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Left to
right: Ricky Davao,
Luis Arias, Alma Concepcion,
Melquiades Robles, and
Jose Rodriguez |
PEOPLE who take the Light Rail Transit (LRT) can travel around the
metro accompanied by poetic verses from Chinese writer Pablo Neruda,
Filipino author Jose Rizal and Spanish poet Miguel Hernandez.
Launched recently by Instituto Cervantes, the
promotional reading campaign Berso sa Metro (Poetry in the train)
installs posters with famous verses written in Spanish by Spanish,
Latin American and Filipino poets inside carriages of the Light Rail
Transit (LRT train line).
With the message “Español, malapit sa ating
kultura. Just a station away,” the campaign aims to encourage
reading among Filipino commuters and to strengthen the cultural
bonds between Spain and the Philippines, two countries that share a
common past that spanned more than 300 years.
At the recent launching, actors Ricky Davao,
Bodjie Pascua and Alma Concepcion joined Jose Rodriguez, director of
Instituto Cervantes, as they treated the guests to readings of
verses in Spanish and Filipino.
The LRT is one of the metropolis’ major
communication arteries. With almost 1,000,000 commuters riding the
train every day, it provides a great opportunity for the reading
campaign to reach as many people as possible.
The selection of the poets whose masterpieces
are part of the “Berso sa Metro” includes Spanish poets such as
Calderon de la Barca, Lope de Vega, Garcia Lorca, Antonio Machado,
Luis Cernuda, Luis Rosales, Miguel Hernandez and Gil de Biedma;
Filipino authors such as Jose Rizal, Jesus Balmori, Claro M. Recto,
Jose Palma, Evangeline Guerrero; and Latin America writers such as
Pablo Neruda and Cesar Vallejo.
“Berso sa Metro” is one of Instituto
Cervantes de Manila’s many cultural activities that coincide with
the recent rise in interest among Filipinos for the Spanish classes
as the center. Majority of the center’s cultural activities also
continuously enjoy a large following.
Instituto Cervantes is the cultural arm of the
Spanish government that promotes and teaches the Spanish language
and culture. It is the largest Spanish teaching organization
worldwide, with more than 70 centers in 4 continents. With its
collection of classic and contemporary Spanish Institute, movies and
music, the Instituto library has become an important agent in
promoting the Spanish language in the Philippines and is an
indispensable source for those who are interested in Spanish and
Latin American cultures.
“Berso sa Metro” is organized by the
Instituto Cervantes de Manila, in collaboration with the Light Rail
Transit Authority, the National Historic Institute and the Committee
for the Filipino-Spanish Friendship Day.
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