THE NATIONAL Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), led by its chair Felipe de Leon Jr. and OIC-executive director Adelina Suemith, the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) with National Artist Virgilio Almario as chair and National Book Development Board, headed by executive director Graciela Cayton, are spearheading the celebration of the Buwan ng Panitikan ng Filipinas or National Literature Month.
National Literature Month kicked off with the celebration of Francisco “Balagtas” Baltazar Day or Araw ni Francisco “Balagtas” Baltazar on April 2.
KWF held a youth camp on April 1-3 at Orion Elementary School in Orion, Bataan, where the great Tagalog poet lived a significant part of his life.
On April 5, the first of a series of Tertulyang Pampanitikan will be held at De La Salle University (DLSU). Other Tertulyang Pampanitikan sessions will be held at Ateneo de Manila University, April 12; University of Santo Tomas, April 19; and Far Eastern University, April 26.
On April 6, “Literature in a Hurry: Literature Journalism for Non-Journalists” will be held. From April 6-8, the Uswag Dangal ng Filipino will be mounted in Camarines Sur.
On April 8, the Pinoy Book Store Tour of the National Book Development Board (NBDB) will start rolling at Solidaridad, Uno Morato and artbooks.ph.
A Literatour will happen in Pandacan on April 11 and in Bacolor, Pampanga, on April 18.
Polytechnic University of the Philippines Center for Creative Writing will be conducting the “Literaturang Pang-Mass Media” seminar, April 13-15. “Pagtuturo ng Panitikang Gender-based” will be held at the José Rizal Memorial State University in Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte.
The Bienvenido N. Santos Creative Writing Center of DLSU will hold the Young Writers Workshop for Children Ages 9-17, April 16 at DLSU Henry Sy Sr. Hall.
Iyas Alumni Writers Workshop will take place on April 18-20, at the American Corner, Henry Sy Sr. Hall.
The Philippine Center of International PEN (Poets, Playwrights, Essayists, Novelists) will hold “For Love of the Word: Workshops on Teaching Philippine
Literature in High School and College,” April 11-12, at the University of Cebu, Banilad campus, Cebu City.
The 16th Iyas National Writers’ Workshop will be held on April 24-30, at Balay Kalinungan, University of St. La Salle, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental.
April 23 is National Book and Copyright Day, and the National Book Development Board will spearhead the celebration.
From April 20-22, the Ikapitong Pambansang Kongreso sa Wikang Filipino will be held in Baguio City by the Kapisanan ng mga Superbisor at Guro sa Filipino. On the other hand, from April 25-27, the Pambansang Kumperensiya sa Wika at Panitikang Sebwano will be held at the University of San Carlos, Cebu City. After these, the Philippine International Literary Festival will be held on April 28-30.
The Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas will hold the Umpil Pambansang Kongreso ng mga Manunulat at the Ateneo on April 30.
Call Rene Sanchez Napeñas of the NCCA Public Affairs and Information Office at 5275529.
E-mail ncca.paio@gmail.com; visit www.ncca.gov.ph.