Rene Villanueva

Rene O. Villanueva (born 1954) is a Filipino playwright and author. He is famed for his deep involvement in theater and television and in children's literature, whether it be on television, in books or on stage.

He is best known in the literary world for his plays, which have often won first prizes in literature. Some of his notable works are: Apat na Dula, 1998; Teleplay (Gabay sa Pagsulat at Anim na Dulang Pantelebisyon), 1994; Tonyo: Manologo ni Antonio Luna, 1991; Botong, 1990; May isang Sundalo at Iba Pang Dula, 1988. Awards he has won include: TOYP, New York Film and TV Festival, First Latin American Video and Film Festival (Columbia), Japan Prize (Preschool Category), Prix Juenesse Winner (Germany), TOYM, CCP, Gawad Collantes, Gantipalang Quezon, National Book Award, Palanca. His short play "Kumbersasyon" (1980) won him the first of many Palanca Awards. His award-winning plays include; "May Isang Sundalo" (1981, first prize), "Huling Gabi sa Maragondon" (1983, first prize), "Punla ng Dekada" (1984, second prize), "Ang Hepe" (1986, third prize), "Asawa" (1987, second prize) and "Awit ng Adarna" (1987, second prize).

Biography

Rene O. Villanueva was born on September 22, 1954 in La Loma, Quezon City in the Philippines, to Francisco and Vicenta Villanueva. He graduated with a History degree in 1975 from the Lyceum of the Philippines University. Rene passed away on December 5, 2007 at 2:07 p.m. at the Philippine Heart Center after suffering a stroke. The UPAlumni.net wrote on Villanueva: “…Villanueva, a playwright, was among the leading figures in children's literature in the Philippines. He was in the hall of fame list of the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature. He graduated with a degree in history at the Lyceum of the Philippines in 1975.” Villanueva was awarded the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining (Literature) in 2004 and the Gawad Chanselor sa UP in 2005.

Non-Writing Jobs

• Section Editor, Diyaryo Pilipino
• Filipino teacher, University of the Philippines, Diliman
• Associate Editor, Diliman Review
• Editorial Consultant, Children’s Communication Center
• Original head writer, Philippine Sesame Street Project
• Creative Director, Philippine Children's Television Foundation Inc.
• Member, Galian sa Arte at Tula (GAT)
• Member, UP Writers Club
• Member, Unyon ng mga Manunmulat sa Pilipinas (UMPIL)
• Member, The Writersbloc, Inc.

Works

Full Length Plays

• "Sixteen and Three Fourths" (1975)
• "Burles" (Burlesque) (1977)
• "Hiblang Abo" (Strands of Gray) (1980)
• "May Isang Sundalo" (There Was a Soldier) (1981)
• "Tribu" (Tribe) (1979)
• "Kontsabahan sa Tirarang" (Conspiracy in Tirarang) (1979)
• "Sinakulo" (1981)
• "Sandaang Panaginip" (A Hundred Dreams) (1981)
• "Samperang Muta" (Cheap Thrill) (1982)
• "Madyik" (Magic) (1983)
• "Sigwa" (Storm) (1984)
• "Huling Istasyon" (Last Station) (1983)
• "Ang Hepe" (The Chief) (1986)
• "Botong" (1989)
• "Tonyo" (1990)

One Act Plays

• "Teodora" (1993)
• "Gregoria" (1993)
• "Kumbersasyon" (Conversation) (1980)
• "Nana" (Pus) (1982)
• "Punla ng Dekada" (Seedlings of the Decade) (1984)
• "Kaaway sa Sulod" (Enemy Within) (1986) (with Rolando S. Dela Cruz)
• "Mabuhay ang Pangulo" (Long Live the President) (1987) (with Rolando S. Dela Cruz)
• "Asawa" (Spouse) (1987) (with Rolando S. Dela Cruz)

Two-act Documentary Play

• "Sa Sariling Bayan" (In One’s Own Land) (1988)

Translations and Adaptations

• "Florente at Laura" (Florente and Laura) (1988)
• "Ang Napigil-Sanang-Paghahari ni Arturo Ui" (Bertolt Brecht’s The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui) (1987) (with Joey Baquiran)
• "Sutsot sa Dilim" (Whistle in the Dark) (1985)
• (Crimes of Passion) (1985)
• "Awit ng Adarna" (Song of Adarna) (1984)
• "Sa Kuko ng Liwanag" (In the Claws of Neon Light) (1993)

Children’s Plays

• "Tiktipak-long" (Grasshoppers) (1984)
• "Si Pagong at si Matsing" (The Turtle and the Monkey) (1984) (an opera with music by Lucrecia Kasilag)
• "Ang Apoy ng mga Hayop" (The Fire of the Animals) (1987) (music by Kasilag)
• "Aguinaldo sa Niño" (Gift for the Infant) (1987)
• "Noong Unang Panahon" (In the Beginning) (1988)

