21st Literature Canonical author

2. F.
Sionil
José

3. Francisco Sionil José was born on
December 3, 1924, in Rosales, Pangasinan,
Philippines, where he grew up in a rural
area facing poverty, which influenced his
writing. He studied at the Faculty of
Philosophy and Letters of the University of
Santo Tomas in Manila.
Life Summary

4. He studied Philosophy under Professor
Ariston Estrada and Literature under
pioneering fictionist Paz Latorena. Sionil
José was UST Varsitarian editor in chief
from 1948 to 1949.
Life Summary

5. Life Summary
While studying, Sionil José worked at The
Commonweal (1947-1948) and served as Assistant
Editor for the United States Information Service
(1948-1949). He then held the position of Managing
Editor at The Manila Times Sunday Magazine from
1949 to 1960, before becoming Editor of Progress
and Comment.

6. Life Summary
In the 1950s, José co-founded the
Philippine PEN Club, advocating for
freedom of expression and social justice as
a journalist and editor.

7. Life Summary
His impactful writing earned him
international acclaim, including
prestigious awards such as the Ramon
Magsaysay Award for Journalism,
Literature, and Creative Communication
Arts in 1980.

8. Life Summary
F. Sionil José died on January 6, 2022 at a
hospital in Makati, Philippines from
problems caused by atherosclerosis,
aged 97.

9. Major Awards
• National Artist of the Philippines for
Literature (2001)
• Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards
• Ramon Magsaysay Award 1980
• Cultural Center of the Philippines
(CCP) Centennial Honors for the Arts
(1999)

10. Major Contributions
F. Sionil José's major contributions in
Philippine literature include his epic "Rosales
Saga" (series of 5 novels) which chronicles
Philippine history, as well as his critiques of
society, promotion of nationalism, and
advocacy for Filipino culture.

11. Famous Works
"The Rosales Saga"- traced the five generations
of two families, namely the Samsons (poor
farmers) and the Asperri (wealthy mestizos)
through Spanish and American periods in the
history of the Philippines until the period after
Philippine Independence. José begun writing
the series in 1962 and completed it in 1984.

12. Famous Works
The Rosales saga is about social situations
and conflicts between the social classes,
the poor and the rich, between the
Asperris and their tenants, between
Antonio Samson and members of a
society.

13. 5 Novels under The
Rosales Saga
"Mass"- Follows Pepe, a poor individual,
navigating challenges like poverty and
corruption in the Philippines.

14. "Tree"- Explores the disparities between
a wealthy family and impoverished
workers, highlighting the socioeconomic
gap.
"My Brother, My Executioner"-
Chronicles the involvement of two
friends, Antonio and Eustaquio, in the
fight for social justice in the Philippines.

15. "The Pretenders"- Focuses on Tony Samson, a
Filipino intellectual, grappling with identity
crises and social issues during the 1950s in the
Philippines.
"Po-on" - about Filipino farmers facing tough
times in the early 1900s. It talks about how
they dealt with colonialism, poverty, and
finding out who they are during changes in
society in the Philippines.

16. Trivia/ Anecdotal Record
F. Sionil José's writing was deeply influenced
by José Rizal, a canonical author in Filipino
literature and a national hero. José's series, the
Rosales Saga, was inspired by Rizal's work.
Throughout his career, José focused on
fighting for social justice to help Filipino
families.

18. 1. He died at the age of 87.
2. F. Sionil's writing was deeply influenced by
Jose Rizal.
3. He wrote the series of novels titled "The Rizal
Saga."
4. Throughout his career, he focused on
fighting for social injustice.
5. His full name is Francisco Sionil José.
True or False

19. 6. When did José co-found the Philippine PEN
Club?
a. 1940s c. 1960s
b. 1950s d. 1970s
7. In what region was F. Sionil born?
a. Region 1 c. Region 3
b. Region 2 d. Region 4
Multiple Choice

20. 8. Where did he study?
a. University of Pangasinan
b. University of Santo Tomas
c. University of the Philippines
d. University of Philippines Diliman
Multiple Choice

21. 9. What is the title of his famous series of
novels?
a. The Rizal Saga c. The Romulo Saga
b. The Rosario Saga d. The Rosales Saga
Multiple Choice

22. 10.What is the acronym for PEN in the
Philippine PEN Club?
a. Philippine Essayists and Novelist
b. Poems, Playwrights, Editorials, Novels
c. Poets, Playwrights, Editors, Essayists,
Novelists
d. Poetics, Playwrighters, Editors, Novelists
Multiple Choice

23. 11. Write one his Major Awards.
12. What is his pen name?
13-15. Spelling

24. 16-20. Enumerate the 5 novels
under the Rosales Saga.