May Isang Sundalo: Limang Maikling Dula

by Rene O. Villanueva

Tagalog

88 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1988

About the author

Rene O. Villanueva (September 1954–December 2007) was a Filipino Dramatist and Children's Story Writer who made his mark in Philippine Literature in the late 1970s and well into the first decade of the 21st century. He had a remarkable contribution to Filipino culture as shown in his prolific output which generates continuing interest in his plays and books for young people.

Villanueva was born in La Loma, Quezon City and studied in public schools, the Lyceum of the Philippines, and the University of the Philippines. As a young person, he already had the inclination to the arts, telling stories to playmates and winning in national school writing contests. In college, he was active in the theater as a writer and as a performer. Later when he got into the writing workshop circuit, he joined the literary group Galian sa Arte at Tula (GAT) to learn from veteran writers.

In a children's literature workshop, he stood out as a fellow, and critic National Artist Virgilio S. Almario recognized his writerly gifts. His drama auspiciously began in 1978 with "Entreswelo" and "Pag-ibig ni Mariang Makiling" which won an award in the playwriting workshop, Palihang Aurelio Tolentino. Then in 1980, he won his first Palanca Award with the one-act play "Kumbersasyon" and from then on his pen did not falter a beat. He came out with memorable dramatic works like "May Isang Sundalo"(1981), "Sigwa" (1984), "Botong" (1990), "Kalantiaw" (1994), "Dobol" (1994) and "Watawat" (1999).

Villanueva's stories for children garnered prestigious prizes, including Palanca Award-winning works like "Bertdey ni Guido" (1989), "Ang Unang Baboy sa Langit" (1990), "Tungkung Langit at Alunsina"(1990), "Nemo, Ang Batang Papel" (1992), and "Tatlong Ungas" (1999).

For his pioneering contribution to local children's literature, Villanueva was nominated by the Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY) to the 2002 Hans Christian Andersen Award for Children's Writer, the most prestigious international recognition in the field of writing for children. He is the first Filipino writer to have been nominated to the award.

His indomitable spirit as a writer, teacher and cultural worker found him travelling all over the country to share his views on children's welfare, creative writing, curriculum enrichment, and teaching materials development.

Reviews

[Billy Ibarra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hindi ako masyadong magbasa ng mga dula, mas maganda kasing panoorin. Eh, kaso mahal din ang manood ng mga dula. Pero ang mabasa ito, ibang klase. Lakas ng impact noong dulang May Isang Sundalo. Maganda rin yung apat pang dulang nakapaloob sa koleksiyong ito. Sana maisadula ulit sa UP sa mga susunod na mga taon.

[Biena Magbitang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pansin ko lang, ang galing ni ROV sa dalawa lang ang main characters. Ang strongest plays kasi dito ay yung first and last which are May Isang Sundalo at Kumbersasyon which only have two casts.

[May Ann]

s

[Renz Lazaro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok

[Sabrina Macy]

exciting!

[Angelica Jasmin]

i think its entertaining