“The art continues to thrive, celebrating poetry and poetical expression and engaging the public in informed conversations about political and social issues”
The Cultural Center of the Philippines is holding an innovative contest in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the balagtasan form on April 6 (Saturday), 2:00 p.m., at the Rizal Park Open Air Auditorium, Manila.
The CCP Kanto Kultura: Baraptasan 2024 Grand Finals, highlight of the celebration, combines the modern rap form with the balagtasan.
The Baraptasan judges are Palanca Award-winning poet Teo Antonio and rapper Gloc-9. National Artist for Literature Virgilio Almario, who recently celebrated his 80th birthday, will deliver a special message to set the tone for the event.
The first balagtasan (verbal jousting) event took place on April 6, 1924. It has been described as a form of debate conducted in extemporaneous rhymed verse and thus presents reasoning and argumentation through speech.
The art continues to thrive, celebrating poetry and poetical expression and engaging the public in informed conversations about political and social issues. While the form was not created by acclaimed Filipino poet Francisco Balagtas, it was named in his honor by Tagalog poet and fictionist Jose N. Sevilla.
Ten finalists will face off in a showdown of skillful wordplay:
‘Rapper sa Pinas’ with Oliver Almidin Monindero, Ernesto Canoy, Jr. and Fernando Melencio, Jr; ‘Harayasista Group’, with John Earnest M. Evidor, Anynel L. Garino, and James Son E. De la Cruz; ‘City of Koronadal’ with Jon Van Esmael T. Lapu, Angel Faith P. Leal, and Philip Jay P. Leaño;
‘Ang Mga Supling ni Angela’ with Jan Carl B. Campit, Francis B. Balingbing, and Kirschen Xyvrl I. Balajadia; ‘Lakbay Iral’ with Aaron Vincent G. Jimenez, Louie Ross P. Reyes, and Gabriel Angelo Pedrosa;
‘El Setecientos’ with John Arkhi Corpuz, Miguel Bardaje, and Raynald Simon; ‘Tagapagtaguyod ng Literatura at Wika’ (Tanglaw) with Schulamight Kate C. Manzano, Edlyn Joy M. Baniqued, and Deprisse Andre Guco; ‘Waraptasan’ with James Lorie Leala, Kenneth Cinco, and Ma. Regina Babon;
‘BarapBida Normalista’ with Wally O. Concepcion, Dave Anthony C. Padel, and Ray Vincent R. Padiwan; and ‘DMD’ with John Dave P. Rosimo, Marielle Lou C. Bernardo, and Reynaldo S. Bernardo.
The top three finalists have the chance to win P300,000 (first prize), P200,000 (second prize), and P100,000 (third prize). The rest of the finalists will receive P50,000 each.
Apart from the Baraptasan competition, there will be performances by renowned groups from across the country at the centennial celebration, all paying tribute to the legacy of the balagtasan.
The event, sponsored by the National Parks Development Committee, is free and open to the public. Groups of students and teachers are encouraged to attend.
For updates on CCP Kanto Kultura: Baraptasan 2024 and the centennial celebration of the balagtasan, follow the official CCP and CCP Kanto Kultura Facebook pages, or e-mail [email protected] for more information.
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Congratulations to the Philippine Association for the Study of History, Culture, and Religion on the successful conduct of its 10th PASCHR International Conference last Feb. 22-24, 2024, at the De La Salle University and University of Santo Tomas, both in Manila.
Led by the organization’s president Dr. Mark Iñigo M. Tallara and vice president Dr. Felicidad G. Pereña, the conference featured keynote speakers Dr. Syed Farid Alatas of the National University of Singapore, Dr Amarjiva Lochan of the University of Delhi, Dr Joyce Arriola of UST, and Dr Tim Winter of NUS.
Other academics from universities abroad also participated in the conference, themed “Weaving Southeast Asia’s Tapestry: The Philippines’ Integral Role in Exploring Culture, History, and Religions.”
Among the most popular topics this year were those related to preservation of cultural heritage, sustainable tourism development, and indigenous knowledge systems.
Among the paper presenters from UST were Mr Royce Randall Lim, Ms Cristine Ivy Nogot, and Mr Aldrin Manalastas, from the modern languages, literature, and philosophy departments respectively, as well as Dr Janet Atutubo of the history department and Dr Ulysses John R. Parado of the Institute of Religion.
My thanks to Dr Tallara and Dr Pereña for allowing me to present my paper “Kasarinlan ng Kasuotan: Mapping the Mediatization of Philippine Heritage Clothing Influencers,” representing UST’s communication department.
According to their website information, PASCHR “aims to contribute to the formulation of the Filipino national identity through interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research and scholarship on the Philippines’ indigenous and folk traditions, as well as their colonial, postcolonial, and contemporary developments and links, within the Asian region and beyond, from the perspectives of culture, history, and religion.”
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