LITERATURE

• Francisco Arcellana

  • National Artist for Literature in 1990
  • "The Man Who Would Be Named Poe"
  • His stories are written in a lyrical-prose poetic
  • He was considered as one of the pioneers of modern Filipino short story in English
• Nestor Vicente Madali Gonzales

  • N.V.M Gonzales
  • National Artist for Literature in 1997
  • "The Winds of April" (1941)
  • "A Season of Grace" (1956)
  • "The Bamboo Dancers" (1988)
  • His exemplary works are published in various languages including: Filipino, English, Chinese, German, Russian, and Indonesian
• Nick Joaquin

  • Quijano de Manila
  • The National Artist for literature in 1976
  • He was considered the people's writer as his works embraced the manifold being of Filipinos
• Literary Journalism is a form of creative nonfiction that reports real events using the style and techniques used in literary texts
• F. Sionil Jose

  • National Artist for Literature in 2001
  • The Pretenders
  • He was the founder of the Philippine chapter of the international organization "PEN"
  • In 1999, he received the CCP Centennial Honors for the Arts
• Jose Garcia Villa

  • Doveglion
  • National Artist for Literature in 1973
  • Many considered his personality and works as eccentric
  • In his works, there are noticeable comma in each word.
  • He described his style as similar to Seurat's architectonic and measurable pointillism
• Pointillism is a painting technique in which artist uses small, distinct dotes of pure color to create an image
• Edith L. Tiempo

  • National Artist for Literature in 1999
  • She, together with her husband Edilberto K. Tiempo founded Silliman University National Writer's Workshop, which is considered as the Asia's longest running writer's workshop held in the city of Dumaguete.
• Virgilio S. Almario

  • Rio Alma
  • National Artist for Literature in 2003
  • Known for his translated theater production of some famous plays of Nick Joaquin and international literary artists Bertolt Brecht and Maxim Gorki
  • His translations of Jose Rizal's Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo were considered by the Manila Critics Circle as the best version.
• Amado V. Hernandez

  • National Artist for Literature in 1973
  • well known for his disapproval of social justice in the country
  • imprisoned for his participation in the communist movement
  • "Mga Ibong Mandaragit" - he wrote in prison
  • Atang de la Rama - his wife
• Carlos P. Romulo

  • National Artist for literature in 1982
  • founder of the Boy Scout of the Philippines
  • Reporter at the age of 16, publisher at 32
  • the only Asian to be awarded a Pulitzer Prize in Journalism for series of articles forecasting the outbreak of WW2
• Writer's act as the conscience of the society, affirming the greatness of the human spirit
• Carlos L. Quirino

  • National Artist for literature in 1997
  • the first Filipino to be recognized as the National Artist in Historical Literature in 1997
  • worked as the assistant of President Elpidio Quirino
  • His topics mostly covered war, politics, art, business, and agriculture
• Alejandro R. Roces

  • National Artist for literature in 2003
  • he was an exceptional writer of comic short stories
  • multi-awarded writer, receiving honors and recognitions including: the Rizal Pro Patria Award and the Gawad CCP para sa Sining.
• Lazaro Francisco

  • National Artist for literature in 2009
  • considered to be an icon in Tagalog writing through his nationalist and social criticism
  • founded the Kapatiran ng mga Alagad ng Wikang Pilipino (KAWIKA)
  • Awarded by the Ateneo de Manila University the Tanglaw ng Lahi Award in 1979 for his works.
• Bienvenido Lumbera

  • National Artist for literature in 2006
  • an award-winning poet, librettist, and scholar
  • His scholarly work in the field of literary history and criticism are foundational texts in Philippine colleges and universities
• Circilo F. Bautista

  • National Artist for literature in 2014
  • He is also a Palanca Hall of Farmer, winning countless awards and honors, including the National Book Awards, Gawad Jose Corazon de Jesus, and Gawad CCP para sa Sining.
  • In 1998, Bautista was named winner of the Philippine Centennial Prize for Epic Poetry
• Philippine Literature is a rich storehouse of narratives and texts that date back from the precolonial times to the contemporary. It will continue to evolves as writers continue to write about the realities ad conditions of the country.