Delfin Tolentino, Jr. is a professor of literature and director of the Cordillera Studies Center, University of the Philippines Baguio. He also edited Benigno Ramos’ Gumising Ka, Aking Bayan (1998), Ismael Amado’s Bulalakaw ng Pag-asa (1990), and a monograph on Kalinga mythology (2011). He is also editor-in-chief of The Cordillera Review, a journal devoted to Philippine Studies. Delfin Tolentino, Jr. was awarded the Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas (for English Essay) by the Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas in 2008.
Elizabeth A. Calinawagan is an associate professor of the University of the Philippines Baguio. she teaches Komunikasyon, Linguistics and Humanidades. She earned her BA Filipino, Ma Linguistics and Phd Linguistics from the University of the Philippines Diliman. She served as Dean of the College of Arts and Communication, UP Baguio in 2006-2009. She is currently the Chairperson of the Committee for Culture and the Arts.
Grace Celeste Subido is an assistant professor at the Department of Language, Literature and the Arts, College of Arts and Communication at the University of the Philippines Baguio. She teaches literature, literary and critical theory, and writing courses. Subido is editor of the anthology, The Baguio We Know and a member of the Baguio Writers Group. She finished the degree BA Humanities (Comparative Literature) at the University of the Philippines College Baguio and MA in Language and Literature at UP Baguio where she was awarded Outstanding MA Thesis for her research.
Renato R. Santillan is a teacher and a writer. He is currently literary editor of Balon Silew, a Pangasinan Magazine and a member of ULUPAN, a writer’s group in Pangasinan. He was a fellow of the 9th UST National Writers Workshop and 4th Palihang Rogelio Sikat. He won literary awards in the Gantimpalang Collantes-Gawad Komisyon. His writing was published in the LIRA Chapbook and Balon Silew.
Juan A. Asuncion is a veteran editor at Bannawag Magazine. He is the vice president of Gunglo Dagiti Mannurat nga Ilokano iti Ilocos Norte or GUMIL-Metro Manila (Ilocano Writers Association of Metro Manila) and a member of the National Press Club, Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) and GUMIL-Filipinas. In addition to co-editing anthologies in Iluko, he edits Saluyot (GUMIL Metro Manila newsletter) and Sirmata (GMM newspaper) and has been a judge at various Iluko literary contests. He has written bukanegan (the Ilocano counterpart of Balagtasan), plays, poems, short stories, and the novels Kid Saluyot and Tres Muchos.
Mighty Rasing is one of the youngest Ilocano writers around. He discovered writing in Ilocano when he went back to San Manuel, Isabela after graduating from UP Diliman with a Political Science degree. He has been writing Ilocano poetry since 2005 and short stories in 2009. He is also a blogger, youth worker and part-time Internet marketer. Mighty Rasing is a part of the Daniw & Basi collective, a literary group that seeks to popularize literature to younger Ilocanos.
Mario Tejada was born in Piddig, Ilocos Norte, where he is presently the Sangguniang Bayan Secretary, vice president of Gunglo Dagiti Mannurat nga Ilokano iti Ilocos Norte or GUMIL-Ilocos Norte (Association of Ilocano Writers in Ilocos Norte) and business manager of GUMIL-Filipinas. He writes poetry and short story in Iluko, writes and performs dallot (traditional form of Ilocano poetry delivered in sing-song manner), bukanegan (the Ilocano counterpart of Balagtasan), and saribitniw (a new literary genre that combines short-story, speech and poetry). Some of his works are included in Ilocano anthologies.
Aileen R. Rambaud currently teaches at Don Mariano Marcos Memorial School in Pinili, Ilocos. She was a fellow of the 29th University of the Philippines National Writers Workshop held in 1993. Her body of work, consisting of 28 stories and 8 essays, all appeared in Bannawag, the country's premiere Ilocano magazine. Ms. Rambaud's two stories each won first prizes in two separate contests; the first in Gov. Roque Ablan Award for Iluko Literature in 1992 and the second in the short story writing competition sponsored by the Kilusan ng Wikang Filipino in 2007.
Marvin Einstein S. Mejaro is a graduate of Master of Arts in Philosophy from University of Santo Tomas. He specializes in Philosophy of Literature. At present, he is teaching philosophy courses at St. Paul University Manila. In 2008, along with some friend writers, he started a social critique magazine known in Bulacan as TITIG, being its literary editor. His works are centered on the clashing and interlocking of regional cultures and sub-cultures as evident in his works “Deliryo,” “Sampol: Imperyo ng Kawalan,” “Quiapo Overpass: Unang Eksena,” and “Bocaue Nights,” among others. He is a native of Norzagaray, Bulacan.
