Ryan Lacanilao is a Kapampangan storyteller living on Treaty 6 Territory. He was selected for the 2024 Horizons Writers Circle, and he’s writing a book of letters to his 4-year-old son. His writing can be found in The Polyglot, Hungry Zine, Writerly Magazine, Instant Noodles, and Book of Matches. He co-produces and co-hosts What’s the Tsismis? on CJSR, which won the national award for Best in Podcasting at the 2021 NCRA Community Radio Awards. Follow him on Instagram: @ooakosiryan @whatsthetsismis

Benj Gabun Sumabat is a non-binary PWD (Psychosocial Disability) trilingual Ilokano poet and essayist from Cagayan Valley and Ifugao, currently pursuing a BA in Creative Writing at the University of the Philippines Diliman. Passionate about promoting indigenous and regional literature, they advocate for linguistic and cultural diversity within and beyond academia. Benj’s works appear in Dagmay Literary Journal, Polyglot Magazine, Bannawag Magazine, and TLTD Journal for Filipino Poets, and elsewhere. They have attended various workshops such as the Maningning Miclat Poetry Workshop, PASNAAN, Palihang Rogelio Sicat, and the Bienvenido Lumbera Workshop for Translation. Their interests extend to sociological and decolonial studies, exploring intersections of racism, capitalism, and feudalism in Ilokano farming communities and the diaspora. Collaborating with regional artists, they develop art that resists binaries and centralization. Benj’s writing delves into themes of belonging, trauma, departure, and liminality, interweaving culture, history, and identity to challenge dominant narratives.

Born and raised in Manila, Erica Olavario is a photo-based artist, photographer, and filmmaker now based in Edmonton, Alberta. Rooted in the art of visual storytelling, her work combines immersive digital and analog techniques to evoke emotion and foster meaningful connections. Through her personal brand, DIWA—a Tagalog term reflecting spirit and consciousness—Erica seeks to capture the essence of collective memory and shared human experiences. Her creative practice centers on fostering empathy, understanding, and acceptance while celebrating the beauty and diversity of individuals and cultures. With a deep commitment to exploring the complexities of the human condition, Erica's work invites audiences to reflect, connect, and engage with the world around them.