NOW AVAILABLE
My new book, a collection of essays detailing my family's experiences as healthcare providers during the height of the pandemic in Germany, is now available for pre-order. Published by Isang Balangay Media Productions (Balangay Books). It includes winning essay at Carlos Palanca Award 2023, Second Place in Sanaysay Category.
Al Joseph Academia Lumen grew up in Cavite and now lives
in Germany with his family. He was a member of a Facebook writing group "Lapis sa Kalye" which was founded in 2010. From 2010 to 2017, he released several zines and wrote for anthologies published by "Lapis sa Kalye Publishing," an independent publishing company.
Aljo introduced his Dagli and burador stories in "Ang Pagpapanggap: Mga Istoryang Tagpi-tagpi" under his penname Dudong Daga (2017). In 2018, he released his collections of Dagli "Queue: 100 Dagling BPO," based on his decade-long experiences in the BPO industry. Following this, he contributed essays in "Ako at ang Panahon Atbpng. Hindi Ma-chika sa Personal," published by 7 Eyes Production. Some of these essays were first presented at the third "Nueva Ecija Personal Essay Writing Workshop" by Wilfredo Pascual (Carlos Palanca Awardee for Essay). Aljo pursued Creative Writing at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Manila.
His self-published book "Ausländer: Mga Danas sa Alemanya," edited by Wilmor Pacay III with the assistance of Sanctum Press, was later picked up by Balangay Production and launched in Düsseldorf, Germany. Essays from "Ausländer" earned Second Prize in Sanaysay (Essay) Filipino Division at the 71st Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature.
Contributions:
Luma(d)Laban (Kalye Thoughts, 2016)
Resbak Zine Vol. 4: Ego Sum Impunitas (Respond and Break the Silence Against the Killings, 2017)
ANI40: Katutubo (Cultural Center of the Philippines, 2018)
Bigwas: Mga Kuwentong Pumipiglas (7 Eyes Production, 2019)
Resbak: Caution Vol. 5 (Respond and Break the Silence Against the Killings, 2019)
Original Zine (with an introduction by Jim Libiran, 7 Eyes Production, 2019)
Kartilya Vol. 2 Part 2 (AUX Artists in BPO Unite for Social Change, 2020)
AKSYON: Dagli ng mga Eksenang Buhay (7 Eyes Production, 2020)
Basag: Modernong Panitikan ng mga Kwentistang Wasak, edited by Juan Bautista (Literati, Psicom, 2020)
ANI41: Lakbay (Cultural Center of the Philippines, 2021)
KwentongCovid/KwentongTrabaho (Institute for Occupational Health and Safety Development (IOHSAD), edited by Teo S. Marasigan, 2021)
Sidhi: Koleksiyon ng mga Malikhaing Akda (Ang Lagablab, Campus Newspaper in Filipino of Philippine Science National High School, 2022)
Aruga: Mga Sanaysay ng Pagtanggap at Paglingap, patnugot nina Prop. Rommel Rodriguez at Prop. Ferdinand Jarin (University of Santo Tomas, 2022)