A shared moment of victory and celebration! CARD
MRI Founder Dr. Jaime Aristotle B. Alip (center)
stands with CMDI Baisay: Balagtasan 2023 SHS Category Champion Marvin Lourence Hamoc (2nd from right), Jhon Aris Apostol (1st from the left), Febby
Heart Aquino (2nd from the left), alongside CMDI
Baisay 2023 master of ceremony Mr. Loreto JR P.
Sabodan (rightmost)
CARD MRI Hijos
Tours, in collaboration with
CARD-MRI Development
Institute, Inc. (CMDI),
held the BAISAY: BALAGTASAN 2023 at the CMDI
Auditorium in Barangay
Tranca, Bay, Laguna on
October 27, 2023.
Hijos Tours President Ms. Marilyn M. Manila
expressed, “This initiative
underscores our commitment to preserving Filipino cultural traditions and
providing CMDI students
with a platform to express
themselves through poetry
and debate.”
Also, CMDI President Dr. Flordeliza L.
Sarmiento shared that the
activity “adds depth and
diversity to the educational
experiences of CMDI students.”
The term ‘Baisay’, derived
from the Hiligaynon language, translates to ‘debate’. The event aimed to
foster the spirit of ‘Balagtasan,’ a traditional Filipino
art form of poetic debate,
among the students of
CMDI.
The event had
two categories: the Senior High School (SHS)
category with the theme,
“Magkolehiyo, Magkaroon
ng Eksperyensa,” (Go to
College, Gain Experience)
and “Magtrabaho, Magkaroon ng Negosyo” (Work,
Start a Business) in the
College category. The participants showcased their
linguistic prowess, creativity, and a deep understanding of the theme.
The students
also delivered their verses with fervor, engaging
in verbal duels that captivated the audience and
brought to a mesmerizing
display of wordplay and
intellectual engagement,
making Balagtasan a truly
captivating experience.
In the SHS category, the CMDI Tagum
representative was hailed
champion. The representatives also received additional awards, namely,
Marvin Lourence Hamoc
for the Lakandiwa ng Taon;
and Jhon Aris Apostol and
Febby Heart Aquino, for
the Prince and Princess of
CMDI Baisay 2023.
To add, Reyna
Faye Baga, John Aris Bantayan, and Meca Samaling
from CMDI-Tagum campus secured the 1st place,
while John Lloyd Mendoza, Justine Olan, and Justin Reyes, from CMDI- Bay
campus, bagged the 2nd
place award.
In the college
category, Irene Legaspino
was crowned Lakandiwa
ng Taon, Charity Calibadan earned the title
of the Princess of CMDI
Baisay 2023, and Lovely
Claire Montes, as addition
to the team, were declared
the champion of CMDI
Baisay 2023 in the College Category, while Reany Eisle Cervantes, Hazel
Burdeos, and Angel Mar
Valencia secured the 1st
place award.
All the winners
were recognized with certificates and cash prizes.
Dr. Jaime Aristotle B. Alip, CARD MRI
Founder and Chairman
Emeritus remarked, “The
students’ performances
demonstrated not only
their skill in the traditional
art of poetic debate but
also their keen awareness
of contemporary issues.”
He added, “This
event served as a testament to the enduring significance of Balagtasan
in Philippine culture and
the bright future of these
young poets and debaters.”
CMDI stands as
a learning institute that
provides quality education
to employees, students,
clients of the different institutions of CARD MRI,
and other individuals
through the use of training
programs, academic programs, and digital education programs/open learning.
CARD MRI Hijos
Tours is the tour curation
company of CARD MRI
that aims to promote Philippine tourism and culture
while empowering women
and their families.
To know more,
visit CMDI at https://cmdi.
edu.ph/; and CARD MRI
Hijos Tours at https://www.
cardmri.com/hijostours
