Google Celebrates The 105th Birthday Of Genoveva Matute
GENOVEVA MATUTE – Who exactly is the girl on Google Philippines’ front page doodle?
Every time there is a significant historical event, Google is sure to celebrate it by incorporating important persons or events in their front page doodle. This time, they’re celebrating Genoveva Matute.
Matute is one of the Philippines’ most well-known authors. Her short stories have become synonymous with Filipino history, taking scenes from it and creating fictionalized versions of them.
She was born and raised in Santa Cruz, Manila, on January 3, 1915. Matute attended the University of Santo Tomas (UST) and got her Ph.D. in 1964.
She also became a University professor. However, before that happened, she taught as an elementary and high school teacher.
According to an article by Google, throughout her career, she has become one of the most prolific writers on Filipino history. She wrote a number of historically based short stories, most of which are seen in textbooks.
These books can be seen in elementary and high school levels. She also wrote her stories in multiple languages, mainly, Tagalog and English.
One of her most notable works is “Ang Kuwento ni Mabuti” (The Story of Mabuti), which has been the most anthologized story in Tagalog. This story is still read to Filipino children up to this day.
Matute has also received several awards including the prestigious Don Carlos Palanca Memorial awards for her short stories. Not only did she win one of these, but, she actually won four.
Her story “Ang Kuwento Ni Mabuti”, was the first Tagalog short story to win the grand prize. In addition to this, she became the first woman to receive the sought-after literary award.
Eventually, she retired as the Dean of the Filipino Department at the Philippine Normal College.
Happy Birthday, Genoveva Matute!
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