Acquiring and applying spick-and-span knowledge are still the best ways to improve one’s ability. Perceiving this clearly, The Spark’s 18 staffers underwent on their first-ever poetry writing workshop that took place at the Drawing Room of Marcelo H. Del Pilar Bldg. (College of Engineering), Southern Luzon State University, January 11, 2009.

Several attempts

Prior to that, the young guest speaker, Mr. Mark Anthony S. Angeles, was supposed to come up on December 14, 2008 but due to his inconsistent timetable as a call center agent and as a lecturer of journalistic workshops in various schools, it was moved on December 14, 2008. Unluckily, he was not again available during that time. And so, it was conducted after Christmas and New Year’s break.

Setting it out

The workshop, which was organized by The Spark Editorial Board and pushed through by their Exchange Editor & Circulations Manager, began with an invocation led by Aga L. Velasco. Subsequently, it was followed by a brief introduction of the 28-year-old guest speaker wherein Michael C. Alegre distinguished Mr. Angeles. Popularly known as Makoy Dakuykoy and formerly Vice President-elect for Luzon of College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) from 2002-2004. Mr. Angeles pointed out poetry as: the best words in the best order, according to Samuel Taylor Coleridge. After that, he gave techniques  on how to create a good poem by presenting and discussing the different kinds of it. Meanwhile, as part of his lecture, he played the song Kabit by Gagong Rapper and tasked the participants to analyze the flow of rhythm on its lyrics. Moreover, he also tasked them to do a pantoum and tanaga poems.

As an outcome

Highlighting the workshop was performances from the staffers as they faced the challenge of producing a well-constructed *tanaga. For the duration of the successful workshop, a certificate of appreciation was given to the speaker. Consequently, autograph signing and picture taking took off.

“Tutok na tutok ang mga bata sa workshop. Muntik na akong mapaiyak. Aww… Dahil sineryoso talaga nila. Sayang…hindi ko sila nakausap isa-isa. Kaya isang **tula para sa kanila,” as stated on his blog entry on www.makoydakuykoy.multiply.com.

*Some of the tanaga poems

Nakagat n’ya ang dila
nang bumurak ang dilim
at bigla n’yang nahila
ang kamay sa patalim.
-Michael Alegre

Hanging mahalumigmig,
katawa’y nangaligkig.
Nangangatal ang bibig
sa tubig na malamig.
-Jerick Barbacena

Mahirap makaisip
ng tulang isa-submit.
Tira-tirang salita
aking binabalasa.
-Marie Amiel Gagasa

Bintanang pagkarungis,
‘tinatago’y hinagpis.
Nilangaw mong pangako,
nanlimahid—natanto.
-Loraine Jimenez

Sabihing engineering,
hindi pwede sa duling!
Sakit sa ulong subjects
dahil sa Mathematics.
-Rosemarie Ann Marasigan

Ako ay sumusulat
ng isang akdang salat
na bahagi ng buhay
na may dapat pagtunghay.
-Kristin Joy Pasahol

Sa pagpatak ng ulan,
muli kong binalikan,
masayang nakaraan,
ating pinagsamahan.
-Edsel Ramores

Si Dora Eksplorera
ay talagang negrita.
Nawalan s’ya ng pera
kaya siya ay porita
-Aga Velasco

**Lucban
(“to all that we have lost…”)
ni Makoy Dakuykoy

Sa taluktok ng bundok
ng mahiwagang Banahaw,
kinulumpon ng ulap
ang hangin at dagim.

Nakita kong pumalaot
ang balumbon ng hamog,
tila ba lanang balabal
na may umaasong laylayan.

Dinagit ako ng panghihinayang
dahil ang oras ay humuhupa
sa isang pugad ng Lucban
kung saan ako nanahan.

Lilipad ako palayo
na parang binugaw;
saklaw ng hangganan
ng aking paglalakbay.

Ngunit kung gaano kaibayo ang aking katawan,
ganoon din kalapit ang pangingibabaw
ng nasang magbalik sa Lucban.