PBBY Chair's Report: 2009 - 2013

NCBD Countdown Day 3: The Author of the Month is MJ Tumamac

Author of the month this July is none other than Salanga Prize winner, MJ Tumamac. MJ teaches at Raya School and is currently Secretary of KUTING, the premiere organization of Filipino writers for chidlren.

1. The title of your winning story is Ngumiti si Andoy. Can you give us a gist or summary?

“Ngumiti si Andoy” is about the encounter of a boy with a moving and talking statue of Andres B. Andres B. shares to the boy a piece of his life. As Andres B. narrates his life, he is saddened because he misses his siblings and his wife. To make Andres B. happy, the boy volunteers to draw Andres B.’s loved ones. The boy’s gift makes Andres B. smile.

                  
2. Being a Salanga entry, and Bonifacio themed at that, describe the preparations you made for writing the story?

I revisited some books about Andres B.’s life and works. Realizing that there are a lot of unverified biographies about Andres B., I selected which information to include and speculated on some. Many facts about Andres B.’s life in the story are not integral (though important) and may easily be changed as contentions and new studies may arise. (For instance, most sources say that Andres B. got orphaned by the age of 19, but some say 14 and in between.)

3. Where are your stories and poems published? 

I rarely write stories and have never published one. I mostly write poetry and some of my poems are anthologized in online and print collections. Most of them are written for children. I have yet to publish my own poetry collection/book.

4. Where do you see yourself ten years from now in Philippine Children's Lit?

I hope to continue in fostering Philippine Children’s Literature by writing stories and poems, reading books by Filipinos, promoting literacy, and studying it. My main goal, though, is to publish or help in publishing more poetry books for children since there are only a few of them.

5. What is your message to aspiring writers out there?

 
It is not enough to just write. Study the field you are entering to know, basically, what were already written and what should be written.

Tips on Celebrating the 30th NCBD

Are you preparing your book list for your reading child this NCBD? Have you prepared a book fair and storytelling session in your school and library? If yes, you're well on your way to celebrating the 30th NCBD. But here are more activities you can do to celebrate the event:

a. Get posters of the 30th NCBD from the PBBY Secretariat and distribute them to friends, schools, barangay hall and day care centers.

b. Visit the PBBY website and check the list of published Salanga-Alcala books. How many do you have in your collection?

c. If you are an inspiring writer for children and young adult,  join a writing group like KUTING.

d. If you're an art enthusiast, visit the Ang INK exhibit, Curious Buffet, in Cubao.

e. If you are a chidlren's lit advocate, teacher or librarian, attend the CLAPI seminar.

f. Invite the winners of this year's Salanga and Alacala in your school, library and classroom.

g. Watch out for this year's new books for children and young adults. I will post the list/PPT. in the blog. I hear there are good and interesting titles! Get a copy. Buy from the bookstore or the publisher.

h. For librarians: set up a book display in the library on Rizal and Bonifacio. Rizal because NCBD commemorates the publication of The Monkey and the Turtle in Trubner's Oriental Record in London. Bonifacio because it is his 150th birth year/anniversary.

i. For academic and research librarians: Promote and publicize theses and studies on Philippine Children's Literature. Make the abstracts available to the public.

j. Watch Sandosenang Sapatos in CCP.

More activities to post in the next few day!

NCBD Countdown Day 8: NCBD Round Up 2005 - 2012

It's only eight more days to go to the 30th NCBD. Here's a round up of past NCBDs beginning on the year I took my oath as board representative for librarians.

The 22nd NCBD at the CCP with Rio Alma as inducting officer. The Salanga Prize went to Nikki Dy-Liaco for her story, The Yellow Paper Clip with Bright Purple Spots. The Alcala Prize was given to Meann Nicodime. It was in 22nd NCBD when I took my oath.

The 23rd NCBD at the National Library of the Philippines was graced by Prof. Ambeth Ocampo as guest speaker. I remember presenting the new titles of children's books published that year.

Butch Dalisay was the guest speaker during the 24th NCBD at the CCP. I blogged about Mr. Dalisay's speech here. He had a well stocked library and a very good reading program when he was young.

In 2008, during the 25th NCBD, I was absent. I did, however, blogged Totet de Jesus' chairman's report a year after.

PBBY celebrated the 26th NCBD in Marikina in 2009!

In 2010, PBBY awarded Raymond Falgui the Salanga for his collection of poems for children. Aldy Aguirre won the Alcala that year. Young Adult writer, Candy Gourlay was the guest speaker during the 27th NCBD.

The 28th NCBD in 2011 was full Rizaliana. Eugene Evasco won the Salanga and Yasmin Doctor, the Alcala. We had Prof. Ambeth Ocampo again as guest speaker. Evasco's Rizaldy was launched in the RAP Convention in Dapitan that year.

Last year's 29th NCBD was the most fun yet. We celebrated at Museo Pambata where Russell Molina (Salanga) and Hubert Fucio (Alcala) collected their second awards from PBBY.

And so, things are shaping up for this year's 30th NCBD. Celebrate books! Celebrate kids and teens! Celebrate reading!

PBBY on Air via DZUP 1602, LIBRADIO: Librarians sa Radyo

Celebrate NCBD: CLAPI Seminar

Clapi invitation forum from Zarah Gagatiga

NCBD Countdown Day 28: I owe it to PBBY

An Author's Journey: Annie Pacana Lumbao on Writing for Children

Children's book writer, Annie Pacana Lumbao, writes about her inspiration and her creative process on her book But That Won't Wake Me Up (Adarna House, 2010). The article is published in the May 2013 issue of Good Housekeeping (GH).

There's a mention of my name and a quote I made from the forum on Children's Literature by Ang INK last February 2012. It was a pleasant surprise to find Ms. Lumbao's email regarding this write up. Sometimes I wonder what happens to participants after attending a forum. Ms. Lumbao apparently was inspired to start writing for young adults.

The 30th National Children's Book Day is just around the corner. PBBY will be awarding the Salanga and Alcala to two new young artists who are venturing into content creation for children. May young people like them be inspired to pursue this challenging and noble art.

My gratitude goes to the editor of GH, Ms. Lola Abrera. Photo credits to Ms. Annie Pacana Lumbao

DepEd Advisory: Celebrate National Children's Book Day!

The count down to the 30th NCBD begins! Today is Day 30 and here's the DepEd Advisory to celebrate National Children's Book Day nationwide!

Da no. 231, s. 2013 NCBD Advisory from Zarah Gagatiga

The 30th National Children's Book Day

And so we begin another year of the National Children's Book Day. The poster says it all. Begin a reading revolution!

Celebrate NCBD at home, in your school and community. Let me know how you plan to drum up NCBD this year. Send me photos and brief descriptions of activities. I will devote a blog space for your feedback and stories on the NCBD.

Thanks to Kora Dandan Albano for a marvelous job illustrating the poster!

This year is Andres Bonifacio's sesquicentennial celebration so PBBY's battle cry: Basa, mga kapatid!