LISBON — On November 25-29, the 31st Iligan National Writers Workshop (INWW) will convene at Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) campus in Iligan City with eleven fellows from all over the country and two from neighboring countries in the Southeast Asia.
Focusing on mid-career writers who have published at least one book, or whose works have been produced on stage or in film, this year promises to be a special edition of the third oldest and longest-running writers’ workshop (after Silliman and UP).
I am set to deliver the keynote address at the opening program, in addition to my duties of sitting as a panelist during the four-day workshop.
While the honor excited me, it also posed quite a challenge—like, what does one say to mid-career writers? How do I inspire writers who already have some success, or are living the not-so-successful-as-they-want-to-be writerly life?
Fortunately, I had some serious reflection about my life, career, and legacy during this five-month tour of Europe; and I even had a chance to go to Africa to pray and reflect in the great Sahara Desert.
I finished the second draft of my speech in this Portuguese capital city, after my visit to Fatima. If that is an indication of the tone of my message, one may deduce a theme of writing as a mission and spirituality.
Fellows to the 31st INWW include, from Luzon: Charles Julian Gollayan (Cabagan, Isabela), Ricardo Novenario (Las Piñas City), John Aldrich Cancino (Malate, Manila), Ronel Osias (Cainta, Rizal), and Christine Marie Magpile (Marikina City); from the Visayas: Win Maria Custudio Gallo (Iloilo City), and Rocky Nicor (Bacolod City); from Mindanao: Christian Ely Poot (Norala, South Cotabato), Aimee Abella (Cagayan de Oro City), Nurain Sugalalain (Tawi-Tawi), and Adawia Jaafar Jamasali (Pangutaran, Sulu); and from abroad: Pangpaitoon Satrawaha (Bangkok, Thailand), and Mabulmaddin Shaiddin (Sabah, Malaysia).
Most of the panelists in the workshop are senior writers and alumni of the INWW. Serving as face-to-face panelists this year are: Christine Godinez Ortega, Danton Remoto, Neil Nik Azcuna, Januar Yap, Elio Garcia, Hammim Casan, and myself.
In addition, online panelists include: Pranesh Prasad, Rebecca Añonuevo, Augusto Antonio Aguila, John Jack Wigley, Ralph Semino Galan, Sarge Lacuesta, Calbi Asain, Isidoro Cruz, Rhandee Garlitos, and Genaro Gojo Cruz.
The 31st INWW is hosted by the MSU-IIT Center for Culture and Arts, and the Mindanao Creative Writers Group (MCWG), with additional funding from the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA).
Founding co-director Christine Godinez Ortega continues to serve as workshop director; Jay Rey Alovera joins the team as co-director; Neil Nick Azcuna heads the secretariat, while Nikko Shane Dar, Hassanain Magarang, and Alvie Pacatang assist. Ace Aguilar Lubang is technical head.
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Peter Solis Nery is a multi-awarded Filipino poet, fictionist, filmmaker and playwright who divides his time living in the Philippines and traveling around the world. He is a Palanca Awards Hall of Famer, and the first Filipino author invited to the Sharjah International Book Fair in the United Arab Emirates.
