F. Sionil José

F. Sionil José
Francisco Sionil José
Born	Francisco Sionil José December 3, 1924 (1924-12-03) (age 87) Rosales, Pangasinan, Philippines
Pen name	F. Sionil José
Occupation	Filipino novelist, writer, journalist
Nationality	Filipino
Ethnicity	Ilocano
Alma mater	University of Santo Tomas (dropped out)
Period	1962 - present
Genres	Non-fiction
Literary movement	Philippine literature in English
Notable work(s)	The "Rosales Saga" Novels (1962-1984)
Notable award(s)	Pablo Neruda Centennial Award, Chile, 2004 (Kun Santo Zuiho Sho) The Order of Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon, Japan, 2001 National Artist for Literature, Philippines, 2001 Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Arts et Lettres, France, 2000 Cultural Center of the Philippines Centennial Award, 1999 Cultural Center of the Philippines Award (Gawad para sa Sining) for Literature, 1989 Outstanding Fulbrighters Award for Literature, Fortieth Anniversary of Philippine Fulbright Scholars Association, 1988 First Prize, Palanca Memorial Award for Novel in English, 1981 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature and Creative Communication Arts, 1980 City of Manila Award for Literature, 1979
Influences José Rizal, Willa Cather, William Faulkner, John Steinbeck
www.fsioniljose.tk
Literature portal

F. Sionil José or in full Francisco Sionil José (born December 3, 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 22 languages, including Korean, Indonesian, Russian, Latvian, Ukrainian and Dutch.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Childhood 1.2 Life as a writer 2 Works 2.1 Rosales Saga novels 2.2 Original novels containing the Rosales Saga 2.3 Other novels 2.4 Short story collection 2.5 Children's books 2.6 Verses 2.7 Essays and non-fiction 2.8 In translation 2.9 In anthologies 2.10 In film documentaries 3 Awards 4 Books and excerpts about F. Sionil José 4.1 Titles 4.2 Reviews 5 See also 6 References 6.1 Footnotes 6.2 Bibliography 7 External links

Biography

Childhood

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 was of Ilocano descent whose family had migrated to Pangasinan before 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.^[1][2][3][4]

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 of 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. Reading about Basilio and Crispin in Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere made the young José cry, because injustice was not an alien thing to him. When José was five years old, his grandfather who was a soldier during the Philippine revolution, had once tearfully showed him the land their family had once tilled but was taken away by rich mestizo landlords who knew how to work the system against illiterates like his grandfather.^[1][2][3][4]

Life as a writer

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.^[1][2][3][4]

Jose Rizal's life and writings profoundly influenced José's work. The five volume Rosales Saga, in particular, employs and interrogates themes and characters from Rizal's work.^[7]

Throughout his career, José's writings espouse social justice and change to better the lives of average Filipino families. He is one of the most critically acclaimed Filipino authors internationally, although much underrated in his own country because of his authentic Filipino English and his anti-elite views.^[1][2][3][4]

"Authors like myself choose the city as a setting for their fiction because the city itself illustrates the progress or the sophistication that a particular country has achieved. Or, on the other hand, it might also reflect the kind of decay, both social and perhaps moral, that has come upon a particular people."-F. Sionil José, BBC.com, July 30, 2003^[1]

Sionil José also owns Solidaridad Bookshop, which is on Padre Faura Street in Ermita, Manila. The bookshop offers mostly hard-to-find books and Filipiniana reading materials. It is said to be one of the favorite haunts of many local writers.^[1][2][3][4]

In his regular column, Hindsight, in The Philippine Star, dated September 12, 2011, he wrote "Why we are shallow," blaming the decline of Filipino intellectual and cultural standards on a variety of modern amenities, including media, the education system--particularly the loss of emphasis on classic literature and the study of Greek and Latin--, and the abundance and immediacy of information on the internet. ^[8]

Works

Rosales Saga novels

A five-novel series that spans three centuries of Philippine history, widely read around the world and translated into 22 languages

• Po-on (Dusk) (1984) ISBN 9718845100
• The Pretenders (1962) ISBN 9718845003
• My Brother, My Executioner (1973) ISBN 971884516X
• Mass (December 31, 1974) ISBN 0868615722
• Tree (1978) ISBN 9718845143

Original novels containing the Rosales Saga

• Dusk (Po-on) (1993) ISBN 0375751440
• Don Vicente (1980) ISBN 0375752439 - Tree and My Brother, My Executioner combined in one book
• The Samsons ISBN 0375752447- The Pretenders and Mass combined in one book

Other novels

• Gagamba (The Spider Man) (1991) ISBN 971536105645
• Viajero (1993) ISBN 971884504689
• Sin (1994) ISBN 0517284464
• Ben Singkol (2001) ISBN 9718845321
• Ermita ISBN 9718845127
• Vibora! (2007)
• Sherds (2008)
• Muse and Balikbayan: Two Plays (2008)
• Short Stories (with Introduction and Teaching Guide by Thelma B. Kintanar) (2008)

