๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ก๐ฒ๐๐
๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ญ ๐๐: ๐
๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ง ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐ฒ
๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ญ ๐๐: ๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ง ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐ฒ
Retired UP Department of Speech Communication and Theatre Arts (DSCTA) professor Antoinette Bass Hernandez wiped away tears as she remembered National Artist for Theater Antonio โTonyโ O. Mabesa, founder of Dulaang Unibersidad ng Pilipinas (DUP).
As a teenager, Hernandez starred in the 1976 DUP version of Luigi Pirandello’s ๐๐๐ฅ ๐ถโ๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐โ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ด๐ข๐กโ๐๐ with Laurice Guillen, Angie Ferro, Cris Vertido, Amihan Bonifacio Ramolete, and Alexander Cortez. She remembered Mabesa as demanding during rehearsals and productions, but paternal and encouraging outside of work.
The exchange took place during a daylong celebration of DUPโs 50th anniversary at Villamor Hall (UP Theater), UP Diliman, on Oct. 19.
The program opened with Parada ng Singkwenta at the UP Theater Front Lawn. Lectures and a roundtable followed under CAL Bahaginan: Fifty Years of Dulaang UP.
National Artist for Literature Nicanor G. Tiongson, the eventโs guest of honor, opened the forum with Dulaang UP @ 50: Looking Back into the Future.
Tiongson named directors, playwrights, performers, designers, technical theatre workers, teachers, and cultural workers who had passed through Dulaang UP and pursued their work elsewhere.
Among them was BJ Borja, a graduate of the UP DSCTA and founder of the Biรฑan Youth Performance Council Inc. (YPC). Founded in 2005, YPC later became the official theater arm of the Biรฑan City Center for Performing Arts Inc. in Laguna.
Tiongson cited Borjaโs work in Biรฑan while discussing how university theatre training had reached other communities. He also spoke about the use of Western forms in Philippine theatre.
Filipino artists could appropriate foreign influences, Tiongson said, but should examine them carefully rather than simply reproduce them. He referred to Mao Zedongโs 1956 speech ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐๐ , which called for achievements in foreign literature and art to be studied โwith an analytical and critical eyeโ rather than copied indiscriminately or transplanted mechanically.
Tiongson later extended the discussion to artificial intelligence. Artists, he said, should be more discerning and responsible in their decisions about their work.
In the second lecture, “The University as Theatre,” Jerry C. Respeto, artistic director of Aretรฉ at Ateneo de Manila University, mapped and discussed issues surrounding campus companies nationwide. Respeto has served as Aretรฉโs artistic director since June 2024.
The afternoon roundtable, Five Decades of Dulaang UP, brought together Hernandez; former artistic director Banaue Miclat-Janssen; current artistic director and DSCTA assistant professor Robert Arlo B. De Guzman; BA Theatre Arts program head and Dulaang UP resident dramaturg Jonas Gabriel M. Garcia; and DSCTA instructor Lee Lim.
Professor and former DSCTA chair Sir Anril P. Tiatco moderated the discussion.
Roselle V. Pineda, UP College of Arts and Letters associate dean for research, creative work, extension, and publication, represented Dean Jimmuel C. Naval and delivered the closing remarks.
Mabesa founded DUP in 1976 as the production arm of UP DSCTA. Its first season included Shakespeareโs ๐๐ข๐โ ๐ด๐๐ ๐ด๐๐๐ข๐ก ๐๐๐กโ๐๐๐ and ๐ด๐๐ ๐ต๐ข๐๐๐๐ by National Artist for Theatre Amelia Lapeรฑa-Bonifacio. The company has since mounted more than 180 productions.
DUP and its extension, UP Playwrights’ Theatre, staged works by National Artists for Literature Nick Joaquin and Bienvenido Lumbera, and National Artists for Theater Severino Montano, Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero and Lapeรฑa-Bonifacio, alongside plays and adaptations by Rody Vera, Anton Juan, Boy Noriega, Rene Villanueva, Joi Barrios, Butch Dalisay, Floy Quintos, Nicholas Pichay, Chris Martinez, and Chris Millado.
