Translator of the Month: Eugene Evasco

Eugene Evasco, Palanca Hall of Famer and Salanga Prize Winner, is the translator of our new book, The Day Max Flew Away (Gagatiga and Tejido, Lampara Books, 2017). In this interview, he talks about his style and approach in translating stories in English text into Filipino. Read further on as he shares books that influenced him to write for children and his five dreams for the growth and development of Philippine Children's Literature. 

Book cover of The Day Max Flew Away

1. How do you approach translation work?

I have three approaches in translating literary texts for children. First and foremost, I must produce a text that will not sound like a translation. I have to make the translation of an English text “originally written” in Filipino. Secondly, though I have to respect the original intent of the author, I must assert my own voice and style in the translation. My style in translation is trying to write the text like my own work. Thirdly, and most importantly, after translating the text, I have to make sure that the product is child-friendly or readable.

2. What has been the biggest challenge for you as a translator of children’s books?

One of the biggest challenges is translators of children’s books in the Philippines are marginalized. Some are not acknowledged properly in the book production. They are not even considered as co-creators of the book. Another is the language problem. Translation is supposed to be a process to make the text accessible to Filipino readers. But in my experience, there are cases that some readers, young and old, are struggling to understand the Filipino language.

Title page, where Eugene Evasco is appropriated as translator

3. Among your published works, what book is the most meaningful and why?

Pintong Maraming Silid (The Door with Many Rooms) is a personal favorite. It is beautifully illustrated by Leo Kempis Ang. It is our ode to books and our testimony to the power of reading.

4. Five books that influenced you to write for children.

Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White- I personally asked my publisher, Segundo Matias, Jr. of Lampara to buy the foreign rights and publish my Filipino translation. This book taught me how to write in a lyrical way, using concrete images. Rene Villanueva’s Ang Unang Baboy sa Langit and Nemo, Ang Batang Papel. The Philippine Folklore series of Damiana Eugenio
is a gold mine of stories. I adore Mayroon Akong Alagang Puno by Carla Pacis.

5. Five big dreams for Philippine Children’s Literature.

-More handsomely-produced children’s books using high quality paper and binding, outstanding design, and thorough editing. We need to package our products properly.

-We need more radical, unconventional, and brave texts for children.

-Philippine children’s books should be visible in the world market. We need agents to sell our book in the international community. We never ran out of talent. We must invest in marketing our books.

-A book museum and research center focusing on Philippine children’s books.

-Establishment of a Children’s Laureate or the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature in our country.

Eugene Evasco is a panelist in the 2nd Philippine Children's Book Summit on July 22, 2017.

 

Update on Book Project: The Day Max Flew Away

Back in May 2016, I blogged about a new book project I have with Jomike Tejido. I posted photos of his studies in the blog.

And now for the big reveal! Our book The Day Max Flew Away will soon be published by Lampara Books. We hope to launch it by September 2017 in time for the Manila International Book Fair.

Here is a photo I grabbed from Jomike's FB page. See the bird flying over "Nico's" head? Yes, this story is so close to home as it is taken from my children's real life story of owning a pet bird. I named the characters after my kids, so, this is a really special project.

Nico is now 19 years old and Zoe turned 16 last month. They still hold a fascination for animals and a love for birds, cats and dogs.

Here is the cover design of our book. Do visit the blog and my FB page for more updates and book giveaways!

Visit Tejido for more information on Jomike's art and his paintings on banig, a woven mat made of pandan leaves.

New Book: The Day Max Flew Away

Finally, I got the dummy of The Day Max Flew Away. The illustrations are by Jomike Tejido and the Filipino translation is by Palanca Hall of Famer, Eugene Evasco. 

Here's the front and back covers.

Max is a CMMA Finalist!

Early today, I received happy news from my publisher, Lampara Books. Our book The Day Max Flew Away is a finalist in the Best Children’s Short Story category of the 40th Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA). I am still wearing a smile in my face and there is joy in my heart as I write this. But I am nervous too.

I know that the story is up against tough competition. Eugene Evasco’s story book, Ang Tatlong Prinsipe ng Kalinaw (Lampara Books) is a finalist too. I do not know whose works are lined up as well but joining the list along side a Palanca Hall of Famer’s work shakes my confidence.

I take comfort in the idea that the panel of judges took time to read and to consider my story and our book. They sure got the message!

