Kuwentong Musmos Author Interview Roundup: Team OMF-Hiyas

Before we bid goodbye to the merry month of May,  here is a round up of the author interviews of Team OMF-Hiyas. What heart warming sharing of experiences they had! Thank you to Joanna Nicolas Na who facilitated this interview. 

Maloi Salumbides - Sa mga araw na darating, mga manunulat at mga illsutrador  naman ng OMF-Hiyas ang itatampok dito sa blog. Buena mano si "Ate" Maloi Malibiran-Salumbides. Siya ang sumulat ng kuwwntong Tinola ni Nanay na ginuuhit naman ni Felix Mago Miguel.

Jana Marie Rivera - Janina Marie Rivera is the author of Kaya ni Mina, illustrated by Cy Vendivil and published by Hiyas-OMFLit. This is her first children's book under the Kuwentong Musmos Project of Room to Read in cooperation with Adarna House. Know what led Janina in the Philippine Children's Book industry.

Joshene Bersales - In this interview, Joshene Bersales, author of Sakto Lang (OMF-Hiyas, 2019) tells us how she started out in the children's book industry. Sakto Lang is illustrated by Domz Agsaway. 

Dr. Luis "Tito Dok" Gatmaitan - Ikinararangal kong ma-interview si Dr. Luis "Tito Dok" Gatmaitan sa unang pagkakataon sa aking blog. Si Tito Dok ay bahagi ng Team Hiyas-OMF Lit na nakasali sa Kuwentong Mumos Workshop noong Oktubre 2019. Siya ang nagsulat ng kuwentong Ang Kuya Kong Zombie na ginuhit naman ni Ivan Reverente. Narito ang interview ni Tito Dok na punong-puno ng inspirasyon.

Yna Reyes - Yna Reyes, author of Imbisibol, shares with us the valuable role that children's book writers play in the lives of children and young people. Imbisibol is one of the twenty books that came to be during the Room to Read Kuwentong Musmos Worshop for writers and illustrators. It is illustrated by Mike Amante. 

Wishing Team OMF-Hiyas all the best as we soldier on through this pandemic!

School Libraries Contribute to the Continuity of Learning

BA Library Online for the Month of March 2020

Since quarantine began, I have created links, directories and resources for our learning community in the Academy. Using Workplace, I regularly posts resources and helpful links there. I use the blog to compile them into an archive.

As the academic year draws to a close, here is a monthly listing of blog posts on online learning, tech integration and school library services in the time of COVID-19. This is culled from actual practice and may prove beneficial for further research and study on the role of libraries and the leadership roles of school librarians.

Learning in the Time of COVID-19 - from a Facebook post, I was able to generate opinions and "think-alouds" from practitioners in the field of educational technology and instructional design.

The School Library is a Vital Support System  - a reflection on the school library's vital role as support system and communicating to the learning community the commitment to serve in the time of COVID-19.

Google Classroom and Eric Curts - Tech tips and exert advice in using Google Suite.

The Flow and Structure of MOOCs - sharing a personal experience in participating in the 23 Mobile Things (2014). It is still a useful resource and example of an online learning module.

Reflective Teaching in the Time of COVID-19 - More reflections focusing on assessment, building relationships and connecting humanity with the use of technology for teaching and learning.

A Heart Map: An Online Bibliotherapy Session - An activity for mental health and well-being that children and adults can participate in.

Free eBooks and Audio Books - a list / directory of freebies

The Lighthouse Diary: An Ongoing Reflection on Remote and Online Learning - Thinking about professional practice never ends.

Kuwentong Musmos Author Interview: Yna Reyes

·     

 Yna Reyes, author of Imbisibol, shares with us the valuable role that children's book writers play in the lives of children and young people. Imbisibol is one of the twenty books that came to be during the Room to Read Kuwentong Musmos Worshop for writers and illustrators. It is illustrated by Mike Amante. 

      Why are you writing for children?

I have a personal reason for writing for children. I wrote all of my children’s books for my nieces and nephews. Now that they’re all grown-ups, I still keep writing for children because I know that children love stories. I want to help nurture their love for stories by writing stories that I hope they would love. Also, I believe that childhood is the season in a person’s life when the foundation of his or her character is being set and his worldview and core values are taking shape. That’s why it’s important to feed children with life giving stories that will not only sharpen their minds but shape their hearts. As a writer, I hope the stories I  write would enrich the childhood of young readers.

