Who's the most famous Filipino writer nowadays?

[acridmouth]

Meron ba? He can be a journalist/essayist/novelist.
I wonder why there aren't any Filipinos who make it big in the literary scene. Lalo na sa mga international/New York Times bestselling novels stuff. Amy Tan sort of represents China, and we get to know more about the country's culture and populace with her Joy Luck Club book. Sana we can have our own Pinoy international novelist na mairerepresent ang bansa nating Pilipinas.

Iyon lang po.

[§ínned™]

Hi acridmouth!

The following are some of the most famous and familiar Filipino writers/journalists who are still alive, they are also award winners: the young breed - Jun Lana, Danton Remoto, J. Neil Garcia, Lourd Ernest de Veyra, Ramil Gulle, Roel Hoang Manipon, Ricci Guevarra, Clinton Palanca; the older literati - Cirilo Bautista, Butch Dalisay, Poet Ophelia Alcantara Dimalanta, Domingo Landicho, Benilda Santos, Liwayway Arceo, Margie Evasco, Virgilio Almario, and C. Pantoja-Hidalgo among others.

The next time you swing by a bookstore, you may check some titles authored by these writers.

Unfortunately, although there are lots of great Filipino writers, our literature is not at par with the greatest in the world. It is disheartening to note that while literature in other parts of Asia are well-received internationally, Philippine literature seems like to remain unknown . Asian writers like Pramoedya Ananta Toer, a well-known Indonesian prose-writer, the Nobel Prize winner Kawabata Yasunari of Japan or even Pira Sudham, a Thai writing in English are more respected and known in the literary world than their Filipino counterparts.

One reason, perhaps, is Filipino writers not really understanding what even the word Filipino is, and majorly, the Filipino psyche, if there is any.

§inned™

[tRiStAn]

§inned™ you forgot f. sionil jose :)

[batang uliran]

Sinned:

The other problem is in promotion. Our government has not promoted many of our best writers properly to the international community hence they remain unknowns outside the Philippines. Writers like Jose Garcia Villa, Paz Marquez Benitez, Nick Joaquin, Loreto Paras Sulit, Angela Manalang Gloria, Manuel Arguilla, Carlos Bulosan and many others were world class. It's unfortunate that their works have not been given the proper exposure internationally that they deserve.

[§ínned™]

Most of the time that is not true, batang uliran. I'm taking Pramoedya Ananta Toer as a good example. The Indonesian government even banned his books because he was being sympathetic towards the Communists. He has been jailed multiple times for writing books depicting Javanese society under Dutch colonial rule in the early 20th century and exposing the Indonesian plight. His best known works, Bumi Manusia (This Earth of Mankind) and Anak semua bangsa (Child of All Nations) were never liked by the Indonesian government and were put out of circulation. I may even add some of the well-known black writers who came from those famine-and-war-stricken African places where literature is never supported by their governments, and still, they were able to get noticed and earned the respect of Nobel.

It is stunning to say that these writers write in their own native language and still surpass the Filipino writers who are even masters of the English language.

I have been studying literatures of the world and read through the works of famous writers and why they became great. These writers' masterpieces tell of something really rooted from their distinct culture, and character that is truly them. Filipinos, on the other hand, have yet to resolve their confused language before even telling the world what they really are and, thus, earn the recognition of Pulitzer or even Booker Prize, perhaps.

§inned™

[Cala]

Sinned, I think that aside from the confused language, it's really about having a confused culture. We can't have something that's distinctly ours when we don't even have a distinct identity. Although that shouldn't stop writers from producing works -- I just hope that the goal is towards evolution, and not the "benchmarking" of already noted great works.

In any case, the problem with promotion, distribution, or the other logistical/physical obstacles, in my opinion, are a lot easier to surpass, what with the whole development of technology and the trend of globalization.

Perhaps we should work for national as opposed to international appeal. Not from the authors' end alone, but from the readers. A lot of the well-read are only knowledgeable with the set Western "prerequisites." And that's a real shame.

[neth_row]

ok din si jessica zafra....her twisted series is soooo hilarious.... :D

[kingofpain]

Are Filipino writers even "famous" in their own country? I mean, sure, we (with higher education, enough money to afford books) know them, we've read their works, but what percent of the total Philippine population do we make up? Meanwhile, majority of the reading Filipino public is probably more familiar with Helen Meriz and other writers of Filipino pulp romance being sold and exchanged on the sidewalks of Recto. Why? Maybe part of the reason is that "confused culture"--many Filipino writers writing in an unmistakeably Western voice that most Filipinos cannot identify with. So maybe before we address the issue of why Filipino writers are not getting the international recognition that Toer et al are getting, we should first look at why they are not appreciated by their own countrymen.

