholarship. Most of the time he was in US but still he never failed to think about his family in the Philippines.

Q: How did those who love Bening showed how great person and writer he is while he’s living and when he passed away?

A: My mother, though she died in the year 1981, had kept everything he wrote – from his letters to cut outs or copies of his writings in publications. Our university used to keep his memorabillias but it was donated at La Salle University. Also in La Salle, they established a B.N. Creative Writing program.

Q: Can you recall any of his thoughts about writing?

A: For him. “Rewriting is writing, for as your rewrite, you improve your writing”.


Thank you Madam!!!

BUENAOBRA, ABEL V.

LOVE is eternal. there are inspired message, but they are temporarily; there are gifts of speaking in strange tongues, but they will cease; there is knowledge, but it will pass;


Hi! im Abel Buenaobra, i like the story of "DEAD STAR" by Paz Marquez Benitez because I've realized that when you fall in love with someone be sure that your fellings are real and not just mere infatuation because no matter what happen, if he/she is destined for you then he/she is your partner not a lover. not a lover because a lover can defined as a crush, puppy love, unlike partner, you can be with him/her for a lifetime and forever be in love with each other.
In the situation of Alfredo, we all known that Alfredo fall in love with Julia but he marry Esperanza, it means no matter what happen the fellings of Alfredo, if Esperanza can never be changed until the end of time.

BUENAOBRA, ABEL V.

mOviE pOsteR

Kharen Villadarez

I am able to relate with the story because there are chances in my life when I have to choose whether to do the right or to choose what I want to do(but not with the love affair of Alfredo because I am haven't been in such situation). I know how hard it is to decide whether to be righteous or to be selfish in doing what I think would really make me happy. But for me its just an ordinary story about two people who are getting married soon and there comes a time before their wedding that they would doubt what they feel. In the story, Alfredo's feelings with Julia is just an infatuation and not really love because if it is it will not fade just within 8 years. Though he chooses to marry Esperanza, we cannot tell that she is the one that he loves because, he just do it as an obligation to keep his promise and not because he really wants it.

DEAD STARS(reaction)

SHAREEN MAE BARRETA
BSA 2

"Love is patient and is kind; love doesn't envy. Love doesn't brag, is not proud, doesn't behave itself inappropriately, doesn't seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; doesn't rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

I never believed that its possible for a man who was already engaged and was inlove may still fall for another woman. Dead Stars introduces Alfredo Salazar who was 4 years engaged with Esperanza and their wedding fast approaching, fell inlove with Julia Salas, who he met just a few weeks before. He felt something new for Julia and realize later on that he was forgetting Esperanza, spending more time for Julia than her fiancee.

Then he's confused. Confuse of what he want to do and what he should do. Should he marry Esperanza considering those long years of relationship? or choose Julia who he met just a few weeks ago? I felt that Alfredo doesn't have that feeling anymore towards Esperanza and he was hurt for not choosing Julia Salas.

I think love is really unpredictable. Your inlove now and days later you would just feel that its already gone. Time passed. Eight long years. He married Esperanza. But it was not the same. He was gentle with her but he was cold.

Fated played tricks again. Alfredo had to go to Julia's town for important matters. Since he's there, he remembered the memories of Julia. He went at her house only to realize that Julia was already a dead star.

A dead star. You keep on looking at it at a distance for long hours never realizing that it already gone its sparks.

Julia Salas was already a dead star to Alfredo. He realized that he doesn't have that feeling anymore. That feeling when he was with her the last years. He may had moved on already, but he never realize it since he always think about Julia when he was married, and with Esperanza.

I think he never realized it because he never opened his heart once again for Esperanza.

Dead Star

Rene Rose P. Lagrimas(reaction)

Dead Star is a love story about a man named Alfredo Salazar,who has his fiance in the person of Esperanza and they have been engaged for quite some time. Society views them as an ideal couple. Their wedding is about to take place in the near future. Prior to the wedding however, he sees another girl, when he goes with his father to a judge's house. He tries to seek love in her, but she kinda declines. in that way, Alfredo became a little bit confused in his upcoming wedding where he is about to chose between two options; to do what he should do by marrying Esperanza as prescribed by his parents or to do what he wants to do by having Julia Salas, his dream - the dead star in his life.

