WRITERS DREAM ACADEMY CALLS IT A WRAP!

The Second Season of the Writers Guild's Series of Fortunate Events finally ended last November 10, 2007. This wraps up all seven topics for this year's Series.


Guest speaker Bebang Siy (in white dress) with some members of the Guild.

The Series opened with a bang - quite literally - with Popular Literature (Ghost Story & Mini-Mystery) given by Beverly Siy. She is the current president of LIRA, the national group of poets who write in Filipino. Despite the typhoon that was raging during that time, Bebang's fun character gave the workshop its much needed warmth.

Next came Rita dela Cruz's Introduction to Essay Writing (Panimula sa Pagsulat ng Sanaysay) on August 25. This is was the first in the series which was attended by public school teachers from Carmona and Tagaytay, both in the province of Cavite. Their attendance was arranged by our office partner, the SPi Foundation headed by Ms. Lucy Aguila.

Guest speaker Sir Alfredo (in green shirt) and some members of the class.

We were very lucky that our September 1-speaker, Alfredo B. Diaz, was in Manila for his Masteral at the University of the Philippines Diliman and he lost no time in infecting us with his humorous stories during the Humorous Creative Non-Fiction workshop. Mr. Diaz is a professor at the University of the Philippines Visayas which is based in Miag-ao, Iloilo. He also is a member of the Theatre Arts Guild of the University of the Philippines (TAGUPCI). He is one of several authors who have come together to form the anthology entitled My Fair Maladies. A copy of this book can be borrowed from our Readvolution Bookcase B.

Following Mr. Diaz's workshop is the Introduction to Writing Short Stories (Panimula sa Pagsulat ng Maikling Kuwento) last September 22 by Haidee C. Pineda, also of the University of the Philippines Diliman. This is the second topic under the Starter Kit banner and thus was also attended by public school teachers.

Guest speaker Jay Fernando (in dark glasses) and some members of the scriptwriting class.

Last October 26, we were likewise honored to have been given the chance to learn from Ricardo P. Fernando III. At 17, he won First Prize at the 53rd Palanca Literary Awards for his entry on Futuristic Fiction in Filipino entitled "Bagong Developments sa Pagbuo ng Mito ng Lungsod". Mow 23, he currently is a head writer at ABS-CBN. The workshop topic was Scriptwriting for Drama on Television.




Guest Speaker Winnie (last row, 2nd from left) and members of the class.

Rounding up the Starter Kit Series was Wennielyn F. Fajilan's Panimula sa Pagsulat ng Maikling Kuwentong Pambata (Introduction to the Art of Writing Stories for Children) last October 20, 2007. The participants were taught the basics and were given tips on how to engage the children's imagination with exciting stories. Mss. Siy, Fajilan, and dela Cruz are all contributing writers to the anthology entitled SOPAS MUNA (Isang higop sa Mainit na Sabaw ng Buhay). A copy of this book can be borrowed from the Readvolution Bookcase B.

Leah Ruth Racelis of Healthcare smiles as she receives her certificate from Jessica.

Going twisted with Jessica!

And finally, to close the entire Second Season was Jessica Zafra of the TWISTED Series fame. Her topic was The Personal Essay. Ms. Zafra is a three-time Palanca winner for her short stories (Portents, 1991; Bad Boy Robin, Baad, Baad Boy, 1993; and Black, 1994) . Her visit to SPi happened last November 10, 2007. The participants were made to watch the critically-acclaimed Cinemalaya film, ENDO. Take-home messages from the workshop were: read, stop watching television, keep a journal, be open-minded because everything is material, and develop an interest in other art forms, i.e. art, film, etc. Copies of her books are available in the Readvolution Bookcase B.

All in all, the Series saw the attendance of ____ particpants, both from within SPi and from other companies and schools. The Series of Fortunate Events (Writers Workshop Series) is held every year by the Writers Guild of SPi. This year, it opened under the auspices of the Writers Dream Academy and is supervised by Jose Perseus Canivel, the Workshop Manager.

JESSICA ZAFRA VISITS SPi!

