April in the Philippine literary scene is when the country esteems its own writers and advocates for the relevance of literature and the humanities.

The National Literature Month 2024 Celebration at the University of the Philippines Los Baños honored its writers and artists by providing lectures and workshops accessible to the public.

The Literary and Cultural Studies (LACS) Division of the Department of Humanities (DHUM) of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), in collaboration with the UPLB Office for Initiatives in Culture and the Arts (OICA) and Looking for Juan, organized the National Literature Month 2024 Celebration last April 15 to 19 at the CAS Auditorium and DL Umali Lobby.

National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee delivered a lecture titled “Malikhaing Pagsulat sa Maligalig na Panahon” at the CAS Auditorium on April 17, 2024. Doing away with the conventional lecture format, National Artist Lee opted for a more casual Q&A with the audience, allowing him to share his personal experiences on creative writing, film, and life.

Professor Conchitina Cruz of UP Diliman, Adam David, and Faye Cura also delivered lectures related to the theme “Indie Talks: Literary Production and Contemporary Writing in Alternative Publishing Spaces,” focusing on the subjects of independent publishing and zine-making, on April 18, 2024, at the same auditorium.

The celebration also included a workshop on komiks-making with the Graphic Literature Guild, Karma Kolektib, and KULAYAN on April 19, 2024, at the DL Umali Lobby.

Books on Philippine literature and criticism were also available for purchase to students, faculty, and the public in the lobby of CAS Annex 1.