Leoncio Deriada spent most of his life in Davao. He graduated from the Davao City High School in 1955. He read BA English cum laude at the Ateneo de Davao University in 1959; his MA in English, at Xavier University in 1970; his PhD in English and Literature with a specialisation in creative writing, at Silliman University in 1981 where he later on served as professor and chairperson of the English Department. He is a UPV's professor emeritus.
A multi-lingual writer, he has produced works in English, Filipino, Hiligaynon, Kinaray-a, and Cebuano. His thirteen Palanca awards include works in English, Filipino, and Hiligaynon. Of these thirteen, five are first-prize winners, and these include 'The Day of the Locusts' (Short Story, 1975), 'Mutya ng Saging' (Dulaang May Isang Yugto, 1987), 'The Man Who Hated Birds' (Short Story for Children, 1993), 'Medea of Siquijor' (One-Act Play, 1999), and 'Maragtas: How Kapinangan Tricked Sumakwel Twice' (Full-Length Play, 2001). He became a Palanca Hall of Famer on 1 September 2001. Aside from his Palanca awards, he has garnered other prestigious awards such as the Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas, Asiaweek, Gawad CCP, Graphic, Focus, Yuhum (Iloilo), and Blue Knight Award from Ateneo de Davao for Outstanding Achievement in Literature. In 2002, he was one of Metrobank's Outstanding Teachers.
He was the literary editor of the defunct Home Life magazine and has been editor of several West Visayan anthologies. He has mentored famous writers in the Philippines: Peter Solis Nery, Alex Delos Santos, Genevieve Asenjo, Melecio Turao, John Barrios, Isidoro Cruz, Alain Russ Dimzon, Alexander de Juan, Melchor Cichon, Felino Garcia amongst others.
He is the country's Language Champion. He's going to talk about Mother Tongue at the seminar I have organised for teachers on 10th July this year. To enquire about the seminar, message me at +639154030975.
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