KUTING News

Because National Children's Book Day would be next week, here is a cornucopia of good news from KUTING - Kwentista ng mga Tsikiting. Thanks to Carla PAcis who posted this information in the Kuting egroup.

Augie Rivera's book "Elias and His Trees" recieved glowing reviews from Neni Sta. Romana Cruz and Ralph S. Galan in today's Philippine Daily Inquirer. She writes that Elias "is bound join the gallery of such heroes (as Johnny Appleseed and Paul Bunyan)"

Our very own Zarah Gagatiga has been voted Librarians representive in the PBBY.

Reni Roxas Singer and I have been askd by the National Children's Book Development Board of Singapore, organizers of the Asian Children's Writers and Illustrator's Conference to speak at the conference in Nov. this year. Reni will be speaking on children's book publishing in the Philippines while I will be speaking on YA Literature in the Philippines. Part of my lecture is from my intro to Bagets anthology.

Bagets anthology is all done and ready to submit to the UP Press!

PBBY has a new project that will push Filipino children's literature to the forefront. Locally published children's stories will be read on DZAS by radio personalities. The authors will also be interviewed by our very own Dr. Luis Gatmaitan. The first stories to be read are, of course, the PBBY Winners.
The first 4 authors to be interviewed were Edgar Samar, Grace Chong, Russell Molina and myself. Luis, Bing of CCP, Grace and myself trekked all the way to the DZAS station in Karuhatan, Valenzuela. Russell backed out at the last minute due to an emergency engagement. Edgar was the pilot episode and his spiel was recorded earlier.

DZAS AM has a large following as well as their sister station DZFE FM, the classical station. They are Christinan based and have no sponsors/commercials.