Students
Kyndra Lei Yunting - Batch 2019
You’ll find that many college stories begin with “Well, it wasn’t my first choice, but…”
And it’s true for me. BAE was not my first choice.
But it really should have been.
Since high school, I had been a STEM-focused student. That was how most people measured academic excellence: by how good you were in math and science. So writing, to me, was just a hobby. An extracurricular I could dabble in while I focused on my “real” education in chemistry and algebra. At the very least, I imagined, it could be some pastime I could indulge in after my STEM-aligned nine-to-five, because I didn’t think I was good enough or the Philippine publishing industry viable enough to make writing a full-time job.
So I doubled down on STEM. I chose BA Psychology as my first choice of course for the UPCAT. I got in.
And then, once I was there, I hated it.
It wasn’t that the course was especially difficult or daunting. I liked what I was learning, and who I was learning it from and with. But even after a full semester, it still didn’t feel right. I tried to imagine studying psychology for four more years and I felt utterly, soul-crushingly miserable.
The only breath of fresh air I could get was my elective creative writing class. It was the only class I looked forward to, the only class I put my heart and soul into, the only class that even came close to feeling like the correct decision. By the end of the semester, my mind was made up.
I wanted to write.
There’s an entry in my journal around the same time I made the decision to shift courses. It reads: “I want to write again. Is this me getting better? I hope it is.”
Don’t get me wrong. The publishing industry is still brutal, and I am still not a perfect writer (because those don’t exist), but there has not been one day since shifting that I regretted choosing BAE.
The program has, undoubtedly, sharpened my writing skills to a fine point. If you compared my write-ups from my first year to the fourth, you would think they were by two entirely different people.
But more than that, the program has allowed me to explore avenues in my personal life that would otherwise have gone unexplored if I had not had professors that pushed me to dig a little deeper. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve had an “Oh!” moment about myself while writing homework for class.
Not to mention that being based in UP Mindanao has made me appreciate our local literary scene more. It’s been the greatest honor to witness firsthand the wealth of creativity we have right at home, from Mindanao-based writers featured in our readings to my professors and my own coursemates. And yet we find ourselves still woefully under-represented nationally and internationally. It’s a sobering, maddening reality, and still I find myself hopeful.
Even now, I can feel the tides turning in our favor. Mindanao has so many stories to tell and so many people willing to read them, if only we would pick up a pen and actually write it down. If only we stopped trying to talk ourselves out of writing in exchange for a STEM degree.
There’s a quote from Dead Poets Society that’s been used over and over but, God, does it still hold true. “Medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life,” says fictional English teacher John Keating. “But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for.”
Reader, writer, I want us to stay alive.
So give the world something worth staying alive for. Or, at least, something worth staying up the whole night for, until the very last page.
And if you don’t know where to begin, the BAE family is more than happy to set you on the right course.
Students
Henri Belimac - Batch 2022
If you used to spend your nights binging stories on AO3 or Wattpad, then BAE is the program for you.
You might wonder how reading fanfiction would connect to the literary manifold of creative writing, or that’s what they say. It’s important to note that as you venture into the realm of being a BAE student, you will understand that writing isn’t a one-size-fits-all. Writing is encompassing and spontaneous. The headcanon you’ve been reading about might just become a required reading in one of your classes, and your experience with reading 10,000 words and more for a trope in a single night might just come in handy as you study Aristotle or even one of your own award-winning and published professors’ work. You’d even have a chance to make use of your sleepless affairs with SocMed AUs (social media alternate universes) threads by having to make one yourself if you wanted.
If you’re a reader, a sucker for words, a resident of the world you decided to indulge yourself in for the night, or a mere enjoyer of poetry that comes along in your life as if it were meant to be read by you, then BAE might be the home you’re looking for.
I wish I had known that before I went to BAE. At first, entering the program felt like walking through the gates of hell, with choruses of wails erupting from the walls as students complained about readings. It’s partially true, especially the readings part, but the program now feels more like a convention of people who share the same passions and interests, and if you think the same, then that experience would be far from hell.
