09- Isagani R. Cruz

I still remember the day that our teacher assigned us work to do during the APEC week and one thing for sure is that I sighed I did it not because I hate making blogs but because my work is piling up including the household chores. But I was shocked when I saw what we were going to research about and that is about Filipino writers. I shook my head and sit myself straight and that time our teacher passed around a sheet of paper wherein we would sign our name to indicate that this is our chosen Filipino writer. I as stare at the paper I could not help but find the name “Isagani R. Cruz” interesting since  I had this sense of déjà vu when I saw it without any hesitation I signed my name and passed the paper around.

Who is Isagani R. Cruz?

Isagani R. Cruz is a Filipino short story writer, critic, educator, publisher, advocate and a multi-awarded and prolific poet. He was also the former Philippine Undersecretary of Education and currently the Academic Publications Executive Publisher of De La Salle University, Director of the Teachers Academy of Far Eastern University, and a visiting lecturer at the Ateneo de Manila University and University of Santo Tomas.

He won the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature several times and was included at the Palanca Hall of Fame due to his works written in both Filipino and English language. He also won SEAWRITE Award, Centennial Literary Contest Award, and the Balagtas Award as a writer. Mr. Cruz is also known for his drama and film reviews.

He is also worked with the famous universities in the Philippines. He is the publisher and the Alfredo E. Litiatco Professor of Literature in De La Salle University.  In De La Salle, he taught Science Fiction, Advanced Writing, The Teaching of Literature, Rizal, and Bridge. And now, he is teaching Philippine Literature in English at Ateneo De Manila University.

As an advocator, he is a member of many institutions and groups that promotes Literature and Art. He is a member of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers, the Concerned Artists of the Philippine. He is the founding chair of Manila Critics Chair. He is also the former president of the Philippine Studies Association, the University of the Philippines Writers Club, and the Cultural Research Association of the Philippines. He was also the Philippine bibliographer of the Modern Language Association of America.

His works:

Stage Plays:

·         
·         Talong Api (Three Vicitms)
·         Wedding Night
·         Ms. Philippines
·         Moro-Moro
·         Delilah
·         Bienvenido, My brother
·         And Etc.

Stage play/Translations:

·         Leron Leron Sinta

·         Ang Tatay Mong Kalbo (the reason why I got a Deja vu)

·         Mga Bisita sa Kenny Hill (Visitors at Kenny Hill)

·         And Etc.

Since he has a lot of work, it would be tiring to list every single one of them so I would just give one example of his translated work named “Pansinin Mo ang Sarili Mong Krus”

Pasanin Mo ang Sarili Mong Krus

By Benigno Aquino Jr.
Translated by Isagani R. Cruz

Pasanin mo ang sarili mong krus.
Lakarin mo ang buong bayan.
Ikalat mo ang balitang may pag-asa.
Gisingin mo ang iyong mga kababayan
mula sa kanilang di-mapakaling pagtulog.
Hamunin mo sila, tulungan mo silang
itakwil ang pagkaalipin.
Alalahanin mo ang ating kasaysayan
ng kalayaan at katarungan,
ng pag-alay ng dugo ng ating mga bayani,
ng luhang nagdilig
at nag-alaga sa puno ng kalayaan.
Ipaalaala mo sa kanila na ang puno ng kalayaan
ay magbubunga lamang kung pinatataba
ng bangkay ng mga nang-aalipin sa kanila —
mga bangkay na pataba sa lupa!
Kung walang makikinig sa iyo,
kung walang sasama sa iyo
sa iyong dakilang pagkilos
dahil sanay na sila sa pagiging
tahimik at duwag na alipin —
maglakad ka pa rin,
pasanin mo pa rin ang krus ng bayan
kahit na mag-isa kang naglalakad!

Source:(Wikipedia)