Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas (Umpil), or the Writers’ Union of the Philippines, will hold its national conference on Aug. 28-30 at the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Mass Communication Auditorium, UP Diliman, Quezon City.
Theme is “Ang Rehiyonal na Panitikan Bilang Pambansang Panitikan” (The Regional Literature as National Literature).
Keynote speakers are Rosario C. Lucero of UP Diliman and Education undersecretary Dina S. Ocampo .
The Adrian Cristobal Memorial Lecture will be delivered by cultural historian Reynaldo Ileto, who’s affiliated with the National University of Singapore.
Panels will discuss topics such as the poetics of literature from the regions, critical tradition in the Philippines, literature and K+12, and regional literature in relation to cinema.
Panelists include Jaime An Lim, Jose Jason Chancoco, Hope Sabanpan Yu, Oscar Campomanes, Jayson P. Jacobo, Victor Emmanuel Carmelo Nadera Jr., Maria Luisa Torres Reyes, Ani Rosa Almario-David, Alvin Yapan, John Iremil Teodoro, Patrick Campos, Dinah Roma, Danilo Francisco Reyes and Jose Wendell Capili.
Teaching demonstrations will be conducted by Lilibeth Oblena-Quiore (Miriam College); Salvador Biglaen (Miriam College High School); and Jethro Tenorio (Ateneo de Manila University).
Umpil will also hand out the Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas, awarded to living Filipino writers who have made significant contributions to the development of Philippine letters in any language. Recipients are Victor Peñaranda (poetry in English); Eli R. Guieb (fiction in Filipino); Luis Francia (essay in English); Steven Patrick Fernandez (drama in Filipino); Querubin D. Fernandez, Jr. (poetry in Kapampangan); Nilo P. Pamonag (poetry in Hiligaynon); Lamberto G. Ceballos (poetry and fiction in Cebuano); and, Lorenzo G. Tabin (poetry and fiction in Ilocano).
This year’s Gawad Paz Marquez Benitez for outstanding literature teaching will be given to Regina Garcia Groyon, who retired from the University of St. La Salle in Bacolod. The Gawad Pedro Bucaneg for outstanding literary organization will be given to Sumakwelan Iloilo, an association of Hiligaynon writers promoting Hiligaynon literary arts.
The 2014 conference director is John Enrico Torralba. Umpil president is Karina Bolasco while secretary-general is Michael Coroza of Ateneo de Manila University.
Conference registration fee is P3,000, which covers entry to all sessions, workshop kit, lunch and merienda, and certificate. Discounts will be given to early-bird and group registration. For inquiries and reservation, call. Eva Cadiz at 0917-8453721 or e-mail [email protected].
