THE Center for Kapampangan Studies (CKS) of Holy Angel University announced last August 27 the winners of its annual spoken-word poetry and songwriting competitions, as part of its celebration of the Aldo ning Amanung Sisuan (Kapampangan Language Day).
Last year’s winner, Gerald Chu, won again the top award in the spoken-word poetry category. Called The Villanueva Prize, the P10,000 cash prize was donated by lawyer Stephanie Gomez Somera in memory of her grandfather, lawyer Francisco Villanueva, a Kapampangan poet who died in the Spanish influenza pandemic of 1918-19. Her mother, Francisca Villanueva Gomez, was a pioneer student of Holy Angel University when it opened in 1933.
Errice Pabalan and Nerwin John Suba were the second and third placers, with Carlito Mendoza winning a special prize for the most number of Facebook likes and shares on his posted performance.
Filmmaker Jason Paul Laxamana, poet Roilingel Calilung and spoken-word poet Gerone Baladhay served as judges in this category. A total of 39 contestants submitted their videotaped performance of their own interpretation of the contest theme “Amanung Sisuan: Makananu na ka kaya bukas?”
In the songwriting category, Jay Gopez’s “Duyan” was awarded the top prize of P10,000, while Paul Timothy Bondoc’s “Kape ampo Gatas” and Luis Gabriel Gomez’ “Ali Mayayari king Bengi” were adjudged second and third prizes, respectively.
Bondoc also won a special prize of P5,000 as best performer, while Peter Paul Carreon and John Richard Danganan’s joint entry “Albug ning Pusu” beat 43 other entries for the special prize of most number of Facebook likes and shares.
The songwriting judges also gave special prizes for their personal choices. ArtiSta. Rita founder Andy Alviz gave two ArtiSta. Rita Awards, one for Kurt Neal Miranda and Kintaro Kawabe’s “Pagkeran” and another for Kevin Pangilinan and Samuel Cheyenne Bennett’s “Itámu, Ita Mu,” plus The Trinidad Alviz Religious Song Award, in honor of Alviz’ recently departed mother, which went to Mark Canlas’ “Malugud kung Guino.”
The two other judges in the songwriting category gave special prizes as well: HAU Orchestra Musical Director Edwin Lumanug gave the Maestro Lumanug Award to Mico Panlilio’s “Cauran,” while TV station manager Benny Guinto gave the GNN-TV 44 Award to Brian Miranda and Kiara Quizon’s “Muli Ku Keka.”
The Center for Kapampangan Studies started the contest as Amanu-lympics before the pandemic, held live at the Center’s quadrangle on University campus. The contest moved online last year when the pandemic started, and again this year as the pandemic continues. The contest is part of the Center’s celebration of the Aldo ning Amanung Sisuan which the province marks every last Friday of August, the Buwan ng Wika.
In his remarks during the online program, CKS Director Robby Tantingco called on Kapampangans to celebrate Buwan ng Wika by privileging their native language more than the national language, which he said “is already over-privileged as it is.”
“It doesn’t matter if you’re not fluent in Kapampangan, or you get criticized for your imperfect version of it, as long as you express your love for it by trying your best to use it often,” Tantingco added. (PR)