Poetry on the LRT

Monday, October 29, 2007
Poetry on the LRT

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.

FONTE: Manila Times - Philippines

http://images.google.com.br/