Ateneo Literary and Cultural Studies Program holds first-ever Lit Fest

This October, the Literary and Cultural Studies Program (LCSP) of the Ateneo de Manila University School of Humanities held the first-ever Ateneo Literary and Cultural Festival. The festival was organized in coordination with the Rizal Library, the Ateneo de Manila University Press, Kritika Kultura, and PLUME, and brought together literary enthusiasts both within and outside Ateneo.

Book publishers, local writers, cultural entrepreneurs, and students gathered for three days of talks, cultural performances, and workshops – all with the goal of promoting literacy and fostering intellectual discourse and cultural exchange. 

The festival began on 16 October with a talk on literary markets, featuring local book publishers. Nicole Cu-Unjieng Aboitiz (of Exploding Galaxies), Katrina Stuart Santiago (Everything’s Fine), Alysha Magtuto (Tibok Bookstore.ph), and Faye Cura (Gantala Press) discussed the challenges and realities of independent publishing in the Philippines, as well as the origins of their journey in publishing local and essential reads. 

A talk on the art and politics of zine-making followed that afternoon, with special guest writer Adam David of BLTX (Better Living Through Xeroxography). 

On 17 October, a panel on the promise of influence took place at Escaler Hall, with writers Allan Pastrana, Kaisa Aquino, and Martin Villanueva as panelists. This was then followed by a talk on doing queer artforms, which featured Mark Anthony Cayanan, Hidde Van Der Wall, Aaron Philip Dela Cruz, and Isola Tong.

The festival’s culminating activity was held at MVP Roofdeck on 18 October, and included a book bazaar, an open mic, poetry readings, and musical performances. 

Launched in June, the LCSP envisions itself as the leading center for the cultivation and promotion of Philippine Literature in English. The program created the the Ateneo Literary and Cultural Festival to “offer insights into the Philippine publishing industry, provide advice to aspiring authors, and promote discussions on literature’s role in bridging cultural divides, especially LGBTQIA+ issues.”

To learn more about the Ateneo Literary and Cultural Studies Program, visit their Facebook page.