Activity #3

Famous Authors across the Regions

Region 1 Authors
1. Carlos Bulosan
Carlos Bulosan was born on November 24, 1913,
in the Philippines, and emigrated to the United
States when he was 17 years old in July of 1930. He
came in Seattle, Washington, where he would battle
poverty and persecution. He was chasing
employment up and down the west coast of the
United States. He was diagnosed with tuberculosis
after years of severe living and working conditions,
and he traveled to Los Angeles for surgery at the
Los Angeles County Sanitarium. He remained in the
hospital for two years, during which time he read
and wrote a lot. He lost most of his right ribcage
and one of his lungs after three operations in this
time period. He is largely self-educated, with only
three years of formal education in the Philippines.
Despite this, he has become one of the most well-
known. His semi-autobiographical novel, America is
in the Heart, published in 1946, is one of the most
well-known Filipino writers in American history. The
novel is a collection of stories about Filipino men
like him, not only his own. The Central Coast is just
one of several places where Filipinos have lived,
including Alaska, Seattle, the Yakima Valley, and all
the way down to San Diego.
For Further Reading:
a. AMERICA IS IN THE HEART. First published in
1946, this autobiography of the well known Filipino
poet describes his boyhood in the Philippines, his
voyage to America, and his years of hardship and
despair as an itinerant laborer following the harvest
trail in the rural West. Bulosan does not spare the
reader any of the horrors tha accompanied the
migrant's life; but his quiet, stoic voice is the most
convincing witness to the terrible events he
witnessed.
In America is in the Heart, America represents
optimism and the promise of progress in the face of
the adversity into which the author and protagonist,
Carlos Bulosan, is born. Carlos does not lose faith in
American ideals even after he immigrates to
America and encounters harsh bigotry and
economic exploitation.
2. F. Sionil José
F. Sionil José or in full Francisco Sionil José (born
December 3, 1924) is one of the most widely-read
Filipino writers in the English language. José was
born in Rosales, Pangasinan, and many of his works
are set there. He grew up in Rosales' Barrio
Cabugawan, where he initially started writing. José's
family had moved to Pangasinan before he was
born, and he was of Ilocano heritage. His
forefathers crossed the Santa Fe Trail from Ilocos to
Cagayan Valley in search of a better life. They
brought their lifetime belongings with them,
including uprooted molave posts from their old
dwellings and their alsong, a stone mortar for
pounding rice, like many migrating families.
For Further Reading:
a. My Brother, My Executioner by F. Sionil Jose.
The conflict in this novel about the Hukbalahap
uprising in the fifties is not just the enmity in the
guerrilla war. It is the deeper symbolic conflict
between two brothers and their vastly different and
estranged worlds. Here, too, is the trauma of
traditional society undergoing change, and the old
refusing to let go.
This work, as a whole, is about oppression and
how we Filipinos repeatedly allow ourselves to be
used and abused. The stark difference between Luis
and Victor's lifestyles from the start demonstrated
the vast disparity between the privileged and the
poor. A man may not know he has taken too much
from others until the downtrodden resort to
violence in order to reclaim what is properly theirs.
Unfortunately, most of the time, a man's abuse is
perpetrated by his own brother, and as a result, the
execution is also carried out by his own brother.This
book provides ample warning of the potentially
dreadful consequences that may befall us if we
continue to persecute our own brothers. I hope that
individuals who have the power to make better
decisions will benefit from the lessons in this book.

Region 2 Authors
1. Emmanuel Agapito Flores Lacaba (December 10,
1948 – March 18, 1976), also known as Eman
Lacaba, was a Filipino poet, essayist, playwright,
fictionist, scriptwriter, composer, and activist who is
regarded as the Philippines' lone poet warrior.
Lacaba was killed on March 18, 1976 in Tucaan
Balaag, Asuncion, Davao de Norte. He had agreed to
write a script for Lino Brocka once he returned to
the city for a new assignment that would have
required his writing skills. He was 27 years old at
the time.
For Further Reading:
a. Lacaba wrote hist famous poem "Open Letter
to Filipino Artists" in January 1976 in Davao Del
Norte.
In “Open Letters to Filipino Artists,” Philippine
poet Emmanuel Lacaba wrote:

We are tribeless and all tribes are ours.

We are homeless and all homes are ours.
We are nameless and all names are ours.

These lines speak to us of self-redefinition and

realignment, that we possess the agency to do
define ourselves a new. The question to which I
return is this — Do we as Filipino Americans have
the right to claim Lacaba’s “we,” or would doing so
be an appropriation?
2. Fernando M. Maramag (1893-1936)
He was born on January 21, 1893 in Ilagan,
Isabela, to Rafael Maramag and Victoria
Mamuri, a Spanish mestiza. His parents were
wealthy landowners. At age seven, he was
enrolled in a public school in his hometown. He
finished his high school in 1908. He was 15
when he entered the Philippine Normal School.
However, at the insistence of his father, he
transferred to the University of the Philippines. At
UP he started writing for the school organ. A
brilliant student, he later became itseditor-in-chief.
Among his equally brilliant classmates, were Pilar
Hidalgo-Lim and Jose Hilario.Together, they
managed the school newspaper. At age 21, he was
named principal of the Instituto de Manila, a
prestigious school for gifted and well-off students.
Later, he became an English professor at UP. He
also taught at San Juan de Letran. During this
time, he met and married Constancia Ablaza, by
whom he had six
children.
For Further Reading:
a. The Rural Maid. The poem is about a

man who has been in love with a fair maid. He

fell in love with her the first time they met. Their

eyes glanced at each other and he was smitten

by her charm. But despite of his endearment to

her, her heart doesn’t belong to him - this left

some pain in his heart. The poem revolves in a

hopeless dreamer's passion for a girl he could,

and never would, own. They parted and never

crossed paths again. But the memory of the

maid kept hunting him even if he is sleeping. In

his every dream, the image of the rural maid is

always there. Thinking about her became his

past time ever since. He always thinks about

the moment their lips met for a sweet and warm

kiss. He expresses his love, though it is only a

one-sided love affair.

