Francisco Sionil José:
(Rosales, December 3, 1924 – Makati, January 6, 2022).
One of the most widely read Filipino authors.
José uses memories of his native village, Rosales, to describe life in the Philippine countryside and the country’s social and economic inequalities. His work has been translated from English into 22 other languages, including Dutch. He has received several awards, including the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1980. In 2001, he was named a National Artist of the Philippines.
José passed away on January 6, 2022, at the Makati Medical Center at the age of 97.
November is auspicious in so many parts of the country—the rice harvest is already in, the weather starts to cool, and the festive glow which precedes Christmas has began to brighten the landscape.
