Spanish Microfiction Finds a New Home in Manila: Lorena Escudero to Lead Groundbreaking Workshops at UP Diliman and Instituto Cervantes

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Manila, Philippines – August 2025 — In an age where attention spans shrink and words must work harder than ever to leave a lasting impression, Spanish writer Lorena Escudero is bringing one of literature’s most powerful forms—the art of microfiction—to the Philippines.

On August 27 at the University of the Philippines–Diliman and on August 28 at Instituto Cervantes de Manila (Makati branch), Escudero will lead “Lo bueno, si breve” (The good, if brief), a pair of intensive workshops designed to teach Filipino students and young writers the craft of creating worlds in just a handful of sentences.

The Power of Brevity

Microfiction, or microrrelato, is the art of telling an entire story in its most distilled form—sometimes no longer than a single paragraph, or even a single line. For Escudero, a physicist by training and a writer by passion, the form is not just about conciseness but about precision, intensity, and the subtle magic of suggestion.

Through interactive exercises, she will guide participants in discovering how just a few words can ignite the imagination, leaving gaps that readers instinctively fill with emotion and meaning. It is literature in its most minimalist yet most explosive form—every word charged with significance.

About Lorena Escudero

Born in Soria in 1985, Lorena Escudero represents a rare fusion of science and art. Holding a PhD in Physics and working as a researcher at the University of Cambridge, she has also carved out a luminous career in Spanish literature.

Her published works include:

Negativos (Torremozas, Spain, 2015)

Formulario (La tinta del silencio, Mexico, 2019)

Incisiones (Quarks Ediciones Digitales, Peru, 2021)

Her most recent book, Oxímoron (2023), earned her the Premio Iscariote for best book of microfiction—cementing her place as one of the most compelling voices in this genre.

A Filipino-Spanish Literary Bridge

The workshops are not just standalone events but are part of the VI Certamen Juvenil de Creación Literaria “Rafael Palma” (2025), a youth literary contest honoring the legacy of Rafael Palma, the Filipino writer and intellectual who played a key role in shaping Philippine letters during the Spanish period.

Participants in Escudero’s workshops will be tasked to write their own original micro-stories. Winning entries will find their place in the respected Revista Filipina, alongside recognition from the University of the Philippines and Instituto Cervantes de Manila. Prizes include certificates and a coveted scholarship for a Spanish language course—offering young Filipinos not just inspiration, but opportunity.

Reviving the Spanish Literary Legacy in the Philippines

This initiative is more than a workshop. It is part of a larger movement to reconnect Filipinos with the Spanish language, which, for centuries, was the vessel of the nation’s intellectual, political, and cultural life. By embracing microfiction, Filipino writers are invited to rediscover this heritage in a form uniquely suited for the 21st century—concise, sharp, and globally resonant.

A Collaboration of Cultural Forces

“Lo bueno, si breve” is presented by Instituto Cervantes de Manila, in collaboration with the Embassy of Spain in the Philippines, AECID Philippines, the UP Diliman Department of European Languages, Revista Filipina, the Education Office of the Embassy of Spain, the Academia Filipina de la Lengua Española, and AFELE – Asociación Filipina de Enseñanza de ELE.

How to Join

Students, aspiring writers, and lovers of Spanish literature are encouraged to register at https://forms.office.com/e/wcpRSGJ3sZ.

For more details about Instituto Cervantes’ cultural program, visit www.manila.cervantes.es or follow Instituto Cervantes Manila on Facebook.

In just two afternoons, Lorena Escudero promises to transform how young Filipinos think about storytelling. In her hands, the smallest story may turn out to be the most unforgettable.

Cayetano Pushes DOH to Lead Philippine Delegation in Global Tobacco Control Summit

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Metro Manila, Philippines – The smoke from last year’s controversial delegation to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) has yet to clear, but the Senate is making one thing certain: never again.

In her Chairperson’s Report released on June 30, 2025, Senator Pia Cayetano, Chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, delivered a blunt recommendation: the Department of Health (DOH) must be designated as the official and permanent head of the Philippine delegation to all WHO FCTC Conferences of the Parties (COP).

The move comes after a bruising inquiry into the performance of the Philippines’ 34-person delegation to COP10 in February 2024—a delegation that left the country’s credibility in ashes.

A Delegation in Disgrace

COP, the governing body of the WHO FCTC, convenes every two years to strengthen the world’s only global public health treaty on tobacco control. But in 2024, instead of championing stronger protections for Filipinos, the Philippine delegation reportedly delayed sessions, parroted tobacco industry arguments, and pushed for watered-down measures that weakened global tobacco control efforts.

