Luisa Igloria writes from Virginia, where she is an associate professor in the MFA Creative Writing Program of Old Dominion University. Originally from Baguio, and member of the Hall of Fame of the Philippines’ Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards, Luisa has made America her second home where she raises her family and continues to write her well-anthologized poetry. She has written numerous books, the latest of which is Trill & Mordent, and, her work has appeared in various journals including Poetry, Crab Orchard Review, The Missouri Review, Indiana Review, to name a few.
Gémino H. Abad, poet, critic, and friend of young poets, mentor at literary workshops and co-founder of the Philippine Literary Arts Council (PLAC), has authored over a dozen books of poetry, fiction, criticism, and edited the landmark historical anthologies, Man of Earth (with Edna Z. Manlapaz,1989), A Native Clearing (1993) and A Habit of Shores: Filipino Poetry and Verse from English, '60s to the '90s (1999). More recently, he has completed the first two volumes of Upon Our Own Ground, a historical anthology of Filipino short stories in English, and Our Scene So Fair, critical essays on early Filipino poetry in English. At present he is University Professor Emeritus and Centennial Fellow at U.P.
Joel Toledo recently attended and read his work at a poetry festival in South Korea, and continues to host Happy Mondays Poetry Nights at Mag:Net Cafe and Gallery on Katipunan, and play drums for the band Los Chupacabras, which performs on the same nights as the poetry readings. Holding a Master’s degree in creative writing (poetry) from the University of the Philippines (where he graduated with degrees in English and Journalism), he teaches literature at Miriam College. A former winner of the Bridport Prize from the U.K., Joel also recently launched his second book of poems, The Long Lost Startle (UP Press, 2009).
Vic Nierva, apart from writing his poetry, also designs books, websites, shoots, produces, and directs video documentaries for the U.P. Institute of Creative Writing. He is also a serious blogger and advocate for Bikol literature, especially in one of his several blogs, Makuapo ni Handiong at http://aponihandiong.blogspot.com/. His first book of poetry, Antisipasyon (Goldprint, 2007), won the National Book Award (Manila Critics Circle and Book Development Board of the Phil.) and the Premio Tomas Arejola para sa Literaturang Bikol.
Emmanuel V. Dumlao teaches literature and creative writing at the University of the Philippines Los Banos. He is a member of bukalsining (buhay kalayaan sining) and Artist Club Philippines, both of which aim to promote human rights through arts and literature.
Kislap Alitaptap comes from a family of farmers in the Visayas, although he grew up in Metro Manila. He joined the student movement while in college and used pen names in contributing stories and poems to various publications and political journals of the underground movement. His works have also appeared in the literary folio Balintuna / Outcrop, U.P. Baguio, and in the chapbook KM 64 Poetry Collective. He is also a member of the Concerned Artists of the Philippines (CAP) and Alpha Sigma Fraternity.
Melissa Nolledo, photographer and digital artist, is our featured artist for this issue. She resides in Eugene, Oregon.
Ben Razon, our cover photographer, has among other projects, documented the Philippine production of Miss Saigon, done public relations photo coverage for Fujitsu and Microsoft, and shot the documentation for the damage and rehabilitation of Mt. Pinatubo areas. He holds an Associate Degree in Photography/Multimedia from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
