Information Literacy Skills Lesson: Parts of a Book

Two weeks ago, I conducted classes on Information Literacy Skills for grade 2 on Parts and Care for Books. The lesson was focused on information that can be found on the different parts of a book and locating skills like the use of a table of contents and an index. By using the analogy of body parts to parts of a book, the care and responsibility for the printed medium was taken up as well.

This week, I'm teaching grade 1 students on the same content and skill. Although the content and skill are the same, the treatment and approach are different. For one, students actually examine the books and are asked to identify each part through oral drills. Only five basic parts (cover, spine, table of contents, title page and main body or text) are introduced but the same emphasis to the information found in the title page is discussed. If the grade 2 boys worked on a written activity to enumerate ways to care for books they borrow from the library, the grade one boys had a book making activity.

I purposely alloted enough time for this activity. I even requested a double period encounter from the Reading teacher so the boys could finish their books on time. Library classes are held in the library and are facilitated by the librarian.

The grade one boys could easily tell ways how to care for books, but, making one deepens their understanding and appreciation of book making itself. Besides, the process is close enough to publishing. Once back in the classroom, enrichment and follow up on the necessity of caring for books will be done by the Reading teacher.

I showed an example, first of all. Then, I presented the instructions on how to make the book.

It's really very simple.

The boys were given four pieces of bond paper cut in quarters. They had to write and draw their favorite food, toy and person on each page. The first page serves as the title page where they must write the title of their book (My Book Of Favorites) and the "by line" (their name as author of the book). Once the drawings and writings are finished, they color and make designs. The last step was to staple the pages together and bind it with masking tape. The boys were pleased with themselves upon reading their own work.

In the classroom, the teachers will display their finished work and allot a sharing time so they could talk about the books they wrote. Imagine if book making could be done in the middle grades as well. What stories and facts could the boys create and communicate? Oh, the many ways to make library classes fun and engaging!

Ani Ng Sining Grant

ANI NG SINING GRANT

For the year 2009, the Philippine International Arts Festival (PAIF) has created the theme "Ani ng Sining". It will feature the talents and performances of the many artists and arts groups in the seven arts on whose trainings, competitions, and creative expressions it has invested the past year or so. The Festival will be a celebration of the fruits of the creative efforts for the past year and a looking forward to a richer, more fertile ground in the coming years for the evolution of artistic modes of expression available to the Filipino creative imagination.

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts encourages culture and arts organizations nationwide to take part in this celebration by making the PAIF a part of their annual program of activities. Thus, everyone is encouraged to implement their own PAIF Program in their own communities. The NCCA also invites organizations nationwide to submit project proposals which may be considered for possible funding assistance. This funding assistance is competitive. Noteworthy projects shall be selected by the PAIF Ad-Hoc Committee from among all proposals received by the NCCA based on the following criteria:

A. Proposals for new works will be evaluated according to the following:

1. Originality of Concept

2. Innovative Artistic Treatment

3. Interaction of Various Art Forms

4. Reflection of Philippine Culture

Slots open for application: 6 slots (2 slots per island region)

Budget per project: P 200,000

B. Proposals for productions based on works by National Artists will be evaluated according to the following:

1. Originality of Concept

2. Innovative Artistic Treatment

3. Creative Integration of National Artists' Works and Styles

4. Reflection of Philippine Culture

Slots open for application: 3 slots (1 slot per island region)

Budget per project: P 200,000

C. Proposals for previously-staged productions will be evaluated according to the following:

1. Artistic Achievement

2. Audience Impact

3. Critically Acclaimed

4. Reflection of Philippine Culture

Slots open for application: 6 slots (2 slots per island region)

Budget per project: P 200,000

QUALIFICATIONS:

The grant is given to individuals or groups whose proposals or current works meet the following qualifications:

1. A production that has been staged and has received critical acclaim or regional or national recognition may apply for restaging the particular work.

