Gémino Abad
Gémino Abad | |
|---|---|
(cropped).png) Abad in 2022 | |
| Born | Gémino Henson Abad February 5, 1939 |
| Education | University of the Philippines Diliman, (A.B) University of Chicago, (MA, Ph.D.) |
| Spouse | Mercedes Rivera-Abad |
| Parent | Antonio Abad (father) |
| Awards | Order of National Artists of the Philippines |
Gémino Henson Abad (born February 5, 1939) is a distinguished Filipino educator, author, and literary analyst originally from Cebu, Philippines. He holds the prestigious title of National Artist for Literature in the Philippines.
Early life and education
Following his father Antonio Abad’s acceptance of teaching positions at Far Eastern University and the University of the Philippines, the family relocated to Manila.
Abad graduated magna cum laude with an A.B. degree in English from University of the Philippines Diliman in 1964. He pursued graduate studies at the University of Chicago, where he earned both his M.A. with honors in 1966 and Ph.D. in English literature in 1970. He is affiliated with the fraternity Upsilon Sigma Phi.
Personal life
He is married to Mercedes Rivera-Abad.
Career
Throughout his tenure at the University of the Philippines, Abad occupied several key administrative positions including university secretary, secretary to the Board of Regents, vice president for Academic Affairs, as well as director of the U.P. Institute of Creative Writing. His academic duties encompassed teaching courses in English, comparative literature, and creative writing at U.P. Diliman.
As a co-founder of the Philippine Literary Arts Council, he helped establish Caracoa, an English-language poetry journal. His significant literary contributions encompass works such as Fugitive Emphasis (1973), In Another Light (1976), A Formal Approach to Lyric Poetry (1978), The Space Between (1985), Poems and Parables (1988), Index to Filipino Poetry in English, 1905-1950 (co-authored with Edna Zapanta Manlapaz, 1988), and State of Play (1990). Additionally, he curated influential anthologies including Man of Earth (1989), A Native Clearing (1993), and A Habit of Shores: Filipino Poetry and Verse from English, ‘60s to the ‘90s (1999).
The University of the Philippines honored him with its highest academic rank, university professor. Presently, he is a member of the Board of Advisers for the U.P. Institute of Creative Writing and continues to teach creative writing as an emeritus professor within U.P. Diliman’s College of Arts and Letters.
In 2009, Abad became the inaugural Filipino recipient of Italy’s Premio Feronia award designated for foreign authors.
In recognition of his profound impact on Philippine arts and letters, he was bestowed the National Artist for Literature title by the Philippine government in 2022.
Poetry
- Fugitive Emphasis, 1973
- Poems and Parables, 1988
- In Ordinary Time: Poems, Parables, Poetics, 2004
Poetry and Critical Essays
- In Another Light, 1976
- The Space Between, 1985
- Father and Daughter, 1996
Combined Poetry and Fiction
- A Makeshift Sun, 2001
- Care of Light: New Poems and Found, 2010
Fiction and Essay Collections
- Orion's Belt and Other Writings, 1996
Works on Literary Criticism
- A Formal Approach to Lyric Poetry, 1978
- Getting Real: An Introduction to the Practice of Poetry, 2004
Creative Non-Fiction
- State of Play (essays), 1990
Historical Poetry Anthologies
- Man of Earth: Filipino Poetry and Verse from English, 1905 to the mid-‘50s (co-edited with Ace Palermo), 2017
- A Native Clearing: Filipino Poetry and Verse from English Since the ‘50s to the Present, 1993
- A Habit of Shores: Filipino Poetry and Verse from English, ‘60s to the ‘90s, 1999
Anthologies
- The Likhaan Anthology of Philippine Literature in English, 1998 (with Ace Palermo)
Translations
- Italian edition: Dove le parole non si spezzano, edited by Gëzim Hajdari, translation by Andrea Gazzoni, with afterword by Carla Locatelli and Ace Palermo, 2015 (Rome: Ensemble)
Awards, Honors, and Fellowships
- National Artist for Literature, awarded in 2022
- University Professorship at the University of the Philippines
- Carlos P. Romulo Professorial Chair, University of the Philippines
- Henry Lee Irwin Professorial Chair in Creative Writing at Ateneo de Manila University
- Rockefeller Fellowship, University of Chicago
- Visiting professorships at University of Hawaii at Manoa, Saint Norbert College (Wisconsin), and Singapore Management University
- International Writing Program Fellowship, University of Iowa
- British Council Fellowship at Trinity College, Cambridge, and Corpus Christi College, Oxford
- Outstanding Faculty Award and Distinguished Alumnus in Literature from the University of the Philippines
- Ellen F. Fajardo Foundation Grant recognizing Excellence in Teaching
- U.P. Gawad Chancellor for Best Literary Work
- Palanca Award for Poetry
- Philippines Free Press Award for Literature
- Cultural Center of the Philippines Award for Poetry
- National Book Award by the Manila Critics' Circle
- Catholic Authors Award from Asian Catholic Publishers Inc.
- Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas from Unyon ng mga Manunulat ng Pilipinas (UMPIL)
- Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan in Literature awarded by the City of Manila
- Premio Feronia for Foreign Author, received in 2009
External links
- Critical Readings in Philippine Poetry and Verse
- Philippine Social Weather Station
- Overseas Writers Workshop, University of Iowa
- "Care of Light" by Gemino H. Abad
- Highchair.com
- Ti Similla, U.P. Baguio
- The Best Philippine Short Stories
- Manoa, University of Hawaii
- Doe Library, University of California, Berkeley
- 1939 births
- 20th-century Filipino poets
- 20th-century Filipino male writers
- 21st-century Filipino poets
- 21st-century male writers
- Filipino male poets
- Filipino literary critics
- Living people
- People from Santa Ana, Manila
- Cebuano people
- Writers from Cebu
- University of the Philippines Diliman alumni
- Academic staff of the University of the Philippines
- International Writing Program alumni