Gala Night Program.p65 - Silliman University

G A U D E A M U S 

Gala Night 

THE 50 th ANNIVERSARY FELLOWSHIP NIGHT 

20 MAY 2011, FRIDAY, 4 P.M., 

CLAIRE ISABEL McGILL LUCE AUDITORIUM 

SILLIMAN UNIVERSITY, DUMAGUETE CITY

the national writers workshop is sponsored by 

silliman university and the national commission for culture and the arts

Gaudeamus 

THE 50 thANNIVERSARY 

FELLOWSHIP NIGHT

From the 

DIRECTOR 

EMERITUS 

Dr. Edith L. Tiempo 

National Artist for Literature

BY MIRO FRANCES CAPILI 

We tried to write. 

We had positioned 

ourselves where our bodies 

would be able to cleave the wind, 

hoping perhaps to intercept what 

occult lore its salty tongues would 

carry; to entrap the utterances of the 

afternoon in free verse, realist fiction, 

villanelles, sci-fi, prose poetry. What 

precluded the wall, of course, was the 

pure verve of sea, that bladder of the 

warm earth, an unruly and irreducible 

reminder of timelessness. Everything 

else, among them the wispy periphery 

of sky, seemed simply to be what had 

happened to occur around at the time 

of creation. 

From time to time one of our poets would 

offer to read aloud what she had written, only to 

realize that the sibilance around us silenced both 

sound and subterrain of her imagery. The wideness 

of the sea, she began, and the sea was wider still. 

Waves making love, she tried, and it became 

impossible to ignore the sultry impassioning of 

water folding into water. 

We had tried, as fools do who trust in the 

glib promises of syntax and metaphors and line 

cuts, to discipline the dance; the lissomeness of the 

water, into written entry. But no theory instructs 

the mastery of seas. Memory cannot temper a 

rolling patch of sky. A rogue splinter of peach dusk 

explodes with too much ebullience to hold the grace 

of a poem. An afternoon offers its own syntactic 

patterns and resonances. 

And how do you dilute a sea, the near 

painful clarity of day, a summer of literature and 

noise, to ease into a story? 

I imagine it would take the same pains 

required to grow old and confuse home with 

memory, as the wise are able to do who’ve culled 

HOW TO 

WALK ON A 

SEAWALL 

their lives carefully. Keep in constant vigilance. 

Take long walks. Accept that falling spectator to 

the inaccessible rituals of waves, at times, comes at 

the expense of wordlessness. Grow a habit. Kick it 

after the second hour. Arrive at an awareness that 

a seawall in Dumaguete city has more in common 

than you think with the lamppost at the corner of 

the next street—it is a time, a place, an atmosphere, 

a parable, a tumor; a sweet kind of terror, 

something to despair over. Set store by William 

Stafford when he says, “For the person who follows 

with trust and forgiveness what occurs to him, the 

world remains always ready and deep, an 

inexhaustible environment, with the combined 

vividness of an actuality and flexibility of a dream.” 

You are surprised. How difficult it is to still 

the imperative of bodily experience, of wanderlust, 

of energy and movement, as you develop with age 

a skill for ordinary life. How rare now those images 

of brute, fervid illumination. You quit trying to 

make small talk in line for your passport 

application. The laundry waits in the hamper by 

the door. You find a quicker way to remove the 

dribbles of pumpkin soup from last night’s dress.

You find yourself most displaced in yourself. You 

wake up, wanting to follow the sounds of the 

morning. 

So you slip quietly out of the soul for some 

fresh air. Take a walk. Find a curious other 

Elsewhere, other Elsewhen, lying in the gutter, or 

warm in the outstretched hand of a beggar, or 

stowed away among old tickets in the compartment 

of a bus bound for a place whose name you can 

pronounce but can’t remember. Pick it up. You 

decide that this, what you have just found, could 

derail you. It could be a useless divergence you’re 

afraid to admit you have all the time for. You’re 

afraid it will rain for a million years within you, 

forming new seas; sail you away to a purer shore. 

Could usher you back into the discrete homicides 

of squat, ordinary life. 

But let’s say you’ve run into a profound 

enough moment of tenderness—your first 

awareness of how great of this world the Negros 

Sea seems to annex, for instance, when you reach a 

certain hilly point of Siquijor. You get wind of this 

possibility while top-loading a jeepney, and a year 

later you are still suspicious of where the ride had 

ended. You spend weekends at beaches within the 

proximity of Metro Manila, wondering why no one 

else notices that the “white” sand the ads were so 

proud of more closely resembles gravel, or that the 

milky waters have forgotten how they had 

themselves once seemed to dream up the color 

cerulean. You arrive home and greet your mother 

ma’ayong hapon (your family hails from Batangas). 

Obedient to a warning you once heard about 

vampires in Siquijor leading human lives by day, 

you avert your gaze from men wearing reflective 

shades on the way to school. And you have been 

breathless so often from the dressings of strange 

plants sprouting from the lawns of random 

neighbors, from the grain crackling all over the 

corners of old silent films, from the word decadence 

and how it sounds like the butter melting in the 

cleavage of your morning pan de sal. You become 

difficult to please. 

Your wife, your lover, a classmate, will at 

some point harbor suspicion from your attachment 

to precious little instances of life. They will doubt 

the triumphs you find in a can of soup, a better 

edition of The Shipping News; of lying on a seawall, 

observing a lamppost. That they will declare your 

sanity upended and recommend a good 

psychiatrist is a possibility. Live with it. 

Stuff the new wonder in a place whose 

sound and silence only you understand. Often your 

thumb will seek it out and attempt to stroke it, 

reacquainting itself with the rough corners and 

willowy indents in reverent little gestures. Let it. 

A tacit smile, in turn, will find a way to seek out 

your face when this happens. Let it grow. 

Now begin the walk back to where you 

remember your old house was. Lose your way. Find 

it eventually, in a place between the tagline of a 

slimming tea ad you once read while taking a piss 

during a stopover, and the second name of the man 

who sold you your first harmonica. Try to act 

surprised when you find yourself unable to walk 

right back in. 

First published in UNO Magazine, March 2011. Miro 

Capili was part of the 49th National Writers Workshop.

Programme 

G A U D E A M U S 

Gala Night 

THE 50 thANNIVERSARY 

FELLOWSHIP NIGHT 

Over ver verture ver ture 

Danilo Francisco M. Reyes and Niccolo Vitug 

on the piano 

Opening Opening Video 

Video 

Opening Opening Number 

Number 

Silliman University Kahayag Dance Troupe 

Ronnie Mirabuena 

Artistic Director 

Rec Recognition Rec Recognition 

ognition of of the the Fell Fellows Fell ws of of the the 50 50 th W WWorkshop 

W orkshop 

The fellows will also be given their certificates 

Wel Wel Welcome Wel ome Remarks 

Remarks 

Dr. Evelyn F. Mascuñana 

Chair, Department of English and Literature 

Coordinator, National Writers Workshop 

Award ard for for the the United United Bo Bo Board Bo ard for for Christian Christian Higher Higher Higher Educa Educa Education Educa tion in in Asia 

Asia 

Accepting for UBCHEA 

Dr. Christopher Ablan 

UBCHEA Liaison Officer, Silliman University 

Award ard for for The The The University University of of of Io Iowa Io 

Accepting for the University of Iowa 

Prof. Robin Hemley 

Non-Fiction Program Director, The University of Iowa 

Musical Musical Intermission 

Intermission 

Silliman University Gratitude Goodwill Ambassadors 

Dr. Elizabeth Susan Vista-Suarez 

Artistic Director 

Award ard for for THe THe THe Crea Creative Crea tive Writing Writing Found Foundation 

Found tion 

Accepting for the Creative Writing Foundation 

Alfred Yuson and Susan Lara

Award ard for for the the NN 

Nation NN 

tion tion tional tion al CC 

Commission CC 

ommission for for Cul Culture Cul ture and and the the Ar Ar Arts Ar ts 

Accepting for the NCCA 

Prof. Ricardo M. de Ungria 

Award ard ard for for for the the Duma Dumaguete Duma guete Literar Literar Literary Literar Literar y Ar Arts Ar ts Ser Service Ser vice Gr Gr Group Gr Gr oup 

