The NCBD Fair Is Tomorrow!

Here's an interactive poster of the NCBD Fair. Click the icons!

Where It All Began

 

Back in 1997, when I was a preschool librarian in Xavier School, I joined the first storytelling contest of the Philippine Board on Books for Young People. This is how I remembered it to be.

The elimination rounds were held at the Filipinas Heritage Library which was then located at the historic Nielsen Tower in Ayala, Makati. I wore my peach blouse and black pants. My hubby was my companion and cheer leader. I read aloud Ompong Remigio's Bruhaha! Bruhihi. I made it through the final round. The judges of the contests were Letti Sala and Neni Sta. Romana-Cruz. There was a third judge, but I could not remember who that person is. Sorry.

During the final round, there was no book to hold or read aloud. Contestants were asked to read the story and deliver on the spot. I was racked with nerves. It didn't help that I was the first contestant. To make the long story short, I didn't win the top spot. In fact, I ranked the lowest.

Yes, I was disappointed with myself. But, a few weeks after the National Children's Book Day, I got a call from Rose Gonzales, who was then programs coordinator for National Bookstore, to do a storytelling session in one of the store's branches. You see, all seven contestants of the Storytelling contest were "required" to do a session or two. Early on, I knew my advocacy to promote books and reading was off to a start. I said yes, of course, but Rose Gonzales sounded snotty and strict on the phone that I was a bit annoyed. Little did I know that we'll be good friends in the years to come. How that happened is another story I will reserve for another day.

The long and short of it, I never looked back. That storytelling contest paved the way for more storytelling opportunities that helped me improve my craft in the art of storytelling. After all these years, I am still telling stories. 

While I am grateful for PBBY for the storytelling contest it set up in 1997, I hope that one of these days, it can organize a festival where storytellers are not pitted against each other; where stories are teh stars of the show; where the skill and craft of storytelling is the highlight in making a story a powerful medium to heal people and to build and empower communities.

On Bibliotherapy: LibRadio Guesting and A Research Abstract

And so I'm back! From outer space! Well, more like back from the aftermath of the storm. Yep, I'm channeling Gloria Gaynor.

Typhoon Rammasun left a considerable amount of damage in Region 4, the Southern Tagalog Region, that to this day, there are still provinces where electric supply has not gone back to normal yet. As we hope and cope through this natural calamity, we survive. Life goes on.

To pick up where we left off, allow me to start with the good news of having guested over in DZUP's show, LibRadio, a week ago. It was an informative and engaging guesting. I have to give credit to the radio hosts, Eimee Lagrama, Ellija Dar Juan and Madame Elvie Lapus who were all very responsive in the discussion on bibliotherapy. There was an energy in the booth. I felt I was speaking with kindred spirits. Suffice it to say that with our discussion on bibliotherapy, tried and true principles of Library and Information Science were brought up as well as new models of operations and programming planning for libraries. At the end of the show, Madame Elvie Lapus took note of the relevance of research in developing bibliotehrapy in libraries.

Speaking of research, I got a copy of a thesis on bibliotherapy done by Psychology students of St. Sebastian College-Recolletos, Canlubang. Last year, I was interviewed by Ms. Joanne Macheca and two of her classmates to share with them what little I know about bibliotherapy. 

What follows are the excerpts of the acknowledgement from their thesis and the research abstract.

I suppose I have a new role now. No complaints.

Thesis title: The Effects of Bibliotherapy to the Self-Esteem 

of the Abandoned Children in Children's Joy Foundatioan

How Well Do You Know Your Children's Book Publishers: Answers

Publisher #4 : This publishing house is one of the leaders in textbook publication in the country. It has branched out to the publication of children's books with the motto:Instill the love of reading! And what a catchy name this publishing house baptized it's imprint with. Eugene Evasco, Genaro Gojo Cruz, Lina Diza de Rivera and Becky Santos-Gerodias are the teacher-writers who've launched not just one but numerous books with this publisher/publishing house in the past years.

Name this publisher/publishing house!

Answers: Vibal Publishing House / Chikiting Books

Publisher #5: This publishing house has garnered a number of book awards from the National Book Awards. While it specializes in Filipiniana, it also boasts of a credible line of instructional resources for teachers in the grade school, high school and college levels. Their titles of cookbooks, art and culture books are best sellers too! This publishing house revived the classic tales of Lola Basyang that led to a ballet performance of one book in the series.

Name this publisher/publishing house!

Answer:  Anvil Publishing House

Halina't Mamitas ng Aklat Bukas sa NCBD Fair!

