The 42nd National Conference of PASLI: “IntenZfied School Libraries: Fostering Diversity and Inclusivity”

 

PASLICon2024_Program_rev1 by zarah gagatiga

Klasrum Adarna Workshop: All for the Love of Reading Baguio Edition

Last March, I was at the ISO in Ateneo De Manila Univeristy for the Klasrum Adarna Workshop  Developing A Genuine Love for Books and Reading. The Adarna Dream Team brought this workshop to Baguio City last Saturday, May 10 2014. There were only forty two teachers, compared to the eighty five participants in the Manila workshop, but all forty two of them went out of their way to give their one hundred and one percent in all the activities.

At the start of the workshop, I asked them to introduce to me a side of Baguio City I have not known or discovered yet. They were game! The Adarna Dream Team and I were treated to a mini-cultural show of Cordillera culture. Teachers sang songs, chanted and danced in traditional folk songs and music. This energy fueled us to finish the workshop with a bang.

Following the original design of the workshop, the Baguio teachers put forth well written book reviews; artful drawings of the folk tale of The Legend of the Cashew Nut; an artistic story theatre presentation of Father Rat Finds a Midwife; and insightful reflections from Lit Circle activities and worksheets. As my "pabaon" I shared with them activities and reading promos on digital reading. On both workshops, I observed that very few teachers engage themselves in this medium. Kids and teens are so immersed in the digital environment. I wonder what teachers are doing to reach out to them through technology.

At the end of the workshop, the Baguio teachers gave me a standing ovation.

I ate a lot of humble pie that day.

One teacher took my hand in a firm handshake and said, "You are very inspiring. Thank you for the wonderful ideas you shared and the positive attitude you displayed".

I thanked her back and replied, "It is in teaching others where in I learn so much, about one's self and about others too. Thank you for allowing me to facilitate this workshop here in your school."

This experience of teaching and learning never ends. It grows!

Filipino Librarian: Jocelyn "Jo" Ladlad

While in Baguio for a conference last month, I was billeted in a cottage located at Teachers Camp. It was a quaint abode built during the American occupation. The experience of staying there for two days and a night was made more meaningful by the presence of a dear friend, Jocelyn “Jolad” Ladlad. I had not seen her in a long while. As things go with friends who’ve been apart, the catching up on each other’s lives went way into the wee hours of the morning.

Last December 2010, we briefly saw each other in another professional gathering. We exchanged hellos and beso-beso but we didn’t get the chance to even have coffee. She was, at the time, undergoing chemotherapy. The pink bandana she wore on her head matched her baby pink blouse and white slacks. Of course, the ever-present hoop earrings, bangles and the effervescent smile completed the act. Her disposition belied the struggle with ovarian cancer.

After five months, she’s on her way to recovery. Her hair has grown back and the color on her cheeks portends good health on its way.

I am so happy for Jolad to have survived cancer. Some would call it a miracle. Jolad called it God’s presence in her life. Never did she question God at the onset of the disease. Her constant prayer was for God to help her find the means to sustain the expenses necessary for medication and healing. God provided her with the money and much more! The moral support had been aplenty. Neither was she afraid to die. She believes that the life she’s been given is peppered with blessings and seasoned with graces. 

 

Jolad works as academic and research librarian at the De La Salle University, Taft Ave., Manila. She had been a school librarian, teacher and active officer of PNU LISSAA, ASLP and PLAI-NCR. Mabuhay ka, Jo!

Storytelling In Baguio City Public Library

Some photos from my storytelling in Baguio City. Thanks to Mrs. Fe Requilman of the Baguio City Public Library, I had a wonderful time telling stories to their day care kids. There happened to be 120 day care centers in Baguio City. Only 80 centers participated so the 40 centers are up for schedule next year.

It was my first visit at the Baguio City Public Library, a three story edifice that houses two million print collections, thesis and dissertations from the CAR region, with WIFI connection, a cozy space for children and eight licensed librarians. Suffice it to say that the librarians have the support of the LGU - from moral to financial aspects. Kudos to the public librarians of the Baguio City Public Library!

Public Library Blogs

I'm squeezing this in before packing my stuff for the Philippine Public Librarians League, Inc. (PPLLI) Baguio conference. This is an exciting discovery that must be blogged about.

I was impressed by the Quezon City Public Library's (QCPL) blog and website. I just found out this morning in my last attempt to source out websites for my talk tomorrow. Their blog presents a good image of their library. It even has a working OPAC running via OpenBiblio. What's more, their library blog covers a good range of reader's services for children and teens. Plus, there are several branches with WiFi connection! What a perfect example for my talk tomorrow on the use of web technology for the delivery of reader's services!

I hope to meet a librarian from QCPL to know more about their automation process and other projects. I am continuously on the look out for such initiatives so I can feature them in this blog. Will blog about Baguio and the PPLI conference soon!

Photos from Baguio

My Baguio Blues can be viewed in The Coffee Goddess. I was not really lonely. I went to Tam-Awan Village and the BenCab Museum all by myself.

Storytelling At The PASLI National Seminar

This is just to say that I had a great session on Storytelling with the participants of the PASLI (Philippine Association of School Librarians, Inc.) National Seminar on Effective Library Services: New Approaches and Strategies. I still have no idea what to do in Baguio tomorrow. Maybe go sight seeing or sleep in late in bed.

I'm really too tired to blog so the details have to wait for tomorrow.

The flight to Sorsogon and back to Manila, then the road trip to Baguio City has worn me down. Yes Virginia, I too get tired. I miss the hubby and the kids.

I miss home.

It seems I've been away for so long.

From Sea to Mountain

This is just a note to say that I have safely arrived in Baguio City at 12:05 this morning.

After landing safely at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) at 3:30PM yesterday, I dropped by at my sister-in-law's place to get my Baguio baggages. The six hour trip from Cubao to Baguio went on pretty smoothly with two stop overs - Dau and Cabanatuan (?).

I am now in Teachers' Camp, Baguio City sharing a room/dorm with nine participants of PASL's (Philippine Association of School Librarians) National Seminar on Effective Strategies and Approaches.

The weather is very cold. Sorsogon and Legazpi weather were tepid to humid. Baguio climate and temperature bites at the toes, ears and nose. Now I need to grab a few hours of sleep.