Abdon Balde, the current chairman of the Writers Union of the Philippines or Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas (Umpil), is a retired engineer who has published four novels, four collections of short stories, and a book of essays on aging. He writes in Filipino, English, and Bikol. He was the SEA Write awardee in 2009.
Yann Verbo Acosta (La Gitana to her contemporaries) is in charge of corporate marketing and public relations at Tanghalang Pilipino, has written songs for Candid Records, and is the frontwoman of the electronica-world music group, Project Ganymede.
Francisco Llaguno has worked for the United Nations, is a freelance writer and has been to Cairo and Alexandria.
Joel Pablo Salud is the editor-in-chief of Philippines Graphic magazine, a writer of fiction, and occasional poet (such as during the Printemps des Poètes reading). He is a member of the Manila Critics Circle.
Christine Joy O. Castillo is taking a Master of Arts in Development Studies at the University of Santo Tomas, a professor at Colegio San Agustin, and a serious student of French.
Beatrix Syjuco is a writer as well as a performance and video artist. She produces, and co-hosts with poet Alfred A. Yuson, the one-hour weekly program “Illuminati” at GNN channel, currently the only Philippine arts and culture show on prime time.
Asha Macam has worked as a food, beauty, fitness and health editor for the past eleven years and is currently an athletic training and wellness consultant. She is also a visual artist and is active in both the written and spoken word.
Jacques Chessex (1934-2009) was a respected Swiss poet, painter, and essayist. He was the first non-French to win France’s most prestigious literary prize, the Prix Goncourt.
Ed Maranan has been variously awarded for his prolific work in poetry, fiction, essays, and children’s verses and stories. He has published three books of poetry (one in Filipino and two in English), and is preparing his fourth.
Victor Emmanuel Carmel Nadera Jr., of Vim, is an associate professor at the Univesity of the Philippines where he became the youngest director of Likhaan: U.P. Institute of Creative Writing. He was won the TOYM, several Palanca and National Book awards, and the Centennial Literary Prize in 1998 for his epic Mujer Indigena.
Maxine Syjuco is a poet and multi-media artist whose first book of poems, A Secret Life, was published in 2008. She is currently recording her first poetry album with the band Utakan, while hammering away on various mixed-media constructions for her third solo exhibition.
Ariana Pozzuoli joined the Printemps des Poètes this year on her first visit to the Philippines. She is from Canada. In December 2006, she competed in her first Poetry Slam and won, and has been a two-time member of the Toronto Slam Team. She currently resides in Singapore. Last year she was a featured performer at the Salt of the Tongue Poetry Festival in Goolwa, Australia.
Mookie Katigbak-Lacuesta has won Palanca and Philippines Free Press awards for her work. Her first collection of poetry, The Proxy Eros, was published by Anvil in 2008 and was shortlisted for a National Book Award.
Cesar A.X. Syjuco is a multi-awarded painter, poet and critic of international stature. Widely regarded as “the Golden Boy of Philippine Art,” he will soon be releasing his 15-track CD album and book set titled A Sudden Rush of Genius.
Noel Romero del Prado teaches at the Filipino Department of the Ateneo de Manila University. He has published a collection of poem in Filipino and English, Balat ng Dagat, under Salimbayan Books. A lawyer by profession, he is a child and women’s rights advocate.
Marne Kilates has published three books of poetry and numerous translations of Tagalog poetry into English. He has won the Palanca, National Book, and SEA Write awards. He edits and publishes The Electronic Monsoon Magazine.
Alfred A. Yuson, “Krip,” has authored 25 books thus far. He contributes a weekly arts and culture column to the Philippine Star, teaches fiction and poetry at the Ateneo de Manila University, and has been elevated to the Hall of Fame of the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature.
Gémino H. Abad is University Professor emeritus of literature and creative writing at the University of the Philippines where he continues to teach. He also teaches at the Ateneo de Manila. He has 36 books to his name and has won many honors and awards for his poetry, including Italy’s Premio Feronia.
Johanna Carissa Fernandez graduated from the Ateneo with a bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, and is currently preparing her application to a pilot training institution in San Diego. She writes poetry and fiction, and is currently vocalist and keyboardist of the ambient/alternative rock band, The Leakhouse Project.
Andrea Levinge is completing her degree in Computer Science at the Ateneo de Manila and is a member of Mensa. She knows that, secretly, all code aspires to poetry.
Victor Peñaranda has travelled widely here and abroad as a researcher on community development and governance. He lived in worked in the Kingdom of Bhutan and in the Republic of Macedonia for several years. He is student of Theosophy. His poetry books include Voyage in Dry Season (1985) and Pilgrim in Transit (2009).
Ramon C. Sunico manages Cacho Publishing House. He writes poems in Filipino and English, stories for children, essays, and very short stories. He edits, designs books and book covers, and brings book fantasies from initial idea to printed magical object. He translates literary pieces occasionally.
Rio Alma (the nom de plume of Virgilio S. Almario, national artist for literature), has published more than 25 books of poetry and almost an equal number of criticisms and literary history, all in the national language.
Anne Abad is a management graduate of the Ateneo and has been a fellow in gour national writing workshops. Her works have appeared in various anthologies and publications, including Rockets, Swords and Rainbows, Damazine, and Philippine Graphic. She loves to run, and gets most of her ideas while doing so.
Gian Paolo Lao was a fellow of the 9th Ateneo National Writers’ Workshop, the 10th IYAS Creative Writing Workshop, and the 49th Silliman University National Writers Workshop. He graduated from the Ateneo de Manila with a Bachelor of Science in Management.
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Jv. D. Perez, our cover photographer, is a writer, artist, and graphic designer who has won the Palanca Awards and Gawad Komisyon for his fiction in Hiligaynon. He wields a trusty Pentax and sends his photos from Iloilo.
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Jv. D. Perez, our cover photographer, is a writer, artist, and graphic designer who has won the Palanca Awards and Gawad Komisyon for his fiction in Hiligaynon. He wields a trusty Pentax and sends his photos from Iloilo.
