SSU Educators’ Guild

𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝟐 | 𝐏𝐀𝐆𝐒𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐁𝐎 𝐇𝐀𝐍 𝐏𝐀𝐍𝐔𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐀𝐍: 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐇 𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐑𝐘 𝐅𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐀𝐋
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‎As the Literary Festival continued, delegates from Samar State University attended the breakout sessions from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM, featuring different panuratan workshops, that explored different forms and practices of literary writing.
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‎𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝟏 | 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐨𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐲
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‎During the Poetry Writing Workshop, Dr. Edgar Calabia Samar, Head of National Committee on Literary Arts, shared his journey as a poet and introduced the creative process through the Four Practical Stages: 𝘗𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘺𝘢𝘮 (Lecture), 𝘗𝘢𝘨𝘴𝘶𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵 (Writing), 𝘗𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘩𝘢𝘯 (Workshop), and 𝘗𝘢𝘨𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘨𝘪 (Sharing). He also challenged participants through innovative forms such as Univocalism and Lipogram, and encouraged them to evaluate poetry using the P**I framework—𝘗𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘬𝘰𝘵 (Engagement), 𝘈𝘮𝘣𝘪𝘴𝘺𝘰𝘯 (Ambition), 𝘒𝘢𝘩𝘶𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘢𝘯 (Excellence), at 𝘐𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘥 (Immortality)—emphasizing the importance of both artistic quality and lasting relevance in poetic composition.
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‎𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝟐 | 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
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‎During the Fiction Writing breakout session, Prof. Kaisa Aquino, author of the Novel "Isabela", emphasized how writers perceive and express place through words. Inspired by Ursula K. Le Guin's view of fiction as a container of human experience, she encouraged participants to see place as a force that shapes narratives, influences characters, and deepens readers' understanding of the human experience.

𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝟑 | 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
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‎During the Nonfiction Writing Workshop, Dr. Jhoanna Lynn Cruz introduced participants to the fundamentals of nonfiction, memoir, and essay writing, emphasizing how personal experiences can be transformed into meaningful narratives. She underscored that memoir is “not a mere record of the past,” but a reflective process where memory and storytelling work together to uncover deeper truths about lived experiences. Through writing exercises, discussions, and a workshop session, participants developed their nonfiction pieces and received constructive feedback, fostering both critical reflection and creative growth. The session ultimately highlighted nonfiction as a powerful medium for self-expression, remembrance, healing, and meaning-making.
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‎𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝟒 | 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧
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‎Challenging the notion that children's literature is a lesser form of writing, Prof. Firie Jill T. Ramos presented it as a purposeful and powerful literary field that demands depth, creativity, and intention. Drawing from various frameworks and the concept of the "Paradox of the Filipino Child," she encouraged participants to write stories grounded in the realities of young readers, while embracing patience and persistence through the philosophy that meaningful stories are shaped slowly and refined over time.
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‎𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝟓 | 𝐙𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠
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‎Blending spontaneity with creativity, Prof. Leander Guin—the lecturer of the Zine Making Workshop introduced participants to the art of independent publishing through a playful FLARF writing activity and hands-on crafting. By transforming their written pieces into personalized zines, participants discovered how self-published works can serve as powerful spaces for expression, storytelling, and the sharing of individual voices with a wider community.
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‎𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝟔 | 𝐁𝐮𝐤𝐥𝐚𝐝: 𝐀 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 (𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟏)
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‎The book talk featured Dr. Christian Jil R. Benitez, who examined the Filipino concept of panahon beyond its conventional meaning of time; Prof. Michael Carlo C. Villas, who emphasized the significance of 𝘎𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘣: 𝘉𝘢𝘨-𝘰 𝘯𝘨𝘢 𝘚𝘶𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘯 in preserving and promoting contemporary Waray literature; and Mr. Kristian Sendon Cordero, who shared how personal experiences and significant events continue to inspire his ongoing work, 𝘈𝘯𝘨 𝘉𝘶𝘭𝘬𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘉𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘢. Through their insights, the authors underscored the value of storytelling, cultural memory, and the enduring role of literature in shaping communities.
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‎𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟐 | 𝐁𝐮𝐤𝐥𝐚𝐝: 𝐀 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬
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‎In the afternoon, the festival continued with Book Talk Series Part 2, featuring four authors who shared insights into their published works, creative journeys, and experiences in book publishing.
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‎Dr. Edgar Calabia Samar read excerpts from his book, 𝘛𝘦𝘰𝘳𝘺𝘢 𝘯𝘨 𝘜𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘗𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘩𝘰𝘯, a collection of poems that reflect on personal experiences and memories. He also emphasized the idea of "Writing the Nation through the Regions," underscoring the importance of supporting regional writers, editors, publishers, and literary communities. By valuing stories rooted in local languages and experiences, he highlighted how regional literature enriches and strengthens the nation's collective narrative.
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Prof. ‎Kaisa Aquino discussed her novel "Isabela," which emerged from her longing for home after moving to Baguio for her studies. Through a deeply personal narrative, the novel explores identity, belonging, and the story of a nation "fragmented by its own hands."
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‎Dr. Jhoanna Lynn Cruz presented 𝘓𝘶𝘨𝘢𝘳 𝘓𝘢𝘯𝘨: 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘋𝘢𝘷𝘢𝘰, a collection of opinion pieces that chronicles her search for belonging and her experiences navigating life in Davao.
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Prof. ‎Firie Jill Ramos shared her book 𝘗𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘭𝘪: 15 𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘓𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘸, which gathers selected poems written over fifteen years.
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‎The session concluded with an open forum, allowing participants to engage with the authors through questions and discussions about writing, publishing, and literary practice, followed by a book-signing activity.
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‎The activities equipped the delegates with new knowledge and insights into literary writing, publishing, and storytelling, enriching their understanding of literature and its many forms.
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‎𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒔 | Gwyneth S. Campanero & Learose Centino
‎𝑷𝒉𝒐𝒕𝒐𝒔 | EG Members

𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝟏 | 𝐏𝐀𝐆𝐒𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐁𝐎 𝐇𝐀𝐍 𝐏𝐀𝐍𝐔𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐀𝐍 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔
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‎The first day of Pagsaribo han Panuratan: 2026 National Youth Literary Festival has been a journey of learning and inspiration—from inspiring keynote address and engaging roundtable discussions to vibrant cultural presentations.
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‎The program commenced with a welcome message from the Acting Chancellor of the University of the Philippines Tacloban College, Prof. Patricia B. Arinto, EdD, followed by a presentation on the background and history of the National Youth Literary Festival by Dr. Edgar Calabia Samar, Head of the NCCA–National Committee on Literary Arts. Addressing the youth delegates, Dr. Samar emphasized the central role of young people in the festival, stating, “𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦; 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘭.”
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It was followed by a keynote address from Professor Emeritus Merlie Alunan, recipient of the 2025 Royal Society of Literature International Writer distinction. In her lecture, she described Eastern Visayas as a miniature of the Philippine archipelago because of its rich linguistic diversity. She also posed two important questions: “𝘗𝘢𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘯-𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘶𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘯𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘵?” and “𝘗𝘢𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘯-𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘶𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘯 𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘯?”
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‎To aspiring writers, she emphasized the importance of reading, attentive listening, and developing a deep love for language, noting that “𝘓𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘳; 𝘪𝘵 𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺.” She further stressed that literature thrives when it is read, discussed, and critically engaged with, encouraging participants to “𝘗𝘢𝘥𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘢” (Increase the number of readers).
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‎One of the festival's highlights was the roundtable discussion, “𝐓𝐬𝐢𝐤𝐚-𝐋𝐢𝐭: 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲” featuring distinguished literary writers. Dr. Michael Carlo Villas explored the dynamic relationship between text and history, while, Dr. Christian Benitez discussed “𝘗𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘸𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘢 𝘗𝘢𝘨𝘴𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘯,” highlighting the challenges and possibilities of translation. He remarked, “𝘏𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪 𝘵𝘢𝘺𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘸𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘢 𝘐𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦𝘴. 𝘔𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘸𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘢 𝘐𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘶𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘣𝘪 𝘴𝘢 𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘨𝘢 𝘣𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘺 𝘯𝘢 𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪 𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘣𝘪-𝘴𝘢𝘣𝘪,” emphasizing the role of translation in bringing local voices to a wider audience.
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‎Meanwhile, Dr. Voltaire Q. Oyzon unpacked the idea of the “incubated word” and the “wild word,” highlighting the dynamic nature of language and its continuous transformation. Echoing this reflection, he conveyed Dr. Victor N. Sugbo's appeal to “bring back writing to the Waray community,” reminding delegates of their vital role in keeping Waray literature alive for future generations.
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‎During the festival break, delegates explored the Humanities Fair, which featured various booths, including a book fair, photo exhibits, and other literary and cultural displays. The day concluded with a dinner and a Cultural Night showcasing performances that celebrated literature, culture, and the arts, providing a fitting culmination to the festival's opening day.
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‎As Day 1 comes to a close, the delegates of Samar State University carry with them new perspectives and inspiration, eager for the learning experiences and conversations that await in the days ahead.
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‎𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒔 | Gwyneth S. Campanero & Learose Centino
‎𝑷𝒉𝒐𝒕𝒐𝒔 | EG Members

