From these questions, we find and seek for answers that inform us of improving our library practice.
It's about time to take TRAILS onto the next level - research!
Thursday, August 31, 2023
The Lighthouse Diary #49: TRAILS 2023
At the beginning of the academic year, when we meet students for Foundation Days, they undergo an assessment of research and information literacy skills. The BA Library formally started this practice in the academic year 2018-2019. Six years on and we continue to ask questions.
Wednesday, August 30, 2023
Monday, August 28, 2023
Sunday, August 27, 2023
Book Review: Where the Monsoons Meet: A People's History of Malaya
Where the Monsoons Meet: A People's History of Malaya, Grassroots 2007
At dinner in PJ New Town, I told my Malaysian friends the little I know of Malay history. They chuckled and one of them said, we go a long way back to colonial and trading during pre-colonial times.It’s easy to google and ask AI Smith. I was hoping to listen to oral stories. I did hear some and it did give me a glimpse of Malaysian history. Impressions, mostly. Snippets that I can connect with my own personal journey.
On our last day in KL, Kinokinuya was a surprise! And there I picked up Where Monsoons Meet: A People’s History of Malaya. What an apt title for a country whose people continuously ask of identity that is both communal and global. The monsoons will always bring change and opportunities for growth or decline. The Malaysia I met a few days ago is carrying on pretty well.
Saturday, August 26, 2023
Tattooing to Celebrate a Milestone
@titazeeh7 Glad and proud to share this moment with ARMY daughter. Tattoo art has always fascinated our imagination in many layers of interpretation. And now, we know why! Good promo at @1916tattooshop and @Higher Ground Coffee ♬ Live Your Beautiful Life - Gray Griggs
Friday, August 25, 2023
Wednesday, August 23, 2023
Book Blog Tour: The Unshakeable Road to Love
The Unshakeable Road to Love
Book Summary
The Unshakeable Road to Love (Value Centered Relationships) is based upon Eternal Principles from all world scriptures, including Zen. These tried and true Eternal Principles, the Pillars of Love, show how to build foundations for relationships where happiness and well-being are inevitable. And where pain and conflict can dissolve on the spot.
A radically different approach to love and psychology, the book offers a completely new perspective on fulfillment and what is truly needed to thrive. For example, one of the Pillars of Love upon which the book is based is:
To Be Happy, You Do Not Have To Be Loved, You Have to Learn What It Means to Be Loving.
The book explores the difference between Real and Counterfeit Love. We discover how all suffering in relationships is due to being caught in the trap of Counterfeit Love. And how easy it is to break free from bondage and leave that trap behind.
This is a book of practice, filled with Turning Points, Pillars of Love, Interventions, and many enjoyable exercises so the reader can practice these principles in all their relationships and in their everyday lives.
Written by a psychologist, Interfaith Counselor, and long-term Zen practitioner, the book combines the practices and principles of both East and West, helping us to discover and celebrate the best in ourselves and others.
Publisher: Brenda Shoshanna (October 2022)
ISBN-10: 1094378046
ISBN-13: 978-1094378046
Print length: 208 pages
Purchase a copy of The Unshakeable Road to Love on Amazon or Barnes and Noble. You can also add this to your GoodReads reading list.
About the Author
Brenda Shoshanna is an award-winning author, psychologist, Interfaith counselor, and long-term Zen practitioner and speaker. Her work is dedicated to integrating the teachings of East and West and making them real in our everyday lives. Brenda has offered over five hundred talks and workshops on all aspects of personal and spiritual development, relationships, and living an authentic, meaningful life.
You can find her online at:
Author Website: http://www.brendashoshanna.com
Book Website: https://www.totalrelationshipsnow.com/
Her Plays: https://www.allmyplays.com/
Her Podcast: https://www.zenwisdomtoday.com/
Her Blog: http://www.turnthepage.live
Sunday, August 20, 2023
Friday, August 18, 2023
Hallyu Exhibit at the National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur
@titazeeh7 Namjooning at the National Art Gallery 💜
♬ original sound - TitaZee
Thursday, August 17, 2023
Tuesday, August 15, 2023
The 4th BTS Global Interdisciplinary Conference
Yes. There is such a thing. The scholarship on BTS is called BTS studies.
Monday, August 14, 2023
Newly Elected Members of the PASLI Board of Officers
This one is from PASLI, the Philippine Association of School Librarians, Inc. Congratulations, friends!
Sunday, August 13, 2023
Another BTS Inspired Bulletin Board: Equal Sign
Because our theme this academic year is breaking barriers.
Saturday, August 12, 2023
Author-Illustrator Interview: Gani Riel Cabezas (Part 2 of 2)
You also have a graphic novel, Sol Dalusung. Please tell us something about it?
