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The Dumaguete Literary Festival returns for another week of celebrating literature from April 3 to 6, 2025, primarily taking place at the Arts and Design Collective Dumaguete on 58 EJ Blanco.
This year’s edition is centered on the theme “Towards a City of Literature,” which harks back to Dumaguete's bid to become a UNESCO Creative City of Literature.
To be opened by co-directors Ian Rosales Casocot and Gayle Acar, the Duma LitFest will include a panel discussion with key institutional partners from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) – Negros Oriental and the Dumaguete City Tourism Office.
The panel discussion also intends to kick off the festival by focusing on the topic “On the Road to the City of Literature,” which will reflect on Dumaguete’s growing commitment to nurturing literary excellence and access.
National Artist for Literature Resil Mojares will deliver a keynote talk on “What Makes a Creative City of Literature,” which will take on the crucial steps and factors that play into such a title.
Several writers, both from and outside Dumaguete, will lead their own panel discussions with topics varying in storytelling beyond books, food writing, the use of artificial intelligence, LGBTQ literature, and more.
In addition, the Romance Class and its founder, Mina Esguerra, will convene in Dumaguete for a series of workshops and an “April Feels” reading.
The panel discussion, “Literature Outside of the Institutions,” is also set to tackle storytelling that extends beyond the academe, such as communities, the streets, and everyday life. This will be led by panelists Enriquita Alcaide, Anthony Maginsay, and Richel Dorotan.
The much-awaited literary event will also feature a zine fest and literary bazaar, spoken word and open mic night, erotic reading, and various book launches.
Simultaneous to some events are parallel programs that will take place at 58 EJ Blanco, CHADA-A, UNWND Boutique Hotel, and Buglas Isla Cafe.
One of the festival’s parallel programs includes a day for children with activities such as a writing workshop, storytelling sessions, and a special talk with songs.
The Duma LitFest is a collaboration between the Buglas Writers Club, LibrAria Books, and the Edilberto and Edith Tiempo Creative Writing Center.
It is supported by its office partners DTI – Negros Oriental, Dumaguete City Tourism Office, Cebu Pacific, and UNWND Boutique Hotel.
The festival is also made possible by its platinum sponsors Pinspired, Backpack Solutions, Florentina Homes, Inspiro, Leon Gallery, Adamo, Summit Drinking Water, and Talecraft.
See the schedule of events below:
APRIL 3 | THURSDAY
4:30 p.m.–5:45 p.m. Festival Welcome
Venue: The Courtyard of 58 EJ Blanco
5:45 p.m.–6:15 p.m. An Introduction to the Dumaguete Sound With Enchi
6:15 p.m.–7:30 p.m. Panel 1—On the Road to the City of Literature
Organized by Department of Trade and Industry—Negros Oriental
Panelists: Ian Rosales Casocot, Anton Gabila, Gayle Acar, and Katherine Aguilar
Moderator: Lea Sicat-Reyes
Venue: The Courtyard of 58 EJ Blanco
APRIL 4 | FRIDAY
Main Program: Anything Goes
1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Panel 2— Balak, Balitaw, ug Uban Pa: The Literature Outside of the Institutions
Panelists: Enriquita Alcaide, Nicky Dumapit, Anthony Maginsay, and Richel Dorotan
Moderator: Sharon Dadang-Rafols
Venue: The Courtyard of 58 EJ Blanco
2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Keynote Talk: What Makes a Creative City of Literature?
Speaker: National Artist for Literature Resil Mojares
Venue: Buglas Isla Cafe
LIMITED SLOTS
3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. Panel 3—The City of Stories: Storytelling Beyond Books
Panelists: Earnest Hope Tinambacan, Andrew Alvarez, Keith Nemenzo, and Junsly Kitay
Moderator: Moses Joshua Atega
Venue: The Courtyard of 58 EJ Blanco
4:00 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. Panel 4—The Writing Workshop and Its Issues
Panelists: Jose Y. Dalisay Jr., Raymundo Pandan Jr., Alfonso Manalastas, CD Borden, and Lady Flor Partosa-Koenig
Moderator: Kaycee Melon
Venue: The Courtyard of 58 EJ Blanco
5:00 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. Panel 5—Nadagit: Dumaguete as Literary Melting Pot
Panelists: Geraldine Solon, Mohammed Malik, Angela Gabrielle Fabunan, Mitos Suson
Moderator: Rina Fernandez-Hill
Venue: The Courtyard of 58 EJ Blanco
6:00 p.m. - 6:45 p.m. Book Launch of Here and Now by Geraldine Solon
Venue: The Sala of 58 EJ Blanco
7:00 p.m. – 9:05 p.m. A Screening of The Moises Padilla Story
Organized by the Lutas Film Festival
Venue: The Courtyard of 58 EJ Blanco
Side Program: How to Get Published
Venue: CHADA-A
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. How to Get Published Internationally—A Penguin Random House Panel
Panelists: Douglas Candano and Alvin Yapan
Moderator: Lyde Sison Villanueva
3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. How to Do Self-Publishing—An 8Letters Panel
Panelists: J.L. Estilo and Jenny Albinio
Moderator: Noraine Puengan
4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. How to Do Worldbuilding Through Storytelling Cards—A TaleCraft Panel
A Workshop with Maita Lu and Ria Lu
APRIL 5 | SATURDAY
Main Program: Issues
11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Book Launch of A Practical Guide to Sigbin Keeping: A Cozy Fantasy on the Island of Fire, Siquijor by Mitos Suson and Darwin Price
Venue: The Sala of 58 EJ Blanco
1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Panel 6—Modaog Ba og Nobel Prize si ChatGPT?