This story definitely astounding. In the story, dead stars symbolize a dream for something that is nonexistent. The guy loved the girl. She was his dream, his star. He thought there was love there. But like a dead star which is so far away, and whose shine could actually be the leftover traveling light from it, he was a long way from getting the girl, and the love he thought was possible, never was.

Dead Stars (reaction)

-Jonathan E. Guadalupe-

Dead Stars is an amazing story. It revolves around the three characters named Alfredo, Esperanza and Julia that in the end formed a love triangle. Due to this circumstance, the author was able to form a very dramatic and emotionally intense plot. The story tackles about love, marriage, betrayal, agony and greed that give an exciting aura of positive and negative forces which in the end make the literary piece phenomenal. It is hard for Alfredo to choose between the one whom he is engaged for 3 years and the one whom he just met for days and capture his heart. Many people admire the story because of its unpredictable and unique ending. Each of the character soon realizes their mistakes and accepts it. All through the years of Alfredo and Esperanza’s marriage, it has been an agony for Alfredo due to all of his memory of a girl that once touches his heart, Julia. He has been thinking that he fall into the wrong girl just to fulfill traditions and avoid shame. But as destiny allows Alfredo and Julia to meet again, after so many years, He soon realize and accept that Julia is not really meant for him and he is now contented and very grateful that he did not waste the great unconditional love that Esperanza is very much willing to give. The story indeed gave us a lesson that in our life will come so many kinds of people whom we will offer our love. But we should be careful enough not to overlook the one who is really deserving and can offer her much greater love back for her love can light even dead stars and thrust it deep into our hearts.

reactions

Hi! I’m Athena Karla Mae B. Rosales. I’ve read the story about Dead Star of Paz Marquez-Benitez. It is really sad to think that your love one is in love with the other girl and the hardest part is that you’re engaged and in a month you’re getting married. It feels like your dream is near to be come true and in just a blink of an eye it will be going down. Frustrating and disappointing.
Yet, the couple still manage to maintain their relationship though in 8 years Alfredo still keep on thinking about the happy moments he and Julia had. And after those 8 years of reminiscing, Alfredo now realized that what he felt for Julia is like a dead star in the sky.

Reaction about Dead Stars

Janele P. Callada

Love is just a four letter word but it really rock our world. There are a lot of things that love did in our lives. Heartbreaks, tears, pain, extreme happiness, can't sleep at night, daydream... Sometimes love destroys friendship and there are times that the one you loved became stranger that even the name, you can not utter. It's really funny that sometimes we did silly things for the sake of love. Every person has their own meaning definition of love base on their experience, perception and insight. Love..... Love..... Love..... It's a part of every man's/woman's lives.

The story of Dead Stars by Paz Marquez Benitez tells us a realistic love story. The man is committed but he loves other woman, but the love being felt by the man is just an infatuation that fades. It's really painful in the part of the woman, but then love is a matter of sacrifice. Even it's hard and painful. You can not do anything especially the one you loved choose the other woman not you. You have nothing to do, just accept the reality and continue life. Maybe he is not the right man for you. There is always a reason why things are happened. Maybe there is a better man coming and will love you more than you love him. Be optimist! That's life. You need to fight in order to survive in this complicated world.

Vocabulary from the story Dead Stars

Contempt- disdain; disgrace
Dappled- spotted
per fervid- glowing; eager
insipid- without flavor; tasteless
tumultuous- characterize by or full of
haste- quickness of movement; speed
avidly- eager; greedy
placidity- calm; peace; state of
temperament- due mixture of opposite
relish- to like the taste of; enjoy
resonant- returning sound
repose- refresh by rest
indolence- love of ease; laziness
recalcitrant- refractory; difficult of fusion
breadth- freedom from narrowness
betokened- to indicate by signs
exuberant- abundant; diffusive
wayward- perverse; forward
fastidious- hard to please
currying- flatter
derided- to mock; laugh at
austere- sour; harsh
drawled- to utter in a slow, lazy tone
hammock- a swinging bed usually of network or canvass
imperiously- domineering; dictatorial; urgent
barren- incapable of producing its kind; empty
errant- roving; wandering
strayed- to wonder from limits or the direct path
sauntered- to wander about idly; lotter; linger
thriving- increasing in wealth; growing
perch- a pole, branch on which birds sit or roost
piquant- pungent;severe
perverseness- disposition to thwart or annoy
covert- concealed; disguised; under protection
encumbrances- to impede; load with debt
belfry- a bell tower
sinuous- bending in and out; winding; crooked
peculiar- strange
cadences- rhythmical flow
somnolent- inclined to slip
cot- a cottage; small bed
sundry- various; several
forlornly- abandoned; deserted
unvolitional- not willing
trifles- anything of little value or importance; to waste
filigrees- something delicate and ornamental but not lasting

