By: Mae Anne A. Alipusan
The Bachelor of Arts Department conducted its 10th Arts Day on March 8-9, 2022 with the theme “Sining ng Pag-Asa,” which is the theme of this year’s celebration of the National Arts Month.
Highlighting the first day of the event was a webinar where guests from the Embassy of Japan-Japan Information and Culture Center shared a wide range of information about Japan and the Japanese culture.
Ms. Lorenna G. Laanan and Mr. Hiroki Kitakka served as resource speakers to the webinars featuring “Hello! Japan Program” and “A Glimpse of the Culture and Language of Japan.”
Last year, Dr. Aurora G. Victoriano, BAEL program coordinator, also invited foreign guests, Miss Carolina Ordoñez Franco, a vice principal in a private school in Guatemala, Guatemala and Mr. Jayden Park a licensed pilot and instructor in Seoul, South Korea, who talked about the language and culture of their respective countries.
Laanan is a JICC Coordinator in the Embassy of Japan-Philippines while Kitakka is a Postdoctoral Researcher in Japan. The two speakers shared with the participants interesting information about Japan, specifically on their culture, traditions and language.
Laanan discussed the Japanese government’s various academic exchange programs, scholarships and the celebration of Japan’s Hina Matsuri (Doll Festival). She also had a short origami or paper art workshop with the faculty and students teaching them how to make Hina dolls. She also mentioned about martial arts which are popular in Japan namely sumo, judo and karate.
For the participants to learn more about Japan, Kitakka took the participants to a virtual tour to some tourist attractions in Japan such as Kyoto Imperial Palace and Bamboo Forest in Kyoto. The discussion became more entertaining when he taught the participants some basic Japanese greetings/phrases like konnichiwa (hello), arigato gozaimasu (thank you), and gomenasai (I’m sorry).
On the second day, the occasion was graced by Mr. Anthony H. Colmo, Tourism Operations Officer II/Head, Culture, Heritage and Arts Division at Capiz Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office, as keynote speaker.
Colmo’s keynote speech centered on arts as “an expression of ourselves, emotions and feelings.” Furthermore, he said that “Art is not a definition in a book, but art is what we do every day.” He also shared some information about the activities and events conducted in Capiz in relation to the National Arts Month celebration.
The exciting part of the program was when Prof. Freden S. Delgado asked the participants trivia questions with prizes at stake for those who gave correct answers.
Before the program ended, the results of the different contests were announced.
In the essay writing, Joey Luces (BAEL 2) won first place; Karen Mae Dela Cruz (BAEL 4), second place; and RJ Lou Felasol (BAEL 3), third place.
BAEL 2 took first place in Tiktok competition followed by BAEL 3 and BAEL 4 in second and third places, respectively.
In storytelling, first place went to Jovie De Asis (BAEL 3), second place to Mae Anne Alipusan (BAEL 2), and third place to Mailyn Launio (BAEL 4).
BAEL 3 took first place in spoken poetry, followed by BAEL 1 and BAEL 4 in second and third places.
In trash to treasure, taking first place was Reynan Lacupa (BAEL 1); second place went to Ivy Vadillo (BAEL 2); and third place to Sharlene May Velado (BAEL 3).
Lastly, in trashion show, Sharlene May Velado (BAEL 3) won first place; Mae Anne Alipusan (BAEL 2), second place; and Niño Orale (BAEL 4), third place.
Dr. Victoriano congratulated all the students, faculty and staff of AB Department and also expressed her gratitude to everyone who extended their support to the celebration of the 10th Arts Day.