Editors’ Note: Mariano L. Kilates, (b. November 5, 1952 – d. July 20, 2024) affectionately known as Marne by his family and friends, was a remarkable poet, translator, and editor whose contributions enriched Philippine literature and left an indelible mark on the literary landscape. Born in Daraga, Albay, Philippines, his father was a taciturn school teacher and his mother was an avid reader. We write about his life and works and feature the sentiments expressed by his Bicol literary contemporaries as they honor his memory.

Marne Kilates was largely self-taught in his writing. His self-education began when he spent much time on his own in the town library, where he immersed in reading encyclopedias and became enamored with the works of poets and novelists. From Grade Six, he became an altar boy at the town’s Nuestra Señora de la Porteria Parish Church. Commonly known as Daraga Church, the centuries-old stone church sits on a hilltop overlooking the town with a commanding view of Mayon Volcano in all its splendor. A voracious reader, he spent an entire school semester in the library of the Divine World College (Legazpi City) reading books beyond his college literature course. Later he made the decision he wanted to be a poet.

From the late 1980s to 2005, Kilates worked in advertising as a copywriter and later became executive creative director. During this time, he honed his literary skills by joining the literary workshops of the Galian sa Arte at Tula conducted by Virgilio S. Almario (aka Rio Alma, national artist for literature), UP National Writers Workshop, and Silliman Writers Workshop. He became a member of the Writers Union of the Philippines (later the Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas or UMPIL) and became an associate fellow of the Philippine Literary Arts Council. He left the advertising industry to work freelance as a communications consultant. In the meantime, he had won several Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards (for poetry), and the NBDB-Manila Critics Circle National Book Awards for poetry as well as for translation. In 1998 he won the Southeast Asia (SEA Write) Award given by the Thai royalty.

Kilates explored themes of identity, culture, and nature, weaving words into tapestries that resonated with readers. His wide-ranging poetry spanned six volumes, dating back from his debut title Children of the Snarl (Aklat Peskador, 1987), followed by Poems en Route (UST Publishing, 1998), Mostly in Monsoon Weather (UP Press, 2007), Pictures and Poems and other (Re)visions (UST Publishing, 2012), and Time’s Enchantments & Other Reflections: New Poems (Ateneo de Naga University Press, 2014). The last two are interchangeable, as his fifth and sixth collections, due to production and copyright date issues. He regularly published his poems on social media, and on his own website, marnek2.wixsite.com/marneskripts.

He is also recognized as one of the country’s leading literary translators and has published numerous books of translation from Filipino into English including works by works by Rio Alma, Bienvenido Lumbera, Rogelio Mangahas, Mike Bigornia, and Jesus Manuel Santiago among others. Professionally, Kilates is a freelance communications consultant who writes and edits coffee table books and communications campaigns. He is also a visiting faculty who teaches literary translation to senior high students at the Philippine High Schools for the Arts in Mt. Makiling.

In 2012, Marne Kilates became the holder of the Henry Lee Irwin Professorial Chair for Creative Writing at the Ateneo de Manila University. He was named the first Poet of the Year in the 2013 Nick Joaquin Literary Awards of Philippines Graphic Magazine. His other awards include the Bulawan na Bikolnon Award of Ateneo de Naga University, and the Outstanding Citizen of Albay in the Literary Arts. In 2016 he was given the Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas, a lifetime achievement award, by the Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas (Writers Union of the Philippines).

Kilates’ love for his home province, Albay, permeated his art. His poems echoed the lush landscapes, the whispers of Mayon Volcano, and the vibrant spirit of Bicol. Alfred Yuson, author of novels, poetry and short stories, writes about Kilates:

While grounded in native lore and motifs, personal recollection and familiarity, in particular of his beloved birthplace Daraga in mythically brimful Bicol, the poet is indefatigable in embracing everything of poetic potential beyond home turf. He explores extensively, draws everything in, from books and the Internet, from travels all over our islands and beyond.

Myriad have become his comfort zones of exploration — from Bolinao to Bangkok to Barcelona, from Mt. Mayon to the Museo del Prado in Madrid, alongside the memory of a jukebox in the old town, Bicol’s culinary delights, flora, old houses and plazas, a postman, a handyman, uncles and aunts, remembered old folk, even yayas.

Beyond accolades, Marne Kilates embodied creativity and patriotism. His passing leaves a void in the literary community, but his legacy endures. His Bicol contemporaries honor his memory, celebrating his life’s work and sharing their cherished verses that continue to echo across time.

Chito Aguilar, artist, photographer, writer, co-founder of Bikol Kugos Art Group, and retired division chief DTI Region V, shared Marne Kilates’ DEDICATORY, a poem about coming home:

Merlita Lorena-Tariman writes poetry in three languages: English, Filipino, and Bikol. Her works have appeared in various periodicals. She shared Marne Kilates’s poem “WINGED VICTORY/ANGEL DE LA GUARDIA.” In August 2021, he wrote the poem “HOW MUCH CAN WE GRIEVE?” for Pablo Tariman and Merlita Lorena-Tariman in memory of their daughter, Kerima Lorena Tariman.

Marne Kilates supported the advocacy of Raffi Banzuela, book author, essayist, fictionist, poet, translator, and historian from Camalig, Albay. He signified his opposition to the quarrying project of Goodfound Cement Corp. citing the proposed project would destroy huge swaths of the Quitinday Green Hills in Camalig and sow destruction in more places nearby, while benefiting nobody else but the cement manufacturer. (FB post, January 9, 2019). His sense of foreboding about the future of our land is reflected in his poem “PHILIPPINE PASTORALE”:

Writer, book author, poet and recipient of literary achievement awards, Abdon M. Balde, Jr. composed the poem “TIGSIK SA ILAWAN” which Marne Kilates translated to English. He strongly proposes that Albay province and the city of Daraga should organize a tribute to Marne Kilates.

Written for Dateline Ibalon by Jojo De Jesus based on content from Marne Kilates’ marneskripts website; “A Salute to Renowned Poet, Translator, and Editor Marne Kilates,” FB post by Likhaan: U.P. Institute of Creative Writing, July 20, 2024; “Marne Kilates: Lyrical enchantments,” by Alfred A. Yuson, The Philippine Star, March 6, 2016; FB posts by Chito Aguilar, Merlita Lorena-Tariman, Raffi Banzuela, and Abdon M. Balde, Jr. The featured header image “Philippine Pastorale” is from Marne Kilates’ marneskripts website.