Modern Filipino Authors to Watch

Filipino literature is undergoing a bold transformation. New voices are rising, and long-overlooked narratives are being celebrated in classrooms, bookstores, and digital platforms across the world. While adult fiction and poetry have traditionally received the spotlight, middle grade Filipino books are now making a compelling case for their cultural and literary significance. These books are giving young readers access to stories rich in history, myth, family, and identity—told from an authentically Filipino point of view.

This movement is not just about visibility. It’s about agency—who gets to tell the story and how it's told. Modern Filipino authors are crafting stories that challenge stereotypes, celebrate heritage, and speak honestly to the complexities of growing up Filipino, whether in the Philippines or abroad.

Gail D. Villanueva

Gail D. Villanueva stands at the forefront of this shift. Her debut novel, My Fate According to the Butterfly, is a powerful entry into the canon of middle grade Filipino books. Set in contemporary Manila, it follows Sab, a young girl who believes a black butterfly signals her imminent death. This sets her on a mission to reconcile with her estranged sister before it's too late.

But this is no mere superstition-based plotline. Villanueva uses Sab’s journey to explore the psychological toll of family trauma, the war on drugs, and the fragile nature of hope in difficult times. Kirkus Reviews praises the novel as “beautiful,” emphasizing its deft balance between social realism and emotional resonance. This is literature that respects young readers' intelligence and emotional depth.

Villanueva’s subsequent works, including Lulu Sinagtala and the City of Noble Warriors, continue this trajectory—offering vibrant Filipino settings, nuanced characters, and grounded storytelling that appeals to both local and global audiences.

Andrew Jalbuena Pasaporte

Andrew Jalbuena Pasaporte’s work brings Filipino mythology to new generations in thrilling, imaginative ways. His novel, Gimo Jr. and the Aswang Clan, takes the legendary aswang—a shapeshifting, often feared creature in Filipino folklore—and reimagines it through the lens of a young boy caught between two worlds: ordinary childhood and supernatural destiny.

What makes Pasaporte’s contribution unique is not just his engagement with folklore but the way he integrates social issues and modern concerns into traditional frameworks. The story is fast-paced and accessible but layered with commentary on family, moral choice, and cultural preservation. Goodreads readers have called the book “fun, intense, and thrilling,” noting how it reclaims mythical figures in a way that is both entertaining and empowering.

Beyond fiction, Pasaporte is a strong advocate for cultural literacy. His official site, andrewjalbuenapasaporte.com, is a platform for promoting Filipino literature, highlighting other authors, and engaging educators who want to incorporate middle grade Filipino books into their curriculum.

Erin Entrada Kelly

Erin Entrada Kelly has brought Filipino representation into the mainstream of American children’s literature. Her 2018 Newbery Medal-winning novel Hello, Universe weaves together the lives of four middle school students, one of whom is Virgil Salinas, a shy Filipino-American boy navigating cultural identity, bullying, and self-worth.

Kelly’s work often features bicultural characters—young people straddling their Filipino roots and American upbringing. Lalani of the Distant Sea, another standout title, draws inspiration from Philippine folklore and oceanic myth. It tells the story of a girl who leaves her island home to face dangerous seas and uncover truths her community would rather leave buried.

Greenish Bookshelf calls Hello, Universe “endearing and hopeful,” and readers consistently applaud Kelly’s ability to capture quiet strength and internal struggle. Her work doesn’t scream for attention; it earns it with grace and clarity.

Rin Chupeco

If dark fantasy and speculative fiction have a home in modern Filipino literature, it’s with Rin Chupeco. Their debut novel The Bone Witch introduces Tea, a necromancer in a patriarchal world who must master her power to challenge the political order. Drawing on Southeast Asian—and particularly Filipino—mythological elements, Chupeco’s work is lush, dramatic, and unapologetically genre-driven.

Chupeco is known for crafting expansive worlds that reflect both ancient myth and modern anxieties. Their stories often feature queer characters, complex power dynamics, and deep emotional undercurrents. The Bone Witch was praised by Bibliophilia Book Reviews for being “a delicate balance between haunting and beautiful,” with a narrative structure that unfolds across past and present timelines.

Though primarily categorized as young adult, Chupeco’s work is often read by advanced middle-grade readers eager for more intricate plots and darker themes. Their influence is helping broaden the range of acceptable content and genres within Filipino literature.

Candy Gourlay

Candy Gourlay has long been a pioneer for Filipino representation in children’s literature. Her novel Tall Story is considered a landmark for introducing Filipino characters to a global readership in a way that is heartfelt and relatable. The story revolves around Bernardo, an eight-foot-tall boy from the Philippines who reunites with his half-sister in London. It tackles themes of identity, culture shock, and family bonds through magical realism and warm humor.

Her subsequent works, such as Bone Talk—which was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal—delve into pre-colonial Philippine society. Gourlay’s writing is meticulous in its research and lyrical in its delivery, often aimed at filling historical and cultural gaps in mainstream literature.

Kirkus Reviews describes Tall Story as having “genuinely funny” and “earnest” dual narratives, and educators around the world continue to recommend her work for multicultural education. She remains a key figure in the push for more middle grade Filipino books in international markets.

Building a Literary Community

What unites these authors is not simply their heritage or subject matter—it’s their commitment to cultivating a community of readers who see Filipino identity as something complex, dynamic, and worthy of exploration. Platforms like andrewjalbuenapasaporte.com serve not only as personal author sites but as community hubs that amplify voices, distribute educational resources, and support young readers.

Filipino literature today is supported by more than just publishers and awards. It thrives in classrooms, libraries, and online forums. Teachers are adopting these books to reflect the diversity of their student populations. Parents are using them as tools to pass on language and heritage. And young readers, perhaps most importantly, are finding themselves in stories for the very first time.

Looking Forward

As publishing becomes more inclusive and global, the opportunities for Filipino authors—especially those writing for younger audiences—are growing. Future stories will likely move beyond folklore and realism into even more experimental, hybrid forms. We can expect graphic novels, bilingual works, and genre-defying narratives to take the stage.

But what matters most is that these stories continue to be told. Filipino identity, in all its regional, linguistic, and diasporic diversity, deserves space on every bookshelf. And as more middle grade Filipino books are written, shared, and celebrated, a new generation of readers will carry forward a tradition of storytelling that is both ancient and ever-evolving.