I have three take aways.
First, Filipino writers no longer write for Filipino
children. We write for children. Period. Good stories cross borders because
childhood itself is universal. It is filled with wonder, questions, fears,
laughter, and hope.
Second, a writer who reads the works of fellow authors and
finds the child within their pages is both humble and wise. Children’s
literature is not a competition; it is a conversation that grows richer when we
read generously and celebrate one another’s stories.
Genaro Ruiz Gojo Cruz
winner of this year’s Salanga Prize for his story, Tinamaan Ako ng Galing, even
recognized this by mentioning writers whose books he read and learned from.
And finally, her curated list of children’s books was, to
me, a reader’s joy and a librarian’s delight. It was a reminder that the best
way to become a better writer is to remain an eager reader.
As I watched this year’s Salanga and Alcala awardees receive
their recognition, I found myself thinking that every story and every
illustration is an act of hope. In a world that often feels fractured,
children’s books continue to imagine kinder futures, nurture empathy, and
remind us that peace and justice are values worth passing on to the next
generation.
Congratulations to all the winners. Thank you for giving
children and all of us stories that help us become more fully human.
Pahina Hinahon!
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