The result? The Philippines earned yet another “Dirty Ashtray” award—its fifth—an infamous recognition reserved for countries that sabotage tobacco control objectives in favor of industry interests.

Worse, the 2024 team was led not by health authorities but by the Office of the President’s then Senior Deputy Executive Secretary.

DOH as the Logical Leader

Cayetano’s report did not mince words. Agencies like the Department of Education and the Department of Foreign Affairs have already voiced support for DOH leadership. The DOH itself has consistently asserted its readiness, expertise, and mandate to lead.

“The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee agreed with the sensible recommendation to make DOH the permanent head of delegation to WHO FCTC conferences, whether COP or MOP [Meeting of the Parties],” the report stated. “To belabor the point, it is only appropriate for the DOH to lead the Philippines’ team to the world’s only existing public health treaty.”

The next COP, set in Geneva, Switzerland from November 17 to 22, 2025, will be a defining moment for the Philippines. With Health Secretary Ted Herbosa currently presiding over the World Health Assembly, expectations are high that the country should present itself as a model of public health leadership—not a repeat offender.

Public Interest Advocates: “Never Again”

Civil society welcomed the Senate’s firm stand. Public interest law group ImagineLaw underscored the urgency of reform.

“It is a shame that the Philippines has received dirty ashtray awards in the last two COPs. This should serve as a wake-up call to the President,” said Atty. Sophia San Luis, Executive Director of ImagineLaw.

“It is only right for DOH to lead the Philippine delegation in future WHO FCTC conferences, because protecting public health should never take a backseat to tobacco industry interests. It would be a shame if the Philippines were to receive another dirty ashtray award in the same year Sec. Ted Herbosa served as President of the World Health Assembly.”

A Legal and Moral Obligation

Under Article 5.3 of the WHO FCTC, the Philippines is duty-bound to protect tobacco control policies from interference by the tobacco industry. This principle is reinforced domestically by a 2010 joint memorandum circular between the DOH and the Civil Service Commission, explicitly banning partnerships with tobacco companies in shaping health policies.

Yet, despite this obligation, the country’s recent delegations have repeatedly leaned toward the industry, tarnishing the Philippines’ image in the global fight against tobacco.

The Bigger Battle Ahead

For Cayetano, for ImagineLaw, and for countless health advocates, the issue is clear: the delegation to COP11 is more than a question of representation—it is a test of the nation’s integrity.

Will the Philippines continue down a path of international embarrassment, serving as a cautionary tale of industry capture? Or will it reclaim its rightful place among countries committed to protecting public health above all else?

The answer may come this November in Geneva. And this time, the world will be watching.

PHLPost Opens More Kadiwa ng Pangulo Stores Nationwide

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

 

The Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) has opened 45 Kadiwa ng Pangulo stores nationwide, reinforcing its commitment to deliver affordable food and essential goods to Filipino families through the government’s flagship initiative.

Kadiwa ng Pangulo, a program of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., aims to ensure food security, generate jobs, and reduce poverty by offering basic commodities at lower prices. In partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA), PHLPost has provided its post office network as strategic venues for the rollout of the program.

At participating post offices, families can buy P20-per-kilo rice, with each store selling around 30 kaban or 1,500 kilograms of NFA rice every week to meet consumer demand. Alongside rice, Kadiwa ng Pangulo outlets also offer vegetables, meat, fish, and other agricultural products at prices significantly lower than commercial markets by removing middlemen and linking farmers directly to buyers.

One of the busiest outlets is located at the Manila Central Post Office in Liwasang Bonifacio, which continues to attract both producers and consumers because of the affordable prices and convenient location. 

Postmaster General and CEO Maximo Sta. Maria III emphasized that the collaboration of the PHLPost and DA highlights the government’s collective effort to make affordable food accessible to all.

Under the arrangement, PHLPost provides space and logistical support to house the Kadiwa outlets, while DA oversees product sourcing and ensures that essential commodities are delivered fresh and regularly. To better serve the public, Kadiwa stores operate every Friday, with some areas adopting specific schedules to accommodate the needs of their communities.

Several pop-up stores have already been established across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, further expanding the reach of the program and ensuring that affordable essentials are not limited to major urban centers. 

By hosting the Kadiwa ng Pangulo in its post offices, PHLPost not only brings essential services closer to the public but also strengthens its role as a partner in nation-building, providing relief to families affected by rising food costs while empowering farmers with direct access to consumers.