Adrian Cristobal
Encyclopedia
Adrian E. Cristobal was a Filipino writer who frequently touched on political and historical themes. Perhaps best known to the public for his "Breakfast Table" newspaper column
, he was also a Palanca Award
-winning playwright, fictionist and essayist. He likewise held several positions in government during the administration of President
Ferdinand E. Marcos.
Upon his death from lung cancer
on December 22, 2007, a Resolution
was proposed in the Philippine Senate
citing Cristobal as "a prolific journalist, a political satirist, a historical writer and lecturer, a well-respected columnist, a brilliant fictionist and essayist, a creative playwright, a literary genius and a hardworking publisher."
, though he would drop out of college. By age 15, he had won literary prizes for his fiction, and by 17, his byline was appearing in the pages of the country's leading newspapers such as the Manila Chronicle. As a young writer, he became affiliated with a group of fellow writers based in U.P. Diliman
known as the Ravens.
In the 1960 Palanca Awards
, Cristobal garnered the Second Prize in the One-Act Play (English) category for his satirical play The Largest Crocodile in the World. All copies of the play have reputedly been lost upon the initiative of the politician believed to have been depicted in the work. Cristobal again won the Second Prize in the 1983 Palanca Awards
, this time in the essay category. Cristobal also authored two books on the national hero Andres Bonifacio
; The Tragedy of the Revolution and The Trial. In 1962, Cristobal was contracted to write the screenplay of Gerardo de Leon
's film adaptation of El Filibusterismo
, for which he won a FAMAS award for Best Screenplay.
Cristobal was among the intellectuals enticed by Ferdinand Marcos to join his administration. During martial law, he headed the speech-writing office of the Office of the President. He was later appointed as the Chairman of the Social Security System
and a member of the Board of Regents of the University of the Philippines.
After the ouster of Marcos in 1986, Cristobal joined the Philippine Daily Inquirer
as a newspaper columnist. He left the Inquirer in 2000 to become the publisher of the Manila Times
. After a short stint with the Times, he joined the Manila Bulletin
as an associate editor and columnist. He remained affiliated with the Bulletin, and was also the publisher of the Philippine Graphic magazine at the time of his death.
Cristobal was an active member and organizer within the Philippine literary community. He founded the Unyon ng Mga Manunulat ng Pilipinas (UMPIL), a union of Filipino writers. As a member of the U.P. Board of Regents, he initiated efforts that led to the establishment of the U.P. Institute of Creative Writing.
His daughter Celina, was publisher and editor-in-chief of a socio-political magazine The Review in the late 70s and later was the lifestyle editor of the daily paper the Manila Chronicle in the 90s. She was elected Vice-Chairman of UMPIL and presently sits as Secretary-General.
In 2005, Cristobal's son, Adrian Jr., was appointed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
as the Director-General of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines.
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/12242007/nation01.html | doi =| accessdate = 2007-12-24}}
Column (newspaper)
A column is a recurring piece or article in a newspaper, magazine or other publication. Columns are written by columnists.What differentiates a column from other forms of journalism is that it meets each of the following criteria:...
, he was also a Palanca Award
Palanca Awards
The Palanca Awards or Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature is the Philippines' most prestigious and most enduring literary awards and is dubbed as the "Pulitzer Prize" of the Philippines...
-winning playwright, fictionist and essayist. He likewise held several positions in government during the administration of President
President of the Philippines
The President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...
Ferdinand E. Marcos.
Upon his death from lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
on December 22, 2007, a Resolution
Resolution (law)
A resolution is a written motion adopted by a deliberative body. The substance of the resolution can be anything that can normally be proposed as a motion. For long or important motions, though, it is often better to have them written out so that discussion is easier or so that it can be...
was proposed in the Philippine Senate
Senate of the Philippines
The Senate of the Philippines is the upper chamber of the bicameral legislature of the Philippines, the Congress of the Philippines...
citing Cristobal as "a prolific journalist, a political satirist, a historical writer and lecturer, a well-respected columnist, a brilliant fictionist and essayist, a creative playwright, a literary genius and a hardworking publisher."
Biography
Cristobal studied at the University of the EastUniversity of the East
The University of the East is a private nonsectarian university located in University Belt Area, district of Sampaloc, Manila, Philippines. The university was founded in 1946 as a coeducational institution...
