This column celebrates the vibrant literary culture and heritage of Dumaguete City, in anticipation of its bid to be designated as UNESCO City of Literature under the Creative Cities Network. It is produced by the Buglas Writers Guild, a network of literary artists from Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, and Siquijor. Each week, we will focus on the work of one local writer. For this month, the guest editor is Dumaguete fictionist Ian Rosales Casocot.
The second edition of the Dumaguete Literary Festival—or Duma LitFest—will unfold this weekend, beginning Thursday, April 3, and running until Sunday April 6, at the Arts and Design Collective Dumaguete at 58 EJ Blanco Drive. It opens just in time for the beginning of National Literature Month this April. It is one of the flagship projects of the Buglas Writers Guild, Libraria Books, the Edilberto and Edith Tiempo Creative Writing Center of Silliman University, Backpack Solutions, and Dum.Alt.Press, with major sponsorships by the Department of Trade and Industry—Negros Oriental and the Dumaguete City Tourism Office. In line with Dumaguete’s current bid for UNESCO City of Literature, the theme for this year is “Towards a City of Literature,” and will be the topic of the keynote speech of National Artist for Literature Resil B. Mojares.
Here is the schedule of events:
On APRIL 3, THURDAY, the schedule of talks and events are:
- Festival Welcome [4:30 PM–5:45 PM]. Venue: The Courtyard of 58 EJ Blanco.
- An Introduction to the Dumaguete Sound [5:45 PM–6:15 PM], with Enchi.
- Panel 1—On the Road to the City of Literature [6:15 PM–7:30 PM], with panelists Ian Rosales Casocot, Anton Gabila, Gayle Acar, and Katherine Aguilar, with Lea Sicat-Reyes moderating. Venue: The Courtyard of 58 EJ Blanco.
On APRIL 4, FRIDAY, the schedule of talks and events are:
- Panel 2— Balak, Balitaw, ug Uban Pa: The Literature Outside of the Institutions [1:00 PM-1:45 PM], with panelists Enriquita Alcaide, Nicky Dumapit, Anthony Maginsay, and Richel Dorotan, with Sharon Dadang-Rafols moderating. Venue: The Courtyard of 58 EJ Blanco.
- Keynote Talk: What Makes a Creative City of Literature? [2:00 PM-2:45 PM], National Artist for Literature Resil Mojares. Venue: Hotel Dumaguete
- Panel 3—The City of Stories: Storytelling Beyond Books [3:00 PM-3:45 PM], with panelists Earnest Hope Tinambacan, Andrew Alvarez, Keith Nemenzo, and Junsly Kitay, with Moses Joshua Atega moderating. Venue: The Courtyard of 58 EJ Blanco
- Panel 4—The Writing Workshop and Its Issues [4:00 PM-4:45 PM], with panelists Jose Y. Dalisay Jr., Raymundo Pandan Jr., Alfonso Manalastas, CD Borden, and Lady Flor Partosa-Koenig, with Kaycee Melon moderating. Venue: The Courtyard of 58 EJ Blanco
- Panel 5—Nadagit: Dumaguete as Literary Melting Pot [5:00 PM-5:45 PM], with panelists Geraldine Solon, Mohammed Malik, Angela Gabrielle Fabunan, Mitos Suson, and Khail Santia, with Rina Fernandez-Hill moderating. Venue: The Courtyard of 58 EJ Blanco.
- Book Launch of Here and Now with Geraldine Solon [6:00 PM – 6:45 PM]. Venue: The Sala of 58 EJ Blanco
- A Screening of The Moises Padilla Story [7:00 PM – 9:05 PM]. Venue: The Courtyard of 58 EJ Blanco
There will also be a side program for Friday, on “How to Get Published,” to be held at CHADA-A:
- How to Get Published Internationally—A Penguin Random House Panel [1:00 PM – 2:30 PM], with Douglas Candano and Alvin Yapan, with Lyde Sison Villanueva moderating.
- How to Do Self-Publishing—An 8Letters Panel [3:00 PM – 4:30 PM], with J.L. Estilo and Jenny Albinio, with Noraine Puengan moderating.
- How to Do Worldbuilding Through Storyelling Cards—A TaleCraft Panel [4:30 PM – 5:30 PM], a workshop with Maita Lu and Ria Lu.
On APRIL 5, SATURDAY, the schedule of talks and events are:
- Book Launch of A Practical Guide to Sigbin Keeping: A Cozy Fantasy on the Island of Fire, Siquijor with Mitos Suson with Darwin Price [11:00 AM – 11:45 AM]. Venue: The Sala of 58 EJ Blanco.
- Panel 6—Modaog Ba og Nobel Prize si ChatGPT? [1:00 PM – 1:45 PM], with panelists Jose Y. Dalisay Jr., Danton Remoto, Timothy Montes, Jam Pascual, and Simon Anton Diego Baena, with Jonathan Davila moderating. Venue: The Courtyard of 58 EJ Blanco.
