Jose Garcia Villa (Aug 5, 1908) – Feb 7,. 1997) (1973) is considered Carlos P.

arlos P. Romulo‘s (Jan 14, 1899 – Dec 15, 1985) (1982)

as one of the finest contemporary poets regardless of race or multifaceted career spanned 50 years of public service as educator,
language. Villa, who lived in Singalong, Manila, introduced the soldier, university president, journalist and diplomat. It is common
reversed consonance rime scheme, including the comma poems that knowledge that he was the first Asian president of the United Nations
made full use of the punctuation mark in an innovative, poetic way. General Assembly, then Philippine Ambassador to Washington, D.C.,
The first of his poems “Have Come, Am Here” received critical and later minister of foreign affairs. Essentially though, Romulo was
recognition when it appeared in New York in 1942 that, soon enough, very much into writing: he was a reporter at 16, a newspaper editor by
honors and fellowships were heaped on him: Guggenheim, Bollingen, the age of 20, and a publisher at 32. He was the only Asian to win
the American Academy of Arts and Letters Awards. He used America’s coveted Pulitzer Prize in Journalism for a series of articles
Doveglion (Dove, Eagle, Lion) as penname, the very characters he predicting the outbreak of World War II. Romulo, in all, wrote and
attributed to himself, and the same ones explored by e.e. cummings in published 18 books, a range of literary works which included The
the poem he wrote for Villa (Doveglion, Adventures in Value). Villa is United (novel), I Walked with Heroes (autobiography), I Saw the Fall
also known for the tartness of his tongue. of the Philippines, Mother America, I See the Philippines Rise (war-
Villa’s works have been collected into the following books: Footnote to time memoirs).
Youth,Many Voices, Poems by Doveglion, Poems 55, Poems in His other books include his memoirs of his many years’ affiliations
Praise of Love: The Best Love Poems of Jose Garcia Villa as Chosen with United Nations (UN), Forty Years: A Third World Soldier at the
By Himself, Selected Stories,The Portable Villa, The Essential Villa, UN, and The Philippine Presidents, his oral history of his experiences
Mir-i-nisa, Storymasters 3: Selected Stories from Footnote to Youth, serving all the Philippine presidents.
55 Poems: Selected and Translated into Tagalog by Hilario S.
Francia. Francisco Arcellana (Sep 6, 1916 – Aug 1, 2002) (1990), writer,
poet, essayist, critic, journalist and teacher, is one of the most
Nick Joaquin (May 4, 1917 April 29, 2004) is regarded by many as important progenitors of the modern Filipino short story in English. He
the most distinguished Filipino writer in English writing so variedly and pioneered the development of the short story as a lyrical prose-poetic
so well about so many aspects of the Filipino. Nick Joaquin has also form. For Arcellana, the pride of fiction is “that it is able to render truth,
enriched the English language with critics coining “Joaquinesque” to that is able to present reality”. Arcellana kept alive the experimental
describe his baroque Spanish-flavored English or his reinventions of tradition in fiction, and had been most daring in exploring new literary
English based on Filipinisms. Aside from his handling of language, forms to express the sensibility of the Filipino people. A brilliant
Bienvenido Lumbera writes that Nick Joaquin’s significance in craftsman, his works are now an indispensable part of a tertiary- level-
Philippine literature involves his exploration of the Philippine colonial syllabi all over the country. Arcellana’s published books are Selected
past under Spain and his probing into the psychology of social Stories (1962), Poetry and Politics: The State of Original Writing in
changes as seen by the young, as exemplified in stories such as English in the Philippines Today (1977), The Francisco Arcellana
Doña Jeronima, Candido’s Apocalypse and The Order of Sampler(1990).
Melchizedek. Nick Joaquin has written plays, novels, poems, short Some of his short stories are Frankie, The Man Who Would Be Poe,
stories and essays including reportage and journalism. As a journalist, Death in a Factory, Lina, A Clown Remembers, Divided by Two, The
Nick Joaquin uses the nome de guerre Quijano de Manila but whether Mats, and his poems being The Other Woman, This Being the Third
he is writing literature or journalism, fellow National Artist Francisco Poem This Poem is for Mathilda, To Touch You and I Touched Her,
Arcellana opines that “it is always of the highest skill and quality”. among others.
Among his voluminous works are The Woman Who Had Two Navels,
A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino, Manila, My Manila: A History for the Nestor Vicente Madali Gonzalez (Sep 8, 1915 – Nov 28, 1999)
Young, The Ballad of the Five Battles, Rizal in Saga, Almanac for better known as N.V.M. Gonzalez, fictionist, essayist, poet, and
Manileños, Cave and Shadows. Nick Joaquin died April 29, 2004. teacher, articulated the Filipino spirit in rural, urban landscapes.