The reader can feel his sacrifice, a potion of

which hope and eternal damnation mix. But even
this love is hurting him, just like how the thorns
from a rose hurt the skin; he will still continue
sacrificing. He says that if he could only hold her in
his arms, heaven and earth would be his. It is his
only happiness, his only desire - to love the rural
maid he knew will never love him in the end.
Region 3 Authors
1.Francisco Balagtas
Francisco Baltazar was born on April 2, 1788 in
Bigga, Bulacan in the Philippines. He was the
youngest of four children. As a young child Baltazar
displayed an interest in writing poetry and he
displayed great potential. He won a number of
awards and accolades for some of his pieces such as
"Ama ng Balagtasan." He was even featured on the
front cover of a local magazine in recognition of his
outstanding writing talent. Later, Baltazar's family
moved to Manila and he became employed as a
houseboy in Manila for his aunt. His family in
Manila would provide the funding for Baltazar to
study different subjects, such as philosophy and
humanities at a university. He graduated with a
number degrees including Crown Law, Humanities
and Philosophy.This foundation set the stage for
Baltazar to become a great success as a poet.
For Further Reading:
a. Florante at Laura, which was a poem based on
his personal circumstances regarding his love for
Maria and the deception of another male suitor.
Upon his release from prison in 1838, Baltazar
published "Florante at Laura," and it was considered
by many to be his best work.
The moral of Francisco Balagtas' story is that
love triumphs above all. It may give you the courage
to press on and fight your way to see your loved
one, and it may also provide you with other
benefits... It informs kids about the characters'
strong trust in God and their principles.
2. Emilio Mar Antonio
Emilio Mar Antonio was born on 11 December
1903 in Bambang, Bulacan. He died on 13 May 1967
in Quiapo, Manila. He was a poet and a fictionist. In
1941, he married Andrea Teodoro and they had six
children, one of whom is poet Teo Antonio. He was
the administrator and mediator of the balagtasan
on radio sponsored by Compania Elizalde and wrote
for their newspaper, Taliba. He was a member of
the editorial board of Liwayway from 1946- 1949
and editor of Bulaklak from 1950-1965. In 1937,
Mar Antonio won a gold medal in the annual choice
by the Kapisanang Ilaw ng Bayan in Bulacan for his
poem, “Ang Nayon Ko.” He was proclaimed poet
laureate by the Kapisanang Diwang Ginto for his
poem, “Ilaw.”, and by Liwayway in 1938. He also
won in the first balagtasan to be aired on radio
besting opponents Fernando Monleon and
Francisco Paño. The topic was Sino ang Higit na
Dapat Mahalin: Ina, Asawa o Anak? In 1951, he was
proclaimed “Prince of Balagtasan” by the Kapisanan
ng mga Makata at Mambibigkas, along with
Collantes as the “King of Balagtasan” after a heated
poetic joust on the topic: Dapat bang Pairalin ang
Import Control sa Pilipinas?
For Further Reading:
a. Ang Nayon ko at iba pang Tula. Collection of
poems using images and phrases unique in their
time, ensconcing Tagalog poetry on lofty and acute
level of imagination and experience. Embeds in
each word the intricacies as well as depth of
mystery and the impact of social consciousness
found in very few genuine poets.
Region 4-A (Calabarzon) Authors
1. Jose Rizal
Jose Rizal was born in Calamba, Laguna in the
Philippines in June of 1861 and was named Jose
Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda. At the
age of 23, he graduated with a medical degree. The
year after he graduated with his medical degree he
obtained a degree from the department of
Philosophy and Letters. Rizal went back to school
once again to advance his knowledge in the field of
ophthalmology. He studied in Paris and Germany
and completed another doctorate degree in
Heidelberg in 1887. During the time spent in
Europe, Rizal learned 10 languages and could speak
them all fluently. He also wrote his first novel during
the time he was in Europe and continued to write
even more novels throughout his life. One of the
novels he wrote, titled Noli Me Tangere, was
printed in Berlin in 1887. However, this novel
offended Catholic church officials and members
and, despite his apologies, he was listed as a
troublemaker. On December 30, 1896, he was shot
by a firing squad at the age of 35.
For Further Reading:
a. El Filibusterismo (The Reign of Greed). Juan
Crisostomo Ibarra has changed his name and
identity to a rich jeweler named Simoun. In disguise,
he travels the world amassing wealth, which he
intends to use to topple the corrupt and abusive
regime in his native land. But Simoun's real motive
is personal. He wants to rescue his beloved, Maria
Clara, from the convent and avenge the death of his
father. In a forest on Christmas Eve, Basilio, a
medical student recognizes Simoun's true identity
as the man who helped bury his mother Sisa more
than ten years before, under a tree. Simoun is in the
forest to retrieve the gems he buried near Sisa's
grave. As the film progresses, all the secrets and
intrigues are revealed, and the plotters' plan fails. A
good Filipino priest throws Simoun's jewels away,
thereby eliminating the greed, violence and other
evils they might have provoked.
In terms of moral lessons, I prefer El
Filibusterismo over Noli Me Tangere. El
Filibusterismo demonstrated how rage and
vengeance can consume a person's entire being. As
a student and teen-ager, this novel brings lessons
and realizations in life. No matter how old it is, or
how old-fashioned , we can still relate ourselves and
the present occurrences in the things that had
happened in the novel during Spanish colonization.
Although we are freed from enslavement, we are
still blocked from the truth of our government,
Many officials are greedy and dishonest that
opposed on what they show to the public.I think Dr.
Jose Rizal wants us to realize that revolution is not
the solution, but it can help us get closer to gain our
independence. Peaceful war is good solution in
battle since no one will be sacrificed for something.
Just like today, rallies and people fighting for their
rights and demands peacefully can be an eye
opener for some .Our country needs to change, that
in times of election, we need to be wise, or else
either our time , resources ,and trust to our leader.
2. Frank G. Rivera
Rivera was born on 29 February 1948 in Paete,
Laguna. He received his AB English-Filipino degree
from the University of the Philippines. He led the
movement for the theater when he established the
Sining Kambayoka, a folk theater company on the
campus of Mindanao State University in the
1970s.He has won several awards, including the 8th
Annual Gawad Ustetika Awards in the Play category,
1997 Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan para sa
Tanghalan from the City of Manila and the 2002
National Book Award from the Manila Critics' Circle
for his book, Mga Dula sa Magkakaibang Midyum.
He started out in Severino Montano's Arena
Theatre Guild and Cecile Guidote's PETA. He
represented the Philippines in numerous
International Theater Festivals and Conferences in
the US, Korea, Thailand, Mexico, Singapore and
Australia.
For Further Reading:

