Background of the Author

Francisco Sionil José

Fracisco Sionil Jose, also known as, F. Sionil was proclaimed as one of the National Artists for
Literature in the Philippines. This award is bestowed on Filipinos who have made significant
contributions to the development of Philippine art.

He is one of the most widely read Filipino writers in the English language. He is a prolific writer
whose works were inspired by his childhood memories of his hometown. His novels and short
stories depict and portray the social underpinnings, class struggles and colonialism in Filipino
society.

 The sheer volume of works by National Artist for Literature Francisco Sionil Jose puts him
on the forefront of Philippine writing in English. His most important contribution to Philippine
literature is his consistent use of the themes of national sovereignty and social justice. Luis
Asperri - Victor's half-brother, illegitimate son of Don Vicente Asperri
 Don Vicente Asperri - feudal landlord, father of Luis Asperri
 Victor - Luis Asperri's half-brother
 Trining - Luis Asperri's female cousin, becomes wife of Luis

He was born on December 3, 1924 in Rosales, Pangasinan, where most of the settings of his
stories occur. He spent his childhood in Barrio Cabugawan, Rosales, where he first began to
write. But to escape from poverty, his forefathers travelled from Ilocos towards Cagayan
Valley through the Santa Fe Trail. Despite a childhood of poverty and landlessness Jose went to
public schools and later, after the World War II on University of Sto. Tomas. But then after
sometime he dropped out and plunged himself into writing and journalism on Manila.
José Rizal's life and writings profoundly influenced José's work. He is best known for his epic
work, The Rosales Saga – five novels encompassing a hundred years of Philippine history,
painting a vivid documentary of Filipino life.
• Po-on
• Tree
• My Brother, My Executioner
• The Pretenders
• Mass

Since starting his writing career in 1949, José has written more than 35 books, translated into
more than 20 languages and published worldwide. He has also been involved with international
cultural organizations, notably International P.E.N., the world association of poets, playwrights,
essayists and novelists, the Philippine Center which he founded in 1958 and for which he served
as national secretary until 2007.
Recognitions of José’s literary works and his influence on the Philippines and Asia include the
Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature and Creative Arts (1980), Philippine
National Artist (2001), and the Pablo Neruda Centennial Award (2004), and Officer in the
French Order of Arts and Letters (2014) and other international awards as well. Now in his
nineties, he continues to be a prolific writer and relentless voice against social injustice and
national amnesia. Almost daily, he still climbs the three flights of steps to his writing alcove at
the Solidaridad Bookshop in Manila.

My Brother, My Executioner
This novel is part of the “The Rosales Saga, also known as
“The Rosales Novels”. It is a series of five historical and political
novels. Chronologically, it is composed of five interconnected novels,
namely Po-on (1984), Tree (1978), My Brother, My Executioner
(1973), The Pretenders (1962), and Mass (1973).
The Rosales Saga traced the five generations of two families, namely
the Samsons (poor farmers) and the Asperri (wealthy mestizos) through
Spanish and American periods in the history of the Philippines until the period after Philippine
Independence. The five volume Rosales Saga, in particular, employs and integrates themes and
characters from Rizal's work. José begun writing the series in 1962 and completed it in 1984.

Main Characters:
 Luis Asperri - Victor's half-brother, illegitimate son of Don Vicente Asperri
 Don Vicente Asperri - feudal landlord, father of Luis Asperri
 Victor - Luis Asperri's half-brother
 Trining - Luis Asperri's female cousin, then later on becomes the wife of Luis
 Ester – Trining’s friend