Alfred Yuson
Encyclopedia
Alfred A. Yuson (also known as Krip Yuson) has authored 19 books, including novels, poetry collections, short fiction, essays, and children's stories, apart from having edited various other titles.
His works, published without a professional editor, has won several literary distinctions, the most recent of which include the Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan (Stalwart of Art and Culture) award from the City of Manila
in June 2003, and a Rockefeller Foundation grant for residency at the Bellagio Study and Conference Center in Italy
in 2003.
Yuson's mastery of language has been described as ‘heraldic' and having the ‘power to transform'. He has also been compared to Wallace Stevens and Randal Jarrell.
Yuson was conferred with the S.E.A. Write Award
in 1992 for lifetime achievement, and has been elevated to the Hall of Fame of the Carlos Palanca
Memorial Awards for Literature, the Philippines ' most prestigious literary distinction.
He is a founding member of the Philippine Literary Arts Council , Creative Writing Foundation, Inc. and Manila Critics Circle, and is currently Chairman of the Writers Union of the Philippines . He also serves as Philippines Editor for MANOA: A Pacific Journal of International Writing , published by the University of Hawaii
. A documentary filmmaker and scriptwriter, he is a board member of the Movie and Television Ratings and Classification Board in the Philippines
.
His bibliography includes the poetry collections: Sea Serpent, (Monsoon Press, 1980), Trading in Mermaids (Anvil Publishing, Inc., 1993), Mothers Like Elephants ( Anvil Publishing, Inc., 2000), Hairtrigger Loves: 50 Poems on Woman (University of the Philippines
Press, 2002), and the translation, Love's A Vice / Bisyo and Pag-Ibig: Translations into English of 60 Poems by Mike L. Bigornia (National Commission for Culture and the Arts, 2004). More impressive is the special sensitivity to genteel language that almost qualifies as avante garde found in all his works.
Early in his career, Yuson received a writing fellowship to attend the National Writers Workshop in Dumaguete City
, Negros Oriental
(1968). Yuson also has a FAMAS award and a Catholic Mass Media Award (CMMA) for Best Screenplay. He has been a documentary filmmaker and scriptwriter, as well as a book, magazine and newspaper editor and designer. Yuson was also a Fellow at the International Writing Program in Iowa City, U.S.A. in 1978; the International Poetry Conference at the University of Hawaii
in 1979; the Cambridge Seminar, University of Cambridge
, in 1989; the International Writers Retreat at Hawthornden Castle
in Midlothian
, Scotland
, in 1990; The Hong Kong
International Literary Festival in 2001 and 2006; and the Sydney
Writers' Festival in 2006. He has also participated in many other literary conferences, seminars and festivals in Japan
, China
, Finland
, Scotland
, Thailand
, Malaysia, South Africa
, the United Kingdom
, Australia
and Singapore
.
Yuson currently writes a literature and culture column for The Philippine Star
. He also teaches fiction and poetry at Ateneo de Manila University
, where he holds the Henry Lee Irwin Professorial Chair in Creative Writing. His two novels, "The Great Philippine Jungle Café" and "Voyeurs & Savages
" are studies of Philippine culture.
His postmodernist stance is often described as a "cockneyfied Gabriel Garcia Marquez
," one of his achievements, oddly, being his fanatic abhorrence for ordinary language.
"The Music Child" by Alfred A. Yuson is among 5 works shortlisted for the second (2008) Man Asian Literary Prize
, which was announced at a Hong Kong
ceremony on November 13, 2008.
His works, published without a professional editor, has won several literary distinctions, the most recent of which include the Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan (Stalwart of Art and Culture) award from the City of Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
in June 2003, and a Rockefeller Foundation grant for residency at the Bellagio Study and Conference Center in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
in 2003.
Yuson's mastery of language has been described as ‘heraldic' and having the ‘power to transform'. He has also been compared to Wallace Stevens and Randal Jarrell.
Yuson was conferred with the S.E.A. Write Award
S.E.A. Write Award
The S.E.A. Write Award, or Southeast Asian Writers Award, is an award that has been presented annually since 1979 to poets and writers in Southeast Asia....
in 1992 for lifetime achievement, and has been elevated to the Hall of Fame of the Carlos Palanca
Palanca
Palanca may refer to:*Palanca Awards*Palanca, Angola a comune in Luanda Province, Angola*Palanca, a commune in Bacău County, Romania*Palanca, a village in Floreşti-Stoeneşti Commune, Giurgiu County, Romania...
Memorial Awards for Literature, the Philippines ' most prestigious literary distinction.
He is a founding member of the Philippine Literary Arts Council , Creative Writing Foundation, Inc. and Manila Critics Circle, and is currently Chairman of the Writers Union of the Philippines . He also serves as Philippines Editor for MANOA: A Pacific Journal of International Writing , published by the University of Hawaii
University of Hawaii
The University of Hawaii System, formally the University of Hawaii and popularly known as UH, is a public, co-educational college and university system that confers associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees through three university campuses, seven community college campuses, an employment...
