Charlson Ong is a fictionist and scriptwriter. His first novel Embarrassment of Riches won a Centennial Literary Prize given by the Philippine Government. His short stories are collected in Men of the East and Other Stories, Woman of Am-Kaw and Other Stories, and Conversion and Other Fictions. Banyaga: Song of War, his second novel, has Chinese-Filipino migrants as its subject. Winner of the National Book Award, his latest novel, Blue Angel, White Shadow (UST Publishing, 2010), is a hardboiled mystery novel set in the urban grittiness of Manila. He teaches literature and creative writing with the University of the Philippines’ Department of English and Comparative Literature and is a board member of Philippine PEN.
Nonilon V. Queano a bilingual, multi-awarded playwright, poet, and fiction writer. A professor at UP Diliman, he has a Ph.D. degree in Comparative Literature, was former Associate for Drama of the UP Creative Writing Institute, and attended the Iowa International Writing Program in 1988. Three of his plays were published in his book Ang Katutubo at Iba Pang Dula (New Day Publishers, 1983), and some of his poems came out with his full-length play Alipato in a CD-book entitled Alipato at Iba Pa (Akdang Bayan, 2005). His recent scripts and poems in English and Filipino have appeared in national and international publications, including Migrant Heritage Chronicle (for which he also works as writer and consultant), and have also been produced and performed by Filipino-American cultural troupe Kinding Sindaw, of which he has been a member and kulintang musician since the troupe’s founding in 1992. He is currently at work on his first novel, Ang Rebolusyonista.
Luna Sicat-Cleto, the daughter of distinguished writers Ellen Sicat and the late Rogelio Sicat, has garnered several literary awards of her own, including Palanca Awards for her short stories, essays, poems, and stories for children; the Gawad CCP for one-act play; and the Gawad Chancellor for her literary work. In 2005 she was the winner of the Madrigal-Gonzalez Best First Book Award for Makinilyang Altar, published by the University of the Philippines Press. Her works have also been recognized as integral to the development of the tradition of women's writing in the country. She obtained her Ph.D. in Malikhaing Pagsulat at the Department of Filipino and Philippine Literature in the University of the Philippines, Diliman, where she is also a professor. Her latest book is Mga Prodigal, published by Anvil in 2010.
Eli Rueda Guieb III writes fiction, creative non-fiction, teleplay and radio drama. He has published two short story anthologies: Pamilya® (U.P. Press, 2003) and Pitada (Anvil, 1994). He is also a filmmaker and broadcaster. His artistic works have received recognition from the Palanca, Cultural Center of the Philippines, New York Festivals, Catholic Mass Media Awards and Gantimpalang Ani. He recently obtained his Ph.D. in Anthropology from McGill University (Montreal). He currently teaches ethnography, development, criticism, research and creative writing at the U.P. Department of Broadcast Communication. He is a member of the Film Desk of the Young Critics’ Circle.
Si Michael M. Coroza ay kasalukuyang Associate Professor sa Kagawaran ng Filipino, Paaralan ng Humanidades ng Pamantasang Ateneo de Manila, nagtuturo ng panitikan, malikhaing pagsulat, at pagsasaling pampanitikan sa gradwado at di-gradwadong paaralan. Premyadong makata at mananaysay, nagkamit siya ng Southeast Asia Writers Award (S.E.A.Write) noong 2007 mula sa Kaharian ng Thailand at Aning Dangal Award mula sa National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) noong 2009. Dating pangulo siya ng Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika at Anyo (LIRA) at kasalukuyang Secretary General ng Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas (UMPIL). Sa pamamagitan ng kaniyang palatuntunang-panradyo, ang Harana ng Puso, na sumasahimpapawid tuwing Linggo ng gabi sa DWBR 104.3 FM, tinataguyod niya ang pagbabasa at pagtatanghal ng tula, lalo na ang mga katutubo at klasikong awiting Filipino gaya ng mga kundiman, danza, at balitaw..
Edgar Calabia Samar teaches literature and creative writing at the Ateneo de Manila University where he also serves as Director of the Ateneo Institute of Literary Arts and Practices (AILAP). He finished his Ph.D. in Filipino-Malikhaing Pagsulat in UP-Diliman, and his novel-dissertation won the Gawad Abad for Best Dissertation in 2011. His poetry, short story, short story for children, essay and novel have received awards and recognitions from the Palanca, PBBY-Salanga Writer's Prize, Gantimpalang Collantes, Gawad Surian and NCCA Writer's Prize. The translation to English of his novel, Walong Diwatang Pagkahulog, was longlisted in the Man Asian Literary Prize in 2009. He was invited as writer in residence in the International Writing Program of the University of Iowa in 2010.
