National Artists for Literature

1. THE NATIONAL
ARTISTS FOR
LITERATURE
Ms. Jahwella Q. Ocay, LPT

2. WHAT IS THIS WORD?
AU T HOR S
AUTHORS

3. WHAT IS THIS WORD?
AC N ON
CANON

4. WHAT IS THIS WORD?
TC RO N
CONTRIBUTION
B N U TIIO

5. Contribution of
Canonical Authors

6. CANON – in literature, this is the collection
of works considered representative of a
certain genre and period.
CANONICAL AUTHORS – writers whose
works have been well appreciated and
considered representatives of certain
genres of literature.
Take note: When we study canonical
authors and their works, we can glean new
appreciation for them in modern
perspective.
THINGS TO REMEMBER:

7. NATIONAL ARTISTS
FOR LITERATURE
– is the highest national
recognition given to Filipino
writers who made significant
contributions to the
development of Philippine
Literature.
What else should you know?

8. AMADO V. HERNANDEZ
Hagonoy, Bulacan (1903-1970)
 Poet, playwright, novelist
 He practiced “committed art” and
he was known as the “Manunulat
ng Manggagawa.”
 In his view, the function of a writer
is to act as the conscience of the
human spirit in the face of
inequity and oppression.
 His works talked about the
struggles of Filipino laborers
Works: Isang Dipang Langit, Luha
ng Buwaya, Mga Ibong Mandaragit
(first Filipino Socio-Political Novel
that exposed the ills of the society.)
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE - 1973

9. AMADO V. HERNANDEZ
Hagonoy, Bulacan (1903-1970)
“At ito ang tanging daigdig ko ngayon –
Bilangguang mandi’y libingan ng
buhay;
Sampu, dalawampu, at lahat ng taon,
Ng buong buhay ko’y dito mapipigtal.
Ngunit yaring diwa’y walang takot-hirap
At batis pa rin itong puso
Piita’y bahagi ng pakikilamas,
mapiit ay tanda ng di pagsuko.
(Excerpt from Isang Dipang Langit,
1952)
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE - 1973

10. JOSE GARCIA - VILLA
Singalong, Manila (1908-1997)
Known as DOVEGLION
Known as the COMMA Poet
He was the finest contemporary
poet regardless of race and
language
He introduced the reversal
consonance and comma poems
“First, a poem must be magical,
then musical as a sea gull, and it
must hold as fire as well.”
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE - 1973
Works: Footnote to Youth, Many
Voices, Have Come, Am Here,
The Anchored Angel

11. NICK JOAQUIN
Paco, Manila (1917-2004)
 The most distinguished Filipino writer
in English Writing; known as Quijano
de Manila
 His contribution: exploration of the
Philippine colonial past under Spain
and his probing into the psychology
of social danger as seen by the
young.
 He has written plays, novels, poems,
short stories, essays, reportage and
journalism
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE - 1976
Works: The Woman Who Had Two
Navels, Ballad of the Five Battles, Rizal
in Saga, Almanac for Manilenos, Cave
and Shadows (about Martial Law time)
Summer Solstice

12. NICK JOAQUIN
Paco, Manila (1917-2004)
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE - 1976

13. CARLOS P. ROMULO
Intramuros, Manila (1899-1985)
 His career spanned 50 years of public
service as educator, soldier, university
president, journalist and diplomat. He
was the 1st Asian President of UN
General Assembly and the Philippine
Ambassador to US
 He was a reporter at 16, newspaper
editor at 20, publisher at 32.
 His broadcasts during the Japanese
colonization was known as the VOICE
OF FREEDOM
 The only Asian to win Pulitzer Prize for
Journalism for a series of articles
predicting the outbreak of WWII.
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE - 1982

14. CARLOS P. ROMULO
Intramuros, Manila (1899-1985)
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE - 1982

15. FRANCISCO ARCELLANA
Sta. Cruz, Manila (1916-2002)
 Writer, poet, essayist, critic, journalist,
teacher
 One of the most important progenitors
of the modern Filipino short story in
English
 He pioneered the development of
short story as a lyrical prose-poetic
form
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE - 1990
Works: Poetry and Politics, The State of
Original Writing in English and
Philippines Today, The Other Woman, To
Touch You and I touched Her, Frankie,
The Man Who Would be Poem, Death in a
Factory, Lina, A Clown Remembers

16. FRANCISCO ARCELLANA
Sta. Cruz, Manila (1916-2002)
To Touch You
To touch you
to kiss you
to press against you
anywhere.
To break open your lips
to drink deep from your mouth
to feed long on your tongue
To root between your breasts
to brace against your body.
to thrust between your thighs
powerfully.
Long
to die deep
and then to sleep
My right hand resting lightly on your left hip.
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE - 1990
“Write the story that only you
can write.”