Short story collection

• The God Stealer and Other Short Stories (2001) ISBN 9718845356
• Puppy Love and Other Short Stories (March 15, 1998) ISBN 9718845267 and ISBN 978-9718845264
• Olvidon and Other Stories (1988) ISBN 9718845186
• Platinum: Ten Filipino Stories (1983) ISBN 9718845224 (now out of print, its stories are added to the new version of Olvidon and Other Stories)
• Waywaya: Eleven Filipino Short Stories (1980) ISBN 999228840X
• Asian PEN Anthology (as editor) (1966)
• Short Story International (SSI): Tales by the World's Great Contemporary Writers (Unabridged, Volume 13, Number 75) (co-author, 1989) ISBN 1555730426

Children's books

• The Molave and The Orchid (November 2004)

Verses

• Questions (1988)

Essays and non-fiction

• In Search of the Word (De La Salle University Press, March 15, 1998) ISBN 9715552641 and ISBN 978-9715552646
• We Filipinos: Our Moral Malaise, Our Heroic Heritage
• Soba, Senbei and Shibuya: A Memoir of Post-War Japan ISBN 9718845313 and ISBN 978-9718845318
• Heroes in the Attic, Termites in the Sala: Why We are Poor (2005)
• This I Believe: Gleanings from a Life in Literature (2006)
• Literature and Liberation (co-author) (1988)

In translation

• Po-on (Tagalog language, De La Salle University Press, 1998) ISBN 9715552676 and ISBN 978-9715552677
• Anochecer (Littera) (Spanish language, Maeva, October 2003) ISBN 8495354950 and ISBN 978-8495354952

In anthologies

• Tong (a short story from Brown River, White Ocean: An Anthology of Twentieth-Century Philippine Literature in English by Luis Francia, Rutgers University Press, August 1993) ISBN 0813519993 and ISBN 978-0813519999

In film documentaries

• Francisco Sionil José - A Filipino Odyssey by Art Makosinski, 1996^[9]

Awards

• Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature, and Creative Communication Arts (1980)
• National Artist Award for Literature (2001)^[10]
• Pablo Neruda Centennial Award (2004)
• Palanca Awards

Books and excerpts about F. Sionil José

Titles

• Frankie Sionil José: A Tribute by Edwin Thuboo (editor) (Times Academic Press, Singapore, January 2005) ISBN 9812104259 and ISBN 978-9812104250
• Conversations with F. Sionil José by Miguel A. Bernard (editor) (Vera-Reyes Publishing Inc., Philippines, 304 pages, 1991
• The Ilocos: A Philippine Discovery by James Fallows, The Atlantic Monthly magazine, Volume 267, No. 5, May 1991
• F. Sionil José and His Fiction by Alfredo T. Morales (Vera-Reyes Publishing Inc., Philippines, 129 pages)

Reviews

• "...the foremost Filipino novelist in English... his novels deserve a much wider readership than the Philippines can offer. His major work, the Rosales saga, can be read as an allegory for the Filipino in search of an identity..." - Ian Buruma, The New York Review of Books^[11]

• "Sionil José writes English prose with a passion that, at its best moments, transcends the immediate scene. (He) is a masterful short story writer..." - Christine Chapman, International Herald Tribune, Paris^[11]

• "...America has no counterpart to José - no one who is simultaneously a prolific novelist, a social and political organizer, and a small scale entrepreneur...José's identity has equipped him to be fully sensitive to the nation's miseries without succumbing, like many of his characters to corruption or despair...- James Fallows, The Atlantic Monthly^[11]

• "...The reader of his well crafted stories will learn more about the Philippines, its people and its concerns than from any journalistic account or from a holiday trip there. José's books takes us to the heart of the Filipino mind and soul, to the strengths and weaknesses of its men, women, and culture. - Lynne Bundesen, Los Angeles Times^[11]

See also

• Philippine literature in English
• Literature of the Philippines
• Philippine English
• The Thomasites
• Philinda Rand

References

Footnotes

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} Jose, F. Sionil. Sense of the City: Manila, BBC News, BBC.co.uk, July 30, 2003, retrieved on June 14, 2007
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Author Spotlight: F. Sionil Jose, Random House, RandomHouse.com, retrieved on June 14, 2007
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Macansantos, Priscilla Supnet. A Hometown as Literature for F. Sionil José, Global Nation/Features, Inquirer, Inquirer.net, April 25, 2007, retrieved on: June 14, 2007
4. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Yabes, Leopoldo Y. and Judson Knight, Francisco Sionil Jose Biography, Contemporary Novelists, Volume 16, Jrank.org, retrieved on June 16, 2007
5. ^ Garcia, Cathy Rose. “Author F. Sionil Jose’s Insight on Philippines” (an article about F. Sionil Jose’s novel, Ermita – published in Korean), Arts & Living, The Korea Times, KoreaTimes.co.kr, April 27, 2007
6. ^ Garcia, Cathy Rose. “Author F. Sionil Jose’s Insight on Philippines” (an article about F. Sionil Jose’s novel: Ermita – published in Korean), BookAsia.org (Korean website), April 27, 2007
7. ^ Scalice, Joseph. "Articulating Revolution: Rizal in F. Sionil José's Rosales Saga"
8. ^ http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=726155&publicationSubCategoryId=79
9. ^ Makosinski, Art. Francisco Sionil José - A Filipino Odyssey, documentary, color, 28min, 16mm., Winner of the Golden Shortie for Best Documentary at the Victoria Film and Video Festival, ME.UVIC.ca, 1996), retrieved on: June 16, 2007
10. ^ Culture Profile: F. Sionil José, About Culture and Arts, National Commission for Culture and Arts, NCCA.gov, 2002, retrieved on: June 16, 2007
11. ^ ^{a b c d} Makosinski, Art. About Francisco Sionil José, Engr.Uvic.ca, retrieved on: June 16, 2007

