Updates on Philippine Children's Literature

Every year, new books for children are being published. Most are launched during the National Children's Book Day in July. This early, I got several news on a book launch, a new Young Adult book, a Filipino Artist winning the Noma Concours and a Children's Literature workshop. Details are as follows -

Book Launch

TAHANAN LAUNCHES 3 GREEK MYTHS AS BILINGUAL FLIPBOOKS

The Trojan Horse. Odysseus and the Cyclops. Melampus and the Snakes.
These three well-loved classics mined from the ancient treasure trove
of Greek mythology come alive as splendid bilingual flipbooks just out
from Tahanan Books for Young Readers. The three books—retold by Peggy
Manuel, vibrantly illustrated by Rita Badilla-Gudiño, and translated
into Filipino by Rene O. Villanueva—will be launched on Monday,
February 5th at Powerbooks (Greenbelt 4) from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M.

With this series Tahanan introduces an innovative flipbook
format designed to showcase a story in two languages. The first half
of each 32-page picture book is a dedicated English edition, the last
half is flipped upside-down and bears the Filipino edition. Each
center spread features trivia gleaned from Greek mythology.

Tahanan's full-color flipbooks are available singly (P225) and
as a set (P675) in all major bookstores. For more information, please
contact Frances Ong at 818-2482 or send an email to
marketing@tahananbooks.com.

New Young Adult Book

KUTING's first anthology of short fiction for Young Adults (age 13 - 19). Available at the UP Press Bookstore in Balay Kalinaw, UP Diliman. Edited by Carla Pacis(English) & Eugene Evasco (Filipino). Cover design by May Tobias-Papa.

Noma Concours
Artist and Children's Book Writer, Jomike Tejido, is runner up winner in the Noma Concours

Children's Literature Workshop

The Tamaraw Writeshop for Children's Literature calls for applications to a 12-day writing fellowship to its second national writeshop to be held in Iloilo City.
As its target tradition, the writeshop tours around the country as part of its objective of enrichment of regional cultures and literatures. Thus, this year, the writeshop goes to Iloilo with three fellowships open for Hiligaynon or Kiniray-a languages.

Fifteen fellowships are open nationwide. Applicants may send entries in English, Filipino, or Hiligaynon. Entries written in Hiligaynon/Kiniray- a must bear Filipino or English translation.

Applicants must submit the following:
(1) two unpublished short stories for children;
(2) one copy of each story plus digital file (12-point, Times-New-Roman font, double spaced in 8.5x11 bond paper with one inch margin all sides); (
3) cover letter address to the writeshop director;
(4) two 2x2 recent colored photo; and
(5) applicant's bionote with complete contact information.

The fellows will undergo series of lectures and writing sessions based on the syllabus designed by their respective mentors. The two-week activity will primarily work on the objective of finishing a writing project which is the main target output. A first national conference on Philippine children’s literature will also be held side by side the writeshop. Deadline for submission is February 15, 2007. The same is the postmark date for entries that will be sent through mail. Email submissions are accepted with the entry and necessary documents as attached files wynion@gmail. com; tamaraw-writeshop@ yahoo.com