2. A new work with a significant theme and innovative production style and featuring the interaction of two or more art forms (architecture, visual, literary, music, dance, theater and cinema)

3. A new production that aims to deepen the public's appreciation for the artistic achievements of two or more National Artists by featuring and incorporating in a creative way the themes and styles of the selected National Artists

4. The artistic form of all of the above entries may be foreign but the content should be Filipino. However, translations or adaptations of foreign productions (e.g., Broadway) do not qualify. All entries must be original Filipino work and not necessarily funded by the NCCA.

5. The applicant's proposal must contain a detailed written account of the work's concept, its artistic treatment, and other pertinent production requirements.

6. The proposal must also be endorsed by a representative of the NCCA regional committee.

THE PROJECT PROPONENT

1. Organizations must be duly-accredited proponents to the NCCA. Otherwise, proponents may apply for accreditation by submitting all required documents (for more information please visit our website at www.ncca.gov. ph)

2. Proponents must complete the liquidation of an unliquidated project and secure a Certificate of Project Completion from the NCCA Project Monitoring and Evaluation Division (PMED) to be eligible to apply for the Ani ng Sining Grant.

3. Proponents with projects to be implemented until February 2009 shall not be eligible to apply for the Ani ng Sining Grant.

4. Only one proposal may be accepted from each organization/ individual.

The deadline for submission of project proposals, accreditation requirements, detailed line-item budget and other requirements is on or before the midnight of October 13, 2008. Proposals received after the deadline and/or with incomplete requirements shall not be processed and will be returned by the NCCA to the proponent

All project proposals may be addressed and submitted to:

Plan/ Policy Formulation and Programming Division
National Commission for Culture and the Arts
5th Flr., NCCA Building, 633 Gen. Luna St., Intramuros, Manila
Telephone Nos. (02) 527-2209, (02) 527-2192 loc. 509
Cell Phone Nos: 0918-9427972
Fax No. (02) 527-2198 or (02) 527-2084
E-mail: pmd@ncca.gov. ph or info@ncca.gov. ph

Give me love!

Here is one shameless plugging. I don't normally do this, but what's there to lose?

This blog has just been nominated for the Filipino Blog of the week at http://salaswildthoughts.blogspot.com/. If you go there, you'll see a poll for the featured Filipino Blog of the week. Just tick on the square that says lovealibrarian and the work is done.

Be a friend and give me some love! Thanks in advance!

Good Finds at The Manila International Book Fair 2008

Yes, books were aplenty at the MIBF last September 12-16, 2008 but I bought only the titles that fit my budget. Though I only had three titles in my book bag, my best finds at the book fair were friends, old and new.

Here's Andy Arcilla-DeGuzman, an old friend from college. She now has two kids and works as librarian at the Philippine Christian University in Dasmarinas, Cavite. Her kids are Victor (8) and Nicole (7). Andy and I go along way back. It's pretty strange how we would only meet once a year at the book fair. With email and texting technology, I'm challenged to keep in touch with her more frequently. We have a lot of catching up to do.

(L-R)Frauline Oclarit, Ariel Oclarit, Me and Dr. Luis "Tito Dok" Gatmaitan.

The Oclarits were at the MIBF to touch base with friends and professionals in the library industry. Frauline and I met during the 2005 IASL Conference in Hong Kong. Imagine that! She's from Mindanao and I, from Manila but we met in bustling Hong Kong, a Chinese territory. She presented a professional paper at the time while I was the eager participant. This time around, she's helping out hubby Ariel in setting up DREAM Children Project (Democratizing Reading Among Mindanaoan Children) in barangays in South Cotabato. From their stories, four reading centers have been set up already but books are wanting as well as people who could help run sustainable programs for literacy development. I am awaiting email from either of the Oclarits since I am interested to help out in whatever way I can. The thought of going to South Cotabato is dangerously exciting!

I'm with Melody Remorca and daughter Marky. Luis Gatmaitan poses with us and takes a bite of Pilandok's mango. In 1997, Melody and I began telling stories for Museo Pambata and National Bookstore. At the time, NBS still had their famed Kiddie Book Club. Part of their activity was storytelling sessions in several branches. I did storytelling gigs for NBS on weekends and partnered with Melody several times in many a storytelling sessions. A decade after, we're still very much active in the industry that shaped who are.

