Paz Latorena (1907-1953)

Paz Latorena (1907-1953)

Patz Latorena (1907-1953)

Paz Latorena, is a Filipino English writer who was born in Boac, Marinduque in 1907. A fictionist. She completed her basic education in Manila at St. Scholastica and South Highschool.

In 1925 she enrolled at the University of the Philippines of Education where she earned her Bachelor of Science in degree of Education, and took a graduate coarse at the University of Santo Tomas (UST).

It was not long before Mrs. Benitez, the editor of Herald Midweek Magazine encouraged her to write and publish her works in the magazine. She became nationally known when Jose Garcia Villa included her story "Sunset", in his anthology of Philippine Short Stories in 1929.

Paz Marquez Benite It was considered the best published that year. Her works of fiction are included in the Philippine Prose and Poetry series which are used as textbooks in public high schools. Aside from “Sunset”, her best works include “Small Key”, inPhilippine Herald , in 1927; “Myrrh”, in Graphic , 1931; “Years and a Day”, inTribune , 1936; and “Desire”, in Literary Apprentice in 1937. All of them were included in Jose Garcia Villa's roll of honor from 1926-1940. In her senior year, Latorena transferred to the University of Sto. Tomas, from which institution she graduated in 1930 and where she subsequently enrolled for graduate studies. Her dissertation entitled “Philippine Literature in English: Old Voices and New” received a grade of sobre saliente, qualifying her for a doctoral degree in 1934. By this time, Latorena had already joined the faculty, earning a reputation as a dynamic teacher. Among her many students were then-aspiring writers Juan Gatbonton, F. Sionil Jose, Nita Umali, Genoveva Edroza Matute and Zeneida Amador. Increasingly involved in academic work, Latorena wrote fewer stories and at longer intervals, publishing her last known story, “Miguel Comes Home”, in 1945. In 1953 while proctoring a final examination, Latorena suffered a cerebral hemorrhage which proved fatal. Latorena's stories have a wistfulness which tells of a gentle disillusionment with life. Many of her stories chronicle the unexpressed heartaches of women. There is bitterness, however, but sadness over certain dreams left unfulfilled. Thirty-five of her stories have recently been collected in a single volume: Desire and Other Stories, edited by Eva V. Kalaw (U.S.T., 2000).

Article references:  Ateneo Library of Women's Writings rizal.lib.admu.edu.ph/aliww/english_platorena.html http://www.panitikan.com.ph/content/paz-latorena