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NINAY: Costumbres Filipinas

Pedro A. Paterno

Madrid

1885


Published in 1885 by Pedro Paterno, Ninay: Costumbres Filipinas is recognized as the first novel written by a Filipino and predates Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere (1887).


Unlike Rizal’s politically charged works, Paterno’s novel takes a different approach, focusing on Filipino customs, traditions, and social life during the Spanish colonial period rather than calling for reform.


The novel tells the tragic story of Ninay, a young woman from a wealthy family who dies of heartbreak. Using a frame narrative, the novel unfolds through flashbacks, exploring themes of love, fate, and Filipino traditions. What sets Ninay apart is its rich depiction of Philippine customs and folklore—from indigenous beliefs and pre-colonial rituals to religious practices and native poetry—making it an early ethnographic literary work.


While Ninay holds the distinction of being the first published Filipino novel, it differs from Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo in style and purpose. It belongs to the costumbrista tradition, which prioritizes cultural representation over political commentary. Paterno himself played a significant role in Philippine history—not just as a writer but also as a negotiator of the Pact of Biak-na-Bato (1897).


Despite its historical importance, Ninay has been criticized for being too sentimental and overly accommodating to Spanish colonial rule. Unlike Rizal’s novels, which openly challenged Spanish abuses, Ninay romanticizes Filipino identity without pushing for reform. Still, it remains a pioneering work in Philippine literature, offering one of the first literary portrayals of Filipino culture on the world stage.


Source: museumxstOries (follow at Instagram)


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