By Jenny Ortuoste
The University of the Philippines Institute of Creative Writing (Likhaan UP-ICW) posted links on its official Facebook page (facebook.com/upicw) to one upcoming event and two calls for manuscripts: the 60th UP National Writers Workshop, Philippine Writers Series 2021 and Dx Machina 3 and 4.
Likhaan UP-ICW also recently announced the extension of the deadline for its literary calls to April 30, 2021.
“We hope that this extension can give you enough time to rest and work on the projects you set for yourselves,” the UPICW wrote.
60th UP National Writers Workshop
The Likhaan UP-ICW is now accepting applications for the 60th UP National Writers Workshop. Initially slated to be held sometime in April 2021, the date, venue, and platform will be “decided in accordance with developments on safety protocols as we move forward with the new normal.”

The workshop aims to help published writers further hone their craft. Writers from regions outside the National Capital Region (NCR) are highly encouraged to apply. All fellows are entitled to a modest stipend.
The qualification guidelines are as follows:
- Applicants must be writers in English, Filipino or other Philippine languages (manuscripts must be accompanied by a translation in English or Filipino).
- They must have attended at least one creative writing workshop (national/regional), or earned a degree in Creative Writing/Malikhaing Pagsulat or related fields, or won at least one national/international literary award. Writers who have been fellows at any of the UP National Writers Workshops are eligible.
- Applicants must have published at least one book of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, or have had a full-length play or a film produced. (The qualifications may be waived in exceptionally meritorious cases, with the unanimous concurrence of the UP-ICW Fellows, Associates, and Advisers).
The workshop panel is comprised of the Advisers, Fellows, and Associates of the UP ICW: National Artists for Literature Virgilio S. Almario, Bienvenido N. Lumbera, and Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio; UP-ICW Director Roland B. Tolentino; Gémino H. Abad, Romulo P. Baquiran, Jr., Luna Sicat-Cleto, Jose Y. Dalisay Jr., Eugene Y. Evasco, J. Neil Garcia, Vladimeir B. Gonzales, Cristina Pantoja-Hidalgo, Victor Emmanuel Carmelo Nadera Jr., Charlson Ong, Ramon Guillermo, Anna Felicia Sanchez, and Jun Cruz Reyes. The workshop director this year is Ramon Guillermo.
For more information, visit: http://panitikan.ph/2020/11/27/the-60th-up-national-writers-workshop-is-now-open-for-applications/
Philippine Writers Series 2021
The Likhaan: UP-ICW, in partnership with the University of the Philippines Press, is calling for book translation manuscripts to be part of its 2021 lineup of publications for the Philippine Writers Series.

This call is open to former fellows and panelists of the UP National Writers’ Workshop, the Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio Writers Workshop, and the Philippine LGBTQ Writers Workshop.
Manuscripts may be in any genre or language, provided that it is, foremost, a literary work in English or Filipino.
For more information: http://panitikan.ph/2021/02/01/likhaan-opens-call-for-philippine-writers-series-2021/
Dx Machina 3 and 4
The Likhaan: UP-ICW is calling for manuscripts for the third and fourth volumes of Dx Machina: Philippine Literature in the Time of COVID-19, to be edited by Dr Rolando Tolentino and Vladimeir Gonzales respectively.

The journal will collate narratives written in and about the pandemic. “By gathering these writings, the Dx Machina journal aims to provide a diagnosis of our current condition,” the ICW’s call states.
Contributed works can be written in English or Filipino or other Philippine languages provided that they are accompanied by a translation in English or Filipino. They may be in any literary form, including short stories, poems, personal and academic essays, comics,
The deadline for submission to the third and fourth volumes are on April 30 and June 30 respectively.
For more information: http://panitikan.ph/2021/02/05/likhaan-opens-call-for-the-3rd-and-4th-volumes-of-dx-machina-to-tackle-the-continuing-pandemic/