Classes are filled with laughter and educational chit-chat as we talk about the given stories and poems as if we knew the characters and voices ourselves, then judging Freud and all other philosophers and critics if they had questionable views compared to the ones we have now. But when it comes to our turn to write stories, workshops are where it’s at. Even though workshop classes require us to give negative feedback (if we had any) on each other’s work, they are actually the classes that knit our class closer—never take anything personal; everyone just wants you to perfect your craft.
Also, don’t get intimidated by your blockmate who already read every Shakespeare story, upperclassmen who have already been published, or peers who have competed in NSPC—everyone’s struggling the same. When it comes to crafting and weaving words, there’s no upper hand. As you tackle the different writing genres, you’ll realize that everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses.
When you dive into understanding true poetic language in poetry classes, you’ll either find the deep waters to be your new home or struggle to stay afloat. In fiction writing, the worlds you’ll build will welcome you or consume you whole. As you enter nonfiction, it will become a test of your bravery in addressing your personal traumas. It’s a running joke in the program: you can’t survive BAE if you don’t have traumas. It’s where we get the foundation of our content. Besides the genres mentioned, you’ll also have playwriting and other creative writing courses as outlets. You can also write in different languages, as Japanese and Bahasa courses exist.
The journey may sound daunting and the bridge uncrossable, but know that at every step of the way, seasoned and nationally recognized professors and instructors are more than willing to guide you. UPMin’s BAE faculty has one of the strongest sets of faculty members for creative writing and the university in general. From published authors to multi-awarded Palanca awardees, they are often the reason why BAE students decide to stay. They are that good.
Now, you may be itching to read another piece of fanfiction on AO3, the manga of your favorite anime, Filipino classics, or even the likes of Jane Austen and all others, then go ahead. A writer should be a reader. And if you’re not a reader, maybe a cinephile, KDrama or teleserye enjoyer, musician, and anything else, that’s fine too. In all of those media forms, writing is always present. BAE could still be for you. If you plan to be a published author, a lawyer, or whatever is there in the world, words will always have you, and there’s no better program with words than UP Mindanao’s BA English (Creative Writing).
Alumni
Raphael Salise - Batch 2018; Graduated Year 2022
The BA English - Creative Writing program may (arguably) be the best pre-law course out there, and I’m not just saying that because I got my degree there, but because it equipped me with the necessary skills and discipline to stay afloat in law school, and in life in general.
Back then, I used to struggle in BAE. My first year in the program was devastating; I hated what I was reading, and I could not find the motivation to finish the coverage. But as time passed by, I realized that I had no choice but to keep reading, albeit slowly, until eventually, I was able to find my groove and create my own study habits. And from that moment on, everything just fell into place.
The BAE program exposed me to different genres of literature; there were lengthy novels that seemed to go on forever, and there were short stories that were easy to read but heavy on the heart. On the one hand, this trained me how to "read smart," paying close attention to details, following the story's train of thought, and imagining the scenes as I read along. On the other hand, this taught me the importance of story-telling; a skill that transforms words into vehicles of thought. If the stories we read make us feel uncomfortable, enlightened, convincing, or emphatic, then the story is doing its job.
In law school, it's just the same ball game, only with extra difficulty due to the length and pacing. But putting things into perspective, I read the cases as if I were reading a story, and each provision is a school of thought. That way, it feels like I am in the BAE program again, reading a short story through a formalist lens. This is perhaps one of the most important things I’ve picked up from the program. I may have forgotten the stories, poems, essays, and novels I’ve read, but I would always carry the discipline that the BAE program had taught me, and this gets me through the challenges I face in law school.
The BAE program also inspired me to become a better writer. Before I entered college, I was already writing poems and stories, so I could probably say that I had an advantage. But I was humbled quickly, because the stories I wrote in my first year were just that--plain stories. They were "passable," yes, they gave me good grades, but what good is a story if it is not remembered by my readers?
