EDITOR

Jude Ortega has been a fellow for fiction at the 2016 UP National Writers Workshop and in five other writers workshops. He divides his time between Senator Ninoy Aquino and Isulan, both in Sultan Kudarat Province.

CONTRIBUTORS

Mubarak M. Tahir was born in the village of Kitango in Datu Piang, Maguindanao. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Filipino Language (cum laude) at Mindanao State University in Marawi City. He lived in General Santos City when he taught in the campus there of his alma mater. “Aden Bon Besen Uyag-uyag,” his essay for this issue of the journal, won the third prize for Sanaysay at the 2017 Palanca Awards. Currently, he is teaching at the Davao campus of Philippine Science High School.

Estrella Taño Golingay of Surallah, South Cotabato, has a PhD in language education and is a retired professor of Notre Dame of Marbel University. In 1994, her poem “Si Nene at Ako sa Pagitan ng Gabi” won the first prize in the poetry contest of Home Life magazine.

Blesselle Fiel is a senior high school student at Koronadal Comprehensive National High School. “Tagu-taguan,” her flash fiction for this issue of the journal, is the winner of the 2017 South Cotabato Fiction Contest.

Gerald Galindez teaches grade school at Notre Dame of Tacurong College. “San Gerardo and the Exocoetidae,” his poem for this issue of the journal, is the winner of the 2017 Cotabato Province Poetry Contest.

Allen Samsuya is a graduate of the University of the Philippines–Mindanao with a degree in BA English major in Creative Writing. He was a fellow at the 2009 Davao Writers Workshop, the 2011 Iligan National Writers Workshop, the 2011 Silliman University National Writers Workshop, and the 2014 Iyas National Writers Workshop.

Paul Randy P. Gumanao hails from Kidapawan City, and teaches Chemistry at Philippine Science High School-SoCCSKSARGEN Region Campus. He was a fellow for poetry at the 2009 Davao Writers Workshop, and 2010 IYAS National Creative Writing Workshop. He is a former editor-in-chief of Atenews, the official student publication of Ateneo de Davao University, and is currently finishing his MS in Chemistry from the same university.

Norman Ralph Isla is the academic head of the senior high school department of Mindanao State University in General Santos City. He was a fellow for drama at the 2015 Davao Writers Workshop.