Deriada Conference on Literature and Cultural Work set for April 19

The first “Leoncio P. Deriada Conference on Literature and Cultural Work” will be conducted by Hubon Manunulat: West Visayan Writers on April 19, 2024, Friday, at the UPV Cinematheque, Iloilo City Campus, in celebration of its tenth anniversary, in cooperation with the Division of Humanities of University of the Philippines Visayas.

The conference aims to highlight the noteworthy contributions on a national scale of Leoncio P. Deriada in the fields of creative writing, literary criticism, and cultural work. Known as the Father of Contemporary West Visayan Literature, Deriada has influenced writers not only from/in West Visayas but also beyond it, particularly through his cultural and critical work, as seen in his Home Life literary column, whose publications and annual literary contests featured now well-respected writers such as German Gervacio from Mindanao and Michael Coroza from Luzon, aside from John Iremil Teodoro from Visayas, among others.

The theme of the conference is “Leoncio P. Deriada: Literary Artist, Critic, and Cultural Worker for the Filipino Nation.” The keynote speaker is National Artist for Literature Virgilio S. Almario. Among the paper presenters are SEAWRITE awardee John Iremil Teodoro and National Book Award for Literary Criticism recipient Isidoro M. Cruz.

Aside from these and other paper presentations by emerging scholars, the short film Dog Eaters, based on Leoncio P. Deriada’s short story and drama and directed by Kevin Pison Piamonte, will also be screened.

The Deriada Conference coincides with the 7th year of the Iloilo Mega Book Fair (IMBF) organized by Kasingkasing Press and Book Latte. All attendees of the conference will have the opportunity to be part of the annual IMBF, where writers from within and outside Western Visayas gather. This year, participants will be joined by poet Marjorie Evasco who will launch her book It Is Time to Come Home: New and Collected Poems (Milflores Publishing) on April 20, 2024. During the book launch, Dr. Evasco will give a short lecture on “Reciprocal Listening: Writing and Reading Poetry.” The event is open to all.

For registration details, one may visit the Facebook page of Kasingkasing Press.