writes like an angel
Merlinda Carullo Bobis
born 1959 Philippines
Filipina academic, poet and performing artist who spent her childhood in the foothills of Mt. Mayon
legend has it that Mt. Mayon arose from the tomb of a 'beautiful maiden', Daragang Magayon
Bachelor of Arts, Aquinas University of Legaspi
Master of Arts, University of Santo Tomas, Manila
Doctorate of Creative Arts, University of Wollongong
taught for 10 years in two universities and a college in the Philippines
member of Philippines organization Women Involved in Creating Cultural Alternatives (WICCA)
an accomplished performer of her own poetry, embodying text in dance, music and theatre, inspired by traditional Philippines epic chanting
resident in Australia since 1991
Lecturer, University of Wollongong
Cantata of the Warrior Woman
radio play Rita's Lullaby, won the 1998 Prix Italia, a prestigious international award for radio fiction, as well as the 1998 Australian Writers Guild Award for best radio script, and the 1995 Ian Reed Radio Drama Prize
poetry collection Summer was a Fast Train without Terminals was shortlisted for the Age Book of the Year in 1998
received Philippine national awards for her poems in Filipino and English
has performed her poetry as theatre in Australia, the Philippines, France and China
latest collection of short stories White Turtle won the Manila Critics Circle's National Book Award for fiction in 2000, and co-won the Steele Rudd Award
Rituals (1990) collects her poems in English; Ang Lipad ay Awit Sa Apat Na Hangin (1990), her poems in Filipino
work includes a bilingual epic, Cantana of the Women Warrior/Daragang Magayon (1993) which she recites in live performances
White Turtle released in the US as The Kissing
Merlinda Bobis at Women Publishing in Asia
Merlinda Bobis at Solidarity Philippines Australia Network
Merlina Bobis at Filipina Literature and Arts in the Diaspora
Merlinda Bobis reads in Seattle October 2001
White Turtle reviewed at Ms. Magazine
White Turtle reviewed by Carolyn Brewer at Intersections
Edna Zapanta-Manlapaz "Songs of Ourselves"