Abdulhamid Alawi Jr. currently heads the policy division of the BARMM ministry in charge of housing and human settlements. He is also an archivist and was a member of the project team for the Bangsamoro Museum in Cotabato City.
39-year-old Sitti Maryam Misah-Amirul is an architect from Jolo, Sulu. She is currently working at the Ministry of Public Works Sulu 1st District Engineering Office. She is a mother of three, a faithful wife, and a dedicated public servant.
Razul A. Ariz is a promising Maguindanaon writer and lexicographer dedicated to promoting the Maguindanaon language through various mediums. He showcases his linguistic prowess through translated poems, short stories, and other language-related content, often identified by his social media hashtag #mëgindëknown. Razul graduated Cum Laude in 2022, earning a bachelor’s degree in English Language Studies from Mindanao State University General Santos City. Currently, he serves as the Editor-In-Chief of the Kampilan Palimbang Writerhood, a pioneering writers’ group in his hometown, Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat.
Nelson Dino is engaged in writing poetry, short stories, narratives, novels, and song lyrics in different languages. In addition to serving as a history and language faculty member at the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) at Mindanao State University Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography, he is tasked with being the director of the Cultural Affairs Office (CAO), supervising the Tambuli Cultural Dance Troupe, Gusi Lumba Music Guild, Dolphin Ambassadors, and University Marching Band.
Mirra-Edora Esmael is a faculty member of the Language Department of Mindanao State University—Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography (MSU-TCTO) who is passionate about books, sunset, and coffee. She has been teaching for eight years, advocating for the creation of a culture of reading among her students and in her community. As a writer, her recent interests are in poetry and personal essays.
Aminah Fernando Kunting is an instructor of Language Development Resource Center, of Western Mindanao State University, Zamboanga City. She obtained her Master of Arts in English Langu Studies in Mindanao State University- Iligan Institute of Technology. She has always been interested in literature, most especially in indigenous people’s works and culture. She hopes to further her knowledge on these.
Daniel Luna is a third-year college student currently taking Bachelor of Arts in English Language Studies at Mindanao State University, Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography.
An-Nurhaiyden Mangelen is currently studying law at the Ateneo de Davao University College of Law. He graduated Cum Laude and finished his Bachelor of Arts in English, majoring in Creative Writing at the University of the Philippines-Mindanao Campus. He tries to write on his spare time, and is blessed to have access to writing as an outlet for stress.
Sharmida M. Mawan is a 21-year-old Tausug born in Jolo, Sulu. She is the second daughter of Pakhar J. Mawan and Sherma E. Mansari. She was raised in a Muslim-Tausug environment hence her deep connection with her culture and ethnicity. She is also campus journalist since junior high school, a leader, a volunteer and a peace mediator. She is currently a third-year college student of Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at Western Mindanao State University. She believes that nothing comes from nothing that is why taking risk is always the safest choice.
Lawyer Zeny-Linda Saipudin Nandu, SCL is from Jolo, Sulu, where she is a graduate of AB Political Science from Mindanao State University-Sulu as University Scholar, Cum Laude and Most Outstanding Graduate Awardee. After law school in Ateneo de Davao University, she earned MA in Islamic Studies from the University of the Philippines Diliman as Scholar and Dean’s Lister, while serving as Chief of Staff of Anak Mindanao Party-list Representative in Congress. Before the 2023 Bar Exams, she also passed the 2018 Special Shari’ah Bar Exams and 2019 Career Executive Service Exam, and since then, she has been in a limited (Shari’ah) law practice while at the same time working as Political Affairs Officer VI of Member of Parliament at the Bangsamoro Transition Authority in Cotabato City.
Si Ayessah Nesreen Banocag Pasagi, nakatira sa Balindong, Lanao del Sur, ay kasalukuyang nag-aaral ng BA English Language Studies sa Mindanao State University – Main Campus, Marawi City. Siya ay nagsusulat upang ibahagi ang kanyang mga pananaw at mga karanasan bilang isang Meranaw na nagsisimula pa lamang mag-explore sa buhay. Ang isa sa kanyang mga akda na may pamagat na “Every College Student” ay malayang nailathala ng Indiependent Collective noong 2023. Sa parehong taon, naging fellow siya ng ikaanim na Luntiang Palihan ng De La Salle University, Manila.
Anna Rahma Usman Sarip is currently a third-year college student at Mindanao State University – Main Campus Marawi City taking up Bachelor of Arts in English Language Studies. She is a Meranaw, born and raised in MSU, Marawi City. Anna or preferably called Apple, continues to thrive in life as she climbs upon the mountain to success. She also takes a lot of interest in trying different forms and genres of writing as she considers it a crucial point in advancing her knowledge and experience. Aside from that, some of her research works have been accepted on multiple paper presentations and conferences around the nation. Anna also spends her idle hours by taking care of her cats and kittens at home.
Jahara A. Solaiman is an instructor at the English Department of Mindanao State University-Marawi City, where she teaches English, literature, and art appreciation. Her earlier works have appeared in other literary anthologies, the most recent being Lawanen II (Gantala Press) and Ani 40: Katutubo (Cultural Center of the Philippines). In addition to creative writing, she loves imparting her love of art (she works with colored pencils, watercolors, and acrylic) to her students.
Hasmeyya Tiboron, 25, is a creative nonfiction writer from Cotabato City. She has a degree in Philosophy from Mindanao State University – Main Campus but she’s not an atheist. She loves coffee.
Almayrah A. Tiburon is a native Meranaw writer from Mindanao State University, Marawi City. She composed the official school hymn of Philippine Integrated School Foundation (PISF). Two of her books on fiction Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 have e-book versions aside from printed ones. Her works have been published in respected periodicals and anthologies such as Umaalma, Kumikibo, In Certain Seasons: Mother Write in the Time of Covid, Likhaan: The Journal of Contemporary Philippine Literature, Aruga: Mga Sanaysay ng Pagtanggap at Paglingap, Ani 40: Katutubo where she served as the editor of the Meranaw section of this book, BioLente: Mga Bagong Katha sa Danas ng Dahas at Banwa, Laoanen: Kababaihan/ Digmaan/ Kapayapaan, CNN Philippines’ Best Books of 2018 Lawanen 2: Mga Alaala ng Pagkubkob which she also served as editor of this book, Mga Haraya ng Pag-igpaw, Bangsamoro Literary Review, Liwayway, Danas: Mga Pag-aakda ng Babae Ngayon which was named among The Best Filipino Books of the 2010s by CNN Philippines, Likhaan’s Dx Machina: Philippine Literature in the Time of COVID-19, Sulatan sa Panahon ng Pandemya, Mindanao Harvest 4: A 21st Century Literary Anthology, and Asymptote Journal. She is the author of Thotholan: Mga Alamat at Pabulang Meranaw, and Salamin At Iba Pang Panglaw which was among the Top 5 finalists for the Best Books of Short Fiction (Filipino) in National Book Awards 2019. Her literary interests also cover the folk literature of the Meranaw people. She wants to encourage Meranaws and other Mindanaoans, whose voices are seldom heard in the literary scene, to write about their sentiments and be published.