Literature Under the Commonwealth

Published on the eve of global conflict, this definitive collection captures the fierce intellectual and aesthetic debates that defined the Philippine Commonwealth era. Spawned by the creation of the historic Commonwealth Literary Awards under President Manuel L. Quezon, this volume serves as a battlefield of ideas between two conflicting literary schools of thought.  Art for Art's Sake: Led by the uncompromising aestheticism of poets like Jose Garcia Villa. Art for Society's Sake: Championed by Salvador P. Lopez, who argued that writers must engage directly with political realities, social justice, and the plight of the working class.

Edited by the foundational trio of Manuel E. Arguilla, Esteban Nedruda, and Teodoro A. Agoncillo, this rare anthology aggregates vital essays, political speeches, and literary manifestos from the era's most prominent figures—including Carlos P. Romulo and President Quezon himself. It stands as a monumental cultural blueprint documenting the precise moment Filipino writers weaponized the English language to forge a distinct national identity.

Published by the Philippine Writers League in 1940

87 pages / Paperback