Rolando B. Tolentino is a fictionist, essayist, and cultural critic. He has written numerous short stories, poems, essays and written pieces of cultural criticism and political commentary published in many publications. His early short fiction were collected in book form as Ali*Bang+Bang (1994) as well as Fastfood, Megamall at Iba Pang Kwento sa Pagsasara ng Ikalawang Milenyum (1999). He also has a collection of experimental novellas titled Sapinsaping Pag-ibig at Pagtangis: Tatlong Novella ng Pagsinta’t Paghinagpis (1999), as well as short story collection Sakit ng Kalingkingan: Dagli sa Edad ng Krisis (2005) and essay collection on everyday activist life Almanak ng Isang Akbista (2011).
Tolentino is also editor of various short story and essay collections and anthologies. Among these are Pula ang Kulay ng Dugo at Iba Pang Kuwento (1997) which is a collection of Brigido Batungbakal’s stories, Writing to the Future: Poetika at Pulitika ng Malikhaing Pagsulat (2008), Engkwentro (1990), Habilin (1991), Kuwentong Siyudad (2002), Subverso: Mga Tula at Kuwento Laban sa Pulitikal na Karahasan (2006), Dagling Tagalog (2007), Pagtatagpo sa Kabilang Dulo: Panitikang Testimonial ng Desaparecidos (2009), Mondo Marcos: Writings on Martial Law and the Marcos Babies (2010), and many others.
Tolentino is also a leading cultural critic. Among his early works of criticism on popular culture, film and media were collected in the book Richard Gomez at ang Mito ng Pagkalalake, Sharon Cuneta at ang Perpetwal na Birhen at Iba Pang Sanaysay hinggil sa Bida sa Pelikula bilang Kultural na Texto (2000), National/Transnational: Subject Formation and Media in and on the Philippines and Sa Loob at Labas ng Mall Kong Sawi/Kaliluha’y Siyang Nangyayaring Hari: Ang Pagkatuto at Pagtatanghal ng Kulturang Popular (2001), among others.
His creative and critical work have also been widely recognized by various institutions and prizes. Tolentino won numerous prizes at the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature. He was also nominated for and won the National Book Awards numerous times. Tolentino also won in the essay, short story, and poetry categories of Gantimpalang Ani, Gintong Aklat, University of the Philippines (UP) Press Centennial Publication Award, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts Writers’ Prize, Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas, the UP College of Mass Communication’s Gawad Serbisyo in 2014, and the Professorial Chair for Journalism at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in 2016.
Tolentino was born on November 10, 1964 in Manila. He studied elementary and secondary education at the Colegio de San Agustin, and earned his bachelor’s degree in economics and commerce at the De La Salle University in 1986, as well as Master of Arts in Philippine Studies in 1991. Tolentino then earned his doctorate in film, literature, and culture at the University of Southern California in 1997, with the support of a Fullbright grant.
A former dean of the UP College of Mass Communication, Tolentino teaches at the said college, and is a fellow at the Likhaan: UP Institute of Creative Writing. He is also currently UP’s Vice President for Public Affairs.
Tolentino is also editor of various short story and essay collections and anthologies. Among these are Pula ang Kulay ng Dugo at Iba Pang Kuwento (1997) which is a collection of Brigido Batungbakal’s stories, Writing to the Future: Poetika at Pulitika ng Malikhaing Pagsulat (2008), Engkwentro (1990), Habilin (1991), Kuwentong Siyudad (2002), Subverso: Mga Tula at Kuwento Laban sa Pulitikal na Karahasan (2006), Dagling Tagalog (2007), Pagtatagpo sa Kabilang Dulo: Panitikang Testimonial ng Desaparecidos (2009), Mondo Marcos: Writings on Martial Law and the Marcos Babies (2010), and many others.
Tolentino is also a leading cultural critic. Among his early works of criticism on popular culture, film and media were collected in the book Richard Gomez at ang Mito ng Pagkalalake, Sharon Cuneta at ang Perpetwal na Birhen at Iba Pang Sanaysay hinggil sa Bida sa Pelikula bilang Kultural na Texto (2000), National/Transnational: Subject Formation and Media in and on the Philippines and Sa Loob at Labas ng Mall Kong Sawi/Kaliluha’y Siyang Nangyayaring Hari: Ang Pagkatuto at Pagtatanghal ng Kulturang Popular (2001), among others.
His creative and critical work have also been widely recognized by various institutions and prizes. Tolentino won numerous prizes at the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature. He was also nominated for and won the National Book Awards numerous times. Tolentino also won in the essay, short story, and poetry categories of Gantimpalang Ani, Gintong Aklat, University of the Philippines (UP) Press Centennial Publication Award, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts Writers’ Prize, Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas, the UP College of Mass Communication’s Gawad Serbisyo in 2014, and the Professorial Chair for Journalism at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in 2016.
Tolentino was born on November 10, 1964 in Manila. He studied elementary and secondary education at the Colegio de San Agustin, and earned his bachelor’s degree in economics and commerce at the De La Salle University in 1986, as well as Master of Arts in Philippine Studies in 1991. Tolentino then earned his doctorate in film, literature, and culture at the University of Southern California in 1997, with the support of a Fullbright grant.
A former dean of the UP College of Mass Communication, Tolentino teaches at the said college, and is a fellow at the Likhaan: UP Institute of Creative Writing. He is also currently UP’s Vice President for Public Affairs.