ANGELES CITY -- High School students in the city have proficiently pitched their views and opinions in the recently concluded first Kapampangan Language High School Debate coined as “Matenakang Anak ning Amanung Sisuan” (Young Intellectuals of the Kapampangan Language).
The two-day event held on August 24 to 25 at The Newpoint Mall, Angeles City, was sponsored by the City Tourism Office with an aim to pass down the Kapampangan language to the youth.
“Balamu ing amanung Ingles ya ing meging amanu da reng biasa at ing amanung Kapampangan meging amanu da reng maklak a buntuk. E ku ata tanggap ita. Nung Kapampangan ka at tanggapan muyta, malungkut ku para keka (It seems that the English has become the language of intelligent persons and Kapampangan of stupid people. If you are a Kapampangan and you accept that fact, I'm sad for you),” Talasinup ning Singsing for Kapampangan language Mike Pangilinan emphasized.
On the elimination round, the participating debaters from Rafael Lazatin Memorial High School, Chevalier School, Bonifacio Romero High School, Holy Angel University (HAU), and Francisco G. Nepomuceno Memorial High School (FGNMHS) were asked to streamline their respective tantu (propositions) and salangsang (oppositions) in vernacular.
The students were ranked by Komisyong ng Wikang Fili[ino- Kapampangan Commissioner Lucena Samson, advocate and University of the Assumption Librarian Roilingel Calilung, Singer/Composer Cris Cadiang, Tegalugan Series of Videos on Lexical Borrowing Publisher Rey Maniago and Don Honorio Ventura Technological State University Heritage Museum Curator and HAU- Center for Kapampangan Studies Consultant and Archivist Lord Francis Musni based on balangtayan (logic), pamanapse (delivery), pamaniugid (interpellation) and taluing amanu (rebuttal/surebuttal).
The arguments defended by the propositioning and opposing teams are Filipino identity can only be expressed by speaking Tagalog and wearing Barong Tagalog and not by speaking Kapampangan; Nationalism can be expressed in Kapampangan; and Kapampangan Language is a dying language or vice versa.
As an ice breaker, Pangilinan sparked a vocabulary quiz to test the knowledge of the young audiences and the winners were given prizes.
Singers Shane and Sheen, Alang Dios lead actor Manuel Madrid, Poet Laureates Amado Higante, Paul Batac and Sahra Del Mundo also performed on stage to entertain the spectators and mall goers.
During the awarding ceremony, FGNMHS was hailed as the Matenakang Anak ning Amanung Sisuan 2017 awardee, bringing home the trophy with P15,000 worth of cash prize and Chevalier School bagged the first place with P10,000 cash award.
Aside from announcing the Young Intellectuals of the Kapampangan language, Arnn Fides Canlas (Chevalier) and Joyce Ann Puno (FGNMHS) have been conferred with the Ari ning Balitaktakan (Best Debater) and Supling ning Amanu (Best Speaker) trophies and P3,000 each.
Present to show resilient support in promoting the Kapampangan language among the youth is Herminia Pamintuan, wife of City Mayor Ed Pamintuan and Committee Head on Arts and Culture Councilor Amos Rivera.
Pamintuan expressed gratitude to the debate Lakandiwa (chairperson) and host Cecile Yumul, Newpoint Mall Marketing and Operations Manager Trixie Valdez, Acto Head John Montances, Heritage, Culture and Arts Management Deputy Officer Allegria Cruz and the rest of the members of the working committee who have made the event a success.
The Angeles City Government through its Tourism Office plans to hold similar event yearly to promote the Kapampangan language to the youth. (PR)