for chicks.

It was De la Cruz himself who

personally challenged Balagtas to improve
his writing. Balagtas swore he would
overcome Huseng Sisiw as he would not ask
for anything in return as a poet.

FAMOUS WORK:

Francisco Balagtas Baltazar

Francisco Balagtas was born on April

2, 1788, in Barrio Panginay, Balagtas
Bulacan, formerly Bigaa. He was the
youngest of the four children of Juan
Balagtas, a blacksmith, and Juana de la Cruz.
He was baptized on April 30 that same year.
He studied Canon Law, Philosophy, Latin
and the Classics in Colegio San Juan de
Florante at Laura Summary
Letran and Colegio de San Jose. He finished
school in 1812.
The story is about the struggle and
Francisco Balagtas, also known as love of the Duke Florante and Princess Laura
Francisco Baltazar, was a prominent Filipino of Albania during the war between the
Christian Albanians and the Moros (Muslim
poet, and is widely considered one of the
people).
greatest Filipino literary laureates for his
impact on Filipino literature. The famous
In the Albanian forest
epic Florante at Laura is regarded as his
defining work. The story begins deep within a dark,
gloomy forest. Florante, a duke of
Balagtas learned to write poetry the Kingdom of Albania is tied to a tree,
from José de la Cruz (Joseng Sisiw), one of lamenting the death of his father, Duke
the most famous poets of Tondo, in return Briseo. He is driven mad by the thought that
his beloved, Princess Laura, has fallen into the
arms of his enemy, Count Adolfo, son of
Count Sileno. Nearby, two starving lions keep
watch and try to attack Florante. He is saved,
just in time, by Aladin, a Muslim prince who
happens to be at the forest at the same time.
Weak and bewildered, Florante faints.
The merciful soldier nurses Florante
to health. Upon recovery, Florante is initially
taken back by Aladin who he considers as an
enemy due to his Islamic faith. After a few
explanations are made, however, Florante is
grateful and begins to tell his story.
Florante’s tale
The son of a princess and a royal
adviser, Florante grew up in happiness,
showered with love. He liked to play games
when he was six, and was almost killed by
a vulture that entered in their mountain
cottage, which was also followed by the
attack of a falcon, which snatched his cupid
diamond. He was saved by his cousin
Menalipo, an archer from Epirus.
At the early age of 11, his parents,
Duke Briseo and Princess Floresca, sent him
to Athens, Greece to study under Antenor, a
renowned teacher. There, he met Adolfo, a
fellow countryman, the brightest student in
their school. After 6 years of study, Florante
surpassed Adolfo’s capabilities, talents and
intelligence, gaining popularity.
While acting during a school play, Adolfo
attempted to kill Florante. Fortunately,
Florante’s friend, Menandro, was quick
enough to intervene. Adolfo headed home
to Albania after his failed attempt. One year
later, Florante received a letter from his
father, announcing the death of his mother.
Though filled with grief, Florante
waited two months before he returned home.
Menandro, unwilling to be separated from
him, accompanied him on his journey. Upon
his arrival to Albania, an emissary of the
kingdom of Crotone requested his assistance
in the incoming war against the Persians.
Florante had not the will to refuse, for the
King of Crotone was his grandfather.
During his stay in Albania, Florante
was invited to the king’s palace. There, he
was stunned by the sight of Laura, the
daughter of King Linseo, ruler of Albania.
Coming to the aid of Crotone, Florante
fought with the Persian general, Osmalik for 5
hours, finally slaying him in the end. He
stayed in Crotone for 5 months before
returning to Albania to see Laura. He was
surprised by the sight of a Persian flag waving
atop the kingdom. He recaptured the palace
and saved his father, the king, and Adolfo. He
also saved Laura from being beheaded from
the hands of an Emir. He was declared
“Defender of Albania” for his bravery,
deepening Adolfo’s envy and hatred.
Florante protected the kingdom, once
more, from the Turkish forces, under general
Miramolin, an acclaimed conqueror. This took
place in Aetolia, where he later received a
letter from his father. The letter summoned
him back to Albania. He left his troops in the
care of his friend, Menandro. Upon returning,
he was ambushed by 30,000 soldiers under
Adolfo’s orders and was imprisoned for 18
days. There, he learned of the tragic fate of
his father and the king. Under Adolfo’s hands,
they were beheaded. Florante was then
exiled into the forest and tied to the tree.
“Never allow someone to be your priority
while allowing yourself to be their option”.
Aladin’s Tale
 After months of wandering in the
forest, the Persian, Aladin shares that he is
also in a similar circumstance.

Sultan Ali-Adab accused his own son,

Aladin, of leaving his troops and allowing his
conquered enemy to be recaptured. He
arranged for his son to be beheaded. Flerida,
very much in love with Aladin, begged
the Sultan not to kill, but merely exile his son.
In return, Flerida agreed to marry the Sultan,
who was very taken with her.

Reunion and Peace

Aladin’s speech is interrupted when

they hear voices. A woman narrates her
escape from a kingdom and a marriage. She
speaks of her search for her beloved, a search
which lasted 6 years. She shares that while
deep in the forest, she heard cries for help.
Finding a lady about to be raped by a man,
she uses her bow and arrow to kill him. The
woman introduces herself as Flerida.
The lady saved by Flerida is revealed
to be Laura, who begins to tell her story.
While her love was away at war, Count Adolfo
gained the popularity of the people, having
lied to them and turned them against the
king. Count Adolfo then rose to the throne,
forcing Laura to be his queen. An army under
Menandro, Florante’s childhood friend, was
able to overthrow Adolfo from power. Adolfo,
seeing all was lost, fled into the woods, taking
Laura as hostage.
Amado V. Hernandez
Amado Vera Hernandez, commonly
known as Amado V. Hernandez (September
13, 1903 – March 24, 1970), was a Filipino
writer and labor leader who was known for
his criticism of social injustices in the
Philippines and was later imprisoned for his
involvement in the communist movement.
While still a teenager, he began
writing in Tagalog for the
newspaper Watawat (Flag). He would later
write a column for the Tagalog
publication Pagkakaisa (Unity) and become
editor of Mabuhay (Long Live).

