Celebrate Books and Reading at the Philippine Book Festival 2024!

Happy Book Birthday, What the Sun Says to the Moon!

It was an honor to deliver a closing remark at the five day art exhibit of Trina Velilla-Milan's book celebration. Trina and I were colleagues in Xavier School. I left in 2009 and she a few years after. A decade and some more years, we meet again. More intentionally to become writing buddies. 

She has chosen me as her mentor and I accept with great pride and trust. Such choices are precious. I no longer remember what I said at 29 Kapitolyo Art Space. What I remeber most was my daughter, Zoe being moved by my statement that "we all are alone and the feeling of isolation never leaves our side, thus, the desire to reach out and make connections". It sounded so romantic at the time. A few hours after, I realized the painful and risky business of being brave and putting oneself out there. 

This is the cost of survival. We all have to live. We all hope. 

In between is the grace to be had.

Sneak Peek: STARS Kinder New Edition

 

@titazeeh7 The new edition of our book, Start Right Reading Series Level 1, is included in the scoping session at the Philippine Book Festival today. Thank you @Lampara Books! #PBF2024 #PhBookFestival2024 ♬ For Kids - V_Production

Book Review: Who Saved Who by Roslyn Cohn

Book Summary

Growing up in beautiful Bohemian 1970s Marin County, the daughter of a funny pawnbroker-jeweler with vision who knew the streets and a warm, independent Mom turned Naturalist-Animal Rights Activist, Roz is an award-winning actress who spent 20 years in NYC, where she worked on stages from the size of a postage-stamp to Broadway.

Roz begins Who Saved Who with her unique parents and upbringing which is so crucial in understanding both her and her journey during 2022. While living in a post-Pandemic world, her career on hold and with politics and the environment in a persistent state of toxic tension, there was little left of life to be desired, so believed Marin County raised and NYC ripened Roz. Told through words, pictures, and video, “Who Saved Who” is an honest, sometimes funny, many times moving, and ultimately joyous journey of 2022 with a woman who was lost. With messages from the Other Side and the words that her Mother said to her years ago, “We save dogs,

Roz, that’s what we do,” Roz was able to climb out of deep sadness and found a purpose ignited she didn’t know was flickering inside. In “Who Saved Who,” readers may recognize their own journey in loving dogs – perhaps heal themselves from the loss of their own beloved furry family member – and best of all, readers may find their hearts open to saving their next canine companion. “Who Saved Who” does more than warm the heart, it can help heal the spirit. It’s an easy and fulfilling read – paws down.

About the Author

Roslyn Cohn is an actress who has worked from stages the size of a postage stamp to Broadway with the likes of Tony Randall, Jack Klugman, Jerry Stiller, Julie Hagerty, and Ellen Greene as well as appeared in TV, film, and commercials. Roz has won awards in Intimate Theatre (known as 99 Seat) in Los Angeles; awards for her Short “Essential Tremors” about her neurological disorder; and in 2013, with Jake Anthony and Joshua Finkel, co-wrote and stars in the groundbreaking, Broadway World Award-nominated “diffiCult to leave,” about her 23 years in the Cult of Scientology. The entire show lives on her YouTube channel: Roslyn Cohn. You can visit her at: www.RoslynCohn.com.

#WhoSavedWho #ShelterDogsRock #AdoptDontShop

You can find her online at:

Her Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/rozcohn

Website: www.RoslynCohn.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roslyncohn/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rozcohn

My Review:

Who Saved Who by Roslyn Cohn is an endearing memoir of one's love and relationship with pets that have become family. It is an immediate give away for pet lovers to love and identify with Roz. Though I no longer care for a dog, I know how deep the connection can be had between humans have for man's best friend. Apparently, I am now a "cat mom". Despite the difference, I definitely understand how caring for a fur baby can have therapeutic benefits.

Cohn has enumerated many areas of challenges in her life journey shared with her fur babies. It is with humor and grace that she meet them one at a time. In the end, caring for a pet and being cared by them in return can be personally transformative. By reading her memoir, I take on a more expansive understanding of a culture different from mine, but the love that can be found in the big and small moments cuts across people and continents.

