Emerging Voices Shine at SOX Writers Workshop 2025

Fifteen emerging writers from the SOCCSKSARGEN region gathered for the SOX Writers Workshop 2025, held from July 28 to 31 at the Farm House in Rangayen, Alamada, Cotabato Province. This regional literary initiative continues to nurture new voices, offering a space to refine their craft, engage with mentors, and celebrate the cultural diversity of SOX.

Centered on the concept of “Kita-Kita”—and its varied iterations across Philippine languages—the workshop explored how stress and intonation shape meaning. The themes of converge, commune, and connect guided the sessions, fostering both creative exchange and cultural reflection.

Originally launched as the SOX Summer Writing Camp at Mindanao State University–General Santos (MSU-GenSan) in 2019, the workshop has since evolved into a premier literary event in the region. Fellows submitted manuscripts in short fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry, which were critiqued by assigned mentors during the sessions.

Hosted by the Cotabato Literary Circle (CLC), the workshop was supported by the National Book Development Board (NBDB) and Aklat Alamid, with participation from various SOX-based literary and arts organizations, including the Sarangani Writers League, Maratabat: MSU-GenSan Writers Guild, Sigaw Heneral, Words by the South, Timog Literary Circle, The SOX Writers Collective, Tridax Zines, and Babaylan Zines.

Workshop Director Kevin Ray Abesamis noted how the fellows’ ideas were both unconventional and familiar, revealing a rich tapestry of emotions—anger, joy, love, and pain. He observed that their narratives carried distinct yet recognizable voices, offering fresh perspectives rarely seen in the region’s current literary landscape.

Despite their differences, the fellows embodied a strong sense of regional unity, and their generational styles and insights are expected to enrich SOX’s evolving literary and cultural heritage.

The 2025 fellows included:

- Poetry: Windel F. Samillano (South Cotabato), Guian M. Dayang (Sarangani), Lady Jane G. Ilag (Sultan Kudarat), Sophia L. Escarza (Cotabato), and Justine Paul O. Paraz (GenSan)

- Fiction: Dally R. Digal (Cotabato), Jelody Mae F. Guiban, Hezel Ann Todi Sulan (South Cotabato), Noel M. Franilla (Sultan Kudarat), Sophia Kathleen I. Cabarrubias (GenSan)

- Creative Nonfiction: Al-Rasheed M. Manong (Sarangani), Rheven Charles Galvan (GenSan), Ghermaine Marie Micaroz (Sarangani), Aleah Sulaiman Bantas (Sultan Kudarat), Al-Jhamier Unos Mosib (Cotabato)

Mentors and resource speakers included Yas D. Ocampo, MindaNews Fact-checking Program Manager (Nonfiction); John Dave Pacheco, Palanca Awardee (Poetry); and Xaña Angel Eve Apolinar, author of “Gusto Maglupad ni Bangsi” (Fiction).

After the workshop, fellows were given time to revise their manuscripts based on mentor feedback. These works will be compiled into zines in preparation for the upcoming SOX Zine Fest 2025, reinforcing the region’s commitment to grassroots publishing and literary collaboration.

Fellows expressed gratitude for the safe and open space the workshop provided, allowing them to discover their voices and deepen their craft.

“Mas maging matapang at makatotohanan sa pagsulat ng mga kuwentong lokal—lalo na kapag nagsusulat ng naratibo o kasaysayan, gaya ng ginagawa ko. Huwag matakot, dahil ang mga kuwentong kailangang ikuwento ay dapat talagang maisalaysay. Maging ito man ay malagim o masaya, kailangan itong maipakita at maipadama,” said Al-Rasheed M. Manong.

("Be braver and more truthful in writing local stories—especially when crafting narratives or histories, as I do. Don’t be afraid, because stories that must be told truly deserve to be shared. Whether they are tragic or joyful, they need to be expressed and felt.")

“For people to also open the depths of their hearts, where stories lie. To let everyone be aware that there is beauty in sadness and power in pain—how writing it down is already a form of literary contribution and an opportunity for readers to have a fresh perspective on the very Earth everyone is living on,” shared Sophia L. Escarza.

As the SOX Writers Workshop continues to grow, it remains a vital space for cultivating literary talent and amplifying the voices that shape the region’s cultural identity.

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(First published in 12 Beat)