Poetry is one of the earliest entertainment forms in the world. At the time where cinema or television, much more online entertainment were not yet around, poetry and storytelling entertained the world and preserved the history of the country.

“In ancient China, all the greatest rulers were once also poets,” said Wilson Lee Flores, moderator of Pandesal Forum. “If you are a good poet, you are also a good ruler because you have the heart for the people.”

Unfortunately, in our society, politics and other important news are given priority. The 86-year-old Kamuning Bakery Café believes that poetry is one of the most important art forms in the world.

The recent Pandesal Forum of Kamuning Bakery Café marked the annual World Poetry Day observed by UNESCO, as well as honored the enduring significance of poetry in life and society, with moderator Wilson Lee Flores.

Poetry lovers and aspiring writers were invited to visit the café in Quezon City to share their verses and enjoy a cup of coffee.

National Artist for Literature Professor Gemino Abad and award-winning poet Prof. Vim Nadera were around in the weekly forum, joined by young poets from Mataas na Paaralang Neptali Gonzales in Mandaluyong.

The students captivated the audience with their version of balagtasan, the century-old Filipino tradition of poetic debate.

The school offers special program for the arts in junior high school. At their young age, only in junior high school, the young literary talents performed poetry – Queen Jeramy Saldivar, Aries King Federis and Pearl Mae Angela Cabudlan.

The students were led by their teacher Jayson Cruz and supported by their principal Dr. Corazon Regino.

Dr. Abad was accompanied by his eldest daughter Cyan Abad Hugo, an Ateneo de Manila University educator. She shared her personal favorites including Marjorie Evasco, Vim Nadera and Jean Paje Tan, her former classmate and editor of Ateneo’s “Heights” literary journal.

Dr. Abad and Prof. Nadera shared profound insights on the role of poetry. The former advised aspiring poets to work on their language the way the farmer works on his land, as he emphasized the importance of linguistic mastery and imaginative expression.

He expressed his admiration for Filipino literary giants Nick Joaquin and Francisco Arcellana, while Prof Nadera paid tribute to Dr. Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Alejandro Abadilla and Emilio Jacinto.

Born in Sta. Ana, Manila on the same year as Kamuning Bakery Café (1939), Dr. Abad’s parents are the noted novelist, playwright and essayist in Sugbuanon and Spanish, Antonio Abad, as well as Jesusa Abad, Spanish professor in UP.

Dr. Abad graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in English in 1963. He is married to Mercedes Rivera, with whom he has five children. 

His secret to youthfulness? “I have Mercy (his spouse) in my life,” the National Artist smilingly declared. 

He has been teaching English Literature and Creative Writing in the Department of English and Comparative Literature in UP. He earned his master’s degree with honors in 1966 and doctorate in English in 1970 from University of Chicago after a Rockefeller Fellowship Grant.

In 1993, he was appointed university professor in Literature with the highest academic rank in UP, where he also served as Secretary and also as Board of Regents and vice president for academic affairs.

He was also the first Carlos P. Romulo professorial chair in literature.

“The word poem or poetry is derived from the ancient Greek word ‘poiesis,’ which means to make or create,” informed Dr. Abad. “So poem can be a creative or literary work, like the short story or novel, feature, play or drama, sometimes referred to as non-fiction essay.”

Dr. Abad advised the students and guests to “work on your language the way the farmer works on his land” as he emphasized the importance of linguistic mastery and imaginative expression.

“What we call poem is a word of language and lively work of imagination that makes real to the mind, what the mind comprehends. A strong sense for language and a certain mastery of it.”

The likes of Rolando Tinio and Pete Lacaba described themselves “bottle poets” to represent themselves and make an abstract image clear.

Meanwhile, Prof. Victor Emmanuel “Vim” Nadera teaches Filipino, Philippine Literature and Creative Writing at University at the UP College of Arts and Letters, where he was given an award for teaching for 30 years.

He is an award-winning playwright, fictionist, essayist and Carlos Palanca Memorial awardee for poetry in Filipino.

He was columnist for Manila Bulletin, Rappler, Diyaryo Pilipino, Hataw, Liwayway and Pilipino Mirror. He served as editor in chief and assistant to director of The Varsitarian of the UST. He finished his BS and MA in Psychology at UST.

He was chairman of the Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas(UMPIL) or the Philippine writer’s union. He was also director of the Philippine High School for the Arts in Mount Makiling and Performatura International Performance Festival at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).

Up to this day, Prof. Nadera helps promote balagtasan, a unique Filipino literary art form using poetry.

“Prayer is the oldest form of poetry,” said Nadera. “Preaching or pleading is didactic form of poetry. Even harana, wooing the one you love, inspired poetry.”

Even Wilson Flores, moderator of Pandesal Forum, recited his original poem that he wrote only this month, “Ang Tinta ng mga Diwata,” a tribute to the rich legacy of Filipino poems.

He paid tribute to such literary icons as Francisco Balagtas, Dr. Jose Rizal, Huseng Batute (Jose Corazon de Jesus), Jose Garcia Villa, Amado V. Hernandez, Carlos Bulosan, Nick Joaquin, Virginia Moreno, Emman Lacaba, Rio Alma (Virgilio Almario), Gemino Abad, Jose “Pete” Lacaba, Krip Yuson and Alfredo Navarro Salanga.