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#BalakPaMore: Cebuano Poetry in Random Corners of Cebu



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



A photo posted by Kristia Bait-it (@imkristia21) on


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


A photo posted by @paulilykristina on


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


A photo posted by Erika Oreo (@erikaoryowww) on


Have you seen a poem in front of a sari-sari store? Only in Cebu.

14. Bakery


A photo posted by Ayre Caindec (@ayrecaindec) on


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)

Comments

  1. 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
  2. #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. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wow 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

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow! Ka-nice ani nga initiative Romeo oi! mabuhi jud ang dugong Bisdak ani! ^_^

    ReplyDelete

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