Max is a very personal story. It is Nico and Zoe’s experience growing up and Papadoms’ relevant role in the lives of our children. It is my story too, one about detachment and letting go. At the time of writing, I was grappling with the teachings of Ignatius, most especially about the truths we hold dear. I have gained perspective since then. Ignatius can do that too. Now I know that to be able to love freely, we need to hold the truth lightly in our hands.

I look back at Max’s journey and here are links to blog posts at how the story and the book came to be.

Jomike’s studies on Max

Max and Nico were revealed

Max’s translator is the Palanca Hall of Famer, Eugene Evasco

Interview with Eugene Evasco as translator

Max’s bookmark by Mennie Ruth Viray

Max at the 2017 Manila International Book Fair

I will definitely attend the awards ceremonies. Win or lose, I will be there to celebrate. I feel I have gone full circle. I am ready to begin anew.

St. Ignatius of Loyola, pray for us!

What Goes Behind Zoom and an Online Author Visit

Family will always matters so I picked Max for the read aloud.

This month is Buwan ng Wika. The theme this year is indigenous languages and "bayanihan". I posted on the blog early this month that I am preparing for storytelling sessions which will be delivered online. Given the circumstances, it is the only way to go.

COVID-19 has turned our world upside down. We are not prepared for this contagion but our DNA is built in with the natural instinct to survive. Thus, we use all the necessary tools and means to create and communicate to each other and with each other.

Other than a recorded storytelling video, I have been interviewed for an Author Visit by the De La Salle DLS Zobel Librarians. A week ago, I was hooked in Zoom with my dear friend Ann Grace Bansig. She interviewed me for a recorded online Author Visit for DLS Zobel's Buwan ng Wika celebration. We talked about my books and the experiences I have writing them. I enjoyed the session and I am pretty excited to see how it will turn out.

This new experience provided us with many advantages. One, we had the time to schedule the interview at our most convenient day and hour. Two, as guest author, I was able to prepare for the interview since I had the outline of the script before hand. Three, there are enough days or lead time for the librarians to edit the video. Just imagine the preparations the DLS Zobel librarians went through. Also, this new media of communication required them to learn the technology of rendering videos online. Overnight, these school librarians became media practitioners.

This is a snippet the recorded read aloud of The Day Max Flew Away in Zoom.

What comes to mind is the preparations I do for when I am a guest in Ang Pinaka in GMA TV. We undergo the same process, except that, the production team of Ang Pinaka are media people and professionals in the field.

I think it would benefit librarians and most specially, the teachers who will use television and media in the delivery of lessons this coming school year to get a crash course on media production.

Let us see where this will lead us!

The Children’s Book Writer and His/Her World View

Of the four publishers who had an input session during the Room to Read Writing Workshop in Bohol last week, it was Joann Nicolas Na’s session on world views that made a lasting impression. She is the editor of OMF Lit/Hiyas. In her talk, which was like a brief writer’s recollection, she asked participants what we believe in. In a previous post, a wrote them down.

I reiterate them here.

There are three things I believe in. 

I believe in love. I believe in family. I believe, that with the use of appropriate teaching methods, reading and literacy can change lives.

These beliefs all funnel in my stories and the books I have published, so far. Almost all of the six books I have written and collaborated with amazing Filipino artists were all based from real life characters. Many of them are stories of loved ones and family members.

The Day Max Flew Away is the story of my family. Much of what the father told the main character in the story is basically what I often hear my husband tell my kids. In My Daddy! My One and Only!, I celebrate the bond between father and son. Big Sister, is my story. I became one when I was twelve years old. My father is a retired public school teacher but he worked abroad back in the 80s. This became my context for Dear Nanay Needless to say, the experiences a writer go through and the beliefs he or she values are reflected in his/her works.

This prompts me to review and examine the works of my contemporaries. In the coming days and weeks, I will be posting in the blog selected works of writer friends in the industry and their body of works. This is not an academic study of children’s literature but, who knows. Maybe after posting my featured articles on Filipino Children’s Book writers and their world views, I may continue this as a formal study of writing and Philippine Children’s Literature.

Visit the blog and find out the writers, or illustrators, I will be featuring in my quest to understand the writer and his or her world view.

Author Visit at Assumption College Antipolo

I was at Assumption College (AC) Antipolo last week for an author visit. Many thanks to Ms. Tersie Montesines for the invitation, I felt like a rockstar. 

Here is why:

Student: You are the second most popular person I have met, Ms. Zarah.
Me: Awww... Who is the first?
Student: Vice Ganda!

