Dumaguete, a small city in the Visayas region of the Philippines, has long been a literary hub. It is home to the Silliman University National Writers Workshop (SUNWW), established in 1962, the oldest creative writing workshop in Asia, which has nurtured over 900 writers. The city has produced some of the country’s finest literary figures, including two National Artists—Edith Tiempo for Literature and Eddie Romero for Film and Broadcast Arts—as well as 13-time Palanca laureate Ian Rosales Casocot, a key figure in contemporary Philippine literature. 

Beyond literature, Dumaguete fosters a thriving creative ecosystem with over 800 mapped creative industry players operating in the city. The city has four universities, including Silliman University, St. Paul University Dumaguete, Negros Oriental State University, and Foundation University, which contribute to its vibrant intellectual and artistic environment. The Silliman University Library, the largest outside Metro Manila, houses extensive literary collections. The Claire Isabel McGill Luce Auditorium serves as a key venue for cultural performances, while six galleries support visual artists. The National Museum at the Presidencia Complex further enriches the city’s cultural landscape. Dumaguete continues to position literature as a driver of creative and economic growth, ensuring its role as a cultural and literary capital in the region.