By: D/C Mark Paul Tagaylo
The second month of the year marks a special event for the hearts of many. It is, as often termed, the month of love. Everyone is so excited to share to the world how they’ve spent their Valentine’s Day. Surprises, gifts, celebrations, travels and many more will always blow up in different social media sites.
One of the many forms of expressing love on Valentine’s day is, poetry. For the first time, the Saint Joseph Institute of Technology – Maritime and Training (SMET) campus hosted a poetry writing contest. Initiated by the LAYAG publication to awaken the sleeping poet within the hearts of the cadets and encourage those who have the passion for writing. The activity was realized via LAYAG’s adviser, Mr. Manuel Hassan V. Borinaga’s way. He made sure that all sections, regardless of the course, will participate and submit their entries. They were given the freedom to choose an inspiration for their poem. Since, it’s the month of love everyone was able to pull out their deepest “hugots” in life. Some even showed arguments in their piece about the real meaning of love or how Valentine’s should be perceived.
Although this is a new scene in the eyes of SMET, the activity was taken with immense sincerity. Marine poets’ masterpieces were thoroughly judged according to content, organization, grammar and style and poetic structure.
Certificates and medals were awarded to the winners during the flag raising ceremony on Monday, 17th of February. Everyone was there to witness the winners of the said event.
It is quite surprising to see what was once perceived as technical-oriented set of cadets are unknowingly poets at heart. Enhancing not only on the technical aspect of the individual but particularly molding one to become flexible and imaginative in his/her ways of thinking. Exercising not just physically but also emotionally and mentally.
𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘍𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘴. . .