The appointment recognizes Yap-Dejeto’s contributions to research, innovation, and public service, and her commitment to academic excellence.

 

Yap-Dejeto is a faculty member of UP Tacloban’s Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics where she teaches courses in the BS Biology and MS Environmental Science programs. She has a PhD in Aquatic Bioscience from the University of Tokyo, MS in Marine Biology from the UP Marine Science Institute, and BS Biology from UP Cebu. Her research involvements include serving as Program Leader of the WATCH HAB R8 (Warning and Technology to Combat Hazards of Harmful Algal Blooms in Region VIII) Program funded by the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD); Project Leader of the Extraction and Utilization of Mussel Glycogen Project also funded by DOST-PCAARRD; research partner in the BLUE Cares Project/Blue Carbon Network funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the Filipino Genome Project of the UP Natural Science Research Institute; and co-project leader of the CHED-LAKAS program “Real-time Monitoring and Early Warning for HABs using High Throughput Imaging and Molecular Methods” (HABs Watch). She is also the current president of the Biology Teachers Association of the Philippines (BIOTA) – Eastern Visayas Chapter.

This international recognition celebrates Alunan’s extensive literary career distinguished by major works that preserve regional history and champion literature in the mother tongue. Her most renowned collections include the award-winning “Running with Ghosts and Other Poems,” which chronicles regional trauma, and the critical, foundational anthologies “Tinalunay: Hinugpong nga Panurat nga Winaray,” “Susumaton: Oral Narratives of Leyte, and “Sa Atong Dila: Introduction to Visayan Literature.” Alunan’s enduring legacy is underscored by consistent national recognition, including six Palanca Awards for Poetry in English and one for Short Story in Cebuano, and Philippine National Book Awards for Best Book of Poetry in English (2019), Best Anthology in English (2019), Best Anthology in Waray (2017), and Best Translated Book (2016 and 2024).

 

The Royal Society of Literature (RSL) is the United Kingdom’s premier literary charity. Its International Writers program, which was launched in 2020, is an award that recognizes the profound contribution of global authors to literature in English and highlights the power of literature to transcend borders and bring people together amidst rising extreme nationalism.

 

Alunan was a faculty member of UP Tacloban’s Division of Humanities and was declared UP Professor Emeritus upon her retirement in 2008.