After hearing all this, Florante and
Aladin reunite with their loved ones. Florante
and Laura returned to Albania, and became
king and queen. Aladin and Flerida returned
to Persia, where Aladin became the
new sultan as his father committed suicide.
The two kingdoms lived in harmony and
peace.
His writings gained the attention of
Tagalog literati and some of his stories and
poems were included in anthologies, such
as Clodualdo Del Mundo's Parolang
Ginto and Alejandro Abadilla's Talaang
Bughaw.
In 1922, at the age of 19, Hernandez
became a member of the literary
society Aklatang Bayan which included
noted Tagalog writers Lope K.
Santos and Jose Corazon de Jesus.
In 1932, he married the Filipino
actress Atang de la Rama. Both of them
would later be recognized as National
Artists: Hernandez for Literature, de la
Rama for Theater, Dance and Music.
FAMOUS WORK:
Isang Dipang Langit
Ako'y ipiniit ng linsil na puno
hangad palibhasang diwa ko'y piitin,
katawang marupok, aniya'y pagsuko,
damdami'y supil na't mithiin ay supil.
Ikinulong ako sa kutang malupit:
bato, bakal, punlo, balasik ng bantay;
lubos na tiwalag sa buong daigdig
at inaring kahit buhay man ay patay.
Sa munting dungawan, tanging abot-
malas
ay sandipang langit na puno ng luha,
maramot na birang ng pusong may
sugat, watawat ng aking pagkapariwara.
Sintalim ng kidlat ang mata ng tanod,
sa pintong may susi't walang makalapit;
sigaw ng bilanggo sa katabing moog,
anaki'y atungal ng hayop sa yungib.
Ang maghapo'y tila isang tanikala
na kala-kaladkad ng paang madugo
ang buong magdamag ay kulambong
luksa ng kabaong waring lungga ng
bilanggo.
Kung minsa'y magdaan ang payak na
yabag, kawil ng kadena ang
kumakalanding; sa maputlang araw
saglit ibibilad, sanlibong aninong iniluwa
ng dilim.
Kung minsan, ang gabi'y biglang
magulantang sa hudyat - may takas! - At
asod ng punlo; kung minsa'y tumangis
ang lumang batingaw, sa bitayang
moog, may naghihingalo.
At ito ang tanging daigdig ko ngayon -
bilangguang mandi'y libingan ng buhay;
sampu, dalawampu, at lahat ng taon
ng buong buhay ko'y dito mapipigtal.
Nguni't yaring diwa'y walang takot-
hirap
at batis pa rin itong aking puso:
piita'y bahagi ng pakikilamas,
mapiit ay tanda ng di pagsuko.
Ang tao't Bathala ay di natutulog
at di habang araw ang api ay api,
tanang paniniil ay may pagtutuos,
habang may Bastilya'y may bayang
gaganti.
At bukas, diyan din, aking matatanaw
sa sandipang langit na wala nang luha,
sisikat ang gintong araw ng tagumpay...
layang sasalubong ako sa paglaya!

Bartolina ng Muntinlupa
Abril 22, 1952
ISANG DIPANG LANGIT ENGLISH VERSION:
An Arm's Length Piece of the Sky
I am held by an evil leader
seeking to cage my thoughts,
a body weak, he says, is surrender,
emotions suppressed, advocacy
hindered.
I am kept in a cruel place:
rock, steel, bullets, ferocious guards;
isolated from the world
alive, treated as dead.
From the little window, my sole
consolation
is an arm's length piece of the sky,
full of tears,
a paltry handkerchip to dress a
wounded heart,
flag of my misfortune.
Sharp as lightning are the guards'
eyes,
At the gates, with keys, no one can
go near;
The scream from a nearby cell
resembles a cave animal's howl.
Days pass like a chain
dragged along by bloody feet,
The nights are a blanket of sorrow
in the coffin-like realm of the jail.
Sometimes, quiet footsteps pass,
with a line of rattling, clinking
chains;
to the pale sun momentarily
exposed,
A thousand shadows escape.
Sometimes, the night is awakened
By an alarm - an escapee! - gunfire!
sometimes the old bell cries,
At the execution den, someone lies
dying.
And this is my only world now-
the prison house, a graveyard of the
living;
ten, twenty, and all of my years
my whole life will be here.
But a resolute mind knows not fear
or agony
And hope still springs in my heart:
Imprisonment is part of the struggle,
Jail, the fate of the embattled.
Man and God do not sleep
The unfortunate won't stay
oppressed,
Tyranny has a price to pay,
While a Bastille exists, people will
resist.
And tomorrow, in this very place, I
will see
An arm's length piece of the sky with
no more tears,
The golden sun of victory will
shine...
Free, freedom I'll embrace!
Muntinlupa Prison
April 22, 1952

Lope K. Santos
Lope K. Santos (born Lope Santos y
Canseco, September 25, 1879 – May 1, 1963)
was a Filipino Tagalog language writer and
former senator of the Philippines. He is best
known for his 1906 socialist novel, Banaag at
Sikat and to his contributions for the
development of Filipino grammar and Tagalog
orthography.
Filipina (Philippine Democratic Labor Union)
was absorbed by Santos. The group was
renamed as Union Del Trabajo de Filipinas, but
was later dissolved in 1907.
In 1903, Santos started publishing
fragments of his first novel, Banaag at
Sikat (From Early Dawn to Full Light) on his
weekly labor magazine Muling Pagsilang (The
Rebirth) and was completed in 1906. When
published in book form, Santos' Banaag at
Sikat was then considered as the first socialist-
oriented book in the Philippines which
expounded principles of socialism and seek
labor reforms from the government. The book
was later made an inspiration for the assembly
of the 1932 Socialist Party of the Philippines and
then the 1946 group Hukbalahap.
FAMOUS WORK:

