American Colonization Era (1899 - 1945)

Approach and Style
- Americans were friendly and aimed to help Filipinos achieve independence.
Education
- Established public school system in the Philippines.
- Thomasites (American soldiers) served as teachers, teaching the English language.
Literature
- Filipinos wrote in multiple languages: Spanish, Tagalog, local dialects, and English.
Notable Writers
- Aurelio Tolentino
  - Works: Tahapun Bujas, Walang Sugat
- Manuel Orgilia
  - Work: How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife
- Jose Garcia Villa
  - Work: Footnote to Youth
- Faustino Aguilar Santos
  - Work: Panag

Japanese Colonization Era (1941 - 1945)

Overview
- Short-lived but impactful era for literature.
Literature Themes
- Filipinos sought escape through writing about romance and fantasy.
- English literature faced challenges; only limited newspapers like Tribune and Philippine Review circulated.
Poetry
- Introduction of Haiku (5-7-5 syllable structure).
  - Example:
    - Crystalline water (5 syllables)
    - Sun rays hit flowing water (7 syllables)
    - Shimmering river (5 syllables)
- Haikus often relate to nature.
Nationalism and Love for Country
- Plays and literature reflected Filipino nationalism amid hardships.
Key Figures
- Translators: Francisco Rodrigo, Alberto Concho, Narcisso Pimentel.
- Dramatic Philippines: Organization of Filipino players founded during this era.
- Notable Playwrights:
  - Jose Maria Hernandez: Pandai Pira
  - Francisco Soc Rodrigo: Sapola Sapote
  - Claudualdo del Mundo: Bulaga (Hide and Seek)
  - Julian Cruz Balmaseda: Sinu Bakayo Dahil Sa Anna
Short Story Development
- Expansion of short story writing with authors such as:
  - Prigido Batumbakal
  - NVM Gonzalez
  - Alicia Lopez Lim
  - Nigaya Perez
  - Gloria Guzman