In an aim to encourage Filipinos to participate in art-making and appreciation, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) invites the public to join the F. Sionil Jose Centennial Celebration: Congress, Conference, and Contest. It is a compelling series of literary events to commemorate the birth centenary of the late National Artist for Literature.
Free and open to the public, this two-day event will take place on November 27 and 28, 2024, at The Verdure, 4/F Henry Sy Sr. Hall, De La Salle University (DLSU) in Taft Avenue, Manila.
Jose was known for his masterwork, the Rosales Saga, which comprises five novels, namely Poon; Tree; My Brother, My Executioner; The Pretenders; and Mass. His literature includes novels such as Gagamba, Viajero, Ben Singkol, Ermita, and Two Filipino Women; short story collections such as The God Stealer and Other Stories, Waywaya, Olvidon, and Platinum; poems in Questions, and essays in Why We are Poor and This I Believe: Gleanings from a Life in Literature, among many others.
His canon is a testimony to the historical wounds of the Philippines, reflecting realities from colonial subjugation, agrarian unrests, repressive regimes, social class conflicts, and natural adversities.
The F. Sionil Jose Centennial Celebration is co-organized by DLSU, the Philippine Center of International PEN, and Solidaridad Enterprises. It kickstarts with the annual PEN Philippines Congress on November 27 (Wednesday), from 9am to 5pm. Entitled “VIAJERO: The Journey of Philippine Fiction,” the congress highlights Jose’s life and work in fiction, and features the many directions our regional stories have been taking.
Jose, the founder of PEN Philippines and late Vice President of PEN International, began his writing career as a journalist and edited various literary and journalistic publications. His Solidaridad bookshop, located in Ermita, was a hub for literary exchanges which welcomed some of the most prestigious writers of the 20th Century.
On the same day, literary expert Jose Dalisay will deliver the Rizal Lecture. For the Free Word segment, there will be an excerpt from Tanghalang Pilipino’s Balete, a play based on Jose’s novel Tree, adapted for theater by Rody Vera and directed by Chris Millado.
The Man from Rosales: The F. Sionil Jose Conference will be held on November 28 (Thursday), from 9 AM to 5 PM. The conference will have academic discussions on Jose’s legacy as a fictionist, as well as the challenges and possibilities faced by Philippine fiction today, examining research papers on Jose which have been selected from a call issued earlier in the year.
Atty. Saul Hofileña Jr. and playwright Vera will serve as keynote speakers. A panel of scholars will present papers that seek to investigate the intellectual legacy of F. Sionil Jose and his work.
The F. Sionil Jose Young Writers Awards, freshly revived by the Jose family, will confer prizes on select young winners. This contest is sponsored by the CCP, and facilitated by PEN Philippines.
A special photo exhibit, Memories: Photographs by F. Sionil Jose, will showcase a selection of photographs taken by the late National Artist himself, as he was a photojournalist and cultural worker in his heyday. The exhibit will be on view from November 27 to December 6, from 8 am to 5pm, at the DLSU Libraries, 12/F Henry Sy Sr. Hall. Guided tours may be scheduled.
As the premiere arts and culture institution of the country, CCP shows its commitment to supporting and uplifting literary communities by promoting literature and creative writing, especially among the youth. By bringing together established writers, students, and enthusiasts of literature and creative writing, the CCP aims to foster meaningful discussions on the diverse landscape of Philippine literature. 
All events are free admission. Non-DLSU visitors must register to secure an entry pass into the campus through bit.ly/FSJ100. The main entrance is: DLSU Gate 2 (North Gate).
For more details, visit fsioniljosecentennial.com or email ccpintertextualdivision@gmail.com.