a. Tuhog-tuhog (2005). "Nasa kalipunang ito ng

mga maikling kuwento ang pagiging mapaglaro ni
Frank. Kung pag-aaralang mabuti't tunay na
tutuhug-tuhugin ang mga ito, may mababasang
isang bagong nobela sa likod ng mga istorya.
Tinanong ko si Frank tungkol dito at sinabi niyang
isa sa panganib sa susuungin ay ang pagpasok sa
dilim para doon maghanap ng liwanag."
The three women in the story are
representations of the hundreds of Filipinas who
has the same experiences. Their friends and they
gave insight to readers on the different aspects of
working as a singer or dancer in Japan. Tuhug-
Tuhog opens the eyes of the readers that love
knows not how to stop regardless of time, place and
circumstance. And for the rare times that love
proves to be true, it continues and perseveres no
matter how far lovers may be.
Region 4-B (Mimaropa) Authors
1. Jose Dalisay Jr.
January 15, 1954 (age 64)
Romblon, Philippines writers. Filipino writer and
professional editor. He has won numerous awards
and prizes for fiction, poetry, drama, non-fiction
and screenwriting, including 16 Palanca Awards and
made it to the Cultural Center of the Philippines
(CCP) Centennial Honors List as one of the 100 most
accomplished Filipino artists of the past century.
Authored more than 30 books since 1984. Six of
those books have garnered National Book Awards
from the Manila crticts circle.
For Further Reading:
a. Killing Time in a Warm Place, 1992. The story
starts with the protagonist, Noel Bulaong,
reminiscing about his childhood days in his native
land inKangleong, somewhere in the Visayas region.
He is on a flight going home from the US to bury his
father. Hereminisces about how he and his friends
would pick up coconuts that fell from the tree and
take these to a neighbor who would turn these into
coconut candies: bucayo.
The novel opens with simple but arresting
general observations, a welcome to the Philippines
that already tries to offer some insight into nation
and psyche.
2. Paz M. Latorena
(January 17, 1908 – October 19, 1953)
First generation of Filipino English writers, in
both literary writing and education was a poet,
editor, author, and teacher. Wrote poetry under the
pseudonym, Mina Lys. Won the third prize in Jose
Garcia Villa’s Roll of Honor for the Best Stories of
1927 for her story, “The Small Key.”
For Further Reading:
a. The Small Key. A short story about Soledad , a
woman in her mid-twenties who is married to a
man named Pedro Buhay. They lived in a hut within
a prosperous farm awayfrom neighbors. Soledad
looked at the beginnings of an abundant harvest
with familiarity and discontent. Small key is a small
rusty key, has a big meaning in the story because it
served as the object that remind Pedro of his first
wife.
 The story's central theme is that of trusting each
other in a relationship. The essence of trust in every
relationship is not in its bind, but in its tie. So
instead of holding the hand of the person you love,
take the hand of the person who will never let you
go. A lovely aphorism that emphasizes the necessity
of trust in all relationships. Love is a four-letter
word that is simple to pronounce and spell but
difficult to comprehend. Even when they are
completely aware of the implications of their
choices, people do things in life to satisfy
themselves.

National Capital Region Austhors

1. Lualhati Bautista
Bautista was born on December 2, 1945, in
Tondo, Manila, Philippines, to Esteban Bautista and
Gloria Torres. She graduated from Emilio Jacinto
Elementary School in 1958, and from Torres High
School in 1962. She was enrolled at the Lyceum of
the Philippines as a journalism student, but she
dropped out before completing her first year.
Despite her lack of formal training, Bautista earned
a reputation as a writer for her honest realism,
brave investigation of Philippine women's issues,
and fascinating female heroines who face difficult
conditions at home and at work with unusual grit
and strength.
For Further Reading:
a. Dekada ’70 by Lualhati Bautista. The Marcos
era in the ’70s is a dark chapter in Philippine history.
No one dares to speak against the government for
fear of execution – in some cases, bodies are not
even retrieved. Hence, it has been a tumultuous
period, especially for the Filipino parents to protect
their kids from the oppressive regime and at the
same time, stand together as one family. Lualhati
Bautista has captured true-to-life scenarios in the
’70s, mentioning changes that arose after the Plaza
Miranda bombing and the suspension of the Writ of
Habeas Corpus in the Philippines. The novels tells
the story of lead protagonist Amanda Bartolome
and her family, where she had to deal with facing
the law and her responsibilities towards her five
sons.
The story shows the point of view of a family
during the course of martial law. It gives a sense in a
way it show to us what freedom looks like. We used
to think that freedom was something that only
humans had. It is a feature that distinguishes us
from other creatures. We have the ability to
choose, make our own decisions, and act on our
own free will. However, such liberty is not without
its drawbacks. A life lived without arms or sight, in
dread and misery, guided by our habits, in poverty,
impacted by society, and reliant on serendipity is a
life that does not appear to imply freedom, but
rather limits. We lived in a world that was bounded
by laws, rules that governed us, instructions that we
obeyed, norms that we aspired to, and eyes that we
tried to please. In a world where people laid down a
rigid perspective of what is right and what is wrong.
It seems you are restricted of deciding things on
your own.
2. Nick Joaquin
(May 4, 1917 – April 29, 2004)
Joaquin was born in Paco, Manila, to Leocadio
Joaqun, a colonel in General Emilio Aguinaldo's
army during the 1896 Revolution, and Salome
Márquez, an English and Spanish teacher. Joaqun
read widely at his father's library and in the
National Library of the Philippines after being told
poems and stories by his mother. After the
revolution, his father had become a successful
lawyer. Joaqun grew interested in writing as a result
of his reading.
Joaquin got his first essay published at the age of
17, in the pre-World War II Tribune's literary
department, where he worked as a proofreader.
Serafn Lanot, the writer and editor, accepted it. The
University of Santo Tomas gave Joaqun an honorary
Associate in Arts after he won a statewide essay
competition sponsored by the Dominican Order to
celebrate La Naval de Manila (A.A.). They also gave
him a scholarship to St. Albert's Convent in Hong
Kong, a Dominican monastery.
For Further Reading:
a. May Day Eve (1974). Is a short story written
by Filipino National Artist Nick Joaquin. Written
after World War II, it became one of Joaquin's
“signature stories” that became a classic in
Philippine literature in English because of lasting
worth or with a timeless quality. May day eve was a
story about the man who forgot how he loved the
woman that he loved in the past, and portraying a
bitter marriage.
The story started with a flashback. Dona
Agueda was facing the mirror on Monday eve
because her sister told her to do so. Dona Agueda
really believed in her sister. That is when she faced
the mirror, her future lover would appear in the
mirror.
Most people believe that the moral message
of May Day Eve is that marriage should only be the
outcome of love. The story explains how love differs
from lust and that distinguishing between the two
requires a certain level of maturity. May Day Eve's
author could be implying that a person needs to get
familiar with a number of lovers before they can tell
the difference between love and desire.
Alternatively, they could be implying that marriage
is something that should be carefully considered
before proceeding, and that communication
between a wife and her husband is critical to the
success of such a relationship.

