17 Fellows to the 18th Iligan National Writers Workshop (May 23-27, 2011)

I attended the 16th Iligan National Writers Workshop in May 2009 as a poetry fellow (Filipino) and I must say that it was the best workshop experience I ever had! I learned a lot from our 11 teacher-panelists. There was a lot of time to bond with co-fellows. It was my first time to fly to Mindanao region and I miss Iligan and Cagayan de Oro so much!!!

For many years before, Iligan National Writers Workshop awarded 5 fellowship slots only for Luzon, Visayas & Mindanao, making it to 15. In 2009, a 16th slot was opened for Manuel T. Buenafe Writing Fellowship for Muslim or Lumad applicant. This 2011, 17 slots are awarded. Seven of which are awarded to Mindanao applicants including the slot for Ricardo Jorge S. Caluen Writing Fellow.

Congratulations to all the fellows! 

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The text below was lifted from Mindanao State University website:

Seventeen (17) writing fellows out of 78 applicants from all over the country are attending the 18th Iligan National Writers Workshop (INWW) on May 23-27, 2011 to be held at the MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT). They are:

Luzon: 

• Play (Filipino): Bonifacio Alfonso M. Javier III, Bacoor, Cavite/ UP Diliman; 
• Poetry (Filipino): Vijae O. Alquisola, Lucena City/ De La Salle University; 
• Poetry (English): Anne Carly S. Abad, Quezon City/Ateneo de Manila University; and, Jacob Walse Dominguez, Marikina City/University of Sto. Tomas; 
• Fiction (English): Michelle Abigail Tiu Tan, Quezon City/Ateneo de Manila University.

Visayas:  

• Poetry (Waray): Mary Grace H. Abogado (Boy Abunda Writing Fellow), Borongan, Eastern Samar/ Leyte Normal University; 
• Poetry (Hiligaynon) Gil Salanio Montinola, Mina, Iloilo/West Visayas State University (Main); 
• Poetry (Sebuano) Glenn T. Munez, Cebu City/Cebu Normal University; Erik E. Tuban, Mandaue City/Center for Industrial Technology Enterprise; and Denver Ejem Torres, Cebu City/Xavier University (Ateneo de Cagayan).

Mindanao: 

• Play (Filipino): Rogelio F. Garcia, Cagayan de Oro City/Xavier University; 
• Poetry (English): Allen Faw B. Samsuya, Cotabato City/UP Mindanao; and, Maimona W. Magayoong, Marawi City/UP Diliman; 
• Poetry (Sebuano): Mark Anthony L. Daposala (Manuel E. Buenafe Writing Fellow), Cagayan de Oro City/Xavier University. 
• Fiction (English): Deo Charis I. Mostrales, Iligan City/ Ateneo de Manila University; 
• Fiction (Sebuano): Jonecito R. Saguban, TOR, Iligan City/St. Joseph Seminary College; and, Kei S. Valmoria-Bughaw (Ricardo Jorge S. Caluen Writing Fellow), Surigao City/University of San Carlos.

The Integrated Performing Arts Guild (IPAG) performs during the opening program on May 23 at the MSU-IIT Mini-theatre while the closing program and launching of the 17th INWW proceedings titled, The Poetry of Place, edited by Christine Godinez-Ortega will be held on May 27. 

Panelists this year are: Leoncio P. Deriada, Merlie M. Alunan, Erlinda Kintanar Alburo, Ralph Semino Galan, Steven Patrick C. Fernandez, German V. Gervacio, Godinez-Ortega and this year’s Keynote Speaker, Pearlsha B. Abubakar (INWW, 2002).

The 18th INWW is hosted by the Mindanao Creative Writers Group (MCWG) and the MSU-IIT Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research & Extension. The workshop is funded by the National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCCA) and the MSU-IIT.