poems on bicol as hispanic heritage: inputs in teaching literature as history

Fourth International Conference on Asian Studies 2016, 11-12 June 2016, Toronto, Canada (ICAS2016)

Sorsogon City, Philippines’ GPS coordinates : Latitude – 12.9771, Longtitude – 124.0106


Poems on Bicol as Hispanic

Heritage: Inputs in Teaching Literature as

History

Dr. Sherill A. GilbasSorsogon State College

Sorsogon City, [email protected]


Dr. Magdalena M. OcbianSorsogon State College

Sorsogon City, [email protected].

Background of the Study


Father Bernardino Melendreras, a Franciscan priest stayed and served in the Philippines, in Bicol region for 21 years. His book, Antologia Poetica, a collection of 54 Spanish poems serves as Hispanic heritage. Six of the poems are translated into English and regarded as forms of late 19th century Filipino literary relations.

Objectives


This paper’s objective is to identify the history behind the materials with an attempt to unravel their meaning and reference to Bicol soil. As an outcome, it hopes to provide materials using historiography in teaching Philippine literature.

Framework


• One of the varying relationships of literary theory to the literary text is the use of literature as a teaching device.

• Hornedo’s four reality frames in teaching literature are: literature as a theme, literature as aesthetics, literature as script and literature as history.

• A history is a vehicle and a tool of the author in dealing constantly with life’s struggles and society’s expectations.

Methodology


• Qualitative-descriptive type of literary criticism which analyzes the content and context of the translated Spanish poems to reveal the material and non-material culture as well as historical facts.

• Historiography–contextual analysis to reveal the sociological and historical background of the materials.

• New Historicism theory reconstructs literary texts as historical objects by considering documents and methods previously excluded from traditional literary and aesthetic study.

Discussion of Results


• The six poems under study clearly enunciate the nature which the author, Fr. Melendreras views around him.

• The poems depict the nature of people in the milieu and the poet’s both initial and final assessment of the place.

• The poem “Handiong” which is also written by Fr. Melendreras has similar ideas about mountains and animals. The said poem was first claimed as Bicol epic with the title “Ibalong” but had been renounced and proven as just another Spanish poem.

Conclusion and Recommendations


• The Spanish poems written by a Spaniard who stayed in the place for over two decades can be considered as a literary legacy to the Philippines, particularly to the Bicol Region.

• Those poems may be used as reference of the future generation in terms of historical background. They are enough sources of images of the place, both physical and cultural aspects.

• The use of local materials in teaching literature as sources of local history is strongly recommended.

References


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February 18, 2014

poems on bicol as hispanic heritage: inputs in teaching literature as history

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