Authors Famous Writers from the Philippines

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List of famous writers from the Philippines, listed alphabetically with photos when available. The Philippines are home to many prolific writers, including those who write fiction, non-fiction, poetry, biographies and more. These are some of the best Filipino writers that have ever lived, so if you're a native of Philippines and an aspiring writer then use this list as inspiration to achieve your own writing goals.

The list you're viewing is made up of many different writers, like Marilou Diaz-Abaya and Lou Diamond Phillips.

This list answers the questions, "Who are popular Filipino writers?" and "Which writers are from Philippines?" With these well known Philippines writers, readers can access Filipino culture, answering questions they never even knew they wanted to ask.

You can click on the names of these renowned writers of Philippines in order to get more information about each one. Some of these historic writers may no longer be living in Philippines, but they're all of Philippines descent.

1

Ninotchka Rosca age 72 Ninotchka Rosca is a Filipina feminist, author, journalist and human rights activist who is active in AF3IRM, the Mariposa Center for Change, Sisterhood is Global and the initiating committee of ...more

2

Lou Diamond Phillips age 56 Lou Diamond Phillips is an American actor and director. His breakthrough came when he starred in the film La Bamba as Ritchie Valens. He earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting ...more

3

Brian Yuzna age 69 Brian Yuzna is a director, writer and producer who has been active within the independent horror genre for over thirty years. He is widely known as the producer behind Re-Animator, as well as ...more

4

Cirio H. Santiago Died at 72 (1936-2008) Cirio H. Santiago was a prolific Filipino film producer, director, writer and cinematographer. He also uses the screen names: Cirio Santiago and Leonard Hermes.

5

Eddie Romero Died at 89 (1924-2013) Edgar Sinco Romero was an influential Filipino film director, film producer and screenwriter, considered one of the finest in the Cinema of the Philippines. Romero was named National Artist of ...more

6

Chris Sheridan age 51 Christopher "Chris" Sheridan is an American television writer, producer, and occasional voice actor. Born in the Philippines, Sheridan grew up in New Hampshire. He attended Gilford ...more

7

José Rizal Died at 35 (1861-1896) José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda was a Filipino nationalist, novelist, poet, ophthalmologist, journalist, and revolutionary. He is widely considered one of the greatest ...more

8

Brillante Mendoza age 58 Brillante Mendoza is a Filipino film director. He was born and raised in San Fernando, Pampanga. He took Advertising Arts of the then College of Architecture and Fine Arts at the University of ...more

9

Luis Eduardo Aute age 75 Luis Eduardo Aute is a Spanish musician, singer-songwriter, film director, painter and poet.

10

José Javier Reyes age 68 Jose Javier Reyes is a Filipino writer, director, miscellaneous crew and actor. He has won awards at the Gawad Urian, Metro Manila Film Festival and Filipino Star Awards for Movies for his ...more

11

Carlos P. Romulo Died at 86 (1899-1985) Carlos Peña Rómulo, QSC PLH was a Filipino diplomat, statesman, soldier, journalist and author. He was a reporter at 16, a newspaper editor by the age of 20, and a publisher at 32. ...more

12

Auraeus Solito age 49 Auraeus Solito is an internationally acclaimed and award-winning Filipino filmmaker and indigenous peoples rights advocate who comes from a lineage of Shaman-Kings from the Palawan tribe but is ...more

13

Lav Diaz age 60 Lavrente Indico Diaz is a Filipino independent filmmaker. He has won several international awards such as the award for Best Picture at the Singapore International Film Festival, the Independent ...more

14

Peque Gallaga age 75 Peque Gallaga is a multi-awarded Filipino film-maker. His most significant achievement in film is "Oro, Plata, Mata", which he directed after winning a scripwriting contest sponsored ...more

15

Fidel V. Ramos age 90 Fidel Valdez Ramos AFP PLH GCMG, popularly known as FVR and Eddie, was the 12th President of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998. During his six years in office, Ramos was widely credited and ...more

16

Raya Martin age 34 Raya Martin is a film director, film producer, screenwriter, cinematographer, and film editor.

