BIO NARRATIVES OF

PARTICIPATING PROFESSORS

KEYNOTE LECTURER:

Prof. Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo

Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo obtained her Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the
University of Philippines in 1993. She is the Coordinator of the University of the Philippines
Creative Writing Program. She worked as the former director of the UP Creative Writing
Center and director of the UP Press. She is at present the Vice President for Public Affairs of
the UP System. She is a professor of Creative Writing and Literature and worked as a writer
and editor in different countries. She has received many awards for both her fiction and
creative nonfiction, Gawad Balagtas, Graphic, Free Press, Focus, Manila Critics’ Circle, British
Council Grant to Cambridge, and the U.P. President’s Award for Outstanding Publication. She
has been recognized as an Outstanding Thomasian Writer, Hall of Famer for the International
Publication Award, and Grand Prize winner for the Novel in the Palanca Awards. She has
seven autobiographical travel books, including Sojourns (1984), Celadon and Kimchi: A Korean
Notebook (1993), Coming Home (1997), and Passages: Selected Travel Essays (2008). She also
has five short story collections, the most recent of which is Sky Blue After the Rain (2005),
and two novels, Recuerdo (1996), which won the Palanca, and A Book of Dreams (2001). Four
books in the studies of women’s literature, Woman Writing: Home and Exile in the
Autobiographical Narratives of Filipino Women (1994), A Gentle Subversion (1998), and Over
a Cup of Ginger Tea (2006). Dr. Hidalgo has also put together numerous anthologies such as
The Likhaan Book of Poetry and Fiction (1995 and 2001), Sleepless in Manila (2003), My Fair
Maladies (2005), and The Children's Hour: Stories on Childhood, Vol. II (2006). She is married
to the economist publisher Antonio Hidalgo and they have three daughters.

PANEL DISCUSSANTS

Prof. Florentino Hornedo, PhD

Florentino Hornedo received his BSE from the University of Santo Tomas in 1961, his
MAs in English and Philosophy from St. Louis University in 1966 and 1972 respectively, his
Ph.D. in Literature from UST in 1977, and a post doctorate in History and Political Science
from UST completed in 1985-88. He also has training in Journalism and Cultural Anthropology.
He is a Commissioner of UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines, Komisyon sa Wikang
Filipino and President of Batanes Development Foundation Incorporated. He is currently a
Professional lecturer in Philosophy of the Human Person, Contemporary Philosophies,
Philosophy of History and Philippine History at the University of Santo Tomas Graduate
School. He is also a Professor of Philippine Literature at the School of Humanities in Ateneo
de Manila University. He is a former Dean of the College of Human Sciences, Saint Louis
University in Baguio City. He is a National Catholic Authors Awardee and has won top prizes in
the Don Carlos Palanca memorial awards for Literature. He has garnered several awards ,
among them the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature, National Catholic
Authors Award, Pilak Award for Service to Culture, the Arts and Community, of the Cultural
Center of the Philippines, Annual Book Awards of Ateneo de Manila University, Batanes
Provincial Achievement Recognition for Cultural and Social Research, Recognition Award for
Social Research, from the UST College of Education Alumni Association, and Most Outstanding
Thomasian Alumni Awardee in the Arts & Humanities 2006. 2. Dr. Hornedo has authored 13
books in Philosophy, Education, Culture and History. He has been editor of Ad Veritatem , a
Journal of Research at the UST Graduate School, and Ivatan Studies Journal , a Graduate
School Research Journal at the Saint Dominic College of Batanes.

