UP CREATIVE WRITING CENTER GRADUATES 20 NEW FELLOWS

Twenty writing fellows successfully completed the 2-week UP Creative Writing Center's National Writers' Workshop at the Hotel Salome in Baguio early this month. The U.P. Workshop, of which this latest one is the 36th, has the distinction of being second only to the Dumaguete Workshop, as the longest-running in the country. But, unlike the Dumaguete Workshop, it is multi-lingual.

The fellows were welcomed with a dinner sponsored by UP Diliman Chancellor, Emerlinda Roman, at Mario's Lone Star inside Camp John Hay, with Baguio Mayor Mauricio Domogan as guest-of-honor. Special activities included a session with Cordillera artists at Bencab's Tam-awan Village, and poetry readings in Bencab's lovely hilltop home, at the Cafe' by the Ruins, and at Maella Jose's sprawling Villa Romano. Certificates were handed out at another dinner, sponsored by UP President Francisco Nemenzo, at the Cafe Legarda.

This year, the Baguio workshop included 2 Iluko writers and 2 Bicolano writers, along with 8 writers in English and 8 in Filipino. They are: Pearlsha Abubakar, Rudy F. Alno, Mesandel V. Arguelles, Julio V. Belmes, Carlomar A. Daoana, Daniel R. Dela Cruz, Joselito de los Reyes, Allan N. Derain, Dada Fres-Felix, Marc Escalona Gaba, Ana Maria Katigbak, Majelyn Monces, Ernan Munoz, Grace Panganiban, Honesto Pesimo, Efren Juanico Prieto, Bernice C. Roldan, Vincent Ian C. Rubio, Menchu A. Sarmiento, and Celeste Tumonong.

The teaching panel was composed of the Center's Associates, Resident Fellows, and Advisers: Gemino H. Abad, J. Neil Garcia (the workshop director), Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo (CWC Director), Domingo Landicho, Marra Lanot, Bienvenido Lumbera, Vim Nadera, Charleson Ong, Carla Pacis, Jun Cruz Reyes, and Lilia Quindoza Santiago. They were joined by guest writers Krip Yuson, Marne Kilates, and Caloy Aureus. The workshop coordinator was Ralph Galan, assisted by Lara Saguisag, a former writing fellow, and Bernie Bucao.

The CWC's National Fellow for Fiction, Carlos Cortes, delivered his fellowship lecture titled "Pushing the Envelope."

As usual, other writers dropped in to share coffee and literary gossip with panelists and fellows. They included Baguio-based writers Butch Macasantos, Delfin Tolentino, and Jennifer Carino; and lowlanders Paolo Manalo, Conchitina Cruz, Nerisa Guevarra, Alan Popa, and Robert Basilio.

(Back)