Among the many recognitions, he won the First Commonwealth
Literary Contest in 1940, received the Republic Cultural Heritage marked as “descriptive but unburdened by scrupulous detailing.” She
Award in 1960 and the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining in 1990. The is an influential tradition in Philippine literature in English. Together
awards attest to his triumph in appropriating the English language to with her late husband, Edilberto K. Tiempo, she founded and directed
express, reflect and shape Philippine culture and Philippine sensibility. the Silliman National Writers Workshop in Dumaguete City, which has
He became U.P.’s International-Writer-In-Residence and a member of produced some of the country’s best writers.
the Board of Advisers of the U.P. Creative Writing Center. In 1987, Tiempo’s published works include the novel A Blade of Fern (1978),
U.P. conferred on him the Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, The Native Coast (1979), and The Alien Corn (1992); the poetry
its highest academic recognition. collections, The Tracks of Babylon and Other Poems (1966), and The
Major works of N.V.M Gonzalez include the following: The Winds of Charmer’s Box and Other Poems(1993); and the short story collection
April, Seven Hills Away, Children of the Ash-Covered Loam and Other Abide, Joshua, and Other Stories (1964).
Stories, The Bamboo Dancers, Look Stranger, on this Island Now,
Mindoro and Beyond: Twenty -One Stories, The Bread of Salt and F. Sionil Jose’s writings (2001) since the late 60s, when taken
Other Stories, Work on the Mountain, The Novel of Justice: Selected collectively can best be described as epic. Its sheer volume puts him
Essays 1968-1994, A Grammar of Dreams and Other Stories. on the forefront of Philippine writing in English. But ultimately, it is the
consistent espousal of the aspirations of the Filipino–for national
Rolando S. Tinio (March 5, 1937 – July 7, 1997) (1997), playwright, sovereignty and social justice–that guarantees the value of his
thespian, poet, teacher, critic and translator, marked his career with oeuvre. In the five-novel masterpiece, the Rosales saga, consisting of
prolific artistic productions. Tinio’s chief distinction is as a stage The Pretenders, Tree, My Brother, My Executioner, Mass, and Po-on,
director whose original insights into the scripts he handled brought he captures the sweep of Philippine history while simultaneously
forth productions notable for their visual impact and intellectual narrating the lives of generations of the Samsons whose personal
cogency. Subsequently, after staging productions for the Ateneo lives intertwine with the social struggles of the nation. Because of their
Experimental Theater (its organizer and administrator as well), he international appeal, his works, including his many short stories, have
took on Teatro Pilipino. It was to Teatro Pilipino which he left a been published and translated into various languages.
considerable amount of work reviving traditional Filipino drama by re- F. Sionil Jose is also a publisher, lecturer on cultural issues, and the
staging old theater forms like the sarswela and opening a treasure- founder of the Philippine chapter of the international organization
house of contemporary Western drama. It was the excellence and PEN. He was bestowed the CCP Centennial Honors for the Arts in
beauty of his practice that claimed for theater a place among the arts 1999; the Outstanding Fulbrighters Award for Literature in 1988; and
in the Philippines in the 1960s. the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature, and Creative
Aside from his collections of poetry (Sitsit sa Kuliglig, Dunung – Communication Arts in 1980.
Dunungan, Kristal na Uniberso, A Trick of Mirrors) among his works
were the following: film scripts for Now and Forever, Gamitin Mo Ako, Alejandro Roces (July 13, 1924 – May 23, 2011) (2003) “You cannot
Bayad Puri and Milagros; sarswelas Ang Mestisa, Ako, Ang Kiri, Ana be a great writer; first, you have to be a good person”, is a short story
Maria; the komedya Orosman at Zafira; and Larawan, the musical. writer and essayist, and considered as the country’s best writer of
comic short stories. He is known for his widely anthologized “My
Edith Tiempo (April 22, 1919 – August 21, 2011) - She is a poet, Brother’s Peculiar Chicken.” In his innumerable newspaper columns,
fictionist, teacher, and literary critic. She is one of the finest Filipino he has always focused on the neglected aspects of the Filipino
writers in English whose works are characterized by a remarkable cultural heritage. His works have been published in various
fusion of style and substance, of craftsmanship and insight. Born on international magazines and has received national and international
April 22, 1919 in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, her poems are intricate awards.
verbal transfigurations of significant experiences as revealed, in two of Ever the champion of Filipino culture, Roces brought to public
her much anthologized pieces, “The Little Marmoset” and “Bonsai”. As attention the aesthetics of the country’s fiestas. He was instrumental
fictionist, Tiempo is as morally profound. Her language has been in popularizing several local fiestas, notably, Moriones and Ati-atihan.
