LOPE K.

SANTOS
Presented by: Group 1
Jay Alvarez, Kenneth Esmeralda, Althea Cerna, Aron Talabucon,
Norhainnie Magarang, Lara Reodique, Trisha Enriquez
LOPE K. SANTOS
a.k.a. “Father of the Filipino Grammar”
was a Filipino writer and former senator of the
Philippines.
best known for writing Banaag at Sikat
 heavily contributed for the development of
Filipino grammar and Tagalog orthography
BACKGROUND
Lope K. Santos was born in Pasig to Ladislao and
Victorina Canseco on September 25, 1879.
His father was imprisoned during Philippine
Revolution because Spanish authorities found copies
of José Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere and Ang Kalayaan
in his possession.
EDUCATION
Santos was sent to Escuela Normal Superior de Maestros
(Higher Normal School for Teachers) for education and
later finished schooling at Colegio Filipino.
 He pursued law at the Academia de la Jurisprudencia then
at Escuela Derecho de Manila (now Manila Law College
Foundation) where he received Bachelor of Arts degree in
1912.
WORKS AND CONTRIBUTIONS
Banaag at Sikat
In 1903, Santos started publishing fragments of his first
novel, Banaag at Sikat on his weekly labor magazine
Muling Pagsilang (The Rebirth) and was completed in
1906.
 When published in book form, Santos’ Banaag at Sikat
was then considered as the first socialist-oriented book in
the Philippines which expounded principles of socialism
and seek labor reforms from the government. The book
was known as the “Bible of the working class Filipino”.
WHAT IS SOCIALISM?
SOCIALISM
So·cial·ism
/ˈsōSHəˌlizəm/
noun
a political and economic theory of social organization which advocates that the means of
production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a
whole.
 The book was later made an inspiration for the assembly of the 1932 Socialist Party of the
Philippines and then the 1946 group Hukbalahap (Hukbong Bayan Laban sa Hapon).
WORKS AND CONTRIBUTIONS
 In early 1910s, he started his campaign on promoting a ‘”national
language for the Philippines”.
 When the Philippines became a member of the United Nations he
was selected to translate the 1935 Constitution for UNESCO.
 He was also appointed to assist for the translation of inaugural
addresses of presidents Jose P. Laurel and Manuel A. Roxas.
BALARILA NG WIKANG
PAMBANSA (GRAMMAR OF
THE NATIONAL LANGUAGE)
In 1940, Santos published the first grammar book of
the “national language”, Balarila ng Wikang
Pambansa (Grammar of the National Language)
which was commissioned by the Surian ng Wikang
Pambansa (SWF).
 The next year, he was appointed by President
Manuel L. Quezon as director of SWF until 1946.
OTHER LITERARY HOBBIES
In late 1900, Santos started writing his own newspaper Ang Kaliwanagan.
Santos became expert in dupluhan, a form of poetical debate during that time.
 He also founded Sampaguita, weekly lifestyle magazine.

POLITICAL TERMS
 In 1910, he was elected as governor of the province of Rizal under the Nacionalista
Party.
 In 1918, he was appointed as the first Filipino governor of the newly resurveyed Nueva
Vizcaya until 1920.
 He was elected to the 5th Philippine Legislature as senator of the twelfth senatorial
district. (Philippine Legislature Act No. 2946)
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