The life of Lope K. Santos based on press clippings and pictures collected by his family.
Lope K. Santos was born on September 25, 1879 in Pasig, which is part of Rizal province then.
His father, Ladislao Santos is a publisher and her mother’s name is Victoria Canseco.
In the article Tagalog Laureate’s Legacy, it was mentioned that Lope had three children namely: Luwalhati S. Reyes, Lakambini S. Garcia and Makaaraw K. Santos.
He changed the first letter of his middle name, from C to K, to show his patriotism for our country.
Lope K. Santos on Nationalism:
“There can be no better or more solemn way of celebrating Independence Day than by rededicating ourselves and harnessing our energies towards positive Nationalism. Freedom and Nationalism are twin features of any republic. Although the two should go hand in hand, they may sometimes part ways due to rivalries and petty jealousy existing among different internal forces.”
Mang Openg study the medium of his art (language in this case), probing into subtlest structure and analyzing its essence if possible. It also took him into sister-studies of grammar, vocabularies, rhetorics and literature, the end-product of which was the first draft of the Balarila.
Lope K. Santos was a prolific writer. His poetry alone would fill ten volumes, his other novels, ten more and his essays, including Spanish, may be another ten.
Of his literary works, the best known is the Banaag at Sikat, which even his severest critics say:
“The work is a masterpiece…the story, the characters, the setting, the atmosphere, the movement, and the of course the language are all distinctly Filipino.”
He is also a professor at the University of the Philippines from 1937 – 1941.
Lope K. Santos was the Director of Institute of National Language from 1941 – 1945.
Accolade for Lope K. Santos:
“Eminent literateur and deserving of the most approbation and general applause. The cause of a living language has yet to prove its right to a full and glorious life. Consecrated with his mighty pen, mainly without hope and expectation of a reward, other than the reward that comes to the man who knows that he has fulfilled his purpose.“
Accolade for Lope K. Santos, others wholly deserved,
published in The Manila Times, 24 October 1959
He was included in the nominations for the Presidential Awards among other Filipinos who, in addition to their outstanding accomplishments in their respective fields, have contributed to Philippine progress and culture by their nationalistic approach.
He was awarded the Presidential Award, with President Magsaysay pinning him the medal of merit, personally presenting the citation made in Tagalog (where the first was in English)
Lope K. Santos had been in the historic First Philippine Senate (1916), with Quezon, Palma and other nationalists of his times, when the Senate was created by provision of the then recently passed Jones Law.
As a senator (1920-1921), he made recommendations for the election of provincial governors instead of appointing them. Lope K. Santos also worked for the inclusion of Andres Bonifacio Day as an official holiday.
Writer Retired, dated 11 January 1958
LKS was asked if the youth would be interested in reading his novel, Banaag at Sikat.
He commented, “I keep hope.”
Lope K. Santos with Simeona on his 80th birthday last September 25, 1959.
He died on May 1, 1963.
A poem created for the birth anniversary of Lope K. Santos, it was recited in his niche last September 25, 1963.
People cannot forget Mang Openg, especially when nationalism or the national language is invoked. Because Mang Openg and the national language go together: you can’t think of one without the other.
Original article from https://archive.upslis.info/lopeksantos/fatherfilipinogrammar.html.
This is an archived version of the original website hosted at reflectionsonfilipinolanguage.info. Some links may not be available. This version is hosted by UP SLIS with permission of the creator. Website and archive material copyright remain with Marlene Patron and Mapua Library Special Collections & Archives.