World Health Organization
Department of Health 
The Nagkahiusang Magsusulat sa Cagayan de Oro (NAGMAC) is a young artists’ collective of new-wave poets, essayists, fictionists, playwrights, screenwriters, translators, and editors. It provides a platform for local writers, artists, and musicians to showcase their talents and enhance their skills through workshops hosted by the group.
NAGMAC offers a venue for editorial development and a support group for those making a career with their creative works. Its goal is to create an open artistic circle within the city that recognizes up-and-coming homegrown talents. It envisions an inclusive community of literate and discerning readers and patrons of regional literature and the arts. NAGMAC is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
“CdO Poetry Night” is a bimonthly gathering of local talents sponsored by NAGMAC. Due to COVID19, NAGMAC moved its poetry night online via its Facebook page (facebook.com/cdopoetrynight). Themed ‘Lingkawas,’ the first “Online CDO Poetry Night” was held last June 13, 2020, in partnership with FundForward Initiative − a local crowdfunding platform that supports small-scale, vulnerable communities greatly affected by the pandemic.
The live session featured the works and poetry readings of NAGMAC members Noven Brix Deguit, Keith Abellanosa, Zsarlette Alanne Cabana, Ruth Cuizon, Ben Aguilar, John Carlo Beronio, Aember Gica, Noeme Tabor- Farjani, Amelia Agbayani, Jet Hokin Paclar and Abigail James. The event was hosted by Adeva Esparrago.
It also had an Open Mic portion participated in by 11 guests and local talents who performed their own pieces. The SK Federation through the office of Kagawad John Michael Seno gave prizes in cash and in kind to 7 lucky winners.
Abigail James’ poetry tried to make sense of the ‘new normal.’’ Her “In an Effort to Feel Normal” detailed how the pandemic abruptly ‘derails plans, but gives the gift of time.’
Noeme Tabor-Farjani reflected on daily living as she chronicled her days since the beginning of the quarantine: ‘Meanwhile,/ The parades of photographs/ The proud empty cups/ The foodless feasts/ Poisoned drinks/ And endless strings of words,/ The mockery of all these…/ Are all we need/ To replace the hug, The kiss, The touch and hand to hold, The quiet, warm body/ That knows the meaning/ Of your wordlessness./ Until then, our Longings/ Settles in the fancies/ Of virtual life.’
NAGMAC, with the help of its generous donors, raised Php 7,200 from the event. All the proceeds went to Feed the Vulnerable, an organization that helps senior citizens and persons with disabilities from Barangay Consolacion, Cagayan de Oro City, gain access to medicine and adequate food.
