First Blog Entry: Literature

1. I looked at the past presentation of my HUM013 professor, Maam Siriban, and found several definitions of Literature. I liked best the one which is said that words in it were only a medium, and it does not mean anything. We, as the readers, are the ones who give meaning to these.

If I will define Literature as a picture, I will show a picture of a child because a child adapts what he/she learns from an adult. Just like Literature, the writer sometimes adapts others' ideas on their to make his/her work more improved.
2. Three Different Authors
BIENVENIDO N. SANTOS (1911-1996)

Bienvenido Santos is a Filipino-American fictionist, nonfiction writer, and a poet. He wrote a number of novels, short stories, poetry, and nonfiction. He grew up in Tondo, Manila. He lived in the United States and he was credited there as a pioneering Asian-American writer.

MOST SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION/S TO PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
One of the most significant contributions of Bienvenido Santos is "Scent of Apples: A Collection of Stories" (1979), which is the only book published in the United States, made him win the American Book Award in 1981. Another notable contribution of his is "What the Hell for You Left Your Heart in San Francisco" (1987), which made him win the Manila Critic Circle National Book Award for fiction in 1987.

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT
He won the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards as second prize three times ("The Transfer," 1956; "The Day the Dancers Came," 1961; "The Enchanted Plant," 1965). He also won the American Book Award in 1981 for his book, "Scent of Apples: A Collection of Stories." He also won several awards for his other works.

WRITING INFLUENCE
His writing influence was Paz Marquez Benitez, a Filipina short-story writer. He studied creative writing under her.

NICOMEDES MARQUEZ JOAQUIN (1917-2004)
Nicomedes Marquez Joaquin, or Nick Joaquin for short, was a famous Filipino writer, journalist, and historian, and he was best known for his short stories and novels in English language.

MOST SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
His work, "A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino," became so popular that it was been cited as "probably the best-known Filipino play".

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT

In 1976, he was conferred the rank and title of National Artist of the Philippines, a title given to a Filipino who has been given the highest recognition for having made significant contributions to the Philippine arts . He also won several awards for his other works.

WRITING INFLUENCE
He deeply admired Jose Rizal, our national hero. In fact, he also paid tribute to him by way of books such as "The Storyteller's New Medium-Rizal in Saga," "The Complete Poems and Plays of Jose Rizal," and "A Question of Heroes: Essays in Criticism on Ten Key Figures of Philippine History." He even translated Jose Rizal's valedictory poem, Land that I Love, Farewell!

CARLOS P. ROMULO (1899-1985)
Carlos Romulo was a Filipino diplomat, politician, soldier, journalist, author, and a co-founder of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines.

MOST SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION/S TO PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
He wrote "The Magsaysay Story," a biography of Ramon Magsaysay.

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT
Besides winning several awards for his services, he also became the National Artist of the Philippines.

DRIVING PRINCIPLE FOR WRITING
He wants to show his advocacy of human rights, decolonization, and freedom, which can be seen in his writings.

References:
Dianne Siriban. "An Overview of Literature"
"Art Psychotheraphy Counselling Services." Apcounsellingservices. Web. 14 Jan. 2009
"Bienvenido Santos." Wikipedia. Web. 14 Jan. 2009
"Carlos P. Romulo." Wikipedia. Web. 14 Jan. 2009
"Nick Joaquin." Wikipedia. Web. 14 Jan. 2009
Santos, Tomas N. "Scent of Apples." Milamagno. Web. 14 Jan. 2009