The Four Horsemen of Pinoy Sci-Fi

Renato Clarete Tranquilino is a Filipino-Australian IT professional based in Manila, where he lives with his wife and child. With a passion for both technology and storytelling, he draws inspiration from sci‑fi and fantasy films—fueling creative interests that extend far beyond the digital realm. When he isn’t immersed in work or exploring virtual worlds in League of Legends, he dreams of traveling to destinations that evoke the magic of science fiction and urban fantasy landscapes.

Raised for most of his adult life in Sydney and with eight years of professional experience in New York, Renato embarked on his writing journey in 2019. Since then, he has published five books, including his latest novella, Hong Kong Connection, and the graphic novel adaptation of The Merovingian. Currently, he is working on two new works scheduled for release in 2025. In 2024, he proudly represented Philippine science fiction as a grantee of the NBDB and NCCA at the Frankfurt Book Festival. He will return as a grantee at the 2025 Frankfurt Book Fair, where the Philippines is the Guest of Honour.

A lifelong sci‑fi enthusiast, Renato’s passion for the genre was sparked by watching Star Wars in 1977. Beyond his professional and literary endeavors, he loves traveling with his family to experience the rich cultures and wonders of the world.

Cindy Wong is the founder of 8Letters Bookstore & Publishing, a dynamic publishing house based in the Philippines. With a deep passion for literature and storytelling, she has dedicated her career to fostering a vibrant literary community and promoting sustainable publishing practices. She understands and empathizes with writers from the Philippines, which inspired her to establish the 8Circles community. This platform now includes thousands of writers and readers, encouraging collaboration and engagement in the literary world.
A well-traveled individual, Cindy is one of the few Filipinos to have journeyed to Antarctica. Her diverse experiences enrich her perspective on storytelling and the importance of representing various narratives.
As a mother of two boys, Cindy skillfully balances her professional and personal life. Her experiences as a parent further motivate her commitment to creating opportunities for emerging voices in literature, ensuring that stories from all walks of life are shared.
Under her leadership, 8Letters has transformed from a small book curator to a significant player in the publishing industry, featuring over 400 titles from authors across the Philippine archipelago. The company’s innovative print-on-demand model prioritizes sustainability while making literature accessible to a wider audience.
Cindy Wong’s vision and dedication continue to drive her mission of championing quality literature and building a supportive community for writers and readers alike.

Marga Ortigas is a veteran international journalist and bestselling author from Manila. After decades of reporting from the frontlines of conflict and climate change for CNN and Al Jazeera, she stepped away from the camera and focused on the page, with her first four books published by Penguin Random House Southeast Asia. Her novel The House on Calle Sombra, an epic family saga, was highly-acclaimed as a lyrical if troubled love letter to her native Philippines, while her second book,There Are No Falling Stars in China (& Other LIfe Lessons from a Recovering Journalist), is an inspirational collection of essays from her decades on the field as a reporter. Her two most recent works, God’s Ashes and WTF?!: Woman Turning F*fty, have been featured in book fairs across Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, and India.

Marga was a British Council Chevening Scholar and was awarded by the International Committee of the Red Cross for Humanitarian Reporting on the Philippines. A storyteller at heart, she continues to write—both nonfiction and fiction—with the urgency of a journalist and the intimacy of a poet.