F. Sionil Jose
SUMAKABILANG-BUHAY na ang National Artist for Literature na si F. Sionil Jose kagabi, Jan. 6, 2022. Siya ay 97 years old.
Kinumpirma ng Philippine Center of International PEN (Poets, Essayists, Novelists) ang malungkot na balita sa pamamagitan ng official statement na inilabas nila sa Facebook. Si F. Sionil Jose ang founder ng PEN.
Ayon sa ulat, pumanaw ang National Artist habang naka-confine sa Makati Medical Center kung saan naka-schedule na sana siyang magpa-angioplasty.
Nagdiwang lamang ng kanyang ika-97 kaarawan si Jose noong Dec. 3, 2021.
Narito ang opisyal na pahayag ng PEN hinggil sa kanyang pagpanaw: “National Artist for Literature and Philippine PEN founder F. Sionil Jose has passed away.
“Jose died Thursday evening at the Makati Medical Center where he was supposed to undergo an angioplasty Friday Jan. 7, according to his wife, Tessie Jovellanos Jose.
“Tessie said Jose apparently died in his sleep. He was declared dead at 9:30 p.m.
“Jose turned 97 only last Dec. 3.”
Sa kanyang Facebook account, nakapag-post pa siya ng mensahe ilang oras bago siya tuluyang namaalam.
Aniya, “Thank you brave heart.
“There are times when as an agnostic I doubt the presence of an almighty and loving God. But dear brave heart you are here to disprove this illusion, to do away with the conclusion that if you doubt Him, you kill Him. I cannot kill you dear heart; you have to do that yourself.
“For 97 years you have been constantly working patiently pumping much more efficiently and longer than most machines. Of course, I know that a book lasts long too, as the libraries have shown, books that have lived more than 300 years.
“Now, that I am here in waiting for an angioplasty, I hope that you will survive it and I with it, so that I will be able to continue what I have been doing with so much energy that only you have been able to give.
“Thank you dear brave heart and dear Lord for this most precious gift.”
Idineklarang National Artist for Literature noong April 20, 2001 si Jose sa ilalim ng administrasyon ni dating Pangulong Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
Ito’y dahil na rin sa hindi matatawarang kontribusyon niya sa mundo ng Literature. Kabilang sa kanyang mga obra ang mga short stories na “The God Stealer” (1959), “Waywaya” (1979), at “Arbol de Fuego” (1980).
Nandiyan din ang kanyang nobelang “Mass” (1981); at ang essay na “A Scenario for Philippine Resistance “(1979), na kinilala ng Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature.
https://bandera.inquirer.net/294059/national-artist-bienvenido-lumbera-pumanaw-na-sa-edad-89
