CANONICAL
AUTHORS AND
WORKS OF
PHILIPPINE
NATIONAL ARTISTS
IN LITERATURE
Canon
- refers to measuring rod used
Canonical
- means using a standard /
measure in identifying great
literary masterpieces
- authorized; recognized;
accepted: canonical works.
NATIONAL LITERATURE
A literature that reflects the history
and culture of a country, usually
created by its local writers.
It plays an important role in
preserving and inspiring the
literature of today and in introducing
to future generations the Filipino
values that we have inherited from
our ancestors.
NATIONAL LITERATURE
MONTH
Proclamation No. 968,
which was signed just
February 10, 2015,
declares April as Buwan
ng Panitikang Filipino or
National Literature Month
AWARD-GIVING BODIES
IN LITERATURE
National Artist for Literature
Palanca
Manila Critics’ Circle
Philippine Free Press Literary
Awards
Don Carlos Palanca Memorial
Awards for Literature
Fernando Maria Guerrero
Award
Focus Literary Award for Fiction
Cultural Center of the
Philippines Literature Grant for
Criticism Gawad Pambansang
Alagad ni Balagtas from the
Writer’s Union of the Philippines
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 writers
 Displayed consistent excellence in the quality
of their works
 Gained recognitions and awards from
prestigious national or international literary
institutions
National
Artists of the
Philippines in
Literature
National Artists of the Philippines
(Filipino: Pambansang Alagad ng
Sining sa Pilipinas) is an order
bestowed by the Philippines on
Filipinos who have made significant
contributions to the development of
Philippine art. Originally instituted
as an Award, it was elevated to the
status of Order in 2003.
In Literature: poetry,
fiction, essay,
playwriting, journalism
and/or literary criticism.
1. AMADO V. HERNANDEZ (1973)
 He 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.
2. JOSE GARCIA VILLA (1973)
 He 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.
3. NICK JOAQUIN (1976)
 He was a versatile Filipino from San
Juan, was a journalist, historian,
playwright, scriptwriter and biographer.
But it was his mysterious and suspensefilled novels that became his trademark
style.
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
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.
5. NÉSTOR VICENTE MADALI
(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. His other
works focus on nature like The Bamboo
Dancers, The Winds of April, Seven Hills
Away and Work in the Mountains.
6. EDITH L. TIEMPO
She 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 fluid and not
burdened with details.
7. FRANCISCO SIONIL
JOSE 2001
Born: December 3, 1924
(age 91)
Place of Birth: Rosales
Pangasinan
Education: University of Sto.
Tomas
Awards: Carlos Palanca
Memorial Awards for Novel
in English, more.
AWARDS
CCP Centennial Honors for
the Arts in 1999
Outstanding Fulbrighters
Award for Literature in 1988
Ramon Magsaysay Award for
Journalism, Literature, and
Creative Communication Arts
in 1980
F. Sionil Jose is also a
publisher, lecturer on
cultural issues, and the
founder of the Philippine
chapter of the international
organization PEN.
NOVELS
The Rosales Saga, also
known as the Rosales
Novels, is a series of five
historical and political novels
written by Filipino National
Artist F. Sionil José.
Chronologically, it is composed
of five interconnected novels,
namely Po-on (written in
1984), Tree (written in 1978),
My Brother, My Executioner
(written in 1973), The
Pretenders (written in 1962),
and Mass (written in 1973).
VIRGILIO S. ALMARIO (2003)
Born: March 9, 1944 (age 72),
San Miguel, Bulacan
Spouse: Emelina Soriano
Education: University of the
Philippines
Awards: Carlos Palanca
Memorial Awards for Essay in
Filipino, Carlos Palanca
Memorial Awards for Poetry in
Filipino
Virgilio S. Almario, also
known as Rio Alma, is a
poet, literary historian and
critic, who has revived and
reinvented traditional Filipino
poetic forms, even as he
championed modernist
poetics.
In 34 years, he has published
12 books of poetry, which
include the
seminal Makinasyon and
Peregrinasyon, and the
landmark trilogy Doktrinang
Anakpawis, Mga Retrato at
Rekwerdo and Muli, Sa
Kandungan ng Lupa.
Among his 10 books of criticisms
and anthologies are Ang Makata
sa Panahon ng
Makina, Balagtasismo versus
Modernismo, Walong Dekada
ng Makabagong Tulang
Pilipino, Mutyang
Dilim and Barlaan at Josaphat.
ALEJANDRO ROCES
Alejandro Roces, is a short
story writer and essayist,
and considered as the
country’s best writer of
comic short stories. He is
known for his widely
anthologized “My Brother’s
Peculiar Chicken.”
