In every project Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP} embarks on, music artist and arts manager Michelle Nikki Junia is always ready to lend her hand in making it successful every step of the way.
Like the recent Grand Finals of BaRaptasan, a Balagtasan competition with a twist spearheaded by the Kanto Kultura program envisioned by Michelle Nikki and the CCP Committee on Arts Education.
The event which was successfully held last week at the Rizal Open Air Auditorium at the Luneta Park is a baby of Junia when she joined the CCP Board of Trustees in 2016.
Nikki even guested in Liza Macuja-Elizalde’s TV show “Art 2 Art” to talk about the significance of Baraptasan.
Here’s writers Florence Atabay and Lia de Jesus’ accounts on the beginnings of “Baraptasan.”
“For a mambabalagtas, verbal joust and poetry are so much more than a way to express complex emotions and stories. While it was born as a form of entertainment during the bleak era of American colonialism, Balagtasan—a form of traditional verbal jousting—became a venue to discuss socio-political issues that besieged contemporary society.
“Through facts, rhymes, and clever lines, the mambabalagtas would exchange discussions on the pros and cons of a topic relevant to the community. When it first happened on April 6, 1924, Balagtasan became the rage.
“Town folks would gather at the plaza and listen to mambalalagtas defend their stand on certain social issues. While it seemed like a verbal display of one’s mastery of the Filipino language, it became a powerful tool to engage the public and create informed conversations on social realities.
“But through the years, with the advent of new entertainment platforms, verbal jousts became few and far between in recent times.”
“Baraptasan” could also be considered a hybrid rap.
During the last round, ten finalists battled it out in the who’s who league.
One of the finalists was El Setecientos of Santa Rosa, Laguna.
The group that was composed of Simon, Mhagz, and Arkyak has continuously honed their craft as seasoned rappers who wanted to present their craft to the national stage. Always eager to experience something new, El Setecientos of Laguna signed up for BaRaptasan to contribute to the artistic landscape of the Philippines.
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