This happened during my book signing at lunch break. There was a long line! To my amazement, my books have been identified as summer readings by the grade school teachers and librarians of Assumption College. So, writer friends, befriend the school librarians and the teachers you meet in school visits, book signings and launches. They provide access and gateways for our books to parents and the bigger community. My books were all sold out!

After my author talk in the early morning, I was a privileged guest in AC Antipolo's Speech Fest where I saw and heard students perform our book, A Tale of Two Dreams (Gagatiga, Solina-Wolf, Lampara 2013). It was a first for me. 

I felt I have gone full circle too as I have seen and witnessed how teachers make use of the stories I write for children. 

I met friends, old and new, like former Xavier School teacher Mrs. Winnie Posadas Santiago who teaches fourth grade Language Arts and Mrs. Luisa Buenaventura whose son happened to be my son's friend in college. I learned from Teacher Winnie that she used My Daddy My One Only and The Day Max Flew Away for their Morning Circle. This is the advisory period and quieting time of the community. A time for devotionals. Bible stories are amazing and passages are filled with life lessons. For young students to have a better appreciation of it, Teacher Winnie uses stories for kids to make the life lessons more accessible.

Teacher Luisa was my companion the whole day. We had wonderful conversations about life in general, writing, sharing of one's work, health and well-being and the graces that can be had in service to community.

Antipolo is a long way from where I live in Laguna, but the trip, tiring as it was because of the terrible traffic in the metro, was all worth it. Thank you, AC Antipolo!

My Life as a Teacher Librarian, Post COVID Era (2 of 2)

 Here is part 2 of my reflections on the essay part of the nomination form for Binan's Outstanding Librarian Award. 

2. Work Excellence and Achievement and Awards and Recognitions Received

 For this criterion, I am presenting the awards and recognitions I received professionally. I think that my continuous pursuance of the improvement of my personal growth and competencies is a factor in receiving these professional awards and recognition.

 

* Recipient of the Fr. James Meany SJ Service Award for exemplary service to PAASCU in the field of Basic Education PAASCU 2009

● Storytelling Resource Award 2015 For Tales From the 7,000 Isles: Filipino Folk Stories The Storytelling World, Tennessee, USA

● Top Ten Kids’ Choice Award 2016 for Big Sister National Book Development Board, PH

● Certificate of Recognition for Inspiring Children to Tell Stories and a Featured Storyteller in the exhibit (2016 to present) Paglaki Ko Gusto Ko Maging Kuwentista, Museo Pambata Roxas Blvd. Manila, July 2016

● Plaque of Appreciation 2017 In recognition of Exemplary Work and Service to School Library Development and the Growth of Children’s Literature, Philippine Association of School Librarians, Inc. (PASLI)

● Final List Top 5 for The Day Max Flew Away Best Children’s Story 2018 Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA)

● Recipient of the Fr. James Meany SJ Service Award for exemplary service to PAASCU in the field of Basic Education, PAASCU 2022

3. General Management and Quality of Service

The Beacon Academy Library, in congruence with the school’s certification processes with the DepEd, the International Baccalaureate and the Philippine Council for NGO Certification has passed three accreditation and certification journeys. Needless to say, the management and quality of service of the library has met local, national and global standard.

 

Author Visit at Gan Etz Ha Haim

Who would have thought that there is a synagogue in the busy, commercial community of Makati? Well, there really is and it is maintained and managed by the Jewish Association of the Philippines (JAP).  Nestled in the Salcedo enclave, the JAP complex houses a social hall and a preschool, the Gan Etz Ha Haim preschool. 

I paid them visit yesterday where I talked about my writing life and read aloud stories. The kids particularly loved My Daddy, My One and Only and the The Day Max Flew Away. There I met Teacher Daryl and Teacher

Paz, and their small community of preschool staff. After my talk and read aloud sessions, I had book signing with the kids, chatted with the Jewsish staff and some parents.

Before I left, Teacher Daryl and Teacher Paz gave me a tour of Bachrach Hall, the library and the synagogue. It was my first time to enter a synagogue. It was my first time too to see books read and used for worship by the Jewish people. Nothing but respect to the Jewish community as they have a language, culture and faith as old as time itself. As in every visit and every talk I do, I was the one who learned so much from my host. I left the JAP complex informed and appreciative of the Jewish people in our midst.

