NEW STARS
The NOW Generation of Filipino Women Writers

In 1925, Paz Marquez Benitez published the short story “Dead Stars.” Critics would later declare it as the first Filipino modern short story in English. She is the matriarch of Philippine Literature in English. As National Artist for Literature Franz Arcellana once summed up her influence: “She was the mother of us all!”

To honor this remarkable woman, the Ateneo Library of Women’s Writings inaugurated an annual lecture and exhibit series in her memory. That was twelve years ago. Every year since then, ALIWW has singled out a critically acclaimed Filipino woman writer as the subject of the series. Past honorees have included such illustrious women as Angela Manalang Gloria and Virginia Moreno, Linda Ty Casper and Gilda Cordero Fernando.

This year, the ALIWW is exhibiting the New Stars of Philippine Literature, These new stars are: Cyan Abad-Jugo, Becky Bravo, Frances Alcaraz, Jema Pamintuan, Christine S. Bellen, Fran Ng, Mookie Katigbak, Nikki Go-Alfar, Girl Valencia, Conchitina Cruz, Mirava Yuson, Nerisa del Carmen Guevara, and Rica Bolipata-Santos.