Category: Contributors

Ashia A. Abdulatiph is an undergraduate student currently enrolled in the BA English Language Studies program at Mindanao State Univery-Main Campus, Marawi City. She is a Meranaw who grew up in what is now known as the Ground Zero of Marawi City. Her interests lie in the exploration of the Meranaw culture and its propagation. She intends to narrate and convey the lives of the Meranaw people whose voice needs to be represented in the mainstream media.

Nurmina Abdul is a Bachelor of Arts in English (Creative Writing) student at the University of the Philippines Mindanao. She hails from Sultan Kudarat, but currently resides in Davao.

As Sulus, Nelson Dino is engaged in creative writing like poetry, short stories, narratives, novels, and song lyrics in different languages. He serves as a professor of history and language at MSU-TCTO. His other writing comes from his iconological research on the cultural history, expressions, motifs, and meanings of the Sulus carving arts. His current research is about the archetypes of character in Kissa as a source of an individual’s sense of self, known to Sulus as Akkal Buddi.

Earl Carlo Guevarra is a consultant for an interfaith dialogue organization in Manila. Originally hailing from a mixed-faith family in Zamboanga, he has written for both local and international publications. He loves to travel to different places and consume huge amounts of fruit tea!

Morsid A. Kadir is a mujahid photojournalist currently employed in the Bangsamoro Information Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. A native of Shariff Aguak in Maguindanao del Sur, he was born on June 16, 1993. He enjoys writing in a poetic style. His poetry is inspired by his experiences and observations of the realities of life, particularly in the life of a mujahid, aiming to inspire youngsters so that they won’t forget and will appreciate what the Bangsamoro has achieved today.

Norhan B. Kudarat is an English teacher at the JH Cerilles State College. He holds a Master of Arts in Education, specializing in English, and is pursuing a Ph.D. in Language Studies at Mindanao State University in Marawi City. In 2023, he received the Best Folk Story Writer award for his work, “Dipatuan and Bai Laga,” featured in the anthology of Kalimantan and Mindanao Folk Stories at Universitas Tanjungpura, Indonesia. Norhan’s career exemplifies dedication to education and a talent for storytelling that celebrates cultural heritage.

Aisha L. Kunting graduated senior high school at Philippine International School in Riyadh, where she was the assistant editor in chief for the Campus Voice paper. She worked for DQ Living Magazine Riyadh as a Content Contributor, creating reels and posts for DQ’s social media accounts. Currently, she is pursuing a degree in Business Administration at Mapua Malayan Digital College. Her hobbies include creative writing such as poems and short stories, and food photography for her Instagram blog, Averenza.

Jannah Reeham M. Macaumbos is an undergraduate student at Mindanao State University – Main Campus and is currently taking up the degree of Bachelor of Arts in English Language Studies. Jannah is a huge advocate of language preservation. She believes that there is an urgent need in preserving indigenous languages since it plays a crucial role in protecting the culture and identity of its speakers. Aside from her interest in language, she is also known for her advocacy about the importance of Mental Health and Human Rights.

Shariful Hashim S. Mansul, or Perry, is a freelance writer-researcher born in Jolo, Sulu. Loosely settling in the genre of creative nonfiction, his writings oftentimes explore the slippery figuration of realities in the Sulu Archipelago and aims to escalate its discoursive abstraction. He does this by mixing up memory, research, correspondences, armchair philosophy, and a pack of cigarettes. No coffee. He also likes trying out new things and Pringles.

Amirol Awal Mohammad is an active student leader, student athlete, and a passionate campus journalist. He is currently a fourth-year student, taking Bachelor of Science in Development Communication in Mindanao State University-Main Campus, Marawi City. He is the president of the Union of Communication Artists, under the Department of Communication and Media Studies, College of Social Sciences and Humanities, MSU-Main Campus. He is a new member of SOX Writers Collective who also dabbles in freelance hosting and photography.

Si Alican M. Pandapatan ay kasalukuyang fakulti ng Departamento ng Filipino at Iba Pang Wika, Kolehiyo ng Agham Panlipunan at Pangkatauhan ng Mindanao State University-Main Campus. Siya ay nagtuturo ng wika, pagsasaling pampanitikan, at banyagang wika. Nakapagturo na rin siya ng diskurso sa panitikan at malikhaing pagsulat. Ang isa sa kanyang salin na may pamagat na “Elehiya para kay Sakhr” ay nalathala sa Kawing Journal. Binasa niya rin ang tula ni Abadilla na “Ako ang Daigdig” sa isang Poetry Reading Night na bahagi ng isang kumperensiya sa Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Malaysia. Noong 2017, siya ay naging fellow ng 24^th Iligan National Writers Workshop.

Sittie Aliah Hasmia Mimbala Abdulhalim is an 18-years-old student from Mindanao State University – Marawi Senior High School. She has been an aspiring writer ever since she was a Grade 7 student in MSU – Integrated Laboratory School and started to write her own works when she was in her sophomore years in junior highschool. She always dreamed to become one of the known Moro writers since then. She is more likely into writing short stories and short poems and even read some books when she has some spare time to spend.

