Learning from Dianne De Las Casas

As homage to my dear friend and mentor,

Dianne De Las Casas

, we will have an Author Chat on her legacy -- the stories she shared and told, the literacy projects she cooked up and served, and the books she wrote. We will focus on one of her more popular books which is a manual (that's far from dry and boring) on storytelling, Handmade Tales. The book has tips and instructions on how to tell stories using paper tearing/cutting, draw and tell, Kamishibai, strings, handkerchiefs and hands!

Learning from Dianne was an adventure in itself. Thank you to Dear Books for initiating a blog write up to remember Dianne last August 21, 2020.

I will be demonstrating selected stories and techniques from the book as part of a pocket workshop on storytelling. It will be on Zoom on Saturday, August 29, 2020 at 10 AM to 11 AM. The link to Zoom is below.

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See you online!

Filipino Librarians of the Month: Librarians of the Filipiniana Section, UP Diliman Main Library

Dahil Buwan ng Wika noong Agosto at International Literacy Day naman sa Sabado, Setyembre 8, 2018, mga librarians ng Filipiniana Section ng UP Diliman Main Library ang tampok na Filipino Librarians sa blog. Pinangungunahan ni Mr. Rhoel E. Rondilla, ang grupo ng mga librarians na ito ay naghahandog ng mga kuwento sa estilo ng Sabayang Pagbigkas o Readers' Theatre. Basahin at alamin ang kanilang mga kuwentong buhay sa panayam na ito. Higit sa lahat, malalaman nibyo ang mga paborito nilang aklat! 

Sino ang may sabi na hindi nagbabasa ang mga librarians?

Sila ay binubuo nina Mr. Rhoel E. Rondilla, Reslyn Espino, Eliza May Jayag, Thergie Ablin, Maria Ester Cruz at Elmer Tolentino.

Bakit kayo nagtayo or nag-organize ng isang readers’ theatre group?

Ang FI Books Section Readers’ Theater group ay itinayo hindi lamang upang kumatawan sa UP Diliman libraries sa mga storytelling activities kundi pati na rin makapagbahagi ng aming kaalaman, ng aming oras at ng aming talent. 

Ano ang kinalaman nito sa pagiging laybraryan ninyo?

Bilang Filipino, nais naming makatulong upang iangat ang mga gawa't likhang pinoy. Adhikain naming na ipadama at ipaalam sa lahat na ang likhang pinoy ay mayroong katuturan at yaman. Bilang mga laybraryan, ito ay aming ambag sa komunidad ng unibersidad at sa pamayanan na aming kinabibilangan.

Paano kayo nagsimula bilang isang Readers’ Theater?

Hindi sinasadya ang pagkakatayo ng Readers’ Theatre group namin. Nangyari lamang ito noong nagkaroon ng forum ang aming aklatan na inorganisa ng Filipiniana Books Section na kung saan kami ay nabibilang.

Mukhang seryoso kayo sa inyong advocacy. Ano pa ang balak ninyo sa mga darating na panahon?

Ang pagkukuwento bilang isang grupo ay aming karangalan, kuewntong lahat ay may aral, aral na dadalhin ng mga nakikinig. Sa mga darating pang panahon, nakahanda kami at  tutugon sa mga imbitasyon at makikilahok sa mga programang naglalayong makapagtaguyod  ng pagbabasa ng mag akdang pinoy.

Maari bang magbigay ng bawat miyembro ng kanilang mga paboritong aklat at dahilan kung bakit?

Rhoel Rondilla 

– Alamat ng Pinya. Ito ay patungkol ito sa mag-ina na si Aling Rosa at Pinang. Patunay na dapat sa lahat ng bagay at anuman oras, kinakailangan ng mahabang pasensya. 

- Hunger Games. Ito ay tungkol sa pagpapakasakit para sa pamilya at sa anumang uro ng relasyon. Ito ay patungkol din sa pagtutulungan. Nagpapaalala din ito na ang kasamaan, kailanman ay hindi nagtatagumpay.