‎𝐃𝐮𝐠𝐨 𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐧𝐢, 𝐃𝐢𝐰𝐚 𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐚𝐧!
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𝘔𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘭𝘰, 𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘪 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘯𝘨: 𝘔𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘢 𝘯𝘢 𝘣𝘢 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘵 𝘗𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘰 𝘯𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘵𝘰, 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘱, 𝘢𝘵 𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘢 𝘣𝘶𝘩𝘢𝘺?
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‎Today, the battle is no longer fought with rifles and revolutions, but through classrooms, books, and opportunities. While our flag flies freely in the sky, countless learners continue to face barriers that hinder their right to quality education.
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𝘈𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘢𝘺 𝘯𝘢 𝘬𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘢𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘺 𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪 𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘢𝘴𝘶𝘴𝘶𝘬𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘢 𝘬𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘭𝘢𝘯 𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘢. 𝘐𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘺 𝘯𝘢𝘴𝘶𝘴𝘶𝘬𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘢 𝘬𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘺𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘵 𝘬𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘗𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘰 𝘯𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘬𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘴, 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘨-𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘥, 𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘣𝘶𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘣𝘶𝘬𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘬𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘪𝘴.

‎As we celebrate Philippine Independence Day, may we remember that every lesson learned, every dream pursued, and every student empowered is a continuation of the freedom our heroes once fought for.
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‎𝗠𝗮𝗯𝘂𝗵𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘀. 𝗔𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗯𝘂𝗵𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗸𝗮𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗹𝗼𝘆 𝗻𝗮 𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝘀𝗮 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝘂𝗸𝗮𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗸𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗮𝘁-𝗱𝗮𝗽𝗮𝘁 𝗻𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗮𝗺𝘁𝗮𝗻. 🇵🇭✨
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‎𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒔 | Christian Jack Montejo
𝑳𝒂𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒕‎ | Kayzy Jabien

𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐄𝐃𝐔𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐒’ 𝐆𝐔𝐈𝐋𝐃 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐀.𝐘. 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔–𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟕

On May 19, 2026, the Educators’ Guild successfully held its 1st Convergence for Academic Year 2026–2027, bringing together all incoming fourth-year education students.

The program commenced with an energy-level check, capturing the attention and enthusiasm of the incoming fourth-year students. This was followed by the solemn invocation and the singing of the Philippine National Anthem.

Ms. Learose Cadlit-Centino, the newly elected President of the Educators’ Guild, warmly welcomed everyone through an inspiring message.

"𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘧 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺, 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘦 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘰𝘣𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺."

The program proceeded with the presentation of the agenda by Prof. Manilyn Serpajuan-Sablan, Student Teaching Supervisor. She motivated the students by encouraging them to manifest their goal of graduating within the school year. She also discussed the enrollment requirements, upcoming activities, and clarified the distinct roles and functions of the Student Teaching Office and the Educators’ Guild.

The proposed teaching internship uniforms and batch names were then presented for deliberation. Through majority vote, it was officially agreed that the batch name for Academic Year 2026–2027 would be 𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐌𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐲𝐬𝐚𝐲.

The convergence concluded with an open forum, where students raised their concerns and questions, followed by the closing remarks of Mr. Christian Jack S. Montejo, Vice President for Elementary who expressed gratitude to everyone for their active participation and encouraged the batch to move forward with unity, determination, and excellence as future educators.

‎𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒔 | Learose Cadlit-Centino
‎𝑷𝒉𝒐𝒕𝒐𝒔 | Educators’ Guild Mabaysay Publication Officers