17

Jose Mari Avellana Died at 70 (1941-2011) Jose Mari Avellana was an actor, production designer, screenwriter and film director.

18

Michael Gleissner age 49 Michael J. G. Gleissner is an entrepreneur, film producer, director, screenwriter, actor, photographer, and musician.

19

Khavn De La Cruz age 45 Khavn De La Cruz, a.k.a.KHAVN is a Filipino poet, singer, songwriter, pianist, and filmmaker. Considered the father of Philippine digital filmmaking, he has made 32 features and more than a ...more

20

Isabel Preysler age 67 María Isabel Preysler Arrastía, better known as Isabel Preysler, is a Filipina socialite and television host.

21

Lino Brocka Died at 52 (1939-1991) Catalino Ortiz Brocka is a Filipino film director. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and significant Filipino filmmakers in Philippine cinema history. In 1983, he founded the ...more

22

Mike De Leon age 71 Miguel Pamintuan de Leon, also known as Mike de Leon is a Filipino film director, cinematographer, scriptwriter and film producer.

23

Gerardo de León Died at 68 (1913-1981) Gerardo de León, ONA was a Filipino actor turned film director, who made his acting debut in the 1934 film Ang Dangal.

24

Adolf Alix, Jr. age 40 Adolfo Alix, Jr. or Adolf Alix is a Filipino screenwriter and film director.

25

Rustica C. Carpio age 88 Rustica C. Carpio is an actress and writer.

26

Ferdinand Marcos Died at 72 (1917-1989) Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos was a Filipino lawyer and politician who served as President of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. In the earlier part of his presidency, he was known for his ...more

27

Felix Roco age 29 Felix Roco is a Filipino actor. He is the son of actor Bembol Roco and the twin brother of Dominic Roco. Felix Roco was under GMA Artist Center together with his twin Dominic from 2007-2009. ...more

28

Marilou Diaz-Abaya Died at 57 (1955-2012) Marilou Díaz-Abaya was a multi-awarded film director from the Philippines. She was the founder and president of the Marilou Díaz-Abaya Film Institute and Arts Center, a film school ...more

29

Rahadyan Sastrowardoyo age 55 Rahadyan Timoteo Sastrowardoyo is a writer, editor and photographer. He is an American of Indonesian and Filipino ancestry. Sastrowardoyo was raised on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, and ...more

30

Corazon Aquino Died at 76 (1933-2009) Maria Corazon "Cory" Sumulong Cojuangco Aquino was a Philippine politician who served as the 11th President of the Philippines, the first woman to hold that office, and the first ...more

31

Carlo J. Caparas age 60 Magno "Carlo" Jose Caparas, widely known as Carlo J. Caparas, is a Filipino comic strip creator/writer-turned director and producer, who is best known for creating Filipino superheroes ...more

32

Ian Loreños Ian Loreños is a film director and screenwriter.

33

Eddie del Mar Died at 67 (1919-1986) Eduardo del Mar is a Filipino actor, famous for his role as the Philippine hero José Rizal.

34

Fernando Amorsolo Died at 80 (1892-1972) Fernando Cueto Amorsolo is one of the most important artists in the history of painting in the Philippines. Amorsolo was a portraitist and painter of rural Philippine landscapes. He is popularly ...more

35

Chris Martinez age 47 Chris Martinez is a screenwriter, film director and film producer.

36

Manuel Roxas Died at 56 (1892-1948) Manuel Acuña Roxas was the fifth President of the Philippines, the last of the Commonwealth of the Philippines and the first of the sovereign Third Philippine Republic. He ruled as ...more

37

Tikoy Aguiluz age 66 Amable "Tikoy" Aguiluz is an award winning Filipino film director, film producer, screenwriter and cinematographer. He also founded the Cinemanila International Film Festival in Manila ...more

38

Emilio Aguinaldo Died at 95 (1869-1964) Emilio Famy Aguinaldo QSC PLH is officially recognized as the First President of the Philippines and led Philippine forces first against Spain in the latter part of the Philippine Revolution, ...more

39

Jun Lana age 46 Jun Lana, born as Rodolfo R. Lana, Jr., is a Filipino playwright and two-time FAMAS award-winning screenwriter. The winner of 11 Palanca Awards for Literature, he became the youngest member of ...more

40

Diosdado Macapagal Died at 87 (1910-1997) Diosdado Pangan Macapagal was the ninth President of the Philippines, serving from 1961 to 1965, and the sixth Vice-President, serving from 1957 to 1961. He also served as a member of the House ...more

41

Jet Leyco age 31 Jet Leyco is a film editor, screenwriter, cinematographer and film director.