Accepting for DULA 

Mr. Bobby Flores-Villasis and Ms. Bing Sumanoy 

The family of the late Ernesto Superal Yee are also asked to come on stage 

Address Address for for for the the Fift Fiftth Fift th Anniversar 

Anniversary 

Anniversar 

Dr. Margaret Helen Udarbe-Alvarez 

Dean, College of Arts and Sciences 

Lost ost in in the the the St Stars: St ars: In In Memoriam 

Memoriam 

Award ard for for the the n nnation 

n tion tional tion al writers writers W WWorkshop 

W Workshop 

orkshop St Staff St St aff 

Accepting for the Staff 

Prof. Warlito Caturay 

The panelists of the Department of English and Literature are also asked to come onstage 

oup, , , Inc Inc. Inc 

Award ard ard for for the the n nnation 

n tion tional tion al writers writers W WWorkshop 

W orkshop P PPanelists 

PP 

anelists 

Accepting for the Panelists 

Dr. Anthony Tan 

The panelists will also be given their certificates 

RHYTHM RHYTHM OF OF VIOLETS: VIOLETS: Poetr Poetr Poetry Poetr Poetr y & & & Song Song Cy Cycle Cy cle 

with 

Christine Lao, Shane Carreon, Myrna Peña-Reyes, Dr. César Ruìz Aquino, 

Katrina Saga, Jem Robert Talaroc, Carla Mongado, Onna Rhea Quizo, Rigel Suarez, 

and Dr. Elizabeth Susan Vista-Suarez 

“Afternoon of the Sea Faun” 

by Edith Lopez Tiempo 

“Sunlight at Auvers” 

by Rowena Tiempo-Torrevillas 

“The River Singing Stone” 

by Myrna Peña-Reyes 

“Point of View” 

by César Ruìz Aquino 

A A Video Video Trib Tribute Trib ute t tto 

t to 

o the the the Founders Founders Founders of of the the the WW 

Workshop 

W Workshop 

orkshop 

Rec Recognition Rec ognition for for for C CCollege 

C ollege Assurance Assurance Plan 

Plan 

and and A AAtty 

A ty ty. ty . enriq enrique enriq ue Sobrepeña Sobrepeña jr. 

jr. 

Accepting for CAP and Atty. Sobrepeña 

Dr. Josefina Cornelio 

Former Deputy Head, CAP College and CAP College Foundation 

Rec Recognition Rec ognition for for dr. dr. R RRowen 

R wen wena wen a Tiempo-T Tiempo-Torrevillas 

Tiempo-T Tiempo-Torrevillas 

orrevillas 

Rec Recognition Rec ognition for for Dr. Dr. Edilber Edilberto Edilber o K. K. Tiempo Tiempo 

Tiempo 

Rec Rec Recognition Rec Rec ognition for for Dr. Dr. Edith Edith L. L. L. Tiempo 

Tiempo

Cl Closing Cl Closing 

osing Remarks 

Remarks 

Dr. Rowena Tiempo-Torrevillas 

Director-in-Residence, National Writers Workshop 

Cl Closing Cl osing Number Number 

Number 

‘T ‘Tod ‘T od oday’ od y’ 

Presenters 

Presenters 

in order of appearance 

Moses Joshua Atega 

Patrik Norouzi 

Alfie Calingacion 

Gino Francis Dizon 

Oscar Serquiña Jr. 

Jenette Ethel Vizcocho 

Ian Rosales Casocot 

Myrna Peña-Reyes 

Lorna Reyes Makil 

Lady Flor Partosa 

Philip Van Peel 

Alana Cabrera-Narciso 

Rebecca de la Torre 

César Ruìz Aquino 

Misael Ondong 

Allen Samsuya 

Andrea Macalino 

Ceres Abanil 

Gémino H. Abad 

Bobby Flores Villasis 

Miro Frances Capili 

Aaron James Jalalon 

Susan S. Lara 

Alfred Yuson 

Marius Monsato 

Maria Rochelle Villaruel 

Voice-over 


WRITER WRITER WRITER AND AND DIRECT DIRECT DIRECTOR 

DIRECT DIRECTOR 

OR 

Danilo Francisco M. Reyes 

PR PRODUCTION PR PR ODUCTION ASSIST ASSISTANT ASSIST ANT and and pr program pr ogram design 

design 


PR PRODUCTION PR ODUCTION ASSIST ASSISTANT ASSIST ANT and and and SET SET DESIGN 

DESIGN 


ST STAGE ST ST GE MAN MANAGER MAN GER 

Christel Kho 

TALENT ALENT CC 

COORDIN CC 

OORDIN OORDINATOR 

OORDIN OR 

Diomar ABrio

The National Writers Workshop 

in Dumaguete is the oldest 

creative writing program in 

Asia. The Workshop has been directed 

for the past 50 years by National Artist 

for Literature Dr. Edith L. Tiempo, 

along with her husband and 

Workshop founder, the late Dr. 

Edilberto K. Tiempo. In 2009, Dr. Edith 

Tiempo was named Director Emeritus 

of the National Writers Workshop, 

now known as the Silliman University 

National Writers Workshop. 

The Silliman University National Writers 

Workshop is the only three-week long writers 

workshop in the country, devoted to helping 

writers hone their craft in the genres of poetry, 

fiction, nonfiction, and drama. As the longest 

running among the nation’s writing workshops, the 

Silliman Workshop has trained several generations 

of writers, many of whom are now influencing the 

shape, direction, and development of Philippine 

literature. Over six hundred young writers have 

received the workshop fellowships, which are open 

for annual competitions. Many of these writers 

have won major prizes in the Don Carlos Palanca 

Literary Awards, the Philippine Graphic Literary 

Contest, and the Philippines Free Press Literary 

About the Workshop 

Contest, among others. With the workshop’s 

integrity and tradition over the years, it has become 

a rite of passage for the country’s finest writers. 

Apart from Silliman University, over the 

years the Workshop has received support from the 

Ford Foundation, the National Commission for 

Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the CAP Family of 

Companies, the Creative Writing Foundation, the 

Dumaguete Literary Arts (DuLA) Group, and 

various cultural institutes based in the United States 

ad Europe. 

Last 2010 marked a milestone in the 

development of Philippine literature and the 

writing craft, as the Silliman University National 

Writers Workshop, headed by its first Director-in- 

Residence Dr. Rowena Tiempo-Torrevillas and the 

visionary Dr. Ben S. Malayang III, University 

President, first invited a writer beyond the 

Philippines to sit in as a guest panelist for a week 

to enrich the workshop by infusing Asian 

consciousness. The first international guest writer 

was Hong Kong’s Xu Xi. For 2011, it is Singapore’s 

Kirpal Singh. 

Also in 2010, Silliman University welcomed 

the panelists, writing fellows, workshop alumni, 

and guests to the Writers Village at Camp Lookout, 

Valencia; its realization made possible through 

generous hearts.

EDITH L. TIEMPO, poet, fictionist, 

teacher and literary critic is one of the 

finest Filipino writers in English 

whose works are characterized by a 

remarkable fusion of style and substance, 

of craftsmanship and insight. She was born 

on 22 April 1919 in Bayombong, Nueva 

Vizcaya. Her poems are intricate verbal 

transfigurations of significant experiences 

as revealed, in two of her much 

anthologized pieces, “The Little Marmoset” 

and “Bonsai”. As fictionist, Tiempo is as 

morally profound. Her language has been 

marked as “descriptive but unburdened by 

scrupulous detailing.” She is an influential 

tradition in Philippine literature in English. 

