A growing number of states across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are taking positive steps towards reducing the use and scope of the death penalty, creating new momentum towards abolition in a region historically associated with strong support for this cruel punishment, said Amnesty International ahead of the World Day Against the Death Penalty on 10 October. The progress taken by many countries highlights the isolation of Singapore as an outlier in the region, as executions globally remain confined to a small group of countries. 

Ahead of planned demonstrations marking one year since mass anti-corruption protests took place in the Philippines on 21 September 2025, Ritz Lee Santos III, Executive Director of Amnesty International Philippines, said:  

Si Niles Jordan Bries ay premyadong makata, mananaysay at nobelista.

Si Andoy, ay kasulukuyang guro sa STI Rosario, Cavite. Nagkamuwang sa bayan ng Baao, Camarines Sur. Ang bayan kung saan tanaw ang kabi-kabilang bundok ng Camarines Sur; Isarog, Asog at Mayon.

Salvador Biglaen – tubong Malilipot, Albay. Karpintero, guro, medical coder, at kahu (tagapagpalayaw ng 17 aso).

Frank Cimatu is a poet and journalist based in Baguio City, where the mountains have shaped both his imagination and his work. He contributes to Rappler and co-runs Mountain Beacon, an independent Facebook-based news outlet. He is the author of three poetry collections: Ang Mga Prusisyong Dumaan sa Unang Bangungot, Birdcatching in Sagada and Other Poems, and O and Other Illuminations. Prusisyon won the 20th Madrigal-Gonzales Best First Book Award in 2021. For Cimatu, poetry has often been another form of witnessing. His engagement with human rights began long before the Duterte years; in 2013, he started Duterte Karaoke, bringing artists and writers together at Katipunan Cafe to sing songs of protest. He has collaborated with Amnesty International on human rights projects. In 2023, Mountain Beacon launched Literary Tuesday, opening a space where writers could respond to the country’s shifting realities. Poems about truth, justice and Tokhang began arriving in numbers. They became the seeds of this book — poems born from a time of violence and uncertainty, and from the stubborn belief that words can remember what power would rather forget.

Michael John Baxa Ancheta from Bacarra, Ilocos Norte, the third child of Mr. Gilbert Lacuesta Ancheta and Mrs. Rowena Baxa Ancheta, an award-winning Filipino/Ilokano poet, lyricist, writer, critic for language orthography thesis/research for Ilokano passages, notably recognized as an IWG Poet of the Week. He is active in the Ilokano literary scene, with his works published in the prominent Ilokano magazine, the Bannawag and a contributor of Ariwanas, Timpuyog Journal & Mountain Beacon. He is also associated with Mariano Marcos State University – College of Teacher Education (MMSU-CTE), wherein, he became the literary editor of The CTE Bulletin and GUMIL Filipinas-MMSU CTE Chapter President. Previously served as a missionary volunteer for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Also an advocate for good nutrition. Currently serving a Sangguniang Barangay Member and a Barangay Nutrition Scholar Volunteer in their community, a MAFC Chairperson on Agri-Fishery Youth & 4H Club Adviser in their municipality and member of the Volunteer Leaders Association of the Philippines. Also known as the Passionate Ilocano Shakespeare of the North because of his heart over mind masterpieces.

Si Hezekiah Louie Zaraspe ay kasalukuyang nagtuturo sa Departamento ng Malikhaing Pagsulat, Fakultad ng Sining at Panitik, Unibersidad ng Santo Tomas (UST). Nagtuturo din siya ng panitikan sa Pamantasang De La Salle (DLSU). Nagtapos siya ng MA Malikhaing Pagsulat mula sa UST. Mababasa siya sa Philippines Graphic Reader, Ultramarine Review, Liwayway Magazine, Inquirer.net, Rappler, Luntian: Online Journal para sa Malikhaing Akda ng mga Guro at Gradwadong Mag-aaral (PSLLF), Locked Down, Lit Up: An Anthology of Creative Work in a Time of Quarantine (UP Press), Agwat-Hilom Book 2 (NCCA), Takos 3 (NEUST), Ani 42 (CCP) at iba pa. Naging fellow siya sa 2022 UST National Writers’ Workshop. Siya ang may-akda ng Tikim: Stories (8Letters). 

Susie Bangles-Baldo is an Igorota from the ethnolinguistic group, Kankana-ey. She is an advocate of positive mental health and work-life balance. Currently, she is connected with the College of Social Sciences, Department of Psychology, Anthropology and Sociology at the Benguet State University. Free flowing poetry is her positive catharsis and her means of heartening the advancement of indigenous poetry. 

Si Mesándel Virtusio Arguelles ay nagtuturo ng mga kurso sa panitikan at malikhaing pagsulat sa De La Salle University sa Maynila. Editor, tagasalin, at awtor siya ng higit 30 aklat ng tula, sanaysay, nobela, at maikling kuwentong pambata.

Si Harold Fiesta ay isang Ilokano at tubong Santa Ignacia, Tarlac. Kinilala na ang kaniyang mga tula sa Gawad Bienvenido Lumbera at Saranggola Awards. Naging Tula Fellow siya sa Ikalawang Palihang Rogelio Sikat noong 2009. Nakasulat at nakapaglathala rin siya sa Liwayway, Santelmo Magazine, TLDTD.ORG, at ilang literary folio. Inilunsad ng Vibal Foundation ang kaniyang unang aklat ng tula, Panunumbalik sa Gomorrah, sa Philippine Book Festival noong Marso 16, 2025. Kasalukuyan siyang nagtatrabaho sa BPO.

Si Ronald Araña Atilano ay isinilang sa Metro Manila, lumaki sa Dasmariñas, Cavite at kasalukuyang naninirahan sa Newcastle, Australia. Nalathala ang kaniyang mga tula sa Likhaan, Entrada, Agos, Santelmo, Manila Times, Dagmay at Liwayway. Noong 2025, nagkamit ng unang gantimpala sa Palanca ang kanyang mga tula, at ng Premyong Victorio Valledor sa National Book Awards para sa kaniyang unang aklat, ang Landas sa Ilang.