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.