UST Department of Literature

11/05/2026

[𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭]

The Department of Literature congratulates our faculty members, and our colleagues from the Department of Creative Writing for the successful release of:

𝐓𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐒: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐞 𝟔 𝐈𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞 𝟐 (𝐌𝐚𝐲, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔)

Prof. Cristina P. Hidalgo, PhD
Department of Creative Writing
𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫-𝐢𝐧-𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐟

Prof. John Jack G. Wigley, PhD
Department of Creative Writing
𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫

Inst. Mark Anthony S. Angeles, MA, LPT
Department of Creative Writing
𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫

Assoc. Prof. Ralph S. Galan, MA
Department of Creative Writing
𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫

Below are the Faculty Members and their respective contributions in this current issue of Tomas:

Asst. Prof. Ma. Ailil B. Alvarez, MA
Department of Literature
(𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞 - 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐨𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐨 𝐇. 𝐀𝐛𝐚𝐝: 𝐀𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐈𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐨𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐎𝐧𝐞’𝐬 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐩. 𝟏𝟗-𝟒𝟔.)

Prof. Chuckberry J. Pascual, PhD
Department of Creative Writing
(𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞 -𝐀𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐧 𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐠𝐚 𝐍𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐧 – 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐚 𝐬𝐚 𝐌𝐠𝐚 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐩. 𝟔𝟖-𝟖𝟖.)

Inst. Joel M. Toledo, MA
Department of Creative Writing
(𝐏𝐨𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐲 - 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐩. 𝟏𝟐𝟓-𝟏𝟐𝟖.)

Inst. Benjamin Joshua L. Gutierrez, MA
Department of Creative Writing
(𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐲𝐬𝐚𝐲 - 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐚𝐩 𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐚 𝐩. 𝟏𝟗𝟕- 𝟐𝟏𝟐.)

Inst. John AndrewM. Del Prado, MA
Department of Literature
(𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧 - 𝐆𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐦 𝐚𝐭 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐩. 𝟐𝟐𝟖 - 𝟐𝟓𝟒.)

To access publication please play the video and scan the affixed QR code.







LIT forever. Forever LIT.

UST evermore.

11/05/2026

[𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭]

The Department of Literature congratulates our very own:

𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐭. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟. 𝐌𝐚. 𝐀𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐥 𝐁. 𝐀𝐥𝐯𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐳, 𝐏𝐡𝐃

for her publication titled:

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐀𝐂𝐑𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐋 𝐏𝐎𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐆𝐄𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐎 𝐇. 𝐀𝐁𝐀𝐃: 𝐀𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐂 𝐈𝐌𝐀𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐈𝐍 𝐒𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐏𝐎𝐄𝐌𝐒 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐈𝐍 𝐎𝐍𝐄’𝐒 𝐁𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐃

This paper focuses on the aspects of the Catholic sacramental imagination as seen in eight poems from National Artist Gémino H. Abad’s latest poetry collection, The Light in One’s Blood (UP Press, 2021). This essay attempts to show through textual analysis how Abad’s verses reflect a distinct Catholic spirituality by highlighting key themes found in the poems, such as seeing nature as divine revelation, using poetry as a form of prayer of direct address, verbalizing faith and belief, yearning for the transcendent, and hungering for God.

Her article is published in

𝐓𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐒: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐞 𝟔 𝐈𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞 𝟐 (𝐌𝐚𝐲, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔)

Ma. Ailil B. Alvarez recently finished her dissertation on the Catholic Imagination in the poetry of National Artist Gémino H. Abad. She was also newly appointed as Co-Editor-in-Chief of UNITAS, the Philippines’ oldest extant journal of advanced research in literature, culture, and society. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Literature at the University of Santo Tomas (UST), a Resident Fellow of the UST Center for Creative Writing and Literary Studies, and a researcher with the UST Research Center for Culture, Arts, and the Humanities. She also served as the former Director of the UST Publishing House, where she worked as an administrator for more than a decade. Her book of critical essays, Slivers of the Sky: Catholic Literary Readings and Other Essays (2016), was named a f inalist in the 36th National Book Awards for the category Literary Criticism/ Literary History in English.

To access publication please play the video and scan the affixed QR code.







LIT forever. Forever LIT.

UST evermore.

11/05/2026

[𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭]

The Department of Literature congratulates our very own:

𝐌𝐫. 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐰 𝐌. 𝐝𝐞𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐨, 𝐌𝐀

for his publication titled:

𝐆𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐦 𝐚𝐭 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠

Choi Seo-Hae (1901-1932)
Isinalin sa / Translated in Filipino ni John Andrew Del Prado

In ‘Gutom at Pagpaslang (Hunger and Murder),’ the story of Kyeong-su is narrated—a father, husband, and son—who struggles to support his family as severe hunger, illness, and poverty set in. Amidst layered tragedies and a lack of help from society, his mind is completely shattered, leading to violence that kills his own loved ones. This is a vivid and bitter portrayal of how hunger, poverty, and the loss of dignity can destroy a person—not only physically but also in the soul.

