Manuel Estabillo Arguilla (1911 - 1944) was an Ilokano writer in English, 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" was published in the United States by the Prairie Schooner.
Most of Arguilla's stories depict scenes in Barrio Nagrebcan, Bauang, La Union where he was born. His bond with his birthplace, forged by his dealings with the peasant folk of Ilocos, remained strong even after he moved to Manila where he studied at the University of the Philippines where he finished BS Education in 1933 and where he became a member and later the president of the U.P. Writer's Club and editor of the university's Literary Apprentice.
He married Lydia Villanueva, another talented writer in English, and they lived in Ermita, Manila. Here, F. Sionil José, 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", Jose 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." [1]
He became a creative writing teacher at the University of Manila 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. He secretly organized a guerrilla intelligence unit against the Japanese.
In October 1944, he was captured, tortured and executed by the Japanese army at Fort Santiago.
Manuel E. Arguilla was a Filipino writer known for his short stories depicting rural life in the Philippines. He was born on June 17, 1911 in Nagrebcan, Bauang, La Union and he died on October 13, 1944 in Manila during World War II. Arguilla's works often focused on the struggles of the Filipino peasants and the impact of modernization on rural communities.
Manuel Estabillo Arguilla has written:
'How my brother Leon brought home a wife story' -- subject(s): Social life and customs, Fiction
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Manuel Arguilla died in 1944.
Manuel E. Arguilla is the author of "How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife." He was a Filipino writer known for his short stories depicting rural life in the Philippines.
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"Heat" by Manuel Arguilla is a story about the rural life in the Philippines, focusing on the daily struggles and aspirations of a farming family. The story portrays the intense heat of the sun as a metaphor for the challenges and hardships faced by the characters. It highlights themes of poverty, family dynamics, and resilience in the face of adversity.
Manuel Arguilla
"Morning in Nagrebcan" by Manuel Arguilla is a short story that depicts a typical morning in a rural village. It follows a family as they start their day with chores and interactions with their surroundings. The story captures the simplicity and beauty of everyday life in the countryside.
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Manuel Arguilla's writing style can be described as vivid, evocative, and lyrical. He often focused on depicting rural Philippine life with great attention to detail and a deep sense of empathy for his characters. His prose is known for its simplicity and clarity, yet it carries profound emotional depth.
Manuel Arguilla wrote the story "A Son is Born" to reflect the harsh reality of poverty, inequality, and social injustice in the Philippines during the 1940s. The story portrays the hardships faced by a poor family as they struggle to survive and provide for their newborn child amidst the challenges of rural life. Arguilla aimed to shed light on the plight of marginalized communities and the injustices they endure in society.
"Morning in Nagrebcan" is a short story written by Manuel Arguilla. It tells the tale of a boy named Baldo reminiscing about his childhood in the barrio of Nagrebcan and his relationship with his brother Ambo. The story explores themes of family ties, sibling relationships, and the simplicity and beauty of rural life.
The story "Heat" by Manuel Arguilla portrays the oppressive heat experienced in a rural village setting. It symbolizes the emotional and physical tension between the characters, particularly the protagonist, who struggles with inner conflict and pent-up desires. The story captures the stifling atmosphere of the setting and how it intensifies the characters' struggles and relationships.
The climax of the story "Rice" by Manuel E. Arguilla is when the two brothers, Baldo and Crisostomo, finally reach their father's rice fields and discover that their father had passed away. This moment marks a turning point in the story, as the brothers must grapple with the reality of their father's death and the responsibilities that come with inheriting the rice fields.