Philippine National Artists in

Literature
 Learning Objectives

 To be able to recognize who the Filipino

national artists in literature are

 To become familiar with some of these

national artists’ body of literary works
Key Understanding
 Get to know the Filipino National Artists
in Literature including some of their
literary works.
Key Question
 How are Filipino National Artists in
Literature chosen? Are there a set of
criteria or qualifications that they have to
meet?
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 of writers
Displayed consistent excellence in the quality of their
works
Gained recognitions and awards from prestigious
national or international literary institutions
Who Selects the Filipino National
Artist in Literature?
 Panel of literary experts
Commissioners of the National Commission on
Culture and the Arts (NCCA)
Board of Governors of the Cultural Center of
the Philippines (CCP)
President of the Republic of the Philippines
National Artists of the Philippines
in Literature

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 the issues of the poor and
the working class.
National Artists of the Philippines
in Literature

Image Credit: https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-SGz3mtJ67Mo/UqG8qmzdAgI/AAAAAAAAoXU/FoY_fTPFEF8/s640/blogger-image-1352930017.jpg

2. Jose Garcia Villa (1973)

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.
 Literary Reflections
First, A Poem Must Be Magical
by Jose Garcia Villa
First, a poem must be magical,
Then musical as a seagull.
It must be a brightness moving
And hold secret a bird’s flowering
It must be slender as a bell,
And it must hold fire as well.
It must have the wisdom of bows
And it must kneel like a rose.
On the left is an excerpt of
verses from one example of
Jose Garcia Villa’s comma
poem.
What can you say about
how he uses commas to
emphasize and separate
ideas ?
Is his poem more prose or
still a lyrical one or both?
 National Artists of the Philippines
in Literature
3. Nick Joaquin (1976)
This versatile Filipino from
San Juan was a journalist,
poet, novelist, historian,
playwright, scriptwriter, and
biographer. But it was his
mystery- and suspense-
filled novels that became
his trademark style like the
Image Credit:
https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=nick+joaquin&biw=1015&bih=503&source=lnms
&tbm=isch&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAWoVChMI3qar9YPsyAIVSBimCh33nQZ
P#tbm=isch&q=nick+joaquin+works&imgdii=0i5DDeEGEv1j2M%3A%3B0i5DDeEGEv
1j2M%3A%3Bd7iRjN9Ja-5TkM%3A&imgrc=0i5DDeEGEv1j2M%3A
featured book on the left.
 National Artists of the Philippines
in Literature
4. Carlos P. Romulo (1982)
This diminutive (only 4’ 11” in height)
son of Camiling, Tarlac was a WW2
soldier, UN diplomat, and foreign
affairs secretary to eight presidents. He
wrote 18 books mostly memoirs about
him, Douglas McArthur, Pres. Quezon,
and especially the Russian Andre
Vishinky who he silenced with this
Image Credit: http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1332743621l/13561171.jpg
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!”
National Artists of the Philippines
in Literature
5. NVM Gonzales (1997)
A native of Romblon island, he was
a poet, an essayist, a novelist, and a
teacher who depicted with his pen
the Filipino spirit in rural and urban
settings. Besides the book featured
on the left, his other works also
focus on nature like The Bamboo
Dancers, The Winds of April, Seven
Image Credit: http://www.mgbertulfo.com/wp-
Hills Away, and Work in the
content/uploads/2010/05/NVM-Gonzalez-Loam2.jpg
Mountains.
National Artists of the Philippines
in Literature
6. Edith Tiempo (1999)
The only female awardee who
hails from Bayombong, Nueva
Vizcaya is a poet, novelist,
literary critic, and teacher. Her
masterpieces are famous for
her use of vivid metaphors and
vibrant description that are
fluid and not burdened with
Image Credit: http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1314371662l/12439096.jpg
trite details.
National Artists of the Philippines
in Literature
7. F. Sionil Jose (2001)
A native of Rosales, Pangasinan,
he often gleans local legends and
epics from his hometown as well
as from the Ilocos region to
include in his short stories and
novels. His works are also
consistent in depicting the themes
of class struggle, colonialism,
Image Credit:
http://booklikes.com/photo/max/100/150/upload/books/71/51/69a745f7cd
social justice, and national
d90a9315df795a023baab7.jpg
sovereignty.
 Culminating Activity

Critique Paper Project

Choose one among the seven Filipino National Artists
in Literature tackled in this presentation. From their
body of literary works, choose one of any genre and
do a critique of it. The critique should address if the
work met the National Artist criteria of creating a
sense of nationhood, unique style of creativity,
profound impact on society and excellence and
should also explain why or why not.