3rd Leoncio P. Deriada Conference tackles critical approaches in creative writing education

By Noel Galon de Leon

Educators, writers, and scholars gathered at the UP Visayas Little Theater on April 10–11, 2026, for the 3rd Leoncio P. Deriada Conference on Critical Approaches in Creative Writing Classes, focusing on strengthening the teaching and study of regional literature.

Organized by Hubon Manunulat: West Visayan Writers in partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, UP Visayas Sentro ng Wikang Filipino, UP Visayas Division of Professional Education, UP Visayas Division of Humanities, and National Book Development Board the conference centered on advancing critical and pedagogical approaches to the works of Leoncio P. Deriada. The event highlighted the role of cultural and literary programs in preserving cultural memory, while also pointing to ongoing challenges in accessibility and public engagement beyond academic spaces.

The conference opened with registration and formal ceremonies, including remarks from conference director Dulce Maria V. Deriada, who underscored the importance of regional literature in higher education.

Keynote speaker Dr. Edgar Calabia Samar of Ateneo de Manila University delivered a talk titled “Five Clearings from Where We Stand: On Deriada and the Teaching of Creative Writing,” examining Deriada’s influence on pedagogy.

Academic presentations followed, covering various teaching approaches and critical frameworks. May Anne T. Jaro discussed using “The Coin Divers” in fiction writing instruction, while Noel Galon de Leon introduced digital strategies for promoting Deriada’s works in classrooms.

Afternoon sessions featured teaching demonstrations and critical analyses, including Ma. Cecilia D. Alimen’s discourse analysis of “Pigpen” and Liane Carlo R. Suelan’s exploration of queer themes. Other presenters examined narratology, translation, language development, and the gothic tradition in Deriada’s works.

The second day began with an NBDB Ink to Impact session led by Dr. Jaro, focusing on storytelling in education. John Iremil Teodoro followed with a discussion on new approaches to literary criticism.

Subsequent presentations applied various theoretical lenses, including Marxist-feminist, postcolonial feminist, and intertextual analyses. Afternoon sessions addressed topics such as literary Darwinism, poetry workshop pedagogy, and the relationship between regional identity and urbanization.

The conference concluded with closing remarks by Jonevee B. Amparo, followed by the awarding of winners for the Padya Leoncio P. Deriada para sa Panulatan and the distribution of certificates.

Organizers said the conference aims to strengthen academic discourse and support culturally grounded teaching, ensuring that regional literary traditions continue to shape contemporary education.