ARE FILIPINO WRITING WORKSHOPS SAFE SPACES FOR NEWBIE FEMALE (OR EVEN MALE) WRITERS?
by Ramil Digal Gulle
Copyright 2026 by Ramil Digal Gulle
Reprinted by permission of the author. This first appeared in
Are Filipino Writing Workshops Safe Places for Newbie Female (or even Male) Writers?
THIS IS A VALID QUESTION. Dahil ilang former workshop fellows na ang nagbahagi ng sarili nilang masamang karanasan sa mga older, established writers na naging panelists at mentors nila. Basahin ang mga post nina Gian Lao at Marguerite Alcazaren De Leon.
Siguro, magandang pag-isipan ng mga organizers ng mga writers workshops natin, sa Dumaguete, sa UP, sa UST, sa Iligan, at kung saan pa man: Eto bang mga brilliant at established, senior writers sa panels natin ay may potential na manyakin ang mga writing fellows? In other words, isn't it time to seriously vet whom we choose as our workshop panelists---not only in terms of brilliance, artistry, or expertise, but also in terms of their tendency to engage in predatory behavior towards young writers who are at the weak side of their power relations?And, what are our writing workshops now prepared to do IN CASE A REVERED, BRILLIANT PANELIST VIOLATES A WRITING FELLOW'S SAFETY? From what I know, these panelists usually do not suffer any consequence for such hurtful, harmful behavior.How hard is it for a workshop to require senior writers to sign an agreement that contracts them to observe certain boundaries and protocols towards workshop fellows? And once the agreement is violated, well, then state categorically what the penalties would be for the panelist. Isn't it time that we mete out some serious consequences to panelists' harmful behavior?Some examples we can think of are:1. Panelists should not invite into their rooms, and into their beds, any workshop fellow at any time, whether during workshop hours, before or even after workshop sessions.2. As a panelist, do not spend time alone with workshop fellows. Especially when alcoholic or other mind-altering substances are involved.3. Do not send flirty or sexually-charged, even by way of innuendo, messages to workshop fellows, whether through text messages, chat, or by speaking such to them directly.4. And in cases where post-workshop socializations occur, well, make sure any sessions involving alcohol are in a group setting, in a public setting, or within workshop site premises.5. Take seriously accusations and complaints by workshop fellows against panelists, instead of dismissing them outright, or presuming that it's the workshop fellow's fault.Are these extreme measures? Do they presume that a workshop panelist is a potential manyakis? Then what measures can our writing workshops take to prevent incidents of sexual harassment/predation?
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Bio:Ramil Digal Gulle is the author of four books of poetry. His writing career spans journalism, public relations, marketing copy, biographies, and the literary arts. He is the founder of Healthy Mind Manila, a mental-health support group on Facebook. In 2018, he won the Poet of the Year prize at the Nick Joaquin Literary Awards; and in 2022, the Palanca Award for Poetry in English.
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