ENGAGE, EXPAND, EMPOWER: Literacy Beyond the Page in the Digital Age.

 

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Books on Martial Law for Children & Young Adults: A curated library guide

Highlighting stories that preserve memory, foster critical thinking, and honor human rights.

Early Readers (5–10 years old)

• Sayaw ng mga Ilaw – Cheeno Marlo Sayuno, illus. Aaron Asis
  A girl longs to learn a traditional dance as her family faces absence and loss under Martial Law.

• Isang Harding Papel – Augie Rivera, illus. Rommel Joson
  A child’s paper garden becomes a symbol of hope while her mother is imprisoned.

• Si Jhun-Jhun, Noong Bago Ideklara ang Batas Militar – Augie Rivera, illus. Brian Vallesteros
  A bilingual story showing how Martial Law disrupted ordinary childhood.

• Ito Ang Diktadura – Equipo Plantel, illus. Mikel Casal
  A simple yet powerful introduction to dictatorship, translated into Filipino.

Middle Readers (11–14 years old)

• Salingkit: A 1986 Diary – Cyan Abad-Jugo
  A diary of friendship and awakening during the People Power Revolution.

• Martial Law Babies – Arnold Arre
  A graphic novel capturing the humor, nostalgia, and struggles of a generation raised during Martial Law.

Older Teens & Young Adults (15+ years old)

• Dekada ’70 – Lualhati Bautista
  A family’s story of awakening and resistance during the Marcos dictatorship.

• Desaparesidos – Lualhati Bautista
  A former activist confronts the trauma of the disappeared and the silence of history.

• 12:01 – Russell Molina, illus. Kajo Baldisimo
  A haunting graphic novel about curfew, disappearance, and the shadows of authoritarian rule.

• The Gun Dealer’s Daughter – Gina Apostol
  A privileged daughter is drawn into activism, memory, and guilt during Martial Law.

Bangtan Herman Notes: Mon Studio. BTS. KAWS. And Intertextuality

Sometimes, we do OOTD!

 

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Martial Law Stories PH: Salingkit

Taking off from Russell Molina’s talk last August 29 for Filipino Week, here is one line that refuses to leave: “Martial Law is not an event. It is an idea. Ideas can be resurrected.”

It is a reminder that history is not a closed book. What we choose to forget can return; what we choose to silence can echo louder. To read, to question, to remember, these acts become our guardrails against the resurrection of ideas that once brought fear and darkness. This week, our library, the BA Library will highlight books on Martial Law as an act of remembrance and courage.

In doing so, we affirm the importance of human rights as the foundation of a just society. Above all, we honor our shared humanity by keeping memory alive through stories.

Salingkit: A 1986 Diary

by Cyan Abad-Jugo

Written as a diary, this novel traces the life of Kitty, a young girl navigating her friendships, crushes, and daily struggles against the backdrop of the 1986 People Power Revolution. It offers readers an intimate look at Martial Law’s final years through the voice of a child growing into awareness.

• Target Level: Middle grade readers (ages 11–14)

  Philo & TOK Connections:

  • How do personal experiences connect to broader historical events?

  • What makes everyday experiences (friendships, family life) valid sources of historical knowledge?

  Check the BA Library OPAC. Our Book List on Martial Law is publicly accessible.https://library.beaconacademy.ph/cgi-bin/koha/opac-shelves.pl?op=view&shelfnumber=1

#FilipinianaXTOK #MartialLawLiterature #BookReview

Post MIBF Reflections: From Bayan to Bookshelf: Nurturing Filipiniana in the School Library (2 of 2)

 

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Post MIBF Reflections: From Bayan to Bookshelf: Nurturing Filipiniana in the School Library (1 of 2)

Here is an executive summary of my talk with PASLI sponsored by Tuttle Publishing Philippines. 

Resource Speaker:  Zarah C. Gagatiga, RL – Teacher Librarian, Award-Winning Author, PASLI PRO

This seminar highlights the importance of nurturing Filipiniana collections that mirror the oral traditions and diverse lives of Filipino children, promote bilingual literacy, and design community programs that bring stories to life. It draws on Rosenblatt’s Transactional Theory and Reception Theory to affirm reader agency and position reading as both a personal and social act.

Connection of Activities to Objectives:

Curate Filipiniana Books: The Mini-Curation Challenge directly engaged participants in selecting titles that preserve oral traditions and meet children’s cultural and developmental needs. This addressed the first objective by encouraging thoughtful, purposeful collection building.

Promote Bilingual Literacy: The Dual Language Read-Aloud made participants experience firsthand how language shifts between Filipino and English affect rhythm, imagery, and meaning, sharpening bilingual awareness and appreciation of cultural registers.

Design Community-Based Programs: The Story-to-Program Workshop challenged groups to transform folktales into inclusive community activities (e.g., puppet plays, barangay storytelling circles), concretizing how libraries can bridge culture and community.

Integrative Activity: The Reading Roulette embodied all three objectives at once. By rotating books, participants saw reader agency in action, experienced the value of diverse Filipiniana texts, and built a sense of community by sharing insights with peers and the larger group.

When school libraries center Filipino folktales and works by Filipino creators, they affirm children’s agency, nurture social reading, and uphold access and representation as acts of justice. Folktales sharpen metalinguistic awareness, preparing children to engage digital and AI-driven tools with reflection, responsibility, and cultural grounding.

Book Review: May Mahaba Kaming Listahan sa Tindahan

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