Together with her late husband, Edilberto 

K. Tiempo, she founded and directed the 

Silliman National Writers Workshop in 

Dumaguete City, which has produced some 

of the country’s best writers. Tiempo’s 

published works include the novel A Blade 

of Fern (1978), His Native Coast (1979), The 

Alien Corn (1992), One, Tilting Leaves (1995) 

and The Builder (2003); the poetry collections, 

The Tracks of Babylon and Other Poems (1966), 

and The Charmer’s Box and Other Poems 

(1993); and the short story collection Abide, 

Joshua, and Other Stories (1964). (Adapted from 

the National Commission for Culture and the 

Arts website) 

About the founders

About the founders 

Fiction-writer and literary critic 

EDILBERTO K. TIEMPO was born 

in 1913. He obtained his M.F.A. from 

the University of Iowa and his Ph.D. in 

English from the University of Denver. In 

addition to having been a Guggenheim and 

Rockefeller fellow, Dr. Tiempo, alongside 

wife Edith, spent around four years 

studying literature and creative writing in 

the Iowa Writers Workshop. Upon 

returning to the Philippines in 1962, the 

Tiempos founded the Silliman National 

Writers Workshop after the objectives of the 

Iowa writers’ clinic. In the 1960s, he taught 

in two American schools, but it was Silliman 

University which Tiempo chose as his base, 

serving as department chair, graduate 

school dean, vice-president for academic 

affairs, and writer-in-residence. He reaped 

numerous honors for his writing, among 

them the Cultural Center of the Philippines 

Prize, Palanca Awards, the National Book 

Award, and a prize in the U.P. Golden 

Anniversary Literary Contest. He authored 

over a dozen books in his lifetime. Titles 

include the collections A Stream at Dalton 

Pass and Other Stories (1970), Snake Twin and 

Other Stories (1992) and Literary Criticism in 

the Philippines and Other Essays (1995); as well 

as the novels Cry Slaughter (1957), which had 

four New York printings and six European 

translations, To Be Free (1972), the awardwinning 

More Than Conquerors (1982), and 

Cracked Mirror (1984). Tiempo died in 

September of 1996, but his final novel, Farah, 

saw print in 2001. (Adapted from the Panitikan 

website)

When the first Filipino 

President of Silliman 

University, Dr. Leopoldo 

T. Ruiz, gave his inaugural address at 

our commencement on 6 April 1953, 

he defined the true university as one 

where, among others, there is 

“constant enlargement of the horizons 

of man’s knowledge...” 

Until today, successive administrations of 

the University have been measured against such 

yardstick as defined by Dr. Ruiz, and as one of the 

innovative academic programs introduced in the 

university in the summer of 1962, this National 

Writers Workshop is then one of those pillars of 

the true university. 

Indeed, whether in creative, research, or 

academic writing, a university cannot be one 

without a solid, stable program in writing. At 

Silliman University, where the first three chairmen 

of the English Department—Dr. Metta Jacobs 

Silliman, Dr. Edilberto K. Tiempo, and Dr. Edith L. 

Tiempo—shaped her destiny, the National Writers 

Workshop was a natural progression that brought 

the University into international prominence. And 

as the brainchild of husband-and-wife team, Dr. Ed 

and Dr. Edith Tiempo, another natural progression 

is their daughter taking over—Dr. Rowena Tiempo- 

Torrevillas, the Writers Workshop’s current 

Director-in-Residence. 

For the past three weeks, we welcomed to 

this gathering of minds the creative writers who 

are striving to perfect their craft in spite of a 

rigorous journey in the process of discovering their 

strengths and weaknesses. This is a program so 

structured to develop one’s critical insights to 

expand one’s knowledge—the true horizon of the 

true university. For wasn’t it the American 

management guru, Peter Drucker, who gave us the 

From the 

Acting 

President

term “knowledge work,” describing it as work that 

is not easily designed because knowledge does not 

result in a product but instead, in a contribution of 

knowledge to somebody else? 

Such then is the hallmark of the true 

university—where “knowledge work” is 

generated, criticized, expanded, analyzed, 

assimilated—an academic program of the National 

Writers Workshop that only Silliman University 

can design and achieve! 

For the past three weeks, the design of 

creative writing as knowledge not only sharpened 

some more to conform to what a true university is, 

but also, each one of the writing fellows— 

individually screened and selected—were tested to 

the limit by the mentors of this innovative summer 

program, a knowledge journey towards selfdiscovery 

of qualities that are self-imposed in their 

desire to perfect their craft. 

Now then is a happy moment for us in the 

University to have welcomed everyone of our 

writing fellows to the Rose Lamb-Sobrepeña 

Writers Village, the permanent home of Silliman 

University’s Writers Workshop. 

In the last three weeks, I am sure that our 

fellows have also discovered that although the Rose 

Lamb Sobrepeña Writers Village is only a year old, 

it is also the only place on this earth where the 

tranquility of the environment could give them 

their needed serenity to achieve their creative 

genius! Again, congratulations on having been 

admitted to this summer’s program! 

Dr. Betsy Joy B. Tan 

Acting President, Silliman University

From the 

director 

in residence 


Director-in-Residence 

At this moment, across the 

planet, the fields of Iowa are 

being tilled and prepared for 

planting the seed that will feed the 

whole world. 

Where we are today, a world away, the seeds 

from Iowa — the nursery of writing worldwide, 

the Iowa Writers’ Workshop — are being reaped 

in our midst: fifty years of the written word, shared, 

cultivated, celebrated in a golden harvest.

May 2011 is the fiftieth 

anniversary of the National 

Writers Workshop. Let us 

try to trace briefly, dwelling only on 

the broad historical contours, the 

evolution of the National Writers 

Workshop. 

In 1961, National Artist for Literature Dr. 

Edith L. Tiempo and her late husband, Dr. Edilberto 

K. Tiempo, planted the seed for what is now the 

Silliman University National Writers workshop. 

In 2010, 49 years later, Silliman University, 

through a generous donation of Atty. Enrique 

Sobrepeña Jr., an Outstanding Sillimanian Awardee 

in the field of business, realized its vision to create 

a Writers Village on this gentle slope at the foothills 

of Mount Talinis as primary venue for the National 

Writers Workshop, and as a home for writers away 

from the distractions of city life. 

Now in 2011, the National Writers 

Workshop celebrates its fiftieth anniversary. We 

pause to think—we are now at the threshold of 

another fifty years, or a hundred years or more, for 

as long as there are writers who write about life, 

love, friendship, loyalty, honor, or about hatred, 

greed, envy, betrayal, dishonor, all universal 

themes that have preoccupied writers throughout 

the ages. 

Yes, we pause to think, what’s next? For now 

the University’s most immediate dream or vision 

is the Asianization of the Writers Workshop— 

inviting panelists and fellows from neighboring 

Asian countries to create a space for a vibrant blend 

in the literary arts and writing craft, and expanding 

Silliman University’s relevance and reach beyond 

its campus by the sea to gain value as an institution 

to others beyond itself. 

This vision became a reality in 2010 when 

we invited a notable Hong Kong-based writer, Xu 

From the 

Workshop 

Coordinator

Xi, a veteran in writers’ workshops, as guest 

panelist. This year, we have expanded to two Asian 

guests from Singapore: one, a young Singaporean 

student—Jasmine Teh—as writing fellow, and the 

other, her mentor, Dr. Kirpal Singh, a notable 

Singaporean writer and another veteran in writers’ 

workshops, as guest panelist in the last week of the 

workshop. The National Writers Workshop is a 

three-week workshop—the longest writing 

workshop in the Philippines. 

This is one of the highlights in the workshop 

calendar for May 2011. Another highlight is the 

Gala and Awarding Ceremonies tonight at the 

Claire Isabel McGill Luce Auditorium, when 

institutions and persons who have supported and 

contributed to the development and growth of the 

National Writers Workshop will be recognized. 

Amazingly, there seems to be an 

inexplicable convergence of circumstances, a 

happenstance that can make one superstitious (or 

one think that this augurs successful fruitful 

ventures in the future): this is the visit to Silliman 

on the last days of the workshop by Prof. Robin 

Hemley, director of the Non-fiction Program at the 

University of Iowa, who is visiting with twenty 

students. 

