F. Sionil Jose
F. Sionil Jose
Francisco Sionil Joséis 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 Filipino society. José's works—written in English—have been translated into 22 languages, including Korean, Indonesian, Czech, Russian, Latvian, Ukrainian and Dutch...
NationalityFilipino
ProfessionWriter
Date of Birth3 December 1924
bones crude funny half lucky people trying
Some lucky people can be funny without half trying because they actually look funny, because acting funny is in their bones - fun as funny, not funny as crude slapstick.
act anarchy others roles social
We must know our own roles. We should also know the roles that others play, and the rules such roles follow. In this manner, social harmony is maintained. It is when we overstep our roles, or act without knowing them, that social anarchy ensues.
history philosophy reading
My reading of philosophy and history is desultory; I know so much and yet so little.
compels draws habit induced matter seek visit whatever whim worshipped
My wife and I often visit Rosales and the Ilokos as a matter of habit or whim induced by nostalgia, homesickness - whatever draws pilgrims to worshipped sanctuaries. Or, perhaps, what compels moths to seek the votive flame.
later mere societies sooner wants
Professional societies are sooner or later fractured by the ego of their leaders. Everyone wants to be president, chairman, CEO; no one wants to be a mere follower.
eastern eternal legends life search western
Literature - Eastern and Western - abounds with stories, myths, legends about the search for youth, for eternal life.
bring classics create folk level strive
As artists, we must not go down to the level of the masa; we should bring them up, intellectualize our languages, create classics out of our folk arts. We can do this if we are true to our roots and strive for excellence.
defines human perhaps word writers
You can't have integrity for breakfast, but try and keep it because it is perhaps the single most important word that defines not just writers but all human beings.
economic issue
Always remember: the alleviation of poverty is never a political or economic issue - it is moral.
beauty bodies decrepit delay fullness infuse rejoice
For them who delay aging, who infuse decrepit bodies with youth and beauty - they must rejoice in the fullness of their deeds.
freedom justice religion teaches truth value
In the end, religion teaches us to value truth, justice and freedom.
grief love poetry zombies
Poetry is emotion, passion, love, grief - everything that is human. It is not for zombies by zombies.
believer buddhists build building continuity envy hindus ingredient nation philosophy religion worship
I envy those Hindus and Buddhists who have in their religion philosophy and ancestor worship which build in the believer a continuity with the past, and that most important ingredient in the building of a nation - memory.
horribly morning shallow
We are shallow because our media are so horribly shallow. Every morning, I peruse the papers, and there is so little to read in them. It is the same with radio - all that noise, that artifice.