By Alyanna Gabas and Yra Suarin
Dumaguete City, renowned for its literary history, is set to be nominated as the Philippine’s official candidate for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Creative Cities Network (UCCN) as a ‘City of Literature’ in 2025.
The announcement was publicized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in collaboration with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) last Oct. 31.
Dumaguete’s bid is strongly supported by local officials, including Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo and DTI Negros Oriental Provincial Director Nimfa Virtucio.
They highlight the city’s contributions to Philippine literature, emphasizing its status as home to celebrated writers and Palanca Awardees.
Kaycee Melon, coordinator of the Silliman University National Writers Workshop (SUNWW), Asia’s longest-running creative writing workshop since 1962, affirmed the city’s potential for the UNESCO title.
‘Dumaguete prides itself for its rich literary heritage and thriving literary community, supporting both readers and writers,” she said in an interview.
Melon also claimed the significant role Silliman University (SU) plays in Dumaguete’s UNESCO bid.
“Part of that legacy is the SUNWW, which really puts [the university] in a very important position in this bid for UNESCO City of Literature distinction,” she stated.
Moreover, Tanya Onofre, an aspiring literary writer from Dumaguete, said that the city’s literary scene is underrated.
“Incredible writers and organizations that highlight these artists sometimes go unnoticed, not entirely but also not enough to give them the appreciation they deserve,” she said.
Onofre also stated that the literary scene of Dumaguete can potentially be a “beacon” that would garner attention on local artists’ work nationally and internationally.
Dumaguete’s Literary Legacy
Dumaguete is no stranger to longstanding literary significance.
The late National Artist for Literature Edith Tiempo, whose widely admired works left an indelible mark on Philippine letters, co-founded SUNWW with her husband Dr. Edilberto Tiempo.
The Tiempo legacy, especially the SUNWW, is carried forward by the Creative Writing Center of the Silliman University Department of English and Literature. Workshop has recently issued a call for submissions for its 63rd edition.
Other notable Dumaguete writers include Bobby Flores-Villasis, Rowena Tiempo-Torrevillas, Cesar Ruiz Aquino, Myrna Peña Reyes, Ian Rosales Casocot, Angela Gabrielle Fabunan, among others.
These authors, along with many others, have shaped Dumaguete into a thriving literary community that continues to influence Philippine literature and attract writers from all over.
Building on Dumaguete’s legacy, recent initiatives like the Dumaguete Literary Festival aim to draw national and international attention to the city’s vibrant literary scene.
Launched last April 26 by the Buglas Writers Guild (BWG) and Libraria Books, the festival featured a series of events celebrating both National Literature Month and the city’s 75th charter anniversary.
The three-day festival was directed by Ian Rosales Casocot, BWG President and faculty of the SU Department of English and Literature, and Gayle Acar, Libraria Books owner.
It was also co-partnered by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) of Negros Oriental, Arts + Design Collective Dumaguete, Dumaguete City Tourism Office, National Museum of the Philippines Dumaguete, and Back Pack Solutions.
With strong community support and a thriving literary culture, Dumaguete City’s bid for UNESCO’s City of Literature distinction could mark the beginning of a new era, inspiring future generations of Filipino writers and positioning the city as a global center for literary arts.
