Historical Background
Between 1941-1945. Filipino Literature was interrupted in its development when the Philippines was once more conquered by another foreign state. Japan. Filipino literature in English came to a arrest. Except for the TRIBUNE and the PHILIPPINE REVIEW. about all newspapers in English were stopped by the Japanese. This had an advantageous consequence on Filipino Literature. which experienced renewed attending because authors in English turned to composing in Filipino. Juan Laya. who uses to compose in English. turned to Filipino because of the rigorous prohibitions of the Nipponese sing any authorship in English. The hebdomadal LIWAYWAY was placed under rigorous surveillance until it was managed by Japanese named Ishiwara. In other words. Filipino literature was given a interruption during this period. Many wrote dramas. verse forms. short narratives. etc. Subjects and subjects were frequently about life in the states.
A. FILIPINO POETRY DURING THIS PERIOD
The common subject of most verse forms during the Nipponese business was patriotism. state. love. and life in the barrios. religion. faith and the humanistic disciplines. Three types of verse forms emerged during this period. They were: 1. Haiku – a verse form of free poetry that the Nipponese like. It was made up of 17 syllables divided into three lines. The first line had 5 syllables. the 2nd. 7 syllables. and the 3rd. five. The Haiku is allegorical in significance. is short and covers a broad range in significance. 2. Tanaga – like the Haiku. is short but it had step and rime. Each line had 17 syllables and it’s besides allegorical in intending. 3. Karaniwang Anyo ( Usual Form ) – like those mentioned earlier in the beginning chapters of this book.
B. FILIPINO DRAMA DURING THE JAPANESE PERIOD
The play experienced a letup during the Nipponese period because film houses demoing American movies were closed. The large film houses were merely made to demo phase shows. Many of the dramas were reproductions of English dramas to Tagalog. The transcribers were Francisco Soc Rodrigo. Alberto Concio. and Narciso Pimentel. They besides founded the organisation of Filipino participants named Dramatic Philippines. A few of playwriters were: 1. Jose Ma. Hernandez – wrote PANDAY PIRA
2. Francisco Soc Rodrigo – wrote sa PULA. SA PUTI
3. Clodualdo Del Mundo – wrote BULAGA ( an look in the game Hide and Seek ) . 4. Julian Cruz Balmaceda – wrote SINO BA KAYO? . DAHIL SA ANAK. and HIGANTE NG PATAY.
C. THE FILIPINO SHORT STORY DURING THE JAPANESE PERIOD
The field of the short narrative widened during the Nipponese Occupation. Many wrote short narratives. Among them were: BrigidoBatungbakal. Macario Pineda. Serafin Guinigindo. Liwayway Arceo. Narciso Ramos. NVM Gonzales. Alicia Lopez Lim. Ligaya Perez. and Gloria Guzman. The best Hagiographas in 1945 were selected by a group of Judgess composed of Francisco Icasiano. Jose Esperanza Cruz. Antonio Rosales. Clodualdo del Mundo and Teodoro Santos. As a consequence of this choice. the undermentioned got the first three awards: First Prize: Narciso Reyes with his LUPANG TINUBUAN
Second Prize: Liwayway Arceo’s UHAW ANG TIGANG NA LUPA
Third Prize: NVM Gonzales’ LUNSOD NAYON AT DAGAT-DAGATAN
D. PHILIPPINE LITERATURE IN ENGLISH ( 1941-1945 )
Because of the rigorous prohibitions imposed b the Japanese in the authorship and publication of plants in English. Filipino literature in English experienced a dark period. The few who dared to compose did so for their staff of life and butter or for propaganda. Hagiographas that came out during this period were journalistic in nature. Writers felt suppressed but easy. the spirit of patriotism started to ooze into their consciousness. While some continued to compose. the bulk waited for a better clime to print their plants. Note worthy author of the period was Carlos P. Romulo who won the Pulitzer Prize for his best sellers I SAW THE FALL OF THE PHILIPPINES. I SEE THE PHILIPPINES RISE and his MOTHER AMERICA AND MY BROTHER AMERICANS. Journalists include Salvador P. Lopez. Leon Ma. Geurrero. Raul Manglapuz and Carlos Bulosan. Nick Joaquin produced THE WOMAN WHO LOOKED LIKE LAZARUS. Fred Ruiz Castro wrote a few verse forms.
F. B. Icasino wrote essays in The Philippine Review. Carlos Bulosan’s works included THE LAUGHTER OF MY FATHER ( 1944 ) . THE VOICE OF BATAAN. 1943. SIX FILIPINO POETS. 1942. among others. Alfredo Litiatco published With Harp and Sling and in 1943. Jose P. Laurel published Forces that Make a Nation Great. The Commonwealth Literary Awards gave awards to meritable authors. Those who won were: 1. LIKE THE MOLAVE – by Rafael Zulueta district attorney Costa ( Poetry ) 2. HOW MY BROTHER LEON BROUGTH HOME A WIFE – by Manuel E. Arguilla ( Short Story ) 3. LITERATURE AND SOCIETY – by Salvador P. Lopez ( Essay )
4. HIS NATIVE SOIL – by Juan Laya ( Novel ) President Manuel L. Quezon’s autobiography THE GOOD FIGHT was published posthumously. Radio broadcasts echoed the mingled fright and uncertainties in the Black Marias of the people. Other authors of this period were Juan Collas ( 19440. Tomas Confesor ( 1945 ) . Roman A. de la Cruz and Elisa Tabunar.
