F(rancisco) Sionil José was born in Rosales, Pangasinan in 1924. He had to work as a labourer to support his family when young but studied at the University of Santo Tomás and then took some pre-med courses, before starting a career as a journalist. He has worked as a journalist, founded a publishing house, run a bookshop and art gallery as well as working as an editor. His work has focused on the history of the Philippines as well as on the plight of the underprivileged.
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