He personally led the campaign to change the country’s Bienvenido Lumbera (2006), is a poet, librettist, and scholar. As a
Independence Day from July 4 to June 12, and caused the change of poet, he introduced to Tagalog literature what is now known as Bagay
language from English to Filipino in the country’s stamps, currency poetry, a landmark aesthetic tendency that has helped to change the
and passports, and recovered Jose Rizal’s manuscripts when they vernacular poetic tradition. He is the author of the following works:
were stolen from the National Archives. Likhang Dila, Likhang Diwa (poems in Filipino and English), 1993;
His unflinching love of country led him to become a guerilla during the Balaybay, Mga Tulang Lunot at Manibalang, 2002; Sa Sariling Bayan,
Second World War, to defy martial law and to found the major Apat na Dulang May Musika, 2004; “Agunyas sa Hacienda Luisita,”
opposition party under the dictatorship. His works have been Pakikiramay, 2004. As a librettist for the Tales of the Manuvu and
published in various international magazines and received numerous Rama Hari, he pioneered the creative fusion of fine arts and popular
national and international awards, including several decorations from imagination. As a scholar, his major books include the following:
various governments. Tagalog Poetry, 1570-1898: Tradition and Influences in its
Development; Philippine Literature: A History and Anthology,
Virgilio S. Almario (2003) also known as Rio Alma, is a poet, literary Revaluation: Essays on Philippine Literature, Writing the Nation/Pag-
historian and critic, who has revived and reinvented traditional Filipino akda ng Bansa.
poetic forms, even as he championed modernist poetics. In 34 years,
he has published 12 books of poetry, which include the seminal Amado V. Hernandez (Sep 13, 1903 – May 24, 1970), (1973) poet,
Makinasyon and Peregrinasyon, and the landmark trilogy Doktrinang playwright, and novelist is among the Filipino writers who practiced
Anakpawis, Mga Retrato at Rekwerdo and Muli, Sa Kandungan ng “committed art”. In his view, the function of the writer is to act as the
Lupa. In these works, his poetic voice soared from the lyrical to the conscience of society and to affirm the greatness of the human spirit
satirical to the epic, from the dramatic to the incantatory, in his often in the face of inequity and oppression. Hernandez’s contribution to the
severe examination of the self, and the society. He has also redefined development of Tagalog prose is considerable — he stripped Tagalog
how the Filipino poetry is viewed and paved the way for the of its ornate character and wrote in prose closer to the colloquial than
discussion of the same in his 10 books of criticisms and anthologies, the “official” style permitted. His novel Mga Ibong Mandaragit, first
among which are Ang Makata sa Panahon ng Makina, Balagtasismo written by Hernandez while in prison, is the first Filipino socio-political
versus Modernismo,Walong Dekada ng Makabagong Tula Pilipino, novel that exposes the ills of the society as evident in the agrarian
Mutyang Dilim and Barlaan at Josaphat. problems of the 50s.
Many Filipino writers have come under his wing in the literary Hernandez’s other works include Bayang Malaya, Isang Dipang
workshops he founded –the Galian sa Arte at Tula (GAT) and the Langit, Luha ng Buwaya, Amado V. Hernandez: Tudla at Tudling:
Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika at Anyo (LIRA). He has also long been Katipunan ng mga Nalathalang Tula 1921-1970, Langaw sa Isang
involved with children’s literature through the Aklat Adarna series, Basong Gatas at Iba Pang Kuwento ni Amado V. Hernandez,
published by his Children’s Communication Center. He has been a Magkabilang Mukha ng Isang Bagol at Iba Pang Akda ni Amado V.
constant presence as well in national writing workshops and Hernandez.
galvanizes member writers as chairman emeritus of the Unyon ng
mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas (UMPIL). He headed the National MANUEL E. ARGUILLA (1911-1944) was an Ilocano who wrote in
Commission for Culture and the Arts as Executive Director, (from English. He was best known for his short story "How My Brother Leon
1998 to 2001) ably steering the Commission towards its goals. But Brought Home a Wife." which received first price in the
more than anything else, what Almario accomplished was that he put Commonwealth Literary Contest in 1940. June 17, 1911 - August 30,
a face to the Filipino writer in the country, one strong face 1944
determinedly wielding a pen into untruths, hypocrisy, injustice, among Most of his stories depict life in Barrio Nagrebcan, Bauang, La Union,
others. where he was born in 1911. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in
Education in 1933 at the University of the Philippines. He became a
member and later the president of the UP Writers' Club and editor of
the Literary Apprentice. He married Lydia Villanueva, another talented Quiz
writer, and they lived in Ermita, Manila. 1. He became a reporter at 16 and a news editor.
Arguilla taught creative writing at the University of Manila and worked A. N.V.M. Gonzalez
in the Bureau of Public Welfare as managing editor of the Welfare B. F. Sionil Jose
Advocate until 1943; afterwards, he was elected to the Board of C. Carlos P. Romulo
Censors. He secretly established a guerilla intelligence unit against D. Nick Joaquin
the Japanese during World War II. In August 1944, Manuel Arguilla 2. These are the winners in Commonwealth Literary Awards given in
was captured and executed by the Japanese. 1940 by President Manuel L. Quezon EXCEPT:
A. Literature and Society
B. Mother America
C. How my Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife
D. Like the Molave
3. He was instrumental in popularizing local fiestas like the Moriones
and Ati-atihan.
A. Virgilio S. Almario
B. Edith Tiempo
C. Rolando Tinio
D. Alejandro Roces
4. He is known as Doveglion
A. Nick Joaquin
B. Jose Garcia Villa
C. Francisco Arcellana
D. Virgilio S. Almario
5. How many literary works of F. Sionil Jose that have won the Carlos
Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature?
A. 3
B. 5
C. 15
D. 25