Young artists from Tabaco City, collectively known as “Mga Supling ni Angela,” clinched second place at the recently concluded Kanto Kultura BaRAPtasan 2024, held at Rizal Park Manila on Saturday, April 6.
The team consists of three individuals from the city, namely Francis Besa Balingbing and Jancarl Campit, who played as the opposing sides in the verbal joust [Una at Ikalawang Magbabaraptas], and Kirschen Xyvryl Balajadia, who played as the Lakandiwa [mediator] of the team.
According to Balajadia, what set their team apart from other competitors was their ability to combine traditional elements of Bicolano culture with the contemporary beats and rhythms of rap, focusing on their chosen theme, “Social Media: Kasangkapan o Kalaban sa Pag-Unlad ng Kaisipan” (Social Media: Tool or Enemy in Intellectual Development).
The name of their group, “Mga Supling ni Angela,” is a tribute to Angela Manalang Gloria, the first Bicolana poet from Tabaco who was able to publish poems in English.
In an interview, Balajadia shared their aspiration to represent Tabaco City on the national stage, highlighting their desire to introduce the legacy left by the writers who came before them.
“Buhay sa makabagong henerasyon ang legasiya na iniwan ng mga nauna sa aming manunulat. Iyan po talaga ang aim namin. Lubos po [kaming] nagpapasalamat na binigyan kami ng mas higit pa sa inaasam namin,” Balajadia said.
She further emphasized the challenges they encountered before the competition, emphasizing that their journey to the finals was never easy but ultimately rewarding in the end.
“Nag-start po kami sa initial meeting after na magdecide na sasali kalagitnaan ng nobyembre last year. Marami po kaming ginawang adjustments sa presentasyon ng aming piyesa mula sa tamang oras, pag-kabisa. Kaya isa sa mga naisip naming gawin ay ang pag-conduct ng pop up public performances sa ilang lugar sa tabaco para ma-practice na nang maayos ang piyesa,” Balajadia stated.
10 group finalists competed in the finals from various provinces, including Bulacan, Camarines Norte, Albay, South Cotabato, Leyte, Cavite, Laguna, Ilocos Sur, and the National Capital Region (NCR).
Meanwhile, the ‘Bagong Koronadal Advocates’ from Koronadal City, South Cotabato, clinched the first-place title, while the ‘DMD from Makati City’ and ‘Harayasista’ from Labo, Camarines Norte, secured third-place in the competition.
The event was part of the centennial anniversary of the first-ever Balagtasan organized by the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP)—aiming to promote Philippine literature and languages through a traditional ‘Balagtasan’ with a modern twist of Rap. I Lyzha Mae Agnote
Photos: Kirschen Xyvrl Balajadia