Allied Works

Editing, Translation, International Rights, Ethnography, Book Design

Anthony John Balisi

Anthony John Balisi is a Filipino literary agent, rights director, publishing strategist, and writer committed to bringing Philippine literature to the world. He is the founder of Década Literary, one of the first active literary agencies in the Philippines dedicated to rights management, author representation, and international publishing partnerships. A published writer with works spanning fiction, cultural commentary, social sciences, and literary nonfiction, he brings both creative and industry perspectives to his work in publishing and literary rights.

Former Director of the National Book Development Board, he has positioned Filipino authors at the Frankfurter Buchmesse, the Sharjah Publishers Conference, and the Cairo International Book Fair, and later served as Consultant for the Philippine Guest of Honour Programme in 2025. His work focuses on rights sales, translation opportunities, and cross-border collaborations.

Awards

Finalist 42nd National Book Awards (2024), Cairo Calling 9.0 (2026), Sharjah Fellowship (2023, 2025), Chennai International Fellowship (2026)

Fellowships

Dap-ayan GUMIL (2026) Annual Convention, various workshops by NBDB (2017-2024)

Literary Works

“Reviewing the Freelancing Landscape” (2023), in The Written Property: A Freelance Writer’s Guide to Copyright;

“Summer of Service 2007: Finding the Missing Pieces of Your Life” (2007), in Padayon: Official Newsletter of the Social Action Office, DLS-CSB; “

Enhancing Resiliency and Livelihoods Towards Recovery” (2006) and “Popular Filipino Songwriter to Document Fishers’ Songs in New Research Project” (2006), in Learning CBNRM: CBCRM Resource Center Newsletter; “Palawan on my Mind” (2005), in Philippine Shooters Magazine;

“Minsan may Isang Baril” (2002), in Aklat Likhaan ng Tula at Maikling Kuwento;

“Federico Aguilar Alcuaz” and “Prudencio Villamor Leal Lamarroza” (2000), in 13 Painters for the 21st Century;

“Panandayuhan at Pag-angkop: Ang Usapin ng mga Bajau sa Malamawi Is., Basilan” (2000), in Diliman Review;

“Minsan may Isang Baril” (1999), in Alimbayaw: Philippine Collegian Literary Folio 1998–1999;

and “Ngaran nu Adan: Pagpapangalan sa Lipunang Ivatan (ca. 1784–1849)” (1999), in Kasaysayang Lokal: Papers in Local History.

About this Site

It is UP Likhaan’s mission to stimulate writers from all parts of the Philippines to create and contribute to national cultural development; and to assert the leadership of the UP in creative writing and in the formation of policies and programs related to the development of Philippine culture and literature.

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Likhaan: the UP Institute of Creative Writing
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