Fighting with compassion

If there is one community of professionals, for whom we are all grateful in this pandemic period, they are our nurses. As a result of their constant and prolonged interaction with the Covid-19 patients, it is not surprising that their number is declining as the number of positive cases among them is increasing.

They do not deserve to be discriminated against or ostracized but need our support and understanding instead. And even more uplifting is when those who wish to join the ranks applaud our nurses, and do not lose confidence that they will become one someday.

Days ago, I got an invitation to judge another performance platform or genre, called spoken poetry. Different colleges and universities in Cebu offering nursing courses have managed to hold a spoken poetry contest among their nursing students.

Spoken poetry, a word-based performance art, is a writing meant to be spoken or communicated to an audience with emotions. It's focused as an oral art on the art of word play, rhythm, improvisation, intonation, and voice inflections. The popularity of spoken poetry is growing dramatically among our young people, with love, break-ups / heartaches, relationships as common themes.

The organization uses the following mechanics: “the contest is open to all current Bachelor of Science in Nursing students in Cebu. One official entry per school of nursing. The spoken word poetry piece must be an original composition. It could be English or Filipino but no Taglish. The piece must focus on the nurses and its contribution to the world. The piece must not contain any malicious and offensive content. Each contestant is given 3-5 minutes to recite or deliver his/her piece. Sounds, instrumental or music background is allowed to complement the delivery. Official entry must be recorded through smart phones/ cellphone and will be sent to messenger for judging”.

The criteria: Message/content, relevance and related to topic - has a powerful and meaningful message to audience, delivery and performance, connection to audience - facial expression - enunciation, pronunciation and diction, and originality.

Five registered entries were sent to me via Facebook where I annotated my comments to each contestant, made my rating and ranking too. I was so awed by their thoughts and the emotional intensity that all the contestants have shown. Their level of admiration for the profession is so high that someday, as if nobody could stop them from achieving their dreams of becoming nurses.

The clear message of fighting with love, remaining strong in faith and persevering in service to others, reverberates all throughout our hearts.

Congratulations to the organizers: Philippine Nurses Association Cebu Chapter, School/College of Nursing administrators and particularly to all the winners and students who took part in this very important Spoken Poetry event dedicated to our beloved nurses who are our frontliners of this pandemic worldwide.

In the celebration of the International Nurses' Day on May 12, may the light of the Nightingale lamp continue to inflame the spirit of service to humanity. May your tribe thrive. My salute to our modern heroes. Kudos!