By Minerva Newman DUMAGUETE CITY-- Ten fellows from all over the country have been accepted to attend the 58th edition of the Silliman University National Writers Workshop on April 29 to May 10 at the Rose Lamb Sobrepeña Writers Village in Camp Look-out, Valencia, Negros Oriental and the SU campus jointly hosted by Silliman University (SU) and the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts (NCCA). (WKIPEDIA/ MANILA BULLETIN) According to Madeline Quiamco, OIC-director of the SU-Office of Information and Publications (OIP), that the fellows were chosen for four different categories that include poetry, balak, fiction, and creative non-fiction. Quiamco said starting 2018 the SU writers’ workshop has been accepting manuscripts for Balak (poetry in Binisaya) with corresponding English translation. The inclusion of Balak has further enriched workshop discussion regarding the craft of poetry rendered in different languages and the cultural nuances that underpin such expression. The following are the fellows for the 2019 writers’ workshop in their respective categories: For Poetry, Arielle Abrigo of Antipolo City and Alsteine Diapana of Cebu City. For Balak - Jefferson Del Rosario of Danao City and Dave Pregoner of Lapu-Lapu City. For Fiction- Kaisa Aquino of Quezon City, Catherina Dario of Muntinlupa City, and Samuel Evardone of Metro Manila. Creative Nonfiction - Donna Patricia Manio of Imus City, Cavite, Riddick Recoter of Metro Manila, and Maria Gliceria Valdez of Davao City. There are special fellows namely; Tara Eunice de Leon and Jhudiel Brigid Plando to join those at fiction and nonfiction categories. Two applicants have also been invited as special workshop mentees -- Alter Hofileña of Misamis Occidental and Geormie Yanoc of Mabinay, Negros Oriental, for fiction and nonfiction, Quiamco bared. The panel of writers/critics for this year includes Director-in-Residence Anthony Tan, resident writers Cesar Ruiz Aquino and Ian Rosales Casocot, as well as regular panelists Alfred Yuson and Marjorie Evasco. They will be joined by guest panelists Rica Bolipata-Santos, Simeon Dumdum Jr., Susan Lara, Grace Monte de Ramos, and National Artist for Literature Resil Mojares, Quiamco added. The Silliman University National Writers Workshop continues the legacy of the Tiempos in giving value to literature and creative writing in the Philippines. Founded in 1962 by S.E.A. Write awardee Edilberto K. Tiempo and National Artist Edith L. Tiempo, the workshop is the oldest creative writing workshop of its kind in Asia. It was recently given the Tanging Parangal in the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining by the Cultural Center of the Philippines.