, though he would drop out of college. By age 15, he had won literary prizes for his fiction, and by 17, his byline was appearing in the pages of the country's leading newspapers such as the Manila Chronicle. As a young writer, he became affiliated with a group of fellow writers based in U.P. Diliman
University of the Philippines
The ' is the national university of the Philippines. Founded in 1908 through Act No...
known as the Ravens.
In the 1960 Palanca Awards
1960 Palanca Awards
The Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature winners in the year 1960 .-English Division:Short Story*First Prize: "The Tourists" by Kerima Polotan Tuvera...
, Cristobal garnered the Second Prize in the One-Act Play (English) category for his satirical play The Largest Crocodile in the World. All copies of the play have reputedly been lost upon the initiative of the politician believed to have been depicted in the work. Cristobal again won the Second Prize in the 1983 Palanca Awards
1983 Palanca Awards
The Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature winners in the year 1983 .-English division:Novel*Special Prize: "The Standard Bearer" by Edilberto K. TiempoShort story...
, this time in the essay category. Cristobal also authored two books on the national hero Andres Bonifacio
Andres Bonifacio
Andrés Bonifacio y de Castro was a Filipino nationalist and revolutionary. He was a founder and later Supremo of the Katipunan movement which sought the independence of the Philippines from Spanish colonial rule and started the Philippine Revolution...
; The Tragedy of the Revolution and The Trial. In 1962, Cristobal was contracted to write the screenplay of Gerardo de Leon
Gerardo de León
Gerardo de León was a Filipino actor turned film director, who made his acting debut in the 1934 film Ang Dangal....
's film adaptation of El Filibusterismo
El filibusterismo
El filibusterismo , also known by its English alternate title The Reign of Greed, is the second novel written by Philippine national hero José Rizal. It is the sequel to Noli Me Tangere and like the first book, was written in Spanish. It was first published in 1891 in Ghent, Belgium...
, for which he won a FAMAS award for Best Screenplay.
Cristobal was among the intellectuals enticed by Ferdinand Marcos to join his administration. During martial law, he headed the speech-writing office of the Office of the President. He was later appointed as the Chairman of the Social Security System
Social Security System (Philippines)
The Philippine Social Security System is a social insurance program for workers in the Philippine private sector.-Reference:*...
and a member of the Board of Regents of the University of the Philippines.
After the ouster of Marcos in 1986, Cristobal joined the Philippine Daily Inquirer
Philippine Daily Inquirer
The Philippine Daily Inquirer, popularly known as the Inquirer, is the most widely read broadsheet newspaper in the Philippines, with a daily circulation of 260,000 copies. It is one of the Philippines' newspapers of record...
as a newspaper columnist. He left the Inquirer in 2000 to become the publisher of the Manila Times
Manila Times
The Manila Times is the oldest existing English language newspaper in the Philippines. It is published daily by The Manila Times Publishing Corp. with editorial and administrative offices at 371 A...
. After a short stint with the Times, he joined the Manila Bulletin
Manila Bulletin
The Manila Bulletin , is the Philippines' largest broadsheet newspaper by circulation, followed by the Philippine Daily Inquirer. It bills itself as "The Nation's Leading Newspaper", which is its official slogan...
as an associate editor and columnist. He remained affiliated with the Bulletin, and was also the publisher of the Philippine Graphic magazine at the time of his death.
Cristobal was an active member and organizer within the Philippine literary community. He founded the Unyon ng Mga Manunulat ng Pilipinas (UMPIL), a union of Filipino writers. As a member of the U.P. Board of Regents, he initiated efforts that led to the establishment of the U.P. Institute of Creative Writing.
His daughter Celina, was publisher and editor-in-chief of a socio-political magazine The Review in the late 70s and later was the lifestyle editor of the daily paper the Manila Chronicle in the 90s. She was elected Vice-Chairman of UMPIL and presently sits as Secretary-General.
In 2005, Cristobal's son, Adrian Jr., was appointed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is a Filipino politician who served as the 14th President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010, as the 12th Vice President of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, and is currently a member of the House of Representatives representing the 2nd District of Pampanga...
as the Director-General of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines.
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/12242007/nation01.html | doi =| accessdate = 2007-12-24}}