POST-EDSA REVOLUTION: After the Newfound Freedom.
A short article about the status of the Philippine literature after the EDSA Revolution.
The post-EDSA revolution period in the Philippines brought about a cultural renaissance in literature, with writers and poets finally given the freedom to express their ideas and beliefs. This was a time of newfound democracy and freedom for the people, as the Marcos dictatorship fell in 1986, leading to a wave of creativity in writing and expression.
It was also during this time that many of the writers used other Philippine language for writing instead of Tagalog only.
One of the most notable literary works of this era was "The Woman Who Had Two Navels" by Nick Joaquin, which is all about exploring Philippine identity and the struggle to come to terms with the past. Poetry also flourished, with Jose Garcia Villa and Cirilo Bautista writing about themes of nationalism, democracy, and identity, capturing the hope and optimism of the time.
The literature of this period was more diverse and explorative. Writers have found a renewed interest in folk tales and legends, and the emergence of creative writings in different genres, such as science fiction and speculative fiction, reflected the growing sense of freedom and openness in Philippine society.
Furthermore, the Palanca Awards still continued to give recognition to the best writers in the country during this time, along with other institutions and non-governmental organizations. Examples of these NGOs are the Amado V. Hernandez Foundation, GAPAS Foundation, and KAIBIGAN.
To conclude, this era of literature serves as a testament to the power of free expression, resulting in diversity in Philippine literature. It also showed the impact of literature in capturing the spirit of the people after being under the Marcos regime for many years.