By Jo Herrera

From what she does to borrowers who won’t return her books to her writing habits, Carlos Palanca awardee and author of the best-seller Twisted series Jessica Zafra dishes on her life, likes, and who she would trade places with.

PinoyCentric: What makes you happy nowadays?

Jessica Zafra: Small things, like an unexpectedly good movie (Sunshine) or a great find in a bargain book bin (Gerontius) or an excellent restaurant no one’s ever heard of (I’m not telling, or else I’ll never get a table).

PC: Are you the type who keeps reading materials in her bathroom? What do you have?

I used to keep magazines in the bathroom (back issues of National Geographic seem to be a favorite among friends), but my cats developed the nasty habit of knocking things into the litterbox.

PC: Which among the books that you’ve written is the most personal? What made it so?

The short story collection, I think. Manananggal Terrorizes Manila. I wrote (or started) many of those stories in college, when I knew I wanted to be a writer, but wasn’t sure anyone would read me. So writing them was like leaping into the void.

PC: How many books have you lent and were never returned? How might you have discouraged this habit of borrowers?

Dozens. I used to get annoyed, then I realized that since I’d already read the books, it didn’t matter. True, I only lend books to friends now, and since I also borrow their books, I have hostages. When I really like a book, I force it on people. Recently I practically force-fed James Salter’s Last Night to a friend.

PC: Are you working on something now? Do you mind sharing what it’s about?

I am working on the second draft of my novel. Like all first novels, it’s a thinly veiled autobiography. I don’t usually do drafts. I don’t enjoy rewrites. If it works, it works, if it doesn’t, throw it away. However, I wrote the first draft from beginning to end during a one-month period of unemployment, so I literally did not know where it was going. Now I’m trying to make sense of it, plugging up the holes in the structure and so on.

PC: Do you have any writing rituals?

It’s easier to write when I’ve spent the whole day doing nothing, or things not related to writing. If I have an early-evening deadline, I’ll go out and watch a movie first, or have a coffee with friends. If I can’t think of anything to write, I take a nap, and when I wake up I usually have something in mind.

I prefer to write longhand. I carry a bunch of notebooks around—one for ideas and bits of information, one for my novel, and one for articles, the stuff that pays the bills. When I type up the drafts, I make corrections. Then I press send and forget about them.

PC: What do you say about critics’ claim that you went commercial and, supposedly, sold out?
I’m a professional writer, meaning I write for a living. I don’t teach, work at a newspaper, or write advertising copy; I support myself entirely by selling articles. Selling! My work is by nature commercial.

I think the readers have over-romanticised my career. Maybe they expect writers to live in a garret and starve. Very charming and nineteenth century. I don’t like suffering, and I avoid it as much as I can.

PC: Is there a character that you identify the most with? Who would that be?

Nah, I contain multitudes.

PC: Would you like to meet my brother? (I’m kidding. You probably won’t, unless you like spending your free time in Vegas . . . every year.) Seriously, how does Mr. Right look to you?

What makes you think he’s not sitting in front of me rolling his eyeballs?

PC: Do you fantasize about having children?

No, I don’t like children. I have to be able to take off at a moment’s notice, and you can’t do that if there are spawn.

PC: How do you spoil your cat?

Treats and toys. The weekly dose of catnip. They’re not very cooperative. I buy them a toy from the pet store, and when they see it they plotz over the box and ignore the toy.

PC: Who was (or is) a very influential person to you?

Teodoro Locsin, Jr. (Teddyboy), my former publisher, has been a major influence. I was somewhat nicer before I started writing for Today. Also, he’s a great believer in the classics, but he’s always on the lookout for a well-written thriller.

PC: Where are the Zafras from, originally?

My parents are from Bicol. I was born and raised in Manila. There’s a town in the Extremadura in Spain called Zafra, complete with medieval castle. Never been there.

PC: What have you learned about yourself in the past few years?

That everything turns out the same whether I get worked up about it or not.

PC: What could you have said to Ewan McGregor, in person?

Fire your agent. Get better career advice.

PC: If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would that be, and well, why?

Charles Darwin on the HMS Beagle, researching what would be the most important book ever written.

PC: What is the song of your life?

