EM 15: REORIENATION AND IMITATION
THE PERIOD OF REORIENTATION (1898- 1910)
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
1. Period of Re-orientation (1898-1910)
• English as a literary vehicle came with the American occupation in August 13, 1898
• In 1900, English came to be used as a medium of instruction in the public schools
• By 1908, the primary and intermediate grades were using English and that UP (University of the
Philippines), the forerunner in the use of English in higher education, was founded
• Writers were still adjusting to the newfound freedom after the paralyzing effect of repression of
thought and speech under the Spanish regime
• Writers had to learn direct expression as conditioned by direct thinking
• Writers had to learn that sentence constructions, sounds and speech in English were not the
same as with the vernacular
• Writers had to discard sentimentality and floridity of language for the more direct and precise
English language
• Two periodicals during this time:
1. El Renacimiento- founded in Manila by Rafael Palma in 1901
§ Sursum Corda- written by Justo Juliano in 1907 and was the first work to be
published in English
§ My Mother and Air Castles- written by Jan F. Salazar in 1909
§ To My Lady in Laoag- written by Proceso Sebastian in 1909
2. Philippines Free Press
§ Oldest news weekly in the Philippines established in Manila by R. McCullough Dick
and D. Theo Rogers n 1905
§ Also has magazine in its line- up
§ Despite repeated attempts to curtail its publication, the magazine had not
wavered in its determination to give to the people of the Philippines a truly free press
PERIOD OF IMITATION (1910-1924)
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
2. Period of Imitation (1910- 1924)
• By 1919, the UP College Folio published the literary compositions of the first Filipino writers in
English and become the pioneers in short story writing
• -Writers were groping their way of imitating America and British models which resulted in a
stilted, artificial and unnatural style, lacking vitality and spontaneity
THE PERIOD OF REORIENTATION (1898- 1910)
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
1. Period of Re-orientation (1898-1910)
• English as a literary vehicle came with the American occupation in August 13, 1898
• In 1900, English came to be used as a medium of instruction in the public schools
• By 1908, the primary and intermediate grades were using English and that UP (University of the
Philippines), the forerunner in the use of English in higher education, was founded
• Writers were still adjusting to the newfound freedom after the paralyzing effect of repression of
thought and speech under the Spanish regime
• Writers had to learn direct expression as conditioned by direct thinking
• Writers had to learn that sentence constructions, sounds and speech in English were not the
same as with the vernacular
• Writers had to discard sentimentality and floridity of language for the more direct and precise
English language
• Two periodicals during this time:
1. El Renacimiento- founded in Manila by Rafael Palma in 1901
§ Sursum Corda- written by Justo Juliano in 1907 and was the first work to be
published in English
§ My Mother and Air Castles- written by Jan F. Salazar in 1909
§ To My Lady in Laoag- written by Proceso Sebastian in 1909
2. Philippines Free Press
§ Oldest news weekly in the Philippines established in Manila by R. McCullough Dick
and D. Theo Rogers n 1905
§ Also has magazine in its line- up
§ Despite repeated attempts to curtail its publication, the magazine had not
wavered in its determination to give to the people of the Philippines a truly free press
PERIOD OF IMITATION (1910-1924)
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
2. Period of Imitation (1910- 1924)
• By 1919, the UP College Folio published the literary compositions of the first Filipino writers in
English and become the pioneers in short story writing
• -Writers were groping their way of imitating America and British models which resulted in a
stilted, artificial and unnatural style, lacking vitality and spontaneity