In spite of these happy encounters, I could not help but think what destiny is trying to tell me. For the past three months now, I've been bumping into old friends and acquaintances; people I knew from my past. I'm tickled by the idea of a bigger plan forming in the cosmos for me to know and discover what is. I know I'n being "speculative" about this, but good finds are hard to find. It's the kind that does not happen every day.

Call for Entries: PBBY-Salanga Prize 2009

The Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY) is now accepting entries for the 2009 PBBY-Salanga Prize. The contest is co-sponsored by the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and The National Library.

The grand prize winner shall win a cash prize of P25,000.00, a gold medal, and an opportunity to be published. Prizes will be awarded in an appropriate ceremony to be held during the celebration of National Children's Book Day in July 2009.



CONTEST RULES

· The contest is open to all Filipino citizens except those who are related to any PBBY member up to the third degree of consanguinity.

· Stories should be intended for children aged 6 to 12 years old. The plot and the sequence must be capable of sustaining an illustrated book of 28 to 32 pages.

· Entries may be in Filipino or English.

· Entries must be in hard copy, double-spaced, on short bond paper. Maximum length is five (5) pages.

· A contestant may send in more than one (1) entry.

· Each entry must be signed by a pen name only. Five (5) copies of each entry should be placed in an envelope, on the face of which only the pen name of the contestant should appear.

· Together with each entry, contestants must submit a second envelope, on the face of which the pen name shall appear. This must contain the contestant's full name, address, contact numbers, a short literary background, and a notarized certification from the author, vouching for the originality of the entry and for the freedom of the organizers from any liability arising from the infringement of copyright in case of publication, and affirming that the entry or any variant thereof has (a) never been published nor (b) won any other contest i.e. that it has never won 1st, 2nd, 3rd, honorable mention in any other contest or otherwise been awarded a medal, a citation, or included in a publicized list of meritorious entries to a literary contest.

· All entries must be sent through snail mail to the PBBY Secretariat, c/o Adarna House, Inc. 2/F FSS Bldg. 20 Scout Tuason cor. Scout Castor Sts.,Brgy. Laging Handa, Quezon City 1103.

· All entries must be received by the PBBY Secretariat no later than 5:00 p.m., November 14, 2008.

· Winners will be announced no later than December 12, 2008. Non-winning entries may be claimed at the PBBY Secretariat until January 6, 2009.

The winning story will be the basis for the 2009 PBBY-Alcala Prize. For more details, interested parties may contact the Philippine Board on Books for Young People, at 2/F FSS Bldg. 20 Scout Tuason cor. Scout Castor Sts., Brgy. Laging Handa, Quezon City 1103, Telefax 372-3548 or email pbby@adarna. com.ph.

Another Book to Movie Adaptation

Yup. I've given up my Twilight fixation but I'm still an Edward Cullen fan! There are just some things you can't shake off easily and a "hawt vampire" is one of them. So expect me to watch the Twilight movie in November. After that, there's Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. And then, Inkheart.

Brendan Fraser plays Mo (yummy!). Paul Bettany is Dustfinger (yummy too!) and Andrew Serkis is Capricorn (great actor!) I just hope New Line didn't sanitize Inkheart the way they did The Golden Compass. It's good to be grim. Even in children's literature.

Salaysayan 2008 Finals

The advantage of judging in both the elimination and final rounds of the Salaysayan Contest was that, I saw how much the contestants improved and grown into the competition.

Two days are not really enough to raise one's game, but all of the contestants (6 in the English Division and 8 in the Filipino) gave their best. In the end, it was "Kuya Lance" (Filipino) and "Teacher Michelle" (English) who brought home the cash, the medal and the prestige. Madame Sonia Rocco and Kuya Tony Yanza bagged the 2nd prize, while Kuya Claude and Ate Dyali were the 3rd prize winners.