Santos was sent to Escuela Normal

Superior de Maestros (Higher Normal School for
Teachers) for education and later finished
schooling at Colegio Filipino. During Philippine
Revolution of 1896, Santos joined
revolutionaries. By the time of the death of his
mother, she requested Lope to marry Simeona
Salazar. Marriage happened on February 10,
1900 and they were blessed with three children
namely Lakambini, Luwalhati and Makaaraw.
He pursued law at the Academia de la
Jurisprudencia then at Escuela Derecho de
Manila (now Manila Law College Foundation) BANAAG AT SIKAT
where he received Bachelor of Arts degree in
1912. In late 1900, Santos started writing his Felipe, the son of a wealthy
own newspaper Ang Kaliwanagan. This was also businessman in their locale in the western part
the time when socialism becomes an emerging of Luzon, loathes the indecencies that have
idea in world ideology. When José Ma. become prevalent among the upper middle
Dominador Goméz was charged and sentenced class; Felipe also frowned at his father’s
by the Supreme Court of sedition and illegal maltreatment wrought at the persons in his
association against the government in 1903, employ. Felipe, who cannot stand the pressure
Goméz's labor group Union Obrera Democratica of the social inequality around him, eventually
decides to forsake his own home and left to
work at a printing press.
There he met a young woman whose
name was Tentay; she had in her the utmost
modesty and dignity in spite of her
circumstances. His father’s indecencies,
especially among his workers, and his
unorthodox methods of getting revenue has
Felipe only loathing the rich and powerful more,
causing him to indulge in anarchist thoughts
and introspection.
Felipe, however, decided at length to
come home after Don Ramon, his father, has
forced him into doing so. Felipe, shortly after his
arrival at home, enlightened the workers at the
farmhouse with his anarchist ideas of rushed
democracies and equality-for-all conceptions.
Don Ramon, upon getting knowledge of his
son’s activity banishes Felipe from his
household. He then goes back to working at the
printing press and urges Tentay to live with him
in spite of not having had married; Felipe
believes that love must exist without restriction,
without exception.
Delfin, unlike Felipe, is more of a
socialist than an anarchist. Unlike Felipe, he
does not wish to eradicate the governmental
elements of the state; Delfin adheres, however,
with Felipe’s premise that wealth must not be
monopolised, or held by a few select persons
only, when thousands suffer in their individual
calamities of circumstance and unrest. Delfin,
who grew up destitute, studies law and in his
free time he writes for a local newspaper. Delfin
shares not only his friendship with Felipe, but
they also have the same desires and aspirations
for society.
Felipe’s methods are radical in nature
whereas Delfin opts for a more passive route to
social equality that is more peaceful but more
gradual than a radical approach. Besides Felipe,
Don Ramon has another son who had already
married and two daughters: Talia and Meni.
Talia married Madlanglayon, a lawyer; their
marriage ceremony is very grandiose in every
aspect and this became a bothersome thing for
both Delfin and Felipe. For them, this is a clear
example of social inequality—when the wealthy
embezzle about with their resources while the
poor remain unjustly deprived even of the most
basic of needs.
Meanwhile, with Felipe’s guidance for
they had been in the same household, Delfin
meets Meni and they eventually come to a
mutual understanding. Of course, Don Ramon
learns of this and objects the union of Delfin
and Meni. He despises Delfin as the chosen
partner of his daughter not only because of his
apparent destitution, but also because Don
Ramon had overheard his socialist sentiments
shared with much conviction at a bathhouse in
Antipolo. This negation of Don Ramon’s was all
for naught for love has prevailed between the
two.
Meni’s infatuation and affection for
Delfin is most distinguishable that
Madlanglayon and Talia cannot keep their
inferences from the hostile Don Ramon. He is
thus angered by this affair; his emotions
brought about a physically abused Meni, who
looked like she was dying. Madlanglayon then
persuades Don Ramon to a halt from his
brusqueness and eventually into agreeing in
Delfin and Meni’s union in marriage. Don
Ramon, in all his bitter feeling, wrote in his will
that his properties with the advent of his death
be passed on to two of his children, excluding
Felipe and Meni. This damages Meni’s
reputation in the long run; with her realising
that she has bargained her comfortable,
luxurious life for Delfin. She cannot do anything
but struggle in her simple life. This embarrasses
Delfin – he did not want in the first place for any
form of sorrow to afflict his beloved.

NICK JOAQUIN
Nicomedes "Nick" Márquez
Joaquín (May 4, 1917 – April 29, 2004) was
a Filipino writer and journalist best known
for his short stories and novels in
the English language. He also wrote using
the pen name Quijano de Manila. Joaquín
was conferred the rank and title of National
Artist of the Philippines for Literature. He
has been considered one of the most
important Filipino writers, along with José
Rizal and Claro M. Recto. Unlike Rizal and
Recto, whose works were written in
Spanish, Joaquin's major works were
written in English despite being a native
Spanish speaker.
Before becoming one of the leading
practitioners of Philippine literature in
English, he was a seminarian in Hong Kong –
who later realized that he could better
serve God and humanity by being a writer.
This is reflected in the content and style of
his works, as he emphasizes the need to
restore national consciousness through
important elements in Catholic Spanish
Heritage. In his self-confessed mission as a
writer, he is a sort of "cultural apostle",
whose purpose is to revive interest in
Philippine national life through literature –
and provide the necessary drive and
inspiration for a fuller comprehension of
their cultural background. His awareness of
the significance of the past to the present is
part of a concerted effort to preserve the
spiritual tradition and the orthodox faith of
the Catholic past – which he perceives as
the only solution to our modern ills.
Very early on, Joaquín was already
exploring his literary voice. At age 17, he
published his first English poem about Don
Quixote, in the literary section of the pre-
World War II Tribune, where he worked as a
proofreader. It was accepted by the writer
and editor Serafín Lanot. Joaquín had felt a
strong connection with the story of Don
Quixote; he felt like he could identify with
the character. Later in life, he used a similar
iteration of Quixote in his various pen
names, Quijano de Pacó and Quijano de
Manila.
A little later, in 1937 he published
his first short story in the Sunday Tribune
Magazine, “The Sorrows of Vaudeville”
telling the story of the vaudevilles in
Manila—a city he was endlessly enamored
by. It was accepted by the writer and editor
Serafín Lanot.
Joaquín continued publishing stories
and poems between 1934 and 1941 in the
Herald Mid-Week Magazine and the Sunday
Tribune Magazine. The Commonwealth
years were a particularly vibrant era in
Philippine literature. Later, the Japanese
occupation closed down the Tribune and
other publications. The young Joaquín had
to look for ways to support his family.
After returning to the Philippines,
Joaquín joined the Philippines Free Press,
starting as a proofreader. He soon attracted
notice for his poems, stories and plays, as
well as his journalism under the pen
name Quijano de Manila. His journalism
was both intellectual and provocative, an
unknown genre in the Philippines at that
time, and raised the country's level of
reportage.
Joaquín represented the Philippines
at the International PEN Congress
in Tokyo in 1957, and was appointed as a
member of the Motion Pictures commission
under presidents Diosdado
Macapagal and Ferdinand E. Marcos.
FAMOUS WORK:
MAY DAY EVE SUMMARY
In the late 1840’s, when it was
already May Eve they said that the dancing
should stop at 10 o’clock in the evening.
Until the celebration was over, the guests
started to decamp but the girls just went to
their bedroom while the boys just
continued what they are doing and finished
their drink.
Then there was this woman named
Anastasia, who used to tell stories about
witches and that made all the girls afraid.
Anastasia instructed Agueda how to do the
ritual involving the mirror. As Agueda knew
what she will do, she went to the mirror in
their sala and said “Mirror, Mirror, show to
me him whose woman I will be.”
Unfortunately, she saw a devil. And it was a
guy named Don Badoy, he was in loved with
Agueda.
Recently, it was their marriage; until
they had a daughter. Agueda told the story
to her daughter and she warned her to
never admire herself in the mirror or else
she will see something frightening. After
that, Agueda started comparing the devil to
Don Badoy then her stories continued.
Don Badoy, has his grandson named
Voltaire. Don Badoy caught his grandson
doing the ritual in the mirror. He also
started telling his stories about him doing
the ritual and said that he saw a witch.
Likely, he also warned this grandson to
never do that again because he might see a
witch. His stories continued as he compared
the witch to Agueda.