Panelists: Jose Y. Dalisay Jr., Danton Remoto, Timothy Montes, Jam Pascual, and Simon Anton Diego Baena
Moderator: Jonathan Davila
Venue: The Courtyard of 58 EJ Blanco
2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Panel 7—Jose Marco and Speculative History
Panelists: T. Valentino Sitoy Jr. and Resil Mojares
Moderator: Justin Jose Bulado
Venue: CHADA-A
LIMITED SLOTS
3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. Meet and Greet: Resil Mojares and Jose Y. Dalisay Jr.
Venue: CHADA-A
LIMITED SLOTS
4:00 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. Panel 8—Where is Pinoy LGBTQ Literature Now?
Panelists: Danton Remoto, Nero Oleta Fulgar, Wanggo Gallaga, Kaye Brier, and Alvin Yapan
Moderator: Jireh Catacutan
Venue: The Courtyard of 58 EJ Blanco
5:00 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. Panel 9—Writing the Popular Novel
Panelists: Edgar Calabia Samar, Geraldine Solon, Gelend Talahuron, and Douglas Candano
Moderator: Andre Aniñon
Venue: The Courtyard of 58 EJ Blanco
6:00 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. Book Launch of Follower of the Seasons by Oscar Peñaranda
Venue: The Sala of 58 EJ Blanco
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Feel Mo ‘To: An Erotic Reading with Romance Class
Venue: The Garden of 58 EJ Blanco
Side Program: Romance Class Writing Workshop
Venue: Unwnd
1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Writing a Contemporary Filipino Romance (That Is Ready for A Global Audience)
With Mina Esguerra
LIMITED SLOTS
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3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. All Your Publishing Options: Self-Publishing, Philippines, US/World
With Mina Esguerra
LIMITED SLOTS
ALL DAY Zine Fest and Literary Bazaar
APRIL 6 | SUNDAY
Main Program: Genres and Language
1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Panel 10—Kaon-Kaon: Writing About Food
Panelists: Ige Ramos, Mohammed Malik, and Renz Torres
Moderator: Matthew Yasi
Venue: The Courtyard of 58 EJ Blanco
2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Panel 11—ChikitingLit: The Role of Literature in Educating Children
Panelists: Grace Gaston-Dousel, Chinky F. Paculanang, Merlo C. Fuentes, and Edgar Calabia Samar
Moderator: Pia Villareal
Venue: The Courtyard of 58 EJ Blanco
3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. Panel 12—Sa Atong Dila: Writing in Binisaya
Panelists: CD Borden, Richel Dorotan, Serafin Plotria Jr., and Timothy Montes
Moderator: Shane Jay Fabugais
Venue: The Courtyard of 58 EJ Blanco
4:00 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. Panel 13—Kumusta na ang Community Theatre?
Panelists: Dessa Quesada-Palm, Tanya Lopez, and Hobart Savior
Moderator: Rolin Migyuel Obina
Venue: The Courtyard of 58 EJ Blanco
5:00 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. Panel 14— Poetry Beyond the Page: A Discussion on Ekphrasis, Hybrid Media, and Unconventional Forms
Panelists: Jam Pascual, Alfonso Manalastas, Wanggo Gallaga, Vince Agcaoili, Angela Gabrielle Fabunan, and F. Jordan Carnice
Moderator: Jecho Adrian Ponce
Venue: CHADA-A
6:00 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. Panel 15—Wiris-Wiris: Drawing as Storytelling
Panelists: Elbert Or, Ernest Acar, and Kiko Miranda
Moderator: Hannah Portugal-Magno
Venue: The Courtyard of 58 EJ Blanco
7:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Nahuman Ra Jud: A Closing Program
“City of Stories: Looking Back, Moving Forward”
Speaker: Ambeth Ocampo
Venue: The Courtyard of 58 EJ Blanco
7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Spoken Word and Poetry Open Mic
Organized by Silliman Writers Bloc
Venue: The Courtyard of 58 EJ Blanco
ALL DAY Zine Fest and Literary Bazaar
Side Program: Para sa Mga Chikiting
Venue: The Sala of 58 EJ Blanco
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 n.n. Miming and Friends Screening and Talk
Speakers: Meryll Yan and Ramon Del Prado
1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Storytelling Through Words and Sounds
Presenter: Nicky Dumapit
2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. The Journey to the Orient’s Pearl Storytelling and Coloring Session
Presenters: Anais Salvarita and Kimberly Salvarita
3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. Super Maya Storytelling and Talk
Speaker: Bambi A. Rodriguez
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Writing for Children Workshop
Facilitator: Ian Rosales Casocot
LIMITED SLOTS
APRIL 7 | MONDAY
Appendix
9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Book Signing and Meet and Greet with Ambeth Ocampo
Venue: LibrAria Books at 58 EJ Blanco
