Manila (CNN Philippines Life) — This long weekend, celebrate Buwan ng Panitikan at a literary festival and a writers congress, immerse in art at a pop up, explore experimental printmaking, listen to some of your favorite local independent musicians, and go on a road trip and enjoy live music by the beach.

Incendiary: 8th Philippine International Literary Festival

Literature can change and spur social revolutions. The 8th Philippine International Literary Festival (PILF) on April 27 to 28 is the National Book Development Board’s culminating event for Buwan ng Panitikan (National Literary Month), and features talks on writing, reading, book design, publishing, rights trading, and other issues shaping the local book industry. The event in QCX, Quezon City Memorial Circle also includes a book fair, a career day session, and a business matching event. For the full list of speakers, check out the event’s program here, and pre-register for the talks here. Admission is free.

Pop Up: Art Exit

A SPACE Philippines is sponsoring a pop up, called Art Exit.17, where one can meet and connect with artists, immerse in the art scene, and browse through artwork for sale. There are also workshops and talks on wine and painting (by Chris Verayo), watercolor (Miqo Dioniso), and basic pottery (Krista Nogueras and Krista Luistro), which come with a separate fee. Interested participants can also pitch their own ideas for exhibits. Tickets are available for ₱250 per day, and ₱400 for two days. The event will be held on April 28 and 29. For more information, visit their Facebook event page. A SPACE Greenbelt is located at 110 Legaspi St., Legaspi Village, Makati.

DIWA: What does it mean to be human?

A group exhibition of experimental printmaking by the University of the Philippines SFA193 Printmaking Class, in collaboration with the Ateneo de Manila University FA 168.5 Exhibition Planning and Design Class, DIWA explores the essence of humanity. The exhibit runs from April 25 and can be viewed at the Printmaking Room of the College of Fine Arts at UP Diliman according to the following schedule: April 26 to 28, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; April 29, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and May 2, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information, visit the Facebook event page.

Gabi Na Naman 2nd Anniversary

Independent production outfit Gabi Na Naman Productions is celebrating its second anniversary on April 29, 9 p.m. in Route 196, featuring Aia de Leon, Ang Bandang Shirley, Autotelic, Ben&Ben, Bullet Dumas, Johnoy Danao, and Shirebound and Busking. Door charge is ₱250 before 9 p.m. and ₱300 after, with one free beer. For more details, check their Facebook event page. Route 196 is located at Katipunan Ave., Quezon City.

Nalu Music Fest

The 4-day Nalu Surf Camp in Baler, Aurora concludes with a 2-night music fest on April 29 to 30, highlighting Filipino Talent. Cap off the long weekend with a beach trip, and enjoy performances by Parokya Ni Edgar, Callalily, Franco, Sandwich, Moonstar 88, Abby Asistio, Marcus Highway, Gracenote, and The Ransom Collective, among others. Tickets start from ₱418 (Gen Ad Day Pass for April 29, including unlimited drinks and Surf Expo access) to ₱3,657.50 (VIP 2-day pass including surfing and yoga lessons, a loot bag, unlimited cocktails, and Surf Expo access, among others). Get tickets at ticketworld.com.ph or check their Facebook event page for more information.

Ika-43 Pambansang Kongreso ng mga Manunulat

Also in celebration of Buwan ng Panitikan, the Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas (UMPIL, or The Writers Union of the Philippines) will hold its National Writers Congress on April 29 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Rizal Library of the Ateneo de Manila University, featuring a keynote lecture by Dr. Jose “Butch” Dalisay, Jr. on “Ang Panitikan sa Panahon ng Tokhang (Literature During the Bloody War on Drugs),” which serves as the congress’ overarching theme. The speakers for the writers forum “Ang Papel ng Manunulat sa Panahon ng Tokhang” are Lourd de Veyra, Joel Salud, and Juana Change (Mae Paner), with Karina Bolasco as moderator. The speakers for the writers forum “Paglalako ng Opinyon, Pagkabigo ng Gunita (Opinion Peddling, the Failure of Memory)” are Floy Quintos, Frank Cimatu, and Joyce Martin, with Louie Jon Sanchez as moderator. Three major awards — Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Francisco Balagtas, Gawad Paz Marquez Benitez, and Gawad Pedro Bucaneg — will be conferred as well. For more information, visit the Facebook event page. Admission is free.