[acridmouth]

Amen to all of your posts :) Truly a lot of factors contribute to why remarkable Filipino writers remain virtually unknown in the international literary scene.

If I were a writer, I would go to New York, and try my luck there. Maybe I could write a novel, find a publisher, and then hope for the best that my work would be included in NY Times bestselling list. Rather than be stuck here in the country, wherein only the virtuosos and the intellectuals know your work. One time I was telling my friend about a novel written by Nick Joaquin. Then she she asked, "Who's Nick joaquin?" I wanted to say ,"Hello? You don't know who he is?" But instead I patiently explained.

Maybe because it's also our fault. Instead of purchasing books by the Filipino authors (mentioned by Sinned), we go for the foreign...Grisham, Rice, Clancy, etcetera. Those works that are truly international. Sigh. I really feel bad that our writers here don't get the fame that they deserve.

Someday, I hope one Filipino writer will stand out and show to the world what Filipino literature and culture are all about.

Yeah, Jessica Zafra is really good. I'm one of her fans.

[asterisk]

How can Philippine Literature be known worldwide when here the Philippines, it is neglected direly? We boast to have the highest literacy rate in Asia and yet we do not read.

Actually, Filipino writers are more known abroad. They are first and deservingly recognized abroad before they are here. Or, when they are established here, they are accorded the respect, readership and distictinction as a writer abroad.

Carlos Bulosan ("The Laughter of My Father") is among the first Filipino to penetrate the US publishing industry and his works are widely praised and anthologized in the US.
The same goes with NVM Gonzalez ( The Bamboo Dancers, Bread of Salt and Other Stories) and Bienvenido N. Santos ("Volcano," "The Praying Man," "The Scent of Apples").
Jose Garcia Villa is a respected poet in the US.
Lately, Filipinos have been publishing in the US.Namely,

Jessica Hagedorn (Her acclaimed and superb "Dogeaters" was nominated in the American National Book Awards. Her latest novel is "The Gangster of Love"))
Cecilia Manguerra-Brainard (her "When the Rainbow Goddess Wept" was published by Dutton and reprinted by Penguin. A Finnish translation in under way. The novel, set in World War II, was first published here under the title "Song of Yvonne," which was sorely neglected)
Bino Realuyo (The Umbrella Country")
Wilfredo Nolledo ("But for the Lovers")
R. Linmark Zamora (Rolling the R"s)
Ninotchka Rosca ("State of War" and "Twice Blessed")


F. Sionil Jose's novels are constantly being published by Ramdom House and these several editions in French, Russian, etc. His books include "Thee Filipino Women," "Sins," "Mass" and the currently being issued is the five-novel Rosales saga.

In Australia, Arlene J. Chai ("The Last Time I Saw Mother" and "Eating Fire and Drinking Water") and Merlinda Bobis ("White Turtle") are making waves.

In Singapore, we have Norma Miraflor ("Island of Wives")

One of Liwayway Arceo's promient novels, "Canal de la Reina," has been translated and published in Japan, where it is well appreciated.

Foreign scholars has been doing studies on Philippine literature, while Filipinos kept neglecting it. Prominent are Roger Bresnahan and Leonard Casper. Many foreign scholars are responsible in retreiving and recording our oral literature. A recent one, Nicole Revel-MacDonald has published the complete test of the Palawan epic "Kudaman."

[senseishels]

Originally posted by asterisk
How can Philippine Literature be known worldwide when here the Philippines, it is neglected direly? We boast to have the highest literacy rate in Asia and yet we do not read.

for the hard fact, hindi na tayo ang highest literacy rate sa Asia.. nung Marcos regime pa ata yun...
but sure thing, i agree with you... bakit mismong sa bansa pa natin e neglected ang husay ng mga Pinoy writers...
the most common answer would still be "ang walang kamatayang IMPERYALISMO"... we have to admit that most Filipinos would rather eat dust from foreign lands than the most appetizing fruit cake from our own country.. sayang talaga..

isa pang problema ay ang availability ng mga books sa bansa.. aminin natin na halos "exclusive" ang pagbabasa dito sa Pinas.. bukod sa Komiks (na halos paubos na rin ngayon) ano pa bang mga babasahin o libro ang abot-kamay ng masa? Di ba dapat para sa "masang pinoy" din ang mga books na gawa nila Arlene Chai, Lualhati Bautista,atbp...kung mas wide ang publication ng mga ito, palagay ko makakakuha tayo ng maraming mambabasa...hindi lang yung mga babasahing pocketbooks na love stories sa palenke ang babasahin ng mga Pinoy.. kahit konti lang ang "edukado" sa kalye, kung kakalat ang mga mabubuting aklat sa kalye ng Pinas, i'm sure hindi maiiwasang lumago din ang interest for reading ng maraming tao. (magkakaroon pa tayo ng mas matatatlino at "mas nag-iisip" na masang Pinoy)

[senseishels]

Originally posted by acridmouth
If I were a writer, I would go to New York, and try my luck there. Maybe I could write a novel, find a publisher, and then hope for the best that my work would be included in NY Times bestselling list. Rather than be stuck here in the country, wherein only the virtuosos and the intellectuals know your work. One time I was telling my friend about a novel written by Nick Joaquin. Then she she asked, "Who's Nick joaquin?" I wanted to say ,"Hello? You don't know who he is?" But instead I patiently explained.


