Short Biography of Bienvenido N. Santos (1911-1996) Bienvenido N.

Santos, also called Ben, was born in Tondo, Manila on

March 22, 1911. He finished his elementary and secondary education
Bienvenido N. Santos, also called Ben, was born in Tondo, Manila on in public schools. He graduated from the University of the
March 22, 1911. He finished his elementary and secondary education Philippines (UP) in 1932 with a teacher’s degree.
in public schools. He graduated from the University of the After graduating from UP, Santos taught in elementary and high
Philippines (UP) in 1932 with a teacher’s degree. schools in Albay. He was also a prolific writer whose writing career
After graduating from UP, Santos taught in elementary and high started at nineteen when his first story, The Horseshoe, was published
schools in Albay. He was also a prolific writer whose writing career in the Graphic in 1930.
started at nineteen when his first story, The Horseshoe, was published In September 1941, after winning first place in a government
in the Graphic in 1930. competitive examination, he left for the United States of America as a
In September 1941, after winning first place in a government government pensionado whose scholarship was granted by the
competitive examination, he left for the United States of America as a Philippine Commonwealth government, leaving his wife and three
government pensionado whose scholarship was granted by the daughters in the Philippines. There he studied his master of arts
Philippine Commonwealth government, leaving his wife and three degree program in English at the University of Illinois. After
daughters in the Philippines. There he studied his master of arts obtaining his master’s degree in 1942, he further took graduate courses
degree program in English at the University of Illinois. After at Columbia and later at Harvard, where he learned short stories from
obtaining his master’s degree in 1942, he further took graduate courses American experts. Caught by World War II (1939-1945), Santos was
at Columbia and later at Harvard, where he learned short stories from unable to return home and found himself an exile in America. This
American experts. Caught by World War II (1939-1945), Santos was event in Santos’ life characterized the development of his writing career
unable to return home and found himself an exile in America. This as it is mostly the central theme of his stories. While stranded in the
event in Santos’ life characterized the development of his writing career United States, many pensionados, including Santos, were called by the
as it is mostly the central theme of his stories. While stranded in the Philippine government-in-exile to serve the embassy where Santos
United States, many pensionados, including Santos, were called by the became a public relations officer. While the war was ongoing, Santos
Philippine government-in-exile to serve the embassy where Santos was sent across the US to give a lecture about the Philippines. In his
became a public relations officer. While the war was ongoing, Santos travels, he met many people curious about the Philippines, including his
was sent across the US to give a lecture about the Philippines. In his fellow Filipinos who never returned home. As a result, many of Santos’
travels, he met many people curious about the Philippines, including his stories are influenced by his travels and conversations with the Filipinos
fellow Filipinos who never returned home. As a result, many of Santos’ in the US. The settings of most of his stories are in Chicago, New York,
stories are influenced by his travels and conversations with the Filipinos and other states in the US.
in the US. The settings of most of his stories are in Chicago, New York, In January 1946, Santos returned to the Philippines. It was four years
and other states in the US. that Santos was unable to reunite with his wife and daughters in the
In January 1946, Santos returned to the Philippines. It was four years Philippines, which was then occupied by the Japanese forces. Upon his
that Santos was unable to reunite with his wife and daughters in the coming home, he worked as a professor and administrator in a school
Philippines, which was then occupied by the Japanese forces. Upon his in Legazpi City, and he published two collections, You Lovely People
coming home, he worked as a professor and administrator in a school (short stories, 1955) and The
in Legazpi City, and he published two collections, You Lovely People Wounded Stag: Fifty-Four Poems (1956).
(short stories, 1955) and The Santos returned to the US in 1958 as a Rockefeller, Guggenheim, and
Wounded Stag: Fifty-Four Poems (1956). Iowa Literary Foundation Fellow at the University of Iowa Writer’s
Santos returned to the US in 1958 as a Rockefeller, Guggenheim, and Workshop, where he also taught for five years at the university. The
Iowa Literary Foundation Fellow at the University of Iowa Writer’s scholarship allowed him to finish his first novels, Villa Magdalena and
Workshop, where he also taught for five years at the university. The The Volcano, published in Manila in 1965 when he also won the
scholarship allowed him to finish his first novels, Villa Magdalena and Philippine Republic Cultural Heritage
The Volcano, published in Manila in 1965 when he also won the Award for Literature.
Philippine Republic Cultural Heritage In the 1960s, Santos would travel from the Philippines to the US to
Award for Literature. continue his writing stints. In the 1970s, Santos’ plan to go home
In the 1960s, Santos would travel from the Philippines to the US to permanently with his wife halted because of the martial law declaration
continue his writing stints. In the 1970s, Santos’ plan to go home during the Marcos regime. It was also at this time that his novel, The
permanently with his wife halted because of the martial law declaration Praying Man, which criticized government corruption, was banned in
during the Marcos regime. It was also at this time that his novel, The the Philippines but was later published in 1982. From 1973 to 1982,
Praying Man, which criticized government corruption, was banned in Santos stayed in the US with his wife as he worked as a distinguished
the Philippines but was later published in 1982. From 1973 to 1982, writer in residence. Two years later, in 1979, after he became a US
Santos stayed in the US with his wife as he worked as a distinguished citizen in 1976, he published his collection of short stories, Scent
writer in residence. Two years later, in 1979, after he became a US of Apples, the only book of Santos's short stories published in the
citizen in 1976, he published his collection of short stories, Scent United States. Moreover, this book won the 1980 American Book
of Apples, the only book of Santos's short stories published in the Award.
United States. Moreover, this book won the 1980 American Book Santos and his wife returned home in 1982 from their stay in the US.
Award. After his wife died, he worked as a visiting writer and artist at De La
Santos and his wife returned home in 1982 from their stay in the US. Salle University-Manila. Santos died in the year 1996.
After his wife died, he worked as a visiting writer and artist at De La
Salle University-Manila. Santos died in the year 1996.
Short Biography of Bienvenido N. Santos (1911-1996)