Rating: 4/5 Bookmarks

Book Signing with Dr. Lydia Liwanag

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ARMY Glow-Up Goal: AGU Recreation D-50 for Jin's Return

 

@titazeeh7 #ARMYGlowUp2025 #AGU_Skills #AGU_Recreation ♬ suara asli - 71nseokjin

Moments at the Asian Literacy Conference x 52nd RAP National Conference 2024 (2 of 2)

Day 2 at the Asian LitCon X 52nd RAPNatCon 2024

Teacher Dina Ocampo delivered a moving keynote on the why and how of literacy as well as the necessity of research to create, design and develop language and literacy programs rooted in Filipino culture and identity. What I found as common to all speakers who presented studies, research and trends in critical literacy, growth mindset, language learning and acquisition, and community based learning programs and initiatives was the socio-economic factor as a score card to success or failure, depending on the country’s culture, context and history. I have so much to digest.

In the concurrent sessions, I learned of two strategies to monitor and motivate high school readers. In the session on community based learning, I took away a framework of implementation as important to sustain and maintain a literacy program.

Keywords: Consistency. Fidelity. Ownership.

I presented our library program and literacy project with me learning more from participants, colleagues and peers in the field of literacy education. And I am really glad and appreciative of listening to Allan Ancilla, a senior in college who wrote a research paper on library awareness and satisfaction index.

After presenting our program, I headed to to two parallel sessions. One is about crafting stories for children and the second is on community based literacy. There I met Teacher Joanna who asked me for an autograph. She took a children's literature course with Teacher Portia Padilla where she learned of the books I author. Moment namin na magkita in-person since I was a guest in the class via Zoom. In the midst of the loss and grief we experienced during the lockdown years, it has given us a lot to be thankful for.

Ang daming dapat gawin. Fighting!

For now, we rest. We live and we fight for another day.

Congratulations Reading Association of the Philippines! Maraming salamat! 

Post Pandemic Poetry: Loyalty is the lamp

 

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Moments at the Asian Literacy Conference x 52nd RAP National Conference 2024 (1 of 2)

Day 1 Morning Session at the AsianLitCon X 52nd RAPNatCon 2025

Snapshots and quotable quotes

- History is also about forgetting. ~ Ambeth Ocampo, Historian

- Free access to instructional vlogs and modules in Media and Information Literacy by the UP College of Mass Communication: https://youtube.com/@UPJournDept?si=CPL12KziQjUsABIn

~ Kara David, College Professor and Journalist

- Heritage Language and Literacy programs and studies can connect cultures and communities ~ Roger Stone of the Summer Institute of Linguistics UP Diliman

- Every learner matters and matters equally. ~ Dr. Ed Fermin, CHED

#alcxrap2024 #newliteracies

Day 1 Afternoon Session of the Asian LitCon x RAP NatCon 2024

I finally met Teacher Portia’s students whom I had the pleasure of speaking to last January 10, 2024 via Zoom. I shared with them trends and movements in children’s literature here and abroad. A group picture was necessary!

They presented the paper they wrote in class, “Beyond the Cover: Exploring Parents’ and Teachers’ Views on Sensitive Subjects in Philippine Children’s Literature”. One of their findings relate to the recent report in the Philippine Readership Survey that adults seldom read for leisure and at the very least, at stage that’s too late to nurture the joy and happiness in reading.

Congratulations, Carmen, Reggie, Rainier, Arlyn, Chrystille, Carissa, Leniza, Mariella, Shannine, Jessica and of course, Teacher Portia!

#alcxrap2024 #childrensliterature

Back to the BA Library's Visual Guide

Click here to view the accessible version of this interactive content

Book Project 2024: Colors and Details

 

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Writing Weekend at Brittany Hotel BGC

 

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Book Blog Tour: Who Saved Who by Roslyn Cohn

I am joining WOW - Women on Writing's Book Blog Tour this month. I am reading Who Saved Who by Roslyn Cohn. I will be posting my review on April 25th, so do watch out for it!

Book Summary

Growing up in beautiful Bohemian 1970s Marin County, the daughter of a funny pawnbroker-jeweler with vision who knew the streets and a warm, independent Mom turned Naturalist-Animal Rights Activist, Roz is an award-winning actress who spent 20 years in NYC, where she worked on stages from the size of a postage stamp to Broadway.

 Roz begins Who Saved Who with her unique parents and upbringing which is so crucial in understanding both her and her journey during 2022. While living in a post-Pandemic world, her career on hold and with politics and the environment in a persistent state of toxic tension, there was little left of life to be desired, so believed Marin County raised and NYC ripened Roz.  Told through words, pictures, and video, “Who Saved Who” is an honest, sometimes funny, many times moving, and ultimately joyous journey of 2022 with a woman who was lost. With messages from the Other Side and the words that her Mother said to her years ago, “We save dogs, Roz, that’s what we do,” Roz was able to climb out of deep sadness and found a purpose ignited she didn’t know was flickering inside.

