FSJ Conference

The Man from Rosales: The F. Sionil Jose Centennial Conference

November 28, 2024

Venue: The Verdure, 4th Floor Henry Sy Sr. Hall, De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines

In this conference, scholars seek to investigate the intellectual legacy of National Artist F. Sionil José and critically examine his work.

The insights of earlier scholars on Jose’s work are found in anthologies and journals such as F. Sionil Jose and His Fiction. From Cabugaw to Rosales: A Filipino’s Journey to Justice and Nationhood (1989), Frankie Sionil Jose. A Tribute (2005), and Tomas Special Issue on F. Sionil Jose, Volume 3 Issue 4A(2023).

The Keynote Speakers

SAUL HOFILEÑA JR. is the author of the bestselling book, Under the Stacks. He is a Patnubay ng Sining Awardee given by the City of Manila. He was a director of the American Historical Collection now housed in the Rizal Library of the Ateneo de Manila University and of the Philippine Numismatic and Antiquarian Society. He wrote a coffee table book entitled Vestments of the Golden Leaf, about the history of the 19th century tobacco monopoly and tobacco labels in the Philippines. In 2016, he released an anthology of his father’s literary works entitled Elegy. His four books about art are: The Last Bohemian, Juicio Final, Hocus and Quadricula, the last two being companion volumes to two highly successful six-month art exhibitions at the National Museum of the Philippines. He is the intellectual author of the paintings considered unique in the history of Philippine art. Eleven of his huge paintings are on permanent display at the National Museum of Fine Arts and the National Museum of Anthropology. He teaches in the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Program for lawyers.

RODY VERA is playwright, screenwriter, actor, and theatre director. He has written more than 25 original plays, many of which garnered the Don Carlos Memorial Awards for Literature. He was conferred the Hall of Famer by the Palanca Memorial Awards in 2014. He has also adapted and translated both Filipino and foreign plays, including the novels and stories of National Artist F. Sionil Jose such as Tanghalang Pilipino’s Balete, Ang Mga Huwad, and Masa. His many awards include the Gawad Balagtas Award for Philippine Drama by the Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas (UMPIL), and the Gawad Tanglaw ng Lahi Award given by Ateneo de Manila University. He is the co-founder of the Virgin Labfest, an annual theater festival of new plays. He also heads the Writer’s Bloc, Inc., a group of Filipino playwrights.

CONFERENCE PROGRAM

9:00 -9:30AM	Invocation… Dr. Dinah Roma, DLSU Literature National Anthem Opening Remarks. . . Dr. Carlos Piocos, Chair, DLSU Literature Remarks of Circumstance … Mr. Nikko Jose, Jose Family
9:30-11:00AM	Keynote Address 1 Walking with Sionil Atty. Saul Hofileña Introduction of the Speaker… Dr. Shirley Lua, DLSU Literature Keynote Address 2 Dramatizing F. Sionil Jose Mr. Rody Vera Introduction of the Speaker… Dr. John Iremil Teodoro, Director, Bienvenido N. Santos Creative Writing Center
11:00-11:45AM	FSJ Young Writers Awards Ceremony
12NN-1PM	Lunch Reception Hosted by the Jose Family
1:00-3:00PM	PANEL 1 Chair/Moderator: Dr. Feorillo Demeterio III, Director, DLSU Research Grants and Management Office Ang Estados Unidos sa Hiraya ni Manong Frankie: Paglalapat ng Tematikong Pagsusuri at Kognitibismong Pampanitikan sa mga Nobela ni F. Sionil Jose sa Diwa ng Araling Kabanwahan Mark Joseph Santos, De La Salle University Pagsasalin sa Ilokano ng Kuwentong F. Sionil Jose Junley Lazaga, UP Baguio/UP Diliman Land, Identity, and the Filipino Psyche: A Philosophical Approach to F. Sionil Jose’s Perspective Katya Manalastas and Alvin Servaña, De La Salle University Evidence of the Endonormative Stabilization of Philippine English in the Literary Creativity of F. Sionil José’s Po-on Francis Tatel, Catanduanes State University
3:00-5:00PM	PANEL 1I Chair/Moderator: Prof. Eros Atalia, DLSU Literature Historiographia: Locating the Identity from Poverty on F. Sionil Jose’s The Rosales Saga Towards Social Progress Loraine Villarina, University of Santo Tomas Comparing Picaresque Elements in Aravind Adiga’s The White Tiger and F. Sionil Jose’s Mass Charles Dominic Sanchez, Sacred Heart School, Ateneo de Cebu Women Who Dare: A Study of Women Characters in F. Sionil Jose’s Three Filipino Women Shiela Marie De Leon, Bulacan State University Sipnget ken Nalabaga: The Shady and Colored Language of Indifference in F. Sionil Jose’s My Brother, My Executioner Cynthia Lyn Curada, Central Luzon State University
Master of Ceremonies: Ma. Jemimah Uy, DLSU Literature

The conference is open to the public. Admission is free.

REGISTRATION. This registration is for non-DLSU visitors to secure an entry pass into the campus. Visitors should refrain from registering if they do not intend to make an appearance. The designated entrance is: DLSU Gate 2 (a.k.a. North Gate), which leads directly to the Henry Sy Sr. Hall. Please bring your ID in case you are asked by security to show your identification evidence. DLSU faculty and students need not register through this form; they may freely enter the venue.

If you are a PEN member or interested in joining PEN, kindly also fill in the separate form at https://bit.ly/488WwDa so we can update our mailing list.