Prof. Milagros Tanlayco, PhD

Milagros Tanlayco is an AB English Cum Laude, M. A. Literature Meristissimus, PhD in
Literature Summa cum Laude in the University of Santo Tomas. She had also held many
positions in the university: First Faculty Secretary of the College of Science (1965-72),
Graduate School Faculty Secretary (1972-76), Chair Department of Language (1990-2000),
Executive Secretary of UST Oriental Religions and Culture’s Institute, Editor of the Unitas and
Director of the UST Press. She authored the books “Chinese Traditional Drama: A Mirror of
Values” and “Paul Claudel: Catholic French Dramatist” and contributed articles on Literature
and Values to Life Today, Acta Manilana, Journal of Graduate Research and Unitas. She was a
consultant or research person in Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid at DZRB-DZRM (Radyo ng
Bayan) on Philippine culture and values, and literature in general. She is active in Professional
Organizations: President - Council of Department of English (CDCE), Vice President – College
English Teachers Association (CETA), Treasurer – American Studies Association of the
Philippines (ASAP) and Board Member, Foundation for the Upgrading of the Standard
Education (FUSE). A recipient of Catholic Authors Award, she prefers to be known as a student
of Literature and an educator of the youth.

Prof. Cirilo Bautista, PhD

Cirilo F. Bautista, A Professor Emeritus of Literature and a University Fellow at the De

La Salle University, where he also finished his Bachelor of Arts degree in Language and
Literature. He finished AB Literature from the University of Santo Tomas in 1963, MA
Literature from St. Louis University, Baguio City in 1968, and Doctor of Arts in Language and
Literature from De La Salle University-Manila in 1990. He received a fellowship to attend the
International Writing Program at the University of Iowa (1968-1969) and was awarded an
honorary degree-the only Filipino to have been so honored there. Some of his works were
published at various anthologies and periodicals in the USA, Europe, China, Japan and the
ASEAN Region. Writes on a weekly column “Breaking Signs” for the Philippine Panorama. An
Honorary Fellow in Creative Writing at the University of Iowa in 1969, visiting writer at Trinity
College, Cambridge University (1987). Meriner of Manila Critics Circle and Philippine Literary
Arts Council (PLAC). He is a recipient of the Palanca Hall of Fame Award (1995), Makata ng
Taon by komisyon ng Wikang Filipino (1993), the last part of his trilogy, “The Trilogy of St.
Lazarus” entitled “Sunlight on Broken Stones” won the Centennial Prize for the Epic (1998),
Gawad Antonio Villegas and Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan in the field of Literature by City
of Manila (2001/2005). He is a fiction writer, painter, literary critic and educator. He is
married to Rose Marie Jimenez Bautista and they have three children and three
grandchildren. Cirilo Bautista's works include Boneyard Breaking , Sugat ng Salita , The
Archipelago , Telex Moon , Summer Suns , Charts , The Cave and Other Poems , Kirot ng
Kataga , and Bullets and Roses: The Poetry of Amado V. Hernandez . His novel Galaw ng
Asoge was published by UST Press in 2004. In addition to being a Professor of Literature in
DLSU-Manila, Bautista is also a columnist and literary editor of the Philippine Panorama . He
co-founded the Philippine Literary Arts Council (PLAC) and a member of the Manila Critics
Circle, Philippine Center of International PEN and the Philippine Writers Academy . His
received various awards from the Palanca, Free Press, National Book Award from the Manila
Critics Circle, Gawad Balagtas, the Pablo Ro man Prize for the Novel, and the highest
accolades from the City of Manila, Quezon City, and Iligan City. Bautista was hailed in 1993 as
Makata ng Taon by the Komisyon ng mga Wika ng Pilipinas , and t he last part of his epic
trilogy The Trilogy of Saint Lazarus , entitled Sunlight on Broken Stones , won the Centennial
Prize for the epic in 1998. Cirilo F. Bautista is a poet, fictionist, critic, and a writer of
nonfiction.