Sol Dalusung and the Nameless Hero is my debut graphic novel currently in development! It’s a YA queer Kapampangan fantasy about an immortal demigod who lives in disguise as an archaeologist, until a cursed artifact forces her to confront her past with an ancient heroine who was lost to history together with her. We currently have a first issue circulating in print with Penlab Sprint, available at local conventions where Penlab exhibits, and we’re hoping to print a full graphic novel version of it once the whole story is completed.
What are your influences or inspirations in creating Sol?
The archaeologist aspect of Sol was influenced by my anthropology studies in college, while the demigod and cultural aspect was inspired by my own desire to learn more about Kapampangan history and language, having Kapampangan heritage on my dad’s side of the family. I was interested in “Philippine mythology” media and its popularity in Philippine komiks, but I always struggled to relate to the way it was portrayed, and I rarely saw any regional specificity in the cultures being referenced. Sol was my response to making a comic that was visibly rooted in Kapampangan culture (rather than just a Philippine culture mix-up) and subverted the typical archaeology and treasure-hunter Indiana Jones, Tomb Raider-esque adventure tropes filled with colonial undertones.
What is the book and/or music that changed or inspired you to be the artist and musician you are today?
My biggest book influences as a young reader were the “Amulet” graphic novel series by Kazuo Kibuishi and the “Percy Jackson” novels by Rick Riordan, while my more recent inspirations are the YA novels “Hell Followed With Us” by Andrew Joseph White and “Iron Widow” by Xiran Jay Zhao.
Music that influenced my musician journey are primarily OPM (Eraserheads, IV of Spades, Gloc 9) and the mid-2000s rock/pop punk scene (Paramore, My Chemical Romance, Linkin Park) that I played often for battle of the bands and a way to bond with other musician friends. They were also some of the few outlets I had for my mental and emotional struggles in my teens so now that I often write about adolescent characters going through a lot of similar struggles, I’ve been looking back on the music I listened to around that same time in my life.
Cover reveal of Arrows to Heaven
Please give recommended books and “new” music to read and listen to.
I’ll recommend “Nimona” by ND Stevenson (both the graphic novel and the animated film adaptation!). I’m also reading Ursula K. Le Guin’s “Earthsea” series, which is an older series but one that I think is really good reading for any fantasy author (especially because it challenged the whitewashed portrayal of medieval fantasy worldbuilding for its time). On that note, I’ll also recommend the previously mentioned “Hell Followed With Us” and “Iron Widow” for more mature YA reads.
I don’t have any new specific music to listen to (truthfully, I listen to music mainly based on whether I think it sounds nice and I don’t stay up to date on artists and releases), but in general I will recommend listening to more video game soundtracks. I’ll recommend the soundtracks for the indie games “Transistor” and “Hades,” both composed by Darren Korb, as well as the soundtracks of the video game series “Guilty Gear” composed by Daisuke Ishiwatari.
Thursday, August 10, 2023
Author-Illustrator Interview: Gani Riel Cabezas (1 of 2)
I was thrilled to have met my former student, Gani Riel Cabezas at the Philippine Book Festival. His comic books were on sale and he won a grant with "Team Kahel Press". It was a publishing grant from the National Book Development Board for their children's book on autism.
He was on campus last Tuesday for a talk in the Anthropology class of our garde 12s. He gladly agreed to be interviewed for the blog. Here now is Part 1 of my interview with Gani.
How did it start for you–illustrating a book for children?
Illustrating for kidlit was something I was always curious about pursuing but did not know how to begin. I’ve already made komiks for middle grade (MG) and young adult (YA) readers but nothing for early readers in the picture book format. When Kahel Press opened up applications seeking an illustrator for an upcoming project about music and autism, the writer, Ma’am Bambi, forwarded the application to me. We already knew each other from working in komiks and I had pitched a YA comic about ADHD and autism in the past, but we’d never collaborated together before. I wasn’t expecting to qualify for the application, having no prior kidlit experience, but I organized as best of a portfolio as I could using my MG work. I also shared that I would love to work on a children’s book about autism as I am autistic myself, so I was really excited when I got a response from Kahel that I was chosen as illustrator.
You have a background in music and performing. How did these artistic endeavors factor in your creative process for Too Loud: Soothing Sensory Overload with Music?
I used the aesthetic of sheet music to loosely inspire the shape motifs used in Too Loud, using wavy lines combined with actual musical notes (keeping to the simple ones). However, most of my art style inspiration for Too Loud was a combination of looking at some surrealist art (as I’d discussed current picture book art style trends locally and abroad with our editor, Wowie Catabijan) as well as trying to imitate the motion of the infinity symbol, the new representation for autism to replace the old puzzle piece symbol.
My own experience with music as an autistic person helped me understand the story for Too Loud as presented from Ma’am Bambi’s manuscript–as in, what we were portraying with showing music as a creative and stimulating outlet for autistic kids was something I could relate to. I was able to compare my own experiences with auditory sensitivities to those of Ma’am Bambi’s son who has autism as well, and our discussions were our references for the depictions of our main character, Elmo, and how we would explain autism to young readers in an accessible manner.
