Building a haven for Filipino literature: Tracing Sari-Sari’s journey

Sari-Sari: Panitikan at Kulturang Filipino, an organization for teachers of Filipino and lovers of Filipino literature, broadcasts on Radyo Katipunan every Wednesday from 11 to 12 noon. 

Founded in 2019 as part of the Filipino department's outreach program, Dr Alvin B Yapan organized a small club for Filipino teachers and literature enthusiasts where they may freely discuss various Filipino works. Instead of hosting a single yearly conference to gather such professionals, the department hosted monthly readings where members —teachers or not—discussed their favorite pieces with fellow enthusiasts of Filipino literature.

While the club began as an informal program, it was eventually formalized to include a roster of officers and proper syllabi. Discussions about allowing other schools to host the reading club meetings were also underway to make them more available to teachers and enthusiasts outside Ateneo. A lot of hope and excitement revolved around these expansion plans.

However, the expansion plan got derailed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The last in-person meeting occurred in February 2020, and it would be the last one for the next two years. After that, adjusting to work-from-home limitations left the group unable to pursue their hopes for expansion and inclusion. Still, they tried to organize through online platforms, not wanting to give up their meetings altogether. And this would be a gamble that would pay off a hundredfold.

"It was very opportune that we had an invitation from Fr Nono Alfonso SJ that they would like us to develop a program for Radyo Katipunan," recalls Dr Gary Devilles, an Associate Professor in the department in charge of the group. "We just put the two together: Vin Yapan, Anne, and me. We thought of coming up with Sari-sari. So we used the organization's name as the program itself."

The offer to develop a radio show opened doors for Devilles and his team that none of them even imagined before. With the radio show, Sari-sari did not only manage to continue their sessions, but their reach and audience had magnified exponentially as well, going far beyond their initial set of members.

From discussions on the great Filipino literary canon to up-and-coming modern writers, Sari-sari offers many topics that lovers of Filipino literature can enjoy together. With topics that range from monologues with invited actors to fandom discussions and story commentaries, each season explores a different flavor of literary experience in a fun and refreshing way for their many listeners. In the 43rd Catholic Mass Media Awards, Sari-sari’s radio program, Sari-sari: Panitikan at Kulturang Pilipino received a special citation for the Educational Program category. 

Even as the possibilities for face-to-face meetings open, Devilles hopes to continue airing Sari-sari, expanding their scope and guests as they once hoped to do for their meetings long before the pandemic began.

"We envision Sari-sari just to continue being a show for Filipino teachers and lovers of Filipino literature," Devilles shares in a fond voice. "It is our outreach first and foremost. So we're really hoping that we can feature more shows, more guest speakers, and more writers in the future."

Struggles may beset their hope for expansion, and each move requires money that the Filipino department can no longer afford. But Devilles remains hopeful.

"We want to professionalize it, you know? Whatever we get from this, we can use it to give an honorarium to our guest speakers, as we would like to continue guesting. We would like to expand our membership. When we have our meetings, we'd like to have a simple merienda. I realized that even that is difficult if you really don't have the budget."

The Sari-sari team continues to explore various avenues for sponsorship and monetization to give them the support they need to keep on delivering the kind of content they dearly want their listeners to get. And it is with this enthusiasm and hope, that they wish to meet the future of their radio show.

To get in touch with the Sari-sari team, contact them on Facebook.