42

Danton Remoto age 55 Danton R. Remoto is a Filipino writer, essayist, reporter, editor, columnist, and professor. Remoto was a first prize recipient at the ASEAN Letter-Writing Contest for Young People. The award ...more

43

Elpidio Quirino Died at 66 (1890-1956) Elpidio Rivera Quirino was a Filipino politician, and the sixth President of the Philippines. A lawyer by profession, Quirino entered politics when he became a representative of Ilocos Sur from ...more

44

Jose Antonio Vargas age 37 Jose Antonio Vargas is a journalist, filmmaker, and immigration activist. Born in the Philippines and raised in the United States from the age of twelve, he was part of The Washington Post team ...more

45

Bobby A. Suarez Died at 68 (1942-2010) Roberto A. Suarez, commonly referred to as "Bobby" or "BAS", was a Filipino film producer, director and screenwriter. He had a very humble beginning. At an early age, he sold ...more

46

Miguel Syjuco age 42 Miguel Syjuco is a Filipino writer from Manila and the grand prize winner of the 2008 Man Asian Literary Prize for his first novel Ilustrado.

47

Ricky Lee age 70 Ricky Lee is a Filipino writer. He has written more than 150 film scripts since 1973, earning him more than 50 trophies from various award-giving bodies, including a 2003 Natatanging Gawad Urian ...more

48

Eddie Rodriguez Died at 69 (1932-2001) Luis Clemente Enriquez better known as his stage name Eddie Rodriguez was a Filipino film actor and director.

49

Lualhati Bautista age 73 Lualhati Torres Bautista is one of the foremost Filipino female novelists in the history of contemporary Philippine Literature. Her novels include Dekada '70, Bata, Bata, Pa'no Ka Ginawa?, and

50

Blas Ople Died at 76 (1927-2003) Blas Fajardo Ople was a Filipino journalist and politician who held several high-ranking positions in the executive and legislative branches of the Philippine government, including as Senate ...more

1 Ninotchka Rosca age 72 Ninotchka Rosca is a Filipina feminist, author, journalist and human rights activist who is active in AF3IRM, the Mariposa Center for Change, Sisterhood is Global and the initiating committee of ...more

2 Lou Diamond Phillips age 56 Lou Diamond Phillips is an American actor and director. His breakthrough came when he starred in the film La Bamba as Ritchie Valens. He earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting ...more

3 Brian Yuzna age 69 Brian Yuzna is a director, writer and producer who has been active within the independent horror genre for over thirty years. He is widely known as the producer behind Re-Animator, as well as ...more

4 Cirio H. Santiago Died at 72 (1936-2008) Cirio H. Santiago was a prolific Filipino film producer, director, writer and cinematographer. He also uses the screen names: Cirio Santiago and Leonard Hermes.

5 Eddie Romero Died at 89 (1924-2013) Edgar Sinco Romero was an influential Filipino film director, film producer and screenwriter, considered one of the finest in the Cinema of the Philippines. Romero was named National Artist of ...more

6 Chris Sheridan age 51 Christopher "Chris" Sheridan is an American television writer, producer, and occasional voice actor. Born in the Philippines, Sheridan grew up in New Hampshire. He attended Gilford ...more

7 José Rizal Died at 35 (1861-1896) José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda was a Filipino nationalist, novelist, poet, ophthalmologist, journalist, and revolutionary. He is widely considered one of the greatest ...more

8 Brillante Mendoza age 58 Brillante Mendoza is a Filipino film director. He was born and raised in San Fernando, Pampanga. He took Advertising Arts of the then College of Architecture and Fine Arts at the University of ...more