Philippine Literary History (1900-1930)

INTRODUCTION The history of a nation can be learned in its constitution, its laws, and its political statements. But to know the history of a nation’s spirit, you must read its literature. For in literature you can discover how the people of a nation have reacted to the events around them. In the stories, essays, and poems contained in this volume, you will read the dreams, anxieties, joys, and problems of the Filipino in the past seventy-five years. By reading this development of Philippine Literature you will review what happened to the Filipino since 1990. But literature offers much more than a mere personalized history. For an important quality of art is to share with others the intense realization of a human experience. Through this sharing, you may recognize you own experiences. You may learn what you are or how you have become what you are. You may even learn what you might be in the future. Philippine literature shows you how the Filipino differs from others. Yet in a sense the Filipino writer is linked with all the other writers of the world. For in explaining of questioning human experience, writers are never alone. Philippine Literature in English is really a part of the literatures of the world. A further quality of literature is that the expressions used should memorable. The language should be clear and forceful so that the ideas strike the reader with almost the same force with which they struck the writer. The early Filipino writers had difficulty in expressing themselves since English was a language new to them. The marvel is that they learned this language so quickly and with such facility. Philippine Literature in English reveals the spirit of the Filipino. Gradually this literature has learned to express the deepest of human experiences in words that create memorable images. You may divide Philippine Literature in English into many types and numerous periods. But for our purposes, we shall consider three stages through which the literature has passed. These stages might be called: The Early Period, from 1990-1930 The Middle Period, from 1930-1960 The Modern Period, from 1960-1974 Why these titles and dates were chosen should become clearer in the following pages.

I. The Early Period – 1900 to 1930

On August 13, 1898, the American forces occupied Manila . A few years later, in April of 1900, President William McKinley directed the Philippines Commission to make English the official medium of instruction for all public schools. The first teachers of English were members of the United States Army. In August of 1901 six hundred American teachers arrived on the transport Thomas. They replaced the soldiers as teachers. In that year, 1901, the Philippines Normal School was founded. Its purpose was to train Filipino in the art of teaching so that they could eventually take charge of elementary education.
The students and the people in general learned English quickly. Even in 1899 there were English newspapers such as The Courier, Insular Press, and Manila Freedom. In 1900 the Daily Bulletin was founded, while The Cablenews started in 1902. The Philippines Free Press began in 1905, edited by F. Theadore Rogers. At first it was a bilingual weekly in English and Spanish. In 1908 it published the first Filipino short stories in English.
In that same year, 1908, the University of the Philippines was founded. This school became the forerunner in the use of English for higher education. In October of 1910 the University of the Philippines ’ College Folio was published. This magazine printed the works of the first promising writers in English. These early selections were mostly ghost stories or folk tales explaining natural phenomena. Often the authors taught a moral message which was evident even at a first reading.
Among the famous early teachers of English might be mentioned professors Dean S. Fansier and his wife Harrlott Ely Fansler, George pope Shannon, Tom Inglis Moore, Harold p. Scott, and C. V. Wicker. In literature classes they taught the works of Chaucer, Milton, Bonne, Shakespeare, Irving, Hawthorne, Emerson, Thoreau, Poe, Longfellow, Bryant, Harte, Holmes, Lowell, Shelley, Keats, Colerighe, Lamb, Joyce, Tennyson, Thackeray, Macaulay, and other famous writers.
For composition themes they encouraged the students to write about folk tales and their own experiences. In one college class of 1913 the students were asked to write speeches for these topics: The Building of a modern Sanitary Market; A Speech at the First Banquet of the Philippine normal School; An Appeal to the moral Sense – Cockfighting; Primary Education in the Philippines; A Stump Speech before the People of a Certain Barrio; and The unveiling of a Monument Dedicated to Apolinario Mabini. The student themes were required to write the corrected and when a grammatical mistake was made students were required to write the corrected form five times. At the end of each theme the student wrote a statement of originality testifying that “. . . this is my own original work.” The skill and dedication for the early teachers was to produce rich results in the years to come.
At first Filipino writing in English was quite formal and imitative. Influences from the Spanish language could be seen in the use of Spanish expressions and in an ornate style. Grammatical expression was at times awkward and there was some difficulty in the use of prepositions and pronouns. But gradually the quality of writing improved. Between 1908 and 1914 some students at the University of the Philippines collected and retold, in English, old Filipino tales. These writings were gathered by Dean S. Fansler and published in Filipino Popular Tales in 1921 the graduates of the Manila.

