She Publishes, She Persists, She Slays: Philippine Books

Kath C. Eustaquio-Derla wears many hats but her favorite is being the COO (child of owner, #truestory) of her family’s design-print-publish business HS Grafik Print with over 40 years of industry experience. She is the Head of Publishing of HS Grafik Print. As a second-generation printer, Kath founded and heads PaperKat Books, the self-publishing arm that offers a writing and mentoring program for aspiring book authors.

Kath is named Marketing in Asia’s 70 Rising Personalities On LinkedIn Philippines, Writing Hacks Academy’s Top 35 Filipino Coaches Aspiring Writers And Entrepreneurs Should Follow, and VB Consulting and Connected Women’s 100 Most Influential Filipino Women on LinkedIn. Kath founded and heads Story Factory, a long-term partnership project that allows non-industry writers/authors to pitch their storylines and/or concepts to producers and directors for film and/or TV adaptations. She collaborates with MAVX Productions Inc., Gushcloud Philippines, and J Creative Entertainment, and more.

Jane Vergara is the author of the Breaking the Scroll trilogy and the poignant novel The Gap Between Forever, which showcases her range as a storyteller. With 25 years of professional experience, she is the Chief Information Officer of a leading Philippine thrift bank. A Certified Public Accountant and Certified Internal Auditor, Jane also pursues painting, sketching, and writing, embodying a harmonious blend of analytical precision and creative passion.

Danielle Florendo is an illustrator, picture book author, and visual artist based in Baguio City. After earning her Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, she pursued a career in children’s book and media illustration.
She was one of the key illustrators for the Baybayin LRT Train Project by Turo Guro in 2019 and debuted in children’s picture books with Balitanay’s Laktob by Dr. Analyn Ikin Amores and Renalyn Albert (CordiText Project) and Pong Pong Ginatbong edited by Dr. Felicidad Prudente (Ilaw ng Tahanan Publishing Inc.) in 2020.
Her works have earned both local and international recognition. Maselan ang Tanong ng Batang si Usman (The Tricky Question of Young Usman) by Palanca awardee Doc Luis Gatmaitan (OMFLIT Hiyas Publishing, 2022) was a finalist at the 16th Cardinal Sin Book Awards for Children’s Book Category and received a Finalist Medal at the 1st Severino Reyes Medal in 2024. The Perfect Tree by Glory Moralidad (Oh Kids!) and Ang Bahay na Maraming Klasrum (The House with Many Classrooms) by Eugene Evasco (Johnny and Hansel Publishing) also earned Finalist medals at the 1st Severino Reyes Medal. The Perfect Tree was additionally recognized as a finalist at the 9th National Children’s Book Awards and featured in the 2023 White Ravens Catalogue. Her book A Whale in Prison by Mary Ann Ordinario won the 18th Cardinal Sin Book Award for Children’s Short Story.

Her latest book, Kaub-Ofuden Shin Lijang Uta (The Legend of Uta Cave), a collaboration with the Indigenous People of Balbalan, Kalinga, received the 2024 Translation Grant from the National Book Development Board. It will be featured at the 2025 Bologna Children’s Book Fair in Italy as part of the Illustrators Exhibition.

Danielle also served as a National Judge and Workshop facilitator for the 2023 and 2024 Gawad Teodora Alonso Story Writing Competition by the Department of Education. She was a Philippine delegate and key speaker at the 2024 Asian Festival for Children’s Content (AFCC) in Singapore, where she delivered multiple lectures on culture-focused children’s books during the Philippines’ Country of Focus showcase. She was the key visual illustrator for the AFCC-Philippine Circle under IBBY-Philippines and one of the lead illustrators for the 2025 Philippine Book Festival under the National Book Development Board. She is currently working as the lead illustrator for the Philippines’ publication materials for the upcoming 2025 Geneva Convention under the Department of Science and Technology–Technology Application and Promotion Institute.

Today, Danielle is a lecturer at the University of the Philippines Baguio. She is an advocate for promoting culture in children’s books and education. When not illustrating or teaching, she pursues research and writes stories inspired by communities across the country.

Katrina F. Olan is the best-selling Pinay sci-fi author, a komiks and webtoon creator, and an Associate Creative Director. She writes about robots, romance and revenge.

Her works have been featured at literary events such as the Philippine Book Festival, Manila International Book Fair, Frankfurt Book Fair, London Book Fair, Aarhus Art Bubble Tegneserie Festival, Southeast Asian Literary Circle Festival, Philippine International Comics Festival, Singapore Comic Con, Angoulême International Comics Festival, and San Diego Comic Con.

Tablay – her best-selling novel — is one of the most loved Filipino science fiction titles. It is also being adapted into a graphic novel, with a successful preview issue debut. Her other works include Makina, Skies Above, and Our Next Seven Weeks. She is also the writer of Sagittarius with Whilce Portacio, Apl de Ap, Kajo Baldisimo and Toon City Manila.

When not writing books, she leads advertising campaigns at an award-winning agency, crafting integrated marketing communication plans for top brands. She specializes in marketing tech, energy, and vehicles, and also writes scripts for commercials on TV, Radio and Digital. Katrina has represented the country at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity 2018 and was the first-ever Filipino student of the Google Creative Campus in Silicon Valley.

She hopes to inspire more women to write science fiction, and uplift the Philippine creative economy. She loves pop culture, travel, D&D, and hopes to pilot a mecha in her lifetime.