THE VARSITARIAN, the 97-year-old official student publication of the University of Santo Tomas, will hold its 20th Creative Writing Workshop (CWW) on Nov. 14, 2025.
Twelve (12) UST students will be mentored by some of the country’s acclaimed writers in the annual seminar-fellowship.
The fellows were handpicked by the panelists based on submitted literary pieces in the categories of Fiction, Katha, Poetry, and Tula.
Formerly called the “Fiction Workshop,” CWW hones emerging writers and prepares them for Gawad Ustetika, the annual literary competition recognizing outstanding Thomasian creative work, also organized by the Varsitarian.
The panel in the fiction category is composed of award-winning writer Susan Lara, UST Center for Creative Writing and Literary Studies (CCWLS) co-director Augusto Antonio Aguila, and fictionist Sarge Lacuesta.
For poetry, the panelists are CCWLS resident fellow Nerisa Guevara, Palanca awardee Mookie Katigbak-Lacuesta, and former Philippines Free Press literary editor Joel Toledo.
Katha fellows will be mentored by Balangay Books co-founder Beverly Siy and CCWLS resident fellow Chuckberry Pascual.
Multi-awarded writer Jerry Gracio, Caloocan Writers Workshop founding director Mark Angeles, and UST creative writing faculty member Paul Castillo will lead the Tula category.
The 20th CWW will be held at the Dr. George S.K Ty Hall of the Buenaventura Garcia Paredes. O.P. Building.
For inquiries, contact Marielle Pesa at 0961 855 3442 or send an email to 20thcww@gmail.com.
