No.17 Contributors

Parc Cruz, our guest cover photographer, began charting an identity in the field of photography only in July of 2005. With little training, he opted to learn the craft in his own time, with his own style, and his photos have since then been noted for their emotional power and cinematic quality. A lover of the arts and the movies, Parc constantly tries to go beyond the constraints and limitations of his medium and boldly defies convention, through a flair for experimentation and exploration

Rodrigo V. de la Peña Jr writes to correct us about his being based in Dumaguete. He has gone gone back to La Union, he says, “where my roots are. Leaving the City of Gentle People was difficult, but all good things, as they say, have to end, and I figured it was time for me to begin anew. Both my parents are based here (La Union) in a sleepy little town called Balaoan, which fortunately has Internet connection." Igor continues his writing, "though partially afflicted with the writing paralysis typical of fellows who have just finished a workshop.” His stories and essays have been published in various magazines and anthologies and he is building up his collection of ekphrastic poetry. He was a fellow of the recent (2008) Dumaguete National Writers Workshop conducted by National Artist Edith Tiempo.

Frank V. Peñones, an advocate Bikol culture and writing, is one of the region's respected poets. He has received writing and study grants from the University of the Philippines, Cultural Center of the Philippines and is currently a fellow of Ford International. Author of two bilingual poetry collections Ragang Rinaranga (2005) and Cancion nin Tawong Lipod (upcoming) both published by Agnus Press in Naga City, he has won several times in the Saint Peter Baptist Catholic Mass Media Awards, 2005 Premio Tomas Arejola Para Sa Literaturang Bikol and the Sumagang Awards For Literature and Journalism. He is finishing his MFA at San Jose State University in California.

Edgar B. Maranan is a poet, essayist, fictionist, playwright, writer of children’s stories, and translator. He has won a total of thirty prizes—a record number—for his works in English and Filipino, in the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature, and was inducted into the Palanca Hall of Fame in 2000. He has also won awards in the Cultural Center of the Philippines Annual Literary Contest, Palihang Aurelio Tolentino Playwriting Competition, Institute of National Language poetry competition, Philippines Free Press Literary Awards, Philippine Graphic Magazine Nick Joaquin Literary Prize, Filamore Tabios Sr. Memorial Poetry Prize (Meritage Press, USA), and the Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY)-Salanga Writers Prize, which he won three years in a row, from 1989 to 1991. Maranan’s third poetry book, Passage / poems 1983-2006, came out in October 2007, under the Bookmark imprint. Most of the poems in this book are part of poetry collections which won in the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature (Voyage, 1984; Hinterland, 1987; Star Maps, 1988; and Tabon, 2000). He is an active member of the newly formed Baguio Writers Group.

Rio Alma, or Virgilio S. Almario, presently the Dean of the College of Art and Letters of the University of the Philippines, was conferred the Order of National Artist for Literature in 2003. Perhaps the foremost living Filipino poet writing in the National Language, Rio Alma is also, as eminently, literary historian and critic, publisher, cultural administrator, mentor and academic. A prolific author, he has a little less than 30 books to his name, almost in equal parts poetry and literary criticism, all written in Filipino. His poetry books deeply explore Filipino life, mind, and history, using traditional as well modern and formalist forms and modes of writing, while his critical works encompass vital studies of the national language. He founded the Children's Communication Center, the Philippine pioneer in children's book publishing, and publisher of Adarna Books, conducts the long-running poetry clinic, Linangan sa Retorika at Arte (LIRA), and has been Executive Director of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).