·     What is your Philippine Children’s Literature origin story? (How did you start writing for kids and getting published)

I’m an editor by profession, so I consider myself an accidental writer. I’ve been hanging around with writer-friends for years. I’ve been with the Christian Writers’ Fellowship since its birth in February 1986. In one of our monthly meetings, we invited Dr. Isagani Cruz to be our mentor for the day. A few weeks before the meeting, we sent him our works for review. I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to get a helpful critique from Dr. Isagani Cruz, so I tried writing a story for my 7-year-old niece. It was my first attempt to write a children’s story. ­I wrote it in Filipino so that my English-speaking niece would have her first taste of reading in Filipino. I made her the main character so she’d be thrilled to see herself in the story. My story got a good review from Dr Isagani Cruz. I was already with OMF Literature at that time. So, when OMF Literature decided to start the Hiyas brand a few years later, and the editor tasked to do it was looking for stories, she asked me if I would consider submitting my story for publication. Of course I was delighted! Ang Bagong Kaibigan ni Bing Butiki was one of the first five stories for children published under the Hiyas brand in 1993. The book is still available to this day, after more than 20 years since it was first published.

·     Give three words or phrases to describe your Kuwentong Musmos Workshop experience.

Empowering, enriching, humbling learning experience

·    What is the book you wish you had written and why?

Charlotte’s Web, by E.B. White. It’s my favorite children’s book. I remember reading it as a young girl and loving it so much. My heart went out to Wilbur. I felt I was one of his friends in the barn worrying for him; I saw myself in the story. Charlotte’s extraordinary love for Wilbur touched my heart. The ending of the story brought tears to my eyes. The story’s message of friendship resonated with me as a child. The memory of reading Charlotte’s Web has stayed with me to this day. Beautiful and powerful storytelling by E.B. White! No wonder it’s one of the best-loved classics in children’s literature. I wish I could write a story that children would love and remember through the years.

·   

What advice or tips can you give aspiring children’s book writers?

o    Listen to the voice of the child in you.

o    Listen to children, and respect their voice.

o    Read as many children’s books as you can.

o    Write, write, write. And learn the discipline of rewriting.

o    Sharpen your craft through writing workshops. And be open to critique.

o    Find a group (or create your own) of fellow writers who can meet regularly for encouragement and peer critiquing.

Yna Reyes is the publishing and communications director of OMF Literature. She’s celebrating her 30^th year with OMF Literature on May 2. As her schedule allows, she finds time to do freelance writing, editing, and writing for children.

Venturing Into Kdrama Land: My Top Ten Takeaways on Goblin: The Lonely Guardian

The first Korean Drama (Kdrama) that I watched in Netflix is Crash Landing On You (CLOY). I enjoyed it. Kinilig ako, sobra! I shipped #RiRi on social media. I clipped photos of Hyun Bin and so far, I have seen two of his Kdramas Memories of Alhambra and Hyde, Jekyll and Me. Yes, I am on my way to being a full fledged Kdrama Ajooma.

If CLOY gave me all the romantic feels, Goblin, on the one hand, reminded me of what love is all about. CLOY is inspiring. It encouraged me to dream and to appreciate the simple things in life. It is an ode to living life to the fullest despite challenges and hardships. Goblin, however, is something else entirely. 

Goblin is epic. 

So, when my Kdrama support group asked my opinion of Goblin, I gave them my Top Ten Takeaways. 

1. No one else can wear a turtleneck the way Gong Yoo does.

2. Lee Dong Wook is the most adorable Grim Reaper ever. I was rooting for him from start to finish!

3. What difference a killer lipstick can do kaya pag gusto kong magtaray in a given day, I should be wearing blood red lipstick!

4. I will take more walks with the hubby when this (pandemic) is all over.

5. I will not wait for a good day or a remarkable moment to eat steak with a salad on the side. Seize the day!

6. I love the official sound track (OST). Bigla kong naisip at naalala ang mga favorite songs namin na naging anthem na ng aming buhay. We should sing them more often!

7. It takes time to forgive. Dumadaan sa proseso ang pagpapatawad. Wag pilitin kung hindi pa ready. Pero wag namang hintayan ang 900 years para magpatawad. 


8. Second chances are precious. Value them like your life.


9. There is destiny and fate, but to achieve forever is hard work. In fact, investment ito, mare! Kaya, mag risk ka at wag matakot.