What is next after Too Loud?
I’m currently developing a YA webcomic titled “Arrows To Their Heaven.” I initially launched it as a Kumu Penlab Original in 2022, though I’m now working on it independently and hope to re-release the title by the end of 2023. It’s a dark mecha fantasy concept about a trans boy seeking revenge against his religious order of godslaying mech pilots. Arrows is the most mature YA project I’ve ever worked on, so it’s a massive whiplash to shift to this project in my free time while working on Too Loud. Music and disability are two common threads between the two projects, though, with the main characters of Arrows being disabled musicians as well (one of them is an autistic drummer!)
I also have some projects with Fil-Am comics group Diwata Komiks coming soon, mainly a new queer YA comic series “The Hidden World of Anton Jimenez,” which will be written by Mark Nazal. My fellow creators and I at Penlab are also preparing “Silakbo,” a new GL anthology to celebrate narratives of young Filipino sapphics.
Tuesday, August 8, 2023
Across Generations with BTS
Across Generations with BTS
It is at the intersection of youth, midlife and intergenerational gaps that the messages of BTS and what they stand for are felt and experienced by ARMY of all ages. Wherever they are in the developmental stage of life, BTS is there to meet ARMY where they are at. Over the course of a decade, BTS’ discography is an impressive saga of life journeys.
In the Skul Luv Affair era, they are unafraid to speak of issues relevant to young people. No More Dream, NO, Dope and SIlver Spoon are but a few songs that question, challenge and subvert the status quo, social structures and the existing hegemony. Though the songs are in Korean, these themes hold a universal appeal. It is an amazing feat that “BTS has built a substantial body of work that grows more introspective with every comeback. The Love Yourself era featured the members singing about how it can be more difficult to love yourself than it is to love someone else. In the Map of the Soul era, BTS has reflected on the images they put forth, the masks they wear, and what it means to achieve your dreams and find out that life still has its shadows.” (Dodson, 2020). Their message on the struggles of change and growing up, acceptance of oneself and enduring the routine, almost robotic demands of daily living are embedded in their songs. They sing about their own journey at the same time, they sing for ARMY.
At the start of the lockdown, BTS was able to express their fears, anxieties, frustration and upended plans of pursuing solo projects. The BE album was their vehicle to drive past the pallor, suffocation and trauma of Covid-19. With the release of Dynamite a few months earlier, BTS successfully subverted the grayness and sickliness that powered over humanity at the onset of the pandemic. Not only did BTS come at a time when philosophy and humanities education are hardly thriving. They use the language of the times to comfort young people navigate an awkward, chaotic and confusing time (Cha, 2021). Their music advocates self-awareness, perseverance and courage like a friend would speak to another. Ultimately, BTS's older fans love the message of BTS's lyrics — and they also love the way that message inspires people to form communities, to reach out to one another (Dodson, 2020).
Monday, August 7, 2023
PBBY's New Representative for Illustrators is Ms. Liza Flores
As PBBY Rep for Illustrators, what can you bring to the table that will further enhance the growth of children’s book illustration in the country?
Ang INK is what I bring to the table, along with the learnings from Ang INK’s founding members, and the experience of working with INKies of different generations.
As PBBY Rep, I hope to do more of what I have been doing with Ang INK, but with a wider reach, and closer collaboration with other sectors in the industry:
showcase the works of illustrators
uplift the quality of illustrations for children
articulate and protect the rights of illustrators
define and promote professionalism among illustrators
How would you describe ANG INK in this era of AI, climate change, multiverse storylines and metacognition?
While primarily known as illustrators for children, Ang INK has claimed a place as an organization of illustrators in general.
Ang INK therefore, has the responsibility and opportunity to address issues that affect young people (like climate change), and new technologies that have an impact on illustrators (like AI).
But this is nothing new to Ang INK.
Through its exhibitions, books, and other projects, Ang INK has always focused on the various aspects of Filipino life, while promoting certain advocacies that are significant to the Filipino child. We have tackled matters concerning children’s rights, the pandemic, environmental conservation and protection, the promotion of literacy, awareness of and appreciation for Philippine culture, and so on.
The issues and the environment today may have changed—perhaps more challenging—but Ang INK’s charge is the same.
What are your top 5 book recommendations to readers of children’s books?
Sayaw ng mga Kamaymag Kamay, Joanna Que at Fran Alvarez / Dancing Hands, Charina Marquez (English translation)
Papuntang Community Pantry, Eugene Evasco at lAdy Aguirre
Pagkatapos ng Unos, Harry Monzon
Mang Andoy’s Signs, Mailin Paterno and Isabel Roxas
Hati Tayo!, Russell Molina at Dominic Agsaway