The 8 canonical authors and works of Philippine National Artist in Literature

The 8 Canonical Authors and Works of Philippine National Artist in Literature

Jose Garcia Villa (1973)

He is considered One of finest contemporary poet.
He introduced the reversed consonance rhyme scheme,including the comma poems that made full of punctuation mark, in an innovative poetic way.
He received numerous awards in america .
He used Doveglion as pen name ( dove, eagle, lion )

Footnote To Youth by : Jose Garcia Villa

Begins with the main character Dudong working in the fields. He takes no real joy in his dusty work; he is too distracted, impatient to get home and tell his father that he has asked Teang, the woman he loves, to marry him—and she has accepted. He is preoccupied by feelings of adulthood and masculinity, believing himself to be grown and capable. On the way home, he stops to bathe in a creek, a symbolic gesture: he is beginning fresh, starting a new chapter in his life. At home, we see the labors of the home and the trials of old age: Dudong regrets that he doesn't have a sister to help his mother with the housework; his father has a terrible and persistent toothache. When he tells his father his news, the latter tries to talk him out of it—Dudong is young, only 17. But because he is only 17, he is headstrong and sure of what he wants, so his father allows him to marry.

Nine months later, Teang gives birth to a boy, whom they name Blas. As Dudong waits out the childbirth in the yard, he frets to himself about what it will mean to be a father, and he imagines himself having ten children. He is afraid and despondent rather than excited at the prospect, and he is embarrassed to be a father and to have a child and to feel these things, though he does develop a sense of paternal pride upon seeing the baby.

Over the course of six years, Teang gives birth six more times, which takes its toll on both her body and Dudong's. Both become old beyond their years, and both regret having married so young; Teang bitterly wishes she had accepted the hand of another suitor, who in those six years had married but had no children. Dudong does not want all these children, and one night he stays awake wondering why life can be so cruel when youth is so full of dreams, so full of hope and expectation.

This same night, Blas, now 18, comes home late, and is unable to sleep. Dudong asks him what has him so agitated, and sees that the roles of father and son are now reversed: where once Dudong was the stubborn, impatient youth who thought that to marry was to live, and his father was the cautious, objective voice of reason, now Dudong's son has asked his girlfriend to marry him, and Dudong wants desperately for the young man to reconsider. But he will not reconsider, and Dudong resignedly gives his consent. Thus the impatience of youth perpetuates itself, along with the wisdom of years. Though love may at first overcome, life soon catches up.

Francisco Arcellana (1990)

He is an important progenitor of the modern filipino short story in english.
He is a writer a poet , essayist, journalist, and teacher.
He Pioneered the development of the story as a lyrical prose-poetic poem .
For him, the pride of fiction is that it able to render truth , that is able to present reality.

The Mats by: Francisco Arcellana

TThe Mats is a story of a family who had longed for their father's homecoming. In his home coming he brought with him surprise gifts for everyone. The surprise gifts were mats specially designed for each member of the family. Everyone is excited to see their gifts. The most excited of all is Nana Emilia.

As the family took their lunch, they have received their father's letter telling that he will be arriving soon with the mats with him. The mats were individually made with their names on it. Their excitement have caused them to reminisce on a mat older than Nana Emilia which was seldom used by anyone in the house.

This mat was given to Nana Emilia by her mother when she and Mr. Angeles were married, and it had been with them ever since. It had served on the wedding night, and had not since been used except on special occasions. It was a very beautiful mat, not really meant to be ordinarily used. It had green leaf borders, and a lot of gigantic red roses woven into it.

The mat did not seem to age. It seemed to Nana Emilia always as new as when it had been laid on the nuptial bed. To the children it seemed as new as the first time it was spread before them. The folds and creases always new and fresh. The smell was always the smell of a new mat.

