The Philippines has a rich literary tradition that dates back from pre-colonial times. Its roots can be traced from ancient cultures of Asia, Southeast Asia and Polynesia. This is further enriched by Chinese, Spanish, and American influences that later affected the language, subject and style of contemporary writing. However, this course will focus on the Philippines’ pre-colonial literary traditions. This course introduces students to the traditional poetry, epics, myths, folktales and indigenous beliefs of various ethnic groups in the Philippines. It will also focus on the significance of these cultural forms and their relationship to a people’s worldview. Through the study of folklore as a key to understanding cultures, the course emphasizes the value of cultural traditions and preservation.
Objectives:
The course aims to improve students’ ability to read and comprehend selections of Philippine folklore from different regions and ethnic groups. By the end of the course, students should have been able to improve their ability to explain the significance of traditional cultural forms and relate these to a people’s customs and beliefs. This course has WI and O foci, and the students are therefore expected to write four short papers (4 pages each) on specific topics using various analytical and critical approaches. Finally, the students are expected to participate actively in analytical oral classroom discussions and work creatively on group activities (panel discussion, group presentation, and individual projects.