Anthony D. Robles was born and raised in San Francisco, California. A writer and activist, Tony Robles’s work is highly influenced by his family, culture, and the working class community. His poetry has appeared in numerous journals and magazines, including DisOrient Journalzine, Pinoy Poetics, The Asian Pacific American Journal, and the anthology of Filipino American writing Seven-Card Stud and Seven Manangs Wild (2002).

In his first children’s book, Lakas and the Manilatown Fish, Tony Robles found inspiration from his own son, Lakas, to whom he first told the tale as a bedtime story, and his uncle, poet Al Robles, one of the original Manilatown manongs.

Tony Robles’s latest book, Lakas and the Makibaka Hotel, stars the same indomitable youth, who takes readers on a new adventure, transforming one community’s struggle into a celebration of activism, spirit, and song. Through both books, Robles hopes children will learn about the power of imagination and understand their own power to create new possibilities.

Anthony 'Tony' Robles currently resides in San Francisco, California.

From left to right: Al Robles, Nancy Hom, Jaime Jacinto, Jeff Tagami, Shirley Ancheta, Camille
Adine Stanley, Tony Robles. Manilatown Reading, 4.15.06. © 2006 Bob Hsiang Photography.