“Camelot” from Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Editor’s note: Jo Herrera has written for business magazines and taught English and literature at St. Scholastica’s College and De La Salle University in Manila. She has an MA in Creative Writing from UP Diliman. Now based in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Jo is doing research on contemporary Philippine culture.

Article reprinted from PINOYCENTRIC.COM.

SHE IS COMING!

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LEARN HOW TO WRITE STORIES FOR CHILDREN!

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WRITERS DREAM ACADEMY OPENS

The Writers Dream Academy of the Writers Guild is now accepting enrollees to its class offerings this 2007.

A Series of Fortunate Events Writers Workshop Series (Year 2) subjects offered:

A. LEVEL UP!!!

1.) Popular Literature (Ghost Story & Mini-Mystery)
Speaker: Beverly Siy
Date: August 8, 2007
Subject code: GS / MM

2.) Humorous Creative Non-Fiction
Speaker: Alfredo Diaz
Date: September 1, 2007 9AM – 4PM
Subject code: HA

3.) Scriptwriting for Drama on Television
Speaker: Ricardo P. Fernando III
Date: October 6, 2007 2 – 7PM
Subject code: TV

4.) The Personal Essay
Speaker: Jessica Zafra
Date: To be announced (November or December)
Subject code: PE

B.) STARTER KITS (for beginning writers and the plain curious)

1.) Panimula sa Pagsulat ng Sanaysay (Introduction to Essay Writing)
Speaker: Rita T. dela Cruz
Date: August 25, 2007 9AM – 4PM
Subject code: SA

2.) Panimula sa Pagsulat ng Maikling Kuwento (Introduction to the Art of the Short Story)
Speaker: Haidee C. Pineda
Date: September 22, 2007 9AM – 4PM
Subject code: MK

3.) Panimula sa Pagsulat ng Maikling Kuwentong Pambata (Introduction to the Art of Writing Stories for Children)
Speaker: Wennielyn F. Fajilan
Date: October 20, 2007 9AM – 4PM
Subject code: KP

Note:

a.) All sessions will be held at the HR Training Center, SPi Main Building.

b.)Outsiders (non-SPi employees) will be charged Php 125 fee/class. The series is free to all SPi employees.

c.) Attendance to at least any one subject in the list above is required before acceptance to The Personal Essay subject.

Register early! Text (your name)_(class code, email address)_(your Business Unit - if applicable) and send to 0927.447.8781. You can key in multiple subject codes if you are enrolling in more than one class. See you! Enroll now!

A SERIES OF FORTUNATE EVENTS KICKS OFF

The 2nd year of the A Series of Fortunate Events (Writers Workshop Series) opened last August 8, 2007 at the HR Activity Center. Guest speaker was Beverly Siy, fondly called Bebang by her friends in the literary community. She did a workshop on writing Ghost Stories and Mini Mysteries, two of the most widely read topics in the Philippines today.

Owing to the bad weather (Chedeng & Dodong were doing a back-to-back session of their own), attendance was very sparse. In fact, some clubs had to cancel their activities on this day. At any rate, the participants had a wonderful time as their works had the chance to be critiqued personally by Bebang. There really is no dampening the spirit, wit, and gaiety of the speaker herself as she made do with the circumstances at hand.

Bebang is the current President of LIRA, the poets group currently based at the University of the Philippines Creative Writing Center. The fellows of the group train under National Artists like Virgilio Almario, et al. There used to be at least 3 employees from SPi who trained in LIRA. Alma Evita Maniago of CIS is the Guild's scholar to the group this year.

The next session will be on August 25, 2007. The topic will be Panimula sa Pagsulat ng Sanaysay. The guest faculty will be Rita T. dela Cruz. This program is brought to you by the Writers Guild's Writers Dream Academy headed by the Workshop Manager JP Canivel. Please see posters and fliers for details on how to register!

THANK YOU! MARAMING SALAMAT PO!

NEWS FLASH! A repeat of this activity is scheduled on September 30! Also, if you wish to be a certified storyteller, sign up with us for the Alitaptap Certification Training on October 21-22 at the National Library. Actual storytelling will be made before children at the Museong Pambata. The Writers Guild is offering sponsorships (certification fee, food and travel allowance all included). Text SPONSOR(space)YOUR NAME(space) to 0926.622.3359 now!

