![Arguilla marker](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6e/Arguilla_marker.jpg)
Manuel Estabilla Arguilla (
Nagrebcan, Bauang, June 17, 1911 –
beheaded
Decapitation or beheading is the total separation of the head from the body. Such an injury is invariably fatal to humans and most other animals, since it deprives the brain of oxygenated blood, while all other organs are deprived of the ...
,
Manila Chinese Cemetery
The Manila Chinese Cemetery (; es, Cementerío para chinos) is the second oldest cemetery in Manila after La Loma Cemetery. The cemetery includes Christian, Buddhist and Taoist burials. The present-day cemetery is a vaguely trapezoidal area of a ...
, August 30, 1944) was an Ilokano writer in
English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national ide ...
, patriot, and martyr.
He is known for his widely anthologized short story "How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife," the main story in the collection ''How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife and Other Short Stories'', which won first prize in the Commonwealth Literary Contest in 1940.
His stories "Midsummer" and "Heat" were published in
Tondo, Manila
Tondo is a district located in Manila, Philippines. It is the largest in terms of area and population of Manila's sixteen districts, with a Census-estimated 631,313 people in 2015 and consists of two congressional districts. It is also the seco ...
by the ''Prairie Schooner''.
Childhood in Nagrebcan and education
Most of Arguilla's stories depict scenes in
Barrio
''Barrio'' () is a Spanish language, Spanish word that means "Quarter (urban subdivision), quarter" or "neighborhood". In the modern Spanish language, it is generally defined as each area of a city, usually delimited by functional (e.g. residenti ...
Nagrebcan,
Bauang, La Union
Bauang, officially the Municipality of Bauang ( ilo, Ili ti Bauang; fil, Bayan ng Bauang), is a 1st class municipality of the Philippines, municipality in the Philippine Province, province of La Union, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, ...
, where he was born. His bond with his birthplace, forged by his dealings with the peasant folk of
Ilocos
Ilocos Region ( ilo, Rehion/Deppaar ti Ilocos; pag, Sagor na Baybay na Luzon/Rehiyon Uno; tl, Rehiyon ng Ilocos) is an administrative region of the Philippines, designated as Region I, occupying the northwestern section of Luzon and part of ...
, remained strong even after he moved to
Manila
Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populate ...
, where he studied at the
University of the Philippines
The University of the Philippines (UP; fil, Pamantasan ng Pilipinas Unibersidad ng Pilipinas) is a state university system in the Philippines. It is the country's national university, as mandated by Republic Act No. 9500 (UP Charter of 200 ...
, finished his BS in Education in 1933, and became a member and later the president of the U.P. Writer's Club and editor of the university's ''Literary Apprentice''.
Writing career
He married Lydia Villanueva, another talented writer in English, and they lived in
Ermita
Ermita is a district in Manila, Philippines. Located at the central part of the city, the district is a significant center of finance, education, culture, and commerce. Ermita serves as the civic center of the city, bearing the seat of city g ...
, Manila. Here,
F. Sionil José
Francisco Sionil José (December 3, 1924 – January 6, 2022) was a Filipino writer who was one of the most widely read in the English language. A National Artist of the Philippines for Literature, which was bestowed upon him in 2001, José's ...
, another seminal Filipino writer in English, recalls often seeing him in the National Library, which was then in the basement of what is now the National Museum. "You couldn't miss him", José describes Arguilla, "because he had this black patch on his cheek, a birthmark or an overgrown mole. He was writing then those famous short stories and essays which I admired."
He became a creative writing teacher at the
University of Manila
, mottoeng = ''Country Science and Virtue''
, type = Private Non-sectarian Research Coeducational Basic and Higher education institution
, established =
, founders =
, academic_affili ...
and later worked at the Bureau of Public Welfare as managing editor of the bureau's publication ''Welfare Advocate'' until 1943. He was later appointed to the Board of Censors.
World War II and presumed death
He secretly organized a guerrilla intelligence unit against the Japanese.
On August 5, 1944, he was captured and tortured by the
Japanese army at
Fort Santiago
Fort Santiago ( es, Fuerte de Santiago; fil, Kutà ng Santiago), built in 1571, is a citadel built by Spanish navigator and governor Miguel López de Legazpi for the newly established city of Manila in the Philippines. The defense fortress is lo ...
.
In one account, he was later transferred to the grounds of the
Manila Chinese Cemetery
The Manila Chinese Cemetery (; es, Cementerío para chinos) is the second oldest cemetery in Manila after La Loma Cemetery. The cemetery includes Christian, Buddhist and Taoist burials. The present-day cemetery is a vaguely trapezoidal area of a ...
. Along with him were guerrilla leaders, along with more than 10 men. They were then asked to dig their own graves, after which, they were immediately, one by one, beheaded with
swords
A sword is a cutting and/or thrusting weapon.
Sword, Swords, or The Sword may also refer to:
Places
* Swords, Dublin, a large suburban town in the Irish capital
* Swords, Georgia, a community in the United States
* Sword Beach, code name for ...
. His remains, as well as the others', have never been recovered, as they were dumped into one unmarked grave.
The remains of the executed men were said to be located and identified by their compatriots after the war, after a
Japanese-American officer (working in the Japanese Army as a spy), revealed what he had seen and the location of the grave after the executions of August 30 of 1944. At present, their remains lie within the
Manila North Cemetery
The Manila North Cemetery (Spanish: ''Cementerio del Norte'') is one of the oldest cemeteries in Metro Manila, Philippines. The cemetery is owned by and located in the City of Manila, the national capital, and is one of the largest in the metropo ...
..
References
* ''Dictionary of Philippine Biography,'' Volume 3, Filipiniana Publications, Quezon City, 1986
* ''Filipino Writers in English'' by Florentino B. Valeros and Estrellita V. Gruenberg, New Day Publishers, Quezon City, 1987
* ''"Maysa a Ruknoy ken ni Manuel E. Arguilla,"'' RIMAT Magazine, Quezon City, October 2004
External links
Manuel Arguilla - biography of Manuel Arguilla found i
PinoyLit.webmanila.comFull text: "Morning in Nagrebcan" by Manuel Arguilla
{{DEFAULTSORT:Arguilla, Manuel
Filipino writers
Ilocano-language writers
People executed by Japanese occupation forces
1911 births
1944 deaths
People from La Union
People from Ermita
University of the Philippines alumni
Executed Filipino people
Filipino torture victims
Ilocano people
Burials at the Manila North Cemetery