Guerreroโs work at UP preceded DUP’s establishment. But his plays later entered the companyโs repertoire, and the Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theater became its principal venue for many years.
National Artist for Theatre and Literature Rolando S. Tinio, National Artist for Theatre Design Salvador F. Bernal, and National Artist for Cinema Ishmael Bernal were among the company’s earliest collaborators and guest artists.
Directors whose work shaped its history included Behn Cervantes, Anton Juan, Amiel Leonardia, Alexander Cortez, Ogie Juliano, Josรฉ Estrella, and Dexter M. Santos.
Set and costume designer John Carlo V. Pagunaling, curator of the UP CAL Rogelio Juliano, Jr. Laboratory for Theatre Costume, now teaches at DSCTA. Pagunaling received PHILSTAGE Gawad Buhay awards for outstanding costume design for ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ด๐๐๐๐ in 2014, ๐ป๐๐๐๐๐: ๐ผ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐ in 2019, and ๐ด๐๐๐ ๐ท๐๐ก๐ข in 2023. His designs for ๐ด๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐ were exhibited at World Stage Design 2017 in Taipei.
DUP opens its 49th Theatre Season with ๐น๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐ฆ ๐๐ข๐๐๐ก๐๐ , adapted by Andrew Estacio and directed by Estrella. The production draws from National Artist for Literature Virgilio S. Almarioโs Filipino translation of ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ฬ๐๐๐๐๐. It runs from Oct. 23 to Nov. 15 at the IBG-KAL Theatre in UP Diliman.
The season continues from February to March 2027 with ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐, a new play by Guelan Varela-Luarca based on and inspired by ๐ธ๐ ๐น๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐ ๐๐. Santos directs the production at the same venue.
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฐ๐๐ง, ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐, ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ๐๐ฒ: ๐๐ง๐ข๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ง๐ฌ๐๐ ๐ง๐ข ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ญ ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐๐ก๐
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฐ๐๐ง, ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐, ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ๐๐ฒ: ๐๐ง๐ข๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ง๐ฌ๐๐ ๐ง๐ข ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ญ ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐๐ก๐
LUNGSOD QUEZON, Okt. 17, 2026 โ Pormal nang inilunsad ni Dr. Reuel Molina Aguila ang ๐๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ก ๐๐๐ข๐๐โ๐ sa UP College of Arts and Letters nitong Sabado.
Nagtatampok ang coffee table book ng 100 larawan ng mga ibon, 100 tula, at 100 salaysay hinggil sa pagkuha ng bawat larawan. Kabilang din sa publikasyon ang mahigit 100 karagdagang litrato sa loob ng higit 200 makukulay na pahina.
Si Aguila ay Hall of Famer ng Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature (2009), at propesor sa UP Departamento ng Filipino at Panitikan ng Pilipinas. Ginawaran siya ng Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas ng Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas (UMPIL) noong 2004.
Matagal nang bahagi ng kanyang gawain ang bird photography. Sa ๐๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ก ๐๐๐ข๐๐โ๐, pinagsama niya ang pagkuha ng larawan at pagsusulat sa isang aklat na nakatuon sa mga ibon at sa mga karanasang kaugnay ng paghahanap at pagdodokumento sa mga ito.
๐๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ข๐๐ง ๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ง๐๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐๐ญ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ค ๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐ง ๐๐จ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ก๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐๐ง ๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐
๐๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ข๐๐ง ๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ง๐๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐๐ญ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ค ๐๐ฒ
๐๐๐๐ง ๐๐จ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ก๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐๐ง ๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐
๐๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ข๐๐ง ๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ง๐๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐๐ญ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ค ๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐ง ๐๐จ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ก๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐๐ง ๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐
โ
The University of the Philippines Press and the Asian Center, UP Diliman held a book talk for “n e (i) t h e r : poems on passions and peregrinations” by Dr. Noel Christian Moratilla on Oct. 13, 2026, at the UP Asian Center Seminar Room.