9 Luis Eduardo Aute age 75 Luis Eduardo Aute is a Spanish musician, singer-songwriter, film director, painter and poet.

10 José Javier Reyes age 68 Jose Javier Reyes is a Filipino writer, director, miscellaneous crew and actor. He has won awards at the Gawad Urian, Metro Manila Film Festival and Filipino Star Awards for Movies for his ...more

11 Carlos P. Romulo Died at 86 (1899-1985) Carlos Peña Rómulo, QSC PLH was a Filipino diplomat, statesman, soldier, journalist and author. He was a reporter at 16, a newspaper editor by the age of 20, and a publisher at 32. ...more

12 Auraeus Solito age 49 Auraeus Solito is an internationally acclaimed and award-winning Filipino filmmaker and indigenous peoples rights advocate who comes from a lineage of Shaman-Kings from the Palawan tribe but is ...more

13 Lav Diaz age 60 Lavrente Indico Diaz is a Filipino independent filmmaker. He has won several international awards such as the award for Best Picture at the Singapore International Film Festival, the Independent ...more

14 Peque Gallaga age 75 Peque Gallaga is a multi-awarded Filipino film-maker. His most significant achievement in film is "Oro, Plata, Mata", which he directed after winning a scripwriting contest sponsored ...more

15 Fidel V. Ramos age 90 Fidel Valdez Ramos AFP PLH GCMG, popularly known as FVR and Eddie, was the 12th President of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998. During his six years in office, Ramos was widely credited and ...more

16 Raya Martin age 34 Raya Martin is a film director, film producer, screenwriter, cinematographer, and film editor.

17 Jose Mari Avellana Died at 70 (1941-2011) Jose Mari Avellana was an actor, production designer, screenwriter and film director.

18 Michael Gleissner age 49 Michael J. G. Gleissner is an entrepreneur, film producer, director, screenwriter, actor, photographer, and musician.

19 Khavn De La Cruz age 45 Khavn De La Cruz, a.k.a.KHAVN is a Filipino poet, singer, songwriter, pianist, and filmmaker. Considered the father of Philippine digital filmmaking, he has made 32 features and more than a ...more

20 Isabel Preysler age 67 María Isabel Preysler Arrastía, better known as Isabel Preysler, is a Filipina socialite and television host.

21 Lino Brocka Died at 52 (1939-1991) Catalino Ortiz Brocka is a Filipino film director. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and significant Filipino filmmakers in Philippine cinema history. In 1983, he founded the ...more

22 Mike De Leon age 71 Miguel Pamintuan de Leon, also known as Mike de Leon is a Filipino film director, cinematographer, scriptwriter and film producer.

23 Gerardo de León Died at 68 (1913-1981) Gerardo de León, ONA was a Filipino actor turned film director, who made his acting debut in the 1934 film Ang Dangal.

24 Adolf Alix, Jr. age 40 Adolfo Alix, Jr. or Adolf Alix is a Filipino screenwriter and film director.

25 Rustica C. Carpio age 88 Rustica C. Carpio is an actress and writer.

26 Ferdinand Marcos Died at 72 (1917-1989) Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos was a Filipino lawyer and politician who served as President of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. In the earlier part of his presidency, he was known for his ...more

27 Felix Roco age 29 Felix Roco is a Filipino actor. He is the son of actor Bembol Roco and the twin brother of Dominic Roco. Felix Roco was under GMA Artist Center together with his twin Dominic from 2007-2009. ...more

28 Marilou Diaz-Abaya Died at 57 (1955-2012) Marilou Díaz-Abaya was a multi-awarded film director from the Philippines. She was the founder and president of the Marilou Díaz-Abaya Film Institute and Arts Center, a film school ...more

29 Rahadyan Sastrowardoyo age 55 Rahadyan Timoteo Sastrowardoyo is a writer, editor and photographer. He is an American of Indonesian and Filipino ancestry. Sastrowardoyo was raised on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, and ...more

30 Corazon Aquino Died at 76 (1933-2009) Maria Corazon "Cory" Sumulong Cojuangco Aquino was a Philippine politician who served as the 11th President of the Philippines, the first woman to hold that office, and the first ...more

31 Carlo J. Caparas age 60 Magno "Carlo" Jose Caparas, widely known as Carlo J. Caparas, is a Filipino comic strip creator/writer-turned director and producer, who is best known for creating Filipino superheroes ...more

32 Ian Loreños Ian Loreños is a film director and screenwriter.

33 Eddie del Mar Died at 67 (1919-1986) Eduardo del Mar is a Filipino actor, famous for his role as the Philippine hero José Rizal.

