A.

Literature
1. National Capital Region
a. Jose Garcia Villa (1973)
He is considered as one of the finest contemporary poets. He introduced reversed
consonance rhyme scheme, including the comma poems that made full use of the
punctuation mark in an innovative, poetic way.
Villas works have been collected into the following books: Footnote to Youth,
Many Voices, Poems by Doveglion, Poems 55, Poems in Praise of Love: The Best
Love Poems of Jose Garcia Villa as Chosen By Himself, Selected Stories, The
Portable Villa, The Essential Villa, Mir-i-nisa, Storymasters 3: Selected Stories
from Footnote to Youth, 55 Poems: Selected and Translated into Tagalog by Hilario
S. Francia.
b. Nick Joaquin (1976)
He is considered as the most distinguished Filipino writer in English writing. Nick
Joaquin has also enriched the English language with critics coining Joaquinesque
to describe his baroque Spanish-flavored English or his reinventions of English
Based on filipinism Among his works are The Woman Who Had Two Navels, A
Portrait of the Artist as Filipino, Manila, My Manila: A History for the Young, The
Ballad of the Five Battles, Rizal in Saga, Almanac for Manileos, and Cave and
Shadows.
c. Francisco Arcellana (1990)
He pioneered the development of the short story as a lyrical prose-poetic form. For
Arcellana, the pride of fiction is that it is able to render truth that is able to present
reality.
Arcellanas published books are Selected Stories (1962), Poetry and Politics: The
State of Original Writing in English in the Philippines Today (1977), and The
Francisco Arcellana Sampler (1990).
Some of his short stories are Frankie, The Man Who Would Be Poe, Death in a
Factory, Lina, A Clown Remembers, Divided by Two, The Mats, and his poems
being The Other Woman, This Being the Third Poem This Poem is for Mathilda, To
Touch You and I Touched Her, among others.
d. Levi Celerio (1997)
National Artist for Literature and Music
Born in Tondo, Manila, Levi is a prolific lyricist and composer for decades. He
made it to the Guinness Book of World Records as the only person able to make
music using just a leaf. Levi effortlessly translated/wrote anew the lyrics to
traditional melodies: O Maliwanag Na Buwan (Iloko), Ako ay May Singsing
(Pampango), Alibangbang (Visaya) among others.
e. Rolando S. Tinio (1997)
National Artist for Theater and Literature
A playwright, thespian, poet, teacher, critic, and translator, marked his career with
prolific artistic productions.
 In the mid-1960s he decided to try writing in Tagalog and the product of this was
the collection of poems now called Bagay. He is the sole inventor of Taglish
in Philippine poetry.
Aside from his collections of poetry (Sitsit sa Kuliglig, Dunung Dunungan,
Kristal na Uniberso, A Trick of Mirrors) among his works were the following: film
scripts for Now and Forever, Gamitin Mo Ako, Bayad Puri and Milagros; sarswelas
Ang Mestisa, Ako, Ang Kiri, Ana Maria; the komedya Orosman at Zafira; and
Larawan, the musical.
f. Alejandro Roces (2003)
He is considered as the countrys best writer of comic short stories. He is the
champion of the Filipino culture and was instrumental in popularizing several local
fiestas specifically Moriones and Ati-atihan. He also led the campaign to change
the countrys Independence Day from July 4 to June 12, and the language used in
Philippine passports, currency, and diplomas to Filipino.
g. Francisco Arcellana (1990)
He pioneered the development of the short story as a lyrical prose-poetic form. For
Arcellana, the pride of fiction is that it is able to render truth that is able to present
reality.
Arcellanas published books are Selected Stories (1962), Poetry and Politics: The
State of Original Writing in English in the Philippines Today (1977), and The
Francisco Arcellana Sampler (1990).
Some of his short stories are Frankie, The Man Who Would Be Poe, Death in a
Factory, Lina, A Clown Remembers, Divided by Two, The Mats, and his poems
being The Other Woman, This Being the Third Poem This Poem is for Mathilda, To
Touch You and I Touched Her, among others.
h. Levi Celerio (1997)
National Artist for Literature and Music
Born in Tondo, Manila, Levi is a prolific lyricist and composer for decades. He
made it to the Guinness Book of World Records as the only person able to make
music using just a leaf. Levi effortlessly translated/wrote anew the lyrics to
traditional melodies: O Maliwanag Na Buwan (Iloko), Ako ay May Singsing
(Pampango), Alibangbang (Visaya) among others.
i. Rolando S. Tinio (1997)
National Artist for Theater and Literature
A playwright, thespian, poet, teacher, critic, and translator, marked his career with
prolific artistic productions.
In the mid-1960s he decided to try writing in Tagalog and the product of this was
the collection of poems now called Bagay. He is the sole inventor of Taglish
in Philippine poetry.
Aside from his collections of poetry (Sitsit sa Kuliglig, Dunung Dunungan,
Kristal na Uniberso, A Trick of Mirrors) among his works were the following: film
scripts for Now and Forever, Gamitin Mo Ako, Bayad Puri and Milagros; sarswelas
Ang Mestisa, Ako, Ang Kiri, Ana Maria; the komedya Orosman at Zafira; and
 Larawan, the musical.
j. Alejandro Roces (2003)
He is considered as the countrys best writer of comic short stories. He is the
champion of the Filipino culture and was instrumental in popularizing several local
fiestas specifically Moriones and Ati-atihan. He also led the campaign to change
the countrys Independence Day from July 4 to June 12, and the language used in
Philippine passports, currency, and diplomas to Filipino.

