Davao del Sur State College (DSSC) joined the country in culminating the month-long Celebration of the National Literature Month 2026, on April 30, 2026, at the DSSC Gymnasium.
With the theme “Bekët Panitikan: Para sa Katwiran at Kalikasan” (Togetherness in Literature for Reason and the Environment), faculty members, staff, and students gathered together to witness the literary prowess DSSC can serve.
In her welcome message, Vice-President for Academic Affairs Dr. Siverlyn M. Camposano expressed her gratitude to everyone who attended and showed support for the event. She emphasized the importance of the celebration as a way of retracing the institution’s roots and honoring the legacy of its forefathers. She also thanked all the participating offices that extended their efforts to make the activity a success.
It was followed by a message from the College President, Dr. Augie E. Fuentes, who talked about the role of language and literature in shaping our identity. “We have to believe that through our languages, our stories echo and shape our identity as Filipinos. Literature should be written to be remembered and to continue being witnessed by the current generation, and the next.”
The first performance then featured Regional Culture and Arts Festival (RCAF) DSSC Representative Joan Beroso, who captivated the audience with a powerful rendition marked by a wide range of emotions. She delivered an encore of her RCAF performance of “Flowers” by Paulette Kelly, showcasing depth and expression in her delivery.
This was followed by a cultural dance performance by the Teatro Davsuraon Cultural Ensemble, who danced the richness of local traditions through coordinated movements and expressive storytelling. The performance reflected elements of Filipino heritage, showcasing the group’s dedication to preserving and promoting culture through the performing arts.
The activity proceeded with a writing workshop led by Instr. Jeopril Pableo, MaLit, where participants were first invited to pledge their commitment to actively engage in the session and uphold the value of creative expression. As a warm-up activity, they were tasked to create a story chain, with each participant contributing a line or idea to build a collective narrative. The session was filled with laughter as participants explored their creativity, encouraging collaboration, spontaneity, and shared storytelling.
What followed was a discussion on creative writing and poetry writing, where participants were introduced to basic techniques in expressing ideas through written forms. The session encouraged them to explore their thoughts, emotions, and experiences as inspiration for their work. It also provided an opportunity for participants to try writing their own pieces, fostering creativity and self-expression while deepening their appreciation for literature.
In the end, participants were tasked to write their own short story or poem inspired by what they observed in nature. This activity encouraged them to apply the concepts discussed during the session while drawing from their personal reflections and surroundings. From the outputs, five selected poems were chosen to be read in front, allowing participants to share their work and showcase their creativity.
This activity showcases support for literary initiatives, aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4 for Quality Education.
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