José García Villa

José García Villa

Born: 16 September 2026 • Died: 07 February 1997

José García Villa was born in Manila in 1908. He attended the University of the Philippines. He won a short story contest through the Philippines Free Press and used the prize money to travel to the United States, where he studied at the University of New Mexico. In 1933 his Footnote to Youth: Tales of the Philippines and Others (Charles Scribner’s Sons) became the first book of fiction by a Filipino author published by a major United States-based press. In 1973 he was named a National Artist of the Philippines. He died in New York City on February 7, 1997. (Source)

Poems by José García Villa

#38 [I have observed pink monks eating blue raisins] by José García Villa

August 5, 2025

“Indeed I have observed and myself have partaken / of blue and pink raisins. But my joy was different: / My joy was to see the blue and the pink counterpointing.” — José García Villa

#136 [The, hands, on, the, piano, are, armless.] by José García Villa

October 11, 2005

“No, one, is, at, the, piano. / The, hands, begin, and, end, there.” — José García Villa