Magno Ardenia, ABS-CBN News

<figure class="op-social"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="350" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/94_ePWvWrA8" width="510"></iframe></figure>Some people are just so sure of what they want in life that they are willing to try every means just to make their dreams real.And spoken poetry artist Juan Miguel Severo is one of them.Severo, who was a part of the cast of MMFF film &#x27;&#x27;Walang Forever&#x27;&#x27; and is doing constant appearances on ABS-CBN&#x27;s &#x27;&#x27;On the Wings of Love&#x27;&#x27;, had fought his way to where he is right now.When auditioning for roles did not work out for him he knew he needed to do something else to keep his dream of being an actor alive. He then eventually found his way to the world of spoken poetry.&#x27;&#x27;I began doing it because I was a frustrated actor, who also happens to know how to write, so when I encountered spoken word at the time when it was very hard for me to get parts whenever I go to auditions, I decided to try it. I immediately fell in love with the art form and so I thought to myself if I would write materials for myself then I wouldn&#x27;t have to go to auditions or I&#x27;d still love to audition but hindi na ako magiging ganun kalungkot kung hindi ako matatanggap sa mga pinag-auditionan ko [But I will not end up much frustrated every time I am not accepted for a role I auditioned in],&#x27;&#x27; Severo said on ANC&#x27;s Headstart.He knew that to be an artist is to be able to fully express himself and spoken poetry has provided him an avenue to do such.With spoken poetry, Severo found total freedom through self-expression, having been given the privilege to be both the author and the performer of a literary piece.&quot;If you want to become a performer you must be willing to be vulnerable kasi otherwise wala kang kalulugaran sa industriya [because other wise you will find your place in the industry]… sa spoken word, artist is both author and performer, ibang level yung vulnerability kasi hindi ka lang nagpapaka-vulnerable through your word, nagpapaka-vulnerable ka kasi nakikita ka nila [The level of vulnerability in spoken word should be high because you have to be vulnerable while writing the piece and while performing it],&#x27;&#x27; Severo said.Another reason why he thrives in this particular performance art is because he knows how to engage his audience to his words and performances, treating the audience as his scene partner.&#x27;&#x27;That&#x27;s why I really like spoken poetry, because it&#x27;s more spontaneous. When you do a monologue it&#x27;s very hard to draw emotion from someone else because you don&#x27;t have a scene partner and if you&#x27;re in a dialogue or in an ensemble ang sarap ng eksena kasi ang dami mong nakukuha mula sa mga ka-eksena mo [you become more engaged in the scene because your co-actors drive you into it], sa spoken poetry kaya mo syang magawa [in spoken poetry you can also achieve that] with your audience, if your audience is receptive enough... Your scene partner is your audience parati [always].&#x27;&#x27;When he is on stage he presents himself naked; he does not hold back his stories and the emotions that go with them; he makes sure that he shares himself to his audience.<div>LOVE FOR THE FILIPINO LANGUAGE</div>Severo grew up in a household which is very fluent in speaking Filipino and that has become an edge to thrive in his chosen art form.While in high school and college he lost his passion for writing in Filipino, but thanks to the spoken poetry he was reunited with his native language.&#x27;&#x27;Back in high school and college, I used to write poetry in English, feeling ko noon kapag nag-Filipino ka masyadong cheezy, masyadong corny minsan [I just felt then that writing in Filipino is too cheezy and sometimes corny]... &#x27;&#x27;I realized that if you write a spoken word piece hindi ka lang dapat magsusulat doon sa wika na kung saan ka sanay na isulat dapat din sa kung alin yung sanay mong sabihin [you should write using a language you are not only comfortable to write but also you are comfortable to speak of],&quot; he said.For Severo, being able to write in Filipino is every time a beautiful moment to look forward to, comparing it to that moment when you realize you are in love with someone who you just treated as a friend for the longest time.He added he has been able to express himself more when writing in Filipino.&#x27;&#x27;Maraming mga bagay na nasa Filipino na kahit anong subok natin hindi natin mai-express nang ganun kaganda sa ibang wika, kahit sa ingles pa na sanay na sanay na tayo [There are Filipino words that cannot be expressed more beautifully in another language, even in English which we are very familiar with],&#x27;&#x27; he said.

Some people are just so sure of what they want in life that they are willing to try every means just to make their dreams real.

Going naked: How Juan Miguel Severo found passion for spoken poetry

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Lifestyle

Going naked: How Juan Miguel Severo found passion for spoken poetry

Magno Ardenia,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 30, 2016 07:38 PM PHT

Read More:

ANC

ANC Exclusives

Juan Miguel Severo

spoken poetry

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.