A Poet's Haven

[wayne marc]

Dumaguete will always be close to my heart. It was during the summer of year 2000 when "writers-to-be" and established writers and national artists' converged at tDhe historic CAP building along Rizal Blvd. to once again harness the creative process of writing. The fellows for that memorable summer were:

Writing Fellows / 2000

Isolde Amante
Ian Rosales Casocot
Jean Claire Dy
Francis Ted Limpoco
Wayne Marc Lopez*
Ulysses Navarro
Elmer Omar Pizo
Gerald Feljandro Ramos
Roberto Salva
Alex delos Santos
Vincenz Serrano
Noel Villaflor
Sheryll Tesch

Panel: Dame Edith Tiempo, Gemino Abad, Alfredo Yuson, Marjorie Evasco, Cesar Ruiz Aquino, Susan Lara, Ophelia Dimalanta.


I still remember the familiar scent of Dumaguete where salt mixes with the air to give one the impression that we were once one with the sea, when we were all used to be connected by water.

The Alumni Hall, where the fellows stayed (including yours truly) was a memorable place as it stood the tests of time, old wood stood still to support the walls and frames of this hall.

During night time, the smell of roasted chicken and tempura clings in the night air as we walked along the boulevard.

Dumaguete will always be a haven for creative thinking.



Wayne Marc Lopez
Fellow 2000 National Writers' Workshop