Philippine National Artists for Literature Guggenheim, Bollingen, the American Academy of Arts
and Letters Awards.
National Artist
- A Filipino citizen who has been given the rank and title
of National artist recognition of his/her significant
contributions to the development of Philippine Arts and
Letters
Order ng Gawad Pambansang Alagad ng Sining (Medallion)
- A rank title
- A wearable award that represents the highest national
recognition given to Filipinos who have distinct
contributions in the field of arts and letters
- Divided into 3 equal portions, red, blue, and white,
recalling the Philippine flag
- 3 stylized letter K’s (KKK) stands for the CPP’s motto:
katotohanan, kabutihan, kagandahan – First Lady
Imelda Marcos, CPP’s founder
NATIONAL ARTISTS FOR LITERATURE
1. Amado Vera Hernandez
- National Artist for Literature (1973)
- Sept. 13, 1903 – May 24, 1970
- “Makata ng Manggagawa”
- Practiced “committed art”
- Was imprisoned because of his involvement in the
communist movement
- 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 inequality and oppression
Mga Ibong Mandaragit
- First written by Hernandez while in prison
- First socio-political novel that exposes the ills of the
society as evident in the agrarian problems of the 50s.
2. Jose Garcia Villa
- National Artist for Literature (1973)
- “Art is a miraculous flirtation with nothing! Aiming for
nothing, and landing on the Sun.” – Doveglion:
Collected Poems
- Aug. 5, 1908 – Feb. 7, 1997
- Considered as one of the finest contemporary poets
regardless of race or language
- Immigrated in the United States (1929)
- Lived in Singalong, Manila
- Introduced the reversed consonance rhyme scheme,
including the comma poems that made full use of the
punctuation mark in an innovative, poetic way.
- “Have Come, Am Here” – received critical recognition
when it appeared in New York (1942) that, soon
enough honors and fellowships were heaped on him:
- Doveglion (dove, eagle, lion)
- Comma poems – the use of coma after every word in a
poem
3. Nick Joaquin
- National Artist for Literature (1976)
- May 4, 1917 – April 29, 2004
- Most distinguished Filipino writer in English writing so
variedly and so well about so many aspects of the
Filipino
- Enriched the English language with critics coining
“Joaquinesque” to describe his baroque Spanish-
flavored English or his reinventions of English based on
Filipinisms
- de guerre Quijano de Manila (as a journalist)
- fellow National Artist Francisco Arcellana opines that “it
is always of the highest skill and quality”
4. Carlos P. Romulo
- National Artist for Literature (1982)
- Jan. 14, 1899 – Dec. 15, 1985
- First Asian president of the United Nations General
Assembly, then Philippine Ambassador to Washington,
D.C., and later minister of foreign affairs
- Wrote and published 18 books
- Reporter – 16 yrs. Old
- Newspaper editor – 20 yrs. Old
- Publisher – 32 yrs. old
Pulitzer Prize
- award for achievements in journalism (U.S)
- because he predicted the outbreak of World War II
5. Francisco Arcellana
- National Artist for Literature (1990)
- Sept. 6, 1916 – Aug. 1, 2002
- Progenitor – proponent/the one who introduced
- Progenitor of the modern Filipino short story in English
- His goal is to render the truth through his works, also
apply it in reality
6. Rolando S. Tinio
- National Artist for Theatre and Literature (1997)
- March 5, 1937 – July 7, 1997
- Stage director
- Ateneo Experimental Theater
- Teatro Pilipino – he left a considerable amount of work
reviving traditional Filipino drama by re-staging old
theater forms like the sarswela and opening a treasure-
house of contemporary Western drama
- Sarswela – play in theatre with songs and dances
7. N.V.M Gonzales
- National Artist for Literature (1997)
- Sept. 8, 1915 – Nov. 28, 1999
- Nestor Vicente Madali Gonzales
- First Commonwealth Literary Contest (1940)
- Republic Cultural Heritage Award (1960)
 - Gawad CCP Para sa Sining (1990)
- The awards attest to his triumph in appropriating the
English language to express, reflect, and shape
Philippine culture and Philippine sensibility
- Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa (1987, U.P) –
highest academic recognition
8. Levi Celerio
- National Artist for Literature/Music (1997)
- April 30, 1910 – April 2, 2002
- Born in Tondo
- Received scholarship at the Academy of Music in
Manila and made it possible for him to join the Manila
Symphony Orchestra (oldest orchestra; longest
surviving institution), became its youngest member
- Guinness Book of World Records as the only person to
make music using just a leaf
9. Edith L. Tiempo
- National Artist for Literature (1999)
- April 22, 1919 (Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya) – Aug, 21,
2011
- Works are characterized by a remarkable fusion of style
and substance, of craftsmanship and insight
- “The Little Marmoset” – imprisonment
- “Bonsai” – Love
- Edilberto K. Tiempo (husband)
= Founded and directed the Silliman National Writers
Workshop in Dumaguete City, which has produced
some of the country’s best writers.
