Poetry rhymes with jeepney in Berso sa Metro

Jeepneys are exciting. Blaring horns that can laugh and wail, family trees inscribed on the ceiling, hanging rosaries, magically expanding passenger capacity, colorful signs all aimed at getting the passenger to pay - the list goes on and on. But just when you thought jeepneys couldn't possibly get any cooler, Instituto Cervantes brings this Philippine symbol up another level with Berso sa Metro: Poetry Jeepney Tour. They did it with trains, and now they're doing it on electric jeepneys. The institute said it would be "the most interesting poetry marathon in Manila to date." During last Saturday's Berso sa Metro, the three-stop trip which began at Instituto Cervantes was a truly poetic experience as the stealthy electric jeepney ride was punctuated with readings from Filipino poets - Alfred Yuson, Pete Lacaba, Marra Lanot, Ramón Súnico, Joel Toledo, Mookie Katigbak and here for the first time from Spain, José Luis Gómez Toré. The finale balagtasan from Michael Coroza and Vim Nadera was a literary event not to be missed. Hitching a ride with the distinguished guests were a few bloggers who hoped to bring home more than just happy memories of poetry on the road. The Poetry in Motion contest enjoins its participants to document the experience and compose a blog. Winners get free Spanish lessons, and all participants get a free t-shirt. Instituto Cervantes Director Jose Rodriguez began the afternoon's event by explaining that Berso sa Metro is an awareness campaign.

"With about a million commuters, if we catch just one, that's enough," he said. He was pleased to find the campaign effective, having observed that on the train, especially while standing, passengers have no other alternative but to look and read the poems printed on the walls. The event was held in partnership with the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities. ICSC Director Red Constantino, self-professed groupie of the poets and their works, said he is delighted to contribute in any way to the promotion of literature. "There is a tiny element of the poetic in the electric jeepney," he said, explaining that the electric jeepneys' silence can be filled with words. Constantino, evidently proud, explains that the electric jeepney's Macario Sakay facade ties up with the heroic industry of the working class - jeepney drivers, commuters, and words that will outlast all of us. City Life at Serendra At A Different Bookstore in Serendra, the poets read two pieces each of their original work revolving around the theme City Life. Lacaba was a difficult act to follow with his reading of Ang Kagilagilalas na Pakikipagsapalaran ni Juan Dela Cruz, and Sa Kanto ng Langit at Laong Laan. But Lanot proved every bit as good when she followed with her poems EDSA and Manila to Me. Sunico, who hates the microphone, read Rugby (not his own experience), An Affidavit of Loss (his brush with beauty) and a third poem, since he would not be attending the event culmination at Magnet Katipunan. The last poem, Sa Dilim, would definitely not make it through an MTRCB screening; Sunico said he wrote it ages ago in the age of brownouts, which are back. Tore read his poem in Spanish, Extranjero en Delhi, after a short introduction. He told the audience, "it's very important in life to be a foreigner sometimes because you see the world with other eyes, new eyes." Afterwards, Sunico read his Filipino translation of the same poem - Dayuhan sa Delhi. The second poem Tore read was longer, Ciudad del Nomada, which was followed by a Filipino translation from Lacaba. "I like hearing it. I don't understand anything, but I really like it," said Tore about his poems being read in another language. This was followed by Toledo's reading of his Ondoy-inspired poems - The Better View and Revision. An animated Mookie Katigbak-Lacuesta read her poems The Telling and Sleights. A delighted audience applauded and kept an informal score for Mike Coroza as he engaged Vim Nadera in a balagtasan (friendly debate) on Lungsod vs. Nayon. Toy jeepneys The group then hopped on the e-jeeps and headed for the next venue, Powerbooks Live at Greenbelt. This time, the theme was Memories, Dreams, and Nightmares. The short trip from Serendra to Greenbelt went very smoothly, except for getting pulled over by a cop who claimed a permit was needed to run in the area. When Constantino explained that the e-jeep was a duly registered private vehicle, unlike the habang-habang motorbikes which carry commuters around the area, the cop gave up. Following the minor setback, the pleasant ride was peppered with facts about the e-jeep. Constantino said there are currently 15 fare-free e-jeeps plying the Salcedo and Legazpi routes. By the end of May there will also be a Rockwell route from EDSA corner Estrella to Poblacion City Hall. "We're just waiting for the circus to end," he joked. "They're glorified golf carts," said Constantino. If their toy-like appearance isn't enough to catch your attention, the e-jeeps can be spotted by their orange plates. An e-jeep can go from 40-45 kph, and costs P600,000 for a brand new unit. While this may seem more expensive than a regular jeepney, the savings from never having to gas up more than makes up for the steep front-end expense. It only costs around 130-150 pesos for a single charge of eight hours, which can be done anywhere there's a 220 volt outlet. Berso sa Metro ended at Magnet Katipunan, where the poets were free to choose which poems of theirs to read. The one-day event turned out to be a promising start of what Rodriguez calls the "combination of our Spanish heritage, Filipino love for poetry and the ubiquitous jeepney—this poetry tour - real innovation and true creation of culture." The winners of the Poetry in Motion competition will be posted on April 24. Meanwhile, Internet users can vote online for the best blog entries about Berso sa Metro. – YA, GMANews.TV