UP Mindanao faculty, alumni, and students participated in the Davao Writers Workshop (DWW) at its opening sessions on April 26-27, 2025, at the Star Hotel, Davao City. Art educator and patron Wilfred Dexter “Rob” Tanedo was the Keynote Speaker in the workshop organized by the Davao Writers Guild (DWG). Guild president, UPMin’s Prof. Jhoanna Lynn Cruz, expressed her gladness at the return of the long-running workshop after some years and thanked sponsor Vibal Publishing House.
BA English students Reggie Faye Canarias and Clint Jovial Delima were accepted as fellows for fiction, while Czarina Rae Yamas was accepted as a fellow for the essay. BA English alumna Rizia Jahziel Perez was a fellow for fiction, as well. Faculty members Prof. Jhoanna Cruz, and MJ Tumamac are among the workshop mentors, alongside BA Social Science alumnus Errol Merquita. After the opening day, the workshop will proceed through three weekends of online workshop sessions, and culminate in a face-to-face closing ceremony.
The top photo shows Prof. Cruz addressing a question to Keynote Speaker Wilfred Dexter “Rob” Tanedo.
The above photo shows the UP Mindanao delegation to the DWW, composed of (seated, left-right) Prof. Jhoanna Lynn Cruz, Czarina Rae Yamas, Clint Jovial Delima, and Reggie Faye Canarias, with (standing) BA Communications and Media Arts (BACMA) alumna Sachi Cruz Daliling, who served as emcee on Day 1, BACMA alumna Allyson Espaldon, Rizia Jahziel Perez, and MJ Tumamac.
On Day 2, April 27, 2025, was the Book Talk for the book, “More Mindanawon Than We Admit,” a collection of articles that examine the heritage, history, and diverse culture of Mindanao, edited by Prof. Jhoanna Cruz. UP Mindanao faculty members who contributed articles were Nory Loyd Narvaez-Pernes of the Architecture department, Theresa Mae Gallardo and Raymundo Pavo of Social Sciences, and Farah Aimee S. Virador-Cagayan and John Bengan of the Humanities department. In the talk, the panelists, composed of Jade Mark Capinanes, Farah Aimee Virador-Cagayan, and Jhoanna Lynn Cruz, and the audience exchanged views on topics such as “what is Lumad?”, “What is the difference between ‘Mindanaoan’ and ‘Mindanawon?'” or “What is Mindanao writing?” or “Should Mindanao writing always feature ethnic culture, armed conflict, or poverty?”
DWW sponsor, Vibal Publishing House, installed a book outlet at the workshop venue with the book “More Mindanawon Than We Admit,” and other titles.
Panelists in the Book Talk are (left-right) DWW director Jade Mark Capinanes, Asst. Prof. Farah Aimee Virador-Cagayan, and Prof. Jhoanna Lynn Cruz.
Prof. Jhoanna Lynn Cruz shows the book “More Mindanawon Than We Admit.”
