NCBA Best Reads of 2014: Bits and Pieces of the Awards Ceremony

The recently concluded NCBA Best Reads of 2014 awards ceremony was a success indeed! I'll post some insights I gained from the experience for another day. For now, I'll share some of the cool things that happened last Saturday, July 26, 2014 at the GT Toyota Auditorium in UP Diliman.

Play time!

There were kids present in the audience. They were the kid judges of the Kids Choice Award, kids of the NBDB Officers and PBBY board members, and kids of authors and illustrators who came in the event. Because of them, NBDB and PBBY set up a party themed NCBA awards ceremony. A play area was set in one corner; a photo booth was in another; there were balloons; a very Pinoy spaghetti and hotdog were served for snacks; and sorbetes!

Hats and head dresses to wear for picture-picture!

At the photo booth 

Like the NCBD, the NCBA awards ceremony was a reunion and gathering of friends and allies in the Philippine Children's Literature industry. National Artist Virgilio Almario was present; Usec. Dina Ocampo and Usec. Che Cristobal attended the event and they brought with them their two sons. It was a family event, really. With Adarna House winning five awards, the Almarios automatically became the grand slam award winning clan of 2014! Those long hours working with writers and illustrators surely paid off.

This year's ceremony was graced by the amazing performances of JK Anicoche, PBBY board member, thespian, action star and founder of Sipat Lawin Ensemble. A group of four performers from Sipat Lawin delighted the audience with a very lively and contemporary rendition of Rene Villanueva's Ang Unang Baboy sa Langit. I get the feeling we will see more of them in succeeding literacy events.

The Sipat Lawin Ensemble did a lot of improv! Amazing!

As for me, my NCBA day ended with coffee and a light dinner with KUTING friends. Three KUTINGs reaped the "open book" award from the NBDB and PBBY. We have to celebrate this with the rest of the cat litter. For now, we're all basking in the after glow of a glorious NCBA Best Reads event.

Finally.