Davao City's vibrant literary scene received a creative boost last year with a special gathering designed to empower local storytellers. The event, which successfully blended inspiration with practical guidance, highlighted the growing support network for writers in the region.
A Creative Hub in Mabini
On September 6, 2025, the Plan B Café in Mabini became the heart of Davao's writing community. The café, co-owned by Bianca Delgado and Batet Sentilanosa, had long planned to host literary events and finally opened its doors for the Bookbed organization's "From Blank Pages to Breakthrough" workshop. The café owners had extended invitations for weeks prior, culminating in this perfect alignment of venue and vision.
The event was spearheaded by KB Meniado, a fellow Dabawenya, writer, and editor for Bookbed. Meniado welcomed attendees with notable warmth, setting a supportive tone for the day. While the workshop primarily targeted emerging writers, even published authors found value in participating, not just as learners but as mentors ready to share their journeys.
Structured Creativity and Shared Stories
What stood out for many participants were the engaging, structured activities led by KB Meniado. She designed exercises that demystified the writing process, focusing on creating complete narrative snippets with a clear beginning, middle, and end by the close of the session. This simple yet powerful approach helped attendees overcome the intimidation often associated with writing.
The day involved several interactive segments:
- A focused writing activity where participants put pen to paper (or fingers to iPad).
- A sharing session where writers read their freshly created work aloud.
- An informative lecture and an open Q&A forum where experienced writers provided insights.
The cozy, inspiring atmosphere of Plan B Café, complete with good food and the company of fellow creatives, added a layer of magic to the practical lessons. The event also showcased Bibi Manki, a mascot dedicated to encouraging reading and writing among Filipinos.
Supporting Local Voices Beyond the Workshop
The event's impact extends beyond a single day of learning. Plan B Café operates a community shelf and consignment system, actively helping local writers reach an audience. Attendees and visitors can purchase books directly from Davao-based authors at the café, creating a vital sustainable model for the creative economy.
This initiative underscores a crucial message from the event: while writing can be a personal challenge, the subsequent steps—editing, revising, and navigating publication—are where community support becomes invaluable. Every writer's path is unique, but collective efforts like this provide accessible ways for stories to find their readers.
The organizer expressed deep gratitude to KB Meniado, café owners Bianca and Batet, and all the new friends made that day. The success of the "From Blank Pages to Breakthrough" event signals the immense creative potential within Davao, not only in literature but across all arts. It stands as a promising model for future gatherings that will help Davao's writers continue to grow, bloom, and share their distinct voices with the world.
