10 - The Last Minute Entry

“When my heart beats for someone…” Those were the words that Jem, Cylord, and I uttered last March 9, 2016 at the Art of Spoken Words Competition, one of the events lead by the APC Speaks and English Resource Center. 

It was a nice Wednesday afternoon when Ms. Nina asked a huge favor to us. Me and my block mates have a feeling that it was going to be something about a competition and our speculation was correct! After our GRAMCOM class, she told us that there will be a slam poetry competition that will happen after 1 week. She asked us if we are interested to join the said competition. Almost an hour passed and no one was still willing to join. In order to not disappoint Ms. Nina; Me, Cylord, and Jem had an agreement and grabbed the role to represent our block. 

With the help of Ms. Nina, it took us approximately 4 days to construct and practice our piece that we will be using for the event. While memorizing my parts in the poem, I can’t help it but to reminisce my best friend in the past. Just so you know, I fell in love with this best friend of mine a long time ago when I was still in high school. To make the story short, I was not able to properly confess what I really feel about her until we part ways. With that said, I had no idea that I will be able to use this experience in a school event.

After rehearsing a bazillion times in school, we were quite confident for the competition UNTIL we stepped inside the room where the event was being held.

One after the other, each team recited their piece in front. They did so well and gave me goosebumps! It’s now our turn to perform and recite what we crammed in the last few days. With the café themed room, we recited our poem the way we practiced it. Although we’ve had a few mistakes (especially me), who would’ve thought? We were able to hook the 2^nd place!      

   

We would like to thank everyone who helped us in this competition. Our block mates who helped us in the proper delivery of the piece, and of course Ms. Nina. Without her, we might not be able to achieve our place in the competition.     

Source(s):
RAMpage

9 - Bienvenido Lumbera

 

Bienvenido Lumbera is a Filipino poet who is also National Artist of the Philippines and a recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature and Creative Communications. Because of his works, he won many awards like Carlos Palanca Memorial Award, and the National Book Awards.

 

Based on Wikipedia, He was born on April 11, 1932 at Lipa, Batangas. His father died when he was still 1-year-old after falling from a tree and his mother suffered and died from cancer a few years later. Because of this, he became an orphan at an early age and was cared by his paternal grandmother, Eusabia Teru. 

After the war ended, they returned to their old home in Lipa, Batangas. His grandmother soon died because of old age and because of that he was once an orphan once again. But he was then taken cared by his godparents. 

According to GoodReads, he studied in University of Santo Tomas to pursue his degree in Journalism in 1950. He also completed his M.A. and Ph.D. in Comparative Literature at Indiana University on the year 1967.

His works are entitled Likhang Dila, Likhang Diwa, Balaybay: Mga Tulang Lunot at Manibalang, Abot-Tanaw: Sulyap at Suri sa Nagbabagong Kultura at Lipunan, Pag-akda ng Bansa, Tales of the Manuvu, Rama Hari, Sariling Bayan: Apat na Dulang May Musika, Nasa Puso ang Amerika, Bayani, Noli Me Tangere: The Musical, and Hibik at Himagsik Nina Victoria Laktaw.

Source:
Wikipedia, GoodReads

Photo Source:
http://www.rmaf.org.ph/newrmaf/uploads/photos/file/pc_(1).jpg

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