Arli Pagaduan is a writer, illustrator, comic artist, and author; she believes that there’s a perfect medium for each story to be told in. Born and raised in the Philippines, she is currently based in Hayward, California.

A graduate of BS Multimedia Arts & Sciences at Mapúa Institute of Technology (currently Mapúa University) in Intramuros, Manila, she has written, illustrated, and self-published five books namely ‘Seedlings: A Short Story Collection,’ (2017), ‘Though She is Weak,’ (2019), ‘I Wrote This To Remind You That…,’ (2020), ‘The Things We’re Afraid to Say,’ (2021), and‘I Like It Here in the Interim: Short Stories’ (2022). 

Her story called ‘Carmel’s Hands’ won an Honorable Mention at the 2025 PBBY-Salanga Chapter Book Prize under the genre historical fiction. She was also one of the grantees of the National Book Development Board’s (NBDB) Creative Nation Grant to attend the 2025 Angouleme International Comics Festival. ‘Cat Cafeteria,’ published by Komiket, is her first ever comic book which is about caring for community cats. 

Since 2016, she has been an active member of Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan (Ang INK), the first and only Philippine organization that creates and promotes illustration for children.

Self-Published Books

• I Like It Here in the Interim: Short Stories (2022)

• The Things We’re Afraid to Say (2021)

• I Wrote This To Remind You That… (2020)

• Though She is Weak (2019)

• Seedlings: A Short Story Collection (2017)

Books & Other Publications

• Bayani & the Big School Adventure (2026) | Written by Redner Salonga and Irene Batario & illustrated by Arli Pagaduan

• Philippine Native Trees 404: Rooted & Rising (2026) | Layout by Sam Jason Maralit & Arli Pagaduan, published by Green Convergence

• Ready, Set, Focus! The Adventures of Long-Long (2025) | Written by Grace D. Chong & illustrated by Arli Pagaduan; published by CSM Publishing

• Bayani & the ABCs of Me (2025) | Written by Redner Salonga and Irene Batario & illustrated by Arli Pagaduan

• God’s Great Big Story Books 7 and 8 (2025) | Written by Nikka Gonzaga-Sulatra and illustrated by Arli Pagaduan; published by CSM Publishing

• God’s Great Big Story Books 5 and 6 (2024) | Written by Nikka Gonzaga-Sulatra and illustrated by Arli Pagaduan; published by CSM Publishing

• Mamay Esing (2024) | Written by Jobert Grey Landeza & illustrated by Arli Pagaduan; published by Lampara Books

• Tung Kapupuluan Yang Culion, May Tagbanwa (2024) - anthology stories shared and written by the Chindonan-Alulad-Lamud-Marabal Ancestral Domain (CALM AD) Tagbanwa | Illustrated by Rysa Antonio, Jay Matias, and Arli Pagaduan; published by Cartwheel Foundation, Inc., and funded by J. Kawakami Memorial Trust

• The Impatient Little Star (2024) | Written by Gem Nolasco & illustrated by Arli Pagaduan

• Where is Bunny Boo? (2023) | Written by Anly Kang Hsu & illustrated by Arli Pagaduan

• Helen (2022) | Written by Eunice Alcala-Briones & illustrated by Arli Pagaduan

• I Miss My Friends: An Illustrated Poem (2020) | Written by Dawn Lanuza & illustrated by Arli Pagaduan

Books Illustrated by Ang INK

• I am the Change in Climate Change (2021) | Written by Alyssa M. Peleo-Alampay, Ph.D. & illustrated by Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan (Ang INK)

Comics

• An Ode to Panels (2026) published by Anino Comics

• Man of the House (2026) written by Tara Frejas, illustrated by Arli Pagaduan

• Cat Cafeteria (2025) published by Komiket

• Trying Hard Comic Cat (2025) | Komiket’s 10th Anniversary Kommunity Anthology

• Egg Soup Sunday (2022) | Written by Fay Sebastian, illustrated by Arli Pagaduan, published by Komiket in the Kilig Anthology

Group Art Exhibitions

• Stories We Tell: Ang INK’s 35th Annual Exhibit (2026)

• Guhit, Bulilit, Guhit: A Tribute Exhibit to Robert Alejandro with Ang INK, Museo Pambata, and ATD Fourth World Philippines (2025)

• Worlds within Worlds - Ang INK’s Annual Exhibit (2024)

• At Home: Scenes from the Everyday - Ang INK’s Annual Exhibit (2023)

• INK Story: Ang INK’s 30th Annual Exhibit (2021)

