The Lighthouse Diary #67: Expanding Our World: Reflections on World Languages and Literature Week 2025

Joel Donato Ching Jacob aka Cup

During this year’s World Languages and Literature Week, we, at the BA Library had the privilege of hosting three remarkable authors namely, Joel Donato Ching Jacob, Robin Sebilono and Artie Cabezas who shared not only their books but also their writing journeys and the literary works that have shaped their thinking. Each talk, spanning 30 to 40 minutes, became more than just a discussion of craft and the writing life —it was an invitation to step beyond the familiar borders of language and thought.

Thinking of a way to introduce the Book Talk and Author Visit activity, I was reminded of Ludwig Wittgenstein’s words: “The limits of my language mean the limits of my world.” It’s a striking idea—that our ability to understand, to imagine, even to dream, is shaped by the words we have at our disposal. And so, I used this idea to bring in our students' consciousness into the sessions. Our students, through these author talks, experienced a challenge and opportunity to expand the limits of their worlds.

Joel Donato Ching Jacob, whose middle-grade novels, Wing of the Locust and Orphan Price,  are set in an imagined pre-colonial city in Laguna province, spoke about the importance of learning sight words. He emphasized how reading books of all kinds—especially those that genuinely interest us—contributes to vocabulary growth and comprehension.

Robin visits BA!

Robin Sebolino, author of Vassals of the Valley, delved into his purpose for writing. A passionate historian at heart, Robin finds both comfort and contemplation in writing fiction. His talk underscored how storytelling becomes a way of making sense of history, giving voice to the past while engaging with the present.

Lastly, Artie Cabezas presented his portfolio of sequential art, leading us to explore the power of visual narratives in non-literary texts and other media. His talk became even more resonant when he shared works that reflect his advocacies—gender identity, representation of people with disabilities, and creating spaces for the marginalized.

What worlds opened up! Language is not just about communication; it is the foundation of how we interpret and engage with the world. And when we encounter writers who challenge and inspire us to see differently, who introduce us to narratives outside our own, we grow. Our students didn’t just listen to authors—they widened their own worlds.

We will always be proud of our Griffin and Virtus et Ars Awardee!

I hope these conversations linger in their minds, urging them to read more, to write more, and to embrace the vast possibilities that language—and literature—offer.