Sunday, August 31, 2008 Students promote Kapampangan through poetry
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The formal opening of the first-ever "Aldo Ning Amanung Sisuan" (Day of the Native Tongue) here last Friday has boasted of the participation of at least 29 pupils from different elementary schools who have answered the call to safeguard and promote the Kapampangan language.
A poetry-reading contest in the Kapampangan language was conducted to better ensure the participation of the students. Dubbed as "Ligligan Pamagale Poesia," the contest aimed to popularize the use of the native language as a tool for literary compositions like poetry and dramatic verses.
The Pampanga Language Council (PLC), the steering body for the celebration, said students play a vital role in mitigating the decline of the use of Kapampangan in schools and universities.
As part of the contest, the elementary pupils rendered one poetry piece written by Kapampangan poet Felix Garcia. The winners in the said contest were Shaina Torres (first place, Maliwalu Elementary School), Mariella Fedeles (second place, San Matias Elementary School), Paula Caryl Aquino (third place, Magalang Elementary School). The winners took home P10,000, P7,000 and P5,000, respectively.
The poetry event was part of the three-day celebration of the "Aldo Ning Amanung Sisuan". The designation of the last working day of August each year as the Aldo ning Amanung Sisuan is in response to a resolution passed by the Provincial Board last May.
The resolution also saw to the creation of the PLC as the body to oversee the celebration as well as other concerns affecting the language. The council is composed of representatives from various cultural groups and government and non-government organizations (NGOs) such as Anasi, Dila, Akkap, Agtaka, Aslag Kapampangan, Katatagan, Aguman Buklud Kapampangan, AUF Institute for Kapampangan Studies, Asikan, Department of Education (DepEd) and Commission on Higher Education (Ched).
The celebration of this year's "Aldo Ning Amanung Sisuan" was slated on August 28, 29 and 30 and was to be held in different key areas of the province.
The opening celebration was held last Friday on the second day of the event highlighted with a parade from the Capitol grounds all the way to the Metropolitan Cathedral. The Capitol Band provided musical accompaniment for the parade.
The formal opening program was held at the Benigno Aquino Hall and was attended by Capitol employees, Kapampangan organizations, and Pampanga Governor Eddie Panlilio. (IOF)
