Another summer of words

And so the 55th edition of the Silliman University National Writers Workshop (SUNWW) came to pass, from May 9 to 27. Ten young “Fellows” were handed the literary torch this summer, with their manuscripts undergoing scrutiny and commentary from three sets of panelists over three weeks.

The select 10 were the following:

John Patrick Allanegui, who works for the DOST’s National Space Development Program and is managing edtor of Versteben, a social science publication of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology of Ateneo de Manila University; Catherine Regina Hanopol Borlaza, a 2015 Kabataan Essay winner of the Palanca Awards who’s studying Comparative Literature at UP Diliman; Christian Ray Buendia, a civil engineering graduate of UP Los Baños and last year’s fellow for the Palihang Rogelio Sicat and the UST National Writers Workshop; Angela Bernice Cabildo, a Development Communication graduate of Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan and press relations officer at DILG Regional Office 10; Christine Faith Valdez Gumalal, who teaches at Xavier University and performs most of her works in prose as a member of NAGMAC (Nagkahiusang Mambabalak sa CDO);

Chris David Lao, a fellow for poetry in the 2011 Davao Writers Workshop and who has a B.A. in English (Creative Writing) from UP Mindanao; RJ Ledesma, currently pursuing degrees in Psychology and Economics at the University of La Salle-Bacolod and editor of the university’s magazine The Spectrum; Arnel Murga, a BA Literature-Management student of UP Miag-ao and a fellow for fiction at the 15th IYAS National Writers Workshop; Marianne Freya Nono, a Literature graduate of UST now taking up Creative Writing, and Gawad Ustetika winner for one-act play; and Veronica Vega who is earning her master’s degree in creative writing at Silliman University.

Screening the manuscript submissions for fellowship applications were Dumaguete resident poets Myrna Peña-Reyes and Cesar Ruiz Aquino, both of whom have authored several poetry collections, and in Aquino’s case, also metafiction; author-professor Ian Rosales Casocot of Silliman University; and Davao-based poet Ricardo de Ungria, who’s in his second year of service as the SUNWW director-in-residence.

Lady Flor Partosa was workshop coordinator, while Warlito Caturay Jr. and Philip Van Peel joined Ian Casocot in the secretariat.

The first week’s sessions were held at the Rose Lamb Sobrepeña Writers Village, which has been the workshop’s primary venue since 2010, when the project initiated by Silliman University president Dr. Ben Malayang was completed — as a gift from the Sobrepeña family that had been supporting the workshop through the years.

Located at Camp Lookout in Valencia, on the foothills of Mt. Talinis, with its salubrious climate, garden environment and scenic mountain views, the Writers Village has marked a special time for the fellows who were lodged there for the past six summers — with the panelists being driven up every day for the morning and afternoon sessions.

Eventually, the third week saw the workshop being conducted in the Slliman campus. And this year, only the first week was held at the Writers Village. The panelists on that first week who joined director-in-residence “Ricky” de Ungria and resident panelist “Sawi” Aquino were Dr. Gémino Abad, Katrina Tuvera and Yeo Wei Wei of Singapore.

“Jimmy” Abad is university professor emeritus of literature and creative writing at UP Diliman, author of numerous books of poetry, short fiction and critical essays, and editor of milestone serial anthologies of both Filipino poetry and fiction in English.

Katrina, daughter of Dumaguete resident and illustrious writer Kerima Tuvera, has authored a short fiction collection and a novel, and teaches classes in creative writing.

The first of two Asian guest panelists this year, Yeo Wei Wei, has a Ph.D. in English from Cambridge University and is working on her first novel. Her short fiction collection These Foolish Things & Other Stories was published last year. She delivered a lecture at Silliman U. on “Writing and Belief.”

For the second week, joining De Ungria and Aquino were Simeon Dumdum, Jr,. Nikki Alfar, and the second Asian guest panelist, Prashani Rambukwella of Sri Lanka.

“Jun” Dumdum is a retired judge from Cebu who has authored three books of creative nonfiction and seven of poetry, most of which won national awards.

Nikki has won consecutive National Book Awards for her short story collections, as well as the Palanca, Nick Joaquin, and International Mariner awards for short fiction.

Prashani’s first of two novels, Mythil’s Secret, won the Gratiaen Prize for Creative Writing in English. Her lecture was “The Narrator in Creative Writing: A Sri Lankan Perspective.”

Guest panelist for the third week was Victor Jose Peñaranda, who joined regular panelists Marjorie Evasco, Susan Lara and this writer.

“Bimboy” is a poet, writer-researcher and community development practitioner who has authored three poetry collections. After receiving the 2014 Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas, he was named the 2015 Poet of the Year of the Philippines Graphic magazine’s Nick Joaquin Awards.

“Marj” is professor emeritus of literature and university fellow of De La Salle University, with four published poetry books. She was an NCCA 2011 Ani ng Dangal awardee.

Susan writes fiction and nonfiction. She received the 2015 Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagas for Fiction in English from UMPIL (Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas). She was the SUNWW director-in-residence in 2013 and 2014.   

The midweek out-session on the second week was held at Bravo Resorts, Munting Paraiso. Ours on the last week was at the hilltop residence of patrons Bob and Glenda Hobart at Sagbang, Valencia, with its panoramic view of Tañon Strait and the islands of Cebu, Sumilon and Bohol across.

Also joining us as observers were Spanish literary agent David Lopez-del Amo, who came fron Beijing where he has held office for the past six years, and poet-artist Lorenzo Gabutina, who was visiting with his sister Clot Arzaga in San Jose, two towns north of Dumaguete. 

Clot sponsored a dinner last Thursday for all the participants. Conspiring with her friends, regular workshop patrons Annabelle and Edo Adriano, I managed to piggyback on the occasion by having a mini-launch of my latest poetry book from UST Publishing House, Islands of Words & Other Poems. 

My lifelong poet-friends and fellow panelists — Ricky, Marj, Susan, Bimboy and Sawi — did me the honor of reading a poem each from my book, as did Annabelle. Fellow poets of Dumaguete tradition Myrna Peña-Reyes and Tony Tan, who came from Iligan, were also in attendance. A special guest of honor was Dumaguete Mayor-elect Felipe Remollo, who’s in Silliman’s board of trustees. Lorenz the artist rewarded us all further with his digital artworks.

Before the book launch and dinner, we had waited for sundown on the far end of the long jetty that extended from the beach. Everyone had a breezy respite from words, while selfies and groufies galore were taken non-stop. Yelps of delight from the fellows momentarily replaced the generally gravid exchange of words in the serious conduct of the sessions.

There, elements of their poetry, short fiction and creative nonfiction drew occasional appreciation and praise. But for the most part they had to accept judgment on the “lack of an epicenter,” or “want of a centripetal force.” “Tighten up!” “Mind your syntax.” “Avoid tonal dialogue.”

These came with criticism on structural deficiency, the sudden demise of the central intelligence that left a rudderless point of view, and advice on the proper exercise of “world-building.” And more words — as doors and windows of critical perception: “This poem is inviting. Nothing tentative about it. Assurance of tone carries it through.” “There is assertion of action: I did this!” “Point of fracture!”

On line-cutting in a poem: “End with a unit of sense, wherein the emphasis is both on sense and sound; we need to hear silences.” On other parts of a poem that may involve visual trickery: “I am against using typography to emphasize the weight of a word!”

And such. And such. We hope our fellows have understood and learned well. There will be many other sunsets in many other places when the Dumaguete memories will claim recall, and we hope it will forever be fond. As each workshop is fun, faux-gravitas and all.