UP Cebu Creative Writing Program

The UP Cebu Creative Writing Program joins the Cebuano literary community and the nation in mourning the passing of the National Artist for Literature, Dr. Resil B. Mojares.

His contributions to literary scholarship left an indelible mark on Philippine letters. He inspired generations of writers, cultural workers, and historians in the Visayas to pursue rigorous work and devote themselves to writing about Philippine culture and history through the perspective of the local and the regional.

Dr. Mojares graduated with bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of San Carlos in Cebu and earned his doctorate in literature from the University of the Philippines Diliman. Early in his career, he also worked as a columnist for local Cebu dailies, writing critical articles. He was among the first writers to be detained in Cebu during Martial Law. His massive body of work covered the intersections of literature, culture, history, media, and art.

Dr. Mojares passed away on September 5, 2026, at the age of 83. The National Historical Commission of the Philippines called him a “true titan of local history”.

Daghang salamat, Sir Resil.

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚄𝙿 𝙲𝚎𝚋𝚞 𝚃𝚊𝚐𝚒𝚔 𝙻𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚊𝚜𝚊𝚗 𝚆𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚆𝚘𝚛𝚔𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚙 𝚛𝚎𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚗𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝙾𝚌𝚝𝚘𝚋𝚎𝚛 2026!

One of the flagship events of the UP Cebu Creative Writing Program, the Tagik Landasan Writers Workshop was established in 2015, with the first workshop facilitated by the poet and professor shane carreon. It was launched as a rebrand of the previous writing workshops organized by UP Cebu.

The name is derived from the Cebuano Visayan word tagik, which means “to tie things carefully” or “to compose”, and landasan, which means “anvil”. The metaphor sought to capture the workshop’s aim: to help shape and forge new literary voices in the Visayas.

The workshop is a creative space where young writers can interact with faculty and external panelists who are writers from the local and national literary scene. The event aims to support and nurture creative writing and literary discourse in the region.

This 2026, submissions are open for poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction.

Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and a student or an alumnus/alumna of the University of the Philippines Cebu. Previous fellows of Tagik Landasan are not qualified to apply to this year’s workshop.

Interested applicants may submit any of the following, in Cebuano or English:

- a suite of three (3) to five (5) poems
- one (1) short story, up to 10 pages
- one (1) creative nonfiction piece, up to 10 pages

Manuscripts may be submitted in .docx or .pdf and must be in an A4-sized document, with font size 12 in Book Antiqua, one-inch margins on all sides, single spacing for poetry entries and double spacing for fiction and nonfiction entries. Entries must not bear the author’s name. Entries must follow this file name format: “Tagik Landasan_[Applicant’s Last Name]_[Genre]” (example: Tagik Landasan_De La Cruz_Fiction).

Submissions must be accompanied by the applicant’s curriculum vitae, along with a short description of their literary and creative writing interests.

Food, certificates, and materials will be provided for accepted fellows.

Submit your entries through this link: https://tinyurl.com/TagikLandasan2026

The workshop will take place on October 19-20 at the AVR 1 of UP Cebu.

For any questions or clarifications, send an email to [email protected].

ʙᴏᴏᴋ ʟᴀᴜɴᴄʜ ᴀʟᴇʀᴛ!

Join us next week on Thursday, May 7, 9:45 AM at the Performing Arts Hall of UP Cebu for the book launch of 𝙅𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙘𝙤 𝘽𝙤𝙮𝙨 by 𝙏𝙤𝙣 𝘿𝙖𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙖𝙡𝙖.

Published by UP Press under The Philippine Translators Series, this poetry collection explores the world of the barkada, of men navigating the heavy pressures of being “macho”.

The book launch is featured as a plenary session at the 6th DukiTuki UP Cebu Communication Program Research Forum 2026, and will include an author’s talk, a literary reading, a Q&A session, and a book signing. 𝙅𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙘𝙤 𝘽𝙤𝙮𝙨 is Asst. Prof. Ton Daposala’s second book.

Limited copies of the book will be available for purchase at a discounted price.

“Daposala’s sophomore book, Jamico Boys, beautifully weaves words together, creating a tagay of rum-like verses. Each poem is a sip of intoxicating emotions as he delves deep into the complexities of childhood, friendship, self-discovery, love, and life.”

- R. Joseph Dazo

Join us this Thursday, April 30, 9:00 AM-12:00 NN for our month-end event in celebration of National Literature Month, in partnership with the National Committee on Literary Arts. ✍🏼

PANITIKolab goes to Lawak Sinehan, the Cinematheque of UP Cebu!

Ali na!

Magkuyog ta sa UP Cebu uban ang PANITIKolab ug mga manuwatay sa Bathalad Sugbo.

Mabuhi ang Katitikang Cebuano sa Pilipinas!

PANITIKolab goes to Lawak Sinehan, the Cinematheque of UP Cebu!

Ali na!

Magkuyog ta sa UP Cebu uban ang PANITIKolab ug mga manuwatay sa Bathalad Sugbo.

Mabuhi ang Katitikang Cebuano sa Pilipinas!