โMoratilla, Dean and Professor of the UP Diliman Asian Center, and TriCollege Ph.D. Philippine Studies Program Chairperson, discussed the experiences that inspired the poetry collection.
โUP College of Arts and Letters Assistant Professor of Creative Writing Kit Kwe joined Moratilla to address the book’s context and themes. Dr. Ariel Lopez moderated the discussion.
๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ข๐จ ๐๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐
๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ข๐จ ๐๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐
QUEZON CITY โ National Artist for Literature and UP College of Arts and Letters (CAL) Professor Emeritus and former Dean (2003-2006; 2006-2009) Virgilio S. Almario (Rio Alma) headlined the third installment of the Parolang Ginto lecture series on Monday, September 28, 2026, at the UP Vargas Museum, drawing a full house of scholars, artists, teachers, and literary enthusiasts.
Co-hosted by the UP CAL and the UP Vargas Museum in partnership with SENTRO LUMBERA, the afternoon symposium celebrated the enduring legacy and critical contributions of the late National Artist and UP Departamento ng Filipino at Panitikan ng Pilipinas Professor Emeritus Bienvenido Lumbera.
Dean Jimmuel Naval and Curator Tessa Guazon graced the academic gathering. Also in attendance were Bienvenido Lumberaโs children and grandchildren, who paid tribute to the late critic, playwright, and poet alongside former students, colleagues, and friends.
Adding artistic resonance to the literary commemoration, performers from the Concerned Artists of the Philippines (CAP) delivered powerful musical numbers during the ceremony.
The event served as the third installment of the Parolang Ginto lecture series, offering a vibrant platform for discourse on Philippine arts, letters, and national identity.
๐๐ข๐ญ๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ ๐๐ข๐ฆ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐: ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ก ๐๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ค๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฌ
๐๐ข๐ญ๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ ๐๐ข๐ฆ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐: ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ก ๐๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ค๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฌ
NASUGBU, Batangas โ The Likhaan: University of the Philippines Institute of Creative Writing opened the 65th UP National Writers Workshop in Nasugbu, hosted in partnership with Guang Ming College. The workshop is led by UP ICW Director Dr. Vladimeir B. Gonzales and Workshop Director Dr. Eugene Y. Evasco.
The program brings together a batch of fellows working across English and Filipino divisions. This year’s public lecture program, the PAN Series, is themed โMalikhaing Pagsulat sa Panahon ng Pakikibakaโ (Creative Writing in a Time of Struggle).
The roster for the 65th edition includes:
Filipino Division: Gerome Nicolas Dela Peรฑa (Nobela); Andrew Clete and Amanda Socorro L. Echanis (Dula); Pia C. Montalban (Tula); Hyll Mendoza (Creative Nonfiction); and Mubarak M. Tahir (Creative Nonfiction).
English Division: Allene Allanigue (Novel); Jan Dennis S. Destajo (Poetry); Gita Labrador (Poetry); Trish Shishikura (Poetry); Nelson Dino (Creative Nonfiction); and Leonard Javier (Creative Nonfiction).
Since 1965, the workshop centers on manuscript critique sessions led by a panel of writers and scholars from the UP ICW.
Programming also includes public lectures and cultural presentations, featuring a staged reading of โSinapupunan ng Digmaan,โ a one-act play by fellow Amanda Socorro L. Echanis, performed with the Guang Ming Theatre Ensemble.
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐. ๐๐๐๐: ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ฬ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐
๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐. ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐. ๐๐๐๐: ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ฬ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐. ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
Malacaรฑang has announced that Saturday, September 12, 2026, will be observed as a Day of National Mourning for the late National Artist for Literature and UP College of Arts and Letters Ph.D. alumnus Dr. Resil B. Mojares.
