A New Collection Finds Its Readers
GENERAL SANTOS CITY - Writer and educator Hannah A. Leceña introduced Silang May Ngalan, her third book, during a launch at Hinimay GenSan on August 15. The work is a collection of short stories written in Filipino and focuses on individuals whose lives and experiences are often overlooked. The launch later became part of a regional book tour, with succeeding activities held in Kiamba, Sarangani, on August 17 and at Mindanao State University–General Santos on August 19. For General Santos readers, the book offers another opportunity to encounter literature created within the wider SOCCSKSARGEN community. Its arrival also shows how locally connected writers continue finding ways to bring their work before new audiences.
Literature That Looks Beyond the Familiar
One of the notable aspects of Silang May Ngalan is its attention to people and stories that may not always receive space in mainstream conversations. According to MindaNews, Leceña's latest collection continues a literary practice of drawing attention to people, places, and experiences that might otherwise remain unnamed. Her approach is also connected to her broader interest in communities and the environment. During the launch, she spoke about the many stories still waiting to be written about waters, land, and the natural surroundings people depend on. That perspective gives her latest publication a wider purpose without reducing the stories to a single message or theme.
GenSan’s Literary Circle Gets Another Chapter
The book launch also brought members of the local literary community together. Writers from the SOX Writers Collective and Dadiangas Writers Society joined the gathering, while spoken-word artist group Sigaw Heneral contributed a performance. Leceña's literary background includes her earlier novel Jonas: Nobela sa Wikang Sebwano, published by the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, as well as works appearing in journals and anthologies. Her newest publication adds another entry to that body of work while giving General Santos another locally connected literary event to celebrate in August. For readers, students, teachers, and aspiring writers, the launch offers a reminder that a city's creative identity can also be built through books, storytelling, and people willing to keep writing.