10. F.(Francis) Sionil Jose
- National Artist for Literature (2001)
- Rosales, Pangasinan
- His works are translated into 22 languages
- 5 of his works won the Carlos Palanca Memorial Award
(highest award in literature)
11. Virgilio S. Almario (Rio Alma)
- National Artist for Literature (2003)
- Father of Poetry – revived the traditional and modern
poetry
- Chairman of “Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino” – agency
that promotes the use of Filipino language
- 34 years – published 12 books of poetry
- Chairman of NCCA (National Commission for Culture
and Arts)
12. Alejandro Roces
- National Artist for Literature (2003)
- July 13, 1924 – May 23, 2011
- Country’s best writer of comic short stories
- “My Brother’s Peculiar Chicken”
- Has always focused on the neglected aspects of the
Filipino cultural heritage
- Was instrumental in popularizing several local fiestas,
notably, Moriones and Ati-atihan
- Personally led the campaign to change the country’s
Independence Day from July 4 to June 12, and caused
the change of language from English to Filipino in the
country’s stamps, currency and passports, and
recovered Jose Rizal’s manuscripts when they were
stolen from the National Archives
13. Bienvenido Lumbedra
- National Artist for Literature (2006)
- April 11, 1932
- Bagay poetry
- Loves to talk about national consciousness
- A great teacher
= on his 80th birthday, Laurel crown was given to him
= Muy Bien; Guro at Artista ng Bayan
14. Lazaro Francisco
- National Artist for Literature (2009)
- Feb. 22, 1898 – June 17, 1980
- Master of Tagalog Novel
- Nationalism (makabayan) – positive way od living
15. Cirilo F. Bautista
- National Artist for Literature (2014)
As a writer
= through his significant body of works
As a teacher
= (1981) he founded the Philippine Literary Arts Council to
continue the
= through his discovery and encouragement of young
writers in workshops and lectures
As a critic
= through his essays that provide insights into the craft of
writing and correctives to misconceptions about art
Regional Literature
REGION 1 – ILOCOS REGION
Ilocano Literature/Iloko Literature
- literary works of writers of Ilocano ancestry regardless
of the language used (Ilocano/English/Spanish/other
foreign & Philippine languages)
Literature – traditions, culture, folksongs, festival
- Iloko - the language used
- Ilocano - the people or the ethnicity of the people who
speak the Iloko language
THE ILUKO LITERATURE
Ilocos Region
- Ilocos Province – Sur/Norte
- La Union
- Pangasinan
- part of national literature by critics and literature
experts (need to be translated)
 Iluko writing has to be rendered in English and/or
Filipino, the national language
 Iluko writing – suffers constriction (has limit)
 Most colorful regional Filipino literatures
  Prior to the Spanish colonial period, the Ilocano
literature is purely alive in form of written and oral
literature. When the Spaniards arrived in Ilocos Norte
in 1572, it took a toll on Ilocano literature.
 During the Spanish era, Ilocano poetry was heavily
influenced by Spanish poetry.
 Today, Ilocano writers are known to have published
their works in foreign countries. Contemporary Ilocano
writers are also known to bag numerous major awards
in the most prestigious Philippine literature award
giving body, the Palanca Awards (Carlos Palanca
Memorial Award)
CULTURE OF ILOKANO PEOPLE
 wishes are oriented by a sense of direction
 “Good morning” <<< “Where are you going?”
 You win, your community wins. You lose, your
community loses.
 Kablaaw tribute – characterized as being humble,
hardworking and frugal, and they engage primarily in
farming and fishing
 Kablaaw tribute – congratulating everyone regardless
of the result
 Focusing mostly on work and productivity, spending
only on necessities and not so much on ostentatious
material possessions.
1. Pamamanhikan
- Bride’s parents consult/visit a planetario, which is like
an almanac that identifies “lucky days”
2. Offering Mung Beans (Munggo)
- Groom offers a plate of mung beans to bride, which
symbolizes pregnancy
3. Clothing
- Ilocanos are very meticulous when it comes to clothing.
They dress up according to their age and perceived
wealth.