Finally, their father had arrived and is ready to hand down his gifts for his family. Nana Emilia receives the one that is on top of the pile of mats. She just love it. Everyone else have received their mats. Each is specially designed with their personalities on it. There were three other mats which were for those family members who have passed away. Nana Emilia do not want to recall since the event is killing her. It had left pain in her heart.

Nick Joaquin ( 1976)

Nicomedes Marquez joaquin wrote using his pen name Quijano de Manila
The most distinguished Filipino writer in English Known for his highest quality of works .
He wrote plays, novela, poem, short stories, reportage ang journalism.

The woman who had two navels by: Nick Joaquin

The Woman Who Had Two Navels" by Nick Joaquin is a novel that explores the complexities of identity, history, and personal relationships. It tells the story of a Filipina named Connie Escobar, who returns to Manila after living in Hong Kong for several years.

Connie is haunted by her family's past, particularly the stories of her ancestors and the country's colonial history. She meets a colorful cast of characters, including a wealthy businessman named Macho, who becomes obsessed with her, and a revolutionary leader named Pepe, who offers her a chance to join his cause.

As Connie delves deeper into her family's history and her own identity, she begins to unravel the truth about her two navels, a physical anomaly that represents her dual identity as both a Filipino and a product of colonialism.

Through Connie's journey, Joaquin tackles complex themes such as the struggle for national identity, the legacy of colonialism, and the search for personal meaning and purpose. The novel is a powerful exploration of the Filipino psyche and the struggle for individual and collective identity in the face of a turbulent history.

N.V.M. Gonzales (1997)

Nestor Vicente Madali Gonzales
Fictionist, essayist, poet, and teacher
The best short story writer in the japanese period for his ''Lungsod, Nayon at Dagatdagatan''
He won numerous awards that attest to his triumph in incorporating English language in shaping Philippine culture .

The Bread of salt by:N.V.M. Gonzales

“The Bread of Salt”. The story is about a young boy who was very much in love with a girl named Aida but he was turned down mainly because of the difference in class that he later realized. However, this story is unlike any other typical love story. In fact, story is talks more about the painful realization of the young boy who was blinded from reality. In opening scene, we are told about the great Spanish house where Aida lived and from the line “I often wondered whether I was being depended upon to spend the years ahead in the service of this great house”, it clearly shows the difference of their classes. As we all know, in the real world, classes are a hindrance to love and marriage which the boy failed to realize from the very start because of his young age. Young boys naturally tend to think.

One of his dreams was becoming a rich and famous violinist. As we can see, the boy's experience to find out the truth is really painful, that even at the last part; it was quoted "the bread is not ready", which suggests that the boy is not quite ready to accept the real world. The pan de sal symbolizes the boy and by giving the task of buying the the pan de sal every morning to the girl, it shows how he is trying to escape from the reality so he could concentrate more on his dreams. He had wrongly regarded Aida as "his world" and thus it was painful to finally realize that he has no chance. He also had so many plans for Aida, including writing love letters and buying her a brooch. Unfortunately, how could one concentrate on his dreams if he is only at the aged of fourteen and has not even finished studying? Finally in the last part, the turning point of the story, where he hid the "egg yolks dip in honey and peppermint" in his pocket, he was caught by Aida. He has even thought of marrying Aida in the future. In the middle part of the story, the boy was relieved and was happy when he found out that her aunt brought a maid with her and that, his task of buying pan de sal every morning is now given to the "poor girl". This just shows that no matter how hard he tries to hide his "true" self, it will eventually, one day, come out. These things clearly show that the boy was very much in love with Aida so much so that he forgot that in this world not all dreams really come true. revolves around them and this is why the young boy had a lot of dreams and plans. He had already felt like he was part of the "higher class" since he was invited to the party but the truth is, his not. Some can be full of joy and happiness others not but no matter what, the realities of this world often dictates what will and must happen. If from the very start, the boy had accepted the realities of this world, maybe he would not have been to "hurt" at the last part.

