October 15: Jose Dalisay Reading

To say Jose Dalisay has had a productive career is an understatement. The Philippines-born writer has published over 20 works in fiction and nonfiction since 1983 and also has an extensive background as a dramatist, columnist and film writer.

Born in the Philippine island province Romblon in 1954, Dalisay spent his formative years in Manila, the country's capital city. While attending high school at the Philippine Science High School, Dalisay trained with PETA (Philippine Educational Theater Association). It was through his work with PETA that Dalisay published and sold his first teleplay to "Balintataw," which opened the door for many more opportunities.

After a brief imprisonment as a political detainee, Dalisay obtained his B.A. in English from the University of the Philippines in 1984 and went on to get an MFA from the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. 

He has since written the fictional novels, Killing Time in a Warm Place and Soledad's Sister, as well as the nonfiction works The Best of Barfly, The Lavas: A Filipino Family and Man Overboard. Additionally, he's written over twenty produced screenplays and several plays. Throughout his career as a writer, Dalisay has accumulated several honors and awards. For his work, Dalisay has been honored as a Fulbright, Hawthornden, British Council, David TK Wong, Rockefeller, and Civitella Ranieri fellow. Additionally, six of his books have won National Book Awards from the Manila Critics Circle. In 2007, his novel Soledad's Sister was shortlisted for the first-ever Man Asian Literary Prize in Hong Kong. Besides being an accomplished writer, Dalisay is also an accomplished lecturer, giving guest-lectures to universities around the world on the topics of Philippine culture and politics.

Please join GW English in warmly welcoming Jose Dalisay at his reading on October 15 from 7:30-9:00pm in the Honors Townhouse (714 21st St). Dalisay's reading is a part of the Jenny McKean Moore Writers' Series. This series is funded by a trust left by the late Jenny Moore who studied playwriting at GWU, additional information about the fund can be found here.