Do you know where’s the Capital City of Cebuano Poetry? With no doubt in mind, it’s Cebu. Unofficially, of course.
For the past few weeks, Cebu City has been filled with Cebuano poems locally called as balak being posted in random corners like the street walls, electric posts, skywalk, and other public places!
Here are some places that Cebuano poems were posted:
1. Water Drum
This poem of Melquiadito Allego, BATHALAD (a Cebuano literary community) founder, is posted in of one of the most obscure places in Cebu City. Do you find this romantic in any sense?
2. Truck Tire
This artwork of Marjorie Evasco is sitting on an abandoned tired somewhere in Lahug. Seeing this will prove that poetry is indeed becoming part of our society!
3. Side Walk
Jeremiah Bondoc's balak is posted in a street wall near a popular mall across Fuente Osmena Circle.
4. Road Name Signage
Chai Fonacier's art piece was once hung in a corner street of the busy metro. What would Chai upon feel seeing this picture?
5. T-shirt
Here's a picture of Hanski Garcia's 'Anino' (proudly handwritten on a woman's t-shirt) taken in the middle of the night.
6. Abandoned Truck
Ton Daposala's 'Makina' being posted on an abandoned truck is telling us a sad story of the future generation. Can you feel the pain upon seeing this picture?
7. JY Square
Ernesto Lariosa's 'Pikas nga Buwan sa Tibuok Langit' was once posted in the middle of the busy streets of Lahug, Cebu.
8. Restaurant's Freedom Wall
What can you possibly do in a freedom wall? Consider writing a Cebuano poem.
9. I Love Cebu
Yes, we love Cebuano poetry and we wish to bring it to more places in Cebu!
10. Coffee Shop
Januar Yap's 'Konsepto sa Nasuhito' has traveled to my favorite spot in Cebu.
11. Church
Rene Ampers' Christmas poem being posted in front of the Catholic church is nothing but a sign that Cebu is probably the capital city of Catholicism in this country.
12. Electric Post
Better than election posters, right?
13. Sari-sari Store
Have you seen a poem in front of a sari-sari store? Only in Cebu.
14. Bakery
Some poems deserve to posted and read when you're hungry.
15. Beside K-Pop Icons
Di na mada'g Iningles. Gasakit akong heart! Di ko magsaba ngano.
The Mastermind Behind this Project
These poems posted across the city are done by the Cebuano Literature students of Jona Bering, a Palanca awardee (Cebuano Short Story 2013, "Ang Tubod", First Prize) and a traveler blogger at Backing with a Book.
The students were obliged to follow these interesting trend in Cebu. If they didn't comply to this requirement, this will happen to them:
Take it or...
These poems posted in various corners of Cebu are also published in an online Cebuano poetry archive Kadisdak. The blog's moderator, Myke Obenieta, is also an award-winning Cebuano poet writing in both Cebuano and English.
The Cebuano literary community is more than happy to see these poems posted in the streets! Wishing that more teachers will follow Jona Bering's footsteps.
For more #BalakPaMore posts in Instagram, click here.
(Note: This is my entry for Day 6 of 30 Day Blogging Challenge organized by Cebu Blogging Community from October 1-30, 2015. #iBlogforCBC #CBCLevelUp #CBC30DayChallenge)
Cool project. If I'm one of the student, I'd choose to post mine sa basurahan. Double purpose, not only for the public to notice the poem but for them to know the basurahan exists as well.
ReplyDelete#balakpamore is very interesting. It would be fun reading all those poems. I remember when I was in my university days, our school publications never missed out having Cebuano poems in it. :)
ReplyDeleteWow this is so great!!! as in, ang mga tao karon nag avoid mag binisaya especially to poems kay lood kono paminawn, but hey if mag bisaya ka and maka make jud og balak, sos hands down ko nimu kay di madala lisud kaau mag bisaya na mag balak! hahah
ReplyDeleteWow! Ka-nice ani nga initiative Romeo oi! mabuhi jud ang dugong Bisdak ani! ^_^
ReplyDelete