Writing from The Heart: "Writing from The Heart" at University of the Philippines Tacloban and Heritage Research Center

Writing from The Heart

"Writing from The Heart" is a workshop on creative writing, creative drawing, and creative drama. There are three available versions of this workshop: one for beginners on the secondary, tertiary, and graduate levels, and another for practitioners. A third version of this workshop is designed as an outreach program to disadvantaged and underserved audiences such as the disabled, the poor and the marginalized, victims of human trafficking, battered women and abused children, drug rehabilitation center residents, child combatants, children in conflict with the law, prisoners, and gang leaders. This third version incorporates creativity and problem awareness, conflict resolution, crisis intervention, trauma therapy, and peacemaking.

Saturday, August 23, 2014

"Writing from The Heart" at University of the Philippines Tacloban and Heritage Research Center

I was very impressed with this group. All of them came on time.

The participants were Mass Communications majors. Although they are survivors themselves, they are being tasked by their university to interview other survivors from different walks of life. They will produce a book of testimonies and stories of the days and the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan.

Rather than sit on chairs, the participants sat on exquisite, grass mats that Leyte and Samar are famous for.

Exploring the campus while the participants were writing passages.

The painting on the wall is by visual artist Dulce (Dulz) Cuna, who had an ongoing exhibit on images of Typhoon Haiyan at Libro, a coffee shop and book store and art gallery on Burgos Street.

A sign on the door identifies our workshop venue.

Joycie Alegre, director of the Heritage Research Center, gives closing remarks.

Group picture

I was given only one day to do this workshop, and so we went overtime, though I was reluctant to do so because many of the students lived at great distances from the university.