Updated Bio Sketch: Zarah C. Gagatiga

Zarah C. Gagatiga is a teacher-librarian of the Beacon Academy, storyteller, literacy coach, reading interventionist, and award-winning author from the Philippines. She co-authored “Tales From the 7,000 Isles: Filipino Folk Stories,” (Bloomsbury) which won the 2015 Storytelling Resource Award by the National Storytelling Network, Tennessee, USA. Her picture book, “Big Sister” (Lampara Books) was a Top Ten Finalist in the 2016 Kids’ Choice Award by the National Book Development Board. Her story book, “The Day Max Flew Away” (Lampara Books) was a Top Five Finalist in the Best Storybook for Children category in the Catholic Mass Media Awards in 2018.

Zarah is a board member of the Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY) representing librarians and PRO of the Philippine Association of School Librarians (PASLI). Her dedication to advocate books, reading and literacy led her to being named as the 2023 Outstanding School Librarian by the City of Binan, Laguna. The Philippine Association of Accredited Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU) accorded her the Fr. James Meany SJ Award in 2019 and 2021 for her voluntary service to the community. In 2018, PASLI awarded her a plaque of recognition for her contributions and valuable work in children’s literature. 

Zarah loves coffee, sunsets and long, quiet walks. She is a proud ARMY and a cat mom to Golden, Cali and Ohrengee. A pottery and clay therapy enthusiast, Zarah’s artistic journeys can be viewed and experienced at @silver_linings_t.zee on Instagram. She blogs at http://lovealibrarian.blogspot.com.  

What Good Public Libraries Do

Last month was National Public Library Awareness. I gathered from librarian friends working in the public library sector through Facebook of the many activities they had. It was in the same month when I got tagged by a friend living in Canada of a photo he took of his son and wife reading my book, The Day Max Flew Away (Lampara Books, 2017). I also learned that my books are all available in the public library of Calgary. Amazing! What good public libraries do!

This may be a month late, but allow me to amplify the relevance of public libraries to a person, to his or her family, to the community and society in general.

1. Public libraries are spaces where a person can find his or her own people. Through services that allow him or her to access reading materials and informtion that represent his or her heritage, language and culture, the world is a little less lonelier.

2. Public libraries bridge gaps between peoples and generations. Imagine my friend’s delight to read a book in Filipino to her son when they have been living in Canada for years. The longing for home never ends. Thanks to the public library and its librarians who make books that speak of home available to migrants and immigrants. Now, a Canadian born child of Filipino ancestry could read along with his parents a story written by a Filipino author!

3. Public libraries empower people, their families and communities. Reading is a right as much as it being a skill and a set of skills to be learned. Learning to read is a skill that is learned at home, first of all. If books for learning how to read are too expensive to acquire, then public libraries come in to the rescue. What’s more, their services are developmentally programmed. There is everything for everyone in a well funded, well supported public library.

So, having said all these, I hope Filipino librarians continue to learn from each other and from the experiences of others. I am still hopeful that, despite the many challenges we face, we are able to rise above it to empower people, bridge gaps and show empathy. On a personal note, I thank the librarians of the Calgary Public Library for including my books in their Filipino collection. This is inclusive library services. This is recognising diversity. These are reasons libraries are all the more relevant today.

Max Flew Away Bookmark

Bookmark of our new book, The Day Max Flew Away (Lampara House, 2017) made especially by Mennie Ruth Viray
Thanks to Jomike Tejido for the amazing paintings on banig (native mat) as canvas.
So excited for this book!

A New Book Project With Jomike Tejido

I am thankful to Jomike Tejido for accepting, once more, a collaborative project with me. We are going to free a bird this time.

See Jomike's studies on our new children's book project. Again, Lampara Books agreed to support our creative pursuits.

Study 1: This is the cover page of our new book, The Day Max Flew Away.

I am excited to see how Jomike is going to interpret my story. From the studies he has shown me so far, it looked neat and well designed. He is going to paint this time. I am not sure if he is going to use a banig as his canvas.

Study 2: Here is one of the book's inner pages. 

There is a father, a mother, a boy and a little girl. Notice the birds and the cat at the bottom right panel. Who is that character with a hat? Make a guess! Do you have an idea what the story is all about?

New Lampara Books in the 2017 Manila International Book Fair

I will be present during the book signing from September 13-14, 2017 and the formal launching of our book, The Day Max Flew Away (Gagatiga and Tejido) on September 17, 2017. See you! Say hi and don't be a stranger

Book Preview: The Day Max Flew Away

Reading Aloud: The Day Max Flew Away