UP ICW issues guidelines for writers' workshop

LIKHAAN: The UP Institute of Creative Writing (UP ICW) is now accepting applications for the 48th UP ICW National Writers Workshop to be held in Camp John Hay, Baguio City, from April 12 to 18, 2009.

UP ICW Director Jose Y. Dalisay, Jr., also announced that four fellowships are available for open competition and that these are open only to advanced writers. Following the “Kumustahan” workshop concept, the other eight slots will be awarded by the ICW by invitation only to qualified, highly meritorious writers in mid-career. The ICW reserves the right to reapportion the number of reserved and open slots, depending on the responses and the quality of applications received.

The 2009 workshop will be chaired by National Artist for Literature Virgilio S. Almario.

Almario also announced the submission guidelines:

QUALIFICATIONS – To qualify, applicants:
(1) must be writers in English or Filipino;
(2) must have attended at least one creative writing workshop (national/regional, including the UP National Writers’ Workshops), or earned a degree in Creative Writing/Malikhaing Pagsulat, or won at least one national/international literary award;
(3) must have published at least three poems or two short stories or two pieces of creative nonfiction (e.g., essays, memoirs, profiles) in reputable collections or anthologies, journals, magazines (including campus publications), or refereed Internet web magazines, or have had a play staged. Writers who have been fellows at any of the UP National Writers’ Workshops are eligible. Some of these qualifications may be waived in exceptionally meritorious cases, with the unanimous concurrence of the UP ICW Fellows, Advisers and Associates.

REQUIREMENTS – Applicants must submit the following:
(1) five copies plus digital file (12 points, double-spaced, 8 x 11) of one original unpublished manuscript (short story, poem, or creative nonfiction, play) to be discussed during the workshop – this manuscript should not have been submitted to any other workshop;
(2) a two-paragraph description of a work-in-progress in any of the above genres, in English or Filipino (also 12 points, double-spaced, 8 x 11); and
(3) photocopies of the applicant’s published work, including publication details; and
(4) application form (available at the UP ICW office in UP Diliman and on panitikan.com.ph).

During the UP workshop, fellows will be expected to make a presentation of a chapter or draft of the work-in-progress referred to above, and an essay on an aspect of their writing or of the genre in which they work. They must be present for the full duration of the workshop period.

The deadline for submission is November 30, 2008. For inquiries, call 922-1830 and ask for Ms. Eva Cadiz.

Download the application form here.

Writing to the Future

Writing to the Future: Poetika at Politika ng Malikhaing Pagsulat

The Likhaan: U.P. Institute of Creative Writing is launching its latest journal, WRITING TO THE FUTURE: Poetika at Politika ng Malikhaing Pagsulat, edited by Rolando B. Tolentino. The launch is on September 19, 2008 at 4:00 p.m. at Pulungang Claro M. Recto of Bulwagang Rizal (formerly Faculty Center) in the University of the Philippines Diliman.

Writing to the Future is a compilation of essays on the writing processes and philosophies that selected writing fellows from the UP National Writers Workshops 2004, 2006, 2007, and 2008 employ in their own writing. The writing fellows featured in the journal comprise an impressive range of genres and a long list of stars in Philippine literature. They are Rebecca Anonuevo, Roberto Anonuevo, Abdon Balde Jr., Romulo Baquiran Jr., Mayette Bayuga, Rica Bolipata Santos, Jose Wendell Capili, Ian Rosales Casocot, Mark Anthony Cayanan, Frank Cimatu, Mike Coroza, Adam David, Raymond de Borja, Lourd Ernest de Veyra, Allan Derain, Ma. Romina Gonzalez, Jerry Gracio, Vicente Groyon, Luis Katigbak, Mookie Katigbak, Jun Lana, Marco Lopez, Liza Magtoto, Paolo Manalo, Virginia Mercado-Villanueva, Mario Miclat, Allan Popa, Sandra Roldan, Tara Sering, Vincenz Serrano, Luna Sicat Cleto, J. Dennis Teodosio, Joel Toledo, and Lawrence Ypil.