In “Who Saved Who,” readers may recognize their own journey in loving dogs – perhaps heal themselves from the loss of their own beloved furry family member – and best of all, readers may find their hearts open to saving their next canine companion. “Who Saved Who” does more than warm the heart, it can help heal the spirit. It’s an easy and fulfilling read – paws down.

ISBN-13: 979-8865682363

ASIN: B0CNWZ3LYW

Print Length: 157 pages

Purchase a copy of Who Saved Who on Amazon. You can also add this to your GoodReads reading list.

About the Author

 Roslyn Cohn is an actress who has worked from stages the size of a postage stamp to Broadway with the likes of Tony Randall, Jack Klugman, Jerry Stiller, Julie Hagerty, and Ellen Greene as well as appeared in TV, film, and commercials. Roz has won awards in Intimate Theatre (known as 99 Seat) in Los Angeles; awards for her Short “Essential Tremors” about her neurological disorder; and in 2013, with Jake Anthony and Joshua Finkel, co-wrote and stars in the groundbreaking, Broadway World Award-nominated “diffiCult to leave,” about her 23 years in the Cult of Scientology. The entire show lives on her YouTube channel: RoslynCohn. You can visit her at: www.RoslynCohn.com. #WhoSavedWho #ShelterDogsRock #AdoptDontShop

 You can find her online at:

Her Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/rozcohn

Website: www.RoslynCohn.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roslyncohn/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rozcohn

Griffins Read

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The 2024 PBBY-Alcala Prize: Call for Entries

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Shaping a Story

In early March, a group of young writers from St. Scholastica's Academy Marikina invited me to talk about my writing life and creative process. In the online session I had with them, I included pointers in writing a children's story that will be illustrated by an artist or illustrator. I showed them formats and structures to follow and model. The young writers, a mix of Junior and Senior high schoolers, are aiming to finish a book project.

A couple of weeks after, I received a manuscript where a dream is used as a key literary device. I replied:

 A dream can be used in another way to push the plot forward: as foreshadowing; as a warning; words of caution. There is fear when this happens. However, I would deter you from using a dream as technique to change behavior for plot and character development.

Empower the child character by NOT instilling fear, but by making the child character experience a life changing event. Moving him or her to make the right choice to be a better person or child.

What could happen to a child who bad mouths other people? 

Kahit pag sabihan siya ng parents and teachers niya, ginagawa niya pa din. 

Ano yung cause and effect nito sa child.

What if you show this cause and effect situation?

How will the child learn?

Who will help the child?

 What did the child resolve to do?

There is definitely a part 2! 

 

Watercolor Prompt for April

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ARMY Glow-Up Goal Work in Progress: Handbuilt Pottery

Dear Jin,

You said in Awake: I can't touch the sky / Still, I want to stretch my hand out / I want to run, just a bit more. There are things I can no longer do at my age, but your song, Awake and the lyrics you sing about motivated me to pursue a recreational activity that is therapeutic. Also, it bolsters creativity. You see, I went back to pottery in September 2023 inspired by the ARMY Glow Up campaign of Titas of BTS and ARMY Connect PH. Here I am now, proud to share with you my journey which include the blocks and bumps I encountered along the way.

1.     My ARMY Glow-UP Goal Pillar: ARMY Glow-Up Recreation

2.       My AGU_Recreation Goal: My goal is to relearn the basics of handbuilding in making pots, mugs and trinket dishes from earthenware and stoneware clay into useful pots and ceramics. In pottery and clay art, I find the space and time to calm down and decompress. Handbuilding and pottery sessions with a small group of friends and peers is a bonding session where we share the joy of creative play and companionship.

3.       Steps and strategies I have taken: I went back to my notes and art journals/blog entries on clay and pottery. I got in touch with friends from the pottery community and asked for the rates and costs of glazing and firing services. Because our school community opened an alternative class day and health and wellness programs, I signed up and became the proponent for pottery. I cleaned up my old pottery kit and bought new ones. I have a dedicated schedule for handbuilding and when the opportunity presents itself, I gather friends to “clay together”.

 As ARMY, my inspo for the designs, form and structure of hanbuilt pots and mugs are BTS songs, music and content. The ARMY Glow Up Campaign of TOB and ACPH became an avenue to share this experience with friends in TOB, old and new.

