AFTER A decade of providing a support system for aspiring writers, the Ateneo National Writers Workshop (ANWW) opened its doors, for the first time, to writers from outside Metro Manila.

From October 24 to 28, 12 writers from Luzon exchanged ideas and critiqued each other’s work at the Ateneo de Naga University (AdNU) campus. Six of the writers were from the National Capital Region while the other six where from the Bicol Region.

Aside from providing fellows an opportunity to hone their craft, this year’s ANWW also sought to create links between writers from across the country.

The five-day workshop was organized by the Ateneo Institute of Literary Arts and Practices (AILAP) with the help of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the Ateneo de Naga University’s (AdNU) Office of the President.

Exchange of ideas

When AILAP Director Christine Bellen became the head of AILAP, she envisioned connecting Atenean writers with other writers from the different regions of the Philippines.

With roots from Bicol and connections to the Loyola Schools Filipino Department, she said that everything seemed to be in place for extending the fellowship’s coverage. With the assistance of Bicolano poet Kristian Cordero, they contacted AdNU to host the ANWW.

This year was the first time the ANWW was held outside NCR. “Isang maganda at substansyal na dayalogo ang inaasahan mula sa palihan at sa mga lectures (A wonderful and substantial dialogue is expected of the workshop and the lectures),” Bellen said.

Alyza May Timbol Taguilaso (BS Bio ‘10), one of the recipients of the fellowship said that the workshop not only gave her a chance to improve her craft, but it also allowed her to experience the customs and traditions of Naga City.

“[After the workshop] I believe I did have [the] kind of experience that would stick with me for the rest of my life, not just in terms of writing,” she added.

Renowned ‘guides’

The workshop also presented an opportunity for older, more established writers to interact with the new ones.

Taguilaso expected her pieces to be dissected by the distinguished writers who were the panelists for the workshop. “I also looked forward to finding out new ideas from other’s reading my works,” she added.

The panelists were comprised of award-winning writers such as Filipino Professor Benilda Santos, Filipino Assistant Professors Alvin Yapan and Michael Coroza, Marco Lopez, Frank Peñones Jr and Carlo Arejola.

Two poets also served as the workshop directors namely, Yol Jamendang and Cordero from Ateneo de Manila and AdNU, respectively.

For the readers

Aside from having skilled writers comment on his pieces, Bicolano fellow Jimple Uy Borlagdan said that his main reason for joining the workshop was to test his works’ readability and understand his work from a reader’s point of view.

He added that he wanted to get the most out of the opportunity given. “I felt and still feel honored. I expected to really learn a lot. And my expectations were reached,” he added.

Not content with hosting the first regional ANWW, Bellen also hopes to come out with a publication for ANWW.

She said that the publication would serve as a reference of the fellows’ works for the readers.