Miguel Syjuco
Encyclopedia
Miguel Syjuco is a Filipino
writer from Manila
and the Man Asian Literary Prize
grand prize winner for 2008 known for his novel Ilustrado.
in 1993 from the Cebu International School
. He received a degree in English Literature
from the Ateneo de Manila University
in 2000 and completed his MFA
from Columbia University
in 2004. In early 2011 he completed a PhD
in literature
from the University of Adelaide
.
Syjuco is the son of Augusto Syjuco Jr., a politician allied with the party of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
At present, Syjuco works as a copy editor for the Montreal Gazette in Montreal, Canada, where he currently lives.
at the 2008 Palanca Awards
. In November of the same year, he won the Man Asian Literary Prize
also for Ilustrado.
In 2010, the novel won the QWF Paragraphe Hugh MacLennan Prize for Fiction, Quebec's top literary prize, and was a New York Times Notable Book of 2010 as well as a Globe & Mail Top 100 of 2010. The novel was also a finalist for the Commonwealth Writers' Prize, a finalist for the Amazon First Novel Award, and a finalist for the 2010 Grand Prix du Livre de Montreal. In late 2010, Ilustrado was published in translation in Spanish (Tusquets), Swedish (Natur och Kultur), and Dutch (Mouria).
In 2011, Ilustrado joined books by David Mitchell, Aleksandar Hemon, Marie NBiaye, and Wells Tower for the Premio von Rezzori. It was also among the three top finalists for the $55,000 Prix Jan Michalski, an annual Swiss prize for the best international book, as well as the Prix Courrier International, which honors the best international books translated in France.
In 2011, it was published in translation in Serbian (Geopoetika), French (Editions Christian Bourgois), Catalan (Tusquets), Italian (Fazi), Japanese (Hakusuisha), Czech (Jota), German (Klett-Cotta), and Brazilian Portuguese (Compahnia das Letras).
Syjuco is represented by Peter Straus at the Rogers, Coleridge and White Literary Agency in London
, and by Melanie Jackson
in New York City. He has already sold a second book to North American publishers.
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...
writer from 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,...
and the 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...
grand prize winner for 2008 known for his novel Ilustrado.
Personal Life and Education
Syjuco graduated from high schoolHigh school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in 1993 from the Cebu International School
Cebu International School
Cebu International School, founded as the American International School of Cebu in 1924, the school was renamed in 1973. It is a co-educational day school, non-profit, non-sectarian institution, governed by a ten-member Board of Trustees...
. He received a degree in English Literature
English studies
English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language , English linguistics English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language (including literatures from the U.K., U.S.,...
from the 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...
in 2000 and completed his MFA
Master of Fine Arts
A Master of Fine Arts is a graduate degree typically requiring 2–3 years of postgraduate study beyond the bachelor's degree , although the term of study will vary by country or by university. The MFA is usually awarded in visual arts, creative writing, filmmaking, dance, or theatre/performing arts...
from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in 2004. In early 2011 he completed a PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in literature
English studies
English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language , English linguistics English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language (including literatures from the U.K., U.S.,...
from the University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
.
Syjuco is the son of Augusto Syjuco Jr., a politician allied with the party of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
At present, Syjuco works as a copy editor for the Montreal Gazette in Montreal, Canada, where he currently lives.
Writing Career
His novel, Ilustrado, won the Grand Prize for the Novel in EnglishEnglish language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
at the 2008 Palanca Awards
2008 Palanca Awards
The Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature winners for the year 2008 . The awarding ceremonies were held on September 1, 2008.- Filipino Division :Dulang Pampelikula...
. In November of the same year, he won the 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...
also for Ilustrado.
In 2010, the novel won the QWF Paragraphe Hugh MacLennan Prize for Fiction, Quebec's top literary prize, and was a New York Times Notable Book of 2010 as well as a Globe & Mail Top 100 of 2010. The novel was also a finalist for the Commonwealth Writers' Prize, a finalist for the Amazon First Novel Award, and a finalist for the 2010 Grand Prix du Livre de Montreal. In late 2010, Ilustrado was published in translation in Spanish (Tusquets), Swedish (Natur och Kultur), and Dutch (Mouria).
In 2011, Ilustrado joined books by David Mitchell, Aleksandar Hemon, Marie NBiaye, and Wells Tower for the Premio von Rezzori. It was also among the three top finalists for the $55,000 Prix Jan Michalski, an annual Swiss prize for the best international book, as well as the Prix Courrier International, which honors the best international books translated in France.
In 2011, it was published in translation in Serbian (Geopoetika), French (Editions Christian Bourgois), Catalan (Tusquets), Italian (Fazi), Japanese (Hakusuisha), Czech (Jota), German (Klett-Cotta), and Brazilian Portuguese (Compahnia das Letras).
Syjuco is represented by Peter Straus at the Rogers, Coleridge and White Literary Agency in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and by Melanie Jackson
Melanie Jackson
Melanie Jackson is a leading literary agent. She founded the highly respected Melanie Jackson Agency. Among the many awards won by her clients are: the Nobel Prize in Literature, four Pulitzer Prizes, the National Book Award, and the National Book Critics Circle Award.-Biography:Melanie Jackson is...
in New York City. He has already sold a second book to North American publishers.
External links
- The Man Asian Literary Prize 2008. Man Asian Literary Prize Official Site
- 2008 Palanca Awards. List of prize-winners for 2008.
- Q & A with Ilustrado author Miguel Syjuco. From The National Post (Canadian newspaper).
- Filipino Author Syjuco Wins Man Asian Literary Prize. From Wall Street Journal.
- Syjuco's "Ilustrado' blurs reality By Elizabeth Yuan, CNN, May 6, 2010
- An Expatriate Filipino Writes of a Parallel Life By JOYCE HOR-CHUNG LAU. May 8, 2010
- Ilustrado Review Illustrated"Ilustrado": A graphic journey into the Filipino underbelly. Slide show: A cartoonist's illustrated review of "Ilustrado," Miguel Syjoco's award-winning, globetrotting novel. By Ward Dutton, The Barnes & Noble Review. Featured by Salon.com. June 24, 2010.
- YouTube.com interview with Miguel Syjuco at Asia House in the United Kingdom.
- YouTube.com Miguel Syjuco in Conversation with Cecilia Manguerra Brainard, ALOUD, LA Central Library.
- Miguel Syjuco audio interview June 2010.