BATANGAS CITY – Batangas province has launched its first ever “Spoken Poetry” competition to promote breath-taking landscapes, enthralling landmarks, pristine beaches and rich marine resources, among other tourism landmarks.
The first ever modern “Spoken Poetry 2018” tilt themed “Ganda ng Batangas” (the beauty of Batangas), which kicked off Aug. 1 at the SM City Batangas Event Center, also served as the opening salvo for the “Buwan ng Wika” (National Language Month) celebration this August.
Provincial Board Member Claudette Ambida, who chairs the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial legislative council) Committee on Tourism, said Friday that the pioneering spoken poetry competition is seen to promote tourism in the province and at the same time broaden and enrich the use of the Filipino language especially in observance of the National Language Month.
“Layunin nito na mapalago ang turismo sa lalawigan ng Batangas sa pamamagitan ng patimpalak na ito na sumesentro sa ganda ng probinsiya (The objective of this competition is to promote tourism in Batangas province through poetry which highlights the beauty of the province),” Ambida said.
A joint project of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP)-Batangas City Council, Batangas Lions Club and SM City Batangas, the competition engages senior high school students in Batangas who will dish out poetry lines describing the beautiful tourism sites.
Event organizers said the spoken poetry is a theatrical form using descriptive words, figurative speech as art and focuses on the aesthetics of the poetry, enunciation, recitative dynamics and vocal quality.
“Ito ay tinatawag ding “catch-all” dahil sakop nito ang lahat at kahit ano pa mang uri ng mga tulang pabigkas gaya ng hiphop, jazz poetry, poetry slams, traditional poetry readings at maaari ding samahan ng komedya o mga prosing monologo (This is also called a “catch-all” because it covers all the elements in spoken poetry just like hiphop, jazz poetry, poetry slams, traditional poetry readings and may also include comedy or prose monologue),” organizers said.
In a message relayed by Department of Education (DepEd) Program Supervisor Ederlinda Lontok, Schools Division Superintendent officer-in-charge Dr. Donato Bueno has encouraged the younger generation to give importance and be proud of the Filipino language.
Around 16 senior high school students from private and public schools here joined the competition with their own original composition.
The competition’s criteria included message/substance, performance, memory, clarity in the delivery of the spoken lines and voice quality.
Batangueño Antonio Bathan Jr., a semi-finalist in a television talent competition show “Pilipinas Got Talent,” who was one of the panel of judges also performed his spoken poetry as intermission number prior to the announcement of winners.
Sunshine De Castro, senior high school student of Golden Gate Colleges (GGC) romped off with the championship title with a trophy, PHP 7,000 cash prize and gift certificate from SM City Batangas.
Carmella Fritz Briones of Alangilan National High School (NHS) won 2nd place; Zandra Arago of Marian Learning Center and Science High School, 3rd place; and Cedrick Delos Reyes of Conde Labac NHS, 4th place. (Maroe T. Genosa/PNA)
