THE NATIONAL

ARTISTS FOR
LITERATURE
Ms. Jahwella Q. Ocay, LPT
WHAT IS THIS WORD?

R UT S O AH
AUTHORS
WHAT IS THIS WORD?

N C N O A
CANON
WHAT IS THIS WORD?

C B O N ROUT TIIN
CONTRIBUTION
 Contribution of
Canonical Authors
 THINGS TO REMEMBER:
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.
 What else should you know?

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

“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)
 JOSE GARCIA - VILLA
Singalong, Manila (1908-1997)
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE - 1973

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.”
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
NICK JOAQUIN
Paco, Manila (1917-2004)
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE - 1976
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.
CARLOS P. ROMULO
Intramuros, Manila (1899-1985)
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE - 1982
FRANCISCO ARCELLANA
Sta. Cruz, Manila (1916-2002)
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE - 1990

 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
 FRANCISCO ARCELLANA
Sta. Cruz, Manila (1916-2002)
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE - 1990

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
“Write the story that only you to die deep
can write.” and then to sleep
My right hand resting lightly on your left hip.
 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.”
 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

 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.
 EDITH L. TIEMPO
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya (1919-2011)
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE - 1999

Bonsai A roto picture of a queen,

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 Breathless hand over
tie,
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
To the merest child.
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 intro various
languages
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.
 F. SIONIL JOSE
Rosales, Pangasinan (1924-present)
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE - 2001

 He is the founder of the Philippine Chapter of the International

Organization PEN. (Poets, Playwrights, Essayists, Novelists)

Photos grabbed from Santiago Villafania (FB Post)

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
VIRGILIO ALMARIO
San Miguel, Bulacan (1944-present)
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE -2003
 ALEJANDRO R. ROCES
Manila (1924-2011)
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE -2003

“You cannot be a great writer,

 Short story writer and essayist
first you have to be a great
 The country’s Best Writer of Comic
person.”
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
DR. BIENVENIDO LUMBERA
Lipa, Batangas (1932-present)
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE -2006

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
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
DR. BIENVENIDO LUMBERA
Lipa, Batangas (1932-present)
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE -2006
 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
LAZARO FRANCISCO
Orani, Bataan(1898-1980)
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE -2009
 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
CIRILO F. BAUTISTA
Sampaloc, Manila (1941-2018)
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE -2014
 CIRILO F. BAUTISTA
Sampaloc, Manila (1941-2018)
NATIONAL ARTIST FOR LITERATURE -2014

His poem about teaching and teachers…

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?