The editor, Rolando Tolentino, is Fellow for Fiction of the Likhaan: U.P. Institue of Creative Writing and professor at the Film Institute of the University of the Philippines Diliman. He holds a Ph.D. in Film, Literature, and Culture from University of Southern California. His numerous books of fiction and critical essays have won him awards and recognition including the National Commission for Culture and the Arts Writers' Prize, Manila Critics Circle's National Book Award, National Book Development Board's Gintong Aklat Award, Obermann Summer Research Fellowship's Best Arts Book, and UC Berkeley and UCLA Southeast Asian Studies Program's Distinguished Voice.

The journal is made possible through a grant from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

For inquiries on the journal, contact the Likhaan: U.P. Institute of Creative Writing at (02) 922-1830.

Pistang Panitik

PISTANG PANITIK 3 AT THE 29th MANILA INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR IN MOA

The third Pistang Panitik will be held during the 29 th Manila International Book Fair at the SMX Mall of Asia . This year's format should prove to be quite unique. On September 12 , 14, 15 and 16, writers/artists/performers will have morning and afternoon sessions dedicated to them, wherein their works will be discussed and presented. Critical discussions, storytelling sessions and poetry readings will add spark to this literal literary fiesta.

The premiere writing institution in the country, the UP Institute of Creative Writing counts the College of Arts & Letters of the University of the Philippines-Diliman , the National Commission for Culture and the Arts , and Primetrade Asia as its partners for the week-long event. Fresh from the success of the Gawad Likhaan: the UP Centennial Literary Awards, the UP ICW initiated Pistang Panitik in 2006 with the help of Anvil Publishing House, National Book Development Board, and Book Development Association of the Philippines.

Pistang Panitik is a brainchild of former ICW Director Prof. Vim Nadera who said that Pista is a way of sharing the beauty of the written art with the public by celebrating our own literature.

On September 12, 2008, 2:00-3:30 p.m. at the Meeting Room 6, Writers' Cafe will host Charlson Ong , Ophelia Dimalanta, Benilda Santos, Dinah Roma-Sianturi, Jaime An Lim, writing greats who will talk about their craft over a cup of coffee. On that same day, 4:00-5:30, writers speak on writing and joining writers' groups in Writers are not Loners with Beverly Siy of Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika at Anyo (LIRA), UP Writers Club, The Varsitarian (UST), Heights ( Ateneo de Manila ) and Malate ( De La Salle University ). At 7:00 p.m on Stage Area 1, Literature will be performed the alternative way by Ony Carcamo, Lourd de Veyra, Khavn de la Cruz , Charms Tiamzon , Girl Valencia and Cynthia Alexander.

In Ganito Kami Ngayon , renowned writers (the new ICW director) Jose Dalisay, Roland Tolentino, Romulo Baquiran, Jr., Jose Neil Garcia, Nicolas Pichay and Jun Lana will update literature lovers on current literary practice in the Philippines on September 14 , 10:00am-12:00nn. Pop Lit on September 15 , 10:00am-2:00 p.m. at the Stage Area 1 will have comic book artists , performance poets, storytellers, independent film directors and literary innovators like Romancing Venus, Teatrong Mulat, Angelo Suarez , and Jim Libiran with TRIBU rappers Raynoa Aguillon, Billy Cruz, Lloyd Labastida, and Shielbert Manuel will present emerging forms in Philippine literature.

And for the finale, the business of blogging will be discussed on September 16 , 10:30am-12:30 pm, at the Stage Area 1. The activity called Blog! will be handled by Dean Alfa , Marne Kilates, Bobby Añonuevo, Sonny Villafania, Dino Manrique, and Vlad Gonzales.

For more details, contact the UP ICW at 922-1830 and visit panitikan.com.ph.