F. Sionil Jose, Dies Aged 97

Hello Gentle Reader,
 
The national treasure and writer of the Philippines, F. Sionil Jose has died at the age of 97. F. Sinoil Jose, was one of the most widely read Filipino writers on the international stage, which maybe partially due to the writer’s literary language being English. Jose’s work was renowned for its depiction of class divisions underpinning Filipino society and the lasting detrimental affects of colonialism, which supports and encourages these social divisions. His novels and short stories were almost exclusively set in urban environments, espousing social change by detailing and criticizing the social inequalities of the Philippines. His well-known novel: “The Pretenders,” recounts the story of a man alienated in society due to his poor background, which is then contrasted to his wife’s family and their affluent exuberance in wealth. “The Pretenders,” is also part of F. Sinoil Jose’s renowned pentalogy, “The Rosales Saga.” The historical series of novels recounts generations of two families, the poor farming Samons and the wealthy Asperri, through both the Spanish and American Colonialism before ending during the Philippines Independence. “The Rosales Saga,” is an epicist account of the Philippines modern history, and is a classical chronicle of the times, like Naguib Mahfouz’s depiction of modern Egypt in his “Cairo Trilogy,” or Honoré de Balzac’s chronicle of the Post-Napoleonic France in “La Comédie humaine,” or Emile Zola’s cartography of the Second Empire, or Charles Dickens study of the Victorian England, or John Galsworthy’s cycle of novel recounting the Edwardian Era. Throughout his decades long writing career, which includes extensive essays, columns, and journalistic pieces in addition to his novels, short stories, children’s book, and poetry, F. Sionil Jose became the most recognized and read Filipino writer, whose work had been translated into 28 different languages including: Korean, Czech, Russian, Dutch, Spanish, and Indonesian. As a writer, F. Sionil Jose combined both social and political preoccupations with historical accounts in his novels, in order to provide a detailed understanding of the social, historical, and political understanding of the island nation. Linguistically speaking, F. Sionil Jose exercised complete authenticity in writing in Filipino English.
 
Rest in Peace F. Sionil Jose, your contributions to Filipino Literature and culture will endure for generations to come.
 
 
Thank-you For Reading Gentle Reader
Take Care
And As Always
Stay Well Read
 
M. Mary