Cordillera Administrative Region Authors

1. Ma. Luisa Aguilar-Carińo Luisa.
Luisa A. Igloria, also known as Maria Luisa
Aguilar-Cariñois a Filipino poet and author of
various award-winning anthologies. She is an
Associate Professor in the MFA Creative Writing
Program, Department of English of the Old
DominionUniversity in Norfolk, Virginia, United
States.
She was born on 3 September 1961 in Baguio
City. She received her Ph.D. in English/Creative
Writing from the University of Illinois at Chicago in
July 1995 as a Fulbright Fellow. She finished her
Master of Arts major in Literature degree fromthe
Ateneo de Manila University(ADMU) in 1988. She
was also a Robert Southwell Fellow and received
her first degree from the University of the
Philippines, Baguioin 1980 (B.A. Major in
Humanities -Cum Laude - Comparative Literature,
English, and Philosophy).
 Luisa received her undergraduate degree from
theUniversity of the Philippines, Baguio in 1980
(B.A. Humanities-Cum Laude- major in Comparative
Literature, minor in English,cognate in Philosophy),
and the M.A. in Literature at Ateneo de Manila
University at Manila, Philippines in 1988 as a Robert
Southwell Fellow. She received a Ph.D. in
English/Creative Writingat theUniversity of Illinois
at Chicagoin July 1995, where she was a Fulbright
Fellow her works have appeared in various
anthologies and journals like Poetry, Crab Orchard
Review, The Missouri Review, Indiana Review,
Poetry East, Smartish Pace, Rattle, The North
American Review, Bellingham Review,
Shearsman(UK), PRISM International (Canada), The
Asian Pacific AmericanJournal, andTriQuarterly.
For Further Reading:
a. Cordillera Tales. This is a collection of stories
about the different tribes in Cordillera and the
myths of the indigenous people of the Mountain
Provinces. [From the publisher]
Since the book speak to itself, the lesson we can
get from this book is not all about in the story nor
the hardships that the characters conquer.
Whereas, it really implies how colorful and beautiful
the Philippines is. From its folktales down to its
tribes. This book really implies that we should be
proud in growing up having told these stories from
our Lolo's and Lola's. We should nourish and keep it
and pass it in the young generation. Because thats
what Philippines well known aside from its beautiful
places to visit with, we are all known from our
cultures and tribes.
2. Dion Michael Fernandez
Born in 1980 and raised almost all his life in
Baguio City, Dion Michael Fernandez has both a
Bachelor's Degree in English and Literature and a
Master's Degree in Language Education at Saint
Louis University, where he was recognized as
"Maker of Myths" in the Mandala Literary Society.
Heavily armed and equipped with a vested, almost
obsessive, interest in world mythology, ancient
cultures and urban folklore, his literary style reflects
an eccentric combination of fact, fantasy, Gothicism
and cosmopolitan modernism; in fact, a number of
his works contain subliminal messages. Currently he
helps manage and contributes to Ravenloft: the
Fraternity of Shadows, an international Gothic
literary and game community, where he is known as
"Lurker Maximus."
For Further Reading:
a. Stories of the Moon: Adventures of the Spirit
Questors. With the candles out, a sudden, chilling
presence surrounds me. I feel very, very cold, feel
that there is a distinct presence of unknown energy
beside me. I feel that I am one with the darkness.
The feeling transforms to one of warmth and
acceptance. I remain in a relaxed, meditative state.
Thoughts start flashing in my mind. They are
thoughts that are not my own.-- from "A Family of
Spirits"
That was the few paragraphs from the book. I
was surprised about the story, when I see and read
the title, I thought, it was fairy tale book, then I
search the summarize of the book, it was all about
the traditional myths of Philippines.

