EDITOR

Jude Ortega is the author of Seekers of Spirits, which won the Cirilo F. Bautista Prize for Best Book of Short Fiction in English at the 38th National Book Awards and was a finalist for the 19th Madrigal–Gonzalez Best First Book Award. He grew up and lives in Senator Ninoy Aquino, Sultan Kudarat, and studied political science at Notre Dame of Marbel University in Koronadal City, South Cotabato. Ten of his essays were published in the Youngblood column of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

CONTRIBUTORS

DM Gasparillo Adil II is a social media specialist for a digital marketing agency in Davao City. He served as editor in chief of the official student publication of St. John Learning Center in Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat, and of the University of Southern Mindanao in Kabacan, Cotabato Province. He is the winner of the 2nd Lagulad Prize (2019), a finalist for the 3rd Lagulad Prize (2020), and the winner of an essay writing contest organized by Sultan Kudarat Writers Association. He is also the chief creative officer of a startup digital publishing team called Project Thorns.

Luis B. Bahay Jr. is a licensed professional teacher who earned his bachelor’s degree in education (major in Filipino) at Mindanao State University in General Santos City. He is currently serving as a Sangguniang Kabataan member at Barangay Maltana in Tampakan, South Cotabato.

Jeffriel Cabca Buan is a high school teacher in Lambangan Integrated School in T’boli, South Cotabato. He earned his bachelor’s degree in education (major in English) and received the Distinction Award for Excellence in Journalism (College of Education) at Mindanao State University in General Santos City. He has been published in Cotabato Literary Journal, and one of his flash fictions was included in the zine The Best of Sulat SOX.

Lino Gayanilo Jr. teaches at Bagumbayan National High School in Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat, and earned his bachelor’s degree in education (major in biological sciences) at Sultan Kudarat State University. His essay “Sa Ikalawang Yugto ng Yanggaw” was a runner-up to the 3rd Lagulad Prize (2020). He was also a finalist in an essay writing contest organized by Sultan Kudarat Writers Association and honorable mention in two writing contests of the Facebook page Sulat SOX. He also draws hyperrealist portraits.

Martsu Ressan Ladia teaches part-time at Primasia Foundation College in Alabel, Sarangani Province, while studying law at Mindanao State University in General Santos City. He earned his bachelor of arts degree in political science at Holy Trinity College in the same city. One of his flash fictions was a finalist in a writing contest by South Cotabato Writers Association and subsequently published in Cotabato Literary Journal.

Hannah Adtoon Leceña is a senior high school teacher at J. B. T. Caing Sr. Memorial Integrated School in Kiamba, Sarangani Province. She earned her bachelor’s degree in education (major in Filipino) cum laude at Mindanao State University in General Santos City. She was a fellow at the 2018 Davao Writers Workshop, the 3rd Bathalad–Sugbo Creative Writing Workshop (2019), and the 26th Iligan National Writers Workshop (2019), where her story received a special Jimmy Y. Balacuit Literary Award. She is the first prize winner of the 4th Satur P. Apoyon Tigi sa Mubong Sugilanong Binisaya (2020) and a finalist for the 3rd Lagulad Prize (2020). As a spoken word artist, she has performed in several events in the region and has been accepted as a fellow in the coming Amelia Lapeña–Bonifacio Writers Workshop.

Roland Dalisay Maran earned his bachelor’s degree in education (major in Filipino) at King’s College of Marbel in Koronadal City, South Cotabato. He has taught at Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Colleges in the same city.

John Dave B. Pacheco is a grade 12 (Humanities and Social Sciences) student and Supreme Student Government president at Lagao National High School in General Santos City. He is the champion of the spoken word competition in the 2020 GenSan Summer Youth Fest.

Rexcel Samulde is a senior high school teacher at Lamian National High School in Surallah, South Cotabato. He earned his bachelor’s degree in education (major in English) at Sultan Kudarat State University. His essay “Nalulunod Din ang mga Isda” is the winner of the 3rd Lagulad Prize (2020), a regionwide essay writing contest organized by Cotabato Literary Journal. He is also the winner of a Hiligaynon essay writing contest organized by South Cotabato Writers Association and of two regionwide writing contests of the Facebook page Sulat SOX.

Arville Villaflor Setanos teaches at General Santos City National High School while studying law at Mindanao State University, where he also earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education. His essay “Ang Ikawalong Salot” was a runner-up to the 3rd Lagulad Prize (2020). He has been a student publication adviser and a campus journalist himself, serving as the editor in chief of the student publication of Fatima National High School.