Don't get me wrong, though, writing for leisure is always a good mental exercise. However, in today's time, we need more writers. And by "writers," I am referring to the people who could echo the voices of those who need to be heard. Now is the time to write for the things that we strongly believe in, to tell stories of our hometowns and everyday struggles, and to keep history from being forgotten. We need to keep writing, as they always say, to "comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable."
For me, writing would always be a "learnable skill," or something that could always be improved through exposure, readership, workshops, and revisions. You don't need a Creative Writing degree to become a writer, but what the BAE program teaches you is how to sharpen your writing skills, and realize that there are so many things that should and could be written about. Thus, as the years went by, I learned how to write with a purpose: for yourself, for Mindanao, and for the people who believe in you.
Alumni
Nixie Serna - Batch 2019, Graduated Year 2023
“What are you gonna do with a BA English degree?” This is a question I was often asked when I was a BA English student. Economic matters aside, it is a difficult question to answer because the possibilities are endless. Some say you can become a writer, a lawyer, or a teacher but the fact remains that you can constantly reinvent yourself and not be defined by a single path. After all, change is the only constant. Though, I do admit that is no less complicated per se and might not be for everybody. So, as a response, I rephrase the question: what does a BAE degree do to you?
For me, it did quite a few things. The BAE program drew me a map to find my stand in society. Despite being solitary and silent endeavors, reading and writing pushed me to be vocal in speaking my mind and using my voice may it be verbal or on paper. Speaking of speaking one’s mind, I constantly challenge my convictions by asking what my purpose is in everything I do because when you write, you should know why and for whom you are writing.
Still vague? Perhaps you should try it yourself. Pick up your pen and paper. Your story is waiting to be written.
Scholarships
CHED Scholarship Programs
OVERVIEW
The CHED Merit Scholarship Program (CMSP) is a government-funded scholarship aimed at supporting academically talented students, especially those who belong to the following special groups:
Underprivileged and homeless citizens (RA 7279);
Persons with Disability (RA 7277); and
Solo parents and/or their dependents (RA 8371).
This scholarship is open for incoming freshmen who want to pursue their undergraduate studies in any CHED recognized priority programs in private higher education institutions (HEIs) or State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs).
A qualified student may be awarded a full or partial scholarship under the State Scholarship and Private Education Student Financial Assistance (PESFA). The financial assistance may cover tuition and other fees, as well as a monthly stipend for living expenses.
Overall, the CMSP is a valuable opportunity for promising Filipino students to pursue their higher education goals without having to worry about the financial burden.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Filipino citizen
Graduating high school student/ High school graduate with general weighted average (GWA) of at least 96% for Full Merit Program and 93% to 95% or its equivalent for Half Merit Program
Student-applicants belonging to the special group of persons such as the underprivileged and Homeless Citizens under Republic Act (RA) No. 7279, Persons with Disability (PWDs) under RA No. 7277 as amended, Solo Parents and/or their Dependents under RA 8371, shall submit certifications and/or Identification Cards (IDs) issued by the appropriate offices or agencies.
Avail of only one government-funded financial assistance program.
DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS
Citizenship: Certified true copy of Birth Certificate
Academic Requirements:
High school report card for incoming freshmen students eligible for college; and
Duly certified true copy of grades for Grade 11 and 1st semester of Grade 12 for graduating high school students
Income Requirements (whichever is applicable)
Latest Income Tax Return (ITR) of parents or guardian;
Certificate of Tax Exemption from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR);
Certificate of Indigence either from their Barangay or Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD);
Case Study report from DSWD; and
Latest copy of contract or proof of income, for the children of Overseas Filipino Workers and seafarers
Other Requirement
Identification Card (ID) – Special Group (Underprivileged or Homeless, PWD, Solo Parent, Senior Citizen, Indigenous People)
Link to the Website: https://ched.gov.ph/merit-scholarship/