BIENVENIDO LUMBERA
Bienvenido Lumbera, is a poet,
librettist, and scholar. As a poet, he
introduced to Tagalog literature what is
now known as Bagay poetry, a
landmark aesthetic tendency that has
helped to change the vernacular
poetic tradition. He has a poetry
collection entitled Likhang Dila,
Likhang Diwa (1993), and Balaybay:
Mga Tulang Lunot at Manibalang, a
collection of new poems in Filipino and
those from Likhang Dila.
LAZARO A. FRANCISCO
Lazaro A. Francisco developed
the social realist tradition in
Philippine fiction. Francisco
gained prominence as a writer
not only for his social
conscience but also for his
“masterful handling of the
Tagalog language” and “supple
prose style”.
CIRILO F. BAUTISTA
Cirilo F. Bautista is a poet,
fictionist and essayist with
exceptional achievements and
significant contributions to the
development of the country’s
literary arts. He is
acknowledged by peers and
critics, and the nation at large
as the foremost writer of his
generation.
https://www.google.com.ph/
www.dictionary.com/browse/canonical
https://www.goodreads.com/series/42
488-rosales-saga
www.goodreads.com/book/show/1722
104.Waywaya
https://www.google.com.ph/
ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-andarts/...of.../virgilio-s-almario
OVERVIEW OF
PHILIPPINE
LITERATURE BY
REGION
REGIONAL LITERATURE
It is also known as local color
which pertains to any written
literary genre that emphasizes
characters, dialects, customs,
topography and other features
indigenous or native to a specific
region.
REGIONAL
LITERATURE IN
THE
PHILIPPINES
1. ILOCANO LITERATURE
 Pedro Bukaneg is known as “the father of
Ilocano poetry and literature”. This blind
poet like Homer produced an epic for his
obra maestra Biag ni Lam-ang.
2. PAMPANGA LITERATURE
 Amado M. Yuzon’s
poem collection
written in the local Kapampangan
dialect “Salitang Paca-Versu” has
earned him accolades here and abroad
such as the 1959 poet laureate of the
Philippines, 1956 “Who’s Who in
America”, the “International Who’s
Who in Poetry”, and a Nobel Prize
nomination.
3. TAGALOG LITERATURE
 Francisco Baltazar, a Bulakeño poet who
earned for his duplo verses and corrido lyrical
metrical romance Florante at Laura the
following titles: “father of Tagalog literature”,
“the prince of Tagalog poets”, and
“Shakespeare of the Philippines.
4. BICOL LITERATURE
 Mariano Perfecto, this governor of
Camarines during the American era
was likewise a great writer of
Bicolano/Visayan novenas, poems, short
dramas and translations. He is also
credited for creating the first Bicolano
newspaper the An Parabareta. For all of
these, earned the titles of “father
of Bicolano literature” and
“father of Visayan literature”.
5. CEBUANO LITERATURE
 Vicente Sotto was a Filipino senator
from Cebu during the Commonwealth
period is also known as the “father of
modern Cebuano literature”. He
established the first Cebuano
newspaper Ang Suga in whose maiden
issue he wrote the first Cebuano
published short story “Maming”.
The first Cebuano stage play
Elena was likewise written,
directed and produced by him.
6. ILONGGO (HILIGAYNON
LITERATURE
 Magdalena Jalandoni was a woman
writer from Jaro, Iloilo who was born in
1896 and died in 1978; hence the time span
of her works range from the Spanish,
American to Japanese occupation of the
country. She is regarded as the most
prolific writer in the Hiligaynon language
and these are some of her works: Ang Mga
Tunoc Sang Isa Ca Bulac (The Thorns of a
Flower), Ang Matam-is Kong Pagkabata
(My Sweet Childhood) and Ang Guitara
(The Guitar).
ST
OVERVIEW OF 21
CENTURY REGIONAL
PHILIPPINE
LITERATURE
WHAT IS 21ST CENTURY REGIONAL
PHILIPPINE LITERATURE?
 21st Century Regional Philippine
Literature refers to any written
literary genre emphasizing
characters, dialect, customs, and
topography native to a specific
region in the country written,
printed and published from the start
of the new millennium up to the
present time.
VICTOR DENNIS T. NIERVA (BICOL)
 He was born in 1980 and is a native of Naga
City. At age 27, he published his first book in
2007 “Antisipasyon asin iba pang Rawitdawit
sa Bikol asin Ingles” (Anticipation and other
Poems in Bicol and English. For the use of local
dialects and settings in this book, he won the
Philippine National Book Award for Poetry and
the Manila
Critics Circle
in 2008.
CECILIA MANGUERRA BRAINARD (CEBU)
 She continues to be a productive writer of the
new millennium although born in the post
WW2 era. Her works for the 21st century
includes: Magdalena (2001 novel); Vigan and
other Stories (2001); Out of Cebu: Essays and
Personal Prose (2012); and Fundamentals of
Creative Writing (2009).
