The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) sponsored a two-day basic playwriting workshop at Ragay National Agricultural and Fisheries School (RNAFS), Liboro, Ragay, Camarines Sur.
Held at the Resource Training and Development Center (RTDC) of the school on August 25-26, 2009, the workshop boasted of 53 participants and a multi-awarded Bikolano playwright as discussant.
Students from RNAFS, and its two extension campuses: Ragay Science and Mathematics-Oriented High School (RSMOHS) at Poblacion, Ragay; and Cristobal D. Aquino Memorial High School (CDAMHS) at Baya, Ragay; and representatives from the community: Barangay Liboro group, and out of school youths from Alternative Learning System (ALS) center in Salvacion, Ragay, as well as their respective teachers and mentors attended.
Carlos A. Arejola, author of the book Sayod Kong Tataramon (Tuwiran Kong Sasabihin) Mga Dulang Pantanghalan at Pampelikula sa Bikol at Filipino, and the founder of Juliana Arejola Workshop sa Pagsurat Bikol and Premyo Tomas Arejola para sa Literaturang Bikolnon, and the Southern Luzon Coordinator for the National Committee on Literary Arts (NCLA) discussed the elements of drama and guided the Ragayano writers to write and present outputs. Moreover, he shared tips and strategies for more playwriting creativity and effectiveness.
Arejola also distributed copies of NCCA published Tigsik by Aida B. Cirujales, Bagyo Sa Oktubre by Honesto M. Pesimo, Jr., Yudi Man Mga Osipon Para Ki Nunuy Asin Ki Nini, which he edited along with Lorna A. Billanes and illustrated by Boyet Abrenica, Sayod, his own book, Pagsasatubuanon Poetikang Bikolnon by Jose Jason L. Chancoco, Bangraw magazines, and Agung, the NCCA news magazine, to selected elementary and secondary schools in the town.
Recipients of the books and magazines expressed gratitude for the donations and promised commitment to help enhance the awareness and appreciation of Bikol language, literature and culture among their learners and communities.
Dr. Roman T. Delfin, Jr., vocational school administrator of the host school; Elizaldy C. Vera, Liboro barangay councilor; and Anabel A. Haber, district coordinator for Kulturang Bikolnon gave talks during the opening program. They all stressed the timeliness and significance of the workshop to add to the continuous efforts toward wider use of the Bikol language in the second to the last town of the Bicol Region very near to the Tagalog regions and widely populated by Tagalog-speaking families.
During the closing ceremonies, the participants committed to continue writing using the Bikol language and reflecting the Bikol culture to help preserve both, and to contribute to the now growing body of Bikol literature. This is in response to the challenge that Arejola posed, and the encouragement and support that he offered.