CANONICAL PHILIPPINE NATIONAL ARTISTS IN LITERATURE

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.
NATIONAL ARTISTS FOR LITERATURE– is the highest national recognition given to Filipino writers who made
significant contributions to the development of Philippine Literature.

AMADO V. HERNANDEZ
Hagonoy, Bulacan (1903-1970)
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE - 1973
 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.)

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

JOSE GARCIA - VILLA

Singalong, Manila (1908-1997)
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE – 1973
“First, a poem must be magical, then musical as a sea gull, and it must hold as fire as well.”
 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
Works: Footnote to Youth, Many Voices, Have Come, Am Here, The Anchored Angel

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

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

FRANCISCO ARCELLANA
Sta. Cruz, Manila (1916-2002)
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE – 1990
“Write the story that only you can write.”

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 CANONICAL PHILIPPINE NATIONAL ARTISTS IN LITERATURE

 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
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

To Touch You
To root between your breasts
To touch you to brace against your body.
to kiss you to thrust between your thighs
to press against you powerfully.
anywhere.
Long
To break open your lips to die deep
to drink deep from your mouth and then to sleep
to feed long on your tongue My right hand resting lightly on your left hip.

Nestor Vicente Madali “N.V.M.” GONZALES

Romblon, Romblon (1915-1999)
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE - 1997
 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.”
Works: The Winds of April, Seven Hills Away, The Bamboo Dancers

LEVI CELERIO
Tondo, Manila (1910-2002)
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE - 1997
 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.

EDITH L. TIEMPO
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya (1919-2011)
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE – 1999
“And thus we care, and thus we live not for the end (since that is not unknown), It is the wait, creative Life and love
in full; Unfinished, uncertain, unknown, Yet mocking the known end That comes sooner, Later, or not at all.”
 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.
Works: A Blade of Fern, The Native Coast, The Alien Corn

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

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F. SIONIL JOSE
Rosales, Pangasinan (1924-present)
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE -2001
 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 into various languages
 He is the founder of the Philippine Chapter of the International Organization PEN. (Poets, Playwrights,
Essayists, Novelists)
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.

VIRGILIO ALMARIO
San Miguel, Bulacan (1944-present)
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE -2003
 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
Works: Unang Siglo ng Nobela sa Fiipinas, Buwan, Buwang, Bulawan, Ang Romansa ng Pagsagip Osong Marso

ALEJANDRO R. ROCES
Manila (1924-2011)
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE -2003
“You cannot be a great writer, first you have to be a great person.”
 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
Works: We Filipinos are Mild Drinkers

DR. BIENVENIDO LUMBERA

Lipa, Batangas (1932-present)
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE -2006
“The writer has the advantage of a medium that can be contemplated many times over on the pages of a book or a
magazine. The words lie on the page and the writer has an extended opportunity to imprint on his reader every
meaning and nuance distilled from experience”
 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
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

LAZARO FRANCISCO
Orani, Bataan(1898-1980)
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE -2009
 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
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Works: Daluyong, Sugat ng Alaala, Ilaw sa Hilaga

CIRILO F. BAUTISTA
Sampaloc, Manila (1941-2018)
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE -2014
 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
Works: The Trilogy of Saint Lazarus, The House of True Desire,
Pedagogic listened to me with a serious mien;
I walked towards the falling woods
to teach the trees all that I could I knew the footnotes, all the text,
My words were precise and correct—
of time and birth, the language of men,
the virtues of hate and loving. I was sure that they were learning—
Till one tree spoke, speaking in dolor,
They stood with their fingers flaming, To ask why I never changed color.

ROLANDO S. TINIO
(March 5, 1937 – July 7, 1997)

 Playwright, thespian, poet, teacher, critic and translator

 Prolific artistic productions
 Stage director with original scripts brought forth productions notable for visual impact and intellectual
cogency
 Worked on Teatro Pilipino reviving traditional Filipino drama by re-staging old theatre forms like
sarswela and opening a treasure-house of contemporary Western drama.
Works:
Potery: Sitsit sa Kuliglig, Dunung – Dunungan, Kristal na Uniberso, A Trick of Mirrors
Films scripts: Now and Forever, Gamitin Mo Ako, Bayad Puri and Milagros
Sarswelas: Ang Mestisa, Ako, Ang Kiri, Ana Maria

CARLOS QIRINO
(January 14, 1910 – May 20, 1999)

 Biographer
 Wrote one of the earliest biographies of Jose Rizal titled: The Great Malayan.
 His books and articles span the whole gamut of Philippine history and culture–from Bonifacio’s trial to
Aguinaldo’s biography, from Philippine cartography to culinary arts, from cash crops to tycoons and
president’s lives, among so many subjects.
Works: Maps and Views of Old Manila, Quezon, Man of Destiny, Magsaysay of the Philippines, Lives of the
Philippine Presidents, Philippine Cartography, The History of Philippine Sugar Industry, Filipino Heritage: The
Making of a Nation, Filipinos at War: The Fight for Freedom from Mactan to EDSA.