Meet the minds of Deriada 3 confab

The National Book Development Board (NBDB) and Hubon Manunulat: West Visayan Writers, in cooperation with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Sentro ng Wikang Filipino (SWF), the Division of Humanities, and the Division of Professional Education of the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV), will hold the 3^rd Leoncio P. Deriada Conference on Critical Approaches in Creative Writing Classes on April 10 – 11, 2026 at the UPV Little Theater, Iloilo City Campus.

This is the third of a series of annual conferences on Dr. Leoncio P. Deriada (the Father of Contemporary West Visayan Literature and acknowledged proponent of West Visayan-laced Filipino) and his significant contributions to creative writing and critical practice.

The two previous Deriada Conferences focused on different themes: “Leoncio P. Deriada: Literary Artist, Critic, and Cultural Worker for the Filipino Nation” in 2024 and “Teaching Deriada: Leoncio P. Deriada Conference on Teaching Literature and Language” in 2025.

This year, the conference focuses on the critical and pedagogical approaches for use in creative writing classes in whatever language, including, but not limited to, Deriada’s literary philosophy as may be gleaned from his critical writings and creative works.

SEAWRITE awardee and distinguished scholar and creative writer Dr. Edgar Calabia Samar of the Ateneo de Manila University will deliver the keynote speech.

The paper presenters are: Prof. Ma. Cecilia D. Alimen, Ph.D. (University of San Agustin), “Fairclough’s Critical Discourse Analysis of Leoncio Deriada’s Work ‘Pigpen’” (teaching demonstration); Kharla Dais Brillo (Ateneo de Manila University), “Reframing Narratives and Designing Inclusion: A Project-Based Critique of Deriada’s The Week of the Whales using Postclassical Narratology”; Prof. Noel Galon de Leon (University of the Philippines Visayas), “Pedagohikal na Lapit sa Pagpapakilala kay Deriada sa Klase ng Malikhaing Pagsulat at mga Digital na Estratehiya sa Pagpapalaganap ng Kanyang mga Akda”; Prof. Early Sol A. Gadong (University of the Philippines Visayas), “Hustisya para kay Tya Justa: Employing a Marxist-Feminist Critical Practice in Creative Writing Classes Using Leoncio Deriada’s Duta para sa mga Iskolar sang Banwa”; Dr. Jan Marvin A. Goh, Hjadoeya Calica, and France Andrei Cueta (University of Santo Tomas), “Teaching the G/gothic: Possibility, Pedagogy, and Creative Tension in Leoncio Deriada’s Tree of Terror (1988)”; Prof. May Anne T. Jaro, Ph.D. (University of San Agustin), “From Model Text to Crafted Narrative: Using Leoncio P. Deriada’s ‘The Coin Divers’ in Teaching Fiction Writing to Pre-Service Teachers”; Prof. Schedar D. Jocson (University of the Philippines Diliman), “Pagsasalin, Inhenyeriyang Pangwika, at Pagpapayabong ng Wikang Pambansa mula sa mga Rehiyonal na Wika at Panitikang Rehiyonal: Kaso ng Hiligaynon”; Jay M. Maravilla (Ubaldo L. Conde High School), “The Interplay of Regional Identity and Urbanization in ‘Death of a Street’” (teaching demonstration); Dr. Joy L. Paredes-Castellano (Rufino G. Palabrica Sr. National High School), “Literary Analysis of Leoncio P. Deriada’s Select Short Stories”; Angel Marie Peñano (University of the Philippines Visayas), “Subverting the Western Myth: A Postcolonial Feminist Reading of Leoncio P. Deriada’s Medea of Siquijor”; Liane Carlo R. Suelan (University of the Philippines Mindanao), “Queer Sensibilities in Leoncio P. Deriada’s ‘Manong Paeng’ and ‘Summer in Ventura’”; Prof. Erwin S. Sustento, Ph.D. (University of San Agustin), “Ang Pagtul-id sa mga Teksto, Interteksto at Konteksto ng Binalaybay na ‘Kay Evelio Javier’ ni Leoncio P. Deriada (Anyo ng Malikhaing Pagtuturo)”; Dr. John Iremil Teodoro (De La Salle University Manila), “Ang Bagong Panunuri ni Edith L. Tiempo at ang Pormalismong Gus-abanay ni Leoncio P. Deriada Bilang Gamit na Kritisismo sa San Agustin Writers Workshop”; and Dr. Hazel P. Villa (West Visayas State University), “College Classroom Strategies in Teaching Basic Poetry Using Deriada’s Workshop Techniques” (teaching demonstration).

The Conference will also feature the awarding ceremonies of the second Padya Leoncio P. Deriada para sa Panulatan (Open Category), along with a book sale.

The Conference forms part of the celebration of National Literature Month. Literary scholars, writers, teachers, and students of literature and language are invited to attend this conference.

For details on conference participation, click this link: https://forms.gle/LsBU9u5khQzzLk4ZA