- Panel 7—Jose Marco and Speculative History [2:00 PM – 2:45 PM], with panelists T. Valentino Sitoy Jr. and Resil Mojares, with Justin Jose Bulado moderating. Venue: CHADA-A. This is to be followed by a Meet and Greet Resil Mojares and Jose Y. Dalisay Jr. [3:00 PM – 3:45 PM], also at CHADA-A.
- Panel 8—Where is Pinoy LGBTQ Literature Now? [4:00 PM – 4:45 PM], with panelists: Danton Remoto, Nero Oleta Fulgar, Wanggo Gallaga, Kaye Brier, and Alvin Yapan, with Jireh Catacutan moderating. Venue: The Courtyard of 58 EJ Blanco.
- Panel 9—Writing the Popular Novel [5:00 PM – 5:45 PM], with panelists: Edgar Calabia Samar, Geraldine Solon, Gelend Talahuron, and Douglas Candano, with Andre Aniñon moderating. Venue: The Courtyard of 58 EJ Blanco.
- Book Launch of Follower of the Seasons by Oscar Peñaranda [6:00 PM – 6:45 PM]. Venue: The Sala of 58 EJ Blanco.
- Feel Mo ‘To: An Erotic Reading with Romance Class [7:00 PM – 9:00 PM]. Venue: The Garden of 58 EJ Blanco.
There will also be a side program for Saturday, on “Romance Class Writing Workshop,” to be held at CHADA-A. The program consists of Writing a Contemporary Filipino Romance (That Is Ready for A Global Audience) [1:00 PM – 2:30 PM] and All Your Publishing Options: Self-Publishing, Philippines, US/World [3:30 PM to 5:00 PM], both with Mina Esguerra.
On APRIL 6, SUNDAY, the schedule of talks and events are:
- Panel 10—Kaon-Kaon: Writing About Food [1:00 PM – 1:45 PM], with panelists: Ige Ramos, Mohammed Malik, and Renz Torres, and Matthew Yasi moderating. Venue: The Courtyard of 58 EJ Blanco.
- Panel 11—ChikitingLit: The Role of Literature in Educating Children [2:00 PM – 2:45 PM], with panelists Grace Gaston-Dousel, Chinky F. Paculanang, Merlo C. Fuentes, and Edgar Calabia Samar, with Pia Villareal moderating. Venue: The Courtyard of 58 EJ Blanco.
- Panel 12—Sa Atong Dila: Writing in Binisaya [3:00 PM – 3:45 PM], with panelists CD Borden, Richel Dorotan, Serafin Plotriera Jr., and Timothy Montes, with Shane Jay Fabugais moderating. Venue: The Courtyard of 58 EJ Blanco.
- Panel 13—Kumusta na ang Community Theatre? [4:00 PM – 4:45 PM], with panelists: Dessa Quesada-Palm, Tanya Lopez, and Hobart Savior, with Rolin Migyuel Obina moderatoring. Venue: The Courtyard of 58 EJ Blanco.
- Panel 14— Poetry Beyond the Page: A Discussion on Ekphrasis, Hybrid Media, and Unconventional Forms [5:00 PM – 5:45 PM], with panelists Jam Pascual, Alfonso Manalastas, Wanggo Gallaga, Vince Agcaoili, Angela Gabrielle Fabunan, and F. Jordan Carnice, with Jecho Adrian Ponce moderating. Venue: CHADA-A.
- Panel 15—Wiris-Wiris: Drawing as Storytelling [6:00 PM – 6:45 PM], with panelists: Elbert Or, Ernest Acar, and Kiko Miranda, with Hannah Portugal-Magno moderating. Venue: The Courtyard of 58 EJ Blanco.
- Nahuman Ra Jud: A Closing Program [7:00 PM – 7:30 PM]. Venue: The Courtyard of 58 EJ Blanco
- Spoken Word and Poetry Open Mic [7:30 PM – 8:30 PM], organized by Silliman Writers Bloc. Venue: The Courtyard of 58 EJ Blanco.
- Closing Dinner [8:00 PM – 9:00 PM]. Venue: Residence of Mayor Felipe Remollo at Cantil-e.
There will also be a side program for Sunday, on “Para sa Mga Chikiting,” to be held at The Sala of 58 EJ Blanco:
- Miming and Friends Screening and Talk [11:00 AM – 12:00 NN], with Meryll Yan and Ramon Del Prado.
- Storytelling Through Words and Sounds [1:00 PM – 1:45 PM], with Nicky Dumapit.
- The Journey to the Orient’s Pearl Storytelling and Coloring Session [2:00 PM – 2:45 PM], with Anais Salvarita and Kimberly Salvarita.
- Super Maya Storytelling and Talk [3:00 PM – 3:45 PM], with Bambi A. Rodriguez.
- Writing for Children Workshop [4:00 PM – 4:45 PM], with Ian Rosales Casocot.
A Zine Fest and Literary Bazaar will also be concurrently happening all day for the four days of the festival.
