SESSION 11: The Weakest Assumption
Fellow: Sievney Klyze G. Quidet (Poetry, English, Cebuano)
Moderator: Rex Sandro Nepomuceno

Rex Nepomuceno framed The Weakest Assumption through the notion of “uncreative writing”—to reinvent writing not through creation, but derivation, thus challenging commonly held conceptions on authorship, artistic inspiration, and organic unity. Quidet’s collection put this to practice through annotations, superscripts, strategic deviations in traditional form, and the appropriation of the works of her advisees in HULMA (USC SHS Creative Writing Club). On her poetics, Quidet explained that she wished to subvert or assuage traditional Cebuano forms: “I’m caught between two worlds: the elders who hold the reins of Cebuano poetry and my students who want to do more.”

Several thanked Quidet for showing them the potential that Cebuano literature holds, praising her for her choice to experiment with its conventional poetic forms. Others also observed that her inclusion of her students’ works serves as tender, communal writing. However, Quidet was also advised to exercise caution; even if there is consent present, there is always an imbalanced power dynamic between teachers and their students. Other suggestions to improve the collection included embedding links in the footnotes (to enhance its intertextuality), assert her positionality as Cebuano writer by being more vocal about her social world, and imbuing her creative deviations with clear, purposeful intention—“Even if the text obfuscates, the politics must be clear.”

Quidet ended the session by extending her gratitude for the feedback and expressing her newly discovered interest in becoming more politically involved.