Name: Angel Dane Tubat Section: Grade 11- Bonifacio

“A Filipino Contemporary Author”

Literature is defined as a body of written works. The name has traditionally has
been applied to those imaginative works of poetry and prose distinguished by the
intentions of their authors and the perceived aesthetics excellence of their execution.
Literature may be classified according to a variety of systems, including language,
national origin, historical period, genre and subject matter. On the other hand
Philippine literature are literature that is contributed or associated with the Philippines
pre- history, through its colonial legacies , and on the present by the help of various
authors from generation to generation that gives a widespread contribution and
knowledge about Philippine Literature. Among from these various writers/ authors,
Manuel Arguilla caught my attention and gives deeper knowledge about how
literature is important and how helpful to life his writings for every person especially
me. Manuel Estrabilla Arguilla was an Ilocano writer who wrote in English and Best
known for his story “ How My Brother Leon Brought Home A Wife” , which
received first place in commonwealth Literary Contest in 1940. Most of his Stories
Depicts scenes in Barrio Nabrebcan, Bauang, La Union the place where he was born.
I appreciate how he relates his literary works to his personal environment which gives
more realistic impressions to the readers. As a reader of his literary work/ piece, I am
also inspired and touched about how he wrote, shows and narrate about how love
grows despite of the status of two persons in life, their differences when it talks about
their cultures and traditions and most of all to their characteristics and personalities.
Most of the works of Manuel Arguilla that impresses me though it is a short story but
has a deeper meaning or story to be shared to all people. He describes the
personalities of Filipinoes people before and how they act and interact with other
people.. It also talks about filpino traits like how are we going to eat, how we greet
other people especially strangers, our casualness towards other people, and also our
quick acceptance of others that can be seen by his stories. The overall story is simple
and uncomplicated yet bringing us modernized Filipino to look back on our past and
appreciate our simplicity and gracious lives.I was very inspired not just from his
literary works and contributions to Philippine Literature but also to his model
personality and perseverance as a teacher who fought for our rights and freedom.
Manuel Arguilla was a teacher of Creative writing in the University of Manila and
work for in Bureau of Public Welfare as a managing editor of the Welfare advocate
until 1943, and a person who shows nationalism who secretly established the guirella
intelligence unit to fight against the japanese colonizers during world war II but
unfortunately, in August 1994 , Manuel Arguilla was captured and executed at Fort
William Mckinley ( known as Fort Bonifacio). This author awakened me as a person
to write and to be innovative writer. He shows me how to give importance and love
my county. He shows a deeper meaning of love not just for myself but for the others
and especially for my nation. Contemporary authors and literatures guides us to write
about ourselves, our feeling, ideas and opinions about the different aspects of our
lives.. It gives us the lessons to step forward and to see a greater change to our future
generations by reminiscing from the past.