Adrian Cristobal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Adrian Cristobal
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| Born | February 20, 1932 |
| Died | December 22, 2007 (aged 75) |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Citizenship | Filipino |
| Education | University of the East |
| Notable awards | Palanca Awards |
Adrian E. Cristobal (born February 20, 1932 – died December 22, 2007) was a famous Filipino writer. He often wrote about politics and history. Many people knew him for his newspaper column called "Breakfast Table." He also won awards for his plays, stories, and essays. Besides writing, he worked in the government during President Ferdinand E. Marcos's time.
When he passed away from lung cancer in 2007, the Philippine Senate honored him. They called him a "prolific journalist," a "brilliant fictionist," and a "literary genius."
Contents
Adrian Cristobal's Life Story
Early Life and Education
Adrian Cristobal studied at the University of the East. However, he left college before finishing his degree. By the time he was 15, he had already won writing awards for his short stories. At 17, his articles were published in major newspapers like the Manila Chronicle. As a young writer, he joined a group of writers called the Ravens. This group was based at the U.P. Diliman.
Writing Achievements and Awards
In 1960, Cristobal won second prize at the Palanca Awards. This was for his funny play called The Largest Crocodile in the World. Sadly, all copies of this play are believed to be lost. People think a politician, who was possibly made fun of in the play, had them removed.
Cristobal won second prize again at the 1983 Palanca Awards. This time, it was for an essay. He also wrote two books about the national hero Andres Bonifacio. These books were titled The Tragedy of the Revolution and The Trial. In 1962, he wrote the movie script for Gerardo de Leon's film El Filibusterismo. For this, he won a FAMAS award for Best Screenplay.
Working in Government
Ferdinand Marcos, who became President, asked many smart people to join his government. Adrian Cristobal was one of them. During the time of martial law, he was in charge of writing speeches for the President's office. Later, he became the Chairman of the Social Security System. He also became a member of the Board of Regents for the University of the Philippines.
Return to Journalism
After President Marcos left office in 1986, Cristobal went back to writing. He joined the Philippine Daily Inquirer as a newspaper columnist. In 2000, he left the Inquirer to become the publisher of the Manila Times. After a short time there, he joined the Manila Bulletin. He worked as an associate editor and columnist. He continued to work for the Bulletin until he passed away. At that time, he was also the publisher of the Philippine Graphic magazine.
Contributions to Literature
Adrian Cristobal was very active in the Filipino writing community. He helped organize and lead many literary groups. He founded the Unyon ng Mga Manunulat ng Pilipinas (UMPIL). This is a union for Filipino writers. As a member of the U.P. Board of Regents, he helped create the U.P. Institute of Creative Writing. This institute supports new writers.
Family of Writers
Adrian Cristobal's daughter, Celina, also worked in publishing. In the late 1970s, she was the publisher and editor-in-chief of a magazine called The Review. In the 1990s, she became the lifestyle editor for the Manila Chronicle. She was also elected Vice-Chairman of UMPIL and now serves as its secretary-general.
In 2005, his son, Adrian Jr., was appointed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. He became the Director-General of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines.