Region 5 Authors
1. Azucena Uranza
Azucena Uranza was born on 27 January 1929 in
Sorsogon, Sorsogon. She received her BA in
Journalism (1952) and MA in English (1969) from
the Far Eastern University. Her books include
Bamboo in the Wind (novel, 1990); A Passing
Season (novel, 2002); Feast of the Innocents (novel,
2003); Women of Tammuz (novel, 2004); Voices in a
Minor Key (short story collection, 2005); andArbol,
An Etnographic Record of a Family (coffee table
book, 2002). Many of her short stories were
published by Philippines Free Press, Weekly
Women's Magazine, Focus Magazine , and Ginoo
Magazine . Her awards include Philippine
Centennial Awards for Literature; Palanca Memorial
Awards for Literature; Focus Philippines Literary
Awards; Pama-as, Gintong Bai Award from the
National Commission for Culture and the Arts;
Green and Gold Artist Award from FEU. Her stage,
television, and radio plays were produced by
Channel 4, DZRH, and FEU. She was an associate
professor at Far Eastern University, and taught
Literature and Humanities.
For Further Reading:
a. A Passing Season. Award Winning Novel in
English for the Centennial Literary Prize 1989-1998.
A Passing Season is the saga of families during the
time of the twin wars of 1896 and 1898, known in
history as the Philippine Revolution and the Filipino-
American War. It is the story of the Eduartes, the de
Almogueiras, the Herreras, and their neighbor and
occasional friends, the Ricaforts, trying to hold on to
old and trusted rituals of daily life amidst the
turbulance and upheaval in the last years of the
nineteenth century of Manila. Most of all , A Passing
Season is a novel about ordinary people --of Tibor
and Aurora, Masin and his cousin Subas, of
Torcuato, the servant boy who knows no other
existence, but who, in the end, establishes a kinship
with the epical herores of the nation because his
sacrifice has not been less noble.
In this novel it really taught us one thing to be
not an ignorant. The toll of World War II has
transcended several generations, but in order to
understand its ramifications, its lessons must be
taught to the younger generation who will become
the leaders of tomorrow so that they can
understand the great sacrifices that were made by
the 15 million soldiers and 45 million civilians who
died, and 25 million wounded. It is incumbent upon
us to do so if we are serious about protecting our
children from the horrors of future wars.
2. Ricardo Lee
Ricardo Lee (born as March 19, 1948) is a Filipino
screenwriter, journalist, novelist, and
playwright.Lee grew up with his relatives in Daet,
Camarines Norte. His mother died when he was 5
years old and only saw his father on few occasions.
He studied primary and secondary school in the
same town. It was said that Lee often sneaks into
film houses and buries himself in books at the
school library, tearing away pages with striking
images. An intelligent student, he consistently
topped his class from grade school to high school.
His promising writing career took a first step when
he won his first national literary award for a short
story he wrote when he was still in high school.
Driven by his passion to pursue dreams, he ran
away from home and took a bus to Manila. He
roamed the streets, taking on menial tasks as a
waiter during the day and asking his town mates to
accommodate him during the night until he
collapsed one day in Avenida out of hunger.
For Further Reading:
a. Jose Rizal. Jose Rizal's life and works are
recounted through a series of non-linear flashbacks
which reflect on various aspects of his life - as
writer, propagandist, lover, friend, brother, doctor,
and the man that inspired a revolution.
The lesson I learned is that we should be thankful
for what we have now because we already have the
freedom to express ourselves. In addition, it
emphasizes “Not all heroes wear capes”, this is a
quote which perfectly suits the life of Dr. Jose Rizal
life. He showed us in the movie that if you have the
will to change something, you can change that
something. He is not a typical national hero who
have fought many wars but sword, guns, and blood,
instead, he fought against the Spanish government
through his pen and paper. This movie revealed that
the combination of a great mind, pen, and paper is
a powerful weapon.

Region 6 Authors
1. Ricardo Demetillo
Ricaredo Demetillo was born on June 20, 1920 in
Dumangas, Iloilo. He was a poet, essayist and critic
who graduated cum laude in AB English, 1947 in the
University of the Philippines; School of Letters,
Bloomington, Indiana; MFA in English and Creative
Writing in State University of Iowa in 1952. He
married Angelita Demetillo.
He was a scholar of SU in Presbyterian and
International in 1949; fellow of Rockefeller
Foundation in 1952; Pro Patria Awardee in 1961;
Republic Cultural Heritage Awardee in 1968; UP
Golden Jubilee for Poetry, Art Association, and
Palanca Awardee in 1972, 1973 and 1974; Rizal
Centennial Awardee; and Gawad Balagtas in 1991.
For Further Reading:
a. Barter in Panay. The book presents the
literary characteristics of the text as prize-winning
epic. It determines the author’s literary ideology
and tradition through a comparative analysis of the
text and its source. Through formalistic-
contextualist approach and reader-response theory,
the author’s and his literary persona’s social class as
bourgeois proletarian whose consistency is deemed
questionable were revealed. The Filipino
worldviews, socio-political, and traditional cultures
are unveiled for preservation. Thus, the book
strengthens the significance of Barter in Panay: An
Epic in the canon of Philippine national literature.
This book introduce to us, how the narrative
structure of the epic unveils the political and social
practices of the Visayan people? How the
characterization reveals the themes and
metahistorical contexts of the epic? Barter in Panay
reflects the “sweetness and light” of the Filipino
lifeways-its unique genetic origin and rich
traditions. The voice in the epic sketches the
community beyond the spatial and projects itself
into the future who continues his legacy to the
young listening to the tales. The epic contains
historically self-aware characters providing integral
engines to the Filipino identity.
2. John Iremil Teodoro
John Iremil Erine Teodoro is a Filipino writer,
literary critic, and cultural scholar who was born on
November 14, 1973 in Maybato Norte, San Jose de
Buenavista, Antique, Philippines. He is also regarded
as a pioneer in Philippine LGBT writing, as well as
the most widely published author in Kinaray-a to
date.
For Further Reading:
 a. Kung AngTula ay PwedengPambili ng Lalaki:
MgaTula
Kung ang tula ay puwedeng pambili
ng 'sang pogi at seksing lalaki
ako ay susulat ng marami
Araw-araw ako'y may bibilihin,
pipiliin ko ang masunurin,
'yung nauutusan sa isang tingin.
The author made it clear in the title poem that he
wants a man who is handsome, sexy, and has a
perfect set of teeth like his sonnet. If we take the
title's literal translation ("if a poem could buy a
guy") literally, the author wanted love to be that
simple. Regardless of the translation, the title itself
is very homosexual, and Teodoro's book would be a
welcome contribution to the country's increasing
body of gay poetry.
Region 7 Authors
1. Cecilia Manguerra Brainard
Cecilia Manguerra Brainard (born 1947) was the
youngest of four children born to Concepcion
Cuenco Manguerra and Mariano F. Manguerra in
Cebu City, Philippines. When her father died when
she was nine, she began writing, first in notebooks,
then in essays and fiction. She studied at St.
Theresa's College and Maryknoll College in the
Philippines, as well as UCLA for her graduate
studies.
Brainard won a Special Recognition Award from
the Los Angeles Board of Education for her work
with Asian American adolescents. She's also won
prizes from the California State Senate's 21st
District, many USIS Grants, a California Arts Council
Fellowship, an Outstanding Individual Award from
the City of Cebu, Philippines, a Brody Arts Fund
Award, a City of Los Angeles Cultural grant, and
many others. She has earned honors for the books
she has written and edited, including the Gintong
Aklat Award and the International Gourmand
Award. Her work has been translated into several
languages, including Finnish and Turkish.
For Further Reading:
a. Magdalena (novel, Plain View Press, 2002).
Magdalena tells the story of three generations of
Filipino women set against the settings of the
Philippine-American War, WWII, and the Vietnam
War. So this isn't even a war novel; it's a trilogy.
Cecilia, on the other hand, does not spoonfeed
lengthy narratives about the tragedies of those
wars. Instead, she focuses on providing intimate
personal biographies of specific persons. Cecilia's
method is "poetic" in part because she uses
implication and resonance to connect her
characters to the battle backdrops rather than the
more straightforward manner of standard story-
telling.
 In this novel, Brainard weaves together a variety
of characters to create a polyphony of voices that
enacts Philippine culture before and after World
War II. The story offers a complex view of how
culture, social status, obligation, and the Filipino
personality interact.
2. Estrella Alfon
Estrella Alfon, who hailed from Cebu, was born
on 1917. She is a well-known storywriter,
playwright and journalist; and though a Cebuana,
she wrote almost exclusively in English. Unlike other
writers of her time, she did not come from the
intelligensia. She attended college, and studied
medicine; however, when she was mistakenly
diagnosed with tuberculosis and sent to a
sanitarium, she resigned from her pre-medical
education, and left with an Associate of Arts degree
from the University of the Philippines. In spite of
having only an A.A. degree, she was eventually
appointed as a professor of Creative Writing at the
University of thePhilippines, Manila. She was a
member of the U.P. Writers Club, she held the
National Fellowship in Fiction post at the U.P.
Creative Writing Center in 1979.
For Further Reading:
a. English. Estrella Alton’s “English” is a short
story that talks about the harsh society that
paralyzes those who are in the lower social class
and how a man named Marco, struggles to fit in this
society. The story begins with Marco hurrying to
work, barely noticing the people around him as he
walked by uttering English words to himself. As
Marco arrived from work, he can’t help but
remember his times in the bodega when he was not
yet a pesador. Then, Marco and Martin read an
English paper together barely understanding what It
meant. Soon, Marco went home, and taught his
sons some basic "English". A few moments later,
Rafael arrived and made Marco realize something.
That he doesn’t need to conform society; he only
need to appreciate what we really have.
In terms of the tale, we should accept ourselves
as we are, but that should not prevent us from
learning new skills that would aid us in achieving
our objectives. We should accept constructive
criticism in modern culture and listen to others'
opinions and suggestions for our own improvement.
Conformity is the norm in our culture; this does not
necessarily imply that it is a bad thing, but it should
be limited. Allow discouragement to harden your
resolve, but not your heart.

