The groundbreaking radio show makes its return to the airwaves on October 1 (Saturday), this time via sarisarisounds.com—an online radio station that plays and promotes OPM (Original Pilipino Music).
First heard on Jam 88.3 in 2007, “ Bigkas Pilipinas” earned the distinction as the only spoken-word show in the country.
The program instantly gained a cult following, with listeners across the nation finding solace and inspiration in the poetry and words presented by host Kooky Tuason and her guests coming from different fields.
“Bigkas Pilipinas” caught the attention even of critics. In 2007, it was nominated in the annual KBP (Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas) Golden Dove Awards for the Best Culture and Arts Program category.
After taking a hiatus, the show only gets bigger and better as it reaches out to Filipinos stationed here and abroad, courtesy of its new online home station.
Kooky says that the new “Bigkas Pilipinas” will focus more on local poetry instead of mixing it up with foreign materials.
A longtime advocate and champion of the Filipino spoken-word community, Kooky feels this new format will benefit homegrown artists who love expressing their thoughts through pen and performance art.
“This is certainly a great way to promote and help the local scene,” says Kooky, who has released three spoken word albums in the past: “Romancing Venus” Vol. 1 (2005); “Romancing Venus” Vol. 2 (2006); and “Bigkas Pilipinas” (2007).
Kooky plans to invite guests from all fields and give them a stage to express their artistry put to words.
Spoken word, after all, goes beyond traditional poetry in the sense that it is not measured merely by meter and rhyme. It allows an individual more leeway when it comes to construction and self-expression thus making it appealing even to the masses.
“That’s the beauty of this kind of art form. While it’s true that not everyone can be a poet in an academic or scholarly kind of way, all of us are entitled to express ourselves through words. Of course, there is still a technique and a method here to make your thoughts touch the minds and hearts of your audience. But for me, honesty provoked by genuine emotion is art and poetry in itself,” says Kooky.
“‘Bigkas Pilipinas’ is exactly like that. It gives us the chance to think outside of the box while not sacrificing self-expression and artistry,” she adds.
Listen to Bigkas Pilipinas every Saturday, 1-3 p.m. on www.sarisarisounds.com.