UPAABC Holds Annual Balagtasan Event

  • Page Views 2166
  • After a year of an online Balagtasan event due to the pandemic, the University of the Philippines Alumni Association in BC in cooperation with the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver held its annual Balagtasan event in person. Entitled, “Balagtasan, Kundiman, Harana, Tula at Sayawan – Ikapitong Yugto”, the event was held at the Praise International Church in Surrey and was sponsored by SunLife Canada and La Meza Grill. Consul General Maria Andrelita Austria gave a speech on the importance of the celebration of Buwan ng Wika, and quoted Manuel Quezon’s poem about the beauty of the Filipino language.

    The show featured the poetry of Cliff Belgica, who hails from the Ifugao province, as well as poetry from Ahmed Tillah III who rendered one in a song form in Tausug. The oft-awaited Balagtasan debate was written by Bella Balisi-Bevilacqua and the two debaters featured were Art Fabian and PNC-Balitang Vancouver’s  Juville Hipol. A dance was performed by the United Masskara Association, while Christina Aquino of the Philippine Consulate in Vancouver rendered a song. The UPAABC Choir, which was composed of a few alumni of the UP Concert Chorus, was led by Ruby Cortes and sang some kundiman songs. The Friends, Apothic and Music (FAM) presented a hilarious look at the art of the Harana, complete with a facade of a bahay kubo as props. Master Shishir Inocalla and his son Jesse and a student did a demonstration of  Philippine Martial Arts, and announced that he is working towards making the sport an official sport in Canada. The event was completed with guests being treated to a baon/bugong of asado rolls, ube cakes and chocnuts with their Paradise juices as a thank you for their attendance.

    Other sponsors of the event included Raycel Fortaleza (Realtor), Paradise Juices,Cansel,T1 Mobile, as well as organizations UFCABC and the Fil-Canadian Cultural Heritage Society. The event was also sponsored by many of its members, such as wellness doctor Dr. Iris Radev.

    The annual event is a showcase of Philippine literature, song and dance, and is in its seventh year.

     

    Share

    New Posts Recently publish post More

    • 07 November 2024
      2 days ago No comment

      Marcos congratulates Trump

      President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Philippines has congratulated Donald Trump for winning the November 5, 2024 U.S. presidential election. “President Trump has won, and the American people have triumphed. I congratulate them on their victory in an exercise that showed the world the strength of American values,” Marcos ...

    • Pope Francis addresses the crowd from the window of the apostolic palace overlooking St. Peter's square during the Angelus prayer on October 27, 2024 in The Vatican.
      04 November 2024
      5 days ago No comment

      Pope prays for Kristine victims in Philippines

      MANILA, Philippines — Pope Francis has offered prayers for Filipinos affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine. At Sunday’s Angelus address at the Vatican, the 87-year-old pontiff reportedly mentioned praying for the victims of Kristine. “I am close to the population of the Philippines, struck by a powerful cyclone. May ...

    • 04 November 2024
      5 days ago No comment

      Duterte: no apology, no excuses for drug war

      Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on October 28, 2024 offered no apologies or excuses for his actions as he faced a Senate investigation into his widely criticized bloody war on drugs for the first time. Before reading his prepared statement during the hearing of the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee, ...

    • 24 October 2024
      2 weeks ago No comment

      Marcos-Duterte feud: “now a fight to the finish”

      The raging spat between the two most powerful political dynasties in the Philippines isn’t showing signs of letting up. As one political observer noted, the fight between the camps of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and erstwhile ally Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio has reached a point of no return. “This ...

    • 21 October 2024
      3 weeks ago No comment

      Filipino Art is Alive and Well!

      Marianne Valdez, a Canadian-born Filipino visual artist and live painter from Surrey, British Columbia, brings a fresh cultural perspective to contemporary art. Her exhibit, “Masaganang Buhay: A Bountiful Life,” opened at the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver on October 11th. It was warmly welcomed by Acting Consul General Analyn ...