10. Our God is a generous and loving god. He allows us to live our lives the way we want it. Life (and death) is how we make it. 

Last, there are no new stories under the sun. But there are many ways to fashion them into exciting and engaging narratives. The producers of the recent three K dramas I have seen know this so well. 

To date, I have seen Touch Your Heart, which stars Lee Dong Wook  and Yoo In-na who played the Grim Reaper and Kim Sun respectively in Goblin. Right now, I am watching Itaewon Class, Life and The King Eternal Monarch. I intend to watch more Kdramas in the future!

Call for Entries: The PBBY Alacala Prize 2020

BA Library Online: Hashtags

One platform we use in the Academy to communicate and connect with each other is Workplace. It is there where our Head of School initiated a group for the Library. It has been the Library's social media page and in a recent survey, we received positive feedback from teachers. In every post we make, we use hashtags so readers and users can get back to previous posts or make searching a bit easier. Here is an example of the Subject List or Hashtag Guide I made for the community.

Use a hashtag to find your way around BALIB in Workplace. Type a hashtag in the search box and see the results. Updated on Wednesday May 19, 2020.

Everything on BA Library

#BALibAcquisitions for announcements on books and resources acquired regularly

#BALibraryService or #BALibService for all information services by the BA Library, news in and about Biñan, Laguna, the Philippines and beyond

#BALibWebOPAC for updates on PageMaster, our library system in beta

#BALibReadersService for book recommendations and suggestions on teaching resources

#BALibraryOnline for posts on topics about technology and libraries, access to information and online resources

#ReferenceService for print and online reference books and research related posts

#DDC200 for topics on Mythology, Religion and Philosophy

For Online Subscriptions

#TheDayAdvisory for navigating your way through The Day

#EBSCOHostAdvisory for navigating your way through EBSCO

 #WBO or #WorldBookWednesday for navigating your way through World Book Online

#Pathfinder for the content and resources compiled and curated by BA Teacher Librarian specifically for units of study and topics taken up in the classroom

Living and Learning in BA

If you are searching anything about the Beacon Academy and it is posted in BALIB, use #Griffins, #GoGriffins, #teachinggriffins and #lifeinBA

For topics we regularly post and follow

#AcademicHonesty

#AppNAbout

#artandculture

#ArtsMonth

#BAOnline

#BAOnlineLibrary

#BlendedLearning

#Bibliotherapy

#BinanenseLabansaCOVID19

#BinanenseNews

#BookFlix

#COVID19

#COVID19PH

#CovidComics

Kuwentong Musmos Author Interview: Dr. Luis "Tito Dok" Gatmaitan (2 of 2)

Dr. Gatmaitan with Ivan Reverente 

Post Script to Dr. Luis "Tito Dok" Gatmatan's Author Interview

Through​ ​the​ ​interview,​ ​Dr.​ ​Gatmaitan​ ​has​ ​given​ ​us​ ​a​ ​glimpse​ ​of​ ​how​ ​far​ ​hard​ ​work​ ​can take​ ​a​ ​person.​ ​He​ ​stated​ ​in​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​answers​ ​he​ ​gave:​ ​“It’s​ ​not​ ​enough​ ​that​ ​you​ ​have​ ​a​ ​gift​ ​of being​ ​able​ ​to​ ​write​ ​creatively.​ ​You’ve​ ​got​ ​to​ ​hone​ ​this​ ​talent​ ​and​ ​make​ ​it​ ​grow.”​ ​He​ ​started writing​ ​at​ ​a​ ​young​ ​age,​ ​especially​ ​when​ ​his​ ​teachers​ ​would​ ​ask​ ​him​ ​to​ ​write​ ​about​ ​a​ ​certain theme​ ​(i.e.​ ​​What​ ​was​ ​your​ ​favorite​ ​summer​ ​experience?​)​ ​That,​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​his​ ​exposure​ ​to different​ ​kinds​ ​of​ ​literature,​ ​is​ ​what​ ​shaped​ ​him​ ​to​ ​be​ ​the​ ​writer​ ​that​ ​he​ ​is​ ​today.​ ​While​ ​balancing school--from​ ​high​ ​school​ ​to​ ​medical​ ​school--his​ ​success​ ​in​ ​writing​ ​did​ ​not​ ​diminish.​ ​Instead, with​ ​the​ ​opportunities​ ​he​ ​had​ ​been​ ​given,​ ​such​ ​as​ ​being​ ​the​ ​editor-in-chief​ ​of​ ​his​ ​medical school’s​ ​official​ ​publication,​ ​​CADUCEUS​,​ ​he​ ​was​ ​able​ ​to​ ​further​ ​develop​ ​his​ ​skills​ ​as​ ​a​ ​writer. He​ ​also​ ​told​ ​us​ ​that​ ​the​ ​struggles​ ​we​ ​face​ ​as​ ​writers​ ​should​ ​never​ ​be​ ​enough​ ​to​ ​stop​ ​us​ ​from writing.​ ​Instead,​ ​the​ ​struggles​ ​we​ ​face​ ​should​ ​be​ ​a​ ​driving​ ​force​ ​for​ ​us​ ​to​ ​become​ ​better​ ​than​ ​our current​ ​selves.​ ​Those​ ​struggles​ ​should​ ​merely​ ​serve​ ​as​ ​a​ ​reminder​ ​to​ ​not​ ​repeat​ ​the​ ​mistakes​ ​we make​ ​and​ ​to​ ​strive​ ​beyond​ ​our​ ​limitations.

