The first-year Bachelor of Arts in English major in Creative Writing students from the University of the Philippines Mindanao (UP Mindanao) aims to promote their own literary masterpieces from the Creative Writing 100. Valorous Iska and Isko—advocates for social and mental awareness, opponents of oppression and suppression, and voices of the unheard. Paghilom will achieve its goal of stirring renewed interest in original works from the creative writing students bringing together aspiring writers and artists, advocates, and concerned institutions for a worthy cause. Future iterations of this project are encouraged to maintain the momentum for creating writing promotion and to strengthen and highlight the original writing pieces of the students that the project has brought together. We exist for a reason; we write not only to express ourselves but also to confess and protest. We think through our fingers, writing in the moment and in retrospect.
ALOMBRO
Known as a dreamer and believer, Rainess Alombro, also recognized by some as Rain or Rin, is currently a 1st year BA English (Creative Writing) student at UP Mindanao. Before entering university, she was a student journalist and the former editor-in-chief at her old school’s student publication. She also competed as a writer and represented her hometown, Cagayan de Oro City, in various competitions. As an aspiring musician, she hopes to share the beauty and her passion for music in the creative writing field. She wishes to connect the wonders of literature and music to inspire those who are around her. In the depths of the unknown, she wishes to tread the path that’s less taken; the path that leads to sure and indefinite uncertainties.
ARELLANO
As a student of BA English (Creative Writing) in UP Mindanao, Kuya Josh believes this program will hone his artistry in creative writing and empower him to help prove that the Fine Arts is one of the pillars of social change. The current political climate has made him realize that writing is the vanguard of truth that protects the interest of our country. He learned that in order to preserve the principle of truth, we write so that history may not be forgotten. He has also realized that as an artist, he does not want to just make stories–he wants to tell them because, he believes, that is what they deserve. He will pave his track as he embodies the true values of what an Iskolar ng bayan is in the hopes of becoming the avatar of the marginalized and the disadvantaged.
BAYOTAS
A youth advocate, writer, broadcaster, public speaker, leader, and aspiring future lawyer, Yen M. Bayotas is determined to create impactful change as she conquers the world of journalism and creative writing. As she enters the University of the Philippines Mindanao as a first-year student of the Bachelor of Arts in English-Creative Writing, she hopes to enhance her skills more. In the field, she finds herself victorious—writing has been her sanctuary. She believes her role never changed; she has been using her platforms in the media and in social media to voice out, amplifying her voice through meaningful service and advocacy. She was never afraid to take the lead. She exists loudly. Writing as her lethal weapon and her voice as her strength. She continues to inform, inspire, involve, and empower.
BELIMAC
Ever since then, Henri has always considered herself an artist. She finds solace in expression, whether it be dancing, writing, drawing, or art in itself. Words have always been her strongest suit, and like knights with their swords, she always saw her pen as an extension of herself. Henri Belimac is currently a 1st year BA English student at UP Mindanao, she believes that the key to understanding one's psyche is through their thoughts and the words they write. Now, before finally treading her dream path to becoming both a lawyer and forensic psychologist, she aims to return to her roots once more: literature and creative writing.
DELA PIEZA
John Aldwin Dela Pieza, or JA to his friends, is a dedicated journalist who has competed in the feature writing category at various levels of competition, from district to division to regional (NCR). He was also part of the annual Manila Young Writers' Conference and Contest in the same category, representing his city, Malabon City. He is also a placer Filipino feature writer. His forte was writing more short stories, as he loved to play with his imagination. JA wants to create an impact through his methods of writing.
DUMAGUIN
Jela D. Dumaguin, from Padada Davao del Sur, is a first-year BAE creative writing student from the University of the Philippines, Mindanao. In her eighteen years of living, she believes we can create our own legends. She has been in the dark for the past few years, always putting others before herself; however, she has turned into a woman with principles and firm decisions. She graduated in senior high school carrying the crown for fighting against gender-based violence. With humility, she now possessed the courage to speak up little by little. The timid little girl turned into a brave and risk-taking woman. And she aspires to be a catalyst for change as she helps the youth achieve their legend. With that said, she will continue writing for the people. Lagi’t lagi para sa Bayan. "Ako ay Iskolar ng Bayan para maging Iskolar para sa Bayan."
MASOLA
Jazmine Ruth Jamantoc Masola, or more commonly known as Jaz, is a first-year BA English major in creative writing student who pursued this degree not because she wanted to be a lawyer or a teacher but because she had always wanted to pursue a career in creative writing. She is an introvert, and because of this, oftentimes she struggles to convey her emotions and thoughts through spoken words, so she found refuge in something most people find mundane—writing. What she can't say aloud and what she struggles to act out are all written on a piece of paper and hidden away like one of her darkest secrets. As she enters the next phase of her life, she finds herself in a deep pit of grief and is still in the process of learning to let it all go and completely move on so that she may finally find the peace that she’s been desperately looking for.
PANUGAN
Marianne Panugan, as she prefers to be called Yan, is a first-year creative writing student at the University of the Philippines Mindanao. In hopes of being a medical doctor someday, ironically, she pursued a different path everyone did not expect. It was then that she realized she could also be a healer while being a storyteller all at the same time. It was her greatest risk yet—to heal herself through her own stories. Along with her cousins, Yan also co-founded Fields of Emotions, a prose project from her childhood, while ghostwriting under the pen name El. You might want to check it out!
SALVA
The happiest people are always the ones with the most unspoken stories. Despite her known queer demeanor, Katrina Salva’s inner cogs have never truly turned without turbulence. A first-year creative writing student from the University of the Philippines—Mindanao seldom finds herself fighting against the endless mayhem of this imperfect world through the jotting down of her inner voices onto paper, hoping to one day discover a sense of release and contentment that can rival her fear of death. She believes in the saying, "In writing, you must kill all your darlings." But Kat also kills when she writes.
SELGAS
Currently the only not-so-fresh freshman in the BA English department, Czarina, or Cza, as she prefers to be called, spent two years as a BS Computer Science student before realizing that bits and bytes could only get her so far when it came to creativity and expression. To create and to express—whether it be through art, literature, filmmaking, game development, or some other medium—has always been Cza's passion. Storytelling, in particular, is one of her favorite creative outlets—she had been exposed to film and literature at an early age and since then has yearned to let others feel the same wonder that she had felt while reading books, watching films, or even simply seeing a piece of art. Now that she has shifted to a course that aligns more with her aspirations, she hopes to proliferate her literary portfolio and further improve her writing chops. Cza acknowledges that enrolling in the BA English department will not be an easy journey, but then again, if she was going to suffer anyway, why not suffer for something she loved?
YAMAS
Czarina Rae Yamas is a nineteen-year old student-writer from Tagum City. She studies in UP Mindanao under the BA English (Creative Writing) program. Czar typically writes of her innermost feelings and thoughts about the events in her life; verbalizing the things she wants to say most.