It was difficult judging the Filipino Division, more so in the English Division. Every one was at their best! Michelle Agas, however, stood out among the rest with her tempered and restrained rendition of Lina Diaz De Rivera's Lazy Bug: A Love Fable. She had the right moves and animations to the characters' actions and dialogues. Hers was neither awkward nor misplaced. Her voice dynamics for each character was apt and pleasing. Though she has the tendency to spread her voice thinly to annoyance, her control was remarkable last night. For one, I learned she sang with the UP Concert Chorus. Her musical training and experience was her saving grace all through out the five-minute performance. Just imagine the effort and the energy that a storyteller puts forth when doing a complete program!

Storytellers use their voices a lot. Exhaustion would come in easy when air is taken from somewhere else. The diaphragm is still the best source for air; the stomach, a source for strength and stamina.

Apart from Michelle's voice dynamics and well choreographed animated moves, she used a nice little tune to emphasize the bug's identity. Don't we all have a song or mantra to live by? This is what I was talking about from my last post on the Salaysayan Contest. Others show off their talents in acting and performance but fail to present the more important thing - the story and its message. We all are bedazzled with changes in voicing and lively actions. Then again, there's more to it than merely showing off one's chops.

By singing that little ditty, "I'm an insect, not a bird!", Michelle has offered her audience a significant human experience. She must have studied the story several times to truly understand and communicate its relevance. When she personified the beating heart of an old tree, to the surprise of the young bug upon these words, "You've found my heart", she had the grand prize in the bag. That lone dialogue meant so much. The way she said it was like finally discovering one's passion; one's reason for being. When she said those words, with a twinkle in her eye and a contented smile, it was as if she was challenging her listeners; asking them if they have found their heart's desire or if their hearts have been found and claimed. She has revealed an insight to Lina Diaz De Rivera's story.

I have not read De Rivera's story, but having heard Michelle tell it halfway made me want to borrow a copy from the library to read and see it for myself. If this is not storytelling magic, tell me what is!

The long and short of it, Michelle knows herself; her strengths and weakness; her gifts and her flaws. She knew how to balance them and was disciplined enough to climb a notch higher into the finals. She played and studied her piece. She gave a new perspective to the story. She was well prepared. She wanted to win. And she did win for all the right reasons - that, in storytelling, it is the story who is the star!

Having said all these, I dream of a day when I could tandem with Teacher Michelle. Should the time come, the honor would be truly mine.

Make Your (Alma) Mater Proud

I lifted this out from Roderick Ramos' email. Roderick is currently the Vice President of the Philippine Normal University Library & Information Science Alumni Association (PNULISAA). It's been visible these days in the circle of library science events and happenings. Thanks to the untiring efforts of Roderick Ramos!

If you're a PNU LS or LIS alumnus, give back some love! Doesn't have to be enormous. A little goes a long way!

Ann is 3rd year 17 year-old LIS student this year. She said that she’s thankful that she can study and truly grateful for this scholarship. “With your help, I will finish college and in turn, help my family too. I promised myself that I will do my best. ”

“I believe in the Association’s noble objectives in realizing my dream to elevate the status and image of the profession by recruiting the best potential librarians imbued with good work values and high ethical standards.” From: PRC BFL Corazon Nera

PILLARS OF THIS YEARS’ SCHOLARSHIP OF PNU-LISAA, Inc.

Cayaban, Celedonia R. (DLSU,CSB)
Estigoy, Consuelo (ELJMC)
Ladlad, Jocelyn (DLSU)
Limpin, Placida Socorro (Australia)
Montejo, Estela (ADMU)
Nera, Corazon (PRC)

Pay Your Membership Now!

TOGETHER WE WILL ACHIEVE MORE! PNU-LISAA, Inc, a caring alumni group, calls on your support to help achieve goals, of providing each and everyone wonderful experiences of professional growth, lifelong learning, camaraderie and fellowship.

GIVE TO PNU-LISAA, INC.