Screenplays

• "Gabi na Kumander" (It’s Night Commander) (1986)
• "Kamagong" (Mahagony) (1987)
• "Anak ng Lupa" (Child of the Earth) (1987)

Biography

• "Personal: Mga Sanaysay Sa Lupalop Ng Gunita"

Teleplays

• "Gabay Sa Pagsulat At Anim Na Dulang Pantelebisyon"
• "Literature Eksena't Saknong" (with Ligaya G. Tiamson Rubin)

Children's Books

• "Ang Pamilya Ng Ismid"
• "Ang Patotsay Na Iisa Ang Pakpak"
• "Ang Prinsipeng Ayaw Maligo"
• "Ang Unang Baboy Sa Langit" (The First Pig In Heaven)
• "Ayokong Pumasok Sa Paaralan"
• "Dagat Sa Kama Ni Troy"
• "Gusto Kong Kumain Ng Pansit Ngayon"
• "Umuulan"
• "Kuya Ni Karina"
• "Nagsasabi Si Patpat"
• "Nasaan Ang Tsinelas Ko?"
• "Okaka-okaka"
• "Si Elephas At Estrogon"
• "Si Inggolok At Ang Planeta Pakaskas"
• "Si Paula Oink-oink"
• "Sina Linggit Laban Kay Barakuda"
• "Lumikha Ng Kuwento, Tula At Laruang Pambata" (with Virgilio Almario, Annaleah Habulan, Michelle Parazo Manual)

Song lyrics

• Batibot theme song

Achievements

• 25 Palanca Awards from 1980 onward (listed below)
• National Fellow for Drama, UP Creative Writing Center (1985)
• Writer-in-Residence, UP Writers Workshop (1986)
• Best Screenplay for Gabi na, Kumander, Catholic Mass Media Award (1987)
• Best Stage Production, Hiblang Abo, Aliw Award (1987)
• Gawad Pagkikilala of the National Language Institute (1988)
• Gawad CCP sa Telebisyon (1991)
• National Book Awards for drama for May Isang Sundalo at Iba Pang Dula (1989) and for Ang Unang Baboy sa Langit (1992)
• Ten Outstanding Young Men, for Literature (1991)
• Outstanding Young Persons of the World (1993)
• Palanca Hall of Fame (1995)
• CCP Literature Grant for Children's Play in Filipino
• 3 CCP Playwriting Contest Awards
• 2 Palihang Aurelio V. Tolentino Playwriting Contest Awards
• Prix Jeunesse International, Batibot (for which he wrote lyrics)
• International Advisors' Award
• Gold Metal, Youth Category, Nguyamyam, New York Film and TV Festival

Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature

• First Prize, "Kumbersasyon", Dulang May Isang Yugto (1980)
• First Prize, "May Isang Sundalo", Dulang May Isang Yugto (1981)
• Second Prize, "Nana", Dulang May Isang Yugto (1982)
• First Prize, "Huling Gabi sa Maragondon", Dulang May Isang Yugto (1983)
• Second Prize, "Punla ng Dekada, Dulang May Isang Yugto (1984)
• First Prize, "Sigwa", Dulang Ganap ang Haba (1984)
• Third Prize, "Ang Hepe", Dulang Ganap ang Haba (1986)
• Second Prize, "Awit ng Adarna", Dulang Ganap ang Haba (1988)
• Third Prize, "Bertdey ni Guido" and "Sa Bayang Walang Batas", Maikling Kwentong Pambata (1989)
• First Prizes, "Ang Unang Baboy sa Langit" and "Tungkung Langit at Alunsina" (1990)
• Third Prize, "Botong", Dulang Ganap ang Haba (1990)
• Third Prize, "The Zimbragatzes of the Planet Zing", short story for Children (1992)
• Honorable Mention, "She Devil", One-Act Play (1992)
• First Prize, "Nemo, Ang Batang Papel", Maikling Kuwentong Pambata (1992)
• First Prize, "Kuwento ni Malinis", Maikling Kuwentong Pambata (1993)
• Third Prize, "Dagat sa Kama ni Troy", Maikling Kwentong Pambata (1994)
• Third Prize, "Dobol", Dulang May Isang Yugto (1994)
• First Prize, "Kalantiaw", Dulang Ganap ang Haba (1994)
• Second Prize, "Blip", Maikling Kuwentong Pambata (1995)
• Third Prize, "Bintao", Dulang Ganap ang Haba (1995)
• First Prize, "Salubong", Dulang Pantelebisyon (1998)
• First Prize, "Tatlong Ungas", Maikling Kuwentong Pambata (1999)
• First Prize, "Watawat", Dulang May Isang Yugto (1999)

Sources

• Tiongson, Nicanor G., ed. CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Art; Volume VII: Philippine Theater. 1994
• The Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature (Unofficial website). Retrieved August 27, 2005