Modernismo

Modernismo was a prominent literary style in the Philippines between 1898 and the 1930's. This age is referred to as "Edad de Oro del Castellanos en Filipinas", which translates to "Golden Age of the Spanish in the Philippines", because a majority of Filipino literature was Spanish-influenced. Although the U.S. had replaced Spain as the colonizing power in the Philippines during this time, it is referred to as the golden age of the Spanish because of the great amount of pro-Spanish literature that was written by the Filipino elite. Since this intellectual upper class of Filipinos had been educated by the Spaniards, their principles conflicted American cultural inclinations. In addition, Filipino writers' style mimicked that of Spaniards scholars, poets, and authors. Modernismo was characterized by inner passions and visions, representing a combination of three prominent European currents: Romanticism, Symbolism, and Parnassianism. Thus, this style of writing blends these three contrasting trends through structured prose and poetry that was still able to emanate the writers emotions and innermost thoughts. Some prominent writers of this movement include Claro Mayo Recto(pictured below) and Fernando Maria Guerrero, both politicians and part of that elite group. Typical themes or subjects that Filipino modernist writers implemented were political satire, colonization and love and allegiance to Spain.

This movement was critical to Filipino literature because it allowed for Filipinos - despite exclusivity to the educated elite - to become more politically involved. Writing was a means for them to express their thoughts about American occupation in their state. Modernismo was not only a literary style but an artistic movement that originated in Europe ("modernismo" is Spanish for "modernism"). It was meant to express moral progress and change, dismissing old tradition and structure. Hence, modernismo complemented Filipino literature in the late 19th and early 20th centuries because writers could express their sentiments of distaste from being designated as the inferior race compared to the Americas; they were able to convey the injustices they experienced from American reign in the Philippines, displaying moral progress. Also, these modernist writings exhibit a yearning for change and overthrowing of the old structure where the colonists are seen as suboordiate to their colonizer. Very expressive books, short stories, and poems reiterated their message that Filipinos were actually mindful of the social and racial impositions cast upon them, as well as another message that they were not inferior to Americans as human beings because they felt the same emotions as their colonizers. Modernismo was not the first literary movement in the Philippines to promote nationalism and independence. However, its encouragement of passionate expression in literature gave Filipino writers the opportunity to connect more emotionally with their readers, whether they be other Filipinos or Americas, to strengthen their morale in finally gaining their independence.