MANILA, Philippines – National Artist for Literature F. Sionil Jose has been promoted to the rank of Officier (Officer) in France’s Order des Arts et des Letters (Order of Arts and Letters) from his previous rank of Chevalier (Knight) in the French Order of Arts and Letters, bestowed in 2001.
The award was conferred by French Ambassador Gilles Garachon, in recognition of Jose’s valuable contributions to Philippine literature. The ceremony, which also marked Jose’s 90th birthday, was held on December 3 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
The French ambassador expressed his gratitude to Jose for his contributions in the literary field, which have allowed readers across the globe to better grasp the history, culture and values of the Filipinos.
The French translation of seven of Jose’s books – among these, the five novels in the Rosales Saga, God Stealer and Viajero – have been sold in Paris bookstores since 1996.