MERLINDA BOBIS

BIOGRAPHY

By Miles T. Galleon
Profile
Merlinda Bobis, who was born in Legazpi City, Albay
province, the Philippines, completed her B.A. after
attending Bicol University High School. at Legazpi
City's Aquinas University. She currently resides in
Australia and has postgraduate degrees from the
Universities of Santo Tomas and Wollongong. Her
writing, which is written in a variety of genres in both
Filipino and English, combines aspects of the
traditional culture of the Philippines with the
experiences of contemporary immigrants.

Background
In addition to being a visual artist and dancer, Bobis lectures at Wollongong University these
days. Her piece Rita's Lullaby received the worldwide Prix Italia and the 1998 Awgie for Best
Radio piece; White Turtle won the 2000 Philippine National Book Award and the Steele Rudd
Award for Best Collection of Australian Short Stories. The Book Development Association of the
Philippines most recently granted her the Gintong Aklat Award (Golden Book Award,
Philippines) in 2006 for her book Banana Heart Summer. For her novel Locust Girl: A Lovesong,
Bobis was awarded the 2016 NSW Premier's Literary Awards and the Christina Stead Prize for
Fiction.

Achievements
Australian Classical Music Award for Best Vocal/Choral Work of the Year for Daragang
Magayon Cantata (2007)
Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas (National Balagtas Award: a lifetime award for author's
poetry and prose in English, Pilipino, Bikol) from the Unyon ng Manunulat ng Pilipinas (Union of
Philippine Writers) (2006)
Gintong Aklat Award (Golden Book Award: Philippine publishers' award) for Banana Heart
Summer (2006)
Australian Literature Society Gold Medal for Banana Heart Summer (2006)
Nomination: Best in Foreign Language in Fiction from the Manila Critics' Circle for Banana
Heart Summer (2006)
Judges' Choice Award, Bumbershoot Bookfair, Seattle Arts Festival for The Kissing (collection
of short stories published as White Turtle in Australia and the Philippines) (2001)
Arts Queensland Steele Rudd Australian Short Story Award (for the Best Published Collection
of Australian Short Stories, joint winner) for White Turtle (2000)
Philippine National Book Award for Fiction (Joint winner) from the Manila Critics' Circle for
White Turtle (2000)
NSW Ministry for the Arts Writers' Fellowship for novel in progress, Fish-Hair Woman (2000)
Canberra Writing Fellowship jointly from the Australian National University, the University of
Canberra, and the Australian Defence Force Academy (2000)
Prix Italia (international award) for Rita's Lullaby (radio play) (1998)
Australian Writers' Guild Award (AWGIE) for Rita's Lullaby (1998)
Pamana Philippine Presidential Award for achievement in the arts (for Filipino expatriates)
(1998)
Shortlist: The Age Poetry Book of the Year Award for Summer Was a Fast Train Without
Terminals (collection of poems) (1998)
Achievements
Winner, Out of the Ashes Trans-Tasman Short Story Competition for White Turtle (short story) (1998)
Commended: National Short Story Competition, Society of Women Writers for The Sadness Collector
(short story) (1998)
Joint winner, ABC Radio National's 'Books & Writing Short Story Competition' for The Tongue (also
known as The Parable of Illawarra Street) (1997)
Ian Reed Foundation Prize for Radio Drama for Rita's Lullaby (1995)
Carlos Palanca Memorial Award in Literature (Philippine national award), Honourable Mention for Ms.
Serena Serenata (one-act play) (1995)
Gawad Cultural Centre of the Philippines (national award for poetry in Filipino) for Mula Dulo
Hanggang Kanto ('From End to Corner', collection of poems) (1990)
Likhaan Award for Daragang Magayon and other poems, University of the Philippines Writers'
Workshop (1990)
Carlos Palanca Memorial Award in Literature, Second Prize for Lupang di Hinirang: Kuwento at
Sikreto ('Land Not Dearest: Story and Secret', collection of poems in Filipino) (1989)
Carlos Palanca Memorial Award in Literature, joint winner, First Prize for Peopleness (collection of
poems in English) (1987)

Usapang Ina at Anak

ni Merlinda C. Bobis

“inang, napakaiksi ng inyong biyahe mula kama

hanggang kalan.”

“ay, anak, tinatawid ko sa mundo ikaw at ang

tatang.”

“inang, nanunuyo na ang inyong mga matang hindi

marahil nasipingan ng diwa.”

“anak, ako ang nagluluwal ng binhi ng isip.”

“inang, araw-araw yata ay umiikli ang inyong dila.”

“anak, anak, ang mga labi ko’y hitik sa mga salitang

napipi ng halik.”

“inang, hindi tadyang ang hinugot kay adan—

puso.”
Discussion
"Usapang Ina at Anak" by Merlinda C. Bobis is a tender
conversation capturing the depth of the mother-child
relationship. The dialogue unfolds with the child noting
the brevity of the mother's daily journey, to which she
metaphorically responds, emphasizing her role in
traversing the world with her child and husband. The
child observes weariness in the mother's eyes,
symbolizing burdens, but the mother counters,
revealing her nurturing role in cultivating the seeds of
intellect. The child remarks on the apparent reduction
of the mother's speech, and in response, the mother
highlights the richness of her unspoken words, sealed
with kisses. The poem concludes with a biblical allusion,
likening the mother's sacrifice to that of Eve, suggesting
a profound and sacrificial connection between mother
and child."

MERLINDA BOBIS