Region 8 Authors
1. Timothy R. Montes
Timothy R. Montes grew up in Borongan,
Eastern Samar, as a naturalized Filipino. During the
late 1980s and early 1990s, he studied at Silliman
University's Creative Writing Program under
Edilberto and Edith Tiempo. He was able to
strengthen his writing talents at the
aforementioned school, earning a master's degree
and establishing himself as a regional fictionist in
our country. He co-edited (with Louis Cesar Aquino)
Tribute, a memorial anthology of stories in honor of
his mentor Edilberto K. Tiempo, which was
published by Anvil in 1994. He also co-edited (with
Louis Cesar Aquino) Tribute, a memorial anthology
of stories in honor of his mentor Edilberto K.
Tiempo, which was published by Anvil in 1994.
For Further Reading:
a. Turtle Season. This short story is about the
peacekeepers in a remote island named Captain
Raul Daza was facing a problem with his wife Daisy
because he can not bestow such precious time with
her due to his job of keeping the peace in the island
of Kalayasan.
The central theme of the story is about betreyal
or deception. His wife is having an affair with
another man. Yet, this not new to filipino cultures.
This doing is really observe nowadays specifically to
those married couples who are in a long distance
relationship. It's either the girl or boy will find
another to satisfy their longing and needs. This
story implies to us specially to us younger
generation that we should really careful in
surrendering our heart they must be loyal us
because no one can serve a two master at the same
time.
2. Voltaire Q. Oyzon
Voltaire Q. Oyzon teaches Waray language,
literature, and social science courses at Leyte
Normal University. His first poetry collection, An
Maupay ha mga Waray, was published in 2008 by
the Philippines National Commission for Culture and
the Arts. He is currently working on his second book
of poetry, tentatively titled Mga Bukad han mga
Bangin (Buds of Maybes).
For Further Reading:
 “Water,” a poem by Voltaire Oyzon, translated
from Waray by Merlie Aluna
Water, Oyzon presents that substance as an
unwanted guest, an invader that can just as easily
steal our possessions; yet we still find ourselves
trying to please—even appease—it, recognizing
again and again our natural affinity for the water
that surrounds us.

Region 9 Authors
1. Egmidio Alvarez Enriquez is an author from
Zamboanga City in the Philippines,
Born: 1925 (age 96 years), Zamboanga . He
studied at Lowa State University (1957)
For Further Reading:
a. The Devil Flower and the doll. The story
shows different lesson that we should take such
as: First, each of us is equal, we all have our
rights and no one can impede us to have these
rights. There is no one who have the right to
say that “You cannot do something because
you’re lady or you’re member of LGBT”
because it is not the gender, it’s the ability.
Discrimination should be erase in this world.
Second, we must respect the beliefs of
everyone, maybe your beliefs is different from
others but you still need to respect it so that
they will do the same thing to you— Golden
rule! Third and lastly, we cannot predict the
future even all of our plans are already set. Like
Narciso he used to want dolls but eventually he
wants to be a priest. What we have or who we
are right now, unfortunately, can be change as
the time pass by.
2. Antonio Reyes Enriquez
Filipino author
Description
Born: 1936, (Zamboanga
Died: 14 June 2014, Cagayan de Oro
Awards: Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for
Novel in English, Carlos Palanca Memorial
Awards for Short Story
Antonio Enriquez,born (1936)and raised in
Zamboanga, now lives with his wife Joy, two
young sons, and a grandchild in Cagayan de
Oro City, Mindanao Island,Philippines.
For Further Reading:
a. Story dance a white horse to sleep. The
white horse of alih taught us not to revenge to
other people on the bad things we had
experience otherwise we should understand
things what GOD had planned on us. It also
educated us what can love conquer, that good
things may happen mostly when you love the
person so much.