Cecile S. Yumul is an award-winning educator and journalist in both print and broadcast. In addition to having taught at Holy Angel University for almost two decades, she has been organizing workshops and clinics. Her fields of expertise include public-speaking, drama, sports, first aid, and environmental advocacy, and her achievements have been recognized by such institutions as the Manila Broadcasting Company and Philippine National Red Cross. Cecile Yumul's works in Kapampangan can be accessed at Electronic Kabalen:(http://eKsite.com). At present she is the anchorwoman of KASAMA KA SA 10 K, aired over GV Broadcasting System, 792 Khz.
Romeo Rodriguez was born in Sampaloc, Manila but grew up in his mother's native town of San Fernando, Pampanga. He is currently pursuing his master's degree in Local Government Management from Pamantasan ng Makati. In 2009, he received two Golden Laurels as Poet Laureate of Pampango Literature and as Prince of Pampango Parnassus. At present he is the vice president of DINSULAN, a newly-organized group of Capampangan writers; president of Ka pampangan Poets Laureates; secretary of the Aguman ding Talasulat Capampangan (Capampangan Writers Association or AGTACA), P.R.O. of Academia ning Amanung Sisuan, Int. (ANASI); and member of the Pampanga Provincial Language Council.
Adrian Magcalas was born in Porac, Pampanga and currently lives in Mabalacat town of the same province. He took up BS Computer Science in 2007 at the Holy Angel University where he became the first editor-in-chief of the Access Point, the student publication of its IT department. Magcalas received both Kapampangan Writer and Poet of the Year awards in 2006. He wrote the script for the film E Malulumpawing Lugud (Unfading Love), an entry to the First Kapampangan Sinukwan Short Film Competition in 2009. He is also a founding member and officer of KATATAGAN and DINSULAN, both organizations for Kapampangan writers.
Jose Barrameda, Jr. studied literature and journalism in the University of Santo Tomas, film-making in Quest International in California, USA, and MA Applied Sociology and Anthropology in Ateneo de Naga University. Three of his most important books are Canaman Through the Centuries (1982), In the Crucible of an Asymmetrical War in Camarines Sur 1942-1945: The Story of the Tangcong Vaca Guerilla Unit (2007), and A Glimpse of the New Jerusalem Underneath a New Moon: The
Fall of Spanish Camarines in Ciudad de Nueva Caceres on 19 September 1898 (2009). One of only five historians commissioned by the National Historical Institute for historical writing in 2004, he was the sole recipient of the 2009 Distinguished Mayoral Award, the highest award given by the City Government of Naga.
Paz Verdades M. Santos was born in Manila but has lived most of her life in Naga City. She graduated with a degree in A.B. Journalism from UP Diliman, with post-graduate education at the Ateneo de Manila, De la Salle and Columbia University as Fulbrighter. Among her books are Hagkus: Twentieth Century Bikol Women Writers and Sagurong. In 2011, the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino awarded her the Gawad Francisco Balagtas for her significant contribution to the blossoming of Philippine and Bikol literature while the UMPIL awarded her the Gawad Paz Marquez Benitez for outstanding achievement as literature teacher.
Eilyn Nidea Parocha is actively involved in promoting the Bikol language, literature and culture in Ragay, Camarines Sur. She is the chief editor of Techno Chronicle, official publication of the Bicol Technical Vocational Schools Association, (BTVSA), Inc. where she is also secretary. She also moderates the RNAFS campus publications - The RNAFS Harvest, Ragayon, and Burabod. In addition, she is a division mentor in English, as well as trainer and resource person on English Language Teaching, English proficiency, campus journalism, and on parliamentary procedures. Eilyn Parocha is the winner of the best essay category of the 6th Premio Tomas Arejola for Literaturang Bikolnon (PTALB) in 2009.
Alec Francis Santos took up Literature at the Ateneo de Naga University and has conducted research on Bikolano oral literature and traditions thru the University Research Council. He currently heads the Arts, Culture and Tourism Office (ACTO) of the City Government of Naga, which is mandated to preserve and promote arts and culture in close cooperation with Bikolano artists and writers. Thru the ACTO, Mr. Santos hopes to promote a better appreciation of literature and the arts by the public.
