ALICIA TAN GONZALES

Alice Tan Gonzales was born on June 24, 1954 in Bacolod City. She finished AB English at University of St.
La Salle-Bacolod, MA in Literature at Ateneo de Manila University, and Ph.D. in English Studies at
University of the Philippines-Diliman. Currently, she is a full Professor in English and Literature in UP
Visayas, Iloilo.

She has received the Cultural Center of the Philippines Literature Grants four times: Short Story (1990),
Novel (1991), Play (1994), and Children’s Play (1995). She has won the Palanca Awards for Short Story in
Hiligaynon several times: “Isa Ka Pungpong nga Rosas” (A Bunch of Roses, 1997); “Mga Luha para kay
Tatay Jose” (Tears for Tatay Jose, 1997); “Ang Likum sang Isla San Miguel” (The Secret of Isla San Miguel,
1999); “Sa Taguangkan sang Duta” (In the Womb of the Earth, 2002); at “Dawata Anak” (Receive, My
Child, 2008). Some of the plays she had written which were performed onstage were the sarswela
“Pinustahan nga Gugma” (Betted Love) and the musical “Juanita Cruz.” In 2009 her collection of
Hiligaynon short stories Sa Taguangkan sang Duta kag iban pa nga Sugilanon (In the Womb of the Earth
and Other Stories) was published, and in 2015 her binalaybay (poetry) collection Ilongga: Madamo nga
Guya (Ilongga: Her Many Faces) was published.
(PILI LNG KNG DN BUTANG MO ANG UNA OR AMO N ANG LAST OR PEDE MO MN
SAMUON)

Schooled in the public education system, Alice Tan Gonzales cut her teeth on Si Pepe
kag si Pilarin the 60s and fed on Hiligaynon Magazinein late grade school for scant
reading materials within her reach. After Grade II, Alice reconnected with the language
in her study of the Hiligaynon ballad called komposo for her Master’s thesis at the
Ateneo de Manila in the early 1980s. She started writing in Hiligaynon at the prodding of
the “Father of Contemporary West Visayan Literature” Leoncio P. Deriadain 1988. Born
of a Filipina and a Chinese and speaking Hiligaynon at home, it is no wonder she
should write her first short story in Hiligaynon and discover her deep connection with the
language in the process.

Alice has found a home in the Humanities Division, College of Arts and Sciences, UP
Visayas where she teaches literature and communication. UPV sent her to school at UP
Diliman where she finished her Ph. D. in English Studies: Creative Writing in 2008. UPV
has all this time recognized her and supported her specialization and expertise in
Creative Writing in Hiligaynon without prejudice or condescension, for which she is
constantly thankful. She writes poetry, drama and fiction in Hiligaynon, and her area of
study includes Hiligaynon folk literature.

She was awarded the Carlos Palanca Hall of Fame for Literature in 2014 for winning
five first places in the Hiligaynon Category of Maikling Kuwento.