Aaron Gillego

Aaron Gillego (born February 24, 1980 in Bulan, Sorsogon) is a poet, journalist, academic, and educator. His writing explores issues of post-colonialism, politics, ethnic identities, sexuality, and the immigrant experience.

Education

Aaron Gillego pursued the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in Poetry at the University of Miami, where he received a fellowship. He studied with prominent Asian-American writers, including Nick Carbo [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1667164] , Evelina Galang [http://www.mevelinagalang.com/] , and Walter K. Lew [http://www.as.miami.edu/english/mfa/lew.htm] . He also studied with poet Maureen Seaton [http://www.pshares.org/Authors/authorDetails.cfm?prmAuthorID=1373] and novelist A. Manette Ansay [http://www.amanetteansay.com/] . His thesis was entitled, "In the Neighborhood of Madness", a memoir, which owes its title to a passage from Nietzsche's book, Human, All Too Human.

He received his B.A. in English at the College of Mount Saint Vincent in May 2003. He graduated at the top of his class with a 4.0 GPA and had the honor of delivering the Senior speech. He was the recipient of the Corazon C. Aquino Scholarship--a four-year full tuition scholarship--which is given in honor of the Mount's most famous alumna. Aaron Gillego served as the Editor-in-Chief of The MounTimes, the Mount's student newspaper, and co-founded SAMAHAN, the Mount's Filipino Student Association.

He graduated from Long Beach High School (New York) in 1999, where he served as the Student Government President. Throughout his four years at LBHS, Aaron was able to cultivate his writing as part of The Talented Writers Program, which was taught by Long Island poet Ellen Pickus [http://www.poetrybay.com/liquarterly/liqwinter05-06_5.html] .

Life and Family

His father Joel was a doctor and his mother Evangelina is a nurse. He is the youngest of nine children. He grew up in Long Beach, NY, a middle-class neighborhood on Long Island. The early part of his childhood was spent in Lagro, Quezon City, where he witnessed the People Power Revolution as a six year-old.

Work and Awards

Aaron has been published by "The Advocate" [http://www.advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid23209.asp] , "Writes of Passage", "The New Verse News" and "Newsday". He has read his poetry at the Wesleyan Writers Conference [http://www.wesleyan.edu/writing/conference/] and The Association of Writing Programs Annual Conference [http://www.awpwriter.org/conference/index.php] . He has received awards from The Walt Whitman Birthplace Association [http://www.waltwhitman.org/Index.asp] , The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), The Columbia Scholastic Press Association [http://cspa.columbia.edu/] , and The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers [http://www.scholastic.com/artandwritingawards/index_page6.htm] . Recently, Aaron was interviewed on "Roots on the Air", a segment on The Jude Papaloko [http://www.judepapaloko.com/bio.htm] Show on Miami's 105.5FM that invites artists to discuss their cultural roots. Listen|filename=Rootsontheair.ogg|title=Radio Interview and Poetry Reading|description=Aaron Gillego Interviewed by Samba Joan on "Roots on the Air"|format=Ogg

External links

Articles About Aaron Gillego
"Uncommon Stories", "The Dolphin Magazine" [http://www.mountsaintvincent.edu/2168.htm]
"Volunteers' Drive to Aid Athletes", "Newsday" [http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/newsday/access/32465761.html?dids=32465761:32465761&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jul+30%2C+1998&author=By+Ken+Moritsugu.+STAFF+WRITER&pub=Newsday&edition=Combined+editions&startpage=A.28&desc=NEW+YORK+98+%2F+GOODWILL+GAMES+%2F+Volunteers%27+Drive+to+Aid+Athletes]
"Gifted Long Beach Students Get Their Writing on Course", "Newsday" [http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/newsday/access/41981472.html?dids=41981472:41981472&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=May+30%2C+1999&author=BETTY+OMMERMAN.+STAFF+WRITER&pub=Newsday&edition=Combined+editions&startpage=G.22&desc=SCHOOLS+%2F+CLOSE+UP+%2F+Gifted+Long+Beach+Students+Get+Their+Writing+on+Course]

Links to Some Published Articles
"Simply Invisible", "The Advocate", December 2006 [http://www.advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid23209.asp]
"What We Do for a Little Theater", "Newsday", August 13, 2001 [http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/newsday/access/77285515.html?dids=77285515:77285515&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Aug+13%2C+2001&author=&pub=Newsday&edition=Combined+editions&startpage=A.21&desc=FRESH+VOICES+%2F+What+We+Do+for+a+Little+Theater]
"Convention 2000", "Newsday", August 7, 2000 [http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/newsday/access/57575319.html?dids=57575319:57575319&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Aug+7%2C+2000&author=Aaron+Gillego&pub=Newsday&edition=Combined+editions&startpage=A.23&desc=CONVENTION+2000+%2F+LETTERS]