Why this convergence of circumstances? 

Why now at this threshold of the next fifty or more 

years of the Workshop’s existence, when there is a 

lot of wondering as to what would happen next, 

some dreaming or envisioning? 

We see that what started as a seed in 1961, 

and followed by a vision in 2010, are now realities 

in 2011. Let me end with this thought: dreams and 

visions are the stuff realities are made of. 


Chair, Department of English and Literature

The 50th Anniversary Writing Fellows 

CHARMAINE CARREON is taking up her M.A. 

in Creative Writing at the University of the 

Philippines in Diliman. She also teaches in UP- 

Cebu. She has attended the 10th Iyas Creative 

Writing Workshop and the UP Visayas Centennial 

All-Visayan Writers Workshop. 

GLENN L. DIAZ is taking up his M.A. in Creative 

Writing at the University of the Philippines in 

Diliman. He was a Fellow for the 10th Ateneo 

National Writers Workshop. He has a short story 

published in the Philippine Free Press, and is at 

present a freelance writer, contributing non-fiction 

articles to the Philippine Star, Philippine Daily 

Inquirer, BusinessWorld, and others. 

PHILLINE P. DONGGAY is a presenter of The 

Climate Project, a leadership training group 

established by Al Gore. She is also a PR/Media 

Communications Manager of GREENERGY 

Development Corporation. She is also an editor of 

an online magazine, an ABS-CBN producer/writer 

for CHUY!, and an events organizer. Originally 

from Cagayan, she received her BS in Commerce 

from De La Salle University. She is passionate about 

traveling and writing. 

ROGELIO FANTONIAL GARCIA JR. is an 

instructor at the Department of English Language 

and Literature in Xavier University and is also 

taking up his M.A. in the school. He was Mindanao 

State University’s Writer of the Year in 2009 and 

was a writing fellow to the Sulat-Dula Playwriting 

Workshop. His works have been published in 

Sun.Star Davao, Dagmay, and in the “Youngblood” 

column of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. 

EVANGELINE B. GUBAT is taking up her M.A. 

in Creative Writing at the University of the 

Philippines in Diliman. She earned her Bachelor of 

Fine Arts from the Ateneo de Manila University. 

Her works have appeared in different publications, 

and one of her poems is anthologized in One 

Hundred Love Poems: Philippine Love Poetry Since 

1905. Currently, she is a freelance feature writer. 

JEFFREY JAVIER is a Creative Writing major in 

the University of the Philippines Mindanao. He has 

attended the DWG-ADDU Writers Workshop in 

2009. His stories and poems have appeared in 

Dagmay and in Sun.Star Davao. 

CHRISTINE LAO, after earning her Bachelor of 

Laws in the University of the Philippines College 

of Law, has been a Philippine attorney since 2001. 

She was a legal consultant for the Asian 

Development Bank and was also a lecturer at the 

English Department in the Ateneo de Manila 

University. Her stories have been published in the 

Philippine Speculative Fiction series (in 2008 and in 

2011), and her poems in 100 Filipina Poets: First 

Annual Festival of Women’s Poetry (in 2008). One of 

her stories has just recently appeared in Kritika 

Kulura. 

EMMANUEL LEAN P. LAVA is a corporate 

Business English Trainer in goFluent Phils., Inc. and 

is a contributing writer in GabLifeStyle Magazine. He 

has previously received his BA in Economics in the 

Ateneo de Manila University. 

ANDREA MACALINO earned her B.A. in English 

Literature from the Ateneo de Manila University. 

Her short story was a finalist in the Philippine Free 

Press Awards. Currently, Andrea is an Executive 

Assistant of the Ateneo Center for Continuing 

Education and is a content developer in Phinma 

Education Network.

MARIUS ANGELO G. MONSANTO is from 

Davao City. A Creative Writing student in the 

University of the Philippines Mindanao, he was 

fellow in the 15th Iligan National Writers 

Workshop. His works have been published in 

Sun.Star Davao. 

ALLEN SAMSUYA, a Creative Writing student in 

the University of the Philippines Mindanao, is from 

Cotabato City. He was a Fellow in the Davao 

Writers Workshop in 2009, and a finalist in the 

Davao Band Fest song-writing competition. 

MIGUEL ANTONIO D. SULANGI was given the 

BPI-DOST Science Award in 2010. He is a Physics 

major in the Ateneo de Manila University, and is 

also a member of Heights, Ateneo’s literary folio. 

ALYZA MAY T. TAGUILASO was a fellow in the 

Ateneo Writers Workshop and in the Iyas Creative 

Writing Workshop. Her work has also appeared 

in the recent Kritika Kultura: Anthology of New 

Philippine Writing in English. A Biology major from 

Ateneo, she is pursuing her Doctor of Medicine 

degree from the University of the East Ramon 

Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center. 

JASMINE TEH studied Information Systems 

Management at Singapore Management University 

and lives in Singapore. 

ELAINE MICHELLE M. TOBIAS has published 

her works in The Literary Apprentice and in the 

University of the Philippines English Department’s 

Ampersand. At present, Tobey is a writer for The 

Mind Museum, a project of Bonifacio Arts 

Fundation, and a Creative Writing Major in UP 

Diliman. 

MARIA ROCHELLE A. VILLARUEL studies in 

De La Salle University, where she is working for 

her Master of Fine Arts degree. She has contributed 

articles to various publications—including 

Masigasig/Entrepreneur, Yes! Magazine, Cosmopolitan 

Philippines, etc.—and has worked in TV production 

and advertisement. At present, Miel is a writer for 

Global Property Guide.

1962 

J. Lorenzo Rivera 

Jose Ferraris 

Jose Lansang Jr. 

Luciano Tenedo 

Petronilo Daroy 

Socorro Federis-Tate 

Vic Samonte 

Wilfrido Nolledo 

1963 

Alberto Florentino 

Amalia Perez 

Bataan Faigao 

Elena Reyes 

Emmanuel Osorio 

Erwin Castillo 

Fernando Afable 

Geronimo Sicam 

Indalecio de Leon 

Ireneo Gancuangco 

Jesus Peralta 

Ko Won 

Leonidas Benesa 

Linda Ty-Casper 

Nicanor Tabligan 

Raymond Llorca 

Rogelio Sicat 

Valdemar Olaguer 

1964 

Alfredo Cuenca 

Alfredo Morales 


Jose Carreon 

Nelson La Rosa 

Ninotchka Rosca 

Orlando Hernando 

Roberto Pontinela 

Rolando Carbonell 

Rolando Pena 

Wilfredo Pascua Sanchez 

1965 

Alma de Jesus Tayo 

Elsie Martinez-Coscolluela 

Estelita Juco 

Freddie Dimaya 

G. Burce Bunao 

J Maidan Flores 

Jose Montebon 

Maximo Tuason 

Rita Gaddi 

Teresita Dato 

1966 

Alfredo Pucay 

Antonio Samson 

Carmelo Chionglo 

Cesar Victor Reyes 

Federico Licsi Espino 

Marra Lanot 

Norman Quimpo 

Salvador Bernal 

1967 

Antonio Enriquez 

Cesar Ruiz Aquino 

Fellows from 1962 to 2011 

Edgar Libre-Griño 

Eduardo Yap 

Florence Baban 

Jesus Chanco 

Joy Dayrit 

Jun Canizares 

Mar Arcega 

Migen Osorio 

Ricardo Patalinghug 

Robert Villasis 

Romeo Virtucio 

Sr. Ma. Delia Coronel, ICM 

Sr. Mary Imelda Domingo 

Thelma Enage 

1968 

Alfred Yuson 

Armando Ravanzo 

Cesar Mella, Jr. 

