Nearly 300 educators from the Special Program for the Arts (SPA) schools of the Department of Education of the Philippines gathered at the Negros Museum in Bacolod City from July 15 to 19 for the “Husay Sining: Program for Art Teachers” training of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).
The workshop, which is part of the NCCA-DepEd Cultural Education Program (NDCEP), aims to enrich the curriculum for grades 1 to 12 by strengthening the artistic skills of educators and promoting creativity and cultural appreciation among students.
A highlight of this year’s training was the participation of Assistant Professor Noel Galon, a faculty member of the UP High School in Iloilo (UPHSI) and the Department of Vocational Education at the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV).
Galon, who also serves on the executive committee of the NCCA’s National Committee on Literary Arts, was invited to share his expertise in creative writing.
Galon’s workshop focused on innovative approaches to teaching creative writing and emphasized the need to adapt literature instruction to students’ diverse backgrounds.
He emphasized the importance of understanding students’ reading habits, preferences and challenges before engaging in teaching creative writing.
“As educators, we need to understand the context of our students’ lives. It is important to know whether they are still reading, what type of literature or reading materials they are consuming, what formats or platforms they prefer, and what reasons they have for continuing to read despite numerous potential obstacles,” Galon explained.
During his presentation, Galon shared insights from the 2023 National Readership Survey and data from the National Book Development Board (NBDB) survey. He highlighted genres and formats popular with readers and advocated for teaching methods and materials that resonate with students.
His recommendations included inviting living authors into classrooms, organizing visits to authors’ homes or museums, and incorporating cultural immersion activities into the settings of literary works. These strategies aim to make literature more accessible and engaging for students.
“To cap off creative writing lessons, teachers can conduct several engaging activities,” Galon suggested. “Creating a literature map that documents local stories and authors, organizing an author exhibit, conducting video interviews with local authors, and creating short videos for TikTok Reels can make literature more accessible and immersive for students.”
Galon’s commitment to promoting literature extends beyond the classroom. He is a founding member of the Iloilo Mega Book Fair, an annual event that showcases books from different regions of the Philippines, with a special focus on works written in regional languages.
He also coordinates the UPV Sibika Hub, which collaborates with the Asia Foundation and USAID on citizenship projects in Western Visayas.
In October this year, Galon will represent Western Visayas at the Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany, the largest book fair in the world, where he will present literary works from the region, especially books in Hiligaynon, Kinaray-a and Akeanon.
The Husay Sining Program continues to play a critical role in promoting Filipino arts education across the country, ensuring that the educational system remains dynamic, relevant and responsive to the cultural needs of today’s youth.Start of formEnd of form (Ms. Razel Joy C. Salvado (M.Ed ESL student) and Assistant Professor Joven S. Llabore with sources from Assistant Professor Noel Galon)
