BOOKMARKS WITH POEMS IN ENGLISH DISTRIBUTED TO TOURISTS

The winter meeting of the International EuroBillTracker Association was held in Malta over the past weekend. Several members from Finland, Austria, Slovenia, Italy, Spain, Germany, Belgium and Holland attended and had the opportunity to visit various places of interest. The Maltese Poets Association contributed towards this event by donating bookmarks with poems in English written by its members to be distributed free to the participants of the meeting so that they can get an insight into Maltese contemporary poetry. This event was partly sponsored by the Malta Tourism Authority.

Launching Of Book During Evening of Poetry at Mosta

On Friday, 26th February 2010, the Maltese Poets Association held yet another Poetry Evening at the Razzett tal-Markiz, Mosta. The event was held outdoors and attendance was excellent. Those present read their poetry in Maltese, while duo Hilary Spiteri and Bernard Catania played some Beatles tunes on guitar. The evening was compered by MPA Secretary, Charles Magro.

Part of the poetry evening was dedicated to a new poetry anthology - Traġitti - co-authored by poets Andrew Sciberras and Patrick Sammut. Poet Stephen Cachia read a selection of poems written by the two poets, while 6th Form Lecturer Mark Debono, read a critical appreciation. MPA President, Alfred Massa, addressed those present reminding them that one of MPA's objectives was to help local emerging poets as much as possible. In fact in the past MPA has had similar launchings of poetry collections written by members Therese Pace, Lino Grech, Charles Bezzina, Patrick Sammut (together with Stephen Cachia). Massa also reminded those present that the MPA is open to all poetry lovers and is always glad to see established poets participate in such evenings. Traġitti was available at a special price after the event. A big thanks also to the Ghaqda Filantropika Talent Mosti.

TNEDIJA TA' KTIEB WAQT LEJLA TA' POEŻIJA

Waqt Lejla ta' Poeżija fir-razzett tal-Markiż fil-Mosta, organizzata mill-Għaqda Poeti Maltin saret it-tnedija uffiċjali tal-Ġabra ta' Poeżiji ta' Patrick Sammut u Andrew Sciberras, it-tnejn membri tal-istess Għaqda. Il-Ġabra jisimha Traġitti. L-attendenza numeruża li mliet il-bitħa ta' dan il-lokal semgħet qari ta' poeżiji meħudin mill-ktieb kif ukoll kritika taż-żewġ poeti. Patrick Sammut f'isem Sciberras li ma kienx preżenti minħabba mard fil-familja u f'ismu personali irringrazzja lil kulmin għen kemm fil-pubblikazzjoni tal-ktieb kif ukoll lil dawk preżenti.
Sadattant inqraw numru ta' poeżiji bil-Malti dwar suġġetti varji, filwaqt li l-parti mużikali kienet afdata f'idejn Hilary Spiteri u Bernard Catania.
F'diskors qasir lejn tmiem is-Serata l-President tal-Għ.P.M., Alfred Massa, stqarr li l-Għ.P.M. tħossha fid-dmir li tgħin fil-pubbliċita' tal-kotba ippubblikati mill-membri tagħha. Massa qal li jħossu kburi b'uħud mill-membri għas-suċċessi li kisbu dan l-aħħar. Fosthom semma lil Joseph Sciberras, lil Charles Bezzina u lil Trevor Żahra li rebħu premjijiet prestiġjużi fl-aħħar Konkors Nazzjonali tal-Ktieb. Magħhom semma lil Sunny Aquilina li l-lirika tiegħu kisbet suċċess fil-Festival tal-Kantunetta Maltija għall-Ewropa; lil Charles Magro u lil Alfred Palma li kienu onorati bl-unuri ta' Ġieħ ir-Repubblika.
Is-Serata tmexxiet mis-Segretarju tal-Għaqda, Charles Magro.

Nifirħu lill-Membri tagħna

Charles Bezzina (Għawdex), Joseph C. Sciberras (B'Kara) u Trevor Żahra (Wied il-Għajn) għar-rebħ fil-Premju Nazzjonali tal-Ktieb 2009.