k. Cirilo F. Bautista (2014)

He is a multi-awarded poet, fictionist and essayist. He founded the Philippine
Literary Arts Council in 1981, the Iligan National Writers Workshop in 1993, and
the Baguio Writers Group. He is also holding regular funded and unfunded
workshops throughout the country.
His major works include: Summer Suns (1963), Words and Battlefields (1998), The
Trilogy of Saint Lazarus (2001), and Galaw ng Asoge (2003).
2. Region 1 Ilocos Region
a. Francisco Sionil Jose (2001)
He 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 our society.
F. Sionil Jose is also a publisher, lecturer on cultural issues, and the founder of the
Philippine chapter of the international organization PEN. He has bestowed the CCP
Centennial Honors for the Arts in 1999; the Outstanding Fulbrighters Award for
Literature in 1988; and the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature,
and Creative Communication Arts in 1980.
3. Region 2 Cagayan Valley
a. Edith L. Tiempo (1999)
She is a poet, fictionist, teacher, and literary critic who founded the Siliman
National Writers Workshop. Her works are characterized by a remarkable fusion of
style and substance and her poems are intricate verbal transfigurations of significant
experiences.
Tiempos published works include the novel A Blade of Fern (1978), The Native
Coast (1979), and The Alien Corn (1992); the poetry collections, The Tracks of
Babylon and Other Poems (1966), and The Charmers Box and Other Poems(1993);
and the short story collection Abide, Joshua, and Other Stories (1964).
4. Region 3 Central Luzon
a. Amado V. Hernandez (1973)
He is a poet, playwright, and novelist from Hagonoy, Bulacan. He believes that
the function of the writer is to act as the conscience of society and to affirm the
greatness of the human spirit in the face of inequity and oppression.
He contributed to the development of Tagalog prose through the use of colloquial
style.
He wrote Mga Ibong Mandaragit, his first socio-political novel, while in prison.
 His other works include Bayang Malaya, Isang Dipang Langit, Luha ng Buwaya,
Amado V. Hernandez: Tudla at Tudling: Katipunan ng mga Nalathalang Tula
1921-1970, Langaw sa Isang Basong Gatas at Iba Pang Kuwento ni Amado V.
Hernandez, and Magkabilang Mukha ng Isang Bagol at Iba Pang Akda ni Amado
V. Hernandez.

b. Carlos P. Romulo (1982)

Born in Camiling, Tarlac, he is the first Asian president of the United Nations
General Assembly, then Philippine Ambassador to Washington D.C., and minister
of foreign affairs.
He was a reporter at 16, a newspaper editor by the age of 20, and a publisher at 32.
He was the only Asian to win Americas coveted Pulitzer Prize in Journalism for a
series of articles predicting the outbreak of World War II.
With 82 honorary degrees from different international institutions and 74
decorations from foreign countries, Romulo is perhaps among the most decorated
Filipino in history.
c. Virgilio S. Almario (2003)
Born in San Miguel, Bulacan, he currently serves as the chairman of the Komisyon
ng Wikang Filipino. His earliest pieces of literary criticism were collected in Ang
Makata sa Panahon ng Makina now considered as the first book of literary
criticism in Filipino.
d. Lazaro Francisco (2009)
He earned his reputation as the Master of the Tagalog Novel and it is backed up
by numerous awards he received and for his contribution to Philippine literature
and culture in general. His novels exposed the evils of the tenancy system, the
exploitation of farmers by unscrupulous landlords, and foreign domination.
Franciscos masterpiece novels are Ama, Bayang Napatiwakal, Maganda Pa Ang
Daigdig, and Daluyong.
5. Region 4A CALABARZON
a. Bienvenido Lumbera (2006)
He introduced Bagay poetry to Tagalog literature. As a librettist for the Tales of the
Manuvu and Rama Hari, he pioneered the creative fusion of fine arts and popular
imagination. As a scholar, his major books include the following: Tagalog Poetry,
1570-1898: Tradition and Influences in its Development; Philippine Literature: A
History and Anthology, Revaluation: Essays on Philippine Literature, and Writing the
Nation/Pag-akda ng Bansa.
6. Region 4B MIMAROPA
a. Nestor Vicente Madali Gonzalez (1997)
He is a fictionist, essayist, poet, and teacher. He earned numerous recognitions
including the First Commonwealth Literary Contest in 1940, the Republic Cultural
Heritage Award in 1960, and the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining in 1990.
The major works of N.V.M Gonzalez include the following: The Winds of April, Seven
Hills Away, Children of the Ash-Covered Loam and Other Stories, The Bamboo
Dancers, Look Stranger, on this Island Now, Mindoro and Beyond: Twenty -One
 Stories, The Bread of Salt and Other Stories, Work on the Mountain, The Novel of
Justice: Selected Essays 1968-1994, and A Grammar of Dreams and Other Stories.

B. Historical Literature
1. National Capital Region
a. Carlos Quirino (1997)
In 1997, President Ramos created historical literature as a new category in the
National Artist Awards and Quirino was its first, and so far, its only recipient. He
wrote The Great Malayan one of the earliest biographies of Jose Rizal. His books
and articles span the whole spectrum of Philippine History.
His book Maps and Views of Old Manila is considered as the best book on the
subject. His other books include Quezon, Man of Destiny, Magsaysay of the
Philippines, Lives of the Philippine Presidents, Philippine Cartography, The
History of Philippine Sugar Industry, Filipino Heritage: The Making of a
Nation, and Filipinos at War: The Fight for Freedom from Mactan to EDSA.