Tita Lacambra-Ayala
is an acclaimed writer, poet and painter. Born in Sarrat,
Ilocos Norte, Tita studied at the University of the Philippines, and after a
fruitful stint as freelance writer for various major magazines and as
press officer of the UP Los Baños College of Agriculture Extension
Office, she eventually settled in Mindanao with her husband painter Jose V.
Ayala, Jr. (deceased). She has published four books of poems: Sunflower
Poems (Filipino Signatures, Manila, 1960), Orginary Poems (Erehwon
Publishing, Manila, 1969), Adventures of a Professional Amateur (prose)
(UP Press, 1999), and Friends and Camels in a Time of Olives (UP
Press, 1999.) She co-edited the visual and literary arts journal Davao
Harvest with Alfredo Salanga, Gimba Magazine, and Etno-Culture. She
produced and edited the 30-year-old Road Map Series, a folio of
Mindanao artistic works and literary writings. She won the Palanca in
the English Short Story Category “Everything” (Third Prize, 1967), and for
Poetry in English “A Filigree of Seasons” (Second Prize). She also garnered the
following awards and citations: Gawad Balagtas Awardee for Poetry in English
(1991), Manila Critics Circle Special Citation for Road Map Series (1989),
Philippine Free Press Awardee for Short Story (1970, Third Prize), Focus
Philippines Poetry Awardee, Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas UMPIL Achievement
Award (1991), and National Fellow for Poetry, UP Creative Writing Center
(1994-95). Lacambra-Ayala is a founding member of the Davao Writers Guild,
and is the mother of famous songwriter-musicians Joey Ayala and Cynthia
Alexander and poet Fernando (Pido) Ayala.