   4.      How do I know I am making progress: I have a rubric for pinch pots and basic handbuilding techniques. I follow the criteria and success indicators when I practice and do the actual shaping, sculpting and design of the products.

5.       Facing the blocks and bumps in the journey: Clay and the tools for handbuilding are fairly inexpensive. It is the glazing and firing processes that cost a lot. Since the benefits of clay and pottery outweigh the cost (at least for me), I have learned to schedule, plan and program my pottery sessions individually or with ARMY friends. There are days when I feel so anxious I need to sculpt and shape clay. I give in and just be. Now I have a box of pots, mugs and plates kept in the house. When the funds arrive, I select which of the products are for glazing and firing. I send them to my potter friends who collab with me on the color, the glazes and enhancement of the designs. Some products I generously give as gifts to friends and family. Most of them I sell for fund raising and for my AGU goal and recreational therapy to continue.

6.       Where am I now: Pottery is art. Art takes time. Handbuilding is an imperfectly beautiful technique to master but principles in design, symmetry and balance apply. As much as it is art, it is also discipline. In clay and pottery, I realized that the process is a continuum of the life-death-life cycle. I am learning to be patient. I am able to look at endings and beginnings of life journeys.

 As for skills in pottery, I am confident at making a plate or dish from slabbing techniques. I have yet to develop competence in creating an even mug with engravings and surface decorations. I am now capable of painting on my products using under glazes. I take pleasure and honor in sharing all the things I learned so far with friends, ARMY or non-ARMY.

7.       Where will I go from here: I will continue developing handbuilding techniques such as coiling and pinching. I need to study design and structural principles of sculpting clay. To learn wheel throwing and setting up my own pottery studio is a long-term plan; a dream I hope to actualize before retirement. ARMY daughter encourages me to sell in bazaars and art fairs. I am putting that in the short-term goal or a plan to be realized in three months’ time or less.

So, this is my work in progress, Jin. I am stretching my hands and running. Just a little bit more.

😊 It’s just me, Tita Zee 😊

Becoming Sheroes: Stories of Heartstrong Women

One of my friends in our ARMY fanbase, Titas of BTS, Tita Mars Atienza is co-author of a book that highlights the strength of women, young and young at heart. Their book, a collection of stories of women overcoming barriers had a book launch last March 16, 2024. What a timely month to release a book by women and of women. It was Women's Month and we carry on this celebration in April because it's National Literature Month.

Here is the press release of the book, Becoming Sheroes: Stories of Heartstrong Women.

Filipina Sheroes unfurls 15 empowering stories of women in new book

Inspiring Filipino women through different stories of hardships and triumph, the book launch of "Becoming Sheroes: Stories of Heartstrong Women" last Saturday, March 16, was an extraordinary celebration of women's spirit.

Filipina Sheroes, led by multi-awarded professional, author, and speaker Monica Maralit, successfully unveiled their book, featuring a collection of stories about the inner strength and determination of women to overcome challenges and become heroes in their own ways.

"I want to thank each one of our Sheroes who took the time to write the book and share their stories. I hope that their journey will be able to encourage readers, especially young women, to embrace their strengths and strive for their purpose as they navigate the complexities of life," said Maralit.

Co-authored by Maralit with 14 other exceptional Filipinas, showcases the possibilities arising from embracing one’s journey and recognizing the strength that comes from overcoming the challenges of life. Other Filipina Sheroes who were profiled in the book include Marissa Atienza, Karen Batungbacal, Rebecca Bustamante, Kristine Calleja, Ayhee Campos, Laurice Chiongbian, Mawi Fojas deOcampo, Nica Jones, Shawntel Nieto, Arizza Nocum, Paulynn Sicam, Unyx Sta. Ana, Stephanie Tumampos, and Sharon Vaswani.

During the event, Maralit also introduced the first batch of female youth scholars from the Victoria Heartstrong Organization who will be supported through the book’s proceeds. The Victoria Heartstrong Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded by Maralit, in honor of her mother and grandmother, aiming to empower teenage girls in underprivileged backgrounds through education.

"In the coming months, we will also be doing other programs for our scholars, specifically on health and wellness, and leadership. This program is not just about giving money but it’s about helping them build a sustainable way of life so that they can make the right choices for their future," she said.

"Becoming Sheroes: Stories of Heartstrong Women" is now available on Filipina Sheroes' official website, filipinasheroes.com, and e-commerce platforms Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Walmart. This is the link to the order form. 

I will be interviewing Tita Mars so wait for it in the blog.