High School published their English writings in The Coconut. The following year 1913, the Philippine Normal School introduced its publication, The Torch.

Aside from student publication, newspaper and magazines provided an early outle for writers. In 1920 the Philippines Herald began publication. It was founded by Manuel L. Quezon and its magazine section was edited by Paz Marquez-Benitez. A distinguished writer herself, she helped to make familiar the names of Paz Latorena, Loreto Paras, Jose Garcia Villa, Casiano T. Calalang, and others. In 1924 A.V.H. Hartendorp became the editor of the Philippine Education Magazine. Some four years later, he widened its content and renamed it the Philippine Magazine. The high quality of this magazine made it so popular that it became the most influential literary magazine in the country. It published some of the best Filipino writing in English.

Filipino writers received further encouragement in 1925. In that year the Free Press began paying for original manuscripts and offered P1,000 for the best stories. The Manila Tribune was founded and, along with the Graphic, the Woman’s Outlook, the Woman’s Home Journal, and the Philippine Collegian, offered further incentives to promising writers. Also in 1925 the Philippine Writers Association was organized with Rizal G. Adorable as president. Among the early members were: Paz Latorena, Loreto Paras, Jose Garcia Villa, Jose Panganiban, Remedios Mijares, Mercedes Grau, Celemencia Joven, Casiano Calalang, Jose Dayrit, Sol H. Gwekoh, Arturo B. Rotor, D.H. Soriano and Augusto C, Catanjal.

Perhaps an even more influential group was the Writer’s Club founded in1927 at the University of the Philippines. This group published Literary Apprentice which became the leading college literary publication in the country. The Writer’s Club stimulated and encouraged an artistic consciousness among the literary circles of the Philippines.

The first thirty years of Philippine Literature in English produced little in the fields of drama and he novel. Drama was hardly written because vernacular plays and the zarzuela still dominated the stage. The first Filipino novel in English was A Child of Sorrow, written by Zoilo M. Galang in 1921. He later wrote Visions of a Sower in 1924 and Nadia in 1929. Another novelist of this period was Ernest Lopez who published His Awakening in 1929.

From 1900 to 1930 there was some significant writing of essays, short stories and poems. In the following paragraphs the development of these forms will be treated in more details.

Essays. The essays was a popular form of expression for the early writers. Some essays were light or humorous, while others dealt with more serious subjects such as education, history, politics, and social problems. As early as 1926 essayists expressed the need for a literature that was native and national. Many essays first appeared as Galang published Life and Success, the first volume of essays in English. Another collection of Filipino essays appeared 1924, entitled Thinking for Ourselves, edited by Vicente M. Hilario and Eliseo Quirino. In that year Zoilo M. Galang also published another book of essays, Master of Destiny. Among the early essay writers might be mentioned F.M. Africa, Francisco Benitez, Jorge Bocobo, Amador Daguio, Leandro Fernandez, Zoilo M. Galang, Fernando Ma. Guerrero, M.M. Kalaw, Pedro de la Llama, I.V. Mallari, Ignacio Manlapaz, Fernando Maramag, Camilo Osias, Claro M. Recto, Carlos P. Romulo, and Eulogio B. Rodriguez.