. A documentary filmmaker and scriptwriter, he is a board member of the Movie and Television Ratings and Classification Board 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...
.
His bibliography includes the poetry collections: Sea Serpent, (Monsoon Press, 1980), Trading in Mermaids (Anvil Publishing, Inc., 1993), Mothers Like Elephants ( Anvil Publishing, Inc., 2000), Hairtrigger Loves: 50 Poems on Woman (University of the Philippines
University of the Philippines
The ' is the national university of the Philippines. Founded in 1908 through Act No...
Press, 2002), and the translation, Love's A Vice / Bisyo and Pag-Ibig: Translations into English of 60 Poems by Mike L. Bigornia (National Commission for Culture and the Arts, 2004). More impressive is the special sensitivity to genteel language that almost qualifies as avante garde found in all his works.
Early in his career, Yuson received a writing fellowship to attend the National Writers Workshop in Dumaguete City
Dumaguete City
The City of Dumaguete is a city in the Philippine province of Negros Oriental. It is the capital, principal seaport, and largest city of the province. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 133,470 people. A person from Dumaguete is called a "Dumagueteño"...
, Negros Oriental
Negros Oriental
Negros Oriental is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region. It occupies the south-eastern half of the island of Negros, with Negros Occidental comprising the north-western half. It also includes Apo Island — a popular dive site for both local and foreign tourists...
(1968). Yuson also has a FAMAS award and a Catholic Mass Media Award (CMMA) for Best Screenplay. He has been a documentary filmmaker and scriptwriter, as well as a book, magazine and newspaper editor and designer. Yuson was also a Fellow at the International Writing Program in Iowa City, U.S.A. in 1978; the International Poetry Conference at the University of Hawaii
University of Hawaii
The University of Hawaii System, formally the University of Hawaii and popularly known as UH, is a public, co-educational college and university system that confers associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees through three university campuses, seven community college campuses, an employment...
in 1979; the Cambridge Seminar, University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, in 1989; the International Writers Retreat at Hawthornden Castle
Hawthornden Castle
Hawthornden Castle is located on the River North Esk in Midlothian, Scotland. The castle lies a mile to the east of Roslin at grid reference , and is just downstream from Roslin Castle. Hawthornden comprises a 15th century ruin, with a 17th century L-plan house attached. The house has been restored...
in Midlothian
Midlothian
Midlothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy area. It borders the Scottish Borders, East Lothian and the City of Edinburgh council areas....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, in 1990; The Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
International Literary Festival in 2001 and 2006; and the Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
Writers' Festival in 2006. He has also participated in many other literary conferences, seminars and festivals in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, Malaysia, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
.
Yuson currently writes a literature and culture column for The Philippine Star
The Philippine Star
The Philippine Star is a daily English-language broadsheet newspaper based in Manila and circulated nationwide in the Philippines. Owned and published by PhilSTAR Daily, Inc, it was founded on July 28, 1986 by veteran journalists Max Soliven, Betty Go-Belmonte and Art Borjal...
. He also teaches fiction and poetry at Ateneo de Manila University
Ateneo de Manila University
The Ateneo de Manila University is a private teaching and research university run by the Society of Jesus in the Philippines. It began in 1859 when the City of Manila handed control of the Escuela Municipal de Manila in Intramuros, Manila, to the Jesuits...
, where he holds the Henry Lee Irwin Professorial Chair in Creative Writing. His two novels, "The Great Philippine Jungle Café" and "Voyeurs & Savages
Voyeurs & Savages
Voyeurs & Savages is a 1998 English-language novel written by Filipino novelist Alfred A. Yuson. The 220-page novel was published in Pasig City in the Philippines by Anvil Publishing, Inc. The second edition of the novel was published by Anvil Publishing, Inc. in 2003. The novel is a winner of the...
" are studies of Philippine culture.
His postmodernist stance is often described as a "cockneyfied Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Gabriel García Márquez
Gabriel José de la Concordia García Márquez is a Colombian novelist, short-story writer, screenwriter and journalist, known affectionately as Gabo throughout Latin America. He is considered one of the most significant authors of the 20th century. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in...
," one of his achievements, oddly, being his fanatic abhorrence for ordinary language.
"The Music Child" by Alfred A. Yuson is among 5 works shortlisted for the second (2008) Man Asian Literary Prize
Man Asian Literary Prize
The Man Asian Literary Prize, founded in 2007, is an annual literary award given to the best novel by an Asian writer, either written in English or translated into English, and published in the previous calendar year...
, which was announced at a Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
ceremony on November 13, 2008.