F. Sionil José
Francisco Sionil José (born 3
December 1924) is one of the most widely
read Filipino writers in the English
language. His novels and short
stories depict the social underpinnings of
class struggles and colonialism in Filipino
society. José's works—written in English—
have been translated into 28 languages
,including Korean, Indonesian, Czech,
Russian, Latvian, Ukrainian and Dutch.
José was born in Rosales,
Pangasinan, the setting of many of his
stories. He spent his childhood in Barrio
Cabugawan, Rosales, where he first began
to write. José is of Ilocano descent whose
family had migrated to Pangasinan prior to
his birth. Fleeing poverty, his forefathers
traveled from Ilocos towards Cagayan
Valley through the Santa Fe Trail. Like many
migrant families, they brought their lifetime
possessions with them, including
uprooted molave posts of their old houses
and their alsong, a stone mortar for
pounding rice.
One of the greatest influences to
José was his industrious mother who went
out of her way to get him the books he
loved to read, while making sure her family
did not go hungry despite poverty and
landlessness. José started writing in grade
school, at the time he started reading. In
the fifth grade, one of José's teachers
opened the school library to her students,
which is how José managed to read the
novels of José Rizal, Willa Cather’s My
Antonia, Faulkner and Steinbeck.
José attended the University of
Santo Tomas after World War II, but
dropped out and plunged into writing and
journalism in Manila. In subsequent years,
he edited various literary and journalistic
publications, started a publishing house,
and founded the Philippine branch of PEN,
an international organization for
writers. José received numerous awards for
his work. The Pretenders is his most popular
novel, which is the story of one man's
alienation from his poor background and
the decadence of his wife's wealthy family.
FAMOUS WORK: Another approaching occurrence was the
help the Filipinos would be receiving from
the Americans in finally removing the
governing Spaniards from
the archipelago after three hundred years.
The novel recreates the societal struggles in
which the characters of Po-on were situated
in, which includes the protagonist Istak’s
personal search for life's meaning and for
the true face of his beliefs at principles.
Throughout this personal journey, he was
accompanied by a dignity that is his
alone Istak was assigned the task of
delivering a message to General Emilio
Aguinaldo, the leader of the Philippine
PO-ON revolutionaries, but died at the hands of
American soldiers, on his way to delivering
When an Ilocano family abandoned their the message.
beloved barrio in order to overcome the
challenges to their survival in
southern Pangasinan in the Philippines, and
also to flee from the cruelty they received
from the Spaniards. One of the principal
characters of the novel is Istak, a Filipino
from the Ilocano stock who was fluent in
Spanish and Latin, a talent he inherited
from the teachings of an old parish priest in
Cabugao. He was an acolyte aspiring to
become a priest. He was also
knowledgeable in the arts of traditional
medicine. The only hindrance to his goal of
becoming a full-pledged priest was his racial
origins. He lived in a period in Philippine
history when it a possible Filipino uprising
against the Spanish government was about
to erupt, a time after the execution of
three mestizos, namely Mariano
Gómez, José Apolonio Burgos, and Jacinto
Miguel Syjuco
Zamora (or the Gomburza, an acronym for
the three) at Bagumbayan (now known Miguel Syjuco is a Filipino writer from
as Rizal Park) in February, 1872. There were Manila and the grand prize winner of the
signs that a revolution will happen, despite 2008 Man Asian Literary Prize for his first
of the lack of unity among the inhabitants novel Ilustrado.
of the Philippines islands at the time.
 Born Miguel Augusto Gabriel J. In 2011, it was published in
Syjuco, he is the son of Representative translation in Serbian (Geopoetika), French
Augusto Syjuco Jr. of the second district of (Editions Christian Bourgois), Catalan
Iloilo in the Philippine House of (Tusquets), Italian (Fazi), Japanese
Representatives, and Judy Jalbuena. Syjuco (Hakusuisha), Czech (Jota), German (Klett-
graduated from high school in 1993 from Cotta), and Brazilian Portuguese
the Cebu International School. He received (Compahnia das Letras).
a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Syjuco is represented by Peter
Literature from the Ateneo de Manila Straus at the Rogers, Coleridge and White
University in 2000 and completed Literary Agency in London, and by Melanie
his MFA from Columbia University in 2004.
Jackson in New York City. He has already
In early 2011 he completed a PhD sold a second book to North American
in literature from the University of Adelaide. publishers.[1]
In 2013, he was a fellow at the
His novel, Ilustrado, won the Grand
Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Studies at
Prize for the Novel in English at the 2008
Harvard University. In 2014, he served as
Palanca Awards. In November of the same
the International Writer-in-Residence at
year, he won the Man Asian Literary
NTU, in Singapore.
Prize also for Ilustrado.
He is currently a visiting professor in
In 2010, the novel won the QWF
the Literature and Creative Writing
Paragraphe Hugh MacLennan Prize for
department at New York University Abu
Fiction, Quebec's top literary prize, and was
Dhabi.
a New York Times Notable Book of 2010 as
well as a Globe and Mail Top 100 of
2010. The novel was also a finalist for FAMOUS WORK:
the Commonwealth Writers' Prize, a finalist
for the Amazon First Novel Award, and a
finalist for the 2010 Grand Prix du Livre de
Montreal. In late 2010, Ilustrado was
published in translation in Spanish
(Tusquets), Swedish (Natur & Kultur), and
Dutch (Mouria).
In 2011, Ilustrado joined books by