Dionisio Gabriel 

Donel Pacis 

Emmanuel Lacaba 

Lamberto Ceballos/Caballes 

Rene Estella Amper 

Rene Bonsubre 

Urias Almagro 

1969 

Alfrredo Navarro Salanga 

Artemio Tadena 

Dory Robles 

Gemma Tadena 

Josephine Soto 

Lamberto Antonio 

Linda Faigao 

Melquiades Allego 

Rosalinda Roxas 

Virgilio Almario 

Wigberto Fuentebella 

1970 

Alberto Casuga 

Carlos Aureus 

Carlota Abellana 

Celedonio Aguilar 

Conrado de Quiros 

Fr. Miguel Fernandez 

Franklin Osorio 

Gwendolyn Reyes 

Junio Ragragio 

Macario Tiu 

Ricky Lee 

Wilfredo Pascua Sanchez

1971 

Aida Rivera-Ford 

Desmond Montemayor 

Dolores Martir 

Edgar Griño 

Eduardo Lucero 

Edward Garrett 


Gil Garcia 

Leticia Farinas 

Loreto Matienzo Jr. 

Ma. Zenaida French 

Primo Pacis 

Rene Martinez 

Val Fajardo 

1972 

Alfredo Macaraeg 

Edgar Maranan 

Ernesto Lariosa 

Francis Macansantos 

Freddie Hernandez 

Josefina Cabe 

Luis Cabalquinto 

Pantaleon Auman 

Ramon Cortes III 

Rene Parohinog 

Rogelio Mangahas 

Virgilio Vitug 

1973 

Angelito Santos 

Anthony Tan 

Antonio Orogo Jr. 

Catherine Salazar 

Cecilia Nava 

Felix Fojas 

Jaime An Lim 

Jolico Cuadra 

Ma. Cristina Ferreros 

Mauro Avena 

Meng Magno 

Oriel Muspratt 

Vidal Armamento 

1974 

Bella Apelo 

Cynthia Rodriguez 

Elizabeth Orteza 

Gaudioso Sustento 

Generoso Taduran 

Gilbert Centina III 

Herminio Beltran 

Hortensia Balisalisa 

Jose Gilbert Licuanan 

Leoncio Deriada 

Luis Cabalquinto 

Rodulfo Alano 

1975 

Cristina Velez 

Estrella Alfon 

George Vail Kabristante 

Manuel Concepcion 

Oscar Pecson 

Romeo Centina 

Sammy Sta. Maria 

1976 

Danilo Estiva 

Fornarina Enemicio 

Goddy Ricafort Ypon 

Inez Taccad-Cammayo 

Jun Cruz Reyes 

Kee Thuan Chye 

Marie Marjorie Pernia 

Mario Eric Gamalinda 

Socorro Tate 

Teoh Choon Ean 

Wong Po Wah 

1977 

Angelo Bernardo 

Connie Imperial 

Diana Gamalinda 

Domingo de Guzman 

Edel Garcellano 

Eduardo Orozco 

Ernesto Superal Yee 

Noralyn Mustapha 

Victor Mandala 

1978 

Aida Manansala 

Anthony Serrano 

Denise Allas 

Grace Monte de Ramos 

Jorge Sabino 

Juan Arcellana 

Melito Baclay 

Nadine Rodriguez 

Rene Saguin 

Simeon Dumdum 

1979 

Enrico Enerio 

Geraldine Maayo 

Henry Villalva 

Jessie Bandillo 

Leslie Lofranco 

Letty Salanga 

Priscilla Supnet 

Susan Lara 

Vicente Bandillo

1980 

Antonio Hernandez 

Aries Baluyos 

Augusta de Almedda 

Carlos Basa Cortes 

Edgar Alosbanos 

Edmundo Farolan 

Elsa Mampo 

Ely Centina 

Maria Linda Felipe 

Rene Espeleta 

Timbasal Tawasil 

Wilfredo Alberca 

1981 

Achilles B. Mina 

Emilia Salanga 

Jose Y. Dalisay Jr. 

Loretta Medina 

Manolo Fernando 

Mercedita Flores 

Tita Taule 

1982 

Fanny HB. Llego 

Merlie Alunan 

Patricia Rivera 

Rhodora Espinosa 

Seth Florentino 

Victoria Kapauan 

1983 

Baboo Mondonedo 

Danton Remoto 

Emmanuel Espinola Jr. 

Isabela Banzon 

Louie Stuart 

May Datuin 

Ricardo de Ungria 

1984 

Alexander Lee 

Clovis Nazareno 

Connie Maraan 

Ed delos Santos Cabagnot 

Fidelito Cortes 

Ramon Bautista 

R. Torres Pandan 

Victor Peñaranda 

1985 

Ernesto Bitonio Jr. 

Gina Apostol 

Merlinda Bobis 

R. Romea Luminarias 

Rodolfo Silvestre 

Victorio Sugbu 

1986 

Agustin Rodriguez 

Charlson Ong 

Fatima Lim 

John Kenneth Go 

Meynardo Macaraig 

Ruby Tan Enario 

Rufino Vigilar 

1987 

Anthony Buyawe 

Nino Soria de Veyra 

Cecilia Roxas 

Grace Odal 

Marne Kilates 

Vicente Ignacio de Veyra 

1988 

Cesar Bacani Jr. 

Cyrus Borja 

Dinah Roma 

Jose Celmar 

Mozart Pastrano 

Timothy Montes 

Victorino Manalo 

1989 

Christine Godinez-Ortega 

Cynthia Lopez Dee 

Danilo Francisco Reyes 

Felino Garcia Jr. 

Gilbert Tan 

Jose Wendell Capili 

Lakambini Sitoy 

Luna Sicat 

Maria Jovita Zarate 

Miriam Coronel Ferrer 

Nenita Lachica 

Ramon Boloron 

Rex JMA Fernandez 

Romeo Baquiran Jr. 

Timothy Wells 

VE Carmelo Nadera Jr 

1990 

Albert Claude Evangelio 

Anne Panning 

Arile Valerio 

Elmar Ingles 

Franklin Cimatu 

Generoso Opulencia 

Jessie Garcia 

J. Neil C. Garcia 

Ma. Cristina Martinez 

Nerissa Balce 

Noel Ramiscal 

Philip James Laquindanum 

Pio Ricky Torre 

Rofel Brion 

Violeta Ledesma

1991 

Adrian Antique 

Ana Carla Villarmente 

Ben Javier 

Bonnie Jane Flores 

Camilo Villanueva Jr. 

Cesar Aljama 

Clarita Kwan 

Ma. Theresa Quintana 

Ma. Criselda Bonganciso 

Maningning Miclat 

Minerva Chanco 

Noberto Bana III 

Peter Lay 

Rhoda Montes 

Shalom Galve 

Victor John Padilla 

1992 

Angelo Rodriguez Lacuesta 

Allan Bodoy 

Antonio Mapa Jr. 

Bonnie Jane Flores 

Dean Francis Alfar 

Homer Novicio 

Jess Alfonso Macasaet 

Maria Elena Paterno 

Nicolas Pichay 

Orlynne Genato 

Ramil Gulle 

Renerio Concepcion 

Timothy Montes 

1993 

Alexander Edmund Capiz 

Andre Lagunzad 

Lu-Ann Fuentes 

Diwata Hope Bose 

Gerardo Antoy 

Gerardo Torres 

Eugene Gloria 

Leigh Reyes 

Liezl Sitosta 

Lilia Maria Sevillano 

Ma. Romina Gonzales 

Melanie San Juan 

Michael Maniquiz 

Natasha Vizcarra 

Padmapani Perez 

Reinerio Alba 

Rolito Beratio Mojica 

Ruel De Vera 

Vicente Garcia Groyon III 

1994 

Alessandra GL Gonzales 

Alma Anonas-Carpio 

Anthony Kintanar 

Aurelio Pena 

Calbi Asain 

Doreen Jose 

Edelisa Cruz 

Espereanza Nuqui 

Josefina Tejada 

Lilibeth Rose Mercado 

Ma. Rhodora Ancheta 

Melchor Cichon 

Michael Obenieta 

Nerisa del Carmen Guevara 

RJ Ledesma 

Ruben Canlas Jr. 

