Gilda Cordero-Fernando

Gilda Cordero-Fernando (June 4, 1930 – August 27, 2020) was a Filipino writer, visual artist, fashion designer and publisher.

Gilda Cordero Fernando
Born
Gilda Cordero

(1930-06-04)June 4, 1930
Manila, Philippines
DiedAugust 27, 2020(2020-08-27) (aged 90)
Manila, Philippines
NationalityFilipino
Alma materAteneo de Manila University
OccupationPublisher and writer

Early life and education

She was born in Manila, has a B.A. from St. Theresa's College-Manila,[1] and an M.A. from the Ateneo de Manila University.

Early career

Cordero-Fernando's early literary career, from 1952 to 1970, focused mostly on short fiction.[2] Some of these were published in two collections of short stories: The Butcher, The Baker and The Candlestick Maker (1962) and A Wilderness of Sweets (1973).[3] These books were later compiled and reissued as the Story Collection (1994).[4] Her short stories are regularly taken up in college English classes in the Philippines, and have been widely anthologized.[2]

During this period, she also gained acclaim for her column "Tempest in a Teapot" in the Manila Chronicle, before the newspaper was shut down during Martial Law.[5]

Nonfiction and publishing

In the 1970s, Cordero-Fernando shifted her focus towards nonfiction work and publishing. Another book, Philippine Food and Life, was published in 1992 with Alfredo Roces.[6] She also worked on Filipino Heritage, a 10-volume study on Philippine history and culture published by Lahing Pilipino in 1978.

Afterwards, she founded GCF Books which published a dozen titles that deal with various aspects of Philippine culture and society.

Activism against the Marcos dictatorship

Cordero-Fernando also engaged in political activism against the Marcos dictatorship after the assassination of Ninoy Aquino, writing satirical pieces alongside the "Los Enemigos" group of Odette Alcantara.[7]

Later artistic endeavors

The 1990s saw Cordero-Fernando shifting from books to a number of other artistic roles,[7] including that of visual artist, fashion designer, playwright, art curator and producer.[8]

In February 2000, she produced Luna: An Aswang Romance.[9]

Death

Cordero-Fernando died on August 27, 2020, at the age of 90.[10]

Awards

Cordero-Fernando has won the Carlos Palanca Memorial Award numerous times,[2] and was bestowed its Gawad Dangal ng Lahi in 2014.[11]

She was the Patnubay ng Sining Awardee for literature during the 1993 Araw ng Maynila (Manila Day),[2] and she was the Cultural Center of the Philippines' Gawad Awardee for literature and publishing in 1994.[2]

The Ateneo de Manila University awarded her its Gawad Tanglaw ng Lahi in 2008.[12]

See also

References
  1. Aguado, Yvette Montalvan (1995). "INTERVIEW WITH FICTIONIST GILDA CORDERO-FERNANDO". LIKHA. 15 (2): 1. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  2. "Cordero-Fernando, Gilda". panitikan.ph. 2014-06-06. Retrieved 2020-08-27.
  3. Ventura, Sylvia Mendez (2005). A Literary Journey with Gilda Cordero-Fernando. UP Press. ISBN 9789715424837. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  4. "The Major Collections Filipino Writers in English". rizal.lib.admu.edu.ph. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  5. Fenix, Michaela (2019-10-20). "Gilda Cordero Fernando: Forever groovy, forever 81". ABS CBN News and Public Affairs. Retrieved 2020-08-27.
  6. Philippine food & life : Luzon in libraries (WorldCat catalog)
  7. Mayuga, Sylvia (2010-07-05). "An enigma called Gilda". GMA News and Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 2020-08-27. Retrieved 2020-08-27.
  8. link, Get; Apps, Other. "#readPhilippines: A Love Story by Gilda Cordero-Fernando". Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  9. Cadiz, Gibbs (8 December 2017). "32 landmark theater productions in the last 32 years". Inquirer Lifestyle. Inquirer. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  10. "Gilda Cordero-Fernando passes away at 90". GMA News Online. 27 August 2020.
  11. Salanga, Yas. "LIST: Winners of the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards 2014". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 2020-08-27.
  12. "2008 Special Academic Convocation". Ateneo de Manila University. 2014-11-20. Retrieved 2020-08-27.
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