The Philippine Literature

This is a legend of Dumaguete, the capital of the province of Negros Occidental. From this town can be seen five islands, viz., Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Mindanao, and Siquijor.

There is no one on the great island of Negros who does not love the name of Catalina. Even the wild mountain men speak it with respect, and down in the coast towns at night, when the typhoon is lashing the waters of Tanon Strait, and the rain and wind make the nipa leaves on the roofs dance and rattle, the older people gather their little black-eyed grandchildren around the shell of burning cocoanut oil and tell them her story.
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The Sigbin is a mythological creature believed by the people on the Philippines. It is a monstrous animal-like creature. It looks like a goat with very large ears and a long tail used as a whip. Its legs and arms are long are long and its stands with a curved back and its head hanging low. It is believed that it walks backwards and smells really bad. The smell of it can cause a person to vomit. It is also believed to have abilities to travel really fast in different places. Read the rest of this entry »

1. Ania iti pinarsua iti Dios a balin suec a maturog?
(Iloc.)

Panniqui

What thing that God made sleeps with its head down?

Bat

2. Pantas ca man, at marunong bumasa at sumulat, aling ibon dito sa mundo ang lumilipad ay sumususo ang anak?

(Tag.) Kabag Read the rest of this entry »

Narrated by Francisco M. Africa.

There was once a poor farmer who possessed a cow and a carabao. These two animals were his only wealth. Every day he led them to the field to plough. He worked his animals so hard, that they often complained to him; but the cruel master would not even listen to their words. One day the cow, who had grown tired of this kind of life, said to the carabao, “Let us run away from this evil man! Though we are very dirty, he is not willing for us even to take a bath. If we remain here with him, we shall be as ugly and as filthy as pigs. If we run away from him, however, he will have to do his own work, and then we shall be revenged. Hurry up! Let us go!”

The spirit of the carabao was aroused: he jumped with a loud roar, and said, “I too have long been meditating escape, but I hesitated because I was afraid you might not be willing to join me in flight. We are so ill-treated by our cruel master, that God will have pity on us. Come on! Let us go!” Read the rest of this entry »

ni Benigno R. Ramos
1930

Kung ikaw, Panulat, ay di magagamit
kundi sa paghamak sa Bayang may hapis,
manong mabakli ka’t ang taglay mong tulis
ay bulagin ako’t sugatan ang dibdib.

Kung dahil sa iyo’y aking tutulungan
ang nagsisilait sa dangal ng Bayan,
manong mawala ka sa kinalalagyan,
at nang di na kita magawang pumaslang!…
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ni Jose Corazon de Jesus
1928

Bigyan mo ng pakpak itong aking diwa
at ako’y lilipad hanggang kay Bathala…
Maiisipan ko’y mga malikmatang
sukat ikalugod ng tao sa lupa;
malikikha ko rin ang mga hiwaga,
sa buhay ng tao’y magiging biyaya.

Ano ba ang sagwang sabay sa pagtahak
kundi siyang pakpak ng bangka sa dagat?
Ano ba ang kamay ng taong namulat
kundi siyang pakpak ng kanyang panghawak?
Ano ba ang dahon ng mga bulaklak
kung hindi pakpak din panakip ng dilag? Read the rest of this entry »

ni Jose Corazon de Jesus
1926

Isang aklat na maputi, ang isinulat: Luha!
Kaya wala kang mabasa kahit isa mang talata;
Kinabisa at inisip mulang ating pagkabata;
Tumanda ka’t nagkauban, hindi mo pa maunawa.

Ang Pag-ibig, isipin mo, pag inisip, nasa-puso!
Pag pinuso, nasa-isip, kaya’t hindi mo makuro.
Lapitan mo nang matagal ang pagsuyo’y naglalaho;
Layuan mo at kay-lungkot, nananaghoy ang pagsuyo! Read the rest of this entry »

Ang bayan kong Pilipinas
Lupain ng ginto’t bulaklak
Pag-ibig na sa kanyang palad
Nag-alay ng ganda’t dilag.
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Penpen De Serapen

Pen pen de sarapen,
de kutsilyo de almasen
Haw, haw de carabao batutin

Sipit namimilipit ginto’t pilak
Namumulaklak sa tabi ng dagat.
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Translated in tagalog by Andres Bonifacio of the poem Mi Último Adios (My Last Farewell) originally written in Spanish by Jose Rizal.

HULING PAALAM

Pinipintuho kong Bayan ay paalam,
Lupang iniirog ng sikat ng araw,
mutyang mahalaga sa dagat Silangan,
kaluwalhatiang sa ami’y pumanaw.

Masayang sa iyo’y aking idudulot
ang lanta kong buhay na lubhang malungkot;
maging maringal man at labis ang alindog
sa kagalingan mo ay akin ding handog.

Sa pakikidigma at pamimiyapis
ang alay ng iba’y ang buhay na kipkip,
walang agam-agam, maluwag sa dibdib,
matamis sa puso at di ikahahapis.

Saan man mautas ay di kailangan,
cipres o laurel, lirio ma’y patungan
pakikipaghamok, at ang bibitayan,
yaon ay gayon din kung hiling ng Bayan.

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