Néstor Vicente Madali González (8 September 1915 – 28 November 1999) was a Filipino novelist, short story writer, essayist and poet. Conferred as the

National Artist of the Philippines The Order of National Artists of the Philippines ( Tagalog: ''Orden ng mga Pambansang Alagad ng Sining ng Pilipinas'') is an order bestowed by the President of the Philippines on Philippine nationals who have made significant contributions to ...

for Literature in 1997.

Biography

He was born on September 8, 1915 in

Romblon Romblon (, , ), officially the Province of Romblon, is an archipelagic province of the Philippines located in the Mimaropa region. Its main components include Romblon, an archipelagic municipality of the same name that also serves as the provi ...

, Philippines. González, however, was raised in

Mansalay Mansalay, officially the Municipality of Mansalay (), is a municipality in the province of Oriental Mindoro, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 59,114 people. This town is notable for its indigenous Mangyan popu ...

, a southern town of the Philippine province of

Oriental Mindoro Oriental Mindoro (), officially the Province of Oriental Mindoro (), is a province in the Philippines located on the island of Mindoro under Mimaropa region in Luzon, about southwest of Manila. The province is bordered by the Verde Island P ...

. González was a son of a school supervisor and a teacher. As a teenager, he helped his father by delivering meat door-to-door across provincial villages and municipalities. González was also a musician. He played the violin and even made four guitars by hand. He earned his first peso by playing the violin during a Chinese funeral in

. González attended Mindoro High School (now Jose J. Leido Jr. Memorial National High School) from 1927 to 1930. González attended college at

National University A national university is mainly a university created or managed by a government, but which may also at the same time operate autonomously without direct control by the state. In the United States, the term "national university" connotes the highe ...

(Manila) but he was unable to finish his undergraduate degree. While in

Manila Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the Capital of the Philippines, capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines after Quezon City, with a population of 1,846,513 people in 2020. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on ...

, González wrote for the ''Philippine Graphic'' and later edited for the ''Evening News Magazine'' and ''Manila Chronicle''. His first published essay appeared in the ''Philippine Graphic'' and his first poem in ''Poetry'' in 1934. González made his mark in the Philippine writing community as a member of the Board of Advisers of ''Likhaan: the University of the Philippines Creative Writing Center'', founding editor of ''The Diliman Review'' and as the first president of the ''Philippine Writers' Association''. González attended creative writing classes under

Wallace Stegner Wallace Earle Stegner (February 18, 1909 – April 13, 1993) was an American novelist, writer, environmentalist, and historian. He was often called "The Dean of Western Writers". He won the Pulitzer Prize in 1972 and the U.S. National Book Award ...

and

Katherine Anne Porter Katherine Anne Porter (May 15, 1890 – September 18, 1980) was an American journalist, essayist, short story writer, novelist, poet, and political activist. Her 1962 novel '' Ship of Fools'' was the best-selling novel in the United States that y ...

Stanford University Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University, is a Private university, private research university in Stanford, California, United States. It was founded in 1885 by railroad magnate Leland Stanford (the eighth ...

. In 1950, González returned to the

Philippines The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of List of islands of the Philippines, 7,641 islands, with a tot ...

and taught at the

University of Santo Tomas The University of Santo Tomas (UST; ), officially the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, The Catholic University of the Philippines or colloquially as ''Ustê'' (), is a Private university, private Catholic school, Catholic researc ...

, the

Philippine Women's University Philippine Women's University (PWU) is a coeducational tertiary education school which has its main campus in Manila, Philippines. An all girls school, institution exclusive for girls from its inception until the 1970s, the PWU now admits both ...

and the

University of the Philippines The University of the Philippines (UP; ) is a Higher education in the Philippines#State universities and colleges, state university system in the Philippines. It is the country's national university, as mandated by List of Philippine laws, Re ...

(U.P.). At U.P., González was only one of two faculty members accepted to teach in the university without holding a degree. On the basis of his literary publications and distinctions, González later taught at the

University of California, Santa Barbara The University of California, Santa Barbara (UC Santa Barbara or UCSB) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Tracing its roots back to 1891 as an ...

California State University, Hayward California State University, East Bay (Cal State East Bay, CSU East Bay, or CSUEB) is a public university in Hayward, California. The university is part of the California State University system and offers 136 undergraduate and 60 post-baccala ...

, the

University of Washington The University of Washington (UW and informally U-Dub or U Dub) is a public research university in Seattle, Washington, United States. Founded in 1861, the University of Washington is one of the oldest universities on the West Coast of the Uni ...

, the

University of California, Los Angeles The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Its academic roots were established in 1881 as a normal school the ...