Sylvia de Guzman 

1995 

Mads Bajarias 

Anne-Marie Jennifer Eligio 

Beatriz Lorete 

Conchitina Cruz 

Francis Martinez 

Januar Yap 

Larissa Saguisag 

Lorenzo Paran III 

Lourd Ernest De Veyra 

Ma. Bigonia David 

Carla Pacis 

Ma. Leovina Nicolas 

Ma. Liza Fetalino 

Maria Chona Jomilla 

Melecio Turao 

Melissa Salva 

Michael Anthony Dizon 

Ralph Semino Galan 

Randolf Bustamante 

Robert JA Basilio Jr. 

Seann Tan 

Ursula Priscilla Calasanz 

1996 

Abigail Aquino 

Andrea Pasion 

Caroline Howard 

Cesar Naniong 

Cherrie Sing 

Christina Peralta 

David Brooks 

Gabriel Baban Keith 

Homer Novicio 

Ina Alleco Silverio 

Jhoanna Lynn Cruz 

John Labella 

Kris Lanot Lacaba 

F.H. Batacan 

Mae Emmily Magtalas 

Michael de Guzman 

Nid Anima 

Rosanna Cabusao 

Tara FT Sering

1997 

Alex Gregorio 

Alexander Tan Jr. 

Diane Coleen Jorolan 

Eduardo Geronia Jr. 

Frances Ng 

Gad Lim 

Israfel Fagela 

J. Ana Flores 

Jennifer Patricia Cariño 

Jeremiah Bondoc 

Joel Toledo 

Jose Edmundo Reyes 

Lor Arejola 

Maribel Bagabaldo 

Mary Ann Tobias 

May Jennifer Amolat 

Nicole Roldan 

Riza Faith Ybañez 

Ronald Baytan 

Ronald Villavelez 

Sandra Nicole Roldan 

Sem Precioso Villareal 

Sergio Pontillas 

1998 

Carlomar Arcangel Daoana 

Ceres Abanil 

Isagani D’Bayan Jr. 

Jojo Alamillo 

Jude Espina Ganzon 

Lawrence Ypil 

Lilledeshan Bose 

Miguel Syjuco 

Raymund Magno Garlitos 

Rebecca April Khan 

Rizaldy Dandan 

Tanya Sevilla 

1999 

Allan Popa 

Barbara Ricafrente 

Bernice Roldan 

Christine Flores 

Indira Endaya 

Jessica del Mundo 

John Go 

Jose Perez Beduya 

Mayo Uno Aurelio Martin 

Libay Linsangan Cantor 

2000 

Alex de los Santos 

Elmer Pizo 

Gerald Ramos 

Isolde Amante 

Jean Claire Dy 

Noel Villaflor 

Roberto Salva 

Ted Limpoco 

Ulysses Navarro 

Vincenz Serrano 

Wayne Mark Lopez 


2001 

Christine Alindada 

Anna Bernaldo 

Alvin Dacanay 

Jin Paul De Guzman 

Jeneen Garcia 

Barry Gutierrez 

BJ Patiño 

Janet Villa 

Yeyet Villa 

Marby Villaceran 

2002 

Kristine Alave 

Daryll Jane Delgado 

Ana Maria Katigbak 

Peter Mayshle 

Maryanne Moll 

Michael Morco 

Allan Pastrana 

Baryon Tensor Posadas 

Angelo Suarez 

Naya Valdellon 

2003 

Mark Anthony Cayanan 

Vincent Coscolluela 

Jonathan Davila 

Louella Fortez 

Ken Ishikawa 

Carljoe Javier 

Maria Francezca Theresa Kwe 

Nikki Paredes Jasmine 

Rolando Salvaña 

Anna Felicia Sanchez 

Joseph Rosmon Tuazon 

Niccolo Vitug 

2004 

Selina Alano 

Ia Aparentado 

John Bengan 

Mitzie Correa 

Hedwig De Leon 

Faye Ilogon 

Marie La Viña 

Gabriela Lee 

Glenn Maboloc 

Monica Macansantos 

Ginny Mata 

James Iain Neish 

Romel Oribe 

Myrza Sison

2005 

Anna Cristina Abola 

Angela Balcita 

Jose Perseus Canivel 

Mikael Co 

Elizabeth Rae Cowan 

Matthew Davis 

Jun Dela Rosa 

Maria Cynthia Diangson 

Bernadette Esposito 

Whitney Fleming 

Brian Goedde 

Jynelle Gracia 

Charisse-Fuschia Paderna 

Maria Lourdes Parawan 

Benedict Parfan 

Gerardo Peralta 

Bonnie Rough 

Rica Bolipata-Santos 

Alex Sheshunoff 

Virginia Villanueva 

2006 

Douglas Candano 

Dominique Cimafranca 

Erica Jean Cabanawan 

Darwin Chiong 

Patricia Evangelista 

Antonio Adrian Habana 

Anna Escalante Neri 

Noel Pingoy 

Michelle Sarile 

Larissa Mae Suarez 

Andrea Teran 

2007 

Kristian Abe Dalao 

Krisette Sia-Valderia 

Jennelyn Tabora 

Sharleen Banzon 

Cecille La Verne de la Cruz 

Pancho Villanueva 

Catherine Alpay 

Sasha Martinez 

Janina Marie Rivera 

Michelle Eve de Guzman 

Robert Jed Rio Malayang 

Mia Tijam 

Martin Villanueva 

Jan Paulo Bastareche 

Primy Joy Cane 

Justine Megan Yu 

2008 

Lawrence Bernabe 

Noelle Leslie dela Cruz 

Ma. Celeste Fusilero 

Rodrigo dela Peña 

Arelene Jaguit Yandug 

Bron Joseph Teves 

Marguerite Alcarazen de Leon 

Dustin Edward Celestino 

Joshua Lim So 

Liza Baccay 

Fred Jordan Mikhail Carnice 

Ma. Elena Paulma 

Anna Carmela Tolentino 

Lamberto Varias Jr. 

2009 

Mariane Amor Romina Abuan 

Jonathan Gonzales 

Arkaye Keirulf 

Patricia Angela Magno 

Niño Manaog 

Keith Bryan Cortez 

Ana Margarita Stuart del Rosario 

Monique Francisco 

Russell Stanley Geronimo 

Aleck Maramag 

Gabriel Millado 

Gabrielle Nakpil 

Joy Rodriguez 

Philip Kimpo Jr. 

Marck Ronald Rimorin 

2010 

Gian Paolo Simeon Lao 

Dominique Allison Santos 

Jacob Dominguez 

Oscar Serquina Jr. 

Aaron James Jalalon 

Jenette Ethel Vizcocho 

Gilda Ysobel Galang 

Anne Carly Abad 

Gino Francis Dizon 

Jose Carlo Flordeliza 

Ida Anita Del Mundo 

Samantha Echavez 

Kelly Marie Tulio Conlon 

Miro Frances Capili 

Christina Mae del Rosario 

2011 

Charmaine Carreon 

Evangeline Gubat 

Jeffrey Javier 

Allen Samsuya 

Alyza Taguilaso 

Glenn Diaz 

Christine Lao 

Emmanuel Lava 

Andrea Macalino 

Marius Monsanto 

Philline Donggay 

Rogelio Garcia Jr. 

Miguel Sulangi 

Elaine Tobias 

Maria Villaruel

The 50th Anniversary Panel of Writer/Critics 

DR. ROWENA TIEMPO-TORREVILLAS 

teaches nonfiction writing and transnational 

literature at the University of Iowa. Prior to joining 

the English Department faculty at the University 

of Iowa, she was for nearly two decades 

administrator of the International Writing Program. 