David Mitchell, Aleksandar Hemon, Marie
NBiaye, and Wells Tower for the Premio von
Rezzori. It was also among the three top
finalists for the $55,000 Prix Jan
Michalski, an annual Swiss prize for the best
international book, as well as the Prix
Courrier International, which honors the
best international books translated in
France. ILUSTRADO SUMMARY
 It begins with a body. On a clear day
in winter, the battered corpse of Crispin
Salvador is pulled from the Hudson River—
taken from the world is the controversial
lion of Philippine literature. Gone, too, is
the only manuscript of his final book, a
work meant to rescue him from obscurity
by exposing the crimes of the Filipino ruling
families. Miguel, his student and only
remaining friend, sets out for Manila to
investigate.
To understand the death, Miguel
scours the life, piecing together Salvador’s
story through his poetry, interviews, novels,
polemics, and memoirs. The result is a rich
and dramatic family saga of four
generations, tracing 150 years of Philippine
history forged under the Spanish, the
Americans, and the Filipinos themselves.
Finally, we are surprised to learn that this
story belongs to young Miguel as much as
to his lost mentor, and we are treated to an
unhindered view of a society caught
between reckless decay and hopeful
progress.
Exuberant and wise, wildly funny
and deeply moving, Ilustrado explores the
hidden truths that haunt every family. It is a
daring and inventive debut by a new writer
of astonishing talent.
Lualhati Bautista
Lualhati Torres Bautista (born
December 2, 1945) is one of the foremost
Filipino female novelists in the history of
contemporary Philippine literature. Her
novels include Dekada '70, Bata, Bata,
Pa'no Ka Ginawa?, and‘GAPÔ.
Bautista was born in Tondo, Manila,
Philippines on December 2, 1945, to
Esteban Bautista and Gloria Torres. She
graduated from Emilio Jacinto Elementary
School in 1958, and from Torres High School
in 1962. She was a journalism student at
the Lyceum of the Philippines, but dropped
out because she had always wanted to be a
writer and schoolwork was taking too much
time. Her first short story, "Katugon ng
Damdamin," was published in Liwayway
Magazine and thus started her writing
career.[2]
Despite a lack of formal training,
Bautista as a writer became known for her
honest realism, courageous exploration of
Philippine women's issues, and compelling
female protagonists who confront difficult
situations at home and in the workplace
with uncommon grit and strength.
Bautista garnered several Palanca
Awards (1980, 1983 and 1984) for her
novels ‘GAPÔ, Dekada '70 and Bata, Bata…
Pa’no Ka Ginawa?, which exposed injustices
and chronicled women's activism during
the Marcos era.
FAMOUS WORK:
DEKADA ‘70
A middle-class Manila neighborhood
is home to the Bartolome family. Couple
Amanda Bartolome and Julián Bartolome Sr.
are parents to sons Julian "Jules" Bartolome
Jr. , Isagani "Gani" Bartolome, Emmanuel
"Em" Bartolome , Jason Bartolome and
Benjamin "Bingo" Bartolome. The story tells
about their life during the martial law in
the Philippines during the 1970s.
In 1965, as a young Gani was fighting
with his friend while they were playing a
game in the street, their mothers came by
to stop the fighting and made them stay
away from each other. In the streets of
Manila, protests take place when the
Philippines enter the Vietnam War.
In 1970, Philippine president Ferdinand
Marcos wins his re-election bid as
president. At dinner time, Jules and Gani
speak about the upcoming Junior-Senior
Promenade. Amanda was looking for a job
but her husband Julián stopped her from
pursuing it. At the prom, Gani tries to grope
his partner but she accidentally kicks him
instead. The Bartolome’s get stuck in traffic
in the streets on the way home from the
event. A protest happened near
the Legislative Building and large protests
were the major cause when Ferdinand
Marcos declared martial law, there were
effigies burned by activists during the
recent protest.
In 1971 another protest took place in
the University of the Philippines and Jules
with his best friend Willy became activists
that same year. Emmanuel begins to write
illegal exposure and other kinds of banned
literature. Jules and Wily joined a resistance
movement and both of them made pledges.
A large number of protesters started to
demonstrate outside and they began to sing
the Philippine National Anthem, "Lupang
Hinirang", with raised clenched fists. The
soldiers were outnumbered and the
protesters were trying to push them away
but they couldn't so they retreated back to
their places. Just then a furious Julián
explain to Jules and Willy and also learns
that the writ of habeas corpus was
suspended by Marcos himself including the
enforced disappearance of the student
leader Charlie Del Rosario. Gani explains to
his father his plans to apply for a job in
the US Navy only to be overheard by Jules,
who admonishes his actions as lack of
patriotism for the Philippines. Gani angrily
explains to him that working for the US
government entitles one to a high salary
with numerous benefits. Julián accepts the
plan, thus making Gani the family's newest
breadwinner. Another protest depicts
President Ferdinand Marcos acting as a
lackey to Uncle Sam, and crucifying a
Filipino. Bingo pulls down a flying kite and
Amanda discovers that the kite is made out
of an activist newspaper. Julián also
discovers that Jules is an activist and he
sneaks up to his room to check his
rebellious pamphlets. He convinces that
when Marcos was not yet a president in the
past, the government signed a treaty
between the United States, and the
Philippines has no other choice but to
recognize that treaty.
In 1972, Marcos declared martial law on
nationwide television. He also included
curfew at night to round up people from
going outside to be imprisoned,
interrogated, and tortured to death. Gani
accidentally impregnates his girlfriend