, and the

University of California, Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley, Berkeley, Cal, or California), is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Berkeley, California, United States. Founded in 1868 and named after t ...

. On 14 April 1987, the

conferred on N.V.M. González the degree of ''Doctor of Humane Letters'', ''honoris causa'', "For his creative genius in shaping the Philippine short story and novel, and making a new clearing within the English idiom and tradition on which he established an authentic vocabulary, ...For his insightful criticism by which he advanced the literary tradition of the Filipino and enriched the vocation for all writers of the present generation...For his visions and auguries by which he gave the Filipino sense and sensibility a profound and unmistakable script read and reread throughout the international community of letters..." N.V.M. González was proclaimed

in 1997. He died on 28 November 1999 at the age of 84. As a National Artist, Gonzalez was honored with a state funeral at the

Libingan ng mga Bayani Libingan ng mga Bayani (LNMB, , ) is a national cemetery within Fort Bonifacio (formerly Fort William McKinley) in Barangay Western Bicutan, Taguig, Philippines. First established in May 1947 as a fitting resting place for Philippine mili ...

Works

The works of Gonzalez have been published in Filipino, English, Chinese, German, Russian and

Indonesian Indonesian is anything of, from, or related to Indonesia, an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. It may refer to: * Indonesians, citizens of Indonesia ** Native Indonesians, diverse groups of local inhabitants of the archipelago ** Indonesian ...

Novels/poetry

*''The Winds of April'' (1941) *''A Season of Grace'' (1956) *'' The Bamboo Dancers'' (1988) *The Land and the Rain *The Happiest Boy in The World *Bread of Sugar *Song

Short fiction

*"The Tomato Game".1992 *''A Grammar of Dreams and Other Stories''. University of the Philippines Press, 1997 *''The Bread of Salt and Other Stories''.

Seattle Seattle ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the 18th-most populous city in the United States. The city is the cou ...

Press, 1993; University of the Philippines Press, 1993 *''Mindoro and Beyond: Twenty-one Stories''. Quezon City: University of the Philippines Press, 1981; New Day, 1989 *''Selected Stories''.

Denver Denver ( ) is a List of municipalities in Colorado#Consolidated city and county, consolidated city and county, the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Colorado, most populous city of the U.S. state of ...

, Colorado:

Alan Swallow Alan Swallow (February 11, 1915 – November 27, 1966) was an American professor of English who created his own publishing imprint, Alan Swallow Press, and worked as editor and director of the University of Denver Press. Early life Born in Po ...

, 1964 *''Look, Stranger, on this Island Now''. Manila: Benipayo, 1963 *''Children of the Ash-Covered Loam and Other Stories''. Manila: Benipayo, 1954; Bookmark Filipino Literary Classic, 1992 *''Seven Hills Away''.

, Colorado: Alan Swallow, 1947

Essays

*''A Novel of Justice: Selected Essays 1968–1994''. Manila: ''National Commission for Culture and the Arts'' and ''Anvil'' (popular edition), 1996 *''Work on the Mountain'' (Includes ''The Father and the Maid, Essays on Filipino Life'' and ''Letters and Kalutang: A Filipino in the World''), University of the Philippines Press, 1996

Awards and prizes

*''Given a Trophy from A Jokarts company (1997–1998) *''Regents Professor'' at the

University of California The University of California (UC) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university, research university system in the U.S. state of California. Headquartered in Oakland, California, Oakland, the system is co ...

at Los Angeles, 1998–1999 *''Philippines Centennial Award for Literature'', 1998 *''National Artist Award for Literature'', 1997 *''Oriental Mindoro Sangguniang Panlalawigan Resolution'' "extending due recognition to Nestor V. M. González... the commendation he well deserves..." 1996 *''City of Manila Diwa ng Lahi award'' "for his service and contribution to Philippine national Literature," 1996 *''City of Los Angeles resolution'' declaring 11 October 1996 "N.V.M. González Day, 1996 *''The Asian Catholic Publishers Award'', 1993 *''The Filipino Community of California Proclamation'' "honoring N.V.M. González for seventy-eight years of achievements," 1993 *''Ninoy Aquino Movement for Social and Economic Reconstruction through Volunteer Service'' award, 1991 *City and County of San Francisco proclamation of 7 March 1990 "Professor N.V.M. González Day in San Francisco," 1990 *

Cultural Center of the Philippines The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP; ) is a government-owned and controlled corporation (GOCC) established to preserve, develop and promote Arts in the Philippines, arts and Culture of the Philippines, culture in the Philippines.Presid ...

award, Gawad Para sa Sining, 1990 *''Writers Union of the Philippines'' award, ''Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtás'', 1989 *''University of the Philippines International Writer-in-Residence'', 1988 *''Doctor of Humane Letters'' (Honoris Causa) from the University of the Philippines, 1987 *''Djerassi Foundation Artist-in-Residence'', 1986 *''Philippine Foreign Service Certificate of Appreciation for Work in the International Academic and Literary Community'', at San Francisco, 1983 *Emeritus Professor of English,

California State University The California State University (Cal State or CSU) is a Public university, public university system in California, and the List of largest universities and university networks by enrollment, largest public university system in the United States ...