She holds the Ph.D. in English and Literature from 

Silliman; her career includes the Gawad Balagtas 

from the Writers’ Union, two Philippine National 

Book Awards, as well as the Palanca for poetry and 

fiction; the UMPIL Distinguished Writer Award in 

1984, Outstanding Educator of the Year at the 

National Gintong Sipag Award in 1985, Philippine 

National Book Award, Progress 2002 Famous Fifty 

in Iowa City. She writes fiction, poetry, nonfiction 

and literary criticism. Her books include The Sea 

Gypsies Stay, Flying Over Kansas: Personal Views, 

Mountain Sacraments: Selected Poems, Upon the 

Willows and Other Stories, and The World Comes to 

Iowa. Her works have been translated into 

numerous languages, including Arabic, Bengali, 

Chinese, Hebrew, Russian. She and her husband 

Lem live in Iowa City. 

KIRPAL SINGH, who shares the same name with 

an Indian spiritual leader, is known worldwide as 

a scholar and writer. Born in Singapore in 1949, he 

stayed very briefly in Malaysia when he was a child 

and then went back again to Singapore to get his 

education. While in primary school, he started 

dabbling in poetry, and eventually, while studying 

Arts for his A-levels in Raffles Institution, he 

published his work in Singapore Pot-pourri, where 

he compiled poems, prose, and plays by local 

authors. Singh graduated with honors at the 

National University of Singapore where he met his 

professors Edwin Thumboo and Lee Tzu Pheng— 

whom he credits with playing significant roles in 

his literary growth. To date, Singh has published 

not only books of poetry, but also research articles 

and critical writings which have appeared in 

international publications such as the Ariel, Diogene, 

Commonwealth Novel In English, Literary Criterion, 

Quadrant, Southern Review, and Westerly. Singh also 

has overseen the editing of different publications; 

he was also editor of the literary journal World 

Literature Written in English. He has attended 

various international writers’ festivals, and has 

been to Adelaide, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Toronto, 

and Kent to read his works. In 1993 and 1994, he 

was the first Asian director of the Commonwealth 

Writers’ Prize. Later in 2004, he became the first 

Asian and non-American director of the American 

Creativity Association’s (ACA) board. At present, 

he is the Assistant Professor at the Singapore 

Management University. 

CÉSAR RUÌZ AQUINO finished his Ph. D. in 

Creative Writing at Silliman University and 

currently teaches Literature and Creative Writing 

courses in this same institution. Winner of various 

international (most recent of which is the 2005 Sea- 

Write Award from the queen of Thailand) and 

national literary awards, Dr. Aquino has published 

World Without End, a collection of poems; Chronicles 

of Suspicion, a collection of short stories; Checkmeta: 

The Cesar Ruiz Aquino Reader, another collection of 

stories and poems; and In Samarkand: Poems and 

Verseliterations, another book of poems.

MYRNA PEÑA-REYES earned her BA in English 

from Silliman University and went on to acquire 

her MFA in Creative Writing from the University 

of Oregon, where she taught for some time. Ms. 

Peña-Reyes has already published two books of 

poems, The River Singing Stone (Anvil, 1994) and 

Almost Home: Poems (UP Press, 2003; 2004). Her 

other poems, fiction, essays, and literary reviews 

have appeared in the Sands and Coral, the Silliman 

Journal, the Philippine Collegian, Solidarity, the 

Philippine Free Press, The Weekly Graphic, the Weekly 

Women’s Magazine, the Asia-Philippines Leader, and 

The Sunday Times Magazine. Her works were also 

anthologized in Philippine publications such as the 

Likhaan Anthology of Philippine Literature in English 

From 1900 to the Present (1998); A Habit of Shores: 

Filipino Poetry and Verse from English ‘60s to the ‘90s 

(1999); and Filipino Women Writers in English: Their 

Story 1905-2002 (2003) as well as in US publications: 

From Here We Speak: An Anthology of Oregon Poetry 

(1993); The Forbidden Stitch (1989); Making Waves 

(1989); Gathering Ground (1984); Anthology of Eugene 

Writers #1 (1982), and Sequoia (1973). 

GÉMINO H. ABAD is one of the Philippines’ 

foremost contemporary poets and critics as well as 

a distinguished academician. He has published 

several collections of poems and critical essays, 

including Fugitive Emphasis (poems, 1973); In 

Another Light (poems and critical essays, 1976); A 

Formal Approach to Lyric Poetry (critical theory, 

1978); The Space Between (poems and critical essays, 

1985); and Poems and Parables (1988). He is also 

well-known for having edited what are considered 

landmark anthologies in Philippine poetry: Man 

of Earth (1989), A Native Clearing (1993) and A Habit 

of Shores: Filipino Poetry and Verse from English, ‘60s 

to the ‘90s (1999). The University of the Philippines 

has awarded Dr. Abad its highest academic rank 

of University Professor. Currently, he is Emeritus 

University Professor at the College of Arts and 

Letters, UP-Diliman, where he teaches creative 

writing. Dr. Abad has recently brought honor to 

the entire country when it was announced that he 

won Italy’s most coveted literary achievement in 

the Foreign Author category, the Premio Feronia— 

Città di Fiano 2009 for his work, In Ordinary Time. 

Poet RICARDO M. DE UNGRIA has won five 

National Book Awards for his books of poetry. He 

has also earned various research grants, one of 

which is a Fulbright Grant, which sent him to 

Washington University in St. Louis where he 

received his MFA in Creative Writing in 1989. Aside 

from this, he played a significant role in establishing 

two writers groups: he is a founding member of 

the Philippine Literary Arts Council, and he 

founded the Davao Writers Guild when he moved 

to Davao in 1999. Since then, he has organized 

annual readings in schools and published works 

in Dagmay, a Davao-based literary journal. From 

2001 to 2007, he served as Chancellor of UP 

Mindanao. He was also the Commissioner for the 

Arts for the National Commission for Culture and 

the Arts. Presently he teaches creative writing to 

undergraduate students in UP Mindanao. 

SUSAN S. LARA is a distinguished fictionist and 

author of the book Letting Go and Other Stories. A 

workshop alumna, Ms. Lara graduated from the 

University of the Philippines Dilliman with a BA 

in English. She is currently a professional 

communications consultant.

DANILO FRANCISCO M. REYES is the author 

of the poetry collection Promising Lights, and is at 

work on another volume as well as a collection of 

short stories. He has an MA in English Literature 

from the Ateneo de Manila University, and is on 

the faculty of Ateneo’s Filipino and English 

departments. He recently completed a research 

fellowship with the Japan Foundation, which 

brought him to several institutes and cultural sites 

across Asia. 

BOBBY FLORES VILLASIS was a Creative 

Writing Fellow to both the National Writers 

Workshop in Dumaguete and the UP Writers 

Summer Workshop (where he won the Best Fiction 

Manuscript Prize, the first of many literary awards). 

Aside from being a multiple recipient of the Palanca 

Award for the one-act and full-length plays, Mr. 

Villasis was also first prize winner for short fiction 

in the Focus Magazine and the Philippine Free 

Press literary contests. His books include Suite 

Bergamasque (short fiction, winner of the 2001 

National Book Award given by the Manila Critics 

Circle); and Demigod (personal anthology). He was 

also co-editor of Kabilin, the official book of the 

Negros Oriental Centennial Celebration. 

ALFRED A. YUSON is in the Hall of Fame of the 

Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature, the 

Philippines’ most prestigious literary distinction, 

and has been conferred in 1992 the S.E.A. Write 

Award for lifetime achievement. To date, he has 

authored 19 books, including novels, poetry 

collections, short fiction, essays, and children’s 

stories. These include Sea Serpent (Monsoon Press, 

1980), Trading in Mermaids (Anvil Publishing, 

1993),Mothers Like Elephants (Anvil Publishing, 

2000), Hairtrigger Loves: 50 Poems on Woman (UP 

Press, 2002), and the translation, Love’s A Vice/Bisyo 

and Pag-Ibig: Translations into English of 60 Poems 

by Mike L. Bigornia (National Commission for 

Culture and the Arts, 2004). Krip Yuson is currently 

Chairman of the Writers Union of the 

Philippines, and writes a literature and culture 

column for The Philippine Star aside from teaching 

fiction and poetry at Ateneo de Manila University, 

where he holds the Henry Lee Irwin Professorial 

Chair in Creative Writing.