Evelyn and her sleeping in Gani's room was
discovered by Amanda. Two police cars
escort the Bartolome’s to Evelyn's house. At
the house, Evelyn's father speaks to the
Bartolome couple before blackmailing Gani
into marrying her. They are married but
days after the wedding, they have an
argument for being the Bartolome's figure
of shame. Jason shows his mother the
report card but his grades just went down.
But despite that, he convinces that during
the first period, there was a high value of
time. Jules came home late and confessed
to his family that Willy had been tortured to
death for staying past curfew. Jules wanted
to go to Bicol to join the communist group
the NPA for his exposure trip despite his
mother's opposition.
In 1973, Evelyn gave birth to a baby girl and
the same day, Gani went to the United
States after he was enlisted at the US Navy
while Evelyn went back to her mother.
Emmanuel is going to Bataan for his
interview about the Bataan Nuclear Power
Plant but Julián becomes furious as Em
might get caught due to martial law as well
as the presence of soldiers in the area. The
next day, Emmanuel left for Bataan for his
interview and then two days later the
Bartolome family went to the beach in the
afternoon. It is then revealed that Evelyn
and Gani had already separated the day
Gani left for the United States.
In 1974, Jules brought a wounded friend
home to have a bullet extracted from his
leg, as bringing him to a hospital would
arouse too much suspicion. A few days
later, he began to hang out with Emmanuel
and at the following day, Jules left the
house again realizing that he cannot stay
there for long.
In 1975, Bingo celebrates his birthday and
they throw a birthday party in his family
house until night. And after a couple of
months without returning to his house,
Jules was revealed to have been married to
Mara (Ana Capri) and they both have a baby
boy. At night, they burn Jules' anti-
government pamphlets for fear of being
arrested by who they think are the military
but are actually a group of harmless
carolers.
In 1976, a group of soldiers arrive at their
house for the search and arrest order led by
Jules, who had just become a political
officer. The next day, Amanda and Bingo
release two of their own pet birds to fly
away for their freedom, but they know that
those birds will come back to them. At night
there is a phone call, and Emmanuel is
shocked because Jules is subsequently sent
to prison after his friend betrays them by
revealing himself to be an undercover
government operative. He also survived
from torture but instead he was electrified
and made to sleep on and ice box while in
front of an electric fan while naked. At
Christmas Day, Jason went home late from
caroling and he learns that there was no
curfew, but he wants to have a date with
his girlfriend, Bernadette tomorrow but his
mother told to him that he can have a date
with her anytime but not during Christmas
Day.
In 1977, Amanda learns that Jason was
missing; she and her husband went to many
police stations to look for their missing son
all night long. And they learned that Jason
was imprisoned for possession of marijuana
but he was released for a few moments
later and he was still missing. Emmanuel
went to his friend and he said that there
were three policemen who stabbed a young
man to death, tying up his hands and
salvages him to the dump. When he came
home silently, he engaged in a private talk
with his father while a saddened Amanda
sat down on the chair. While hearing loud
cries, the young man was revealed to be
Jason who was stabbed to death and
Amanda faints. At his funeral, Gani recently
came back from the United States to attend
his wake, the three brothers went to his
body crying. Bingo was still sad because he
thought that he was still mad at him, he
said that Bernadette wanted to introduce
Jason to her parents during Christmas Day
but he died. Julián explains to Amanda that
there were thousands of people killed
during the martial law. Amanda and her
friends went to Jason's grave and she
convinces that it is best for her to live
without her own children because she
thought that her children can die early, she
began to cry and she said that Jason wasn't
a bad person. Even at that moment, she can
go and face the Lord and even the demon
just to prove that he is not a bad person.
Amanda plans that she and Julián to be
separated, she wanted to live alone and
also she had a feeling from Jules when he is
in prison but she wanted to be proud of
herself. Amanda went to Emmanuel and
there was a stage rehearsal for activists. A
few moments later, Bingo informs to his
mother that they will not be separated
because Jules was released from prison. At
the prison cell, the Bartolome’s visited Jules
for his release from prison while he was
saying goodbye to his fellow inmates.
In 1978 during the Batasang Pambansa
Elections a group of people are parading on
the city street in Manila causing a moderate
traffic on the road. The Bartolome family
started to join the activist group called
the Kilusad group to overthrow the Marcos
regime. Emmanuel went on stage to lead
his fellow activists to sing the Lupang
Hinirang.
Later in 1983, the Bartolome family attend
the wake of Ninoy Aquino at the Santo
Domingo Church in Quezon City after
his assassination. Amanda begins to join a
large group of activists at the Post Office
Building to overthrow the Marcos regime
once and for all. The Marcos regime was
peacefully overthrown in 1986
when Corazon Aquino was sworn into office
as president until 1992.
After nine years, the shouts of "Erap
resign!" followed by the singing of "Bayan
Ko," prompting the crowd to call for the
resignation of then President Joseph
Estrada in time for the EDSA Dos and led to
the installation of Vice President Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo as President at the EDSA
Shrine on January 20, 2001.

