21st canon

• Philippine Literature refers to works of literary merit, both written and oral, by the Filipino writers. These works are written in Filipino, Spanish, English, and/or regional languages.
• Philippine Literary Canon


  The collection of works representative of a certain genre and period written by canonical Filipino literary artists
• Canonical Author


  Writers whose works have been well-appreciated and considered representatives of certain genres of literature
• National Artist


  A Filipino citizen who has been given the rank and title of National Artist in recognition of his or her significant contributions to the development of Philippine arts and letters
• National Artist


  • The rank and title is conferred by means of a Presidential Proclamation
  • It recognizes excellence in the fields of Music, Dance, Theater, Visual Arts, Literature, Film and Broadcast Arts, and Architecture or Allied Arts
• Order of National Artists


  A rank, a title, and a wearable award that represents the highest national recognition given to Filipinos who have made distinct contributions in the field of arts and letters
• Order of National Artists

  • Jointly administered by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP)
  • Conferred by the President of the Philippines upon recommendation by both institutions
• Grand Collar


  Symbolizes the status of those who have been proclaimed National Artists
• The Order of National Artists was established by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 1001


  1972
• Criteria for the Order of National Artists

  • Living artists who are Filipino citizens at the time of nomination, as well as those who died after the establishment of the award in 1972 but were Filipino citizens at the time of their death
  • Artists who, through the content and form of their works, have contributed in building a Filipino sense of nationhood
  • Artists who have pioneered in a mode of creative expression or style, thus earning distinction and making an impact on succeeding generations of artists
  • Artists who have created a substantial and significant body of work and/or consistently displayed excellence in the practice of their art form thus enriching artistic expression or style
  • Artists who enjoy broad acceptance through prestigious national and/or international recognition, critical acclaim and/or reviews of their works, and respect and esteem from peers
• Documents required for National Artist Nomination

  • A cover letter from the nominating organization with a Board Resolution
  • A duly accomplished nomination form
  • A detailed curriculum vitae of the nominee
  • A list of the nominee's significant works categorized according to the criteria
  • The latest photograph of the nominee
  • Pertinent information materials on the nominee's significant works
  • Copies of published reviews
  • Any other document that may be required
• Nominations for National Artist must be addressed to the National Artist Award Secretariat at the Office of the Artistic Director, Cultural Center of the Philippines or the Office of the Deputy Executive Director, National Commission for Culture and the Arts
• The Philippine National Artists for Literature include Amado V. Hernandez, Jose Garcia Villa, Nick Joaquin, Carlos P. Romulo, Francisco Arcellana, and Rolando S. Tinio
• Amado V. Hernandez


  A Filipino writer and labor leader known for his criticism of social injustices in the Philippines and was later imprisoned for his involvement in the communist movement
• Notable Works of Amado V. Hernandez


  • "Mga Ibong Mandaragit", "Bayang Malaya", "Isang Dipang Langit", "Luha ng Buwaya"
• Jose Garcia Villa


  A Filipino writer, poet, literary critic, short story writer, and painter known as the 'Comma Poet' because of his extensive use of punctuation marks especially comma
• Notable Works of Jose Garcia Villa


  • The Anchored Angel, The Emperor's New Sonnet, Footnote to Youth
• Nick Joaquin

  A Filipino writer, historian, and journalist, best known for his short stories and novels in the English Language. He is considered the most important Filipino writer in English, and the third most important overall, after Jose Rizal and Claro M. Recto
• Notable Works of Nick Joaquin


  • "The Woman Who Had Two Navels", "A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino: An Elegy in the Three Scenes", "Manila, My Manila: A History for the Young", "The Ballad of the Five Battles", "Rizal in Saga: A Life for the Student Fans", "Almanac for Manileños", "Cave and Shadows"
• Carlos P. Romulo


  A Filipino diplomat, statesman, soldier, journalist and author. He was a reporter by the young age of 16, a newspaper editor by the age of 20, and became a publisher at 32. He was a co-founder of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, a General in the US Army and the Philippine Army, and the only Asian awardee of Pulitzer Prize in Journalism
• Notable Works of Carlos P. Romulo


  • I Saw the Fall of the Philippines (1942), Mother America (1943), My Brother Americans (1945), I See the Philippines Rise (1946), Crusade in Asia (1955), The Magsaysay Story (1956), I Walk with Heroes (1961), Identity and Change (1965)
• Francisco Arcellana


  A Filipino writer, poet, essayist, critic, journalist and teacher. He is considered one of the pioneers of modern Filipino Short Story in English
• Notable Works of Francisco Arcellana


  • "Death in a Factory" (Fiction), "A Clown Remembers" (Fiction), "Divided by Two" (Fiction), "The Other Woman" (Poems), "To Touch You" (Poems), "I Touched Her" (Poems)
• Rolando S. Tinio


  A Filipino poet, dramatist, director, actor, critic, essayist, and educator. He was a National Artist for Theater and Literature, known for translating Western classics into Tagalog to advance the Filipino language. He was a prolific poet and writer who helped establish the Filipino-language drama
• Francisco Arcellana


  Considered one of the pioneers of modern Filipino Short Story in English
• Francisco Arcellana's Notable Works


  • "Death in a Factory" (Fiction)
  • "A Clown Remembers" (Fiction)
  • "Divided by Two" (Fiction)
  • "The Other Woman" (Poems)
  • "To Touch You" (Poems)
  • "I Touched Her" (Poems)
• Rolando S. Tinio


  Filipino poet, dramatist, director, actor, critic, essayist, and educator
• Rolando S. Tinio was a National Artist for Theater and Literature
• Rolando S. Tinio


  • He was an actor, director, and a set and costume designer
  • He graduated with Honors (magna cum laude) from the Royal and Pontifical University of Santo Tomas at the age of 18
  • He was the sole inventor of "Taglish" in Philippine poetry
• Rolando S. Tinio was known for translating Western classics, which includes the works of Sophocles, Shakespeare, Ibsen, Chekhov, Puccini and Verdi, into Tagalog
• Rolando S. Tinio did these translations in order to advance the Filipino language
• Rolando S. Tinio was a prolific poet and writer who helped establish the Filipino-language drama in the 1970s
• Rolando S. Tinio's Notable Works


  • "Now and Forever"
  • "Gamitin Mo Ako"
  • "Bayad Puri"
  • "Milagros"
  • "Ang Mestisa"
  • "Ako"
  • "Ang Kiri"
  • "Ana Maria"
  • "Orosman at Zafira"
  • "Larawan"
• N.V.M. Gonzales


  Famed poet, short story writer, essayist, professor, and recipient of numerous recognitions
• N.V.M. Gonzales was born in the beautiful province of Romblon
• In 1948, N.V.M. Gonzales received a Rockefeller Foundation Fellowship which allowed him to study in Stanford University and Columbia University
• N.V.M. Gonzales' Notable Works


  • "The Winds of April" (1941)
  • "A Season of Grace" (1956)
  • "The Bamboo Dancers" (1988)
  • "Bread of Salt"
• Levi Celerio


  Highly talented lyricist with more than 4,000 songs under his name
• Levi Celerio is known as an excellent leaf player, using a leaf to create music as cited by the Guinness Book of World Records
• Levi Celerio's Notable Translated and Own Works


  • "O Maliwanag na Buwan"
  • "Ako ay May Singsing"
  • "Alibangbang"