Category: Editor’s Note

The Davao Writers Guild mourns the passing of our founding member, Aida Rivera-Ford, who died on January 17, 2026, just days before what would have been her 100th birthday.

Born in Jolo, Sulu, on January 22, 1926, to Judge Pablo Rivera and Lourdes Consunji, Aida Rivera-Ford devoted her life to literature, education, and the arts. Her literary career spanned more than seven decades, leaving an indelible mark on Philippine literature, particularly through her celebrated short stories “The Chieftest Mourner” and “Love in the Cornhusks,” which have been anthologized both in the Philippines and internationally. She belonged to a generation that shaped Philippine postwar writing and helped establish regional literature as a vital part of the national imagination.

A cum laude graduate of Silliman University with a degree in English in 1949, she served as the first editor of Sands and Coral, the university’s literary magazine. She later earned her master’s degree in English language and literature from the University of Michigan on a Fulbright grant and was a fellow at the East-West Center Culture Learning Institute at the University of Hawaii in 1978.

Rivera-Ford’s dedication to education took her from Mindanao Colleges to the University of Maryland Armed Forces School, and eventually to Ateneo de Davao University, where she served as chairperson of the Humanities Division from 1969 to 1980.

Her published works include Now and at the Hour and Other Stories (1958), which won the Jules and Avery Hopwood Award at the University of Michigan in 1954; Born in the Year 1900 and Other Stories (1997); Oyanguren: Forgotten Founder of Davao (2010); Aida Rivera-Ford: Collected Works (2012); and Heroes in Love: Four Plays (2012). She also co-edited the Mindanao issue of Ani, the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ quarterly literary journal. Beyond her writing, Rivera-Ford was deeply involved in theater, directing and acting with Philippine Theatre Davao and composing the operetta Datu Bago.

Her contributions earned her numerous honors, including the Datu Bago Award (1982), the Philippine Government Parangal for Writers (1991), the Outstanding Sillimanian Award (1993), National Fellow for Fiction at the UP Creative Writing Center (1993–94), and the Taboan Literary Award from the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (2011).

In 1980, Rivera-Ford co-founded the Ford Academy of the Arts (originally the Learning Center of the Arts), and in 1999, she helped establish the Davao Writers Guild.

Her wake and memorial tribute will be held at Ateneo de Davao University on Thursday, January 22, 2026.

Aida Rivera-Ford’s legacy lives on through her stories, her students, and the countless lives she touched through her art and generosity of spirit. She will be deeply missed.

(Information for this notice is drawn primarily from the CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Art, Vol. 12, 2nd edition, 2017. Photo taken January 22, 2020, on Aida Rivera-Ford’s 94th birthday.)

The Davao Writers Guild is now accepting entries to the 5th Satur P. Apoyon Tigi sa Mubong Sugilanong Binisaya.

Named after renowned journalist, writer, and former Davao Writers Guild president Satur P. Apoyon, the contest welcomes short fiction in Binisaya by Mindanao-based writers. Works will be judged according to their command of language, writing technique, relevance to contemporary society and culture, and originality of vision.

Three winners will be announced in February 2022 in time for the National Arts Month celebration. The first prize winner will receive P5,000.00, while the second and third prize winners will receive P3,000.00 and P2,000.00, respectively.

To be considered, applicants should submit one (1) short story written in Binisaya. An applicant is only allowed one (1) entry. An entry should be double-spaced, on 8.5 x 11 inches bond paper, with approximately one-inch margin on all sides. The page number must be typed consecutively (e.g. 1 of 20, 2 of 20, and so on) at the center of the bottom margin of each page. The font should be either Palatino or Garamond, with font size 12. An entry should not exceed thirty (30) pages. The author’s name should not appear on the entry.

Entries should be accompanied by 1) an accomplished Application Form and 2) a signed Certificate of Originality of Work.

Both the entry and the Certificate of Originality of Work should be attached as PDF documents in an email to saturapoyontigi.dwg@gmail.com, with subject line “Entry to Satur Apoyon Contest”.

All requirements must be complete at the time of submission. Failure to comply with these instructions will automatically disqualify the entry.

Deadline of entries is on 30 December 2021.  For further inquiries, please send an email to saturapoyontigi.dwg@gmail.com.

The Davao Writers Guild is pleased to announce that fifteen (15) writers from various parts of Mindanao are this year’s fellows to the 2019 Davao Writers Workshop, to be held this October 31, 2019 to November 4, 2019, at Casa Leticia Boutique Hotel, J. Camus St., Davao City.

Workshop Director Jeffrey Javier and Deputy Director Gracielle Tubera released the official announcement on the acceptance of the following:

For Fiction

Liane Carlo R. Suelan (Davao City)
Jasmin C. Arcega (Davao City)
Marylie E. Noran (Digos City)
David F. Madriaga (Isulan, Sultan Kudarat)
Raphael Luis J. Salise (Davao City)

For Poetry

Sunshine C. Angcos (Davao City)
Mary Divine C. Escleto (General Santos City)
Chris John Reeve A. Dela Torre (Dapa, Surigao del Norte)
Renner A. Sasil (Iligan City)
Tara Yakob O. Montiflor (Davao City)
Marielle Angela C. Pagoto (Tagum City)

For Creative Nonfiction
Khamille Ann A. Linsag (Mati City)
Samaira T. Guro (Davao City)
Hannah Joy T. Luyao (Cagayan de Oro City)

For Drama
Sean Jhon C. Anecio (Dapitan City)

This year’s panelists are Macario D. Tiu, John Bengan, Errol Merquita, Lualhati Abreu, Jay Jomar Quintos, Lakan Umali, Michael Aaron Gomez, Ria Valdez, Nathan Go, and Farrah Virador. Cagayan de Oro writer Lina Sagaral-Reyes is returning as this year’s guest panelist and keynote speaker for the workshop’s opening program on October 31, 2019, 9:00 AM.