, 1982 *Carlos

Palanca Palanca may refer to: People *Bernard Palanca (born 1976), Filipino actor *Massimo Palanca (born 1953), Italian footballer *Mico Palanca (1978–2019), Filipino actor *Miguel Palanca (born 1987), Spanish footballer Places * Palanca, Huíla, Ango ...

Memorial Award (Short Story), First Prize for 'The Tomato Game,' 1971 *City of

Medal of Honor, 1971. *Awarded

Leverhulme Fellowship The Leverhulme Trust () is a large national grant-making organisation in the United Kingdom. It was established in 1925 under the will of the 1st Viscount Leverhulme (1851–1925), with the instruction that its resources should be used to cover ...

University of Hong Kong The University of Hong Kong (HKU) is a public research university in Pokfulam, Hong Kong. It was founded in 1887 as the Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese by the London Missionary Society and formally established as the University of ...

, 1969. *''Visiting Associate Professorship in English'',

, 1968. *

British Council The British Council is a British organisation specialising in international cultural and educational opportunities. It works in over 100 countries: promoting a wider knowledge of the United Kingdom and the English language (and the Welsh lang ...

award for Travel to England, 1965. *Intemaciones Award for Travel in the Federal German Republic, 1965. *

Philippines Free Press The ''Philippines Free Press'' was a weekly English language news magazine which was founded in 1908, which makes it the Philippines' oldest weekly English language periodical no longer in print. It is known for being one of the publications tha ...

First Prize Award winner for ''Serenade'' (short story), 1964. *

Rockefeller Foundation The Rockefeller Foundation is an American private foundation and philanthropic medical research and arts funding organization based at 420 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The foundation was created by Standard Oil magnate John D. Rockefeller (" ...

Writing Grant and Travel in Europe, 1964 *''Jose Rizal Pro-Patria Award'' for ''The Bamboo Dancers'', 1961 *''Republic Cultural Heritage Award'' for ''The Bamboo Dancers'', 1960 *Carlos

Memorial Award (Short Story), Third Prize winner for ''On the Ferry'', 1959 *Philippine Free Press Third Prize winner for ''On the Ferry'', 1959 *''Republic Award of Merit'' for "the advancement of Filipino culture in the field of English Literature," 1954. *Carlos

Memorial Award (Short Story), Second Prize winner for ''Lupo and the River'', 1953 *

Study and Travel fellowship to India and the Far East, 1952 *Carlos

Memorial Award (Short Story), Second Prize winner for ''Children of the Ash-covered Loam'', 1952 *

Writing Fellowship to

Kenyon College Kenyon College ( ) is a Private university, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Gambier, Ohio, United States. It was founded in 1824 by Episcopal Bishop Philander Chase. It is the oldest private instituti ...

School of English, and

Columbia University Columbia University in the City of New York, commonly referred to as Columbia University, is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Churc ...

, 1949–1950 *''Liwayway'' Short Story Contest, Third Prize winner for ''Lunsod, Nayon at Dagat-dagatan'', 1943 *''First Commonwealth Literary Contest'' honorable mention for ''The Winds of April'', 1940

References

External links

On NVM, Peso Books, Publishing and Writing by Alberto FlorentinoN.V.M. Gonzalez: An Affair With Letters
* ttp://www.philpost.com/1299pages/nvm1299.html N.V.M. Gonzalez, A Tribute by Allan G. Aquinobr>N.V.M. Gonzalez (1915–1999) A guide to literary criticism on the internet for N.V.M. Gonzalez
* * *

* ttp://www.upd.edu.ph/~uppress/reviewgonzalezgrammar.html THE SYNTAX OF NIGHTMARES: A Review of N.V.M. Gonzalez's A Grammar of Dreams and Other Stories by Maureen Gaddi dela Cruzbr>BLOWIN' IN THE WIND: A review of The Winds of April by NVM Gonzalez by Nina Somea

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gonzalez, N. V. M. 1915 births 1999 deaths People from Romblon Filipino emigrants to the United States Gonzalez, N.V.M. California State University, East Bay faculty American writers of Filipino descent English-language writers from the Philippines Burials at the Libingan ng mga Bayani National University (Philippines) alumni Writers from Romblon