Gilda Cordero-Fernando

Filipino writer (1930–2020)

Gilda Cordero Fernando (June 4, 1930 – August 27, 2020) was a Filipino writer, publisher, visual artist, fashion designer, theater producer, and social activist known for writing and publishing numerous works exploring Filipino culture, for her influence as a mentor and supporter of many of the Philippines cultural workers, and for her prominent "colorful presence in the Philippine literary scene."

She was born in Manila, has a B. A. from St. Theresa's College Manila, and an M. A. from the Ateneo de Manila University.

Cordero Fernando's early literary career, from 1952 to 1970, focused mostly on short fiction. These books were later compiled and reissued as the Story Collection (1994). Her short stories are regularly taken up in college English classes in the Philippines, and have been widely anthologized.

After the declaration of Martial Law by Ferdinand Marcos led to the closure of the newspapers, Cordero Fernando shifted her focus towards nonfiction work. Her work on Filipino Heritage, a 10 volume study on Philippine history and culture published by Lahing Pilipino in 1978, marked a shift away from her early focus on fiction, and towards nonfiction works exploring various aspects of Filipino culture. Many of these were published under GCF Books, but there were also books released under different publishers, such as Philippine Food and Life, her 1992 collaboration with Alfredo Roces published by Anvil Books.

After working on Filipino Heritage, Cordero Fernando decided to get into publishing, and founded GCF Books which published a dozen titles that deal with various aspects of Philippine culture and society.

Cordero Fernando also engaged in political activism against the Marcos dictatorship after the assassination of Ninoy Aquino, creating the "Los Enemigos" group with Odette Alcantara which crafted satirical works about the ills of the Marcos regime. She later published an account of political activism during this period, contributing a chapter to Ferdinand C. Llanes' account “Tibak Rising: Activism in the Days of Martial Law."