17. N.V.M. GONZALES
Romblon, Romblon (1915-1999)
 Filipino novelist, short story writer,
essayist and poet
 Distinctively wrote of the Filipino life
and of the Filipino in the world
 He said: “There is no such thing as
children’s literature.”
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE - 1997

18. LEVI CELERIO
Tondo, Manila (1910-2002)
A prolific lyricist and composer for
decades
He effortlessly translated/rewrote
anew the lyrics to traditional
melodies: O Maliwanag na
Buwan (Iloko) Ako ay may
Singsing (Pampango)
Alibangbang (Visaya)
He made it to Guinness Book of
World Records as the only person
to make music using leaf.
He wrote 4000 songs and he
contributed in enriching Philippine
music.
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE - 1997

19. EDITH L. TIEMPO
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya (1919-2011)
 Widely acknowledged as the Mother
of Philippine Literature
 Poet, fictionist, teacher and literary
critic
 Her works are characterized by
remarkable fusion of style and
substance, of craftsmanship and
insight
 Her poems The Little Marmoset and
Bonsai are intricate verbal
transfigurations of significant
experiences.
 Founded and directed Siliman
National Writers Workshop in
Dumaguete City which produced
some of the country’s best writers.
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE - 1999

20. EDITH L. TIEMPO
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya (1919-2011)
Bonsai
Edith Tiempo
• All that I love
I fold over once
And once again
And keep in a box
Or a slit in a hollow post
Or in my shoe.
• All that I love?
Why, yes, but for the moment-
And for all time, both.
Something that folds and
keeps easy,
Son’s note or Dad’s one gaudy
tie,
A roto picture of a queen,
A blue Indian shawl, even
A money bill.
• It’s utter sublimation,
A feat, this heart’s control
Moment to moment
To scale all love down
To a cupped hand’s size
• Till seashells are broken
pieces
From God’s own bright teeth,
And life and love are real
Things you can run and
Breathless hand over
To the merest child.
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE - 1999

21. F. SIONIL JOSE
Rosales, Pangasinan (1924-present)
 His writings since the late 60s when
taken collectively can be described as
epic. His works reflect the consistent
espousal of the aspirations of Filipinos:
NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY and
SOCIAL JUSTICE
 His works were translated intro various
languages
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE -2001
Works: Rosales Saga (The Pretenders,
Tree: My Brother, My Executioner, Mass,
Poon) captures Philippine History while
simultaneously narrating the lives of
generations of Samsons whose personal
lives intertwine with the social struggles of
the nation.

22. F. SIONIL JOSE
Rosales, Pangasinan (1924-present)
 He is the founder of the Philippine Chapter of the International
Organization PEN. (Poets, Playwrights, Essayists, Novelists)
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE - 2001
Photos grabbed from Santiago Villafania (FB Post)

23. VIRGILIO ALMARIO
San Miguel, Bulacan (1944-present)
 Also known as Rio Alma
 A poet, literary historian, critic who has
revived and reinvented traditional
poetic forms
 In 34 years, he published 12 books of
poetry
 His works reflected his often severe
examination of the self and the society
 He founded LIRA (Linangan sa Imahen,
Retorika at Anyo) and GAT (Galian sa
Arte at Tula).
 He put a face to the Filipino writer in the
country, one strong face determinedly
wielding a pen into untruths, hypocrisy,
injustice
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE -2003

24. VIRGILIO ALMARIO
San Miguel, Bulacan (1944-present)
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE -2003

25. ALEJANDRO R. ROCES
Manila (1924-2011)
 Short story writer and essayist
 The country’s Best Writer of Comic
Short Stories
 He wrote innumerable newspaper
columns that focused on the neglected
aspects of the Filipino cultural heritage
 His works were published in
international magazines.
 He brought to attention the aesthetics
of the country’s fiestas. He was
instrumental in popularizing several
local fiestas like Moriones and Ati-
Atihan
 He changed the Independence Day
from July 4 to June 12
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE -2003
“You cannot be a great writer,
first you have to be a great
person.”

26. DR. BIENVENIDO LUMBERA
Lipa, Batangas (1932-present)
Poet, librettist and scholar
He introduced to Tagalog
literature what is known as Bagay
Poetry, a landmark aesthetic
tendency that has helped to
change the vernacular poetic
tradition
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE -2006
His works: Likhang Dila,
Likhang Diwa; Balaybay, Mga
Tulang Lunot at Manibalang,
Sa Sariling Bayan, Apat na
Dulang May Musika, Agunyas
sa Hacienda Luisita, Tales of
the Manuvu and Rama Hari

27. DR. BIENVENIDO LUMBERA
Lipa, Batangas (1932-present)
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE -2006

28. LAZARO FRANCISCO
Orani, Bataan(1898-1980)
 Developed a social realist tradition in
Philippine Fiction
 His novels embodied the author’s
commitment to nationalism
 His novels exposed the evils of the
tenancy system, exploitation of farmers
by unscrupulous landlords and foreign
domination
 His pen dignifies the Filipino and
accents all the positives about the
Filipino way of life.
 He’s known as the MASTER OF
TAGALOG NOVEL
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE -2009

29. LAZARO FRANCISCO
Orani, Bataan(1898-1980)
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE -2009

30. CIRILO F. BAUTISTA
Sampaloc, Manila (1941-2018)
 Poet, fictionist and essayist with
exceptional achievements and
significant contributions to the
development of the country’s literary
arts
 He held regular funded and unfunded
workshops throughout the country to
bring poetry and fiction closer to
people who otherwise would not have
the opportunity to develop their
creative talent
 He’s a teacher of literature and
realized that classroom is an important
training ground for Filipino writers
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE -2014

31. CIRILO F. BAUTISTA
Sampaloc, Manila (1941-2018)
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE -2014

32. CIRILO F. BAUTISTA
Sampaloc, Manila (1941-2018)
His poem about teaching and teachers…
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE -2014

33. Of all the canonical
authors we talked
about, whom
would you like to
meet and talk to in
person? What
would you like to
learn from
him/her?