Philippine National Artists in

Literature
 Learning Objectives

 To be able to recognize who the Filipino

National Artists in Literature are

 To become familiar with some of these

national artists’ body of literary works
Key Understanding
 Knowing the Filipino National Artists in
Literature and some of their literary works

Key Questions
 Who are the Filipino National Artists in
Literature?

 What are some of their literary works?

What is a Filipino National Artist in
Literature?
The form and content of their writings created a sense
of nationhood or instilled nationalism
Pioneered a unique style of creative expression in the
literary arts that inspired younger generations of writers
Displayed consistent excellence in the quality of their
works
Gained recognitions and awards from prestigious
national or international literary institutions
Who Selects the Filipino National
Artist in Literature?
 Panel of literary experts
Commissioners of the National Commission on
Culture and the Arts (NCCA)
Board of Governors of the Cultural Center of
the Philippines (CCP)
President of the Republic of the Philippines
National Artists of the Philippines
in Literature

1. Amado V. Hernandez (1973) was born in Hagonoy,

Bulacan but grew up in Tondo, Manila. His poems and
novels written purely in the Filipino mother tongue
tackle issues of the poor and working class.
National Artists of the Philippines
in Literature

Image Credit: https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-SGz3mtJ67Mo/UqG8qmzdAgI/AAAAAAAAoXU/FoY_fTPFEF8/s640/blogger-image-1352930017.jpg

2. Jose Garcia Villa (1973) was also a Manileño, from

Malate’s Singalong St.; he was known here and abroad
as the “master of the comma poem” a unique style he
created.
 Literary Reflections
First, A Poem Must Be Magical
by Jose Garcia Villa
First, a poem must be magical,
Then musical as a seagull.
It must be a brightness moving
And hold secret a bird’s flowering
It must be slender as a bell,
And it must hold fire as well.
It must have the wisdom of bows
And it must kneel like a rose.
On the left is an excerpt of
verses from one example of
Jose Garcia Villa’s comma
poem.
What can you say about
how he uses commas to
emphasize and separate
ideas ?
Is his poem more prose or
still a lyrical one or both?
 National Artists of the Philippines
in Literature
3. Nick Joaquin (1976), a
versatile Filipino from San
Juan, was a journalist, poet,
novelist, historian,
playwright, scriptwriter and
biographer. But it was his
mysterious and suspense-
filled novels that became
Image Credit:
https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=nick+joaquin&biw=1015&bih=503&source=lnms
&tbm=isch&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAWoVChMI3qar9YPsyAIVSBimCh33nQZ
his trademark style like the
featured book on the left.
P#tbm=isch&q=nick+joaquin+works&imgdii=0i5DDeEGEv1j2M%3A%3B0i5DDeEGEv
1j2M%3A%3Bd7iRjN9Ja-5TkM%3A&imgrc=0i5DDeEGEv1j2M%3A
 National Artists of the Philippines
in Literature
4. Carlos P. Romulo (1982), a 4’ 11”
son of Camiling, Tarlac was a WW2
soldier, UN diplomat and foreign affairs
secretary under eight Philippine
presidents. He wrote 18 books, mostly
memoirs about him, Douglas McArthur,
Pres. Quezon and especially Russian
Andre Vishinky who he silenced with
this quote in a UN Assembly: “It is the
Image Credit: http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1332743621l/13561171.jpg
duty of the little Davids of this world to fling
the pebbles of truth in the eyes of the blustering
Goliaths and force them to behave!”
National Artists of the Philippines
in Literature
5. NVM Gonzales (1997), a native
of Romblon island, was a poet,
essayist, novelist and teacher who
depicted with his pen the Filipino
spirit in rural and urban settings.
Besides the book featured on the
left, his other works also focus on
nature like The Bamboo Dancers, The
Winds of April, Seven Hills Away and
Work in the Mountains.
Image Credit: http://www.mgbertulfo.com/wp-
content/uploads/2010/05/NVM-Gonzalez-Loam2.jpg
National Artists of the Philippines
in Literature
6. Edith Tiempo (1999), who
hails from Bayombong, Nueva
Vizcaya was a poet, a novelist,
a literary critic, a teacher and
the only female National Artist
for Literature. Her
masterpieces are famous for
her use of vivid metaphors and
vibrant description that are
Image Credit: http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1314371662l/12439096.jpg
fluid and not burdened with
trite details.
National Artists of the Philippines
in Literature
7. F. Sionil Jose (2001) is a
native of Rosales, Pangasinan. He
often gleans local legends and
epics from his hometown as well
as from the Ilocos region to
include in his short stories and
novels. His works are also
consistent in depicting the themes
of class struggle, colonialism,
Image Credit:
social justice and national
http://booklikes.com/photo/max/100/150/upload/books/71/51/69a745f7cd
d90a9315df795a023baab7.jpg sovereignty.
 Culminating Activity

Choose one among the seven Filipino National

Artists in Literature tackled in this presentation.
From their body of literary works, choose one of
any genre and do a critique of it. Did it meet the
National Artist criteria of creating a sense of
nationhood, unique style of creativity, profound
impact on society and excellence? Explain why or
why not?