Congratulations to 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗲 𝗣. 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗼𝗴, 𝗮 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 (𝗠𝗔𝗟𝗶𝘁) 𝗔𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗻𝗮 of the University of Southeastern Philippines, for being selected as one of the ten exceptional Fellows for the 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗕𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗱 𝗦𝘂𝗴𝗯𝗼 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽. She will be joining the workshop on August 15 and 16, 2026. From sixty-one competitive entries that underwent a rigorous selection process, only ten were recognized as this year’s emerging voices in Filipino literature—five in the Fiction category and five in the Poetry category. Among the distinguished poetry winners was Sumalinog, which secured a place among the year’s top entries.

Founded by Dr. Melquiadito M. Allego Jr. and the event currently Directed by Co Burden, the 𝗕𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻-𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗱 𝘀𝗮 𝗗𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗴 (𝗕𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗱) 𝗦𝘂𝗴𝗯𝗼 reaches its 57th year as the longest enduring writers’ association in Southern Philippines this 19th of August. Established for the treasuring of the Cebuano language and literature, their workshops grant fellowships to chosen artists with the ambition to refine the craft or bare their words with similarly creative souls. Along with the preservation of the collective love for Visayan artistry, the nurturing of budding writers is a pillar of the association’s purpose- having five respected Cebu literary figures mentor this year’s fellows: Butch Bandillo, Dr Hope Sabanpan-Yu, Jeremiah Bondoc, Noel Sanchez Villaflor, and Omar Khalid.

Ms. Sumalinog’s achievement is a proof to her many years of dedication to literature and to the enduring power of words that carry soul and meaning. This recognition may reflect only a glimpse of her creative potential, yet it stands as a meaningful affirmation of her perseverance in crafting worlds and giving

voice to stories that resonate with readers.

Being named a fellow marks not the culmination of her literary journey but the beginning of her work reaching even more hearts and minds. It also signifies a renewed spark that will continue to fuel her passion for writing. As an alumna of the University of

Southeastern Philippines’ Master of Arts in Literature (MALit) program, Ms. Sumalinog exemplifies the commitment to the arts and literature that brings great pride to her fellow writers, artists,

students, and the University community. This milestone is not only a personal achievement to cherish but also an inspiration to fellow USePians who aspire to pursue excellence in the literary arts. May this recognition open doors to even greater opportunities and meaningful contributions to Philippine literature and to the vibrant community of writers that the University continues to nurture and inspire.