MELCHOR F. CICHON (ILO-ILO)
 His 2001 Aklanon haiku with English
translations “Sinead-Siad
ngaKaeangitan/Strips of Heaven” was
recognized with the Gawad Pambansang
Alagad ni Balagtas by the Unyon ng mga
Manunulat sa Pilipinas (UMPIL).
CANDY QUIMPO GOURLAY (DAVAO)
 She was born in Davao City but now residing in
the United Kingdom. In 2010, her debut novel
Tall Story won the 2011 Europe Crystal Kite
Award and the 2012 Philippine National
Children’s Book Award. Again in 2014, her 2nd
novel Shine won the Crystal Kite Award for
Britain and
 Ireland.
MARIVI SOLIVEN (MANILA)
 She wrote the novel entitled The Mango
Bride which was released internationally
by the global publisher Penguin Books in
2013. this same novel, which was then
known as In the Service of Secrets, won for
her the prestigious Carlos
Palanca Memorial
Award in the novel
category in 2011.
JOSE WENDELL CAPILI
CARLJOE JAVIER
RAISSA CLAIRE U. RIVERA
 All three are graduates of the Creative Writing
Dept. of UP Diliman and have been awardees of
the Carlos Palanca Memorial Award and other
prestigious literary recognitions.
WRITERS FROM
THE REGION
(CALABARZON)
José Protasio Rizal Mercado y
Alonso Realonda, widely known
as José Rizal, was a Filipino
nationalist and polymath during
the tail end of the Spanish
colonial period of the Philippines.
Born: 19 June 1861, Ermita,
Manila
Died: 30 December 1896, Manila
Novels and Essays
•Noli Me Tángere, novel, 1887
(literally Latin for 'touch me not',
from John 20:17)
•El Filibusterismo, (novel, 1891),
sequel to Noli Me Tángere
•The Diaries of José Rizal
•Sa Mga Kababaihang Taga
Malolos, essay, 1889, To the Young
Women of Malolos
Poetry
A La Juventud Filipina
El Canto Del Viajero
Briayle Crismarl
Canto Del Viajero
Canto de María Clara
Dalit sa Paggawa
Felicitación
Kundiman (Tagalog)
Mars Ravelo (October 9, 1916 –
September 12, 1988, Tanza Cavite)
was a Filipino graphic novelist who
created the characters Darna,
Dyesebel, Captain
Barbell, Lastikman, Bondying, Varg
a, Wanted: Perfect
Mother, Hiwaga, Maruja, Mariposa,
Roberta, Rita, Buhay Pilipino, Jack
and Jill, Flash Bomba, Tiny Tony,
and Dragonna among others.
Mar 2, 2012 - On March 3, 1894,
educator Paz Marquez-Benitez,
who authored the first Filipino
modern English-language short story
"Dead Stars", was born in Lucena
City, Quezon. Benitez was among
the first generation of Filipinos
trained in the American education
system which used English as the
medium of instruction.
Pascual H. Poblete was a
Filipino writer and feminist,
remarkably noted as the first
translator of Dr. José Rizal's
novel Noli Me Tangere into the
Tagalog language.
Born: 17 May 1857, Naic
Died: 5 February 1921, Manila
Books: Buhay at Mga Ginawa Ni
Dr. Jose Rizal
Eugenio Isabelo Tomas Reyes
Sanchez Jr. or widely known
as Bo Sanchez is a bestselling author, entrepreneur,
Catholic lay preacher and
minister. He is known as the
"Preacher in Blue Jeans".
He was born on July 11, 1966
in Caloocan City to Eugenio and
Pilar Sanchez.
Efren Reyes Abueg is a well-known
and recognized Filipino-language
creative writer, editor, author,
novelist, short story writer, essayist,
fictionist, professor, textbook writer,
and anthologist in the Philippines.
Born: 3 March 1937 (age80), Tanza,
Cavite
Education: De La Salle University
Books: Dramatic Legal Cases
LINDA TY CASPER
Born as Belinda Ty
in Malabon, Philippines in 1931.
Linda Ty Casper
graduated valedictorian in
the University of the Philippines, and
later earned her Master's
degree in Harvard University for
International Law. In 1956, she
married Leonard Casper, a professor
emeritus of Boston College who is
also a critic of Philippine Literature.
OPHELIA ALCANTARA DIMALANTA
Ophelia Alcantara Dimalanta
was a Filipino poet, editor,
author, and teacher. One of the
country's most respected
writers, Dimalanta published
several books of poetry,
criticism, drama, and prose
and edited various literary
anthologies.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/José_Rizal
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_Ravelo
https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=ma
rs+ravelo&noj
https://kahimyang.com/.../today-inphilippine-history-march-3-1894-pazmarquezben
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Efren_Abueg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ophelia
_Alcantara_Dimalanta
https://www.google.com.ph/