Under Proclamation No. 1434, signed by the President, the national flag will fly at half-mast from sunrise to sunset on all government buildings and installations across the country and abroad on the day of his funeral.
Mojares, who died on September 5, 2026, at age 83, was honored for his outstanding contributions as a teacher, scholar, essayist, fictionist, and historian. His work significantly promoted regional literature, local history, and the development of Binisaya and national identity.
After earning his BA and MA degrees from the University of San Carlos, Mojares obtained his Ph.D. in English (Literature) from the UP College of Arts and Sciences (now divided into several collegesโCAL, College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, College of Science) in 1979. He was later named a National Artist of the Philippines for Literature in 2018.
Proclamation No. 1434 emphasized that his passing is a loss to the Filipino people and the nationโs cultural and artistic community. The September 12 observance enables the entire country to come together in mourning, remembrance, and tribute to his lasting legacy.
๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ง ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐ข ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ก ๐
๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ณ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ง๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ฌ
๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ง ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐ข ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ก ๐ ๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ณ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ง๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ฌ
๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฌ; ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฆ๐จ๐ง๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐
๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฌ;
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฆ๐จ๐ง๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐
๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฌ; ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฆ๐จ๐ง๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐
Thirty-one faculty members, former faculty members, and alumni from the UP College of Arts and Letters (UP CAL) have been officially appointed to the UP Arts Productivity System (APS) for Cycle Years 2023โ2025 and 2024โ2026.
The announcement comes ahead of the official awarding ceremonies for the UP APS Awards, scheduled for August 14, 2026, from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM at the Atencio-Libunao Hall, UP Diliman. Organized by the Office of the President (OP) and the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs (OVPAA), the event honors artists whose work enriches the University’s cultural and intellectual landscape, celebrating distinction and the UP tradition of honor, excellence, and service.
The UP Board of Regents (BOR) approved the appointments during its 1409th meeting on May 27, 2026, following the recommendations of the APS Council, UP President Angelo A. Jimenez, and Vice President for Academic Affairs Lorraine Pe Symaco.
Established in December 2008, the APS recognizes outstanding productivity in the creative arts and arts scholarship. Appointees bear the title of “UP Artist” and receive annual monetary awards for three years, tiered at โฑ150,000 for Artist I, โฑ200,000 for Artist II, and โฑ250,000 for Artist III, backed by a total allocated funding of โฑ24,900,000.00 for the 2023โ2026 period.
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ถ๐ด๐ฟ-๐ด๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ด๐๐ก๐๐ ๐ก๐
CY 2023โ2025 Cohort
New Applications:
Ma. Cecilia Dela Rosa โ UP Artist I (Theatre Arts, Literature)
Roselle V. Pineda โ UP Artist I (TV/Radio/Digital Media)
Elyrah L. Salanga-Torralba โ UP Artist I (Literature)
Oscar T. Serquiรฑa Jr. โ UP Artist I (Theatre Arts)
Maree Barbara M. Tan-Tiongco โ UP Artist I (Theatre Arts)
Amparo Adelina III C. Umali (UPD CIS) โ UP Artist II (Theatre Arts)
Emmanuel V. Dumlao (UP Los Baรฑos) โ UP Artist I (TV/Radio/Digital Media, Theatre Arts, Literature)
Retention:
Raniela E. Barbaza โ UP Artist I (Literature)
Ma. Amihan Bonifacio-Ramolete โ UP Artist I (Theatre Arts)
U Z. Eliserio โ UP Artist I (Literature)
Sir Anril P. Tiatco โ UP Artist I (Theatre Arts)
