The longest-running creative writing workshop in the country and Asia is back.
Gathering twelve writing fellows across different genres from the different regions in the country, the 62nd Silliman University National Writers Workshop (SUNWW), which kickstarted Monday, June 24, at the Multipurpose Room (MPR), Silliman University, is now in full swing and will run until July 5.
A flagship program of the English and Literature Department and the Edilberto and Edith Tiempo Creative Writing Center, the two-week Workshop is currently headed by newly installed workshop director-in-residence and longtime SUNWW regular panelist Danilo Francisco “D.M.” Reyes.
More than 50 entries were submitted this year but only 12 made the cut. Workshop screeners D.M. Reyes, Jose Wendell Capili, and Marjorie Evasco narrowed down the list of accepted fellows, officially filling out the roster of emerging writers of this generation to take part in this year’s edition.
They are Margarita Labrador, Quezon City; Andrea Ingrid Lopez, Taytay, Rizal; and John Dave Pacheco, General Santos City for poetry; Jevin Astillero, Misamis Occidental for Sugilanon;
Kyrios Hafid Concordia, Quezon City; Trisha Marie Matabalan, Maribojoc, Bohol; John Ray Pucay, Baguio City; and Alyana Marie Aguja, General Santos City for fiction;
Larraine Franchesca Lopez, Parañaque City; Sabrina Victoria Dayao, Malate, Manila; and Maria Suson, Cebu City for creative nonfiction; and Andrea Therese Nazareno, Dumaguete City for drama.
This year’s SUNWW coordinator is Kaycee Melon. Joining her is the workshop secretariat composed of John Edgar Rubio, Deo Mar Suasin, Maria Hellene Grace Piñero, Honey Grace Tiongco, and Aaron James Jalalon. They also hold the Edilberto and Edith Tiempo Creative Writing Center (CWC) secretariat roles under CWC coordinator and English and Literature Department Chair Dr. Lady Flor Partosa-Koenig.
At the opening ceremony on June 24, D.M. Reyes stressed the importance of putting together a team who understands the vision of the workshop.
Dr. Earl Jude Paul Cleope, officer-in-charge of the Office of the President and Vice President of Academic Affairs and Research welcomed all fellows and panelists in his welcome address.
Luminaries in contemporary Philippine literature will sit as panelists for the next two weeks at the MPR, including Exie Abola, John Labella, and Ian Rosales Casocot for the first week, followed by Susan Lara, Marjorie Evasco, and Ritchel Dorotan for the second week. Meanwhile, Dumaguete poet, novelist, educator, and SUNWW resident panelist Cesar Ruiz Aquino will participate remotely during the workshop.
Present at the opening ceremony were CWC Advisory Board members Dr. Mae Brigitt Bernadel Vilordon, College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) dean; Dr. Alana Leilani Narciso, CAS associate dean; Dr. Lady Flor Partosa-Koenig, English and Literature Department chair and CWC coordinator; faculty members of the Filipino and Foreign Languages Department; Moses Joshua Atega, International Students Office head; faculty members of the English and Literature Department; F Jordan Carnice, National Museum of the Philippines – Dumaguete researcher and former SUNWW fellow; and friends of the Silliman community.
The 62nd SUNWW is supported by longtime sponsors and friends of the Silliman community, including Macrina and Sande Fuentes of Hayahay, Maripaz Gonzales Montaño of Wuthering Heights Bed and Breakfast, Xenia Denise Bandivas of InPeace Foundation, Jansen Tan of Adorno Café, National Museum of the Philippines-Dumaguete, and the Silliman University Anthropology Museum.*
