American writer James Fallows called F. Sionil José “the conscience of the nation” while novelist Charlson Ong said José was forthright and made controversial statements to wake people out of their lethargy.
Fallows and Ong were among writing colleagues and others who paid tribute to the late National Artist for Literature during the virtual event hosted by Cultural Center of the Philippines and the Philippine Center of International PEN (Playwrights, Essayists, Novelists) on Feb. 14.
José passed away on Jan. 6, 2022 at age 97.
“José has a deadly-serious claim to being the conscience of his nation—at legal and physical risk during the Marcos years and as a sobering voice in the years since then,” Fallows, a US National Book Award-winning author said.
Fallows praised José novels.
“[He] was not writing only about his home islands,” said Fallows, who’s been inducted to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. “[H]is work is rich, broadly human, and beyond borders.”
Ong said José made a lot of uncomfortable pronouncements.
“He was a writer: a person who refused to be comfortable even though he could have been,” added Ong, chair of Philippine PEB, which was founded by José in 1958.
“Manong Frankie was always ready to inspire the next generation of writers, readers, literature teachers with his impromptu and straightforward, and often controversial pronouncements,” said CCP Vice President Chris Millado.
Former Supreme Court associate justice Antonio Carpio said José “[was] engrossed in gathering preeminent Filipino achievers to harness their talents towards nation-building.”
Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. said “Frankie” dedicated his life to remembering the “struggles, follies and triumphs as a nation.”
Former ombudsman Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales recalled José’s generosity and how they bonded over their Ilocano roots.
“Contrary to the impression that Ilocanos are kuripot, he was very generous—he was never selfish in sharing his thoughts, in advising me, and with his words of appreciation,” she said. “He took pride in knowing that I was an Ilocano and gave me books with dedication in Ilocano, reflective of his pride as a kababayan from way up north.”
“He challenged us to write more novels of weight and substance and to persevere to the very end,” fictionist and columnist Jose “Butch” Dalisay, Jr. said. “He even wrote his last column on what turned out to be his deathbed.”
Speaking on behalf of the family, Alex José said his father always urged them to remember their history and sharpen their memories so as to impart wisdom to the next generations.
“Knowing my father,” Alex said, “nothing would make him happier than to see current and future generations remembering their history and for those lost to waken from their wandering idle slumber.” Alexandra L. Mangasar
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