F. Sionil Jose named Officer in the French Order of Arts and Letters

National Artist for Literature F. Sionil Jose has been promoted to the rank of Officier, or Officer, in France’s Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Letters), according to a statement from the French Embassy.

French Ambassador Gilles Garachon conferred the award on the writer during Jose's birthday celebration at the Cultural Center of the Philippines on December 3.

Jose was named Chevalier (Knight) in the French Order of Arts and Letters in 2001.

According to the embassy, seven of Jose’s books have been translated into French: the five novels in the Rosales Saga ("Po-on," "The Pretenders," "My Brother, My Executioner," "Mass" and "Tree"), "God Stealer" and "Viajero".

The Order of Arts and Letters has three grades—Chevalier, Officier and Commandeur—and is  conferred on both French citizens and foreigners for significant achievements in the fields of arts or literature. Other Filipinos who have been named to the order include composer Lucrecia Kasilag, artists Arturo Luz and Juvenal Sanso, designer Lulu Tan-Gan, historian Ambeth Ocampo, director Brillante Mendoza and former National Museum Director Corazon Alvina. — BM, GMA News