Tito Dok with friends at the press launch of RtR Books

Dr.​ ​Gatmaitan​ ​has​ ​also​ ​encouraged​ ​us​ ​to​ ​go​ ​beyond​ ​what​ ​we​ ​think​ ​we​ ​are​ ​capable​ ​of​ ​and to​ ​allow​ ​ourselves​ ​to​ ​think​ ​outside​ ​of​ ​the​ ​box.​ ​According​ ​to​ ​him,​ ​being​ ​inspired​ ​should​ ​not​ ​be limited​ ​to​ ​the​ ​things​ ​that​ ​we​ ​experience​ ​ourselves​ ​or​ ​the​ ​things​ ​that​ ​we​ ​see​ ​or​ ​observe.​ ​To​ ​be​ ​able to​ ​write​ ​something​ ​well,​ ​we​ ​need​ ​to​ ​be​ ​able​ ​to​ ​fully​ ​immerse​ ​ourselves​ ​in​ ​what​ ​is​ ​going​ ​on around​ ​us,​ ​even​ ​in​ ​those​ ​events​ ​that​ ​we​ ​may​ ​dismiss​ ​as​ ​insignificant​ ​and​ ​mundane.​ ​At​ ​times,​ ​it​ ​is in​ ​those​ ​events​ ​that​ ​we​ ​are​ ​able​ ​to​ ​write​ ​a​ ​beautiful​ ​story.​ ​One​ ​example​ ​is​ ​Dr.​ ​Gatmaitan’s experience​ ​with​ ​a​ ​cancer​ ​survivor​ ​who​ ​was​ ​more​ ​worried​ ​about​ ​losing​ ​hair​ ​than​ ​battling leukemia.​ ​She​ ​had​ ​become​ ​the​ ​inspiration​ ​for​ ​his​ ​story​ ​​Ang​ ​Pambihirang​ ​Buhok​ ​ni​ ​Rachel.

Dr.​ ​Gatmaitan​ ​also​ ​let​ ​us​ ​know​ ​that​ ​once​ ​we​ ​have​ ​already​ ​come​ ​up​ ​with​ ​an​ ​idea,​ ​there​ ​is no​ ​need​ ​to​ ​follow​ ​a​ ​specific,​ ​definite​ ​process​ ​while​ ​writing​ ​the​ ​story.​ ​He​ ​himself​ ​does​ ​not​ ​follow an​ ​exact​ ​procedure.​ ​​​Instead,​ ​he​ ​writes​ ​a​ ​general​ ​outline​ ​of​ ​how​ ​he​ ​wants​ ​the​ ​story​ ​to​ ​go,​ ​which makes​ ​the​ ​piece​ ​unified​ ​and​ ​coherent.​ ​He​ ​said​ ​that​ ​being​ ​overly​ ​cautious​ ​about​ ​the​ ​way​ ​we​ ​write can​ ​turn​ ​into​ ​a​ ​hindrance;​ ​we​ ​must​ ​simply​ ​let​ ​our​ ​ideas​ ​flow​ ​on​ ​their​ ​own.​ ​We​ ​realized​ ​that​ ​Dr. Gatmaitan​ ​was​ ​right,​ ​because​ ​if​ ​we​ ​limit​ ​ourselves​ ​to​ ​a​ ​certain​ ​process,​ ​it​ ​is​ ​possible​ ​that​ ​our stories​ ​will​ ​be​ ​too​ ​“straight,”​ ​or​ ​no​ ​different​ ​from​ ​other​ ​stories​ ​that​ ​have​ ​already​ ​been​ ​written. His​ ​words​ ​encouraged​ ​us​ ​to​ ​allow​ ​our​ ​creative​ ​juices​ ​to​ ​flow​ ​and​ ​to​ ​not​ ​be​ ​afraid​ ​of​ ​popularly established​ ​rules​ ​that​ ​could​ ​bind​ ​us.

