Jurilla’s History of the Book in the Philippines

Libro.ph posted Patricia May Jurilla’s outline for a history of the book in the Philippines. Jurilla is said to publish a book on the subject soon. The following are some of the significant portions of the timeline that relate directly to the development of the Filipino novel:

1712. Aral na tunay na totoong pag aacay sa tauo nang manga cabanalang gaua nang manga maloualhating santos na sina Barlaan at Josaphat, Tagalog translation by Antonio de Borja, published by the Jesuit press.

1887. Noli Me Tangere published in Berlin.

1891. El Filibusterismo published in Ghent.

1899 12 Aug-8 Sep. Publication of first Tagalog novel Cababalaghan ni P. Bravo by Gabriel Beato Francisco, serialised in Ang Kapatid ng Bayan.

1905. First Tagalog novel in book form published: Ang Kasaysayan ng Magkaibigang Nena at Neneng by Valeriano Hernandez y Peña.

1921. A Child of Sorrow, novel by Zoilo M. Galang. [Umm, I could understand this entry, it being the first published Filipino novel in English---but not the other entries on Galang. Why does Jurilla have a special interest on him? The other entries of the 1920's also do not seem to have the historical weight of the other data.]

1922. Liwayway begins publication.

1960s. Literary publishing ventures undertaken by writers: Andres Cristobal Cruz (the literary journal Signatures and the Filipino Signatures book series), Alberto S. Florentino (Peso Books, Makata, Storymasters series and other various titles), F. Sionil Jose (the magazine Solidarity and his own novels), Rolando A. Carbonell (his own writings and other titles under the Horizons Book House).

1986. Books for Pleasure established, publisher of Tagalog romance novels.

1986. Panitikang Pilipino project launched collaboratively by presses of the Ateneo, DLSU, and UP. [I just found out that the DLSU Press---according to friends from De La Salle---is now sadly not in operation. I hope that this is not just a bias for being an Atenean, but how could a university claim to be a major university if it does not have a platform/arm for publications---which is a very critical aspect of the academic/scholarly life? I really really hope that they get to revive their press soon.]

~ by ecsamar on March 11, 2008.