TOP SPEAKERS, WRITERS TO GRACE 60TH PHILIPPINE PEN CONGRESS AT UST, NOV. 21-22

The Philippine Center of the International PEN (Poets & Playwrights, Essayists, Novelists) will hold its 60th national conference on Nov. 21-22 at the fourth floor of Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, OP Building (UST Alumni Center) of the University of Santo Tomas, Manila.

Theme of the conference is “Reaffirming the Writer’s Commitment to Truth and Freedom.”

Key speakers include Clodualdo del Mundo Jr., Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, National Artists for Literature F. Sionil José and Bienvenido Lumbera, Charlson Ong, Rony Diaz, Elmer Ordoñez, Virginia Moreno and Cristina PantojaHidalgo. Panel discussions: Poetry: Santiago Villafania, H. Francisco Penones Jr., Alfred “Krip” Yuson, Rebecca Añonuevo, Ericson Acosta

Fiction: Maria L.M. FresFelix, Glenn Diaz, VJ Campilan, Allan Derain, Joselito delos Reyes

Drama/Film: Joshua Lim So, Rogelio Braga, Alberto “Treb” Monteras II, Layeta Bucoy

“Voices of Marawi”: Maimona Magayoong, DiandraDitma Macarambon, German Gervacio, Sorhaila Latip-Yusoph.

Patrons of the 2017 PEN Congress are former Senator Edgardo Angara, Clifford Chance Foundation, De La Salle University Bienvenido N. Santos Creative Writing Center, Galerie Joaquin, Saul Hofileña, PEN International, Philippine Soong Ching Ling Foundation, Ricardo Soler, SM, Solidaridad Bookstore, Swedish International Development Agency, University of Santo Tomas and UST Varsitarian.

The PEN Congress is open to the public.