Last​ ​but​ ​not​ ​the​ ​least,​ ​when​ ​we​ ​asked​ ​Dr.​ ​Gatmaitan​ ​what​ ​advice​ ​he​ ​would​ ​like​ ​to​ ​give aspiring​ ​writers​ ​and​ ​creative​ ​writing​ ​students,​ ​he​ ​said​ ​“to​ ​read​ ​a​ ​lot​ ​(both​ ​fiction​ ​and​ ​non-fiction). To​ ​be​ ​very​ ​observant.​ ​To​ ​capture​ ​moments​ ​of​ ​epiphany​ ​in​ ​print.​ ​To​ ​jot​ ​down​ ​the​ ​ideas immediately​ ​when​ ​they​ ​come​ ​to​ ​you.​ ​To​ ​write​ ​every​ ​single​ ​day.”​ ​These​ ​words​ ​strike​ ​anew​ ​the spirit​ ​of​ ​writing​ ​and​ ​the​ ​heart​ ​behind​ ​it.​ ​Since​ ​writing​ ​is​ ​his​ ​passion,​ ​he​ ​never​ ​stops​ ​doing​ ​it​ ​and finds​ ​it​ ​in​ ​every​ ​walk​ ​of​ ​his​ ​life.​ ​With​ ​these​ ​words,​ ​he​ ​reminds​ ​us​ ​to​ ​never​ ​tire​ ​of​ ​our​ ​passions and​ ​of​ ​our​ ​desire​ ​to​ ​touch​ ​the​ ​lives​ ​of​ ​other​ ​people.​ ​He​ ​said​ ​that​ ​despite​ ​the​ ​struggles​ ​he​ ​has faced,​ ​he​ ​never​ ​tires​ ​of​ ​writing​ ​because​ ​it​ ​gives​ ​him​ ​joy.​ ​“Writing​ ​is​ ​like​ ​breathing,”​ ​he​ ​said.​ ​“If you​ ​stop​ ​to​ ​breathe,​ ​you​ ​die.”​ ​In​ ​the​ ​same​ ​way,​ ​whether​ ​it​ ​be​ ​writing,​ ​painting,​ ​designing, singing,​ ​teaching,​ ​analyzing​ ​data,​ ​balancing​ ​the​ ​balance​ ​sheet,​ ​etc.,​ ​our​ ​passion​ ​will​ ​only​ ​keep burning​ ​if​ ​we​ ​keep​ ​fueling​ ​the​ ​fire.​ ​In​ ​everything​ ​we​ ​do,​ ​we​ ​must​ ​work​ ​at​ ​it​ ​with​ ​all​ ​that​ ​we​ ​can, in​ ​every​ ​possible​ ​time,​ ​and​ ​in​ ​any​ ​possible​ ​way.​ ​Then​ ​that​ ​day​ ​will​ ​come​ ​when​ ​we​ ​too​ ​will succeed​ ​in​ ​sharing​ ​that​ ​passion​ ​with​ ​others.

Just​ ​like​ ​Dr.​ ​Gatmaitan,​ ​we​ ​can​ ​start​ ​small​ ​and​ ​let​ ​our​ ​success​ ​speak​ ​louder.​ ​We​ ​do​ ​not have​ ​to​ ​aim​ ​to​ ​be​ ​big;​ ​only​ ​our​ ​impact​ ​in​ ​this​ ​world​ ​should​ ​be.​ ​Either​ ​way,​ ​what​ ​matters​ ​most​ ​is allowing​ ​our​ ​passion​ ​and​ ​enthusiasm​ ​to​ ​keep​ ​burning​ ​and​ ​letting​ ​that​ ​flame​ ​make​ ​a​ ​difference​ ​in the​ ​world--a​ ​world​ ​that​ ​always​ ​needs​ ​a​ ​little​ ​more​ ​life​ ​and​ ​color.