Jesús Manuel Santiago
Encyclopedia
Jesús Manuel Santiago or Jess Santiago is a Filipino
male poet
, songwriter
, singer-composer
, protest musician
and translator.
, Philippines
. His poems had been published in both national and international magazines and anthologies including the Caravan magazine of the global group Alliance for the Responsible and United World. Caravan published his poem There is a Village in the Making which has also been translated from English
into French
. He was the Institute of Philippine Languages's Poet of the Year in 1978 and 1979. Santiago translated Lu Hsun's Diary of a Madman
, Arthur Miller'
s Death of a Salesman
into the Filipino language
, as well as some songs and poems of Latin American and African-Asian writers. He is married to Lilia Quindoza Santiago, a professor in Filipino literature at the University of the Philippines
, and also an accomplished poet and writer. They have four children: Haya Pagasa, Halina Mandala, Balagtas Himig Bayan, and Daniw.
lower-class characters in his songs evolved from the political and social realities during the decade of Marcos
despotism
in the 1970s. Santiago was also awarded the Mother Country Award by the Polytechnic University of the Philippines
because of his role as a figurehead in the people's music movement in the Philippines
. He was a member of the Galian sa Arte at Tula, Cultural Action Program of the Asian Cultural Forum on Development (ACFOD), Asia-Pacific Regional Consultation on People's Culture, and National Union of Writers in the Philippines (PANULAT). He had been composing and performing for 15 years. He also has a column Usapang Kanto (Street Corner Talk) on the pages of the Pinoy Weekly
newspaper in the Philippines
.
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
male poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, singer-composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, protest musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and translator.
Biography
He was born in Obando, BulacanBulacan
Bulacan , officially called the Province of Bulacan or simply Bulacan Province, is a first class province of the Republic of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon Region in the island of Luzon, north of Manila , and part of the Metro...
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. His poems had been published in both national and international magazines and anthologies including the Caravan magazine of the global group Alliance for the Responsible and United World. Caravan published his poem There is a Village in the Making which has also been translated from English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
into French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
. He was the Institute of Philippine Languages's Poet of the Year in 1978 and 1979. Santiago translated Lu Hsun's Diary of a Madman
A Madman's Diary
"A Madman's Diary" was written in 1918 by Lu Xun, commonly considered one of the greatest writers in 20th-century Chinese literature. This short story is considered to be one of the first and most influential modern works written in vernacular Chinese...
, Arthur Miller'
Arthur Miller
Arthur Asher Miller was an American playwright and essayist. He was a prominent figure in American theatre, writing dramas that include plays such as All My Sons , Death of a Salesman , The Crucible , and A View from the Bridge .Miller was often in the public eye,...
s Death of a Salesman
Death of a Salesman
Death of a Salesman is a 1949 play written by American playwright Arthur Miller. It was the recipient of the 1949 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Tony Award for Best Play. Premiered at the Morosco Theatre in February 1949, the original production ran for a total of 742 performances.-Plot :Willy Loman...
into the Filipino language
Filipino language
This move has drawn much criticism from other regional groups.In 1987, a new constitution introduced many provisions for the language.Article XIV, Section 6, omits any mention of Tagalog as the basis for Filipino, and states that:...
, as well as some songs and poems of Latin American and African-Asian writers. He is married to Lilia Quindoza Santiago, a professor in Filipino literature at the University of the Philippines
University of the Philippines
The ' is the national university of the Philippines. Founded in 1908 through Act No...
, and also an accomplished poet and writer. They have four children: Haya Pagasa, Halina Mandala, Balagtas Himig Bayan, and Daniw.
Achievements
Among his music albums are Halina (1990) and Obando (1993). These albums include the songs Huling Balita (Last News), Martsa ng Bayan (March of the Nation), the lullaby Meme Na (Sleep Now) and Pitong Libong Pulo (Seven Thousand Islands). His themes and the FilipinoPhilippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
lower-class characters in his songs evolved from the political and social realities during the decade of Marcos
Marcos
-Sports:* Dayton Marcos, Negro League baseball team from Dayton, Ohio * Nélson Marcos, Portuguese footballer* Marcos Ambrose, Australian racing driver currently competing in NASCAR* Marcos Baghdatis, Cypriot tennis player...
despotism
Despotism
Despotism is a form of government in which a single entity rules with absolute power. That entity may be an individual, as in an autocracy, or it may be a group, as in an oligarchy...
in the 1970s. Santiago was also awarded the Mother Country Award by the Polytechnic University of the Philippines
Polytechnic University of the Philippines
The Polytechnic University of the Philippines commonly known as PUP is a public research university in the Philippines. It was founded on October 19, 1904 as the Manila Business School, offering commerce-related courses...
because of his role as a figurehead in the people's music movement in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. He was a member of the Galian sa Arte at Tula, Cultural Action Program of the Asian Cultural Forum on Development (ACFOD), Asia-Pacific Regional Consultation on People's Culture, and National Union of Writers in the Philippines (PANULAT). He had been composing and performing for 15 years. He also has a column Usapang Kanto (Street Corner Talk) on the pages of the Pinoy Weekly
Pinoy Weekly
Pinoy Weekly is an online and print newsmagazine in the Philippines. It is published by PinoyMedia Center, a newly-established non-government organization devoted to democratizing the practice of journalism in the country...
newspaper in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
.