LOPE
K.
(1879 - 1963)
A scholar, poet, novelist,
journalist, labor leader and public servant, Lope K. Santos is remembered today
as the Father of Pilipino Grammar.
Mang Openg, as he was familiarly known to his friends and admirers, was born on
Much later, when asked why
he used “K” for middle initial instead of “C” from Canseco, he said “Matuwid
ang aking ginawang ito sapagkat may hilig ako sa mga letrang katutubo na
talagang pam-Pilipino.”
His father was accused of
being a rebel since copies of Rizal’s Noli
Me Tangere and some copies of the Kalayaan,
the organ of the Katipunan were found
in his possession. They dragged him to a convent in
He studied at the Escuela Normal
In 1898, when his mother
was about to die, she told him to look for Simeona Salazar and told him, “Kung
buhay pa si Mona (Simeona), sa kanya ka pakasal.”
From
His love for Tagalog began
when he won the dupluhan, the
poetical joust at the time. This developed further when he went into journalism
and became editor of different Tagalog publications starting in 1900.
As a poet, his style is
smooth, melodious, imaginative, and full of substance. A prolific writer in
both prose and poetry, Mang Openg wrote many novels and poems. He was crowned Paham ng Wika in recognition of his
literary stature and works.
His Balarila ng Wikang Pambansa is the basis for the grammar of the
Pilipino language. His Banaag at Sikat,
the first Tagalog sociological novel, won him the title of Pillar of Philippine Literature.
He was the first editor of Muling Pagsilang, sister publication of El Renacimiento, and founder of the
first Filipino national weekly Sampaguita.
He sought to propagate a
national language through organized lectures, cultural societies which he
founded all over the country, and also as head of the department of national
language in leading universities.
He was named by President
Manuel L. Quezon as the director of the Surian
ng Wikang Pambansa.
He was governor of Rizal
from 1910 to 1913. From 1918 to 1920, he was appointed the first Filipino
governor of Nueva Viscaya. By befriending the head-hunting tribes he succeeded
in minimizing their barbarism. He also established settlements and prepared the
inhabitants for self government. As an appointive senator for the 12th
district, he authored the law creating Bonifacio Day and championed the cause
of labor with his introduction of several measures designed to better the
workers’ working conditions.
Once, he and his wife
visited the tomb he ordered made for himself. Upon
viewing the place he said to Mona, “Kung maaari
He was operated on for an
illness of the liver, and he had already premonitions about his death. One of
his last words were:
“Nararamdaman kong malapit na… ang huling oras ko… at ang aking
ikinalulungkot ay papanaw ako nang hindi alam kung ano ang magiging wakas ng
Wikang Tagalog… Kung ito ang talagang magiging wikang
pambansa.”
He died on Labor Day,