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Jose Garcia Villa is a National Artist for Literature, known internationally as a poet, fictionist, and literary critic. He was called the Doveglion (Dove, Eagle, Lion) by American poet e.e. cummings. Villa was recognized for his innovative style, especially his use of reversed consonance rhyme and comma poems. He was the first Filipino to gain international fame in English literature.

The story Footnote to Youth tells about Dodong, a young man full of dreams, who marries Teang at an early age. As years pass, Dodong realizes that marriage is not as easy as he imagined, as he struggles with poverty, responsibilities, and the weight of his choices. The story ends with Dodong’s son wanting to marry young as well, showing the cycle of youthful impulsiveness. The piece reflects on the consequences of hasty decisions and the painful lessons that come with adulthood.

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Zoilo Galang (1895–1959) was the first Filipino novelist in English. He was born in Pampanga and dedicated much of his career to producing English works, including novels, short stories, and essays. He played a major role in proving that Filipinos could master English literary forms.

“Life and Success” is an essay collection that reflects moral lessons and inspirational advice on how to live a meaningful life. It emphasizes hard work, perseverance, and gratitude to God. The work mirrors the early stage of Philippine literature in English—didactic, moralistic, and heavily influenced by American ideals of optimism and self-improvement.

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Fernando Maramag (1893–1936) was a poet, essayist, and journalist who later became famous in the Period of Imitation, but he began writing as early as this stage. He was admired for his lyrical style and his ability to combine Filipino sentiment with English expression.

“Remembrance” is a poem that expresses deep longing and melancholy for the past. Written in romantic style, it reflects the emotions of loss, memory, and nostalgia. The piece demonstrates how early Filipino poets in English were influenced by Western romanticism while still writing about personal, heartfelt emotions.

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Dead Stars (1925) by Paz Márquez Benítez

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Dead Stars (1925) by Paz Márquez Benítez

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Paz Márquez Benítez (1894–1983) was the first Filipina short story writer in English and a pioneer of modern Philippine short fiction. She was also a respected literature professor at the University of the Philippines, where she influenced many future writers.

The story "Dead Stars" tells of Alfredo Salazar, who is engaged to Esperanza but falls in love with another woman, Julia. Torn between duty and desire, Alfredo chooses Esperanza, but later realizes his passion for Julia has faded. The title symbolizes unfulfilled dreams and lost love—once bright, now lifeless like “dead stars.”

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Maximo Kalaw (1891–1955) was a political scientist, novelist, and essayist who later became the first Filipino dean of the University of the Philippines College of Liberal Arts. His works often centered on nationalism and the political awakening of Filipinos under colonial powers.

The Filipino Rebel is a novel that explores themes of nationalism, resistance, and the Filipino struggle for independence. Though written in English, the story reflects strong patriotic ideals and the spirit of revolution against oppression. It shows how literature during this period was not only adjusting to a new language but also expressing the burning issue of freedom.

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Literature and Society by Salvador P. Lopez

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Literature and Society by Salvador P. Lopez

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Salvador P. Lopez (1908–1993) was an essayist, literary critic, diplomat, and later president of the University of the Philippines. While he became more prominent in the later decades, his early writings belong to the re-orientation phase, as they laid the foundation for socially conscious literature.

In this essay, Lopez argues that literature should reflect the realities of society and not exist only for beauty or art’s sake. He emphasizes the writer’s responsibility to highlight social conditions, injustice, and truth. This essay marks the early debates in Philippine literature in English—whether it should simply imitate Western art or address Filipino social issues.

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Juan Francisco Salazar was born in 1889 in San Roque, Cavite. He was one of the early Filipino writers who used English to write poetry. He worked in newspapers and publications like El Renacimiento Filipino and La Democracia.

“My Mother” is a loving tribute to the speaker’s mother. Salazar speaks of his mother as loving, kind, and central to his life. He reflects on how she cared for him in childhood—even when he was wayward or reckless—showing forgiveness and patience. As she grows older, her hands become wrinkled, her hair fades, but his appreciation of her sacrifices increases. He praises her face, her voice, and her ministries (the things she's done for the family), seeing them as gifts “heaven sent.” Finally, he expresses gratitude: what she taught him and his siblings are noble lessons — to put others first, to be righteous, to live honorably — and he believes her reward will be in heaven.

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Marcelo de Gracia Concepcion, from Ilocos Sur, was the first Filipino poet to publish an English poetry collection in the U.S. His 1925 collection, Azucena, highlighted Filipino literary presence abroad. Influenced by Western poets like Poe and Tagore, he combined mysticism, romance, and Filipino sensibility.