Prof. Ophelia Dimalanta, PhD

Ophelia Alcantara Dimalanta obtained her B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. in Literature from the
University of Santo Tomas, where she has been teaching literature and creative writing since
1953. She is a Full Professor of English and has held the position of Dean of the UST Faculty of
Arts and Letters. She has been the recipient of numerous honors, including fellowships from
the East-West Center of the University of Hawaii, The United States Information Service and
the International Writers' Program of the University of Iowa; Poet and Critic Best Poem Award
from Iowa State University (1968); Palanca Awards for Poetry (1974, 1983); Fernando Maria
Guerrero Award (1976); Focus Literary Awards for Fiction (1977, 1981); Cultural Center of the
Philippines Literature Grant for Criticism (1983); the Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas
from the Writers' Union of the Philippines (1990) and the South East Asia (SEA) Write Award
from King Bhumibol of Thailand (1999). She influenced younger generations of journalists and
creative writers like Recah Trinidad, Arnold Azurin, Cirilo Bautista, Cristina Pantoja-Hidalgo,
Eric Gamalinda, Jose Neil Garcia, Mike Coroza, and Lourd de Veyra.
 PLENARY SPEAKERS

Prof. J. Neil Garcia, Ph.D.

J. Neil Garcia finished his BA Journalism (magna cum laude) in the University of Santo
Tomas in 1990. is the author of numerous poetry collection and works: Our Lady of Carnival
(1996), The Sorrows of Water (2000), Kaluluwa (2001), Philippine Gay Culture: The Last
Thirty Years (1996), Slip/pages: Essays in Philippine Gay Criticism (1998) and Performing the
Self: Occasional Prose (2003), The Garden of Wordlessness (2005), and Misterios and Other
Poems ( 2005) His latest critical work , Postcolonialism and Filipino Poetics: Essays and
Critiques , is a revised version of his PhD dissertation in English Studies: Creative Writing,
which he completed in 2003. He teaches Creative Writing and Comparative Literature at the
University of the Philippines, where he also serves as an Associate for poetry in the Institution
of Creative Writing.

Assoc. Prof. Oscar Campomanes

Oscar Campomanes is an American Studies expert and literary scholar/cultural critic,
Prof. Campomanes’ works have appeared in various learned journals and critical anthologies
published locally and abroad. He teaches teaches literary and cultural studies fulltime in the
Department of English at the Ateneo de Manila and, occasionally, in the UST Graduate School
as Associate Professorial Lecturer in Cultural Studies Theory, Postcolonialism, Semiotics,
Media Criticism, and Visuality. He was elected to the National Council of the American Studies
Association of the United States in March 2002, making him the first and the only Americanist
Scholar from outside the United States to be nominated and elected to the ASA National
Council. He is also contributor to such now-standard reference texts in the USA as the
Encyclopedia of the American Left (1990), the Oxford Companion to Women’s Writing in the
United States (1994), the Cambridge Inter-Ethnic Companion to Asian American Literature
(1997), and the Blackwell Companion to Asian American Literature (2004). With twoedited
volumes to his name (Historical Reflections on US Governance & Civil Society, De La Salle
University Press, 2001; Culture and Governance, Development Academy of the Philippines,
2004) and a third one forthcoming from another local university press, he is currently working
on a retrospective anthology of his various essays in postcolonial, Americanist, cultural, and
literary critique. He has also published essays in art and media criticism in such venues as the
Philippine Daily Inquirer and the Washington Square Gallery (USA). He is a founding and core
member of ARTERY-Manila, a Malate-based art advocacy and management organization.
 Prof. Marjorie Evasco, PhD
Marjorie Evasco finished her master’s degree in Creative Writing at the Silliman
University and her Doctorate of Arts in Language and Literature (DALL) at the De La Salle
University-Manila. She served as Director of DLSU's Bienvenido N. Santos Creative Writing
Center. She had written many poetry collections: Evasco's poetry books are: Dreamweavers:
Selected Poems 1976-1986 (1987) and Ochre Tones: Poems in English and Cebuano (1999). Her
other books include: A Legacy of Light: 100 Years of Sun Life in the Philippines, Six Women
Poets: Inter/Views (with Edna Manlapaz), Kung Ibig Mo: Love Poetry by Women (with Benilda
Santos) and A Life Shaped by Music: Andrea O. Veneracion and The Philippine Madrigal
Singers.Being born and raised in Bohol, her writing is best expressed in the concept of Home
and Roots. She has received Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards, National Book Awards from the
Manila Critics' Circle, Philippines Free Press, Arinday (Silliman University), and Gintong Aklat
(Book Development Association of the Philippines) prizes. She has received various
international fellowships: Hawthornden Castle, Rockefeller grant and residency, Vancouver
International Writers' Festival, International Writers' Program fellowship, University of Malaya
Cultural Centre and the Word feast 1st Singapore International Literary Festival.

