9 to 10 February 2018 – The Libulan Queer Collective, in partnership with YouTeach Philippines-Central Visayas and the University of Cebu-Banilad, organized the 2018 Cebu Young Writers’ Studio at the AVR 2, 8F Main Building of the University of Cebu-Banilad.
Panelled by young writers from Central Visayas?CD Borden, Wilfreda Cabusas, Richellet Chan, Adonis Enricuso, Jessrel E Gilbuena, Jae Mari Magdadaro, and Arian Tejano?thirteen fellowships were given to aspiring writers based on the quality of the manuscripts that they have submitted. This year?s fellows are Noemi Araneta Alcantara (poetry in English), Kenneth Michael M Baba (poetry in Binisaya), Alsteine Joi Diapana (poetry in English), Maria Eloisa H Garcia (fiction: short story in English), Jorisse Gumanay (poetry in English), Maria Theresa C Lanit (poetry in Binisaya), Leah May Lim Atienza (poetry in English), Ivanie Michmir (poetry in Binisaya), Claire Michaela M Obejas (creative nonfiction in English), Lady Isabelle Y Perez (fiction: short story in English), Sievney Klyze G Quidet (creative nonfiction in English), Thomas Leonard Shaw (poetry in English), and John Rolly V Son (fiction: novel in English).
Esteemed writers also graced the event. Essayist Johanna Michelle Lim, author of the forthcoming ?What Distance Tells Us: Travel Essays from the Philippines?, gave a lecture on creative nonfiction, while Man Asian Literary Prize shortlisted fictionist Ian Rosales Casocot of the Silliman University?s Edilberto & Edith Tiempo Creative Writing Center, delivered the keynote address on ?A Sense of Place and Placelessness: Writing in/about Central Visayas.? Fictionist-playwright R Joseph Dazo serves as the workshop director.
The Cebu Young Writers? Studio, an adaptation of the annual Cagayan de Oro Young Writers? Studio, consists of craft lectures, in-depth discussions, and manuscripts critiquing. Fellows at the CYWS share their literary pieces with their cofellows, receive constructive criticism from the panelists, and participate in the lectures and discussions. Its core purpose, bringing emerging writers together to hone their craft, contributes to a larger goal of enfolding these young writers into the larger community of local writers.
Envisioned to be the regional creative writing fellowship in Central Visayas, the Cebu Young Writers? Studio has received a hundred applications this year.