Who is epifanio de los Santos?

Answer 1

I'll try to simplify my answer. Epifanio de los Santos is the "First Filipino Academician". He has been called the foremost scholar, premier literarian and supreme authority of Arts and Letters of the Philippines. He made significant contributions in Philippine arts, music, history, journalism, literature, culture and politics. Likened to the great Segovia of Spain, he is one of the three best guitarist of the Philippines in his time which include his follower Guillermo Tolentino ( national artist). He is a humanist historian ( renaissance man) or the so called old school of great Filipino historians cultured, passionate, interpretative and humane. He also upgraded scholarship in the Philippines in the eyes of its colonizers and the world. He is also a great antiquarian who had preserved old books dating as far as the Incunabula period ( earliest books ever published by the printing press) and other collection of him include Philippine revolutionary materials, paintings of great Filipino artists, musical literatures, furniture, sculpture pieces, Opera records etc. His home has been a tourist attraction for unrivaled artistic Philippines ("Treasure house of Philippine Arts and Culture). The Philippine government profited from his administration as Director of the Philippine Library and Museum up to his death. He died in his office and was given a stately funeral. Sorry, no You Tube back then but you can search for old newspapers. . He was touted by local and foreign scholars as " Great among the Great Filipino Scholars" What makes him so great is his unblemished service, sacrifices, self- discipline, humility, extraordinary talents and skills, profound scholarship and training, leadership, creativity, ingenuity, professionalism, versatility, patriotism, philanthropy, daring independence, excellence and we already had forgotten the many good things he had done and his gifts for our country. Without his major contributions and numerous investigations and publications we will never be acquainted greatly with our arts, music, history, literature, culture, politics, jurisprudence, Filipino heroes, national artists and writers .. our sole identity and foundation as a nation.

He is a Filipino who have done great services and honor for his country in more ways than one be it Spanish and American period because he knows a Filipino can rise up to any challenges thrown up to him! He died in his humble office serving but it seems like he is still serving the country even by his meaningful name. He is truly one of our notable Philippine heroes whom people have forgotten because times have changed and scholarly or disciplinary undertakings in the arts, culture, music, philosophy, literature, language and others is no longer valued highly for economic growth and national development. Should we let it be?