Vladimeir B. Gonzales โ UP Artist II (Theatre Arts, Literature)
Patrick F. Campos (UPD CMC) โ UP Artist II (Film)
CY 2024โ2026 Cohort
New Applications:
Sydney Paige P. Guerrero โ UP Artist I (Literature)
Mark Louie L. Lugue โ UP Artist I (Visual Arts)
John Carlo V. Pagunaling โ UP Artist II (Theatre Arts)
Jay Jomar F. Quintos โ UP Artist II (Literature)
Dayang Magdalena Nirvana T. Yraola (UPD CFA) โ UP Artist I (Visual Arts)
Dennis Andrew S. Aguinaldo (UP Los Baรฑos) โ UP Artist I (Literature)
Cris R. Lanzaderas (UP Los Baรฑos) โ UP Artist I (Film, Literature)
Liwliwa N. Malabed (UP Los Baรฑos) โ UP Artist I (Literature)
John E. Barrios (UP Visayas) โ UP Artist I (Literature)
Retention:
Cecilia S. De La Paz โ UP Artist I (Visual Arts)
Arbeen R. Acuรฑa โ UP Artist I (Literature)
Dexter M. Santos โ UP Artist II (Theatre Arts)
Ferdinand P. Jarin (UP Visayas) โ UP Artist II (Literature)
Will P. Ortiz โ UP Artist II (Literature)
Eugene Y. Evasco โ UP Artist III (Literature)
Eulalio III R. Guieb (UPD CMC) โ UP Artist III
(Film, TV/Radio/Digital Media, Theatre Arts, Literature)
Roland B. Tolentino (UPD CMC) โ UP Artist III (Film, Literature)
From the UP Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs:
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/19K1bCddVW/?mibextid=wwXIfr
๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ง๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฒ: ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐ก ๐๐๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฒโ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐๐จ๐ง๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ญ๐ก
๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ง๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฒ: ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐ก ๐๐๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฒโ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐๐จ๐ง๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ญ๐ก
When Dr. Jose Brittanio โBrixโ S. Pujalte Jr. takes the helm at the Department of Health (DOH) this month, he will arrive with the conventional credentials of his predecessors: decades of orthopedic surgery, a masterโs degree in hospital administration, and a long tenure as the chief of a major medical center. Yet, the intellectual framework he brings to the cabinet office was not forged in a clinical laboratory or a surgical suite.
It was formed in 1984, in the classrooms of theUP College of Arts and Letters, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities.
Part of a pre-med program then housed within the Department of Humanities Art Studies UP Dilimanan), Dr. Pujalteโs undergraduate years were defined by critical inquiry. For the new Secretary, that early immersion in the arts serves as the foundation for his medical practice.
โHe has always seen the human experience as the primary text of his work,โ said UP CAL Alumni Association Co-Chair Chyn San Juan. โHe used arts and humanities as a lens to understand the bodies he would eventually heal.โ
One of Dr. Pujalte’s mentors was Professor Felipe M. de Leon, Jr., who served as Chair of the Department of Humanities from 1976-82. Later, he became Chair of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) from 2010 to 2016.
This orientation is evident in Dr. Pujalteโs writing, most notably in Boning Down: Orthopaedic Juvenilia and Other Unusual Essays. In the collection, he treats the hospital as a cultural landscape rather than merely a site of technical intervention. His prose bridges the gap between the sterile environment of the operating room and the realities of human life.
That perspective defined his leadership during his 12-year tenure as Medical Center Chief of the Philippine Orthopedic Center (POC). While his office oversaw the facility’s modernization, including the 2022 opening of a six-story clinical building, Dr. Pujalte maintained a focus on the patient experience. He argued that the hospital’s physical infrastructure was inseparable from the dignity of those it served, a philosophy rooted in the lessons of his humanities education.
His career, spanning roles as president of the ASEAN Orthopaedic Association and the Philippine Orthopedic Association, is characterized by technical exactitude. A pioneer in shoulder and spine surgery, he operates within a subspecialty that demands precision. However, his elevation to the top of the health department comes at a time when the agency is struggling to maintain public trust.
