Lualhati Torres Bautista (born Manila, Philippines December 2, 1945) is one of the

foremost Filipino female novelists in the history of contemporaryPhilippine Literature. Her novels
include Dekada '70, Bata, Bata, Pa'no Ka Ginawa?, and GAP.
Biography[edit]
Bautista was born in Tondo, Manila, Philippines on December 2, 1945 to Esteban Bautista and Gloria
Torres. She graduated from Emilio Jacinto Elementary School in 1958, and from Torres High School in
1962. She was a journalism student at the Lyceum of the Philippines, but dropped out even before she
finished her freshman year.
Despite a lack of formal training, Bautista as the writer became known for her honest realism, courageous
exploration of Philippine women's issues, and her compelling female protagonists, who confront difficult
situations at home and in the workplace with uncommon grit and strength.
Works as novelist[edit]
Lualhati garnered several Palanca Awards (1980, 1983 and 1984) for her novels GAP, Dekada
'70 and Bata, Bata Pano Ka Ginawa? exposing injustices and chronicling women activism during
the Marcos era.
Short stories[edit]
Two of Bautista's short stories won the Palanca Awards, namely "Tatlong Kuwento ng Buhay ni Juan
Candelabra" (Three Stories in the Life of Juan Candelabra), first prize, 1982; and "Buwan, Buwan,
Hulugan mo Ako ng Sundang" (Moon, Moon, Drop Me a Sword), third prize, 1983.
As screenwriter[edit]
Lualhati Bautista's venture as screenwriter produced several critically acclaimed works. Her first
screenplay was Sakada (Seasonal Sugarcane Workers), 1976, which exposed the plight of Filipino
peasants. One of her best screenplays, also written during the same year was Bulaklak ng City Jail based
on her novel about imprisoned women, has won almost all awards for that year from various awards
guilds including Star Awards and Metro Manila Film Festival.
Other honors[edit]
She became a national fellow for fiction of the University of the Philippines Creative Writing Center in
1986. Bautista also served as vice-president of the Screenwriters Guild of the Philippines and chair of
the Kapisanan ng mga Manunulat ng Nobelang Popular.
She was the only Filipino included in a book on foremost International Women Writers published
in Japan in 1991.
Works[edit]
Short fiction collections[edit]
Buwan, Buwan, Hulugan Mo Ako ng Sundang: Dalawang Dekada ng Maiikling Kuwento
Screenplays[edit]
Sakada
Kung Mahawi Man ang Ulap
Bulaklak sa City Jail
Kadenang Bulaklak
The Maricris Sioson Story
Nena
Bata, Bata...Pa'no Ka Ginawa?: The Screenplay
Dekada '70
Ang Tondo ay May Langit din - Khonde