Temistokles "Tem" Adlawan ( born on December 21, 1930, Naga, Cebu) was a prominent Cebuano poet and fictionist. Known for his irreverent humor and sensitivity to gender issues, Adlawan explored themes ranging from rural life to urban struggles. His works, including the story “One Day on the Road,” showcase a diverse style, blending colloquial wit, poetic imagery, and thought-provoking narratives.
Merlie M. Alunan (born December 14, 1943) is a multi-awarded Filipina poet, teacher, and cultural advocate from the Visayas. She has authored several acclaimed poetry collections, including Running with Ghosts and Other Poems, which won the 37th National Book Award for Poetry in 2017. A retired Professor Emeritus from the University of the Philippines, she holds degrees from the University of the Visayas and Silliman University. Having lived across the Visayas and Mindanao, Alunan is fluent in major Visayan languages. She now resides in Tacloban City, where she continues to write.
Daryll Delgado is a Filipino author and poet from Tacloban City, known for her award-winning book After the Body Displaces Water and her novel Remains. Her works, featured in various literary journals and anthologies, explore complex themes with depth and nuance. A graduate of the University of the Philippines, she has taught at UP, Ateneo, and Miriam College. Delgado also heads Southeast Asia research on labor rights for an international NGO and lives in Quezon City with her husband, William.
This short story, "One Day on the Road" explores the daily struggle and moral dilemmas that Philippine society faces. Through the eyes of a Philippine tricycle driver, we can capture the realities of ordinary Filipinos like him, who struggle to make a good living. "One Day on the Road" tells of Miguel, a tricycle driver, who races a young rival, Sherwin, for passengers. Pushing too hard, Miguel crashes into a jeepney and ends up hospitalized, this highlights the risks of daily survival.
This short poem, "The Haiyan Dead" written by Merlie M. Alunan shows how the dead from the typhoon search for things they once had, but now washed away from the typhoon, they search for their past lives, relationships, belongings, etc. This typhoon was typhoon Yolanda which struck the Philippines in 2013, killing over 6,000 people.
This short poem, "Preludes" written by Daryll Delgado shows how the main character, Nenita, deals with the pain and suffering caused by her husband and his family. The text explains Nenita's experiences in dealing with these problems and the outlets the helped her. The text also shows how Nenita does not repay the people who have wronged her by wronging them as well. Instead, Nenita decides to repay them back with kindness and peace.
These literature compilations were prepared by:
Lucas Lamzon
Angela Aquino
Erica Machado
Kobe Camaso
Maia Sy
Roz Moscardon