Writers Guild President Dylan Gozum, Storyteller Ethel Rey, WG Vice President Pia Manzano, Storyteller Posh, and WG Workshop Manager JP Canivel. Not in photo is Poetry Editor Alexander de la Cruz.

The 2nd workshop in the Writers Guild's A Series of Fortunate Events went on without a hitch last September 9 at the HR Training Room. The limited participation was to ensure that each attendee gets to participate fully in the session. The workshop, Book-Based Storytelling, was heavy on tips and performances designed to transform the written word (the short story) into a theatrical piece that is meant to get the full attention of children.

Two members of the famous Alitaptap Storytellers' Club, founded in 1999 in the Museo Pamnbata ng Maynila, were guests speakers. Attendees were a mixed lot of SPi employees and public school teachers from Tagaytay.

Special thanks goes to Ms. Lucy Aguila and staff of the Office of the Corporate Social Responsibility and Misses Ivy and Dhang of Employee Relations. Congratulations are due WG Officers, especially JP Canivel, Writers Guild Workshops Manager. To all participants, thank you! See you all again on the 3rd Series in October.

Mabuhay ang kwento! Long live storytelling!


Three participants act out roles of lolas (grandmothers).

Breathing exercises

Kuya Rey and Ate Posh demonstrate another method of storytelling - the tandem. In this setup, two storytellers go into a choreographed manner of performing and telling a story. It requires skill to come up with a performance that is both engaging and effective.


Rose of HDI makes a high point pose as a "ballet dancer".

Kathyleen and Gil of HDI make a midpoint posture to assume the stance of a "karate master". Postures are essential elements of an engaging storytelling session.



Joseph of HDI tries everything in his power to distract his partner. Focus is an essential element of a good storyteller.

Phem Tipo of SPS introduces her story

"Aaaarrggh! My tooth hurts!" Facial expressions form part of a credible storytelling session.

Group II "paints a portrait" of Juan Luna's Spoliarium and wins!


Prayer meeting? No, they're simulating tree branches!

Our class pictures!


Gil of HDI loves "breaking face", a technique used often in storytelling

Making faces. All's well that ends well.

ONE DOWN, FOUR TO GO!!!

You can click on the photos to enlarge them for better viewing.


We are writers, not models! Enough of the paparazzi!

The Writers Guild's SERIES OF FORTUNATE EVENTS kicked off with a blast last August 26 with Ms. Rica Bolipata-Santos, Ateneo de Manila Professor and Philippine Star columnist, gracing the event as our guest speaker. In attendance were a mix of SPi employees, several Toastmaster guests from around the metro, and 22 teachers from public schools supported by SPi's CSR Office.

The topic, Introduction to Creative Non-Fiction, is the first of a five-workshop series designed to make better writers out of its audience (Do we sense delusions of grandeur here? Hey, we're trying our very best!).

We, the WG Officers, take this opportunity to thank our ER officers Ivy Buenaventura and Dhang Rondael for their support; Via, Angela & Raymond of Corporate Communications for the timely release of our marketing collaterals; the FMG for the physical arranegements; the SPi CSR Office in what could be the beginning of a beautiful partnership (there's more to come pa po!); and all our participants. Special thanks to Espie Vitug and Perps Poblador for coordinating with Metro Manila Toastmasters clubs.

We hope to still count on you until the workshop series closes in December. Cheers!

ACTIVITY EVALUATION SCORE: Pending. Review still ongoing.

Rosemarie Teleron of HDI as she read her piece

Luz Desquitado of Journals shared a touching story to the group

Thoughts on the wall: What the participants brought with them, what they left behind, and what they expect to bring home after the workshop

Mary Grace and Phem from SPS seriously at work on their essays

Busy bees all: Writers Guild's Workshop Manager JP Canivel, Ms. Rica Bolipata-Santos, Guild Vice President Pia Manzano and President Dylan Yap Gozum. Not in photo is Poetry Editor Alexander de Juan

TM Espie Vitug is all smiles during the graduation rites

There's always a time for wacky moments...

All's well that ends well. 'Till the next workshop on September 9!