Two Philippine literary giants will be remembered in the upcoming discussion of the Asian-American Writers’ Workshop (AAWW) “From Jose Rizal to Jose Garcia Villa: An Introduction to Philippine Literary Greats” on April 27.

AAWW will focus on the life and works of Rizal and Garcia Villa in celebration of Philippine literature and the Philippine-American heritage.

Harold Augenbraum, executive director of the National Book Foundation, will discuss Rizal and read from his translation of “Noli Me Tangere” (Penguin Classics) and from his forthcoming translation of “El Filibusterismo.”

Poet and author Luis H. Francia will tackle Garcia Villa and read from Garcia Villa’s “Doveglion” as well as Francia’s own work “Eye of the Fish: A Personal Archipelago.”

Rizal (1861-1896), a novelist and the national hero of the Philippines, wrote the “Noli” and “El Fili” at a time when the country was a colony of Spain and there was growing dissent against friarocracy. The novels inspired many other Filipino heroes in their move to gain Philippine independence.

Garcia Villa (1908-1997) carved his own niche in the mid-20th century literary world as the “Pope of Greenwich Village.” A contemporary of Tennessee Williams and W.H. Auden, he was nominated for several major literary awards including the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry.

The discussion will be held at The Workshop at 16 W 32nd Street (between Broadway and Fifth Avenue) at the 10th Floor at 7pm.

Tickets are priced at $25 for general admission, $20 for AAWW and AAJA members, and $15 for students. A VIP package, which includes books and AAWW membership, is priced at $50. Guests may take part in an informal discussion after the readings.

For more information, please visit www.nycharities.org/event/event.asp? CE_ID=3746 or call (212) 494-0061.