The collection uses the “azucena” flower (white lily) as a central symbol of purity, passion, and longing. His poems explore themes of love, spirituality, and beauty, reflecting a romantic style that imitated Western traditions but still captured Filipino emotions.

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How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife by Manuel E. Arguilla

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How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife by Manuel E. Arguilla

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Manuel Estabilla Arguilla was a Filipino writer, teacher, and patriot, best known for his short stories that portray the beauty and struggles of rural Philippine life. He led the guerilla resistance against the Japanese during World War II and was executed in 1944, making him both a literary figure and a national hero.

The story "How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife" is narrated by Baldo, a young boy who observes how his older brother Leon brings home his city-bred wife, Maria, to meet their family in Nagrebcan, La Union. The tale captures Maria’s humility, patience, and willingness to adapt to provincial life, which earns the approval of Leon’s parents. The story highlights the contrast between rural and urban culture while emphasizing love, respect, and acceptance in family relationships.

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Nevermind and Other Poems by Procopio Solidum

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Nevermind and Other Poems by Procopio Solidum

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Procopio Solidum (from Cadiz, Negros Occidental) was the first Filipino to publish an English poetry collection in 1921. Though his style imitated American and English romantic poets, he is remembered as one of the pioneers who proved Filipinos could use English as a literary tool.

This poetry collection blends personal reflections on love, loss, and hope with national concerns under American rule. While flowery and imitative in style, the poems express the Filipino voice struggling to find identity in a colonial setting.

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Moonlight on Manila Bay by Fernando Maramag

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Moonlight on Manila Bay by Fernando Maramag

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Fernando Maramag (1893–1936) was a poet, essayist, and journalist known for his lyrical mastery of English poetry. He was one of the most talented writers of his time, contributing greatly to early Philippine literature in English.

The poem paints a vivid picture of Manila Bay at night, with the moon casting beauty over the waters. But beyond its romantic imagery, it reflects Maramag’s subtle patriotism and nostalgia for the Philippines during colonial times. It shows how beauty and sadness intertwine in the Filipino experience.

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Paz Latorena was one of the early Filipina writers in English and a member of the first generation of writers at the University of the Philippines. She was known for her keen observations on gender, relationships, and social norms, often portraying the struggles of women in a patriarchal society.

The story "The Small Key" follows Soledad, the young wife of Pedro, who discovers a small key that unlocks a chest filled with the clothes of Pedro’s late wife. Soledad becomes consumed with jealousy and insecurity, feeling as though she is competing with a dead woman for Pedro’s love. The story ends with her emotional turmoil unresolved, reflecting the complexity of love, trust, and acceptance in marriage. It captures both the tenderness and fragility of relationships.

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Revolt From Hymen by Angela Manalang-Gloria 

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Revolt From Hymen by Angela Manalang-Gloria 

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Angela Manalang-Gloria (1907–1995) was one of the earliest and most powerful female voices in Philippine poetry in English. She broke conventions by openly writing about women’s struggles, passion, and independence at a time when society expected women to remain silent.

This poem expresses a woman’s anger and resistance against a loveless, oppressive marriage forced upon her by society. It challenges patriarchal traditions and asserts a woman’s right to freedom and dignity. The work was controversial in its time but is now recognized as groundbreaking feminist literature in the Philippines.

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Nick Joaquin is one of the greatest Filipino writers in English and was declared National Artist for Literature. He is celebrated for his short stories, novels, plays, and essays that explore themes of history, identity, faith, and sexuality. His mastery of magical realism and deep exploration of the Filipino psyche made him one of the most important literary figures in Asia.

The story "May Day Eve" begins with an old tale about a magical mirror ritual performed on May Day Eve. A young woman named Agueda performs the ritual and sees Badoy, a man she detests, as her future husband. Later, they marry but grow old bitter and unhappy together. The story explores love, fate, regret, and the blurred line between passion and resentment. It shows how youthful emotions can lead to choices that shape an entire lifetime.

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Juan T. Gatbonton was a fictionist, editor, and journalist who belonged to the pre-war generation of writers in English. His works often dealt with faith, moral choices, and the resilience of Filipinos during hardship. He contributed greatly to Philippine short fiction during the 1930s.

The story revolves around a young priest who struggles with his faith and sense of mission while facing personal doubts and temptations. “Clay” symbolizes both human weakness and the potential for spiritual renewal, emphasizing that people are fragile yet moldable like clay in the hands of God. The piece reflects the inner conflicts of Filipinos during a period of cultural transition and moral questioning.