Renew your membership now: fill up an application form, pay only P150.00 to any of our officers and ask for an official receipt, or, send your fees through
Banco de Oro with Savings Account Number 470378972 under the Account Name: Philippine Normal University Library and Information Science Alumni Assn. (PNU-LISAA), Inc. and keep a copy of the deposit slip for the release of the OR.

If you want to share a gift, you can speak and discuss this with our advisers:
Mrs. Evelyn P. Nabus, , and Prof. Ruben P. Marasigan at
302-7717. Thank you for your support.

Forthcoming activity of the Association is a forum with a general assembly in December. For inquiries including membership, e-mail ramospnulisaa@yahoo.com, text @ 09187318010 or leave a message @ 302-7717.

Genuine

And so it goes that stories come alive in the hands of an experienced teller.

Sonia Rocco has proven that in the recently concluded Salaysayan Storytelling Contest of the PBBY. She may not be the professional storyteller in league with Kuya Bodjie and Melody Remorca, but Madame Sonia dug deep into her life experiences, rich enough to flavor her 5 minute storytelling gig with sincerity and confidence. Fluency of the language also helped her earn a spot in the finals on Tuesday, September 16, 2008.

Storytelling is a performance art that requires the teller to be honest, spontaneous and natural. More than its entertainment value, it is a means to communicate an idea, a perspective, a world-view, an insight, a significant human experience. How could one truly communicate if there are masks and “put-ons”?

I’m withholding other opinions and thoughts on my experience as judge in this season’s elimination rounds of Salaysayan (except for the ones mentioned above) till the finals on Tuesday. Let me end this post with these words in the hope that those who made it to the finals could raise their game --

One has to know one’s self to be able to effectively tell a story.

Some kind of sad

Here's an article that touched me so.

It brought back memories of book characters I've loved, outgrown and let go of. The Cat In The Hat and Winnie The Pooh. The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew. Encyclopedia Brown and Ramona. James and the insects that dwell in his giant peach. I only hope my kids would know them and love them as much as I did when I was young and unfolding.

Like everything else in this world, in fiction or in reality, I grew up and changed.

But I'm holding on to Hogwarts. I don't think I'm ready yet to let go of Harry though I'm smitten and bitten by Edward Cullen. Harry is Harry. It will be a while till I keep my HPs in a closet to be forgotten. No, I won't even sell them because I hope that my kids would discover its magic that only JK Rowling could wield and harness.

She pulled me back to believe in fantasy once more. When I wrote to her in 2000, she answered back (at least, via Scholastic) and sent my students letters and photos for us all. She unlocked a door in my mind and unleashed again that untamed sense of wonder. She pushed me to discover Tolkien and CS Lewis; Funke and Zusak; Gaiman and Pratchett. And my reading days and nights were never the same again.

How could I relegate her and Harry in a dark closet all too soon?

The Storytelling Librarian

Here's one storytelling gig I did in school during the Lingo Ng Wika celebration. I used Dianne de las Casas' Peanut Butter & Jelly Jam chant-song to perk up the boys. What followed was a set of actions and movements for the story, Ang Matandang Mananahi.

I don't normally do this, posting video clips of my storytelling gigs in school or elsewhere, but having lost a few good pounds gave me the confidence!

MIBF 2008: Words Without Borders

The Manila International Book Fair will open on September 12, 2008 at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City. Head on to the MIBF website for a comprehensive look of the varied activities in store for everyone. And I mean everyone-from the serious to the curious.

Do click on Special Events for an overview of the seminars, workshops, exhibits, book launchings, etc. schedule during the four day book fair. Again, I invite you to join me in two of my seminar-workshops - the PBBY and the Vibal Publishing sponsored events respectively.

Apart from these two, I'm just as excited to judge for the Salaysayan Storytelling Contest of the PBBY and Alitaptap Storytellers Philippines on Sunday, September 14 and 16, 2008. What magical doors could storytellers open this time as they do the book based storytelling technique? Would listeners dare step into that magical land? How strong could storytellers, competing for prize and reputation, convince us that the magical world is just as real?

See you there!