About Saringsing 11
By Jerome M. Hipolito, Facebook post, December 27, 2023
After a two-year hiatus caused by the pandemic, the Saringsing National Writers Workshop returned on December 20-22, 2023, at La Caseria, Canaman, Camarines Sur. Now in its 11th year, Saringsing stands as the longest-running workshop in Bikol, hosting six carefully selected fellows this year.
The fellows include Jerald Bermas from Bula, Yuviah Carballo from Camalig, John Leonard Collantes from Caramoan (Catanduanes), Mary Grace Lucila from Calabanga, Christian Oliver from Goa, and Froy Rimando from Lagonoy.
This year’s workshop director was Edwin Breva, Jr. The panel members included Irvin Sto. Tomas, Eilyn Nidea, Jerome M. Hipolito, Elbert Baeta, and Marvin Aquino, each contributed to the workshop’s success. Dr. Danilo Gerona, the Director of the Center for Partido Studies at Partido State University, delivered an illuminating lecture on “Bikol Language and the Construction of Regional Identity.”
Saringsing has produced published and award-winning writers like Marvin Aquino, Napoleon Arcilla III, Emmanual Barrameda, Edwin Breva, Jr., Fernando Chavez, Ma. Cecilia De la Rosa, Sabina Marites Desacola Laňada, Ian Kenneth Orasa, Pejay Padrigon, Adem Nalu Rubio, and others.
In a strategic shift, Saringsing reduced its annual intake of fellows from an average of 15 to six, to enhance the workshop’s impact and foster sustained writing engagement that based on experience result from smaller batches. Eligibility was also expanded to include mid-career writers.
Saringsing, known for its itinerant nature, has traversed various locales in Bikol. Saringsing 1, 3, and 6 were all held in Naga; 4 and 5 in Pili; 7 in Pasacao; 8 in Buhi; 9 in Virac; 10 was held online due to the pandemic; and now, the 11th edition was hosted in Canaman. The workshop is a collaborative effort by Parasurat Bikolnon, the Center for Partido Studies of Partido State University, and the Language Studies and Literary Arts Production and Practices by CBSUA-Calabanga.
A journey not only of the creative craft but also of the sensitized senses
By Eilyn L. Nidea of Paarsurat Bikolnon, Teatro Ragayano, and iLab ARAL, Inc.
Saringsing is the Bikol term for a bamboo specie with branches shooting out from a single stem. It’s mostly used for fencing, but can also be used as decoration, or as a Christmas tree, as I did one time in my teen-age years, with a variety of available fruits as decor. For Parasurat Bikolnon, saringsing bamboo symbolizes growth, strength, and resilience.
Saringsing National Writers’ Workshop, of Parasurat Bikolnon, is on its 11th year when it happened on December 20-22, 2023 at La Caseria, Fundado, Canaman, Camarines Sur, with six writing fellows in their mid-career, and five resident panelists.
La Caseria (the small house) is still being developed, with an intention to house a gallery for the Tangcong Vaca Guerilla Unit, and Magellan artefacts, both are collections of Dr. Danilo Madrid Gerona, an esteemed Bikol historian, and his family, who generously allowed the Saringsing 11 delegation to use the farm as our venue; us being the first group of visitors/friends to have stayed there. Ma’am Karen Gerona graciously gave us all-access to their living quarters, baths, kitchen, and even their cooking, and sleeping equipment.
The six fellows wrote their sentiments, time, and their places, using their own Bikol variants. Three wrote poetry for the workshop: John Leonard P. Collantes of Caramoran, Catanduanes, Yuviah Carballo of Camalig, Albay, and Mary Grace P. Lucila of Calabanga, Camarines Sur. Two wrote creative nonfiction: Jerald Alpe Bermas of Naga City, and Froy N. Rimando of Lagonoy, Camarines Sur. One wrote the first chapter of a coming-of-age novel, and expounded on his plans for the rest of the chapters: Christian Jacinto Oliver of Goa, Camarines Sur. All of them are fresh voices, with their own personal take and angles in their own realities. Their poetics are as varied as the river residents which we encountered when we crossed the Bikol River (cut off channel) traversing the Fundado, Canaman and Borobaybay, Magarao, as well as our return trip, from San Nicolas to San Francisco) and as dynamic as the flora (Green fields of palay surrounding the cemented pathway, and leafy branches of trees along the way are feasts to our eyes!) and fauna (White-feathered and long-necked Tagak in various sizes abound!) that we passed by during the nearly 15-minute tricycle ride from Borobaybay to Palo, Canaman, then finally to San Nicolas.
The panelists, all regulars in workshops, both as writing fellows, and panelists, all published authors, and seasoned talk-givers/sharers, brought to the table their varied expertise, aside from poetry (they are all poets.): Jerome M. Hipolito with CNF and anthropological research; Elbert O. Baeta with fiction and translation; Irvin P. Sto. Tomas with linguistics and indie publishing; Marvin Davila Aquino with queer literature and short film and Kilyab Awards; Edwin S. Breva, Jr. with research and organizational management (He is the workshop director.); and yours truly, Eilyn L. Nidea with CNF, translation, and theater.
The three day-workshop (notwithstanding the very weak and unstable Internet connection at the venue) consisted of readings and critiquing of submitted works, free-flow sharing on the participants’ creative processes and metaphors, mini lecture by Dr. Gerona on anything Bikol in candlelight during the blackout caused by a road accident along Canaman – Calabanga route, open mic performances during which Co-PB Architect Ian Kenneth Orasa joined us (poetry readings and an improvised/improv monologue), literatour to Bgry. San Nicolas to visit the Tangcong Vaca Guerilla Unit Monument and Park (We have learned about the bravery of its founders: Juan Q. Miranda, to whom I found out that I’m related by blood, and this gives me great honor; Leon SA. Aureus, and Elias V. Madrid.) via boat ride across the river, and a lot of photo opportunities, and food trips (We indulged not only on the viands that Elbert cooked, and on fruits that Elbert and Edwin bought, but also on the rice cookies and Binamban, both Lagonoy delicacies, that Froy brought for sharing.). It is a journey filled with learning, unlearning, and relearning; peer coaching/mentoring, listening, validating, and appreciating; and revisiting and taking pride in a past of courageous acts and generous giving of self.
Personally, Saringsing 11 gave me the opportunity to renew my vow to be true to my art and my craft no matter the challenges, the difficulties, and the heartbreaks. Accordingly, it afforded me the chance to welcome the new comrades of the pen while I keep close to my heart those who are no longer in my literary and cultural orbit due to various reasons. Through this workshop to which I committed a decade and a year ago today, and from which I haven’t been absent, I am grateful that I have grown as a woman artist, and as a Bikol cultural worker, my published works, staged plays, and continued performances as my testament to this growth.