As the government moves to implement the Universal Health Care law, Dr. Pujalte faces the logistical and bureaucratic challenges that have confronted previous administrations. His background as a student of culture provides a capacity for narrative-driven communication. In an era where health policy is often obscured by technical jargon, Dr. Pujalte is expected to favor a more nuanced approachโone that prioritizes the patientโs perspective within the broader health ecosystem.
His transition to the DOH, following the resignation of Dr. Teodoro Herbosa, places him at a juncture for the Philippine health sector. Whether this perspective can withstand the pressure of a strained national health system remains to be seen. But for a surgeon who spent his formative years analyzing the human condition, the task at the Department of Health is the continuation of a career dedicated to the intersection of the technical and the human.
For Dr. Pujalte, the journey from CAL to the cabinet is an attempt to treat the state of the nationโs health with the same deliberate, interdisciplinary attention he once applied to the humanities
Department of Health (DOH)
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฌ (๐๐๐) ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐
๐ข๐ฅ๐ฆ ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ฎ๐ญ๐, ๐ก๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐ฒ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฌ๐ก ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐.
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฌ (๐๐๐) ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฆ ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ฎ๐ญ๐, ๐ก๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐ฒ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฌ๐ก ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐.
How does a university celebrate its cultural producers while structurally displacing them?
For this yearโs ceremonies, theatre designer and Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts John Carlo Pagunaling bypasses decorative protocol to debut a mobile installation: ๐ต๐๐๐ค๐๐ก. It is a spatial intervention that lays bare the exact material condition of the humanities in the contemporary academy.
๐ต๐๐๐ค๐๐กโa vernacular corruption of the English “evacuate”โdesignates the subject displaced by military conflict, ecological catastrophe, or state enclosure.
Pagunaling maps this category of uprooting directly onto the institutional body of the UP College of Arts and Letters (CAL). As a primary cradle of national humanistic production, CAL boasts an intellectual lineage that includes 19 National Artists. Yet, this cultural pedigree stands in stark contrast to a ten-year condition of institutional vagrancy.
Since the 2016 fire that gutted the UP Faculty Centerโobliterating decades of irreplaceable archives and academic sanctuariesโCALโs faculty and student body have existed in a state of prolonged internal exile, distributed across transient enclaves. The ๐ต๐๐๐ค๐๐ก trope is no longer an external socio-political referent; it has become CAL’s lived reality.
This confrontation with structural precarity is a direct continuation of Pagunalingโs design methodology. His past work consistently positions material culture at the intersection of popular idiom and systemic dislocationโwhether anchoring the economic desperation of the urban lumpenproletariat in Bona (2012), transforming post-disaster debris into a functional framework for Rak of Aegis (2014), or navigating geopolitical conflict in Anak Datu (2022).
With ๐ต๐๐๐ค๐๐ก, he moves from the proscenium arch to social sculpture.
The bamboo installation is built to be mobile and deliberately, will be routed through the grove between UP Vargas Museum and the Faculty Commons, along the U.P Academic Oval. Originally slated to mitigate the infrastructure deficits of displaced CAL departments, the new FC has been designated by the administration as the future headquarters for certain University of the Philippines System and UP Diliman bureaucracies.
This bureaucratic enclosure of space prioritizes managerial architecture over the infrastructure of humanistic pedagogy.
By physically introducing ๐ต๐๐๐ค๐๐ก into this disputed topography, Pagunaling utilizes scenography to disrupt bureaucratic transparency. The mobile installation forces a direct, physical encounter between a nomadic academic community and the expanding apparatus of university governance.
๐ต๐๐๐ค๐๐ก functions as an active archive of institutional trauma, rendering visible the systemic precarity hidden behind the rhetoric of academic excellence. The humanities cannot be abstractly canonized by an institution that structurally marginalizes their physical execution.
This is not a piece of ceremonial decor. It is an unaccommodated demand for space, memory, and structural rectitude.