Jema M. Pamintuan graduated with a degree in BS Economics (1999), MA Filipino (2002), and Ph.D. Philippine Studies (2011) from the University of the Philippines, Diliman. She is an Assistant Professor at the Filipino Department, Ateneo de Manila University. Her essay, entitled "Risk Management, Probability, and the Theory of Games in Segurista and Kubrador," was published in Positions Journal. She won the Best Original Music Score award (shared with Christine Muyco) at the 2011 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival for her work in "Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa."
Louie Jon A. Sanchez was born in Sta. Mesa, Manila. He has a book of poems in Filipino, At Sa Tahanan ng Alabok (2010, UST Publishing House) and was hailed "Makata ng Taon" (Poet of the Year) thrice (2006, 2009, & 2011) by the prestigious Talaang Ginto poetry contest of the Commission on the Filipino Language. He finished an A.B. degree major in Journalism from the University of Santo Tomas and now holds an M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing from De La Salle University-Manila. He is currently an instructor at the Department of English, Ateneo de Manila University, and member of the Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika at Anyo (LIRA), an organization of poets writing in Filipino.
Nicolas B. Pichay is a legal practitioner and a critically acclaimed playwright and poet. He has taught Business Law in College of St. Benilde and playwriting in De La Salle University. He is a Don Carlos Memorial Palanca Hall of Fame awardee. His first prize-winning works are: “In the Works Department” (one-act play, 1994); “Babaeng Tilapia, Natagpuan sa Coastal Road” (teleplay, 1999); “Pangulo Naming Mahal” (one-act play, 2004); “Psychedelia Apocalypsis” (full-length play, 2004) and “Tres Ataques de Corazon” (full length play, 2007). His plays have been performed in the Raja Sulayman Theatre and the Cultural Center of the Philippines. He is board member and legal counsel of Philippine PEN.
Susan Lara is a writer of fiction and nonfiction, both of which she also teaches. She held the Henry Lee Irwin Professorial Chair for Creative Writing during the first semester 2011 and has attended the International Writing Program of the University of Iowa, IA, USA, and Seminar on Contemporary British Writing, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, U.K. She won a Palanca Award First Prize for Short Story for her story, "The Reprieve" and the National Book Awards for Fiction for her collection Letting Go and Other Stories. She has sat in the panel of various national writers workshops: the National Writers Workshop of Silliman University since 1993, the Ateneo Institute of Literary Arts and Practices (AILAP), Ateneo de Manila University, since 2001, and De La Salle University Writers Workshop. She is a board member of Philippine PEN.
Jun Cruz Reyes is a writer, painter, sculptor and film documentarist best known for his fearless fiction, such as Utos ng Hari at Iba Pang Kuwento (1982), Tutubi, Tutubi ‘Wag Kang Magpahuli sa Mamang Salbahe (1987) and Etsa-Puwera (2001), which won the Grand Prize in the 1998 Philippine Centennial Literary Prize for Novel. He received the Gawad Alagad ni Balagtas given by the Unyon ng Manunulat sa Pilipinas (UMPIL) in 2002, and the Gawad Balagtas by the Komisyon sa Wikang Pilipino in 2010. He mounted his fifth one-man show called "Ang Huling Dalagang Bukid at ang Authobiography na Mali" at the Crucible Art Gallery, and launched his latest book (same title as the event). He obtained his Ph.D. and teaches in the College of Arts and Letters at the University of the Philippines. He is a board member of Philippine PEN.
Si Mykel Andrada ay nagtuturo ng Araling Pilipino, Panitikan at Kulturang Popular sa Departamento ng Filipino at Panitikan ng Pilipinas sa UP Diliman. Kasalukuyan siyang pangulo ng All UP Academic Employees Union - Diliman Chapter at miyembro ng Congress of Teachers/Educators for Nationalism and Democracy (CONTEND). Nagwagi na siya sa Palanca, Sawikaan, Textula, at nailathala ang kaniyang koleksyon ng maiikling kuwento na may pamagat na "Apartment sa Dapitan" at mga pinamatnugutan (kawaksi) tulad ng Subverso at Tahong/Talong. Kasalukuyan siyang nagtatapos ng PhD Filipino: Panitikan sa UP Diliman.
