Because of the West's "strong influence and forceful implication of their civilization, the locals' forms of expression on national issues and self-consciousness were replaced through political essays, novels, poems and religious prose -- a form of learning, however, that led to ultimate awakening of Filipinos regarding the unreasonable colonial rule in the country. Famous examples of these Spanish-adapted writings are the novels of Jose Rizal, El Filibusterismo and Noli Me Tangere" ("Philippine Literature," Camper's Point, 2007). Freedom, liberation, and establishing an identity apart from those who would eradicate the national heritage and faith of the nation thus became a dominant theme in Philippine literature, relatively early in its gestation. Even the ethno-epics became subject to the pressures of colonization. For example; "The Agyu or Olahing of the Manobos is a three part epic that narrate[s] the exploits of the hero as he leads his people who have been driven out of their land to Nalandangan, a land of utopia where there are no land-grabbers and oppressors" ("Philippine Literature," Camper's Point, 2007).Although this shows a profoundly creative and empowering response to colonization, in the lives and minds of people whom the Spanish attempted to subject to foreign religion and influence, it also shows how there is no pure access to the Filipino oral literature of the past. Unlike the Thai epics of verse with their Indian and Buddhist images, these tales of liberation were not written down, and people were constantly reconfiguring stories in the popular argot to respond to a crisis of colonialism.

Today, the Philippine literature tradition is multi-lingual, encompassing many dialects as well as Spanish, and English. Establishing an independent identity that embraces the many national, linguistic and cultural facets that make the nation unique has emerged as a continual struggle in its literature. Today, "present-day Filipino writers, artists and journalists are trying to correct this inequity by recognizing the country's wealth of ethnic traditions and disseminating them in schools and in the mass media.: The rousings of nationalistic pride in the 1960s and 1970s...

Today, it is mandatory for all students that they learn "the vernacular literature or literatures of the region" in their schools. This is a political act of profound moment and significance in Filipino history, and also shows how teaching and disseminating literature, since the Spanish came to the island's shores, has never been free of the anxieties of resistance, identity, and opposition.
Unlike the oppositional nature of indigenous and English Filipino literature, even in the contemporary era, Thai literature has had a tendency to 'come from above.' For example, the former Prime Minister Kukrit Pramoj was also a short story author. Thai authors have not eschewed politics, or only toed a 'party line,' however: "Angkarn Kalayanapong is a leading Thai contemporary poet whose language is most eloquent and impressive. One of his distinguished works, 'Lamnam Phu Kradung' draws great admiration as its literary work paints the beauty and vitality of nature and campaigns against environmental degradations ("Thai Arts: Literature," Thai Arts, 2007). Contemporary Thai literature has also shown a strong female influence: "Krisna Asokesin, or Sukanya Cholasuk, is another very successful and famous novelist. She has written a collection of over one hundred novels on love and complexities of family life. She has won both domestic and international awards" ("Thai Arts: Literature," Thai Arts, 2007). But these international political concerns show how the Thai national literature has not had to grapple with the colonialization of Thailand in the present day, in the same fashion as the Philippines.

Works Cited

Godinez-Ortega, Christine F. "The Literary Forms in Philippine Literature." 9 Jun 2007.

A ttp:/ / www.seasite.niu.edu/TAGALog/Literature/literary_forms_in_philippine_lit.htm

Philippine Literature." Camper's Point. 9 Jun 2007. http://www.camperspoint.com/article.php3?id_article=227

Thai Arts: Literature." Thai Arts. 9 Jun 2007. http://sunsite.au.ac.th/thailand/Thai_Arts/literature.html