Welcome to our page, where we spotlight critical works of creative non-fiction by Filipino authors. Here, you’ll find excerpts from the classic books in the Wordhouse Filipiniana library.
How about reading and exploring these landmark works for the first time? Allow us to bring these classical pieces to your attention, as we celebrate the brilliance of Filipino authors in their critical reading and appreciation of Philippine literatures.
Of course the other goal is to encourage critical appreciation of writings based on the experience of a people, told from a Philippine context perspective and post-colonial viewpoint.
The first featured Filipino classic is “Writing the Nation” by the renowned playwright and national artist Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera. Dr. Lumbera’s contributions to the cultural landscape of the Philippines have left a lasting impact on generations of writers and scholars.
Lumbera as Filipino Author of Classic Plays
Lumbera’s plays are known for their depth, political relevance, and historical value. Some of his most notable works include:
- “The Rape of Malabon”: In this historical drama, the story of a town is personified. The tragic events of the Spanish conquest of the Philippines highlights themes of oppression, resistance, and cultural loss.
- “Likhang Bayan”: This collection of one-act plays explore various aspects of Filipino identity and culture, from rural life to urban experiences.
- “The Virgin and the Executioner”: This contemporary play examines issues of morality, religion, and social justice in the Philippines.
Filipino Author as Critic of Philippine Literature
As a critic, Lumbera is celebrated for his insightful analyses of Philippine literature and its historical and cultural contexts. His works have significantly contributed to the development of literary criticism in the Philippines. Some of his most influential critical works include:
- “Writing the Nation”: This seminal work explores the role of literature in
shaping Philippine national identity, examining the works of various Filipino writers and their contributions to the nation’s cultural heritage. As a dramatist, Lumbera uses Theater as metaphor for showing the dramatic events and changes in Philippine history. History itself can be seen in phases that a theatrical performance is won’t to highlight –leaning to subversion and its tragic consequences. - Reshaping Philippine Literary History: Rewriting the nation spring from an initial critical work of the historical and cultural factors that have influenced the development of Philippine literature.
- “Philippine Literature: A History”: This is a comprehensive mapping of Philippine literature from pre-colonial times to the contemporary era.
A Filipino Author's Writing the Nation - Lumbera's Deep Dive
Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera’s Ang Pag-aakda ng Bansa [original Filipino] or Writing the Nation [translation] is a cornerstone in Filipino literary criticism. This groundbreaking book explores how Filipino literature has helped create and shape the Philippine nation’s identity.
Key Issues in Lumbera’s Critical Appreciation:
- Interplay of Literature, History, and Nationalism: Lumbera explores the complex connection between these three elements. He examines how literature has been used to record historical events, defy colonial stories, and build a feeling of national pride.
- Evolving Role of Filipino Writers: The book follows the changing roles of Filipino writers over time. It looks at early works that showed colonial influences and later ones that called for independence and a strong Filipino culture. Lumbera explores how Filipino literature has changed a lot over the years.
- Critical Examination of Literary Responses: Lumbera examines how Filipino writers have reacted to historical, social, and cultural changes. He looks at how writers have dealt with things like colonialism, revolution, and modern times. He also studies how their writing has shown and influenced these developments.
Reading a Filipino Classic as a Writer
- We can read Writing the Nation to establish a rigorous and critical approach to the study of Philippine literature. No writing is innocent, and Philippine literature is filled with significant meanings from its past.
- We can read Writing the Nation to know how our Philippine literature has played a role in shaping the national identity, even if what ‘national’ means remains contentious.
- We can read Writing the Nation to learn from Lumbera’s patterns and ways of studying the Filipino literature and its history and culture.
Writing the Nation offers a compelling framework for a rigorous and critical study of Philippine literature.
Lumbera’s patterns and methodologies provide invaluable insights into the historical and cultural contexts that have influenced the development of Filipino literature.
By closely examining our literary heritage, we can better understand the complexities of Philippine identity. Recognizing that literature is never neutral, we can question dominant narratives and discover new viewpoints.
Writing the Nation provides insights into the motivations and societal influences behind Filipino writers’ work, both during their time and in the present