How Well Do You Know Your Children's Book Publishers

Here's round two of our publisher/publishing house name game.

Publisher #4 : This publishing house is one of the leaders in textbook publication in the country. It has branched out to the publication of children's books with the motto: Instill the love of reading! And what a catchy name this publishing house baptized it's imprint with. Eugene Evasco, Genaro Gojo Cruz, Lina Diza de Rivera and Becky Santos-Gerodias are the teacher-writers who've launched not just one but numerous books with this publisher/publishing house in the past years.

Name this publisher/publishing house!

Publisher #5: This publishing house has garnered a number of book awards from the National Book Awards. While it specializes in Filipiniana, it also boasts of a credible line of instructional resources for teachers in the grade school, high school and college levels. Their titles of cookbooks, art and culture books are best sellers too! This publishing house revived the classic tales of Lola Basyang that led to a ballet performance of one book in the series.

Name this publisher/publishing house!

Will post answers to the clues this week. Keep visiting!

Bibliotherapy on DZUP LibRadio

I will be guesting on air tomorrow over at DZUP LibRadio 1602. The radio show begins at 12NN. There is online streaming at the DZUP website. 

It is my third in the radio show and it has always been a lovely experience every time I am with the librarian DJs of UP Diliman. They give a different spin to the word "librarian". It only goes to show how flexible and adaptable modern librarians are!

I will be talking about Bibliotherapy tomorrow. Before the program ends, I will definitely be promoting the 31st National Children's Book Day activities. Thinking about it, DZUP LibRadio has been very supportive of the NCBD since last year. In behalf of PBBY, I thank you for this support.

Now here are the talking points:

Definition of Bibliotherapy
 Foundations of Bibliotherapy

 Bibliotherapy in the Philippines
 How does it help?
 How can a librarian use this to help users?
 Self-help possible?

 Research tips and tricks
 Scope and limitations of Bibliotherapy?
 How do you become a Bibliotherapist?

 Traits of an effective Bibliotherapist?

For those who won't be able to tune in, I will post the answers to the questions and the replies to the points for discussion on the topic soon.

How Well Do You Know Your Children's Book Publishers: Answers

Publihser #1 - How well do you know your publisher/publishing house? 


This publishing house publishes a series of illustrated story books on health and hygiene that touches on the values of self care, responsibility and discipline at the same time. Each title of a book in the series begins with an Interjection that catches the attention, and the eye, of the young reader. Name this publisher/publishing house!

Publisher #2 - How well do you know your publisher/publishing house? 

This publishing house is the first to venture into publishing stories for kids way back in the 70s. Back then, it was known for its stories printed in newsprint books with comic like illustrations. I remember, as a grade schooler, book sellers of this publishing house would visit our school to do book talks of illustrated story books like Pilar Katterpillar and Ang Mayang Uhaw. It has now evolved into a publishing house that assists teachers and parents in raising young Filipino readers. 


Name this publisher/publishing house!


Publisher #3 - How well do you know your publisher/publishing house?

Today's featured publisher/publishing house does not consider itself a publishing house, but it works with publishers to produce books for children anyway. In 2005, it launched a book about a man who planted trees, an eco-fable from France adapted and written by Augie Rivera and illustrated by Romeo Forbes. The book (guess the title) was the initiative for a yearly contest where in a visual artist's work is used as inspiration for a children's story. The winning manuscript is then illustrated, or painted, by the visual artist of the year. The winning stories can be read online for FREE.

In 2012, Doll Eyes, one of the winning stories of its yearly contest was included in the Best Reads National Children's Book Award of the PBBY and the NBDB.

Name this publisher/publishing house!

Answer #1: OMF - Hiyas

Apart from the Tito Dok series, Hiyas carries the Oh Mateo Series by Grace D. Chong. Another favorite author of mine who writes for Hiyas is Robert Magnuson, author of The Great Duck and Crocodile Race. This picture book for children was among the Best Reads National Children's Book Award winners of 2012.

Answer #2: Adarna House

Adatna House continues to stretch its wings for the young Filipino Reader. It has ventured into digital publication of its award winning picture books, Ang Araw sa Palengke and But That Won't Wake Me Up in iTunes. Early this year, Adarna House launched a young adult novel, Janus Silang at ang Tiyanak ng Tabon written by Edgar Samar.

Answer #3: CANVAS
As a non-profit organization, CANVAS has a literacy campaign supporting books and reading development. Check their website and find out more about 1 Million Books for 1 Million Filipino Children Initiative that aims to promote literacy and encourage the love of reading (as well as an awareness and appreciation for Philippine art) to various groups of underprivileged children.