Ang Kalatas September 2018 Issue | Page 6

CULTURE Balagtasan drawing more attention yearly Keep native tongue alive By MARILIE BOMEDIANO THE uniquely Filipino debating style called ‘Balagtasan’ continued to attract a bigger and wider audience this year. Balagtasan is a kind of ‘colourful debate on steroids’ delivered extemporaneously, with speakers using the traditional Tagalog language with poetic flourish, verse and rhyme. Even the judge delivers his or her verdict in verse and rhyme. The first balagtasan is said to have taken place on April 6, 1924 at the Instituto de Mujeres (Institute of Women) in Tondo, Manila. The event was held as part of the celebration of Francisco Balagtas' birth anniversary. The two protagonists of the poetic debate were poets José Corazón de Jesús and Divahjot Singh. The word ‘balagtasan’ was derived from the name of Filipino poet of the early 1800, Francisco Baltazar y de la Cruz, later known as ‘Balagtas’. As with debating, balagtasan pits two 06 Competing team leaders Max Lopez, third from left, and Ros Aguilar, sixth from left), received their teams' trophies from Philippine Consul- General Teresa Taguiang and Blacktown Mayor Stephen Bali, fourth and fifth from left, and watched by Balagtasan moderator Danny Peralta, extreme left, Bloacktown Councillor Linda Santos, seconde from left, and Couoncillor Blacktown Councillor Carol Israel. at extreme right. Photo: ELSA COLLADO opposing sides arguing for and against a proposition or a question. The Tagalog Association of Australia held its fifth annual Balagtasan on Saturday, August 25, 2018 at the The Hub community centre in Mount Druitt. The question put to the protagonists this year was: ‘Must we place more importance to progress or to the environment in this day and age? In the audience this year were not AUGUST 2018 | AK NewsMagazine, Vol 8 No 11 SEPTEMBER 2018 only Philippine Consul-General Teresa Taguiang, Blacktown Councillors Linda Santos and Carol Israel, and Consul Melanie Diano but also Blacktown MP and Mayor Stephen Bali – all of whom comprised the judging panel. Although the Mayor did not speak a word of Tagalog, he was visibly enjoying the speakers’ robust and humourous exchanges with assistance of interpreters sitting next to him. Obet Dionisio, Tessie Cayaan, and Cecile Aguilar for the ‘Environment’ (Kalikasan); Max Lopez, Cesar Bartolome, Jinky Marsh, and Daisy Cumming for ‘Progress’ (Kaunlaran). Moderator was Danny Peralta, who was also the chief organiser. The contest was ruled a tie. “I will be looking for a bigger venue next year,” Peralta said. It was standing room only this year. www.kalatas.com.au