34 Fernando Amorsolo Died at 80 (1892-1972) Fernando Cueto Amorsolo is one of the most important artists in the history of painting in the Philippines. Amorsolo was a portraitist and painter of rural Philippine landscapes. He is popularly ...more

35 Chris Martinez age 47 Chris Martinez is a screenwriter, film director and film producer.

36 Manuel Roxas Died at 56 (1892-1948) Manuel Acuña Roxas was the fifth President of the Philippines, the last of the Commonwealth of the Philippines and the first of the sovereign Third Philippine Republic. He ruled as ...more

37 Tikoy Aguiluz age 66 Amable "Tikoy" Aguiluz is an award winning Filipino film director, film producer, screenwriter and cinematographer. He also founded the Cinemanila International Film Festival in Manila ...more

38 Emilio Aguinaldo Died at 95 (1869-1964) Emilio Famy Aguinaldo QSC PLH is officially recognized as the First President of the Philippines and led Philippine forces first against Spain in the latter part of the Philippine Revolution, ...more

39 Jun Lana age 46 Jun Lana, born as Rodolfo R. Lana, Jr., is a Filipino playwright and two-time FAMAS award-winning screenwriter. The winner of 11 Palanca Awards for Literature, he became the youngest member of ...more

40 Diosdado Macapagal Died at 87 (1910-1997) Diosdado Pangan Macapagal was the ninth President of the Philippines, serving from 1961 to 1965, and the sixth Vice-President, serving from 1957 to 1961. He also served as a member of the House ...more

41 Jet Leyco age 31 Jet Leyco is a film editor, screenwriter, cinematographer and film director.

42 Danton Remoto age 55 Danton R. Remoto is a Filipino writer, essayist, reporter, editor, columnist, and professor. Remoto was a first prize recipient at the ASEAN Letter-Writing Contest for Young People. The award ...more

43 Elpidio Quirino Died at 66 (1890-1956) Elpidio Rivera Quirino was a Filipino politician, and the sixth President of the Philippines. A lawyer by profession, Quirino entered politics when he became a representative of Ilocos Sur from ...more

44 Jose Antonio Vargas age 37 Jose Antonio Vargas is a journalist, filmmaker, and immigration activist. Born in the Philippines and raised in the United States from the age of twelve, he was part of The Washington Post team ...more

45 Bobby A. Suarez Died at 68 (1942-2010) Roberto A. Suarez, commonly referred to as "Bobby" or "BAS", was a Filipino film producer, director and screenwriter. He had a very humble beginning. At an early age, he sold ...more

46 Miguel Syjuco age 42 Miguel Syjuco is a Filipino writer from Manila and the grand prize winner of the 2008 Man Asian Literary Prize for his first novel Ilustrado.

47 Ricky Lee age 70 Ricky Lee is a Filipino writer. He has written more than 150 film scripts since 1973, earning him more than 50 trophies from various award-giving bodies, including a 2003 Natatanging Gawad Urian ...more

48 Eddie Rodriguez Died at 69 (1932-2001) Luis Clemente Enriquez better known as his stage name Eddie Rodriguez was a Filipino film actor and director.

49 Lualhati Bautista age 73 Lualhati Torres Bautista is one of the foremost Filipino female novelists in the history of contemporary Philippine Literature. Her novels include Dekada '70, Bata, Bata, Pa'no Ka Ginawa?, and

50 Blas Ople Died at 76 (1927-2003) Blas Fajardo Ople was a Filipino journalist and politician who held several high-ranking positions in the executive and legislative branches of the Philippine government, including as Senate ...more