Region 10 Authors
1. Jose Maria Flores Lacaba, popularly known as
Pete Lacaba, is a Filipino film writer, editor, poet,
screenwriter, journalist and translator. Born in
Misamis Oriental in 1945 to Jose Monreal Lacaba of
Loon, Bohol and Fe Flores from Pateros, Rizal.
For Further Reading:
a. Rizal sa Dapitan. The film "Rizal in Dapitan"
is about the life of Jose Rizal (Albert Martinez) while
he was inside the Dapitan. He was detained
because of his opposition to the friars and Spanish
Goverment, which caused his exile in Dapitan.
During the early days of his stay in Dapitan. He is
forced to turn to God by his friend who is a priest,
Fr. Obach (Chris Michelena). He still stood on his
position which caused leaving of the parish.
Rizal sa dapitan is only one of several rizal
movies which portrayed the philippine national
hero as a messianic figure who came to earth to
save all filipinos. We Filipino, should be really
greatful to our ancestors from saving our identity as
people of the Philippines in the hands of colonizers
and greedy with power.
2. Edith L. Tiempo
Tiempo was born in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya.
Her poems are intricate verbal transfigurations of
significant experiences as revealed, in two of her
much anthologized pieces, "Halaman" and
"Bonsai."As fictionist, Tiempo is as morally
profound. Her language has been marked as
"descriptive but unburdened by scrupulous
detailing." She is an influential tradition in
Philippine Literature in English. Together with her
late husband, writer and critic Edilberto K. Tiempo,
they founded (in 1962) and directed the Silliman
National Writers Workshop in Dumaguete City,
which has produced some of the Philippines' best
writers.
For Further Reading:
a. The Builders. As he ends his Physics class one
morning, Professor Felix Acuña is jolted into the
daylight violence across the street in the university
town of Dumaguete and his life begins to unreel
with detective purpose. But dare he put his own life
to a standstill when he must build a house while
awaiting the birth of his firstborn? While he prods
his students to speed up their work, he must also
take on responsibility for the school administrator's
middling son. Now he must run after an enigmatic
outlaw and two purloined documents in forging a
compelling punishment to an unsettling domestic
crime.
Readers will welcome this gripping novel by
Edith L. Tiempo, her most recent after being named
National Artist for Literature. The Builder assembles
a cast of indomitable characters, replete with wit,
cleverness, and most amazingly, with sudden
unexpected depths. Here is a work which abounds
with the clear surprises of inversion and moral
ambiguity, where the consummate artist meditates
on the human leaning for rootedness - as in life's
rooms, the seekers come and go, ripening into
wisdom and discovering that time is the one
firmament building the house of conviction and
faith, slaking our thirst for truth.

Region 11 Authors
1. Tita Lacambra-Ayala
Tita Lacambra Ayala, a nationally
celebrated poet, writer, and multimedia artist
who dedicated her life to the cultivation of
literary and visual arts in Mindanao, passed
away near her home in Davao City on January
9, 2019. She was 88. Born Marciana Agcaoili in
Sarrat, Ilocos Norte, she grew up in Benguet,
Antamok. Born in January 2 1931 (age 90
years), Ilocos Norte.
For Further Reading:
a. Sunflower poems. Sunflower as to the
resilience of the self, learning to stand up after
a hard lesson, and carrying no bitterness for
whatever or whoever taught it.
2. Jhoanna Lynn B Cruz
 Is an award-winning writer who teaches
literature and creative writing at the University
of the Philippines Mindanao. Her first book,
Women Loving: Stories and a Play (2010), is
the first sole-author anthology of lesbian-
themed stories in the Philippines. She
completed a master of arts in language and
literature and a master of fine arts in creative
writing, both with high distinction, from De La
Salle University-Manila. Cruz is president of the
Davao Writers Guild and is regional coordinator
for Southern Mindanao in the National
Committee on Literary Arts.
For Further Reading:
a. WOMAN LOVING. "Women Loving” is
one such about women being true to
themselves. The stories though confront its
readers with an oft hidden fact about lesbians,
and why these women chose to love their kind
(same sex) rather than go heterosexual – not
that there is anything negative about being
homosexual, at least not in this day and age.
Though it is not also the sort of thing that
puts the reader in a pro or con situation, but
rather illumines a little how the world is made
up between women loving each other.

Region 12 Authors
1. Jude Ortega was born and lives in Sultan
Kudarat Province. He’s been published in the
Philippines Graphic, the Free Press and
Philippine Daily Inquirer. He was a fellow for
fiction at the 53rd Silliman University National
Writers Workshop. He grew up and lives in the
mountains town of senator Ninoy Aqyino in the
province of Sultan Kudarat. He has worked as a
writer and editor in various industries. He is the
author of seekers of spirits.
For Further Reading:
a.DEAR JOHN FICTION. A person does not
have to be another person to be accepted, so if
there is anyone who can appreciate and love
you for who and what you are, don't let it go
because only a few can accept flaws and
imperfections.
2. Jaime An Lim ay isinilang noong 7 Enero
1946. Isa siyang makata, mananaysay at
kuwentista. Nagtapos siya ng kursong Bachelor
of Arts in English noong 1968 sa (((Mindanao
State University (MSU).
Nagtungo siya sa Estados Unidos noong
1980 at tinapos ang digring Master of Arts in
Comparative Literature, Master of Arts in
Education at ang Doctor of Philosophy in
Literature sa Indiana University sa Bloomington.
Ilan sa mahahalagang bunga ng kanyang
panulat ay: Puna sa Noh Me Tangere ni Rizal;
Sanaysay sa Pamumuna sa Akda ni
Bienvenido Santos na The Man Who Likes
Robert Taylor, Sanaysay Tungkol sa Poon ni F.
Sionel; sanaysay tungkol sa mga nobela nina
Maximo Kalaw, (Jaime Laya, (Steven
Javellana, Edilberto Tiempo at (Wilfredo
Nollado na siyang nilalaman ng kanyang aklat
na pinamagatang Literature and Politics: The
Colonial Experience in nine Philippine Novels
noong 1993.
Ang kanyang mga akdang nagtamo ng Don
Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature
ay The Liberation of Mrs. Fidele Magsilang,
isang maikling kuwento (1973); The Changing
of the Guard: Three Critical Essays (1989);
Yasmin, isang tula (1990); The AXOLATL
Colony, maikling kuwentong pambata (1993).
Sa Indiana University ay nakuha niya ang
gantimpalang Academy of American Poets
noong 1981. Tutungi Award noong 1983; at ang
Ellis Literary Award noong 1984.
For Further Reading:
a. "Yasmin" the Small Bright Things. He’s
works are commonly known to narrate and
represent Filipino life and culture in the midst of
globalization and the effects of foreign cultures
which are slowly creeping in the Philippine
society. Some of his poems tells true lovers of
words and wisdom, with that people should live
what is essential and accord to its purpose
nothing more nothing less. We are only
borrowing time, we should be in neutral,
contentment all along.

