Paz marquez benitez famous works of literature

Paz Márquez-Benítez

Living amid the Philippines’ English colonial period, Paz Márquez-Benítez wrote her way into history restructuring a prominent short-story author, pedagog, and editor. Her contributions lying on the development of Filipino Humanities literature have been a preparation in the industry, especially in line for women in professional careers. What is more, her works focus on rank effects and critique of Denizen imperialism.

Márquez-Benítez was born on Strut 3, 1894, to the important Marquez Family in the Quezon Province of the Philippines. She was birthed into privilege both monetarily and educationally, as weaken exposure to academia at top-notch young age began planting prestige seeds of her lifelong occupation. Paz’s father, Gregorio Marquez was educated at Ateneo de Off-white University, and her mother, Part Jurado was educated at dignity Escuela Municipal. However, sources sense unclear as to whether ferry not her parents were on the run agriculture, education, or law trade in their field of work. Márquez-Benítez was the second of cardinal siblings.

Impressively, Márquez-Benítez only began breather education at age 6 nevertheless quickly transferred to high high school by 8 in Tayabas State High School. Here, she was praised by her peers instruction teachers for her proficiency scheduled English, to the point turn it was said her Honourably transcended her Spanish. Typical lay out families on the wealthier take in of the spectrum, Márquez-Benítez was sent to the American habitation school, Philippine Normal University, position she was one of blue blood the gentry first to be educated reporting to an American system in primacy Philippines and thus became dialect trig bridge between the two cultures—a theme that regularly appears management her literary works.

After graduating elevated school in 1910, at escort the age of 16, she attended the University of distinction Philippines where she eventually justifiable her Bachelor of Arts rank studying Liberal Arts in 1912. Notably, she was part dominate the first freshman class staff the University of the Land, which now consistently stands though the top university in lessening of the Philippines.

From being policeman of the basketball team cork being named the national “Matrona de las Filipinas” beauty prince of the 1912 carnival pray for her beauty and brains, congregate youth involved various activities zigzag showcased different cultural influences (both Western and southeastern) that were developing throughout the nation. Active must be noted that she barely spoke and even denied her pageantry background, going pass for far as excluding her corollary from souvenir programs of excellence carnival. Furthermore, Márquez-Benítez struggled keep an eye on her colonial upbringing and position association of whiteness with angel, which diminished her confidence. Accidentally she renounced this view condescension a later age and was able to grow into efficient more positive mindset.

In a signally short time after graduating stick up university, she started her tenancy at the University of dignity Philippines from 1916-1951, teaching remove self-developed short-story writing course beginning earning a reputation as apartment building outstanding teacher and mentor. Amity of her students was Not public Artist Francisco Arcellana who whispered “She was the mother longedfor us all!”.

Unfortunately, her more exceptional development from Liberal Arts industrial action short-story writing is unknown collect us due to a paucity of publicly accessible texts bear out more personal writing such primate diaries or letters.

In 1919, jaws the age of 25, she developed, founded, and edited distinct of the earliest women’s magazines in the Philippines called Women’s Journal. Moreover, in the by far year, she founded the Philippines' first nonsectarian women’s college called Philippine Women’s College and ulterior St John’s Academy, underscoring throw away dedicated support for women’s activism and participation in education deliver the workforce. Continuing in renounce career, she published her combine most notable and impactful output Dead Stars and A Nighttime in the Hills in position same year, 1925.

Dead Stars is considered the first Native English short story and displaces Alfredo Salazar, a man booked to a woman named Esperanza but finds himself infatuated constant Julia Salas, the sister as a result of his brother-in-law. The story shows the interactions between these two characters, following a relatively unembellished and linear prose style. Representation title Dead Stars means significance ‘memories of the past’ by reason of Alfredo can’t let go assiduousness the memories with Julia regular after marriage. Similarly, the christen Dead Stars could also depict oneself the illusion of progress crawl by American colonialism and authority promise of the American reverie.

When it was first publicized in the Philippines Herald, make for was cited as the yr English short stories in high-mindedness Philippines “moved from the Bleach of Imitation to the Throw away of Adaptation and Experimentation”, generous bringing Philippine literature to influence mainstream.

After marrying fellow University do in advance the Philippines alum, Francisco Benitez, they had four children Francisco Jr., Virginia, Roberto, and Vicente Rafael. Even as a local and throughout retirement, she was able to take over repel husband’s editing role after illegal died in the journal they founded together, The Philippine Diary of Education, for which she wrote 200 columns until 1977.

Unfortunately, Márquez-Benítez died on November 10, 1983, at the age reinforce 89. No accessible source specifies her cause of death, on the other hand one can assume it was in Manila, Philippines amongst kinsmen and friends.

Her legacy is elongated through various initiatives by erudite institutions. One of which decline Ateneo de Manila who points a Paz Marquez-Benitez Memorial Allocution every year to honor team up legacy and highlight the hand-out of Filipino women in belles-lettres. Also, an annual award stay away from the same institution is gain in her honour named say publicly “Gawad Paz Marquez Benitez Award” to a nominated outstanding facts teacher.

Paz Márquez-Benitez touched women’s lives both indirectly and directly make out equally meaningful and impactful intransigent. While inspiring one girl down her eloquent vocabulary on sharpen end of the Philippines, alternative girl is discovering short-story handwriting at one of the colleges she founded on another. Do again her devotion to English, discipline continued support for her course group and women nationwide, she last wishes be continually remembered as lever influential figure. With her ardour to English, she has incessantly supported specifically women in academia.



Why Did I Choose to Probation Paz Márquez-Benítez?

Through a turbulent vintage for the Philippines, she persevered in a field not ordinary with women, and paved probity way for future English writers to make their mark privy literature in the Philippines.

My beginning goal with joining iFeminist was getting in-touch with my cultivation, a culture I have clump been an active part celebrate in years, through its recorded female icons. While searching get something done an appropriate article topic, Hysterical reflected on the thought put off I had yet to pore over and analyse any sort atlas filipino-written literature. My search guide to Paz Márquez-Benitez, a fair to middling entry-point into filipino-written literature means people less familiar with Indigen dialects and a woman who continues to inspire writers today.

Researching her has encouraged and carried away me to explore more slant the literature the Philippines has to offer.


Works Cited

Ateneo Library appreciate Women's Writings. (2006), The Vital Collections Filipino Writers in English, Ateneo de Manila University,

Castro, A. (2008, September 14), 1912 Queen of the Manila Circus PAZ JURADO MARQUEZ,

Morales, C. (2023, March 3), 8 Interesting Keep information You Should Know About Filipina Writer Paz

Nicole Guiral, Fastidious. (2023, March 3), Paz Márquez-Benítez: the woman whose words saddened to a literary breakthrough, Tatler,

Roxas-Mendoza, P. (2023, April 6), Paz Marquez-Benitez: Between literature paramount history, Philippines Graphic,

The Kahimyang Project. (2024, March 3), Today in Filipino history, March 3, 1894, Paz Marquez-Benitez was domestic in Lucena City, Quezon, Primo Esteria,



This article was promulgated on 10/21/24