PBBY’S WORDLESS BOOK DEBUT “PAGKATAPOS NG UNOS”: A VISUAL JOURNEY OF LOSS AND RECOVERY

 Philippines, September 11, 2020 — Painted in shades of storm and sunset, Harry Monzon’s first wordless picture book, Pagkatapos ng Unos, is a story of hope and resilience. It is also a powerful reminder of the vital need to replenish our dying planet.

The pictures tell a simple story. After a typhoon strikes his city, a man abandons his home and loads his meager possessions into a small boat. He navigates perilous floodwaters and—while rescuing a dog from the flood—loses everything except for a little plant. Traveling through the dark night, they reach a quiet place where their new life can take root. 

In these uncertain times, where natural disasters can rob anyone of their place in this world, a book like this can plant a seed of hope. It also opens up meaningful discussions about the environment and what is essential for a sustainable life. 

A wordless picture book can offer children greater freedom to use their imagination and build their own meaning into the story. 

Monzon’s storyboard was awarded the very first PBBY Wordless Book Prize in 2018 on the 35th National Children’s Book Day. This contest was established by the Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY) to encourage the development of this genre in the Philippine children’s book industry. 

Pagkatapos ng Unos is made in the Philippines and published by The Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY). The PBBY is a non-stock, nonprofit organization committed to the promotion not only of literacy, but also of the love for books among the Filipino youth through contests and workshops. Each year, the PBBY sponsors the PBBY-Salanga Prize for children’s writing and the PBBY-Alcala Prize for children’s book illustration. These contests have led to the publication of many memorable Filipino children’s books. 

Printed on Fedrigoni Special Paper, the book may be purchased online in paperback format for the retail price of P150 on adarna.com.ph, pumplepie.com, and tahananbooks.ph. 

About:

Harry Monzon is an illustrator and graphic designer. He studied literature from the University of Sto. Tomas. Harry is a proud member of Ang llustrador ng Kabataan (Ang INK). He offers this book to his father (1954–2019). He is the 2018 PBBY awardee for this wordless book.

An Interview With Rev Cruz 2018 Wordless Book Prize Winner

Here is an interview with Rev Cruz, 2018 Wordless Book Prize Winner. He does not consider himself an artist having no degree in Fine Arts. But his attitude and disposition about art tells us otherwise.

How did you learn about the Wordless Picture Book Prize?

Winning the PBBY Alcala Prize is one of the most important distinctions that a children’s book illustrator can aspire to. It’s been an annual tradition for me that as soon as the winner for the  PBBY Salanga Prize is announced, I download and read the winning manuscript and hope that I have enough inspiration and most importantly, time and effort to participate in the illustration contest. I was lucky enough to have two entries chosen as Honorable Mention. When the Wordless Picture Book Prize was announced, I recognized it as an

opportunity to share my own stories and not just interpret someone’s. Being a member of Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan, I saw how we were encouraged to join the contest.  

Tell us something about Pibò?

It is a story about Pibò (being a wordless picture book, I would like to let the readers and the storytellers decide what Pibò is) and his adventures. He meets unique characters whom he befriends and travels through exotic environments until he finds what he was searching for. It is a story about friendship, belonging and sacrifice.

Pibò has been brewing in my head for years now ever since I started painting with coffee (being a coffee enthusiast). I created a character based on coffee beans, calling them coffee monsters, and I painted and even made sculptures of them. I intended Pibò as a unique coffee bean, a “peaberry” searching high and low to be reunited with his batch of coffee beans, his family.

What is your creative process for Pibo?

Since Pibò has been “brewing” in my head for years, creating several paintings with the character interacting with other characters and environments. There was no narrative at first. These paintings served as key scenes in a sort of journey. So creating a narrative was a matter of “connecting” these key scenes by filling it in with additional pictures that adds meaning to the key scenes and pushes the narrative forward.

One of my favorite key scene was when the characters meet the narwhal. At first it seems like a random thing when the narwhal shows Pibò a toothbrush and he’s confused with what to do with it. People who are knowledgeable about the nature of narwhals should be able to realize that the “horns” of narwhals are not really horns but are actually tusks or essentially and oversized tooth! The toothbrush actually makes sense as Pibò cleans it!