Region 13 Authors
1. José Iñigo Homer Lacambra Ayala or also
known as Joey Ayala was born on June 1 1956
in Bukidnon Philippines. He was known for his
folk and contemporary pop music artist in the
Philippines, he is also known for his songs that
are more on the improvement of the
environment. He is also one of the leading
members of the "Bagong Lumad" literally
means "New native". All of the songs he
composed are not just song that gives
entertainment but it gives a message in every
people who listens to it. The way his songs are
popular is because it has a twist of pop music.
Using of traditional instruments in the
Philippines like the Kulintang,T'boli,Kubing and
Gong makes him a famous and a unique artist.
Even his compositions are most likely on ethnic
songs, it is still recognized by the people and
one of his songs "Papel" made a shot in the
finals he was named one of the twelve finalist
in the Philpop 2013 .In his song, "Papel", he
uses birth and death certificates as metaphors
to express one's role in life. From birth, we're
born with paper and for rest of our lives until
one's death, we all act like paper.

He also has contributions in the Philippine

Literature like his songs for promoting
environmental awareness and arts education
from ancestral roots to new artistic routes of
musical expression advocating for the
protection of the environment and the
conservation of natural resources. Can you
imagine in the form of songs he give
contribution to our very own Philippine
literature. He has won many awards like the
Awit award for best Folk-pop recording to his
song Karaniwang tao, Awit Award for best
musical arrangement for his song Maglakad
and many awards. We should support or
appreciate the works of our regional writers
because they bring the pride of the Philippine
literature and they also help maintaining the
improvement of our beloved Philippine
Literature.

For Further Reading:

a. Karaniwang Tao
Joey Ayala
Ako po'y karaniwang tao lamang
Kayod-kabayo, 'yan ang alam
Karaniwang hanapbuhay
Karaniwan ang problema
Pagkain, damit at tirahan
This song is about the common man living in
the borrowed world, this song signifies the big
change in our environment due to negligence.
and if we continue to allow what is happening
now we may have nowhere to run to the next
generation.
2. Tita Lacambra-Ayala
 Tita Lacambra Ayala, a nationally
celebrated poet, writer, and multimedia artist
who dedicated her life to the cultivation of
literary and visual arts in Mindanao, passed
away near her home in Davao City on January
9, 2019. She was 88. Born Marciana Agcaoili in
Sarrat, Ilocos Norte, she grew up in Benguet,
Antamok. Born in January 2 1931 (age 90
years), Ilocos Norte.
For Further Reading:
a. Sunflower poems. Sunflower as to the
resilience of the self, learning to stand up after
a hard lesson, and carrying no bitterness for
whatever or whoever taught it.

Region 14 Authors
1. Patricio P. Diaz, 93
VETERAN JOURNALIST, author and Mindanao
chronicler Patricio P. Diaz died on August 29 due to
a heart attack. He was 93.
In his early days, Diaz wrote for the Mindanao Cross
as a columnist, reporter and editorial writer-on-call
from 1952 to 1967, and was its editor for 21 years
from 1968 to 1989. Diaz also edited and published
the Mindanao Kris from 1989 to 1996; wrote
columns for the Mindanao Trend and the SunStar
General Santos from 1996 to 2000 and 2000 to
2001, respectively. He also wrote commentaries
and short pieces for MindaNews under the banner
“Comment” and “Mind Da News.”. (“Journalist
Patricio P. Diaz, chronicler of Mindanao history
since 1952, writes 30”).
As an author, Diaz published five books on Muslim
autonomy, the conflict in Mindanao and the peace
process.
For Further Reading:
a. UNDERSTANDING THE MINDANAO
CONFLICT. War all throughout is the main
problem of people in Mindanao, Despite the
many agreements signed between the
government and the Moro Islamic Liberation
Front (MILF) from 2001 to 2003, war remains
an option. It only analyzes the root causes of
the continuing Mindanao problem which
escalated due to the failure of institutions and
actors concerned. Diaz argued that even with
the establishment of the Southern Philippines
Council for Peace and Development (SPCPD),
the problem degenerated into its present form
because of the key actors’ failure to grasp the
problem. Recurring ignorance, lack of sincerity,
lost opportunities, squandered gains, and, most
of all, lack of trust, goodwill and confidence
between the government and the MILF caused
the problem. For Diaz, the only path toward
peace is for the government to pursue the road
of reconciliation.
2. Marlon Miguel
Marlon Miguel is a Filipino writer. He is
working at GMA Network as a senior writer and
brainstormer for TV series. He is also the
founder of Magwayen, a theater organization
based in Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.
Marlon Miguel is known for his work on
Contessa (2018), First Yaya (2021) and Asawa
ko, karibal ko (2018)
Movies: Haunted Mansion
Organization founded: Magwayen Creative
Scholars' Guild
Writer: Legal Wives (2021)
Known For: Contessa Writer (2018)
Actor: ICU Bed #7 Gaston (2005)
Additional Crew: Pamilya Roces (2018)
For Further Reading:
a. YAYA TELESERYE: There are many life
lessons to be learned there but the one that
impresses me the most is the one in the
political aspect where you can see every policy
and how people are jealous of what other
people enjoy. Under Glen's leadership you can
see how loyal he is. in his role and how he
handles the personal issue in his tiring work. he
still thinks about the welfare of his family even
the people he covers, he played a true hero and
a good president in the teleserye of the first
nanny.