Island of Christianity Hosts Month of Literature

The Casa Gorordo Museum in Cebu City

THE island of Cebu prides itself with a deep and rich Christian heritage, having been the very place where the religion was first established in the Philippines in the 15th century.

With faith as its foundation since time immemorial, Cebu has then become one of the most culturally-rich provinces in the country. And for this, it hosts festivities for the National Literature Month this April.

Celebrated in the Philippines for three years now under the auspices of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), this year’s literature month will highlight Cebuano literature.

Our friends from NCCA have shared this press release with lineup of activities:

In celebration of the National Literature Month this April, the University of San Carlos Cebuano Studies Center (USC CSC), with the Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino (KWF) and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), organizes a series of activities on Cebuano literature and culture open to the public.

The Casa Gorordo Museum grounds will be the venue of two events. On April 19, at 3 to 6 pm, “Balitaw Molutaw!” will showcase balitaw performances and a video lecture on the balitaw.

On April 22, the two major events will happen at Robinsons Galleria Cebu, Basement 2. KWF, through the Sentro sa Wika at Kultura (SWAK), will hold moderated conversations on Cebuano poetry, fiction, and theatre in “Tertulya sa Bagong Panitikang Sebwano” at 10 am to 12 pm.

From 1 to 7 pm “Kinutaw: National Literature Month Celebration” will feature poetry performances, book launches, trivia and riddle games, the stage play “SeguroangPancit,” a balitaw presentation, a Vispop lecture, and poetry open mic. “Kinutaw” is among the nationwide initiatives of the NCCA for the National Literature Month.

Kids and young adults, as well as parents, are invited to “Istoryahi Ko!”—a storytelling of reinvented Cebuano folktales on April 30 at 3 to 5 pm.

Women in Literary Arts (WILA), Mga Anak sa Dagang (MAD), and Basadours are the partner organizations for the implementation of the different activities.

The National Literature Month has been celebrated in the Philippines for three years now. This year’s theme is “Banyuhay,” the Filipino word for “metamorphosis,” emphasizing the transformative power of literature.

For more information on the activities, you may contact USC CSC at (032) 406-6079, or e-mail cebuanostudies@gmail.com.

(PHOTO ©EUDENVALDEZ)