18/06/2026
𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝟐 | 𝐏𝐀𝐆𝐒𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐁𝐎 𝐇𝐀𝐍 𝐏𝐀𝐍𝐔𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐀𝐍: 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐇 𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐑𝐘 𝐅𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐀𝐋
As the Literary Festival continued, delegates from Samar State University attended the breakout sessions from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM, featuring different panuratan workshops, that explored different forms and practices of literary writing.
𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝟏 | 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐨𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐲
During the Poetry Writing Workshop, Dr. Edgar Calabia Samar, Head of National Committee on Literary Arts, shared his journey as a poet and introduced the creative process through the Four Practical Stages: 𝘗𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘺𝘢𝘮 (Lecture), 𝘗𝘢𝘨𝘴𝘶𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵 (Writing), 𝘗𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘩𝘢𝘯 (Workshop), and 𝘗𝘢𝘨𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘨𝘪 (Sharing). He also challenged participants through innovative forms such as Univocalism and Lipogram, and encouraged them to evaluate poetry using the P**I framework—𝘗𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘬𝘰𝘵 (Engagement), 𝘈𝘮𝘣𝘪𝘴𝘺𝘰𝘯 (Ambition), 𝘒𝘢𝘩𝘶𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘢𝘯 (Excellence), at 𝘐𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘥 (Immortality)—emphasizing the importance of both artistic quality and lasting relevance in poetic composition.
𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝟐 | 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
During the Fiction Writing breakout session, Prof. Kaisa Aquino, author of the Novel "Isabela", emphasized how writers perceive and express place through words. Inspired by Ursula K. Le Guin's view of fiction as a container of human experience, she encouraged participants to see place as a force that shapes narratives, influences characters, and deepens readers' understanding of the human experience.
𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝟑 | 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
During the Nonfiction Writing Workshop, Dr. Jhoanna Lynn Cruz introduced participants to the fundamentals of nonfiction, memoir, and essay writing, emphasizing how personal experiences can be transformed into meaningful narratives. She underscored that memoir is “not a mere record of the past,” but a reflective process where memory and storytelling work together to uncover deeper truths about lived experiences. Through writing exercises, discussions, and a workshop session, participants developed their nonfiction pieces and received constructive feedback, fostering both critical reflection and creative growth. The session ultimately highlighted nonfiction as a powerful medium for self-expression, remembrance, healing, and meaning-making.
𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝟒 | 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧
Challenging the notion that children's literature is a lesser form of writing, Prof. Firie Jill T. Ramos presented it as a purposeful and powerful literary field that demands depth, creativity, and intention. Drawing from various frameworks and the concept of the "Paradox of the Filipino Child," she encouraged participants to write stories grounded in the realities of young readers, while embracing patience and persistence through the philosophy that meaningful stories are shaped slowly and refined over time.
𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝟓 | 𝐙𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠
Blending spontaneity with creativity, Prof. Leander Guin—the lecturer of the Zine Making Workshop introduced participants to the art of independent publishing through a playful FLARF writing activity and hands-on crafting. By transforming their written pieces into personalized zines, participants discovered how self-published works can serve as powerful spaces for expression, storytelling, and the sharing of individual voices with a wider community.
𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝟔 | 𝐁𝐮𝐤𝐥𝐚𝐝: 𝐀 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 (𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟏)
The book talk featured Dr. Christian Jil R. Benitez, who examined the Filipino concept of panahon beyond its conventional meaning of time; Prof. Michael Carlo C. Villas, who emphasized the significance of 𝘎𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘣: 𝘉𝘢𝘨-𝘰 𝘯𝘨𝘢 𝘚𝘶𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘯 in preserving and promoting contemporary Waray literature; and Mr. Kristian Sendon Cordero, who shared how personal experiences and significant events continue to inspire his ongoing work, 𝘈𝘯𝘨 𝘉𝘶𝘭𝘬𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘉𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘢. Through their insights, the authors underscored the value of storytelling, cultural memory, and the enduring role of literature in shaping communities.
𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟐 | 𝐁𝐮𝐤𝐥𝐚𝐝: 𝐀 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬
In the afternoon, the festival continued with Book Talk Series Part 2, featuring four authors who shared insights into their published works, creative journeys, and experiences in book publishing.
Dr. Edgar Calabia Samar read excerpts from his book, 𝘛𝘦𝘰𝘳𝘺𝘢 𝘯𝘨 𝘜𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘗𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘩𝘰𝘯, a collection of poems that reflect on personal experiences and memories. He also emphasized the idea of "Writing the Nation through the Regions," underscoring the importance of supporting regional writers, editors, publishers, and literary communities. By valuing stories rooted in local languages and experiences, he highlighted how regional literature enriches and strengthens the nation's collective narrative.
Prof. Kaisa Aquino discussed her novel "Isabela," which emerged from her longing for home after moving to Baguio for her studies. Through a deeply personal narrative, the novel explores identity, belonging, and the story of a nation "fragmented by its own hands."
Dr. Jhoanna Lynn Cruz presented 𝘓𝘶𝘨𝘢𝘳 𝘓𝘢𝘯𝘨: 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘋𝘢𝘷𝘢𝘰, a collection of opinion pieces that chronicles her search for belonging and her experiences navigating life in Davao.
Prof. Firie Jill Ramos shared her book 𝘗𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘭𝘪: 15 𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘓𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘸, which gathers selected poems written over fifteen years.
The session concluded with an open forum, allowing participants to engage with the authors through questions and discussions about writing, publishing, and literary practice, followed by a book-signing activity.
The activities equipped the delegates with new knowledge and insights into literary writing, publishing, and storytelling, enriching their understanding of literature and its many forms.
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