TWO THOMASIANS will be among the 10 fellows of a national dramatic writing fellowship program.
Miko Jan Portes and Lloyd Alcedric Opalec are set to join the Virgin Labfest 13 Writing Fellowship Program.
Opalec, an incoming literature senior, said his program gave him an advantage in applying for the fellowship.
“Advantage ‘yun (literature) kasi maiintindihan mo kung ano muna ang tamang pagsusulat sa hindi tamang pagsusulat. Maganda rin ‘yung natuto ako sa ilalim ng mga istimadong propesor ng literature ng UST,” Opalec told the Varsitarian.
Portes cited the Faculty of Arts and Letters-based theater guild Artistang Artlets, saying the organization taught him how to write plays, which helped him earn a slot in the fellowship.
“Nabigla ako to be honest kasi I did not expect to get in because I failed to get in two years ago,” said Portes, a communication arts alumnus.
Applicants were required to submit one to two sample stage plays, in full or excerpts, written either in Filipino or English.
Portes’ entry, “Layo,” revolved around a phone call between two people secretly hiding their extramarital affair.
“Isang Sandali sa Colegio de La Concordia,” Opalec’s entry, is a historical one-act play about the forbidden love between two women—Josefina Rizal (under the guise of Jose Rizal) and Segunda Katigbak.
The fellowship will be held on July 4 to 16. The program will consist of writing sessions, lectures and script critiquing with esteemed playwrights, actors, and directors.