The workshop is open to those who are interested to listen to the discussions and learn from the panelists’ craft lectures.

The 2019 Davao Writers Workshop is organized in cooperation with the University of the Philippines Mindanao.

In light of the events recently brought to its attention, the Board of Trustees of the Davao Writers Guild has unanimously voted to expel one of its members from its ranks, effective immediately. This ruling, supported by the majority of the members of the guild, follows the official sanction handed by his previous employer regarding the case of sexual harassment filed against him. The redaction of his name from this statement is not an act of protection for this member, but an act of compassion, and our compliance with the code of ethics on handling sexual harassment cases.

The Davao Writers Guild reaffirms its commitment to honing the talents of young and emerging writers of Davao and Mindanao. We believe that fulfilling this commitment can only be done when young talents are assured that they will be provided guidance and mentorship in a safe learning environment, free from threats of sexual harassment and predation.

In support of this commitment, the Davao Writers Guild has decided to include an Anti-Sexual Harassment orientation during every run of the Davao Writers Workshop, in order to help young and emerging artists navigate the manifestations of sexual misconduct in spaces of mentorship and artistic gathering. This lecture also aims to improve our own understanding of the power dynamics surrounding sexual violence, the early manifestations of sexual predation, and the ways that the Guild, as a literary institution that trains young and emerging writers, can foster among its members and mentees a culture that prevents and rejects sexual harassment.

The Davao Writers Guild is in solidarity with concerned Filipino writers and artists in condemning teachers, resource speakers, workshop panelists, writers, and artists, who abuse their power and influence in order to take advantage of young artists who come under their tutelage. We condemn the perpetuation of rape culture in writers workshops and denounce institutions that mishandle complaints of sexual misconduct brought to their attention and authority.

The Guild acknowledges the struggle of sexual trauma survivors, especially those who come forward with their complaints. We urge literary institutions and organizing committees of writing workshops, especially those which are funded by the public, to address all future complaints with compassion, dignity, and respect to the rights of survivors of any form of sexual harassment.

The Davao Writers Guild is now accepting applications to the 2019 Davao Writers Workshop to be held in November 2019.

Fifteen (15) fellowships are available, five (5) of which will be given to writers from outside Davao City but limited to residents living in Mindanao.

Applications are for the following genres: short fiction, poetry, essay, and play. They may be in English, Tagalog, or Binisaya. Entries should either contain 2 short stories (1,000 to 5,000 words), or 2 essays (1,000 to 5,000 words), or 2 one-act plays, or 5 poems.

Entries must be the applicants’ original works and should have not been accepted to another writers workshop or included in a creative writing thesis. Applicants should be a resident of Davao City or any part of Mindanao. Applicants should not have been an alumnus of previous Davao Writers Workshops or a fellow to any of the national writers workshops. Accepted fellows will be given free board and lodging for the duration of the workshop.

Applicants are to:

1) Fill out the Application Form.

2) Secure a signed Certification Form.

3) Secure the electronic copy (.doc, .docx, or .rtf file) of the manuscript.

Manuscripts should have a 1.5 spacing (not applicable for poetry entries), and a one-inch margin on all sides. The page number should be typed consecutively at the center of the bottom margin of each page (i.e, 1 of x, 2 of x). The font should be Arial, Times New Roman, or Book Antiqua. The font size should be 12. Kindly include all entries in one document, and name your document as “[LASTNAME]_[GENRE]_Manuscript_2019DWW”. The author’s name should not appear on the manuscript.

4) Send your manuscript and signed certification form to
davaowritersworkshop@gmail.com with the subject “DWW2019 Submission”.

Kindly use only one email address in the application process.

Only one application for each genre is allowed. Applicants may choose to submit multiple entries to different genres. Applicants with multiple entries must submit an application form for each genre.

Deadline for submission is on September 15, 2019. For inquiries, please send a message to davaowritersworkshop@gmail.com.

The 2019 Davao Writers Workshop is organized in cooperation with the University of the Philippines Mindanao.

The Davao Writers Guild is now accepting entries to the 4th Satur P. Apoyon Tigi sa Mubong Sugilanong Binisaya.

Named after renowned journalist, writer, and former Davao Writers Guild president Satur P. Apoyon, the contest welcomes short fiction in Binisaya by Mindanao-based writers. Works will be judged according to their command of language, writing technique, relevance to contemporary society and culture, and originality of vision.

Three winners will be awarded with cash prizes during the 2019 Davao Writers Workshop in November. The first prize winner will receive P5,000.00, while the second and third prize winners will receive P3,000.00 and P2,000.00, respectively.

To be considered, applicants should submit one (1) short story written in Binisaya. An entry should be double-spaced, on 8.5 x 11 inches bond paper, with approximately one-inch margin on all sides. The page number must be typed consecutively (e.g. 1 of 20, 2 of 20, and so on) at the center of the bottom margin of each page. The font should be either Palatino or Garamond, with font size 12. An entry should not exceed thirty (30) pages. The author’s name should not appear on the entry. An applicant is only allowed one (1) entry.

Entries should be accompanied by 1) an accomplished Application Form (submitted through the linked Google Form) and 2) a signed Certificate of Originality of Work.

Both the entry and the Certificate of Originality of Work should be attached as PDF documents in an email to davaowritersguild@yahoo.com.ph, with subject line “Entry to Satur Apoyon Contest”.

All requirements must be complete at the time of submission. Failure to comply with these instructions will automatically disqualify the entry.

Deadline of entries is on 31 August 2019. For more information, kindly visit http://www.dagmay.com. For further inquiries, please send an email to davaowritersguild@yahoo.com.ph, or message our official Facebook page.