Bibliography

1. The Writings of F. Sionil Jose, Archives, The New York Times, NYTimes.com, retrieved on: June 16, 2007
2. The Works of Francisco Sionil Jose, The New York Public Library, NYPL.org (Search Engine), retrieved on: June 16, 2007
3. Books of F. Sionil Jose, Amazon.com, retrieved on: June 16, 2007
4. Filipino English: Literature As We Think It (from F. Sionil Jose's Keynote Lecture at the Conference on "Literatures in Englishes" at the National University of Singapore), F. Sionil Jose: National Artist for Literature, Foremost Novelist, and Stanford.edu, March 19, 2006, retrieved on: June 6, 2007
5. Jose, F. Sionil. "We Who Stayed Behind (Many fled the Philippines during the Marcos years, writes F. Sionil Jose. But what about those who remained?)", Asian Journey, Time Asia magazine (18-25 August 2003 issue), Time.com, 11 August 2007, retrieved on: 21 June 2007
6. Allen Gaborro, A book review about Sins, a novel by F. Sionil Jose, Random House, 1996, Eclectica.org, retrieved on: April 22, 2008

External links

• F. Sionil José: The Myth of a Filipino Writer
• Full Text: The God Stealer by F. Sionil Jose

F. Sionil José The Rosales Saga: Po-on (1984) | Tree (1978) | My Brother, My Executioner (1973) | The Pretenders (1962) | Mass (1973) Other novels: Ermita (1988) | Gagamba (1991) | Viajero (1993) | Sin (1973) | Ben Singkol (2001) | Vibora! (2007) | Sherds (2007) Short stories: The God Stealer (1959)

National Artists of the Philippines Pambansang Alagad ng Sining ng Pilipinas     Architecture 1973 Juan Nakpil 1976 Pablo Antonio 1990 Leandro Locsin 2003 Ildefonso Santos, Jr. 2009 Francisco Mañosa Cinema 1982 Gerardo de León 1991 Ishmael Bernal 1997 Lino Brocka 2003 Eddie Romero 2006 Fernando Poe, Jr. 2009 Carlo J. Caparas 2009 Manuel Conde Dance 1973 Francisca R. Aquino 1976 Leonor Orosa 1988 Lucrecia Reyes 2006 Ramon Obusan Fashion 2006 Ramon Valera 2009 Pitoy Moreno Historical literature 1997 Carlos Quirino Literature 1973 Jose Garcia Villa 1973 Amado V. Hernandez 1976 Nick Joaquin 1982 Carlos P. Romulo 1990 Francisco Arcellana 1990 N. V. M. Gonzalez 1992 Rolando Tinio 1999 Edith Tiempo 2001 F. Sionil José 2003 Virgilio S. Almario 2003 Alejandro Roces 2006 Bienvenido Lumbera 2009 Lazaro Francisco Music 1973 Antonio Molina 1976 Jovita Fuentes 1987 Atang de la Rama 1988 Antonio Buenaventura 1988 Lucrecia Kasilag 1991 Lucio D. San Pedro 1997 Levi Celerio 1997 Felipe de Leon 1997 Jose Maceda 1999 Ernani Cuenco 1999 Andrea Veneracion Theater and films 1976 Lamberto V. Avellana 1997 Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero 1997 Rolando Tinio 1999 Daisy Avellana 2001 Severino Montano 2003 Salvador Bernal 2009 Cecilla Alvarez 2009 Manuel Conde Visual arts 1972 Fernando Amorsolo 1973 Botong Francisco 1973 Guillermo Tolentino 1976 Napoleon Abueva 1976 Victorio C. Edades 1990 Cesar Legaspi 1981 Vicente Manansala 1991 Hernando R. Ocampo 1997 Arturo R. Luz 1999 J. Elizalde Navarro 2001 Ang Kiukok 2003 José T. Joya 2006 BenCab Cabrera 2006 Abdulmari Asia Imao 2009 Federico Aguilar Alcuaz 2009 Carlo J. Caparas National Commission for Culture and the Arts  · Cultural Center of the Philippines

Persondata
Name	Jose, Francisco Sionil
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	December 3, 1924
Place of birth	Rosales, Pangasinan, Philippines
Date of death
Place of death