Felisa Batacan
Maria Felisa H. Batacan is a Filipino
journalist and a writer of crime and mystery
fiction. Her work has been published in the
Philippines and abroad under the name F.H.
Batacan.
She was a fellow at the 1996
Dumaguete National Writers' Workshop.
Batacan worked in the Philippine
intelligence community and then became a
broadcast journalist. She attended
the University of the Philippines, where she
pursued a master's degree in Arts
Studies. In 1999 her manuscript, Smaller
and Smaller Circles, won the Don Carlos
Palanca Memorial Awards for
Literature Grand Prize for the English Novel.
This novel was published in 2002 by
the University of the Philippines
Press. Although most Filipino English-
language fiction works garner a single print
run of only 1,000 copies, Smaller and
Smaller Circles had been reprinted four
times by the year 2006, for a total of 6,000
copies. The novel was one of the first
Filipino works of crime fiction.
The novel also won the 2002 Manila
Critics’ Circle National Book Award and the
Madrigal-Gonzales Best First Book Award in
2003.
In 2008, she won 1st prize in the
English short story category of the
Philippines Free Press Literary Awards.
In 2015, a new, expanded edition of
the novel was published by Soho Press, New
York.
FAMOUS WORK:
SMALLER AND SMALLER CIRCLES SUMARRY
In northeast Manila's Quezon City is
a district called Payatas--a 50-acre dump
that is home to thousands of people who
live off of what they can scavenge there. It
is one of the poorest neighborhoods in a
city whose law enforcement is already
stretched thin, devoid of forensic resources
and rife with corruption. So when the
eviscerated bodies of teenage boys begin to
appear in the dump heaps, there is no one
to seek justice on their behalf. In the rainy
summer of 1997, two Jesuit priests take the
matter of protecting their flock into their
own hands. Father Gus Saenz has been a
priest for three decades, but he is also a
respected forensic anthropologist, one of
the few in the Philippines, and has been
tapped by the Director of the National
Bureau of Investigations as a backup for
police efforts. Together with his protégé,
Father Jerome Lucero, a psychologist, Saenz
dedicates himself to tracking down the
monster preying on these impoverished
boys. The mystery revolves around the
murders of young boys in a poor region
of Payatas, Philippines. While dealing with
the systematic corruption of the
government, church and the elite, the two
priests delve into criminal profiling, crime
scene investigation and forensic analysis to
solve the killings, and eventually, find the
murderer.
N. V. M. Gonzalez
Néstor Vicente Madali
González (September 8, 1915 – November
28, 1999) was a Filipino novelist, short story
writer, essayist and poet. Conferred as
the National Artist of the Philippines for
Literature in 1997.
He was born on 8 September 1915
in Romblon, Philippines.[1] González,
however, was raised in Mansalay, a
southern town of the Philippine province
of Oriental Mindoro. González was a son of
a school supervisor and a teacher. As a
teenager, he helped his father by delivering
meat door-to-door across provincial villages
and municipalities. González was also a
musician. He played the violin and even
made four guitars by hand.
He was born on 8 September 1915
in Romblon, Philippines. González, however,
was raised in Mansalay, a southern town of
the Philippine province of Oriental Mindoro.
González was a son of a school supervisor
and a teacher. As a teenager, he helped his
father by delivering meat door-to-door
across provincial villages and municipalities.
González was also a musician. He played the
violin and even made four guitars by hand.
The works of Gonzalez have been published
in Filipino, English, Chinese, German, Russia
n and Indonesian.
N.V.M. González was proclaimed National
Artist of the Philippines in 1997. He died on
28 November 1999 at the age of 84. As a
National Artist, Gonzalez was honored with
a state funeral at the Libingan ng mga
Bayani.
FAMOUS WORK:
The Bamboo Dancers Summary
Ernie is a sculptor with a study grant in the
United States. He is aloof and avoids becoming
involved with anyone. He has only a passing
understanding of his Filipino roots and does not
have any clear identity. As part of his journey,
Ernie receives the opportunity to travel. His
travels and his work bring him into contact with
other Filipinos who, like him, have left the rural
culture behind and are fulfilling their ambitions
in the West. Firstly, while still in the US, Ernie
meets an old acquaintance – a girl working in
the US on a writers’ fellowship. Notably,
Gonzalez does not name these other characters
or make direct comments about them – the
reader must fill in the blanks.
Ernie and this young girl begin an affair. They
spend a week living together in a borrowed
New York apartment. Because of their sexual
relationship, the young girl questions her
morality, and the pair decides to marry.
However, it is not long before she changes her
mind. She instead becomes engaged to a young
and emerging American writer, Herb Lane, who
joins the USIS and has an interest in the Far
East. They begin their travels to the Philippines,
so they can be married. However, Herb dies on
the way and the girl is referred to a hospital on
obstetric grounds.
Meanwhile, Ernie learns his brother is in
California. He works as a resident physician in a
local hospital. After leaving his wife and child in
Manila, he pursued a sexual relationship with a
young nurse. The relationship, however, does
not last long, and he sets off home to reunite
with his family. When he goes home to Manila,
he returns with many luxury goods, including a
car and a television. After being apart for so
long, he finds he no longer has a functional
relationship with his wife, and he does not feel
any real affection towards her. He is also not on
good terms with a housemaid, who feels
threatened by him sexually and goes out of her
way to avoid him. Again, the reader observes all
of this through Ernie’s perspective, but is left
with the sense none of it affects him as it
perhaps should.
While in New York, Ernie meets three other
Filipinos – a young man and his two girlfriends
with which he shows restrained public affection.
There is a sense that all these characters are
inherently disconnected and floating through
life on the surface. Ernie travels to Japan where
he learns of the tragedies around Hiroshima.
Again, he seems unmoved by the bomb
casualties and does not let anything affect him.
Furthermore, Ernie learns Herb is not the
gentleman he believes him to be. Herb, who
dies in Taipeh, attacks his fiancé in a drunken
brawl and subsequently runs over a Chinese girl.
His actions, combined, cause an anti-American
demonstration.
Ernie continues to show no genuine interest in
his brother’s problems or his old fiancé’s plight.
He shows no remorse and is seemingly
unaffected by the breakdown of their own
relationship. To make matters worse, at the end
of the novel, Ernie suffers a near-death
experience. He almost drowns. Surprisingly, no
one seems to notice or be affected by it, and
Ernie does not tell anyone. There is a sense that
Ernie questions his identity, but this is a
question left unresolved by the end of the story.
Death in this context may be a metaphor for the
death of one cultural identity and the
embracing of another, with no real harmony
between the two.
Throughout, Gonzalez uses bamboo dancing as
a symbol. Bamboo dancing, or tinikling, is a
traditional Filipino dance which involves the
