In 1981, a handful of women journalists and literary writers started meeting regularly every third Saturday of the month to hone their writing skills, critique one another's works and invite veterans to share writing tips and secrets.

Formally called Women Writers in Media Now (WOMEN), they published their first anthology in 1984, Filipina 1, presenting poetry, drama, and fiction by Denise Chou Allas, Mara PL. Lanot, Anna Leah de Leon, Babeth Lolarga, Migen L. Osorio, Lilia Quindoza Santiago, Aida F. Santos, Sol Juvida, Estrella D. Alfon, Lualhati Bautista, Joy T. Dayrit, Gilda Cordero Fernando, Fanny A. Garcia, and Norma A. Japitana.

Filipina 2 followed in 1985 with essays by Aryn Babst, Sybilla Green Dorros, Paulynn Sicam, Neni Sta. Romana Cruz, Gemma Nemenzo Almendral, Shiela S. Coronel, Ma Ceres P. Doyo, Domini Torrevillas-Suarez, Rochit I. Tanedo, narites Danguilan-Vitug, Mila Astorga-Garcia, Letty Jimenez Magsanoc, Wilma D. Vitug, Leonor J. Aureus,Jo-Ann Q. Maglipon, Sylvia A. Mayuga, Aida Sevilla Mendoza, Cynthia Nograles, Fe L. Panaligan, and Lorna Kalaw-Tirol.

A significant milestone in Philippine women's history, best summed up by an excerpt from Nick Joaquin's forward:

"Now the wonderful thing about our gifted women is that their writing is done, so to put it, on no money and in no room of one's own. It's not private writing or solitary speech; it was nursed by no locked doors. It's done all over the house, while stockings are mended, stews are minded, dishes are washed, children are put to bed. It's done in offices, to the clatter of the machines and the chatter of colleagues. It's done out on the streets, amid the crowds, the traffic, the avid commerce, the angry demos.It's writing of, for, and by the public, because our women writers- and especially the Women Writers in Media Now- are such public persons."

Publisher: 
New Day Publishers, Philippines

Publication Date:
1984 (Filipina 1)
1985 (Filipina 2)

Format: 
Softcover / 5.7 x 8.6 inches / 149 pages / BW (Filipina 1)
Softcover / 5.7 x 8.6 inches / 208 pages / BW (Filipina 2)

Language: 
English, Filipino

ISBN:
971-10-0177-2 (Filipina 1)
971-10-0191-8 (Filipina 2)