F. Sionil Jose headlines language & lit confab

MANILA, Philippines - National Artist Francisco Sionil Jose will keynote the National Conference on Language and Literature, set on Sept. 10 to 12,  from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City.

With theme “Language and Literature at the Crossroads: Research Routes, Learning Landscapes, Teaching Terrains,” the confab will look into the details and effects of R.A. 10533 or the Enhanced Basic Education Act  which makes it  imperative for the educational system to examine the present language and literature curriculum, instruction, and learning resources in light of the K to 12 Program,  and the use of the mother tongue as the medium of instruction in the lower grades.

The national summit also aims to acquaint teachers with evolving research paradigms in linguistic scholarship; expose teachers to recent developments in learning theories and praxes; familiarize teachers with innovative teaching techniques and creative pedagogies in the language and literature classrooms; and engage teachers in discussions on the language and literature aspects of the recently institutionalized K-12 curriculum.

F. Sionil Jose is one of the most read Filipino authors internationally. His works, including the famed Rosales saga, have been translated into 22 languages including Korean, Indonesian, Russian, Latvian, Ukrainian, Dutch and Japanese. His body of work embodies the Filipinos’ struggle for equality; the fight against unjust regimes and colonialism; and the constant effort to break free from corruption.

Reading Noli Me Tangere, Basilio and Crispin’s story resonated with Jose, as his grandfather suffered a similar fate when the mestizo landlords took their lands by working the system against the illiterate Filipinos. With Jose Rizal as his greatest writing influence, he began to pen the five volume Rosales Saga consisting of The Pretenders, Tree, My Brother, My Executioner, Mass, and Po-on which features the iconic Samsons whose personal lives intertwine with the struggles of the nation. He also started a publishing house, created a bookshop called La Solidaridad, which sells local and international hard to find books, and he also founded the Philippine chapter of PEN, an international organization for writers.

Over the years Francisco Sionil Jose has penned short stories, children’s books, and other novels like Gagamba, Sin, Ben Singkol, Ermita, and Vibora!, just to name a few. Because of his excellence in writing, he has been awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature, and Creative Communication Arts in 1980, The National Artist Award for Literature in 2001, the Pablo Neruda Centennial Award in 2004, the Palanca Award as well as many other awards locally and internationally.

Other speakers in the conference Prof. Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo, PhD (University of the Philippines and University of Santo Tomas); Prof. Marilu Madrunio, PhD (University of Santo Tomas); and Prof Oscar Campomanes, PhD (Ateneo de Manila University).

The conference will highlight memorial lectures in honor of three distinguished language and literature educators: Nieves Epistola, Maria Clara Ravina, and Milagros Tanlayco. There will be a round-table discussion on K-12 and a panel of guest entertainment celebrities will talk about their engagements with literature.

There will also be two open forums moderated by Prof. Melvyn Alamis and Prof. Nonilon Queanio, PhD and the roundtable discussion on ‘’K-12 and Beyond” moderated by  Prof. Jojo Nicdao. Second and third day activities include paper presentations, teaching demonstrations and the celebrity panel “On Reading and Other Literary Preoccupations”.

The National Conference on Language and Literature (NCLL) is organized the Primetrade Asia, Inc., and is held in conjunction with the 34th Manila International Book Fair. For details, call 896-0661 or 896-0682, or e-mail bookfair@primetradeasia.com.

The Manila International Book Fair, the country’s biggest and longest running book fair. It runs from Sept. 11 to 15, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the SMX Convention Center. It lists famous literary works set right here in Manila. 

From urban legends to iconic representations of a country united by People Power, Manila has proven to be an enigmatic, historical and memorable city as depicted in literature. Books about it include Manila Noir edited by Jessica Hagerdorn; Moondogs by Alexander Yates, about the disappearance of an American businessman in Manila while his estranged son searches for him; Trash by Andy Mulligan; The Tesseract by Alex Garland; Mango Bride by Marivi Soliven; Baby Jesus Pawn Shop by Lucia Orth.

Find these books and more at the Manila International Book Fair organized by Primetrade Asia.