beating of bamboo sticks together. This
symbolizes the clashing of two ideologies – local
Filipino culture and imported Western
elements. It may also serve as a reminder of the
dangers inherent in traveling and losing a sense
of identity. In The Bamboo Dancers, Gonzalez
deliberately uses a detached narrative
perspective to reinforce Ernie’s personality
problems and the overall apathy experienced by
the characters in the book. Readers are left with
the feeling that these characters could be
anyone suffering a similar cultural
disenchantment.
 issued officially proclaiming any Filipino
historical figure as a national hero. He was
the author of the novels Noli Me
Tángere and El filibusterismo, and a number
of poems and essays.
José Rizal's life is one of the most
documented of 19th century Filipinos due
to the vast and extensive records written by
and about him. Almost everything in his
short life is recorded somewhere, being
himself a regular diarist and prolific letter
writer, much of the material having
survived. His biographers, however, have
faced difficulty in translating his writings
because of Rizal's habit of switching from
one language to another.
FAMOUS WORK:
JOSE RIZAL
José Protasio Rizal Mercado y
Realonda; June 19, 1861 – December 30,
1896) was a Filipino
nationalist and polymath during the tail end
of the Spanish colonial period of
the Philippines. An ophthalmologist by
profession, Rizal became a writer and a key
member of the Filipino Propaganda
Movement which advocated political
reforms for the colony under Spain.
He was executed by the Spanish
colonial government for the crime
of rebellion after the Philippine Revolution,
inspired in part by his writings, broke out.
Though he was not actively involved in its
planning or conduct, he ultimately
approved of its goals which eventually led
to Philippine independence.
He is widely considered one of the
greatest heroes of the Philippines and has EL FILIBUSTERISMO SUMMARY
been recommended to be so honored by an
officially empaneled National Heroes The protagonist of El Filibusterismo is a
Committee. However, no law, executive jeweler named Simoun. He is the new
order or proclamation has been enacted or identity of Crisostomo Ibarra who, in the
prequel Noli, escaped from pursuing and Basilio, son of Sisa and promising
soldiers. It is revealed that Crisostomo dug medical student, whose medical education
up his buried treasure and fled to Cuba, is financed by his patron, Capitan Tiago.
becoming richer and befriending Spanish
officials.
A man of wealth and mystery, Simoun is a
very close friend and confidante of the
After many years, the newly fashioned Spanish governor general. Because of his
Simoun returns to the Philippines, where he great influence in Malacañang, he was
is able to freely move around. He is a called the “Brown Cardinal” or the “Black
powerful figure not only because of his Eminence”. By using his wealth and political
wealth but also because he is a good friend influence, he encourages corruption in the
and adviser of the governor general. government, promotes the oppression of
the masses, and hastens the moral
degradation of the country so that the
Outwardly, Simoun is a friend of Spain;
people may become desperate and fight. He
however, in secret, he is plotting a terrible
smuggles arms into the country with the
revenge against the Spanish authorities. His
help of a rich Chinese merchant, Quiroga,
two obsessions are to rescue his
who aspires to be Chinese consul of Manila.
paramour Maria Clara from the nunnery of
His first attempt to begin the armed
Santa Clara and to foment a Philippine
uprising did not materialize because at the
revolution against Spain.
last hour he hears the sad news that Maria
Clara died in the nunnery. In his agonizing
The story of El Filibusterismo begins on moment of bereavement, he did not give
board a steamer ship sailing up the Pasig the signal for the outbreak of hostilities.
river from Manila to Laguna de Bay. Among
the passengers are Simoun; Doña Victorina,
After a long time of illness brought about by
a pro-Spanish native woman who is going to
the bitter loss of Maria Clara, Simoun
Laguna in search of her henpecked
perfects his plan to overthrow the
husband, Tiburcio de Espadaña, who has
government. On the occasion of the
deserted her; Paulita Gomez, her beautiful
wedding of Paulita Gomez and Juanito
niece; Ben-Zayb (anagram of Ibañez), a
Pelaez, he gives a wedding gift to them a
Spanish journalist who writes silly articles
beautiful lamp. Only he and his confidential
about the Filipinos; Padre Sibyla, vice-rector
associates, Basilio (Sisa’s son who joined his
of the University of Santo Tomas; Padre
revolutionary cause), know that when the
Camorra, the parish priest of the town of
wick of his lamp burns lower the
Tiani; Don Custodio, a pro-Spanish Filipino
nitroglycerine, hidden in its secret
holding a position in the government; Padre
compartment, will explode, destroying the
Salvi, thin Franciscan friar and former cura
house where the wedding feast is going to
of San Diego; Padre Irene, a kind friar who
be held killing all the guests, including the
was a friend of the Filipino students; Padre
governor general, the friars, and the
Florentino, a retired scholarly and patriotic
government officials. Simultaneously, all the
Filipino priest; Isagani, a poet-nephew of
government buildings in Manila will be
Padre Florentino and a lover of Paulita;
blown by Simoun’s followers.
As the wedding feast begins, the poet
Isagani, who has been rejected by Paulita
because of his liberal ideas, is standing
outside the house, sorrowfully watching the
merriment inside. Basilio, his friend, warns
him to go away because the lightened lamp
will soon explode.
Upon hearing the horrible secret of the
lamp, Isagani realizes that his beloved
Paulita is in grave danger. To save her life,
he rushes into the house, seizes the
lightened lamp, and hurls it into the river,
where it explodes.
The revolutionary plot is thus discovered.
Simoun is cornered by the soldiers, but he
escapes. Mortally wounded, and carrying
his treasure chest, he seeks refuge in the
home of Padre Florentino by the sea.
that you have suffered, and in ordaining
that the chastisement for your faults should
come as death from the very ones you have
instigated to crime, we can see His infinite
mercy. He has frustrated your plans one by
one, the best conceived, first by the death
of Maria Clara, then by a lack of
preparation, then in some mysterious way.
Let us bow to His will and render Him
thanks!”
Watching Simoun die peacefully with a clear
conscience and at peace with God, Padre
Florentino falls upon his knees and prays for
the dead jeweler. The priest then takes the
treasure chest and throws it into the sea.

The Spanish authorities, however, learns of

his presence in the house of Padre
Florentino. Lieutenant Perez of the Guardia
Civil informs the priest by letter that he will
come at eight o’clock that night to arrest
Simoun.

Simoun eludes arrest by taking poison. As

he is dying, he confesses to Padre
Florentino, revealing his true identity, his
dastardly plan to use his wealth to avenge
himself, and his sinister aim to destroy his
friends and enemies.

The confession of the dying Simoun is long

and painful. It is already night when Padre
Florentino, wiping the sweat from his
wrinkled brow, rises and begins to
meditate. He consoles the dying man
saying: “God will forgive you Señor Simoun.
He knows that we are fallible. He has seen
 I MIGLIORI
AUTORI FILIPPINI
(The BestFilipino Authors)