4. Death Tradition
- Burning piece of atong wood in front of the deceased’s
house until after burial
- Man’s illnesses are caused by spirits either be the
aswang (witch) or the mannamay (Sorcerer)
5. Family
- The structure of the Ilocano family conforms to the
general Filipino pattern. Most families compose of an
average size (6-7 persons)
TRADITIONS OF ILOKANO PEOPLE
 Arikenken
- precursor of the bukanegan (named after Pedro
Bukaneg)
- an art of argumentation
 A complex mind is behind the Ilocano myths. The
people of Ilocos have the sense of cosmological and
ontological in the way they see existence, how space
and time elaborated and human’s location in the
universe.
 Bain – hiya/amor propio
 It is essential to show panagdayaw - respect for the
sensitivities of others
 Ilocanos fear of gossip and would strongly avoid being
envied by others. Ilocanos tend to speak about
themselves in the humblest of terms.
FESTIVALS IN REGION 1
1. Sillag Festival (San Fernandon, La Union) (festival of lights)
- Sillag – moonbeam (sinag ng buwan)
- All the activities were held at night or just before Poro
Point’s Famous Sunset
2. Viva Vigan Festival of the Arts (Vigan, Ilocos Sur)
- Celebrated during the first week of the month of May
- Grand celebration of Arts and Cultural Heritage found
in Vigan
3. Pamulinawen Festival (Laoag, Ilocos Norte)
- Celebrates the city’s founding as well as the feast day
of its patron saint, William of Maleval (William the
Great)
4. Guling-Guling Festival (Paoay, Ilocos Norte)
- Traditionally held the day before Ash Wednesday
(Tuesday)
- Respect for the Ash Wednesday
- Native style (house)
5. Feast of the Señora de Manaoag (Manaoag, Pangasinan)
- title of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- She is invoked as patroness of the sick, helpless and
needy
- 2 Feast Days:
= Summer, third Wednesday after Easter
- Commemorates the papal coronation of the
image of Our Lady of Manaoag in 1926
= First Sunday in October
- Mary’s title as Our Lady of the Rosary
FAMOUS PEOPLE IN REGION
1. Pedro Bukaneg
- Acknowledged author of the epic Biag ni Lam-ang
- Father of Ilocano Literature
- March 1592 – 1630 (38 yrs old)
- Blind since birth, but grew up as a smart and
talented
- Took lessons in Latin and Spanish and also
learned local dialects
- Known to translate prayers and sermons in local
language
- Translated Doctrina Cristiana to Ilocano which
was printed in 1593 as one of the first book in the
 Philippines and was intended for the use in the - 1965, founded the Philippine branch of PEN (an
local poplyation (a book about teachings about international organization of poets, playwrights,
christians/cathesism and novelists)
- On 1621, the translation of Doctrina Cristiana was - SOLIDARIDAD – started his own publishing house
printed in the Augustinian Convent in Manila
- “Arte de Lengua Iloca” – first grammar book; Fr. FOLKSONGS
Francisco Lopez (co-author)
1. Pinagbiag
2. Leonara Florentino
- Heroes
- April 19, 1849 – Oct. 4, 1884 (35 yrs old)
2. Dallot
- Poet in Spanish and Ilocano
- Gatherings
- 10 yrs. Old – can write poems in Ilocano & speak
3. Badeng
well in Spanish
- Love/panghaharana
- Really intelligent, yet she wasn’t allowed to study
4. Dung-aw
due to her gender
- Dead people
- Tutored by her mother and a series of private
5. Arinkenken
teachers
- Newly weds
- Spanish skills – flourished by Fr. Evaristo Abaya,
- Right & responsibility to deal with new couple
he also help her to voice out her thoughts in
6. Hele
poem
- Pampatulog ng mga bata
- 14 yrs. old, married a politician, Elias de los Reyes
- Had 5 children
- was shunned by her husband and son, she lived
alone in exile and separated from her family
- 35 yrs. old – died
- Mother of Philippines Women’s Literature
3. Isabelo delos Reyes
- Don Belong
- July 4, 1864 – Oct. 10, 1938 (74 yrs. old)
- Was a prominent politician, writer, labor activist
- Imprisoned in 1897 for revolutionary activities
- Deported to Spain and was jailed until 1890 (1
year in prison)
- 1901, returned in Philippines, founded the first
labor union in the country (Union Obrera
Democratica Filipina)
- After serving the Philippines in the 1920’s, he
settled into private life & religious writing
- 27 children, 3 wives
4. Carlos Bulosan
- Born by Ilocano parents at Binalonan, Pangasinan;
Nov. 2, 1913
- Left for America on July 22, 1930, 17 yrs. old
- Worked as a farmworker in California & a
dishwasher w/ his brother in the famous
Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo

America is in the Heart (poem)

- portrayed the living and working situation of the

Filipinos in the America
- served as an eye opener = racism
5. F. (Francis) Sionel Jose