Edith L. Tiempo (1999)

She is a poet,fictionist, teacher, and literary critic.
She is known for her style and substance , of craftmanship and insight.
Her language has been marked as '' descriptive but unburdened by scrupulous detailing''.

Bonsai by: Edith L. Tiempo

All that I love
I fold over once
And once again
And keep in a box
Or a slit in a hollow post
Or in my shoe.

All that I love?
Why, yes, but for the moment-
And for all time, both.
Something that folds and keeps easy,
Son’s note or Dad’s one gaudy tie,
A roto picture of a queen,
A blue Indian shawl, even
A money bill.

It’s utter sublimation,
A feat, this heart’s control
Moment to moment
To scale all love down
To a cupped hand’s size

Till seashells are broken pieces
From God’s own bright teeth,
And life and love are real
Things you can run and
Breathless hand over
To the merest child.

Manuel Arguilla

He is ilokano writer in English teacher, editor, patriot and martyr.
His anthologized story ''How my Brother Leon Brought home a Wife '' and other stories won

first prize in the commmonwealth literary contest in 1940

How my Brother Leon Brought home a wife by: Manuel Arguilla

In the story, Leon arrived with his wife in the country meeting Leon's brother for the first time. They took a surprising route home for Leon, but it was meant as a test for the wife to see if she could endure the sacrifices she made and meet her new family.

The entire story serves as a test for the wife. Each test was to show whether the woman could indeed live with strangers all for love. This can be a secondary theme, but more importantly, it is a theme in which the main character learns that though there are sacrifices it is worth it in the end.

He even begins to think about getting himself a wife eventually. This helps to show the theme and how it developed. He notices through all the tests the woman though afraid will preserve through the trials in order to be happy with Leon at his home.

The fact that the country is different from the city can be somewhat daunting the closer they get to the home, but she still manages to overcome and under come any trials.

The wife admits to having some fear, but also shows clearly it did not stop her. This is why the theme is related to how one may have to give up some things in order to find happiness in life or at least the best happiness that can be found in that particular life. The trials just add to the picture being offered by the author.

Virgilio S. Almario

He is known as Rio Alma.
A poet literary historian , critic , translatoe, teacher , and editor .
He published 12 books of poetry .
He founded many literary workshops and produced many known writers.
He headed the national Commision for the Culture and Arts as Executive Director .

The turtle and the monkey by : Virgilio S. Almario

The Turtle and the Monkey also known as The Monkey and the Turtle is a Philippine fable. It involves the tortoise outwitting a monkey over a banana tree.

The Ilocano version of the story offers an explanation on why monkeys don't eat meat. Versions of the story has a common theme of a weaker but cunning character (the tortoise or turtle) winning over a stronger adversary (the monkey).

Alejandro Roces (2003)

He is a short story writer and essayist, and considered as the country's best writer of comic short stories.
He was the champion of Filipino culture as he was instrumental in popularizing local fiestas like the Moriones and ati - atihan .
He received numerous local and international award.

My Brother's Peculiar Chiken by : Alejandro Roces

The story was about the weird chicken which Kiko and his brother found. They couldn’t tell whether it is a hen or a rooster. They keep on arguing to each other because Kiko insist that the chicken is a rooster for they saw it on the field fighting another chicken. But his brother is not convinced for the chicken has no comb or wattles, both disagree to one another.

They began to ask their mother and father, even the people on their village like Tasio and Mr. Cruz. But all of them couldn’t tell whether it’s a hen or a rooster. And they also thought that it was a “binabae”.

So instead, they decide to bring it into the cockpit and make it fight to a rooster. But during the fight there is a turn of events, things gone different for what they have expected. A lovesick expression came into the rooster’s eye, instead of fighting, the rooster began to do some love dance but the peculiar chicken suddenly stub it’s spur into the rooster and the fight is over. The brothers couldn’t believe what they had saw.

Kiko thinks he convinced his brother that the chicken is a rooster, but the chicken act something strange. It began to quiver, and egg came out and drop into his brother’s hand.

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