#UPD #UPCAL #GawadBuhay #ScenographyAsCritique #PhilippineTheater #InstitutionalMemory
๐๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ข๐ฌ๐ก ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐ก๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐ฌ๐ข๐โ๐ฌ ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐๐ง๐๐
Mula sa UP Diliman:
โStudies made by historians, scholars, and researchers of the Spanish Pacific and the Galleon system, particularly from the 1400s to the 1800s, conclude that โthe center of the world is not the Atlantic but Asia, particularly China.โ
โThis was revealed at the international conference, The Spanish Philippines: First International Conference of the Society for Early Transpacific Studies, which the UP Diliman Department of European Languages (DEL) recently hosted.โ
Read the article at https://upd.edu.ph/spanish-pacific-studies-conference-highlights-asias-historical-dominance/.
๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐๐ ๐ง๐๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐โ๐๐๐๐
๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐๐ ๐ง๐๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐โ๐๐๐๐
QUEZON CITY โ Thirty-one faculty members, former faculty members, and alumni from the UP College of Arts and Letters (CAL) were appointed to the UP Arts Productivity System (APS) for Cycle Years (CY) 2023โ2025 and CY 2024โ2026.
The UP Board of Regents (BOR) approved the appointments during its 1409th meeting on May 27, 2026, following the recommendations of the APS Council, UP President Angelo A. Jimenez, and Vice President for Academic Affairs Lorraine Pe Symaco.
The APS was established in December 2008 to recognize outstanding productivity in the creative arts and arts scholarship. Appointees receive the title of “UP Artist” alongside annual monetary awards for three years: โฑ150,000 for Artist I, โฑ200,000 for Artist II, and โฑ250,000 for Artist III.
The total funding allocated for the 2023โ2026 period is โฑ24,900,000.00.
The CAL-affiliated faculty members, researchers, and alumni included in the official roster are categorized by their award cycles, application types, and artistic disciplines:
๐๐ ๐๐๐๐โ๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐ฐ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ
Ma. Cecilia Dela Rosa โ UP Artist I (Theatre Arts, Literature)
Roselle V. Pineda โ UP Artist I (TV/Radio/Digital Media)
Elyrah L. Salanga-Torralba โ UP Artist I (Literature)
Oscar T. Serquiรฑa Jr. โ UP Artist I (Theatre Arts)
Maree Barbara M. Tan-Tiongco โ UP Artist I (Theatre Arts)
Amparo Adelina III C. Umali โ UP Artist II (Theatre Arts)
Emmanuel V. Dumlao (UP Los Baรฑos) โ UP Artist I (TV/Radio/Digital Media, Theatre Arts, Literature)
๐๐๐ญ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
Raniela E. Barbaza โ UP Artist I (Literature)
Ma. Amihan Bonifacio-Ramolete โ UP Artist I (Theatre Arts)
U Z. Eliserio โ UP Artist I (Literature)
Sir Anril P. Tiatco โ UP Artist I (Theatre Arts)
Vladimeir B. Gonzales โ UP Artist II (Theatre Arts, Literature)
Patrick F. Campos โ UP Artist II (Film)
๐๐ ๐๐๐๐โ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ก๐จ๐ซ๐ญ
๐๐๐ฐ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ
Sydney Paige P. Guerrero โ UP Artist I (Literature)
Mark Louie L. Lugue โ UP Artist I (Visual Arts)
John Carlo V. Pagunaling โ UP Artist II (Theatre Arts)
Jay Jomar F. Quintos โ UP Artist II (Literature)
Dayang Magdalena Nirvana T. Yraola โ UP Artist I (Visual Arts)
Dennis Andrew S. Aguinaldo (UP Los Baรฑos) โ UP Artist I (Literature)
Cris R. Lanzaderas (UP Los Baรฑos) โ UP Artist I (Film, Literature)
Liwliwa N. Malabed (UP Los Baรฑos) โ UP Artist I (Literature)
John E. Barrios (UP Visayas) โ UP Artist I (Literature)
๐๐๐ญ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
Cecilia S. De La Paz โ UP Artist I (Visual Arts)
Jose Wendell P. Capili โ UP Artist I (Literature)
Arbeen R. Acuรฑa โ UP Artist I (Literature)
Dexter M. Santos โ UP Artist II (Theatre Arts)
Ferdinand P. Jarin (UP Visayas) โ UP Artist II (Literature)
Will P. Ortiz โ UP Artist II (Literature)
Eugene Y. Evasco โ UP Artist III (Literature)
Eulalio III R. Guieb โ UP Artist III (Film, TV/Radio/Digital Media, Theatre Arts, Literature)
Roland B. Tolentino โ UP Artist III (Film, Literature)
๐๐๐ ๐
๐๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ง๐ข ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐๐ซ๐
BAGUIO CITY โ Faculty members and alumni from the UP College of Arts and Letters (CAL) secured key positions in the newly elected Board of Directors of the Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas (UMPIL), the Writersโ Union of the Philippines.
