Sikat was born in Santa Cruz, Manila. He was the eldest of four siblings and grew up in a poor family. Sikat's father was a printer and his mother was a seamstress. Sikat began writing at an early age and was encouraged by his teachers.
Sikat's breakthrough came in 1964 with his play "Impeng Negro," which won the Palanca Award for Literature. "Impeng Negro" is a story about a young black man who is discriminated against because of his race. The play was a critical and commercial success and was adapted into a film in 1976.
Sikat went on to write more than 40 plays and screenplays, many of which dealt with social and political issues. He was a vocal critic of the Marcos dictatorship and his work often reflected his political beliefs.
Sikat died of a heart attack in 1997 at the age of 57. He is considered to be one of the most important Filipino playwrights of the 20th century.
Here are some of Sikat's most notable works:
* "Impeng Negro" (1964)
* "Ang Bayaning Huwad" (1970)
* "Dugo sa Buhangin" (1971)
* "Jose Rizal" (1972)
* "Sakada" (1976)
* "Oro, Plata, Mata" (1981)
* "Maynila: Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag" (1989)
* "Manila By Night" (1980)
* "Jaguar" (1979)
* "Bona" (1981)
* "Cain at Abel" (1982)