Who are your role models in your discipline or community? Why?

I realized that creating a wordless picture book demands a unique sets of skills that is different from just illustrating a picture book. For this, I looked into the works of Bill Thomson (“Chalk”), David Wiesner (“Flotsam”), Marla Frazee (“The Farmer and the Clown”) and Aaron Becker (“Journey”) as inspiration.

For children’s book illustration, I’ve always been a Maurice Sendak fan. I’ve always considered being a member of AngInK as a privilege being able to mingle with Beth Parrocha-Doctolero, Jomike Tejido, Liza Flores, Robert Alejandro, Totet de Jesus, etc. people I look up to and aspire to.

For children’s book literature, I love reading Rene Villanueva, Luis P. Gatmaitan, Eugene Evasco and Genaro Gojo Cruz, etc…

Who are you, as an artist?

This is so hard to answer ☹ I did not graduate with a degree in Fine Arts or any related course. So I’ve always felt inadequate as an artist, even hesitating to recognize myself as an artist. (In fact, I am a physical therapist by profession) But it has always been my passion to make art. I love making people happy and inspired when they see my art. As much as I can, I just create art in whatever form it is. Gawa lang ng gawa ng feeling ko na maganda. 

*Photos are protected by copyright. Please ask permission before downloading and attribute as necessary.

Call for Entries: 2018 PBBY Wordless Book Prize

The Philippine Board on Books for Young People is now accepting entries for its Wordless Book Prize.

2018 will mark the first year that the PBBY will be awarding such a prize. The winner shall receive Twenty Thousand Pesos and a medal. Prizes shall be awarded at an appropriate ceremony to be held on National Children's Book Day, July 17, 2018.

DEADLINE

February 19, 2018 (5:00 PM)

CONTEST RULES

1. The contest is open to all Filipino citizens except those who are related to any PBBY member up to the third degree of consanguinity.
2. All entries must be e-mailed to pbbywordless@gmail.com. For this contest, all submissions must be in digital form, with each file clearly identifiable by a filename that is actually the pen name of the contestant.
3. Entries may be in color or in black and white. They may be digitally rendered or traditionally done artwork that may or may not have been digitally enhanced. The submission format should be pdf. Entries should use the CMYK color space and should be at actual size format with resolution at 300dpi.
4. Each entry should comprise the following:
   
   1. One clean comprehensive artwork of the cover spread design (includes both the front and back covers).
      
      Filenames for this file should include the initials CS.
      Example: PenName_CS.pdf
   2. Two clear comprehensive artworks of two spreads, rendered in the intended style and medium, and in the actual size format. The recommended spread size for a board book is 13 x 6.5 inches while the recommended size for a picture book is 14 x 9 inches.
      Filename should include SP01 for the first spread,
      and SP02 for the second spread.
      Example: PenName_SP01.pdf and PenName_SP02.pdf
   3. A detailed storyboard in line drawing (grayscale).
      Filename should include the initials SB.
      Example: PenName_SB.pdf
   The contestant also has the option to submit all files already collected in a 4-page pdf. Filename should be Penname_ALL.pdf.
   Entries should not contain any words, just the title and subtitles (if any) on the Cover spread (CS).
   Failure to observe file naming rules may affect judgment of entry.
5. A contestant may send in more than one (1) entry.
6. Entries may be collaborative, meaning a visual artist may collaborate with a writer to come up with the narrative for the entry.
7. Each contestant should also email two documents:
1. The first document should indicate the contestant's full name, address, telephone/cell phone numbers and email address.
2. The second document should be a scan of a notarized certification from the author. (Download the format for the certification).
If the entry is collaborative, there should be complete information for both contestants.

8. Entries must be received by the PBBY Secretariat and time-stamped no later than 5:00 p.m., February 19, 2018.
9. PBBY reserves the right of first refusal for the publication of all winning entries.

Winners will be announced no later than April 20, 2018.

For more details, interested parties may contact PBBY by calling 3526765 local 203 or emailing pbby [at] adarna.com.ph.