Children’s National Poetry Prize Giving Ceremony 2009

On Friday 5th February 2010, the Maltese Poetry Association organised the Prize Giving Ceremony for the Children’s National Poetry competition for 2009 at the Guzeppi Despott hall at the Education Division in Floriana. The compére was Dr. Joseph Axiaq together with Dr. Manuel Attard Cassar who organized the competition.
In the speech for the occasion, the association’s President, Alfred Massa, said that for the past nine years the Gh.P.M gave a lot of thought to the children of today who will be tomorrow’s adults because if we instil the love of poetry today we will be sowing the seeds for the love of this beautiful art for the future. Special thanks went to the Publishing Houses Aguis and Aguis and Merlin Library of Blata l-Bajda for their sponsorship.
The judges made up of Ms. Mary Grace Caruana, Clair Zerafa and Chev. Carmel Bianchi were pleased with the number of poems which were submitted which were more than 100, also with the level of the poems. Some showed the help of the parents and also of the teachers. This year the competition was open for the last year students of primary schools and the first year students of secondary schools.
Result. 1. Refuġjat ta' Daniel Borg (Victoria, Għawdex); 2. Lil Ommi ta' Franklyn Beldacchino (M'Xlokk); 3. St. Paul's Poem ta' Laury Sam Cauchi (San Pawl il-Baħar); 4. L-Isbaħ Milied ta' Janelle Borg (Għajnsielem, Għawdex); 5. In-Nanniet Tiegħi ta' Miguel Gruppetta (Żejtun); 6. Comfort ta' Erika Harvey (Qawra); 7. Il-Fjuri ta' Maria Cassar (Xewkija, Għawdex); 8. Il-Kelb u lo-Qattus ta' Christian Vella (M'Xlokk); 9. TV Time ta' Odin Mamo (Pieta') u 10. A Puppet Called ta' Kristy Borg (Buġibba).

Premjazzjoni Konkors Nazzjonali tal-Poeżija għat-Tfal 2009

Nhar il-Ġimgħa, 5 ta' Frar 2010, l-Għ.P.M. organizzat il-Premjazzjoni tal-Konkors Nazzjonali ta' Poeżija għat-Tfal 2009 fis-Sala Ġużeppi Despott, Diviżjoni tal-Edukazzjoni, il-Furjana. Il-preżentatur kien Dr Joseph Axiaq, li flimkien ma' Dr Manuel Attard Cassar ħadu ħsieb l-organizzazzjoni tal-Konkors.

F'kelmtejn għall-okkażjoni, il-President tal-Għaqda, Alfred Massa, qal li għal dawn l-aħħar 9 snin l-Għ.P.M. ħasbet fl-importanza tat-tfal li huma l-irġiel u n-nisa ta' għada. Dan għax fehmet li jekk inderru lit-tfal jinnamraw mal-poeżija nkunu qegħdin ninvestu fl-imħabba lejn din l-arti sabiħa fil-ġejjieni. Massa ħeġġeġ lill-kbar biex ikunu ta' eżempju għaż-żgħar billi huma stess juru interess fil-qari tal-poeżija.  Il-President appella lil dawk preżenti biex jirreferu spiss għas-sit elettroniku tal-Għaqda fejn isibu tagħrif dwar l-attivitajiet tagħha. Fl-aħħar nett Massa irringrazzja lil kulmin ta sehmu biex il-Konkors seta' jkun suċċess kif kieku ta' qablu. Ringrazzjamenti speċjali saru lid-Djar tal-Pubblikazzjoni Merlin Library Ltd u Agius&Agius it-tnejn ta' Blata l-Bajda li sponsorjaw ir-rigali tal-Konkors. 

F'kummenti li għamlet il-Ġurija, magħmula mis-Sinjuri Mary Grace Caruana, Clair Zerafa u l-Kav. Carmel Bianchi, uriet is-sodisfazzjoni tagħha għan-numru sabiħ ta' poeżiji li daħlu, li qabżu l-100, kif ukoll għal-livell ġenerali li deher fil-poeżiji. F'uħud dehret l-għajnuna kemm tal-ġenituri kif ukoll tal-għalliema. Dis-sena l-Konkors kien miftuħ għall-istudenti tal-aħħar sena tal-primarja u tal-ewwel sena tas-sekondarja.

Riżultat: 1. Refuġjat ta' Daniel Borg (Victoria, Għawdex); 2. Lil Ommi ta' Franklyn Beldacchino (M'Xlokk); 3. St. Paul's Poem ta' Laury Sam Cauchi (San Pawl il-Baħar); 4. L-Isbaħ Milied ta' Janelle Borg (Għajnsielem, Għawdex); 5. In-Nanniet Tiegħi ta' Miguel Gruppetta (Żejtun); 6. Comfort ta' Erika Harvey (Qawra); 7. Il-Fjuri ta' Maria Cassar (Xewkija, Għawdex); 8. Il-Kelb u lo-Qattus ta' Christian Vella (M'Xlokk); 9. TV Time ta' Odin Mamo (Pieta') u 10. A Puppet Called ta' Kristy Borg (Buġibba).