Francisco “Franz” Arcellana

He was a Filipino writer, poet, essayist, critic, journalist and teacher. He is considered an important
progenitor of the modern Filipino short story in English. Arcellana pioneered the development of
the short story as a lyrical prose-poetic form within Filipino literature. His works are now often
taught in tertiary-level syllabi in the Philippines. Many of his works were translated into Tagalog,
Malaysian, Russian, Italian, and German. One of his work is the Flowers of May which is almost
a Filipino version of the Dead by James Joyce. Arcellana is buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
He died in 2002. As a National Artist, he received a state funeral at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
Lualhati Torres Bautista

One of the foremost Filipino female novelists in the history of contemporary Philippine literature.
Her novels include Dekada '70, Bata, Bata, Pa'no Ka Ginawa? and ‘GAPÔ. Her first short story,
“Katugon ng Damdamin,” was published in Liwayway Magazine and thus started her writing
career. Despite a lack of formal training, Bautista as a writer became known for her honest realism,
courageous exploration of Philippine women's issues, and compelling female protagonists who
confront difficult situations at home and in the workplace with uncommon grit and strength. Two
of Bautista's short stories won the Palanca Awards, namely "Tatlong Kwento ng Buhay ni Juan
Candelabra" (Three Stories in the Life of Juan Candelabra), first prize, 1982; and "Buwan, Buwan,
Hulugan mo Ako ng Sundang" (Moon, Moon, Drop Me a dagger), third prize, 1983.
Linda Ty Casper

She is a recipient of the S.E.A. Write Award and was born as Belinda Ty in Malabon, Philippines
in 1931, she spent the World War II years with her grandmother while her father worked in the
Philippine National Railways, and her mother in the Bureau of Public Schools. Her works include
the historical novelDreamEden and the political novels Awaiting Trespass, Wings of Stone, A
Small Party in a Garden, and Fortress in the Plaza. She has also published three collections of short
stories which present a cross-section of Filipino society. Her novel Awaiting Trespass which is
about the politically sensitive theme of torture by the Marcos regime was published by Readers
International of London. This work gained her major critical attention in the United States for the
first time, and in Britain the novel was chosen as one of the five best works of fiction by a woman
writer published in 1985-86.