About the writers village 

The Mary Rose Lamb Sobrepeña Writers Village is a gift by Atty. 

Enrique Sobrepeña Jr.—1973 Outstanding Sillimanian 

Awardee in the field of business—to Silliman University. Atty. 

Sobrepeña’s dedication to the arts has helped establish Silliman’s role 

as a hub for literature and creative writing in Asia. The Writers Village 

is named in honor of his wife Mary Rose Lamb Sobrepeña. 

Today, the site is the primary venue for the Silliman University National Writers 

Workshop, founded by Drs. Edilberto and Edith Tiempo in 1961. The Writers Village, a 

project initiated by University President Dr. Ben S. Malayang III, is part of a long tradition 

of gifts to the University from the Sobrepeñas, avid patrons who have also helped keep 

the workshop alive as keen supporters through the years. 

The donation for the creation of the Writers Village, located in Camp Lookout, in 

Bongbong, Valencia, was facilitated by former University President Dr. Quintin S. 

Doromal. Groundbreaking rites were held on 15 November 2009, and dedication rites 

were held on 13 April 2010. The Village was first used for the 49th National Writers 

Workshop in May 2010. 

The Writers Village is now home to writers of all persuasions. Its establishment 

helps promote the arts and culture at Silliman University and in the Dumaguete and 

Negros Oriental community.

Acknowledgments 

the national writers workshop would like to thank 

Dr. Ben S. Malayang III 

Dr. Betsy Joy B. Tan 

Dr. Edith L. Tiempo 

Dr. Margaret Helen Udarbe-Alvarez 

Dr. Teresita Sy-Sinda and the Alumni College 

Mr. Jose Mari Jonathan Antonio 

Dr. Elizabeth Susan Vista-Suarez 

Dr. Christopher Ablan 

Dr. Josefina Cornelio 

Prof. Robin Hemley 

Ms. Susan Lara 

Dr. Ricky M. de Ungria 

Ms. Jacqueline Piñero-Torres 

Ms. Arlene Delloso-Uypitching 

Ms. Annabelle Lee-Adriano and Antulang Beach Resort 

Mr. Edo Adriano 

Mr. and Mrs. Simon and Virginia Stack 

Ms. Jacqueline Veloso-Antonio and Globe Telecom 

Forest Camp 

Office of the Negros Oriental Governer 

Gov. Roel Degamo 

Provincial Administrator Arnel Francisco 

Dr. Nic Elman and the Provincial Tourism Office 

Sidlakang Negros 

Bobby Raymundo 

Myla Abellana 

Office of the Dumaguete City Mayor 

Mayor Chiquiting Sagarbarria 

Mr. Joel Toledo of Philippines Free Press 

Mr. Joel Salud of Philippine Graphic 

Mr. Krip Yuson of Philippine Star 

Ms. Isolde Amante of Sun.Star Cebu 

Prof. Irma Faith Pal of MetroPost 

Mr. Allen del Carmen of Visayan Daily Star 

Mr. Ely Dejaresco of Negros Chronicle 

Mr. Roy Bustillos of KillerBee 

Silliman University Camera Club 

Mr. Greg Morales 

Mr. Urich Calumpang 

Ms. Gladys Borromeo 

Mr. Hersley Ven Casero 

Ms. Alma Zosan Alcoran 

Mr. Philip Calumpang 

Silliman University Gratitude Goodwill Ambassadors 

Office of Information and Publication 

Mr. Ian Lizares 

Mr. Fredjordan Carnice 

Ms. Sonia SyGaco 

Ms. Andrea Macalino 

Ms. Christine Lao 

Mr. Sarge Lacuesta 

Ms. Rica Bolipata-Santos 

Mr. Dean Francis Alfar 

Mr. Burtlan Partosa

Mr. Tyrone Partosa 

Rev. Noel Villalba 

Mr. Carlo Angelo Regalado 

Banda Manga 

Ms. Nerisa del Carmen Guevara 

Ms. Sharon Dadang-Rafols 

Ms. Lua Padilla-Hagedorn 

Ms. Kakay Pamaran 

Ms. Lia Padilla Hagedorn 

Ms. Katrina Saga 

Mr. Ricardo Abapo 

The Quizo Family Singers 

Ms. Mennem Peark Caballero 

Mr. Joshua So 

Pastor Giovanni Punzalan 

Mr. Richard Kim 

Mr. Patrik Norouzi 

The Luce Auditorium Corps of Ushers and Usherettes 

Ms. Jean Espino and the Silliman Cafeteria 

Prof. Joseph Basa and the Claire Isabel McGill Luce Auditorium 

Silliman University Instructional Media Center 

Silliman University Buildings and Grounds 

The City Engineers Office 

General Services Office of Dumaguete 

Manang Josephine and Manang Bebe of the Writers Village 

the national writers workshop 

would like to thank 

Hon. Hon. Enrique Enrique Gonzalez 

Gonzalez 

Municipal Mayor 



Chantilly



Hon. Hon. R RRoel 

R oel Degamo Degamo 

Degamo 

Governor 



City City Mayor 

Mayor 

Bais City, Negros Oriental 



Ms. Ms. Annabelle Annabelle Lee Lee-Adriano Lee driano driano 

General Manager 



Hon. Hon. Chiquiting Chiquiting Sagarbarria 

Sagarbarria 

City Mayor



Arlene 

Delloso-Uypitching 

& 

Don 

Ramas-Uyitching 



College of 

Performing 

and Visual Arts 

Dr Dr. Dr . Elizabeth Elizabeth Susan Susan V VVista 

V istaista-Suarezista Suarez 

Dean 



Simon 

& 

Virginia 

Stack 



Hon. 

Pryde Henry 

Teves 

Third Third District District R RRepresentative 

R epresentative 

Negros Oriental



Hon. 

George 

Arnaiz 

Second Second Second District District R RRepresentative 


Negros Oriental 



Hon. 

Karen 

Villanueva 

City City Mayor 

Mayor 

Bais City, Negros Oriental 



Hon. 

Jocelyn 

Limkaichong 

First irst District District R RRepresentative 


Negros Oriental 



Royani oyani Dy 

Dy 

General Manager

The Workshop Staff 

Director Emeritus 

Director-in-Residence 

Workshop Coordinator 

Secretariat 

Finance Officer 

Publicity Officers 

Facebook 

Twitter 

Website 

Photography 

Designs and Layouts 

Kit/Souvenir Officer 

Transportation Officer 

Program Officers 

Food Committee Officer 

Accommodations Officer 

Registrations Officers 

Evaluations Officer 

Physical Arrangement Officers 

Requisitions Officer 

Screening Committee 

Ushering 

Dr. Edith Lopez Tiempo 



Alana Leilani C. Narciso 

Lady Flor N. Partosa 

Prof. Warlito Caturay Jr. 


Dr. Cesar Ruiz Aquino 

Misael Ondong for Tapok Silliman 


Muhammad Syarief Asbir 


Greg Morales and Urich Calumpang 

Silliman University Camera Cllub 



Prof. Philip Van Peel 



Prof. Diomar Abrio 


Rina Fernandez-Hill 

Joan Generoso 

Ronelaine Picardal 

Myla June Patron 

Jennifer Solitana 

Sherro Lee Lagrimas 

Moses Joshua Atega, head 

Hermesiela Duran 

Jankaren Kitane 

Dubhe Flores 

Michael Patron 


Prof. Myrna Peña-Reyes 

Dr. Cesar Ruiz Aquino 

Mr. Bobby Flores Villasis 

Patrik Norouzi 

Shanice Rae McSavaney 

Ela Clavano 

Marian Vanslembrouck 

Alfie Calingacion 

Lissa-Patricia Duch 

Glenna Christina Duch

Gala Night Program.p65 - Silliman University

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