History

UP Creative Writing Center

The UP Board of Regents, in its 908th Meeting on 7 December 1978, approved the proposal for the establishment of the U.P. Creative Writing Center (UP CWC). It was officially established on 1 June 1979. In July 2002, the Board of Regents approved to change its name to Likhaan: The UP Creative Writing Center to UP Institute of Creative Writing (ICW) to reflect the growth and goals of the office.

Writing and Development

It is UP Likhaan’s mission to stimulate writers from all parts of the Philippines to create and contribute to national cultural development; and to assert the leadership of the UP in creative writing and in the formation of policies and programs related to the development of Philippine culture and literature.

There are six National Artists

To date, there are six National Artists affiliated with the UP Institute of Creative Writing.

NVM Gonzalez

September 8, 1915 – November 28, 1999

National Artist for Literature (1997)

NVM Gonzalez was a fictionist, essayist, poet, and teacher who articulated the Filipino spirit in urban and rural landscapes. His many recognitions include winning the First Commonwealth Literary Contest in 1940, the Republic Cultural Heritage Award in 1960, and the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining in 1990. He became UP’s International-Writer-In-Residence and a member of the Board of Advisers of the then UP Creative Writing Center.

Francisco Arcellana

September 6, 1916 – August 1, 2002

National Artist for Literature (1990)

Francisco Arcellana was the first director of the UP Creative Writing Center (now known as the UP Institute of Creative Writing). He was a writer, poet, essayist, critic, journalist, and teacher. He is one of the most important progenitors of the modern Filipino short story in English. Arcellana kept alive the experimental tradition in fiction and has been daring in exploring literary forms to express the sensibility of the Filipino people.

Virgilio Almario

National Artist for Literature (2003)

Virgilio S. Almario, also known as Rio Alma, is a poet, literary historian, and critic, who revived and reinvented traditional Filipino poetic forms while championing modernist poetics. In his works of poetry, his voice soared from the lyrical to the satirical to the epic, from the dramatic to the incantatory, in his often-severe examination of the self and the society. He has also redefined how Filipino poetry is viewed and has paved the way for its discussion in his books of literary criticism.

Bienvenido Lumbera

National Artist for Literature (2006)

Bienvenido Lumbera is a poet, librettist, and scholar.

As a poet, he introduced what is now known as Bagay poetry, a landmark aesthetic tendency that has helped change the vernacular poetic tradition. As a librettist for The Tales of the Manuvu and Rama Hari, he pioneered the creative fusion of fine arts and popular imagination.

He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature, and Creative Communication Arts in 1993, the Gawad CCP, Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas, Manila Critics’ Circle Awards and the Palanca Award.

Amelia Lapena-Bonifacio

National Artist for Theater (2018)

Known as The Grand Dame of Southeast Asian Children’s Theater, Amelia Lapena-Bonifacio started receiving awards and editorships for her writing in high school and college. In 1977 she founded the Teatrong Mulat Ng Pilipinas, an official UP children’s theater and puppetry troupe.

She once served as Professor of English and Chair of the Creative Writing Program where she instituted courses in Creative Writing and later formalized them as undergraduate and graduate programs. She also championed the creation of the UP Creative Writing Center (now known as the UP Institute of Creative Writing) and served as its director from 1986 to 1995.

Gémino H. Abad

National Artist for Literature (2022)

A renowned Filipino poet, literary critic, and professor who has significantly shaped Philippine literature, particularly in poetry and literary scholarship. He earned his B.A. in English from the University of the Philippines and his Ph.D. in English Literature from the University of Chicago. Abad has held key academic positions at UP and co-founded the Philippine Literary Arts Council (PLAC).

His major contributions include editing landmark anthologies like Man of Earth and A Native Clearing, which have preserved and promoted Filipino poetry in English. As an award-winning author and editor, he remains a vital figure in Philippine literary history, recognized for advancing the country’s literary heritage.

ICW's Legacy

With its current roster of associates, fellows, and advisers, Likhaan: the UP Institute of Creative Writing continues its legacy of promoting literature and creative writing for nation-building and public service.

Workshops

The UP National Writers Workshop is one of the UP Institute of Creative Writing’s flagship projects. It has developed a workshop style that is both critical and nurturing for beginning and advanced writers alike. This workshop method has become a tradition of the institute, fostering a collegial environment where writers can convene and talk about their craft.

Literature for Social Development

As of 2018, all of the UP Institute of Creative Writing’s projects have been clustered under the name Literature for Social Development (LSD). From the initial flagship projects, the institute extended its programs to publications, fora, and seminars designed to provide free and accessible materials and training for literature scholars, practitioners, and enthusiasts.