Win Signed Books, Linya-Linya Shirts + More by Sharing Your Favorite Filipino Work

IMAGE Courtesy of Edgar Calabia Samar

(SPOT.ph) From elementary education, we've learned that August is the National Language Month (a.k.a. Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa or Buwan ng Wika). It not only celebrates the Filipino language, but also all the other languages in the country—Bisaya, Ilokano, Kapampangan, Bikol, Hiligaynon, et cetera. (Again, these are not dialects.) And what better way to enrich and promote this important aspect of our culture than to share photos and titles of our favorite Filipino-written pieces? This is exactly what Filipino writer Edgar Calabia Samar had in mind when he started the social media campaign #BuwanNgMgaAkdangPinoy.

A post shared by Ysa Arcangel (@ysa_arcangel) on Jul 31, 2017 at 7:04pm PDT

A post shared by Mar Shi (@journeyingmars) on Jul 31, 2017 at 8:07pm PDT

"Noong 2015, inimbitahan ko ang mga kaibigan sa Facebook na ipagdiwang ang Buwan ng Wika bilang #BuwanNgMgaAkdangPinoy bilang pasasalamat sa mga akdang humubog ng kamalayan at pagmamahal natin sa bayan," writes Samar in his newly-launched literature website Santinakpan. What started as a regular social media post later became bigger than he ever imagined. "Sa gitna ng kung ano-anong negatibong enerhiya sa social media, hinikayat ko silang ilaan sana namin ang buong buwan sa pagbabahagi ng mga akdang Pinoy na minamahal namin. Hindi ko inasahan noon na lumampas ito sa mundo ng FB at ipinagdiwang maging ng mga hindi ko personal na kakilala sa iba pang social media sites," he continues.

It's #BuwanNgMgaAkdangPinoy and I'll be promoting books by Filipino authors! So yes haha it's like any other Twitter day for me carry on.

— Mina V. Esguerra (@minavesguerra) August 1, 2017

#BuwanNgMgaAkdangPinoy! Bob Ong, Manix Abrera, Pol Medina Jr, Sonia Francesca, Teresita Manaloto-Magnaye.

— MorkLuwes (@LooIssAAA) August 1, 2017

Similar to last year's celebration, #BuwanNgMgaAkdangPinoy's biggest activity is its online contest where participants get a chance to win P2,000 to P5,000 worth of gift cheques for the upcoming Manila International Book Fair, two tickets to Tanghalang Ateneo's adaptation of Si Janus Sílang at ang Labanáng Manananggal-Mambabárang, signed copies of Samar's books (Janus Sílang Series, Alternatibo sa Alternatibong Mundo: 13 Metakuwento/Malakuwento), and Linya-Linya shirts and merchandise. Posts can be done through Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and blogs, but you need to submit your links through the Santinakpan website to qualify. Filipino works are not limited to books; you can also talk about songs, graphic novels, plays, movies, and all other forms of literature authored by Filipinos.

The #BuwanNgMgaAkdangPinoy contest has five categories:

• Pinakamalikhaing Larawan
• Pinakamahusay na Written Post
• Pinakamahusay na Video
• Pinakamaraming Share/Like/RT
• Pinakamahusay na Themed Posts

In this time of annoying and disappointing social media posts, it would be a breath of fresh air to see book covers, song lyrics, and poetry verses that express national pride. Like what Samar said, "Bawiin natin ang social media mula sa kasinungalingan ng trolls at fake news." We couldn't agree more.

For contest mechanics and more information on #BuwanNgMgaAkdangPinoy, visit Santinakpan's website.