UP Writers to hold Forum in UP Baguio

by Arvin Abejo Mangohig

A stellar list of panelists will be in UP Baguio on April 11, 2008 to discuss New Trends in Philippine Writing. They are Virgilio Almario, Jun Cruz Reyes, Vim Nadera and Charlson Ong. They will be at the UP Baguio AVR from 2 to 5 p.m.

The UP Institute of Creative Writing Associates will be in town for the 47th UP National Writers Workshop to be held at the Igorot Lodge in Camp John Hay, Baguio City from April 6 to 13, 2008.

The fellows are: (Fiction in English) Tara Sering, Luis Katigbak, Ian Casocot; (Poetry in English) Ana Maria Katigbak; Vincenz Serrano; (Creative Non-Fiction in English) Rica Bolipata Santos; (Drama in Filipino) Nicolas Pichay, Rodolfo Lana Jr.; (Poetry in Filipino) Roberto Añonuevo, Frank Cimatu; (Fiction in Filipino) Abdon Balde Jr., Allan Derain.

In keeping with how the UP ICW has been at the forefront of writing, it has reformatted the workshop and raised the bar for other workshops to emulate. Fellows are now in mid-career, having published books and won major national awards. They present works-in-progress to their peers and the ICW associates.

The forum on Philippine writing will be held just before the workshop ends on the 13th. As any workshop fellow would know, writers interacting with each other create literal bursts of energy, very much like stars working off and against each other. The panelists will shed their light on new writing in the country, an event that their fans and students should not miss.

For more details on the forum you may contact the UP ICW at 922-1830 or call/SMS Ms. Eva Cadiz at 0927-924-5242.