1.Virgillo R. Santos
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
2.Fernando M. Maramag
4.Prof. Carolina A. Arceo
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
1.Francisco B. Icasiano
3.Rony V. Dias
4.Maximo D. Ramos
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
2.Pas M. Latorena
3.Maximo K. Kalaw
4. Horacio Dela costa s.S
5.N.V.M. Gonzales
6.
7.
8.
9.
1.Luis G. Dato
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
1.Dominador I. Illio
3.Antonio S. Gabila
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
1.Edith L. Tiempo
2.Renato E. Madrid
3.Estrella D. Alfon
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
1.Edith A. Angeles
2.Carlos A. Angeles
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
1. Miguel A. Bernard S.J.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
1.Leoncio P. Deriada
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
1.Amador T. Daguio
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
1.Bienvenido N. Santos
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
GEOGRAPHICAL AREA
Tagalog literature has been born, cradled, nourished and peaked into
fruition in the provinces of Southern Luzon, Central Luzon and the
present Metropolitan Manila or the National Capital Region.
Among
the Southern Tagalog provinces are Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Quezon,
Aurora, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Palawan and
some towns of Rizal province. In Central Luzon, there are three
provinces where Tagalog is predominantly used and these are the
provinces of Nueva Ecija, Bataan and Bulacan. Metro Manila is comprised
of cities composing the national capital region namely Manila, Quezon
City, Pasay City, Caloocan City, Mandaluyong City, Pasig City, Marikina
City, Muntinlupa City and suburban towns of Malabon, Navotas,
Valenzuela, Pateros and Taguig. Some parts of the provinces that are
not originally Tagalog cannot escape the onslaught of Tagalog language
and culture, like some parts of the Bicol region and Pampanga.
THE CRADLE OF CULTURE
Tagalog region is the birthplace of a rich tradition of Philippine culture in language, politics, economy and literature.
The
oldest university in the Philippines, University of Sto. Tomas is
located in Manila. The first printing press was established in
Manila. This gave way to the publication of the first book, Doctrina
Cristiana in xylography in 1593, written in Spanish and Tagalog
versions. The bible was first translated into Tagalog in Barlaan and
Josaphat in 1708 and 1712. The life of Christ in epic tradition known
popularly today as Pasyon was written in Tagalog by various writers like Gaspar Aquino de Belen and Fr. Mariano Pilapil.
The literary tradition in the Tagalog regions specially outstanding in the field of oral literature like bugtong(riddle),
proverbs, native songs. These oral literatures are always in poetic
forms, usually seven-syllabic rhymes, so Asian in form and perspective.
Considering
this rich and envigorating cultural matrix, it is not surprising that
it is the Tagalog region that was destined to be the birthplace of
historic men in Philippine politics, culture and literature that
includes Francisco Balagtas Baltazar, Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio,
Apolinario Mabini, Emilio Jacinto, Marcelo H. del Pilar, Jose P. Laurel,
Claro M. Recto, Amado V. Hernandez, Lope K. Santos, Lazaro Francisco,
Faustino Aguilar, Jose Corazon de Jesus, Alejandro Abadilla, Modesto de
Castro.
It
is not noticeable that such men are not only man of history that played
a great role in Philippine independence movement but men of letters as
well.
THE LITERARY TRADITION
It is the pens of these men that shaped the political consciousness of the Filipinos.
Balagtas
could be said to have voiced out the first concept of nationhood in
Philippine politics and literature in his epic poem, Florante at Laura.
Says Balagtas:
Sa loob at labas ng bayan kong sawi
Kaliluha'y siyang nangyayaring hari
Kagalinga't bait ay nilulugami
Ininis sa hukay ng dusa't pighati.
In and out of my miserable country
Repression is the dominant king
Goodness and well-meant intention are suppressed
Doomed in the grave of sufferings and grief.
Although
Balagtas used Albania as an allegory, the situations clearly spoke of
the Philippines. This epic poems of Balagtas had inspired a generation
of young writers of the period, like Marcelo H. del Pilar, who
spearheaded the Propaganda Movement in Europe and Jose Rizal, whose
novels, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo set the conflagration of
revolutionary spirit and movement.
While
Rizal was living in banishment in a far-flung town of Dapitan in
Mindanao island, a man of the masses, Andres Bonifacio founded the
Katipunan, a revolutionary organization that sought total independence
from the Spanish yoke.
Even
the revolutionary struggle of the people was guided by the light of
literature. Bonifacio and Emilio Jacinto, his close associate in the
revolutionary struggle were men of letters, both writing nationalist
essays and poems.
Jacinto
in his essay, "Liwanag at Dilim" (Light and Darkness), discoursed on
the spirituality of man's natural desire for freedom. On the other
hand, Bonifacio spoke of the dimension of love of country in his poem,
"Pag-ibig sa Tinibuang Lupa" (Love for the Native Land). He says:
Aling pag-ibig pa ang hihigit kaya
Sa pagkadalisay at pagkadakila
Gaya ng pag-ibig sa tinubuang lupa
Aling pag-ibig pa, wala na nga, wala.Which love can be more powerful
More pure and noble
Than the love for one's native land
Which other love, there is no such.
This
tradition of Tagalog literature has been bequeathed upon the national
consciousness of the Filipinos all over the Philippines. Manila being
the center of the country in all aspects of national life of the
Filipinos becomes the logical conduit of national consciousness
emanating from the literary legacy of the region's gifted minds.
During
the long period of Philippine subjugations by foreign dominations --
Spanish, American and Japanese -- vigorous literary traditions have been
nurtured.
In
the contemporary Philippine society, Tagalog literature is continuing
its role bequeathed upon it by historical development.
However, Tagalog literature now, more and more is given a new name -- Filipino literature. But this is another story.