Share your poems with us at the Babaye sa Balak 2 literary event! Everyone is welcome to read their works at the open mic session. 🎤

𝐁𝐀𝐁𝐀𝐘𝐄 𝐒𝐀 𝐁𝐀𝐋𝐀𝐊 𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐀𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐋 𝟐𝟗! 💜

In celebration of National Literature Month, TINTA - UP Cebu, in collaboration with UP Cebu Creative Writing Program, Bathalad Sugbo, WILA Women in Literary Arts - Cebu, Inc., and Youth Claim - UP Cebu proudly presents 𝐁𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐲𝐞 𝐒𝐚 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐤 𝟐!

Catch us on April 29, 2026 (Wednesday) from 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM at UP Cebu Lawak Sinehan! This is FREE and open to the public!

Let’s come together in poetry and power. Stay tuned for more exciting updates!

𝐁𝐀𝐁𝐀𝐘𝐄 𝐒𝐀 𝐁𝐀𝐋𝐀𝐊 𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐀𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐋 𝟐𝟗! 💜

In celebration of National Literature Month, TINTA - UP Cebu, in collaboration with UP Cebu Creative Writing Program, Bathalad Sugbo, WILA Women in Literary Arts - Cebu, Inc., and Youth Claim - UP Cebu proudly presents 𝐁𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐲𝐞 𝐒𝐚 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐤 𝟐!

Catch us on April 29, 2026 (Wednesday) from 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM at UP Cebu Lawak Sinehan! This is FREE and open to the public!

Let’s come together in poetry and power. Stay tuned for more exciting updates!

𝙲𝚎𝚋𝚞-𝚋𝚊𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚐𝚊𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚛𝚢 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙲𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚆𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝙿𝚛𝚘𝚐𝚛𝚊𝚖’𝚜 𝙵𝚘𝚛𝚞𝚖 𝚘𝚗 𝙵𝚒𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙵𝚘𝚛𝚞𝚖 𝚘𝚗 𝙿𝚘𝚎𝚝𝚛𝚢 ✍🏼

Organized as part of the program’s Pundok Katitikan flagship event for National Literature Month, the two forums facilitated engaging discussions on the writer’s role in society and the relevance of writing in today’s sociopolitical climate. The writers also tackled poetics, talking about their development as writers, significant influences, and approaches to the craft.

Highlights from the Forum on Fiction, paneled by authors CD Borden, Januar Yap, and Danton Remoto, include rich insights on editing, publishing, finding one’s voice, and maturing as a writer. The forum was moderated by the writer Nicolo Nasol.

Meanwhile, in the Forum on Poetry, writers Ton Daposala, shane carreon, and Mark Andy Pedere exchanged ideas regarding regional identity and the role of language in the development of one’s literary consciousness. The forum was moderated by BA Communication student writer Mark Aaron Collera.

As for the audience, some asked tips on world-building and dealing with writer’s block.

The forums were attended by members of the UP Cebu community, with guests from the student literary organizations of Cebu Normal University and the University of Cebu, as well as members of writers’ groups Bathalad Sugbo and Women in Literary Arts and faculty members from the Department of Education and Southwestern University.

We thank everyone who spent the afternoon in conversation with us. See you at the next Pundok!

Happening today at 2 PM. Join us!

𝙼𝚎𝚎𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚊𝚔 𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙿𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚘𝚔 𝙺𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚔𝚊𝚗: 𝙲𝚘𝚗𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝙲𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚆𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐’𝚜 𝙵𝚘𝚛𝚞𝚖 𝚘𝚗 𝙿𝚘𝚎𝚝𝚛𝚢.

Happening this April 21 at 3:30 PM at the UP Cebu Lawak Sinehan.

Join the conversation! Register through this link: https://tinyurl.com/PundokKatitikanConversation.

The forum is free and open to the public. Limited seats only.

𝙼𝚎𝚎𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚊𝚔 𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙿𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚘𝚔 𝙺𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚔𝚊𝚗: 𝙲𝚘𝚗𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝙲𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚆𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐’𝚜 𝙵𝚘𝚛𝚞𝚖 𝚘𝚗 𝙵𝚒𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗.

Happening this April 21 at 2:00 PM at the UP Cebu Lawak Sinehan.

Join the conversation! Register through this link: https://tinyurl.com/PundokKatitikanConversation.

The forum is free and open to the public. Limited seats only.

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚄𝙿 𝙲𝚎𝚋𝚞 𝙲𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚆𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝙿𝚛𝚘𝚐𝚛𝚊𝚖 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚜 𝙿𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚘𝚔 𝙺𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚔𝚊𝚗: 𝙲𝚘𝚗𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝙲𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚆𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐.

This National Literature Month, the series will hold two forums: 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒖𝒎 𝒐𝒏 𝑭𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 and 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒖𝒎 𝒐𝒏 𝑷𝒐𝒆𝒕𝒓𝒚, happening on April 21. Bringing together local writers, the forums will tackle perspectives about writing today.

The Forum on Fiction will be paneled by the renowned authors CD Borden, Januar Yap, and Danton Remoto and will begin at 2 PM. The Forum on Poetry, to be paneled by the distinguished writers Ton Daposala, Shane Carreon, and Mark Andy Pedere, will commence at 3:30 PM.

Join us for an afternoon of literary discourse this April 21 at the Lawak Sinehan!

Register through this link: https://tinyurl.com/PundokKatitikanConversation.

The forums are free and open to the public. Limited seats only.