Someday, I hope one Filipino writer will stand out and show to the world what Filipino literature and culture are all about.

Yeah, Jessica Zafra is really good. I'm one of her fans.

I totally relate to that! Minsan kausap ko yung friend ko.. i was trying to share to her the moment kasi katatapos ko pa lang basahin yung Eating Fire Drinking Water ni Chai.. tapos sabi rin nya, "sino yun?"... okay understandable.. so I explained who Arlene Chai is.. tapos when she heard na Chai's a Pinoy, para bang nawalan sya ng gana...

acridmouth... someday,you say, u hope one Filipino writer will shine? ako I hope na The Philippines itself and the whole Filipino race will stand out and shine... at mangyayari lang yun if we Filipinos will start recognizing our own true worth...
(grabe.. masyado bang idealistic.. wala lang.. in-love lang ako kaya masaya... aaawwww...:p )

[red_door8]

daming magagaling na Filipino writers!!! :)
nick joaquin is a good poet... tapos okay din siyang playwright.. :)
i like jessica zafra's twisted series too... isama mo na rin diyan *** portents... her winning piece for the palance awards some time ago... :)
tristan: i read one of the novels of f. sionil jose... *** my brother, my executioner.

[c_almazan]

I think Jaime An Lim and Anthony L. Tan are also good filipino writers and Jessica Zafra.:D

[sadirmata]

f. sionil jose
nick joaquin


... pero kung yung most famous kasi maraming mambabasa ng kanilang works, e, di yung mga romance pocketbook writers kagaya nina gilda olvidado at iba pa.

[^PoloBOY]

Ben Chua

[cloak&dagger]

Jessica Zafra.

[ahwen]

Nic Juaquin
Jessica Zafra
Bob Ong

[Alunsina]

my latest find who made me want to write again. Arlene Chai!

[EverAfter]

Jessica Zafra.

I like Clinton Palanca's style. Sana sumikat din siya. :)

:spinstar:

[ogiebraga]

Napakasakit namang isipin na "pagsikat" sa ibang bansa ang katuturan ng pagiging isang manunulat. Ang pagsikat sa ibang bansa ay parang paglalagay ng kakanluraning istandard sa ating sining. Masuwerte naman ang mga taga-Kanluran, sumusulat ang mga Filipino para sa kanila.

Higit sa pagsikat ay ang maunawaan ang mga alagad ng sining. Wala nang sasapat pa sa matuldukan mo sa papel ang nais mong sabihin sa mundo, at mapanatag ka na naiintindihan ka naman ng mundo. Ang pagpapasikat sa isang alagad ng sining, kahit hindi naman ito nauunawaanm, ay isang kalapastanganan hindi lamang sa alagad ng sining, kundi sa sining mismo.

Naghahanap tayo ng tinatawag na Filipino identity. Ang paghahanap ng Filipino identity ay hindi tuwirang responsibilidad ng isang alagad ng sining. Maging ang pagpapayaman/ preserbasyon ng "Philippine Literature". Wala namang ibang responsibilidad sa isang alagad ng sining kundi sa kanyang sining mismo, sa tulong ng kanyang karanasan at mga pandama. Walang dinadambana ang alagad ng sining kundi ang kanyang karanasan at pandama.

Ang mga manunulat ay mga nilalang na may pagmamahal sa mga ideya. Hindi sila mga artista sa pelikula.

[Spring_Chicken]

Ang mga manunulat ay mga nilalang na may pagmamahal sa mga ideya. Hindi sila mga artista sa pelikula.

:handsdown:

Still, publishing is a business. The more books your name sells, the more avenues you have for "artistic expression."

[eaglion]

duh! dami pang satsat, yong mga nagsusulat, sumulat nalang ng sumulat and ilahala ang inyong mga gawa

yong mga mambabasa, e di bumasa na lang kayo ng bumasa pero i-patronize natin ang likhang pilipino lalo na yong mga nandito sa pilipinas

ogiebraga, nag-LIRA ka ba? curious lang po :p

hehe all apologies if kinda off topic na ako