Short Stories. Virginia R. Moreno has described the literary years 1910-1924 as “…a period of novices with their experiences both in fiction-making and the use of the new language; 1925 to 1931 was the period of phenomenal growth among the practitioners in the art. It is true that the early short stories were the works of novices.The tales were often romantic and the adventures, themes, and plots were sometimes imitated. There were difficulties in grammar and times there was a tendency toward sentimentalism. But gradually, certain writers appeared who showed that the novitiate period was ending. Jorge Bocobo’s “Horrible Adventure” in the Philippine Review for May 1916, and Paz Marquez Benitez’s “The Siren of 34 Real” in the Philippine Review for July, 1917 were praised by critics for their high literary quality. On September 20, 1925 The Philippines Herald Published “Dead Stars” by Paz Marquez Benitez. This story was quickly recognized as one of the best short stories yet written by a Filipino.

In 1925 Zoilo M. Galang published the first collection of short stories in book form under the title Box of Ashes and Other Stories. Beginning with 1926, Jorge Garcia Villa encouraged writers with his yearly selection of the best Filipino short stories. In 1927 the first anthology of Filipino short stories was edited by Paz Marquez Benitez. It was entitled Filipino Love Stories. In that same year, Jose Villa Panganiban published The Stealer of Hearts and Other Stories. In 1928 the best short stories were compiled by Jose Garcia Villa in Philippine Short Stories: The Best 25 Stories of 1928.
By 1930 original and significant stories were being written. “ Zita,” written by Arturo B. Rotor around 1930, has been called “…one of the finest love stories in Filipino literature in English.” Among the early short story writers were: Paz Marquez Benitez, Jorge Bocobo, Amador T. Daguio, Pilar Hidalgo Lim, Paz Latorena, Tarcila Malabanan, Jose Villa Panganiban, Arturo B. Rotor, Loreto Paras Sulit, L.B. Uichangco, and Jose Garcia Villa.


Poems The first known Filipino poem in English is “Sursum Corda,” by Justo Juliano. It appeared in the Philippines Free Press in 1907. This poem, along with others of that period, has been criticized as being too artificial and overwritten in order to achieve intensity. The early poems of ten borrowed images and similes from English or American poets. The first collection of poems in book form was Reminiscences, by Lorenzo Paredes, in 1921. In 1922 Procopio Solidum published Never Mind, a collection of Filipino poetry in English. Rodolfo Dato edited an anthology of Filipino poems in 1924 under the title Filipino Poetry. In 1926 he published his own poems in Manila.
Most critics agree that Marcelo de Gracia Concepcion was a leading poet of the early period. His Azucena was published in New York in 1925. His poems reveal simple images with deep sensitivity and original thought. Some poets who belonged to the early period of Philippine Literature were: Aurelio S. Alvero, Marcelo de Gracia Concepcion, Rafael Zulueta da Costa, Luis Dato, Vicente L. del Fierro, Virgilio Floresca, Angela Manalang Gloria, Jose M. Hernandez, A.E.Litiatco, Fernando M. Maramag, Natividad Marquez, Conrado B. Rigor, Juan F. Salazar, Abelardo Subido, Trinidad Tarrosa Subido, Francisco G. Tonogbanua, L.B. Uichangco, and Jose Garcia Villa.

reactions

Hi!

I'm Monica S. Obar taking BSA (BS in Accountancy) 2nd year student from University of Nueva Caceres. I was happy when I read the story of Dead Stars by Paz Marquez Benitez.At first I thought love will never be fade but when I continue read the story my thought was changed that love can fade when you neglect it.Sometimes when we are lack of attention we are looking for someone who can fulfill to it and little by little we didn't expect that we are starting to get fall in love with him or her. I realized that when you are in relationship you should give your attention to it because if not it can be lost.I also learned from this story that we should make a wise decision in order to be happy.Fate is not on our hands but on god.I'm very proud of alfredo and julia because they chose to give up their own happiness and go for their respective world although it is not easy for them to do. For me,their decision was a big sacrifice. Something I really learned that it is easy to fall in love with someone but it is also hard to forget him/her.