• Kalikasan, Kabataan, and Kinabukasan: Online Exhibit of Ang INK & CANVAS (2020)

• RiddINKulus: Ang INK’s Annual Exhibit (2018)

• Shelved Wishes Exhibit (2018)

• Re_Tale: Ang InK Philippine Tales Retold in UP Los Baños (2018)

• Brave New World: Ang INK’s Annual Exhibit (2017)

• Tinker Tales: Ang INK’s 25th Annual Exhibit at Ayala Museum (2016)

Speaking

• K is for Komiks Online Panel with Tori Tadiar, Cy Vendivil, Hansel Dimapilis with moderator Patti Ramos for Ang INK’s Stories We Tell exhibit (2026)

• From PICOF to Angoulême, with Renren Galeno and Paolo Herras, Philippine International Comics Festival (PICOF) with Anino Comics (2026)

• Comics as Containers: How Panels Carry our Stories, Philippine International Comics Festival (PICOF) with Anino Comics (2026)

• The 2nd Aklat Sining 2: Children’s Book Reading of Cat Cafeteria (2025)

• Double Life: Being a Writer & Illustrator: Talk & Workshop for Early Learning Center and Grade 3–5 students of Brent International School Manila (2025)

• Read Pinoy on Radyo Magasin (Aired 25 June 2025)

• Comics as the Storyteller’s Visual Playground for the Young Writers Conference by the Book Writers Club (2025)

• Let’s Make a Mini-Picture Book! Talk & Workshop for K-3 Star Readers of Scholastic Philippines (2025)

• Speak No Words! Let the Illustrations Do the Talking - talk and workshop for La Salle Green Hills Grade 4 students (2025)

• Behold! The Magic of Illustration - online talk and workshop for La Salle Green Hills Grade 3 students (2025)

• Radio guest at DWAR Abante Radyo’s Kiddie Patrol | Episode 12 (Aired 12 Sept. 2024)

• Read-Aloud Storytelling event of ‘Where is Bunny Boo?’ and art/storytelling activities at Everest International Academy, Taguig (2023)

• Resource Speaker for the PYP Career Fiesta of Domuschola International School (2023)

• Guest Speaker for the Reading & Language Festival at Assumption College San Lorenzo, one of Scholastic Inc.’s partner schools (2023)

Workshops Facilitated

• Many Paths in Book Illustration Part 2 - Chapter Book Illustrations & Comics/Graphic Novels for CFA Freedom students (2026)

• Many Paths in Book Illustration Part 1 - Picture Books & Wordless Picture Books for CFA Freedom students (2026)

• Finding One’s Creative Identity: What Makes your Work Yours for DLSU Green Media Group’s OMNIBUS: Pagtawid, De La Salle University x National Book Development Board (NBDB) Philippines (2026)

• Mula sa Lupa, Dagat, at Langit para sa Kabataan: Picture Book Illustration Workshop for students and teachers of Concepcion Elementary School - Tagnaya Annex, Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines , with Cartwheel Foundation Inc. (2026)

• Community Cat Komiks Workshop at the Philippine Book Festival (2026)

• How Caring Led Me to Make my First Comic Book: Talk & Workshop for Creative Learning Paths School’s Literary Month Culminating Activity (2025)

• Regional Gawad Teodora Alonso - served as one of the judges and facilitated a cliniquing session under the Comics for Young Adults category for DepEd Region IV-A CALABARZON (2025)

• Illustrating workshop under Build your Story Weekends: Baguio Pop-up Event with Liv Language Program (2024)

• Storytelling through Images workshop for Catholic Filipino Academy (CFA)’s Freedom School (2024)

• Ayala Museum’s Quirky Creatures: Basic Animal Caricature Drawing Workshop for Kids (2023)

• Illustration & Book Layout Workshop under Liv Language Program’s The Living Stories Writing and Illustrating Workshop at La Trinidad, Benguet (2024)

• Virtual Storytelling Workshop Facilitator for the Star Readers of Scholastic Inc.’s partner schools (2023)

• Ayala Museum’s Stories & Structures: Basic Drawing Workshop using Colored Pencils (2023)

Visual Notetaking for Events

• Doodle Artist for KindMind’s Design Thinking Workshop for the Youth Leaders at CLIMACTION PH Towards A Net Zero Philippines, organized by Nestlé and the Climate Change Commission, and hosted by GMA Network (2023)

• Visual Notetaker for Ashoka Philippines DIWA Roundtable Discussion with Women Social Entrepreneurs (2023)