The National Artist of the Philippines for Literature
F. SIONIL JOSE December 3, 1924 - PRESENT Year of Conferment: 2001 F. Sionil Jose ’s writings since the late 60s, when taken collectively can best be described as epic. Its sheer volume puts him on the forefront of Philippine writing in English. But ultimately, it is the consistent espousal of the aspirations of the Filipino–for national sovereignty and social justice–that guarantees the value of his oeuvre. In the five-novel masterpiece, the Rosales saga, consisting of The Pretenders, Tree, My Brother, My Executioner, Mass , and Po-on , he captures the sweep of Philippine history while simultaneously narrating the lives of generations of the Samsons whose personal lives intertwine with the social struggles of the nation. Because of their international appeal, his works, including his many short stories, have been published and translated into various languages. F. Sionil Jose is also a publisher, lecturer on cultural issues, and the founder of the Philippine chapter of the internati
