MANUEL ARGUILLA

Writer, Patriot, and Martyr

Manuel Arguilla, an Ilocano pride. His shown love to the country as a teacher, a writer, and a freedom fighter
was a virtue of patriot who offered his talents and life for the country.
Manuel E. Arguilla, acclaimed short story writer, patriot, and guerilla hero, was born in Bauang, La Union on June
17, 1911. He was the fourth child of Crisanto Arguilla a hard-working farmer folk who owned a small piece of land and
was also a carpenter; and Margarita Estabillo, who was an occasional potter.
When he was seven years old, he enrolled in a school in the neighboring barrio, where Alfredo Abuan taught him
the cartilla. Later, he transferred to the public elementary school in Bauang, La Union and graduated in 1926.
Arguilla was a brilliant and active student. Aside from excelling in academics at the provincial high school in San
Fernando, he edited as well the schools official organ, La Union Tab. A wide reader, he won in a vocabulary contest held
in the school. He was a champion swimmer and an expert tango dancer, constantly winning in dance contests. He was
known to have a therapeutic personality and was well loved by everyone he knew, he liked to listen to people tell him
their stories. Anything that interested him became an almost intrinsic part of him. It took him only three years to
complete his secondary education, graduating as class salutatorian in high school.
In 1929, he entered the University of the Philippines. While studying, he worked as a writer and printing assistant at the
Carmelo and Bauermann office. He became a member of the UP Writers Club, and eventually led it in the school year
1932-1933. He also came to edit the Literary Apprentice. In 1933, he received the degree of Bachelor of Science in
education from UP. During the same period, he married Lydia Villanueva, another aspiring writer and they lived in
Ermita, Manila. Their house eventually became a meeting place not only of other writers, but also of those who joined
the underground in World War II.
After graduating, he taught at the University of Manila while working at the Bureau of Public Welfare. The
Arguillas home along M.H. del Pilar in Manila became a sanctuary for friends and fellow writers, such as Estrella Alfon,
Jose Garcia Villa, N.V.M. Gonzales and A.V.H. Hartendorp.
Believing in the literature of social commitment, Arguilla did not remain a teacher for long for he also believed that
writers were born, not made, and that a talent for writing was an innate attribute that could never be taught or
acquired. Before leaving his students, he counseled them to just read volumes of stories. As a writer, his famous works
were compiled in a book entitled How my Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife (And Other Stories) published by
Philippine Book Guild in 1940. These stories were written when he was 22-29 years old. His only collection of stories
won first prize in short story category during the first Commonwealth Literary Contest in 1940.
In 1940, he became the managing editor of the Bureau of Welfare newsletter, the Welfare Advocate. He worked
at the Bureau for three years until the latter half of 1943. By then, the country had been under Japanese occupation for
two years. He was appointed to the Board of Censors and was asked to serve in the Japanese propaganda agency. But
Arguilla had also just become an agent of the Markings Guerillas. Thus, while apparently working for the Japanese, he
was actually heading the Porch, the Markings counter-intelligence and propaganda unit operating in Manila.
It was not long before the enemy discovered his guerillas activities, and subsequently, had him arrested in
February 1944. Along with his mother and few relatives, he was incarcerated at Fort Santiago. His wife was initially
unaware of his arrest but, later, was able to evade the dragnet. After two months, Arguillas mother and relatives were
released, while he was transferred to the Old Bilibid Prisons. Later, after being tortured and subjected to a sham trial, he
was brought back to Fort William McKinley now known as Fort Santiago for execution. He died on August or October
1944.
Most of Arguilla's stories depict scenes in Barrio Nagrebcan, Bauang, La Union where he was born (1910). His
bond with his birthplace, forged by his dealings with the peasant folk of Ilocos, remained strong even after he moved to
Manila where he studied at the University of the Philippines (B.S.E. 1933).

Arguilla the writer often portrayed the life of the ordinary Filipino, usually the rural Ilocano, in his more than 50
short stories that have permanently enriched Philippine literature. The critic Leopoldo Y. Yabes cited him as the best
craftsman among Filipino fictionist in English, (whose voice) is the only really authentic voice. He is shamelessly Filipino.
His stories are still considered unrivalled in their depiction of the life of the Ilocano farmer.
In the prime of his life Arguilla died a heros death. Yet he would not be forgotten. On June 12, 1972, Arguilla was
honored with a posthumous award, the Republic Cultural Heritage Award. He was cited for producing literary works that
have continued to influence Filipino fiction writingliterary scholarship.

References:
CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Art Volume IX. Manila: Cultural Center of the Philippines, 1994.
Valeros, Florentino B. and Estrelliya Valeros-Gruenberg. Filipino Writers in English. Quezon City: New Day Publishing
Company, 1987.
http://pinoylit.webmanila.com/filipinowriters/arguilla.htm
http://my1stblogjd.blogspot.com/2011/10/manuel-arguilla.html
http://pinoyfolktales.blogspot.com/2013/01/filipino-martyr-manuel-e-arguilla.html FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2013