by JE GONZALBO
Bright colorful decorations, series of fascinating performances, and remarkable competitions are all something to look forward to during this time of the year. However, this 2021, although in distance learning, we still have been reaching far beyond the stars, through galaxies and dimensions that are light years away – past our mother tongues and right into our own inner spirits… Alas, the Far Eastern Private School (FEPS) Al Shahba once again celebrated its Octo-Language month!
We, FEPSians, have celebrated the Octo-Language event through gathering the students in distance-learning in Zoom and encouraging entries in face-to-face classes for various contests – all along the dates of 24th to 28th of October – with the theme being ‘Ang Wika Ay Ang Ating Diwa’, wherein we celebrate for the sole purpose of bringing together students and teachers binding our voices just like an orchestra, despite speaking different languages and expressing ourselves in our own special way.
Some of these self-expressions have been conveyed by the talented students who participated in the competitions lined up for them by our Supreme Student Government (SSG) – one of which is the face paint and make-up contest.
Nika Palomaria, who was one of the 9th grade participants, said she was fond of make-up, which was the reason why she joined. “I took inspiration from the theme. As someone who speaks Ilonggo, and as someone who loves doing my own make-up, I view language and dialect as flowers that have bloomed… in its spirit, we can find growth and peace.” Her face paint/make-up design was mystical, as if you’re looking at the flower goddess yourself.
The spoken word poetry is a unique form and genre of poetry, and FEPSians are not one to miss with their own masterpieces, uttering strings of rhyming (or even prosaic) words that twist and entangle together – all to deliver a message from their own hearts. Take the second-year high school students, who enthusiastically sent in their own heartfelt pieces!
And of course, how can we forget about the poster and slogan making contest? In promoting the importance of language in expression of one’s self, no one does it best other than our artistic students who see different languages as colors and the entire world as a museum.
“The main reason why I joined is because whenever I’m being creative, I feel more like myself – because I am able to truly express my feelings.” Althea Laxamana said that in her artwork, she placed a sun on the upper side of her canvas as it reminds her of the sunrise (meaning a new start or hope). “I also drew different structures and people of different races symbolizing the different parts of the world, while being unified.” Along with the poster and slogan making, other contests included in the event were: the comic art strip making for intermediate and high school levels and the SSG’s fun activities for everyone on their Instagram stories.
When it comes to building one’s confidence in public speaking and declamation, we can never ignore the face-to-face learning students who joined and exceled in the English Debate and Spelling Bee Quiz. “I felt nervous and excited as it was my first time competing in an English debate,” Katherine Wong, a year 10 student who joined the debate, admitted. “But yeah, just like our stand in the debate, I, along with my groupmates, believe that grammar is the backbone of a language, as it specifies the context of your message. It solves the worldly problems caused by miscommunication and basically brings us all together as human beings.”
Although we were unable to celebrate the Octo-Language event like we used to due to the pandemic, our desire to promote history and culture has not changed – and so has the meaning of its commemoration for us. Likewise, the entrants of the Far Eastern Private School have proven their appreciation of our language and tradition through their own literary pieces and willingness to participate despite only celebrating from behind the screen.
Who says there is such a thing that can stop us FEPSians from speaking our hearts? Like Ludwig Wittgenstein once said, “The limits of my language mean the limits of my world.” Only you – and your spirit – can speak for your own self – in your own language!
