R. Zulueta da Costa

Rafael Zulueta da Costa (born 1915[1]) is a Filipino poet. He uses the name R. Zulueta da Costa as a writer, and Rafael Zulueta as a businessman.[2]

He was a graduate of De La Salle College (now University) where he specialized in business administration. He began writing poems in Spanish and later he also wrote in English.[3] His most famous work is Like the Molave and Other Poems, which won the Commonwealth Literary Award for Poetry in 1940.[4]

Pre-war literature

The Filipino writing in English was somewhat formal and imitative from the Spanish literature brought in during the Spanish rule in the country. Grammatical expressions and terms used were awkward and unpolished. Filipino writers found difficulties in the use of prepositions and pronouns, thus the quality of their works were quite poor. However, after several years of painful endeavor of the Filipino writes and the establishment of publication, newspapers and magazines, brought about distinguishing improvement in their works. Filipinos received much encouragement and more influential group of writers were found.

References

  1. ↑ José Villa Panganiban; Consuelo Torres- Panganiban (1962). A survey of the literature of the Filipinos. Limbagang Pilipino. p. 265. Retrieved 19 November 2010.
  2. ↑ The Mentor book of modern Asian literature from the Khyber Pass to Fuji. New American Library. 1969. Retrieved 19 November 2010.
  3. ↑ R. Zulueta da Costa; Lourdes Gatmaitan Bañez (1994). The works of R. Zulueta da Costa: a critical edition. De La Salle University Press. ISBN 971-11-8131-2. Retrieved 19 November 2010.
  4. ↑ Cabanilla; J.Q. et.; al. World Literature. Goodwill Trading Co., Inc. p. 206. ISBN 978-971-574-030-2. Retrieved 19 November 2010.