Prof. Priscelina Patajo Legasto, PhD

Priscelina Patajo-Legasto earned her B.A. English , M.A. Comparative Literature, and
Ph.D. in Philippine Studies from the University of the Philippines in Diliman. She is a Professor
of Comparative Literature at the Department of English and Comparative Literature (DECL),
of Arts and Letters, University of the Philippines Diliman. She is teaching literary, cultural,
feminist, and Marxist theory and criticism courses; Philippine theater history; and postcolonial
studies. She was the former Dean of the joint Faculty of Social Sciences & Humanities and the
Faculty of Science & Technology (1999-2002) at the University of the Philippines Open
University. She previously held the positions of Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs,
Director of the University of the Philippines System Information Office, and Director of the
Office of Alumni Relations of the University of the Philippines System (2002-2005). She has
won various awards for teaching including a national award (Metrobank Foundation Search for
the Most Outstanding Teacher-College Level, 1998) and U.P. awards (Gawad Chancellor for
Outstanding Professor, 1996 and College of Arts and Letters Gawad Leopoldo Yabes for
Outstanding Professor, 2001). Her research on theater—Women and Contemporary Theater:
‘Usapang Babae’ and Sarswelang Pangasinan garnered the U.P. Gawad Chancellor for Best
Research of 1994 and for Best Book in 1997, respectively. She also received the U.P. Gawad
Chancellor for Outstanding Researcher in 1997. Filipiniana Reader won the 1998 National
Book Award (Anthology) from the Manila Critics’ Circle. She has edited or written for over
twenty publications. She is a board member of the Philippine Studies Association and of the
Network of Outstanding Teachers and Educators and edits the Diliman Review. Patajo-
Legasto has received Fulbright fellowships as a Visiting Scholar and Visiting Professor at
Cornell University; University of California, Berkeley; New York University; University of
California, Los Angeles; and University of Southern California.
 Prof. Jaime An Lim, Ph.D.
Jaime L. An Lim received his AB English, cum laude, from Mindanao State University. A
writing fellow at the Silliman National Writers Workshop (1973) and the UP Writers Workshop
(1974), he won an Honorable Mention for fiction from Focus (1973), a Third Prize for poetry
from Philippines Free Press (1995), a Third Prize for poetry from Home Life (1995), a Second
Prize for fiction from Panorama (1995), and several Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for
fiction in English (1973, 1993), essay (1989), short story for children (1990, 1993), and poetry
(1990). He holds five graduate degrees, including an MA in English and Creative Writing from
Silliman University, an Ed.S. in Instructional Systems Technology, and a Ph.D. in Comparative
Literature, both from Indiana University, Bloomington. At IU, he won Second Prize in the
Asian Student essay contest (1978), the Academy of American Poets Prize (1981), the Tutungi
Prize (1983), and the Ellis Literary Award (1984). He was awarded the 2000 Gawad
Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas by the Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas (UMPIL). For his
teaching, the Metrobank Foundation gave him the 2003 Outstanding Teacher Award. He was a
fellow to the 25th British Council Seminar on the British Writer at Downing College,
Cambridge in 1999. He taught in the United States and worked as a TESL consultant at the
University of North Sumatra, Indonesia. He recently retired as a professor of English from
MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology where he organized the Mindanao Creative Writers Group,
Inc., and founded the Iligan National Writers Workshop. He is presently the Dean of the
Institute of Arts and Sciences of Far Eastern University, Manila.