Santiago B. Villafania
{{Short description|Filipino poet (1971–2024)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox writer
| name = Santiago B. Villafania
| image =
| imagesize =
| caption =
| pseudonym =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1971|01|31}}
| birth_place = Santa Barbara, Pangasinan, Philippines
| death_date = {{death date and age|2024|2|26|1971|01|31}}
| death_place = Dagupan, Pangasinan, Philippines
| occupation = Poet, literature teacher
| nationality = Filipino
| period =
| genre = Poetry
| subject =
| movement = Anacbanua
| influences =
| influenced =
| website = {{URL|http://svillafania.philippinepen.ph}}
}}
Santiago Villafania (January 31, 1971 – February 26, 2024) was a Filipino poet who wrote in Pangasinan and English.{{cite book | title = Malagilion:Sonnets Tan Villanelles |isbn = 9781475197624| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QRLSMAEACAAJ | accessdate = 25 September 2013|last1 = Villafania|first1 = Santiago B.|date = 19 April 2012| publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform }}{{cite book | title = Bonsaic Verses |isbn = 9781463761028| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c4VxMAEACAAJ | accessdate = 17 June 2015|last1 = Villafania|first1 = Santiago B.|date = 26 June 2012| publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform }}
Biography
Born in Tuliao, Santa Barbara, Pangasinan, Villafania graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Pangasinan in 1991.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}} He was a vice president of the Philippine branch of PEN International and the head of its Translation and Linguistic Rights Committee. He was also a commissioner for the Pangasinan Historical and Cultural Commission.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}
Villafania advocated for the resurgence of Pangasinan as a literary language.{{cite news|title=Languages in the spotlight|url=http://ph.news.yahoo.com/languages-spotlight-053422641.html|accessdate=3 September 2013|newspaper=Manila Bulletin|date=Jul 20, 2012}} His works in the vernacular were described as some of the most representative of contemporary Pangasinan literature.{{cite journal|last=Benosa|first=Maria Pia|title=Checking Up On Regional Lit|journal=NBDB Bookwatch|year=2010|date=April–June 2010|volume=14|issue=2}} His book of poems, Malagilion: Sonnets tan Villanelles, was described as an attempt to open the propylaea of literary renaissance in Pangasinan. During his lifetime, Villafania created 300 sonnets and 50 villanelles in Pangasinan.{{cite journal|last=Bautista|first=Cirilo|title=Breaking Signs: A Boost to Pangasinan Literature|journal=Philippine Panorama|year=2007|pages=25–26|url=http://svillafania.philippinepen.ph/2007/12/boost-to-pangasinan-literature.html|accessdate=3 September 2013}} It was also recognized by the National Book Development Board and the Manila Critics Circle as a Finalist for Best Book of Poetry in the 27th National Book Award in 2008.{{cite news|last=Cruz|first=Isagani|title=MINI CRITIQUE: National Book Award finalists|url=http://www.philstar.com/opinion/409333/national-book-award-finalists|accessdate=3 September 2013|newspaper=The Philippine Star|date=October 23, 2008}}
Villafania was one of the 11 Outstanding Pangasinenses conferred with the 2010 Asna Award for the Arts and Culture (Literature) during the first Agew na Pangasinan and also the 430th Foundation Anniversary of the province on 5 April 2010.{{cite news|last=Manantan-Yparraguirre|first=Liway|title=Province honors 11 outstanding Pangasinenses|url=http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pangasinan/province-honors-11-outstanding-pangasinenses|accessdate=3 September 2013|newspaper=SunStar Pangasinan|date=April 6, 2010}}
Villafania resided in Mangaldan, and died at the Nazareth Hospital in Dagupan, on February 26, 2023, at the age of 53.{{cite news |last=Pasion |first=Ahikam |date=February 26, 2024 |title=Pangasinan poet, heritage torchbearer Santiago Villafania dies |url=https://www.rappler.com/nation/luzon/pangasinan-poet-asna-awardee-santiago-villafania-dies-february-26-2024 |work=Rappler |accessdate=February 26, 2024}}
Books
Awards
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/2013/09/22/aristos-30/ The Sunday Punch:Santiago Villafania]
- [Interview with Filipino poet Santiago Villafania conducted by Sattam Haqabani and published in http://www.alriyadh.com/996794 Riyadh Newspaper]
- ["Aguinaldo, Dennis Andrew S. (2008). THE BELOVED IDIOM: A Reading of Villafania's Pinabli & Other Poems. Mabini Review, 135–136. Retrieved from http://mabinireview.weebly.com/uploads/9/0/9/1/9091667/the_mabini_review_-_final_inside_pages.pdf."]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Villafania, Santiago B.}}