His translation is published in

𝐓𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐒: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐞 𝟔 𝐈𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞 𝟐 (𝐌𝐚𝐲, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔)

Mr. John Andrew M. Del Prado, MA is a teacher in the Department of English at Ateneo de Manila University. He studied Comparative Literature and Comparative Culture at Korea University under the Korean Government Graduate Scholarship Program, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Literature at the Graduate School of the University of Santo Tomas. His research interests include translation studies, visual arts, postmodernism, and game studies.

To access publication please play the video and scan the affixed QR code.







LIT forever. Forever LIT.

UST evermore.

11/05/2026

[𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭]

The Department of Literature congratulates our colleague from the Department of Creative Writing:

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟. 𝐂𝐡𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐉. 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐚𝐥, 𝐏𝐡𝐃

for his publication titled:

𝐀𝐍𝐆 𝐁𝐀𝐘𝐀𝐍 𝐍𝐆 𝐌𝐆𝐀 𝐍𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐈- 𝐍𝐆𝐈𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐆-𝐁𝐀𝐘𝐀𝐍:
𝐏𝐀𝐆𝐁𝐀𝐒𝐀 𝐒𝐀 𝐌𝐆𝐀 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐃𝐈𝐆𝐀𝐋

This paper analyzes Luna Sicat Cleto’s Mga Prodigal as a diasporic novel and as a realist novel in conversation with her first novel, Makinilyang Altar. While conventional interpretations categorize Makinilyang Altar as a personal and autobiographical narrative and Mga Prodigal as more socio-political, this paper argues that they are fundamentally linked by their deconstruction of realism.

His article is published in

𝐓𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐒: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐞 𝟔 𝐈𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞 𝟐 (𝐌𝐚𝐲, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔)

Dr. Chuckberry J. Pascual is a novelist, translator, and scholar. He has written novels, short story collections, and books of literary criticism, including Ang Nawawala/The Vanished, Mga Bubuyog na Nagkumpulan/The Gathering Bees, and Mars, May Zombie! He teaches literature and creative writing at the University of Santo Tomas and holds a PhD in Malikhaing Pagsulat from the University of the Philippines.

To access publication please play the video and scan the affixed QR code.








LIT forever. Forever LIT.

UST evermore.

11/05/2026

[𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭]

The Department of Literature congratulates our colleague from the Department of Creative Writing:

𝐌𝐫. 𝐉𝐨𝐞𝐥 𝐌. 𝐓𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐨, 𝐌𝐀

for his publication titled:

𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐄 𝐏𝐎𝐄𝐌𝐒 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐆𝐋𝐈𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐑 𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐋𝐘

The Glimmer Assembly is a suite-in-progress envisioned as a meditation on the myriad aspects of light as viewed from various perspectives, as something nuanced and informed by other fields like science, philosophy, ekphrasis, and politics. But mostly centered on the environment. While it is not ecopoetry per se, the collection hopes to use this advocacy as a running and guiding thread, aware of ecopoetry’s growing importance in contemporary verse. Especially in a world contending with the harsh effects of climate change. The Philippines is geographically and socio-politically a crucial venue where the possibilities of ecopoetry can be “brought to light,” given that our people are in the frontline of the climate crisis and often bear the brunt of radical changes in weather. Of course, in spite of this ambition, the author is fully aware that poetry must maintain its focus on craft and the elevation of poetic language before any conceit and discourse toward fostering advocacies and calls to action. The Glimmer Assembly aspires for this literal and figurative balance.

His poetry is published in

𝐓𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐒: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐞 𝟔 𝐈𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞 𝟐 (𝐌𝐚𝐲, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔)

Mr. Joel M. Toledo is the author of seven books of poetry and the recipient of the 2025 Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagtas for Poetry in English. A 2006 NCCA Writers Prize awardee, he has won various awards for his poetry, including the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Award, the 2025 Nick Joaquin Literary Award Poet of the Year, and the Bridport Prize. His poems have appeared in The Iowa Review, ZYZZYVA, The Prairie Schooner, Quarterly Literary Review Singapore, Kritika Kultura, The Likhaan Journal of Contemporary Philippine Literature, and The Washington Square. He has co-edited local and international poetry journals and anthologies including Caracoa, Under the Storm, and Cordite Poetry Review. A recipient of the Rockefeller Foundation Poetry Residency in Bellagio, Italy in 2011 and 2023, Toledo was a poetry fellow of the 2011 International Writers Program at the University of Iowa, USA.

To access publication please play the video and scan the affixed QR code.








LIT forever. Forever LIT.

UST evermore.

