14/11/2025
WIELDING THE PEN: YOUNG WRITERS GATHER FOR WEAVING STORIES AND SPILLING INK
On November 12, 2025, Senior high students were packed in the EKR Learning Commons to take part in a creative writing workshop, Weaving Stories and Spilling Ink: A Writer’s Journey for National Book Week, to learn how to wield their pens to their full potential.
Both long-time writers and those who are still in the first chapters of their writing journey gathered to listen to the wisdom of guest speaker, Professor Carla M. Pacisi. Professor Pacisi is a faculty member of the Literature Department of De La Salle University and an award-winning author who has written various children’s books and young adult books.
After meaningful opening remarks and a soulful opening prayer, Professor Pacisi began her talk with personal anecdotes from her time as a student during martial law. She highlighted that change begins with young people, who now have many means of writing, and therefore many means to have their voices heard. She reiterated that as the world evolves, with it the art of writing is threatened. This makes the talents of young writers—and their improvement—more relevant now than ever.
After a short break, an open forum was held to address the participants’ concerns with picking up a pen and writing their hearts out. Students didn’t hesitate to share what troubles them the most in the writing process. Professor Pacisi’s advice encouraged them to seek out feedback, sit down, and just bring their pen to the paper, and lock out distractions.
To conclude the workshop, students were invited to form groups of five and play a writing game called Renga, where one member would start a haiku with its traditional 5-7-5 syllabic pattern, then it would be continued by another member with a 7-7 syllabic pattern until the group had written two separate five-line haikus. Even under pressure, students were able to come up with creative poems.
| Written by Erin Reyes
| Photos by Sistine Nuque, Emirah Gardoce, Martheena Candelario, Mia Vergara
