Article by Aubrey Anne Jalique
Photos by Lovely Jane Serad and Joyreal Caminade
In celebration of Women’s Month, first-year Master of Arts in Literature (MALit) students exhibited their literary skills through a spoken poetry performance on March 8, 2024, on the ground floor of the College and Science (CAS) building. Tingog sa Hulagway: A poetic dialogue with indigenous art highlighted the voices of women and indigenous people by means of ekphrastic poetry— poems that describe works of art in a vivid manner.
The core of the performance was Archie Oclos’ mural which can be found in Davao City National High School. The painting is a striking work of art that depicts two elderly indigenous women. The mural encapsulates the resilience, knowledge, and difficulties of marginalized indigenous communities with their smiles, wearing clothes and accessories that depict their identity. Oclos, an artist known for creating cultural, religious, and social issues, often illustrates the lives of the oppressed through his masterpieces. The mural served as both the visual and thematic anchor of the event, prompting profound reflections and wondrous poetry from the students.
Assistant Professor Josephine Grace May Famoso commenced the program with opening remarks, and MALit program head Dr. Angelo Lenard Yu was also present at the event. The literature students stepped on the stage to breathe life into their poetic compositions with their voices and tales. Each poem unveiled a story—some explored the struggles of indigenous women, while others painted images of stories in everyday life, resilience, identity, and historical obliteration. Using their words, they honored the silent voices that the mural sought to represent.
Beyond mere performance, the students also shared their creative processes—how the mural influenced their perspectives, the inspiration behind their words, and the lessons they absorbed from the program and the professors. This interactive exchange transformed the event into a dialogue, a moment where literature and visual art intertwined to create a deeper understanding of indigenous narratives and emphasize the wisdom they gained.
The professors further enriched the event by delivering their own spoken word pieces. Their performances emphasized the significance of literature in amplifying marginalized individuals, particularly those of women and indigenous communities. Dr. Yu closed the program with inspirational remarks, expressing his desire for the MALit students to share and spread their knowledge and wisdom with their students and the community.
The celebration of Women’s Month through spoken poetry does not solely exhibit the talents of the MALit students but also underpins the role of literature and art per se to advocate for social awareness and cultural sustainability. As the event concluded, it was evident that the voices of women from the history and current times continue to echo through art and literature.