The election took place on April 25, 2026, during the 52nd National Writersโ Congress held at the University of the Philippines Baguio. The proceedings were overseen by outgoing Chairman and UP Departamento ng Filipino at Panitikan ng Pilipinas Ph.D. alumnus Michael M. Coroza, who presided over the voting of life and regular members.
The incoming 2026โ2029 Board features a strong representation from CALโs academic departments. Leading the group is CAL Dean Jimmuel Naval, alongside fellow DFPP faculty members Romulo Baquiran Jr. and Victor Emmanuel Carmelo Nadera Jr.
Prominent CAL alumni were also elected to the board, including Susan Severino Lara from the Department of English and Comparative Literature (DECL) and Jazmin Llana from the Department of Speech Communication and Theatre Arts (DSCTA).
Fifteen writers were selected to lead the organization for the upcoming three-year term. The full list of the 2026-2029 UMPIL Board includes:
Romulo P. Baquiran Jr.
Roy Rene S. Cagalingan
Paul A. Castillo
Abner E. Dormiendo
Susan S. Lara
Junley L. Lazaga
Jazmin B. Llana
Diandra Ditma A. Macarambon
Clarissa V. Militante
Victor Emmanuel Carmelo D. Nadera Jr.
Jimmuel C. Naval
Aldrin P. Pentero
Joey A. Tabula
John Iremil E. Teodoro
John Enrico C. Torralba
The newly elected board members are scheduled to convene shortly to elect the executive officers, including the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary-General, Treasurer, and Auditor.
UMPIL remains the largest organization of Filipino writers in the country, dedicated to the promotion of Philippine literature and the protection of writers’ rights.
๐ง๐ต๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ณ๐ฒ๐๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฎ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฝ ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐จ๐ฃ ๐๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ด๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ฟ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐
๐๐๐ง๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ ๐ฏ๐ฌ. ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ: ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐๐ญ ๐๐
(Based on the QS World University Rankings by Subject, released 25 March 2026)
Ten years ago, a fire destroyed the UP Faculty Center. Since then, the UP College of Arts and Letters has functioned without permanent faculty, staff, and student offices, or dedicated facilities.
Despite this sustained displacement, the latest global rankings place the UPD Department of English and Comparative Literature in the 151โ200 bracketโthe highest in the Philippines ( https://www.topuniversities.com/…/english-language… ). This performance outranks most other units in the UP systemโthe majority of which occupy modern, intact infrastructure.ย
Across the broader Arts and Humanities, the university also maintains its No. 1 domestic ranking, placing 257th worldwide (https://www.topuniversities.com/univer…/arts-humanities… ).
These results were achieved from temporary desks and dismal shared spaces. They confirm that while a building provides necessary support, the intellectual work of the humanities has managed to lead the university even in its absence.
#kalbaryo