As part of their goal to establish a sustained playwright development program in Mindanao, the Xavier Center for Culture and the Arts (XCCA) and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) conducted Sulat-Dula 3: A Playwriting Workshop in Mindanao on Oct 23- 25. 

Sulat-Dula is XCCA’s flagship project for its Cultural Education Program that aims to bring the best culture and art practices closer to students, faculty and LGUs in Northern Mindanao.

This year’s Sulat Dula brought distinguished playwrights Steven Patrick Fernandez, writer, critique, researcher and Executive/Artistic Director of Integrated Performing Arts Guild (IPAG) of MSU IIT;  Rody Vera, Executive Director of Writer’s Bloc, Inc., playwright, television scriptwriter and screen writer; and  Layeta Bucoy, screenplay writer, columnist and
playwright of Doc Ressureccion:Gagamutin ang Bayan, among others.

With the help of the resource persons, nine fellows were able to work on their plays during the workshop. These were Anna Liz Cabrido from Apat sa Taglamig Productions Inc in Koronadal City, South Cotabato who wrote “Solteros”; Estrella Alfabeto of Central Mindanao University, Bukidnon who wrote “Scrapbook”; Kristen Senajon of XU’s The Xavier Stage who wrote “Sa Tabing Dagat”;  Michelle Dollaga  of XU’s The Xavier Stage who wrote “Closet”; Vel Marie Santillan of XU’s Dulaang Atenista who wrote “Sakay”; Jim C Raborar of Apat sa Taglamig Productions, Inc of Koronadal City, South Cotabato who wrote “Hapakainan”; Hermie Dico of IPAG MSU IIT who wrote “Kwits”; Dennis Flores from Cagayan de Oro City who wrote  “The Sin of the Father”; and Gabriel Matthan Luceño from XU who wrote “Aerodynamics of Relationships.”

Through critiquing and one-on-one consultations with the professional playwrights, the fellows were able to showcase their plays through script reading. It was an inspiring event for the future playwrights to actually create a piece which will one day be seen and heard on stage.

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