11/05/2026

[𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭]

The Department of Literature congratulates our colleague from the Department of Creative Writing:

𝐌𝐫. 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧 𝐉𝐨𝐬𝐡𝐮𝐚 𝐋. 𝐆𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐳, 𝐌𝐀

for his publication titled:

𝐇𝐎𝐋𝐃𝐀𝐏 𝐀𝐍𝐆 𝐁𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐀

The author recounts his experience as a mobile journalist covering Angel Locsin’s community pantry in April 2021, during the pandemic. The event was marked by tragedy when a senior citizen, Rolando dela Cruz, collapsed and was declared dead on arrival at the hospital. The essay follows the author’s journey as he locates Tatay Rolando’s home to interview his daughter following the loss.

His essay is published in

𝐓𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐒: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐞 𝟔 𝐈𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞 𝟐 (𝐌𝐚𝐲, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔)

Benjo Gutierrez is a storyteller from Hagonoy, Taguig. He is the author of Tanga Ka Na Lang Kung Naniniwala Ka pa sa Kapangyarihan ng Kuwento, a collection of short stories in Filipino released by UST Publishing House in 2026. His writings have been featured in DX Machina 4 of Likhaan Journal, Katipunan Journal, and Kritika Kultura 48 of Ateneo de Manila University, Agos Journal of SWF-UP Diliman, DISPATSA of UngazPress, the First Anthology of Palihang Rogelio Sicat, : Pandemic Literature from the Philippines and Japan, The Reflective Practitioner of UP-Manila, Agwat-Hilom of NCCA, DAPITAN, Aksyon: Dagli ng mga Eksenang Buhay of 7 Eyes Production, Inquirer.net, and Rappler. Currently, he teaches literature and creative writing at the University of Santo Tomas.

To access publication please play the video and scan the affixed QR code.








LIT forever. Forever LIT.

UST evermore.

10/05/2026

[𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫'𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧]

"Whatever else is unsure... a mother's love is not"

- James Joyce, "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man"

The Department of Literature warmly wishes all the loving mothers and everyone who served as a mother in various ways a happy and wonderful Mother's day celebration.




LIT forever. Forever LIT.

UST evermore.

08/05/2026

[𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬]

It's a joyful weekend as one of our faculty members celebrates this wonderful day!

The Department of Literature wishes

𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭. 𝐈𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐚𝐡 𝐅. 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐚, 𝐋𝐏𝐓, 𝐌𝐀

a splendid birthday celebration! Enjoy this brand new chapter in your life Sir Ice and may God and all the humane forces of this world be with you and your loved ones; always and in all ways!

08/05/2026

[𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬]

The Department of Literature warmly wishes our very own

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟. 𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐋. 𝐔𝐫𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐚, 𝐏𝐡𝐃

a Happy Birthday! May your birthday be a new chapter filled with prosperity, good health, and happiness Doc Luz!

08/05/2026

[𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭]

𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐃’𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐮𝐦

The Department of Literature of the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, the Catholic University of the Philippines, stands in solidarity and communion with various academic institutions, professional organizations, and artistic communities in calling on the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to reconsider its proposal for the Reframed General Education Curriculum and to restore the rightful place of Literature and the Humanities as mandated general education courses.

The Department calls for prudential judgment and careful critical reflection, as any change in the General Education curriculum affects not only thousands of humanities instructors in colleges and universities, but also the future of humanistic and artistic scholarship, the cultivation of humane values and skills, and the ethical formation of the youth—the future generation of the nation.

The study of Literature, Art, and the Humanities within the university fosters critical thinking, nourishes creativity and imagination, and deepens empathy and respect for sociocultural differences. Numerous studies have shown that sustained engagement with literature and the humanities strengthens not only literacy, but also the higher-order thinking skills necessary for various professions and vocations.

While the contemporary world demands technological mastery and interdisciplinary adaptability, the enduring value of literature and the humanities reminds students of the permanent truths of the human condition. These disciplines affirm the human person as one created in the image and likeness of the Divine and as a sub-creator capable of imagining worlds, possibilities, and realities through stories and artistic expression.

Education in Literature and the Humanities does not merely prepare students for careers or industry demands; it prepares them for a life lived meaningfully, ethically, and in communion with humanity. Pope Francis, of blessed and eternal memory, reflected on this in his pastoral letter on the study of literature:

“The wisdom born of literature instils in the reader greater perspective, a sense of limits, the ability to value experience over cognitive and critical thinking, and to embrace a poverty that brings extraordinary riches. By acknowledging the futility and perhaps even the impossibility of reducing the mystery of the world and humanity to a dualistic polarity of true vs false or right vs wrong, the reader accepts the responsibility of passing judgement, not as a means of domination, but rather as an impetus towards greater listening. And at the same time, a readiness to partake in the extraordinary richness of a history which is due to the presence of the Spirit, but is also given as a grace, an unpredictable and incomprehensible event that does not depend on human activity, but redefines our humanity in terms of hope for salvation.”

In this spirit, we reiterate our call to reconsider the current proposal for the Reframed General Education Curriculum. We urge CHED to listen to scholars and teachers of literature and the arts and to reinstate mandated courses in Literature and the Humanities in order to form a better, brighter, and more humane generation of Filipinos.





LIT forever. Forever LIT.

UST evermore.

07/05/2026