SU welcomes German press for media visit

The Silliman University (SU) College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), through the Culture and Arts Council and the Dr. Edilberto and Edith Tiempo Creative Writing Center (CWC), welcomed a team of German press yesterday, July 8, 2025, for a media visit to the Philippines, aimed at “understanding the diverse culture of the Philippines towards an in-depth and more informed media coverage of our country’s literary works, oral traditions, arts, and cultural expressions.”

This is part of the country’s commitment as Guest of Honor (GOH) at this year’s Frankfurt Book Fair, in accordance with the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Frankfurter Buchmesse (FBM) GmbH.

Dr. Alana Leilani C. Narciso, CAS associate dean and incoming CAS dean, spearheaded the brief discussion about SU’s enduring legacy in literary arts, particularly its annual Silliman University National Writers Workshop (SUNWW), founded in 1962.

The conversation touched on SUNWW founders Edilberto and Edith Tiempo, the IOWA influence, luminaries and writers it has produced over the years, the workshop format, among other things. It also touched on criticisms and how the workshop continues shape the direction of literature in the Philippines.

Together with Narciso were Dr. Joan C. Generoso, Department of English and Literature chair; Kaycee L. Melon, CWC coordinator; and the SUNWW secretariat team.

This is the second batch of international media visit deployed by FBM. This year’s team includes Lisa-Marie Berndt, Monopol Magazine editor for arts and culture; Ulrike Bremer; Lennart Laberenz, freelance art and literature critic; Susanne Lenz, Monopol Berliner Zeitung/Frankfurter Rundschau editor for arts and culture; Stephanie von Oppen, Deutschlandfunk Kultur literature editor and reporter for culture; Andreas Platthaus, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) literature and literary life editor; and Alexander Floth, FAZ media coordinator and Artefakt Kulturkonzepte partner.

The German delegates were joined by Philippine members and representatives of both the Philippines-Guest of Honor (PHL-GoH), the National Book Development Board (NBDB), and the Office of Senator Loren Legarda, including Aurea B. Lopez, PHL-GoH at the Frankfurt Book Fair director; Neni Sta. Romana-Cruz, PHL-GoH Translation Committee head; Rosa Victoria Sevilla, Senate Asst. Protocol service chief; Loen M. Vitto, PHL-GoH Cultural Program coordinator; Maria Karen Capino, PHL-GoH Head of Communications; Alex Ignacio, PHL-GoH coordinator; and Gillian Reyes, NBDB staff. Prior to the meeting, they toured around the campus headed by the Silliman University Corps of Campus Ambassadors.

After the discussion, the guests proceeded to Libraria at 58 EJ Blanco for another round of conversation with the Buglas Writers Guild (BWG), Negros Oriental’s group of writers.