Lualhati Bautista (1945–2023) was a titan of Philippine literature whose novels are much more than just stories—they are acts of resistance and mirrors of the Filipino soul

Born on July 10, 1945, in Manila, Philippines, Lualhati Bautista grew up in a family that valued education and literature. Her father, Antonio Bautista, was a poet and playwright, which likely influenced her interest in writing from a young age. Bautista pursued her passion for literature at the University of the Philippines, where she earned a degree in English.