2020 Monthly First Post

Just to review how 2019 went for me as seen in the blog, before continuing on with a blogging tradition, here was my opening paragraph:

As I keep up with this blog tradition, I am also reminded of how fortunate I have been this 2019. The year is awfully hard and I could not have made it this far if not for the support of friends at work, in the book industry and in Philippine School Librarianship. As the year ends, I can only say thank you. Thank you. Thank you!

2020 totally trumps 2019. 

But I am alive and I am with my family. No complains. Only gratitude for the immense graces received.

January -  Movie Review: The Two Popes

Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce play Pope Benedict and Pope Francis respectively and with such conviction that I had to remind myself very so often that this is a Netflix movie written by Anthony McCarten. Make no mistake, it is a good thing as McCarten wrote Bohemian Rhapsody and Darkest Hour. Both are Oscar winning movies that elevated Freddie Mercury into the status deserving of a god and Gary Oldman as a tough but endearing Winston Churchill. Both actors in the said movie won an Oscar too.

February - Bibliotherapy Guide and Module: Storytelling for Growth and Healing Version 1 - Full Text

March - Masaya Maging Ako! Masaya Maging Tayo!

Finally! Na-launch na rin ang Masaya Maging Ako, ang aming aklat pambata ni Jamie Bauza.  Ito ay binuo, nilikha at ginawang espesyal na handog para sa mga bata na walang aklatan at salat sa babasahing akma sa kanilang kultura at konteksto. Kasama namin sa proseso ng paglikha ng aklat ang mga bumubuo sa komunidad ng Panitikang Pambata ng Pilipinas. Mula sa Ang Illustrador ng Kabataan, kasama ang apat na publishers ng mga aklat pambata, Adarna House, Lampara Books, Hiyas-OMF at Anvil Publishing hangang sa staff ng Room to Read, nagsanib puwersa ang lahat upang makapaglimbag ng 20 aklat sa ilalim ng Kuwentong Musmos Book Project ng Room to Read. Ang paglulunsad ay ginanap sa Museo Pambata noong Huwebes, February 27, 2020.

April - Online Bibliotherapy: Coping and Living Through the COVID-19 Pandemic

It is the third week of the Emergency Community Quarantine (ECQ) in the country and the second week of total lockdown in our province. It has been a crazy three weeks. It demands from us a great flexibility to cope, survive and thrive through this pandemic.

May - empowerEd Podcast Channel: Fostering Literacy in Times of School Closures

Yay! I got the news from Francis Jim Tuscano that the podcast where he and I talked about literacy and learning in the time of pandemic is up. He has this post in his Facebook Page.

June - Pathfinder: COVID-19 Updated 6.1.2020

Here is the link to the Pathfinder COVID-19 in Google Doc. The document can also be viewed below.

July - July 21 is National Children's Book Day!

August - Using Google Site To Make A Library Website (1 of 2)

On Sunday night, I posted on Facebook photos of the library website I made using Google Site. The Pioneer is one of two library websites I made during quarantine spilling over the summer while preparing for the opening of online distance learning. 

September - The Lighthouse Diary Entry #23: Statistics as Science and Story

A grade 10 student asked me about the NBA and statistics. Thanks to the student's Personal Project Supervisor and PP Coordinator for this chance to connect with a fan of the NBA from one of our students.

October - Art and Bibliotherapy Service Online: Kora Dandan Albano's Aral-Aralan

Towards the end of September, a colleague dropped the idea of using a painting for an appreciation post in the school's internal social media platform. Picking up the idea from him, I put together three posts to follow through with recommended readings for reflection and de-stressing. The painting, Aral-aralan by Kora Dandan Albano became the centerpiece of the art and bibliotherapy service.

November -  Paghilom at Pag-asa sa Panahon ng Pandemya: Following Through Miyawing Kuting's Story

For the participants of the Bibliotherapy workshop/webinar, this is our post activity to close the experience. Simply answer the questions below like you would answer or write in a diary or journal. If the spirit moves you, post on your socmed accounts or timeline the fruits of your reflection.

December - Learn From Home: Ep 1 Setting A Learn From Home Routine and Procedures

Learn from Home is a program of  YGoal. The aim of the program is to support parents, guardians, and those who take on a “parental” role on how learning can be facilitated efficiently at home especially in the modification of the delivery of education in this time of unprecedented change. 

2021 is but a few hours away. No one really prepared us for the pandemic. I keep my hopes up and faith in God. Have a safe and blessed New Year to all!