By Jamilah Gregorio
Students and faculty of Far Eastern Private School (Al Shahba) came together at the Octo-Language Event on October 25, 2022, in celebration of languages from all over the world.
From the dazzling costumes to the fascinating performances of each section, we are given a world tour of languages that we now celebrate. As decorations fill the school, FEPSians have thoroughly prepared for the various contests included in the said event, from October 25 to 27 – with the theme ‘Celebrating the Rich Kaleidoscope of Languages to Advocate Inclusivity in Adversity’, which brings teachers and students together from different backgrounds to be loud and proud about their cultural identities.
In the Book Character Cosplay, FEPSians made characters from books come to life and portrayed them in such a way that captivates and engages the audience. Take Angel Resurreccion, a grade 9 participant who won 2nd place for Best in Costume, who said cosplaying and acting has been her passion ever since she was young. “Cosplaying a book character helped me understand who and what my character is. Winning 2nd place was a shock since I was not expecting to win, but I am very pleased I joined and made my class proud.” Between her costume and the character she was portraying, the similarities were uncanny.
When it comes to expressing one’s feelings, something that helps us pour out our hearts is poetry, in which case, many of the young and talented FEPSians partook in the theme Pagmamahal sa Guro. This left the teachers and audience in awe after listening to the pieces of the poets. The most compelling part about spoken word is the way it manages to hit people’s souls. You gain an understanding from the poet, and the poet, in turn, is understood.
In addition to showcasing the talents of our fellow FEPSians is the Tugsayawit or tugtog, sayaw, awit. An innovative dance and song performance earnestly advocating love for our country (Philippines), was performed by students from the high school department. They dressed up in majestic Baro’t Saya, Barong Tagalog, and suits, sang and danced to Filipino Folk songs, along with an assortment of instruments – expressing the Filipino tradition with pride.
The art of debate is that it’s not just about speaking well – it’s about learning to embrace a wide variety of arguments. Grade 10 students who joined the debate made excellent arguments, and each side learned to start their arguments, already anticipating their opponent’s objections. All up, debating students learn to develop a well-rounded viewpoint. Along with the debate, an extemporaneous speech contest was also included, which many students from the high school department partook in.
Furthermore, the recognition of common humanity is the first step in celebrating our differences — differences that inform our cultures, our values, and all our ways of being in the world. And by celebrating this event, we become more aware of our own. Not only do we become more aware, but we also gain a sense of pride for the diversity of our own culture. At the same time, FEPSians have once again displayed their appreciation of the various customs and languages.