The Philippine Literature

One day Aponibolinayen and her sister-in-law went out to gather greens. They walked to the woods to the place where the siksiklat grew, for the tender leaves of this vine are very good to eat. Suddenly while searching about in the underbrush, Aponibolinayen cried out with joy, for she had found the vine, and she started to pick the leaves. Pull as hard as she would, however, the leaves did not come loose, and all at once the vine wound itself around her body and began carrying her upward….

Visayan One day the land crabs had a meeting and one of them said: “What shall we do with the waves? They sing so loudly all the time that we cannot possibly sleep.” “Well,” answered one of the oldest of the crabs, “I think we should make war on them.” The others agreed to this, […]

The life that is not consecrated to a lofty and reasonable purpose is a tree without a shade, if not a poisonous weed. To do good for personal gain and not for its own sake is not true virtue. It is rational to be charitable and love ones fellow creature, and to adjust ones conduct, […]

By APOLINARIO MABINI First. Thou shalt love God and thy honor above all things: God as the fountain of all truth, of all justice and of all activity; and thy honor, the only power which will oblige thee to be faithful, just and industrious. Second. Thou shalt worship God in the form which thy conscience […]

Retold by Clara Kern Bayliss. One day a Monkey met a Turtle on the road, and asked, “Where are you going?” “I am going to find something to eat, for I have had no food for three whole days,” said the Turtle. “I too am hungry,” said the Monkey; “and since we are both hungry, […]

By Jose Rizal Unfold, oh timid flower ! Lift up your radiant brow, This day, Youth of my native strand ! Your abounding talents show Resplendently and grand, Fair hope of my Motherland ! Soar high, oh genius great, And with noble thoughts fill their mind; The honor’s glorious seat, May their virgin mind fly […]

(The Adarna Bird) King Fernando of Berbania had three sons, Pedro, Diego and Juan of whom the last was the favorite. He so loved Juan that when one night he dreamed that his two children conspired against their youngest brother, the king became so frightened that he fell sick with a malady, which non of […]