CONTRIBUTORS

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.

John Efrael Igot grew up in Magpet, Cotabato Province, and is a fourth year BS in Information Technology student at ACLC College of Marbel in Koronadal City, South Cotabato. He is a former editor in chief of the student publication and a member of several writing groups on social media.

Martsu Ressan Manibog Ladia was born blind and is currently a third year law student at Mindanao State University and the human resource manager of Virtual Champs Global Company, both in General Santos City. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science degree from Holy Trinity College in the same city. He also teaches part-time at Primasia Foundation College in Alabel, Sarangani Province, his hometown.

Virgilio R. Nabua III is a Bachelor of Secondary Education (Major in English) student at Mindanao State University in General Santos City, where he serves as a senator of the Supreme Student Council and a feature writer for the student publication of the College of Education. He earned his secondary education from Glan School of Arts and Trades in Glan, Sarangani Province, his hometown.

Nilyn Gamuza Pacariem teaches Filipino at Guinsang-an National High School in Sto. Niño, South Cotabato. One of her Hiligaynon flash fictions won first in the Peter’s Prize in 2016, and one of her Hiligaynon poems won the same prize in 2017. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education degree from Mindanao State University in General Santos City and attended the Gémino H. Abad Seminar-Workshop on Teaching Literature in 2018.

Elyzah A. Parcon is a first year BS Agricultural Biotechnology student at the University of the Philippines in Los Baños, Laguna. Born and raised in Cotabato City, she is an alumna of the Philippine Science High School–SOCCSKSARGEN Region Campus in Koronadal City, South Cotabato. Aside from writing, she finds joy in digital visual arts.

EDITORS

Jude Ortega (Editor in Chief) is the author of the short story collection Seekers of Spirits (University of the Philippines Press, 2018). He studied political science at Notre Dame of Marbel University in Koronadal City, South Cotabato, and divides his time between Senator Ninoy Aquino and Isulan, both in Sultan Kudarat.

Eric Gerard H. Nebran (Managing Editor) is an educator and illustrator from General Santos City. He is currently a PhD Comparative Literature student at the University of the Philippines–Diliman. His research interests include orality, history, and literary productions of his hometown.

David Jayson Oquendo (Editor for Fiction) is from Polomolok, South Cotabato, and works in Davao City as an electrical engineer. He was a fellow for fiction at the 2018 Davao Writers Workshop and is a former editor in chief of the official student publication of Mindanao State University in General Santos City.

Andrea D. Lim (Editor for Poetry) is working as an editor for a publishing company in Cebu City while taking her master’s degree in literature at the University of San Carlos. She was a fellow at the 24th Iligan National Writers Workshop (2017) and is a former editor in chief of the official student publication of Silliman University in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental. Her family lives in General Santos City.

Paul Randy P. Gumanao (Editor for Poetry) hails from Kidapawan City, Cotabato Province, and teaches chemistry at Philippine Science High School–SOCCSKSARGEN Region Campus in Koronadal City, South Cotabato. He was a fellow for poetry at the 2009 Davao Writers Workshop and the 2010 IYAS National Writers Workshop. He is a former editor in chief of the official student publication of Ateneo de Davao University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree and is finishing his master’s degree in chemistry.

Hazel-Gin Lorenzo Aspera (Editor for Nonfiction) is a registered nurse, artist, and writer. She spent her childhood in Cotabato City and is now based in Cagayan de Oro City. A fellow for literary essay at the 1st Cagayan de Oro Writers Workshop, some of her feature stories appear in the book Peace Journeys: A Collection of Peacebuilding Stories in Mindanao. Currently, she is Associate Director for Communications and Junior Fellow for Literary Essay of Nagkahiusang Magsusulat sa Cagayan de Oro (NAGMAC).

Jennie P. Arado (Editor for Nonfiction) is from Koronadal City, South Cotabato, and currently works for a newspaper in Davao City as editor of the lifestyle section. She earned her BA in English (major in creative writing) from the University of the Philippines–Mindanao. Her story “Ang Dako nga Yahong sang Batchoy” won the South Cotabato Children’s Story Writing Contest in 2018.

Norman Ralph Isla (Editor for Play) is from Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat, and teaches at Mindanao State University in General Santos City. He was a fellow for drama at the 2015 Davao Writers Workshop. Several of his plays have been staged in General Santos City and South Cotabato.