Last Saturday, the Department of Culture Aruba and the Arte di Palabra ABC Commission successfully hosted the Arte di Palabra ABC 2026 competition at the Paseo Herencia Ballroom. The event gathered talented youth from Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao for an evening dedicated to creativity and artistic expression in the Papiamento language.
Participants presented poetry, storytelling, and rap performances, demonstrating the value of the local culture and language. Destiny Bernabela of Aruba was named the absolute winner of the competition with her piece “Un Buraco sin Fondo.” The audience enjoyed presentations that touched on various social, cultural, and personal themes in an environment of inter-island fraternity.
Winners were announced across several categories, with top honors distributed among the ABC islands. Zyon Bonafastia of Bonaire won Category A, while Zyon Bonifastia secured first place in Category B. Destiny Bernabela also took first place in Category C.