Pearlsha Abubakar is an essayist, fictionist, and music composer. She has contributed many articles for major Philippine publications. She was a recipient of the Japan Airlines Summer Scholarship in 1996 and was a fellow for fiction at the UP National Writers Workshop in 2000 and the Iligan National Writers Workshop in 2002. Her music for Ligaya Amilbangsa’s Pangalay dance choreography Stillness In Motion was a finalist for the Onassis International Prize in 2001. She continues to make original music for special commissions, documentary and independent movies, many of which have been screened in film festivals abroad. She is married to filmmaker and photographer Robert Quebral. They have two children.

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.

Si Rofaida Sangcopan Cairoden ay nagmula sa probinsya ng Bayang, Lanao del Sur. Lumaki at nagkaisip sa siyudad ng Marawi sa probinsya ng Lanao del Sur na nagmulat sa kanyang murang kaisipan sa malawak at mayamang kultura’t tradisyon ng tribong Meranao. Nakapagtapos ng kursong  Batsilyer ng sekondarya sa Filipino sa Pamantasang Bayan ng Mindanao sa lungsod ng Marawi. Kasalukuyan din niyang tinatapos ang kanyang Masteral digri na Master ng Sining sa Filipino medyor sa Literatura mula sa Departamento ng mga Gradwadong Pag-aaral mula sa Kolehiyo ng Agham Panlipunan at Pangkatauhan sa Pamantasang Bayan ng Mindanao at nakapagturo ang manunulat sa Philippine Integrated College Academy Foundation. Tulad ng ibang mga manunulat ng akdang pampanitikan, may layunin ang manunulat na maibahagi ang kanyang mga akdang isinulat mula sa iba’t ibang tribo at kultura mula sa buong sulok ng bansa. Sa hangarin na maibahagi at ipaintindi ang mayamang kultura ng mga Meranaw sa pamamagitan ng kanyang mga isinulat. Hangarin din niyang ipaintindi sa kanyang mga mambabasa ang kahalagahan ng isang babaeng Meranao sa tribong Meranao na kasalungat ng mga haka-haka at mga paniniwala mula sa isang babaeng Meranao.

Potri Norania Hadji Jamel, 22, is a Meranaw student completing a BA English (Creative Writing) degree in University of the Philippines Mindanao. Her works appear in Likhaan: University of the Philippines Institute of Creative Writing, Dagmay: Literary Journal of the Davao Writers Guild, and SunStar Davao.

Afdal Barreto Kunting (b. 1973) is a general internist, public health specialist, educator, researcher, climate and cultural competence advocate. He was a campus journalist in high school with a specialization in sports writing in English. His literary style, influenced by his sports writing background, is highly visual, dynamic, and descriptive. He was contributor to the Unilab Biomedis Anthology “Stories that Heal” and to the Daily Zamboanga Times. He presented papers at the Network: Towards Unity for Health in Darwin Australia, Rural Health Conference, WONCA in Seattle, USA and WHO PAHO in Havana, Cuba respectively. Locally, he has also presented at the Association of Philippine Medical Colleges, Inc. Annual Convention.

He was the awardee for Mindanao for Diamonds in the Rough: The Search for the Most Outstanding Young Physician in Community Service in 2009 and the PCP’s Exemplar for Outstanding Community leader in 2018. The Zamboanga City Medical Society awarded him as Most Outstanding Physician in 2020. In 2021, Global Offsite Care named him as one of its Telemedicine Champions. He is currently the Medical Center Chief II of the Zamboanga City Medical Center and seeks to establish a creative writing culture, poetry and storytelling in his institution.

Elmina Rayah Dizon-Maniago is a Mindawon artist, committed to the values of multiculturalism. Her work entitled “Kimochi” (My Favorite Rice Cake) won at the Docomo Tokai Visual Contest in Japan, 2003. Her illustrations of “Dako Nga Yahong Sang Batchoy” (A Big Bowl of Batchoy) won the Mindanao and ASEAN Children’s Literary Festival Book Awards in 2021.

Gamson Jr. Mawallil Quijano of Sulu is a registered Radiologic Technologist who works in Doha, Qatar. He is a contributor in Mindanawon Abroad of MindaNews through a column “Tausug In Doha.” He has published essays, poems, photo stories, and tarasul (Tausug form of poetry) in MindaNews, Mindanao Examiner, The Zamboanga Post, Philippine Muslim Today, The Ranao Star, Mindanao Times, Edge Davao, Mindanao Today, and Mindanao Post. Three of his poems entitled “Magma”, “Twilight” and “Northern Lights” have been published in Poetry 365 by RDW World Publisher. He belongs to the Tulawie Clan of Sulu. He is one of the great-grandchildren of Mohammad Tulawie, one of the greatest Tausug Muslim pioneer educators who made the Tausugs realized the value of education during his time.

Kristian N. Rivera is currently pursuing his final year of undergraduate studies with a major in political science. He is currently affiliated with Pacific Forum and Equal Access International – Philippines as an intern. For about three years, Kristian studied terrorist groups and terrorist profiles tied to 9/11 in New York and the Marawi Siege. He is also committed to understanding the culture, the challenges, and the history of the Moro people in Mindanao.

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.