Manuel Arguilla Biography - Life Story Of Filipino Writer Manuel Arguilla

Here’s Manuel Arguilla biography and some of his famous works.

MANUEL ARGUILLA BIOGRAPHY – This is the biography and life story of “How My Brother Leon Brought Home A Wife” writer, Manuel Arguilla.

Manuel Estabilla Arguilla is an Ilokano writer. He writes in English, is a patriot, and is a martyr, and is widely known for his short story “How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife”, the literary piece that made him win first prize in the Commonwealth Literary Contest in 1940.

SEE: Francisco Arcellana Biography and His Famous Works (Life and Works)

He was born on June 17, 1911, in Nagrebcan, Bauang, La Union. His parents are Crisanto Arguilla, a farmer, and Margarita Estabillo, a potter, and despite having a tough life, it never hindered him to pursue his passion to write. He attended his elementary and high school in San Fernando. He was editor-in-chief of his school’s newsletter, the La Union Tab.

Apart from writing, he is also a swimming champ. He joined swimming events while he was young. During his tertiary education, he entered the University of the Philippines and his love for scribbling words made him join the UP Writers Club which eventually led him to later became the president and the editor of the UP Literary Apprentice. He finished his education in 1933.

He married Lydia Villanueva, an artist and writer just like him. He practiced his profession at the University of Manila and later on, became the editor of Welfare Advocate, Bureau of Public Welfare’s publication. His famous story and other stories he wrote when he was 22 to 29 years old were all compiled in a book called How my Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife (And Other Stories) published by Philippine Book Guild in 1940.

However, in 1941, when the country was invaded by the Japanese, he joined freedom forces and led Marking’s Guerillas. When he was captured in 1944, the Japanese imprisoned him in Fort Santiago along with his family.

After some time, his family was freed while he was executed to death. He died at the age of 33 in October 1944