Daily Tribune (Philippines)

National Poetry Day, a first in Phl

Poetry has played an important role in shaping Philippine history

- BY ROEL HOANG MANIPON

The birth anniversar­y of iconic Tagalog poet Jose Corazon de Jesus on 22 November was chosen to be date for the first celebratio­n of the National Poetry Day in the Philippine­s.

A National Poetry Day has been celebrated in the United Kingdom every first Thursday of October since 1994, and the United Nations Educationa­l, Scientific and Cultural Organizati­on or Unesco has led the celebratio­n of World Poetry Day every 21 March since 1999, putting a spotlight on one of the oldest, most treasured and highly regarded artistic forms of creativity and expression of humanity.

National Poetry

Day or Pambansang

Araw ng Pagtula in the Philippine­s also shares a similar goal — to promote and appreciate poetry. It is spearheade­d by National Artist for literature Virgilio S.

Almario, who in 2015 institutio­nalized the celebratio­n of National Literature Month every April, together with other writers and poetry lovers and independen­t publisher San

Anselmo Publicatio­ns.

Also supporting the celebratio­n are the

National Commission for Culture and the Arts; the Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika, at Anyo, a group of Filipino poets; and Likhaan: University of the Philippine­s Institute of Creative Writing.

“Napakahala­ga ng tula sa ating kasaysayan. Bakâ táyo lang ang may kasaysayan ng panahon ng pagpapalay­à na pinangunah­an ng mga bayaning makata. Mula kay Balagtas, ang landas ng ating paglayà ay hinawan ng pagtula nina Plaridel, Rizal, Bonifacio, at Jacinto (Poetry is very important in our history. Perhaps, only us have a history of freedom movement led by poet-heroes. From Balagtas, the path to freedom was forged by the poetry of Plaridel, Rizal, Bonifacio, and Jacinto),” said Almario in his short essay, “Isang Tanging Araw Para sa Pagtula,” posted on the Filipino Ngayon Facebook page on 10 November.

The essay provides a quick survey of Filipino poetic forms and the role of poetry in Philippine history and society.

For Marvin Aceron, executive publisher of

San Anselmo Publicatio­ns, the main three points for organizing the National Poetry Day are “to promote the art of poetry, to raise the level of appreciati­on for Filipino poetry, and to honor Jose Corazon de Jesus and all patriotic Filipino poets.”

De Jesus will be headlining National Poetry Day as organizers pay tribute to the poet known as “Hari ng Balagtasan” on his 128th birth anniversar­y. Popularly called Huseng Batute, he is known for his poem, “Bayan Ko.”

San Anselmo, known for publishing poetry books such as such as Agua by Enrique Villasis, Mga Poon, Mga Piyon, Mga Pusong, Isang Pusong by Almario, Ang Lunes na Mahirap Bunuin by Nicolas B. Pichay and 100 Pink Poems Para Kay Leni, will be launching Mga Piling Tula ni Jose Corazon de Jesus, edited by Almario. It

will be making the e-book free to download for a limited time.

The highlight of the celebratio­n, which banners the theme “Ibalik ang tula sa puso ng madla (Bring poetry back into the people’s hearts),” is the live poetry marathon at the historic Manila Metropolit­an Theater, participat­ed in by about 50 Filipino poets and performers. There will also a poetry book fair at the same venue.

According to LIRA president Joti Tabula, they are encouragin­g organizati­ons and institutio­ns all over the country to hold events in their places for National Poetry Day.

 ?? PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF NCCA ?? NATIONAL Artist for literature Virgilio Almario spearheads National Poetry Day in the country.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF NCCA NATIONAL Artist for literature Virgilio Almario spearheads National Poetry Day in the country.
 ?? PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF SAN ANSELMO PUBLICATIO­NS ?? A NEW volume of selected poems by Jose Corazon de Jesus will be launched on National Poetry Day.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF SAN ANSELMO PUBLICATIO­NS A NEW volume of selected poems by Jose Corazon de Jesus will be launched on National Poetry Day.

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