WHEN IS LITERATURE “NATURAL”?

National Artist for Literature Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera gave a lecture-discussion on what classifies a
written work as “national literature” to an audience of literary enthusiasts, writers, students, faculty and
staff at the Cyber Lecture Hall on May 13.

“Ka Bien,” as he is known in the literary community, is one of the panelists for the second week of the
53rd Silliman University National Writers Workshop. He is widely acknowledged as one of the pillars of
contemporary Philippine literature, cultural studies and film, having written and edited numerous books
in the same subjects.

In April 2006, the Philippine government named him National Artist.

These literary works consist of novels, short stores, plays, poems and essays “on subjects as varied in
shape and form as the experience lived by men and women in Philippine society.” And he noted that
they are oftentimes written up as “national literature”.

But Dr. Lumbera expressed some concern over this tag of “national literature”.

“There is a need, however, for purposes of academic study, to distinguish between a work much-
appreciated as a fine creative piece from a work that should properly be designated as ‘national’
literature,” he said.

Dr. Lumbera said: “When we speak of Philippine Literature, we are talking about all the literary works
created by Filipinos in any of the languages that have been used by Filipino creative writers and
admitted in classrooms and textbooks as worthwhile.”

AMADO V. HERNANDEZ

(National Artist For Literature)

Amado V. Hernandez, poet, playwright, and novelist, is among the filipino writera who practiced
“comitted art”. In his view, the function of the writer is to act as the conscience of society and to affirm
the greatness of the human spirit in the face of inequity and oppression. Hernandez’s contribution to
the development of Tagalog prose is considerable–he stripped Tagalog of it’s ornate character and
wrote in prose closer to colloquial than the “official” style permitted. His novel “Mga Ibong Mandaragit”,
first written by hernandez while in prison, is the first Filipino socio-political novel that exposes the ills of
the society as evident in the agrarian problems of the 50s.

Hernandez’s other works include Bayang Malaya, Isang Dipang Langit, Luha ng Buwaya, Amado V.
Hernandez: Tudla at Tudling: Katipunan ng mga Nalathalang Tula 1921-1970, Langaw sa Isang Basong
Gatas at Iba Pang Kuwento ni Amado V. Hernandez, Magkabilang Mukha ng Isang Bagol at Iba Pang Akda
ni Amado V. Hernandez.
NVM GONZALEZ

National Artist for Literature (1997)

(September 8, 1915 – November 28, 1999)

Nestor Vicente Madali Gonzalez, better known as N.V.M. Gonzalez, fictionist, essayist, poet, and
teacher, articulated the Filipino spirit in rural, urban landscapes. Among the many recognitions, he won
the First Commonwealth Literary Contest in 1940, received the Republic Cultural Heritage Award in 1960
and the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining in 1990. The awards attest to his triumph in appropriating the English
language to express, reflect and shape Philippine culture and Philippine sensibility.

Major works of N.V.M Gonzalez include the following: The Winds of April, Seven Hills Away, Children of
the Ash-Covered Loam and Other Stories, The Bamboo Dancers, Look Stranger, on this Island Now,
Mindoro and Beyond: Twenty -One Stories, The Bread of Salt and Other Stories, Work on the Mountain,
The Novel of Justice: Selected Essays 1968-1994, A Grammar of Dreams and Other Stories.

Journalist, Editor, and Fictionist

February 25, 1928 – March 11, 2021

Juan T. Gatbonton, Johnny to friends, was a fictionist, editor, and journalist.

Born in Candaba, Pampanga on February 25, 1928, his introduction to journalism came while studying at
Mapa High School in Manila. He started with writing a column for The Mapazette. This led to
matriculation at the University of Santo Tomas where he pursued a degree in journalism, but did not
finish.

From 1954 until 1958, he worked for the Manila Chronicle’s This Week Magazine, churning out his
column “Little Reports,” and eventually becoming the magazine’s editor. He also became editor of the
Sunday Times Magazine, and wrote for The Manila Times and Mirror Magazine.

Resil B. Mojares

National Artist for Literature (2018)

Birthday: 4 September 1943

A teacher and scholar, essayist and fictionist, and cultural and literary historian, Resil Mojares is
acknowledged as a leading figure in the promotion of regional literature and history. As founding
director of the Cebuano Studies Center—an important research institution which placed Cebu in the
research and documentation map—he pioneered Cebuano and national identity formation. As a leading
figure in cultural and literary history, he networked actively in many organizations. For over 50 years,
Mojares has published in diverse forms (fiction, essay, journalism, scholarly articles, and books) across a
wide range of discipline (literature, history, biography, cultural studies, and others). To date, he has 17
published books (3 more in the press) and edited, co-edited, or co-authored 11 books, and written
numerous articles for popular and scholarly publications.
Luis V. Teodoro

Journalist

Luis V. Teodoro (24 August 1941- ) is a Philippine journalist who writes political commentary for
BusinessWorld. He was a teacher of journalism in the College of Mass Communications of the University
of the Philippines, Diliman where he was Dean for 2 successive terms: 1994-1997 and 1997-2000. He is
the chair of the Commission on Higher Education’s Technical Committee of Journalism Education. He
was one of the honorees at The Many Faces of the Teacher 2007 wherein his excellence in teaching was
recognized.

NINOTCHKA ROSCA

Ninotchka Rosca is a writer, Philippine-born but New York-resident. She has authored and co-authored
nine books. Her first novel, “State of War,” is considered a classic of Philippine literature and is taught in
literature classes in the Philippines. Her second novel, “Twice Blessed,” won the American Book Award.