Writing is more than a technical competence; it requires understanding, observation, intention, and clarity. In an age where artificial intelligence increasingly shapes how we communicate and express ourselves, the act of writing becomes a commitment to preserving the human voice. The Bansay Iliyan Writing Fellowship (BIWF) was established to promote and showcase Iligan beyond its flaws and negativity—to present the city through a creative lens, revealing that even amid its struggles, there are cultures, literary traditions, voices, and stories waiting to be discovered.
“Writers work for the education of the soul,” Dr. Elio Garcia said. For writers who seek to portray the realities of marginalized, oppressed, deprived, and unjustly treated, writing requires more than the ability to put words on paper or stringing together profound expressions to sound poetic. Rather, it is about being intentional and conscious of what they portray, ensuring that the writer's message is accessible to readers who encounter it. It is through a writer's generosity and clarity that readers are invited to understand, feel, and experience the realities conveyed through words.
Sir Gutierrez “Teng” Mangansakan III also emphasized literature’s role beyond entertainment. “Literature and films are only doings of entertainment or a pastime, but literature is a system where we can articulate oppression,” he remarked. Through literature, writers can challenge existing narratives, confront uncomfortable truths, and provide space for experiences that are not always expressed freely in everyday life. Yet, this freedom comes with the responsibility to remain conscious and disciplined before immortalizing emotions and perspectives. Writers must be clear about what they want to communicate. A good poem, after all, must be clear about the poet's intentions and grounded in self-awareness.
When writing beyond personal experiences, writers must exercise caution, conduct research, and approach other people's realities with sensitivity. Without sufficient understanding and empathy, writers risk misrepresentation, appropriation, or speaking over the very people whose stories they intend to tell. Writers must therefore learn to look deeper into humanity while remaining accountable for the stories they choose to tell.
Writing as an Act of Rebellion
Literature allows readers to experience lives, emotions, and perspectives beyond their immediate realities. Yet, meaningful stories are not always found in distant places or extraordinary circumstances.
Ma'am Saturnina Bebot Rodil emphasized the importance of attentiveness and emotional awareness in writing. “You need to awaken your senses when you write. Being aware of our vulnerabilities and hurt is great because in writing we must have the capacity to write and embrace about pain,” she stated. Recognizing personal vulnerabilities and confronting difficult emotions can become valuable sources of literary expression. Still, writers must learn to examine what they feel, understand what they wish to convey, and recognize which details deserve to become part of the narrative.
During the discussion, one fellow raised a question: “Does a writer really need to have a personal experience to be able to write about a certain topic?”
Writing does not always require firsthand experience, but it demands a willingness to understand experiences beyond our own. Through empathy, research, and careful observation, writers can begin to recognize the realities of others without claiming to know them entirely. Finding one’s voice also involved rewriting, questioning, and discovering the courage to express what we truly mean.
A Writer’s Ability To Connect
“The most intimate piece you’ll ever read makes you feel at present,” Niel Arkhe Azcuna said. In writing, connecting with readers is just as important as expressing oneself. Beyond recounting personal experiences, writers must create an experience that allows readers to become immersed in the emotions, experiences, and realities carried by the words.
Mangansakan shared how cinema taught him to appreciate duration and the value of taking time to observe. Not every story needs to unfold through a succession of dramatic events to become worth telling. Cinema taught him how to see, while writing taught him how to give meaning and description to what he sees. His reflection reminds writers that even the most ordinary moments can hold stories worth telling. Sometimes, all we need is the patience to notice them.
The fellowship also highlighted the importance of preserving local languages and cultural identities. Atty. Leo Zaragoza expressed his deep passion for and commitment to preserving our mother tongues, emphasizing that native languages should not be regarded as inferior forms of literary expression. He also pointed out how the preference for English in literary works can reinforce the perception that writing in one’s own language is less valuable.
During the discussion, Mx. Sam Adlaon, BIWF Head Secretariat, observed, “People define your intelligence by how proficient you are in English.” This perception reflects the influence of Western standards on how intelligence and literary competence are often measured. In response, Zaragoza encouraged contemporary writers to reclaim their original voices and take pride in the languages and identities they were born into.
“Ang tinuod nga manunulat mapadayag ang tinuod gamit ang pulong nga naa sa iyang kasingkasing,” Zaragoza remarked.
Education of the Soul
Becoming a writer begins with becoming a reader. This extends beyond reading books to observing people, understanding complex situations, and recognizing stories unfolding in everyday life. Sometimes, becoming a better writer means allowing ourselves to step away from the paper and experience the very things we wish to write about.
As Rodil put it, “Writing is a self-reflective journey.” Writers must allow themselves to observe, experience, and understand the world before attempting to capture it through words.
The fellowship also underscored the responsibility of contemporary writers to confront realities beyond conventional subjects. One fellow reflected on how writers today explore social issues and the conditions that shape human experiences, emphasizing the importance of bringing clarity rather than confusion to readers. Writing, therefore, is not merely an expression of one's thoughts; it can also be a means of confronting uncomfortable truths, questioning society, and making sense of the world.
This responsibility was further emphasized by Ma'am Diandra Ditma Macarambon powerfully, who reminded the fellows, “If you don’t want to be misrepresented, then you better write your own story.” Her statement highlighted the importance of reclaiming one’s voice and taking ownership of one’s experiences rather than allowing others to define them. As young and emerging writers, the fellows were encouraged to explore unfamiliar perspectives, step beyond their established ways of writing, and remain open to experiences that could deepen their understanding of the world.
Before the fellowship concluded, however, one statement left a lasting impression on the fellows. “Writing is a commitment because wala may madato ani,” Azcuna remarked. His statement acknowledged that pursuing writing may not guarantee financial security, but its value extends beyond material wealth. Writers may not earn as much as engineers, technicians, or scientists, but they contribute something equally essential: they help make a country livable and meaningful. We may be able to program robots, develop technologies, and invent new medications, but without the ethics, morals, empathy, compassion, and creativity that the humanities cultivate, what good is progress if we lose sight of the very people it is supposed to serve?
As Sir Hermi Dico stated, “A civilization is not remembered by its economic growth, but by the literature it produces.” Science and technology may advance a nation, but the arts and humanities give that advancement meaning by reminding people of the values, identities, and human experiences that should remain at its center.
Ultimately, the fellowship challenged its fellows to recognize that writing is both a craft and a responsibility. To write meaningfully is to observe closely, understand deeply, and communicate with intention. As the final reminder expressed during the fellowship put it, “To be able to write freely, we must have the courage to be ready.”
Written by Lavern Montalban
Proofread by Fame Orong
Photo by Lavern Montalban
Layout by Martina Real
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