Elmer Tolentino

- Marami-rami na din naman akong aklat na binasa ngunit mabibilang lang sa mga ito ang aking natapos.  Marahil dajhil na din sa kakulangan ng oras . Ilan sa mga paborito ko ay ang mga aklat ni Bob Ong. tatlo sa kanyang mga obra ay meron ako. Ang Abnkkbsnplako ay ang unang aklat na binili at naibigay sa akin ng aking asawa na kasintahan ko pa lamang noon.  Kaya may sentimental na halaga ito sa akin. Nasundan pa ito ng Bakit baligtad magbasa ng libro ang mga Pilipino.  Nagustuhan ko ang estilo ni Bob Ong (di niya tunay na pangalan) sa pagamit niya ng humor sa pagtatalakay at pagpapamulat sa ang mga bagay-bagay sa pang  araw-araw na buhay at kultura ng mga Pinoy ito man ay positbo o negatibo. 

- Isa rin sa aking paborito noon pa man ay ang mga Pabula ni Esopo.  Naalala ko pa noong akoy bata pa na lagi akong binabasahan at kinukwentuhan ng aking ina. Kahit pay itoy paulit-ulit nang naikwekwento. Ngayon dahil  sa akoy may sarili ng pamilya at may sarili na ring mga anak ako na ang siyang nagkukwento ito sa kanila.

Thergie Ablin

- Aklat na akin ng nagamit sa pagkukuwento, “Bakit matagal ang sundo ko" ni Kristine Canon, dahil ito yung first story na aking ikinuwento sa mga kabataan ng GAwad Kalinga. Hindi koi to makakalimutan dahil nagkuwento ako para sila ay maaliw at hindi hanapin ang kanilang ga magulang o tagapag-alaga na masipag at tulong –tulong na nagtatayo ng mga kabayanan sa Gawad Kalinga sa ilalim ng matinding sikat ng araw.

- Aklat na paboritong basahin noong ata pa until now siguro, Cinderella kase, the story itself teaches us how to dream, belive and achive our dreams and also, true friends regardless of the sizes and looks they will help you because they love you.

Ester Cruz

- Ang paborito kong aklat sa ngayon ay Charlotte’s Web dahil sa konsepto ng pakikipagkaibigan

Elizza Mae Jayag

- Every day by David Levithan at Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. Mahilig kasi akong magbas ng novels, mg love story and comedy. Sa local naan is yung “Mass” ni F. Sionil Jose and “Para kay B” ni Ricky Lee.

Ang larawang ito ay kuha noong July 29, 2018 sa Museo Pambata kung saan, naghandog ang grupo ng isang pagtatanghal ng Ang Matandang Mananahi (De las Casas at Gagatiga, 2011).

Salaysayan 2018: A Reading Aloud and Storytelling Festival Post Script

These librarians performed The Old Taylor in Readers' Theatre 

The 2018 Salaysayan Reading Aloud and Storytelling Festival came to pass at the Museo Pambata last July 29, 2018 after being postponed due to bad weather last July 18, 2018.

There are really moments when all you needed to do is to trust the divine forces of the universe to put things in place. What I feared to be a Salaysayan of poor attendance turned out as the opposite!

Museo Pambata came in full support, as well as the storytellers who volunteered. Rey Bufi, Melai Ramirez and the National Library of the Philippines' Storytelling and Puppetry Troupe, Kuya Rich, Teacher Psalm, Teacher Mars and the UP Diliman Librarians of the Filipiniana Department headed by Roel Randilla, thank you to all of you for sharing your time and takents! You made 100 plus kids happier with your stories. To Teacher Motie Andal, we hope to have you again next time for a more intensive workshop on books, reading and supporting teachers and parents in their journey as literacy teachers to their kids in school and at home.

Our local book publishers didn't sell as much, but I thank you for ever supporting PBBY in all its endeavours!

Dear friends in the profession, Audrey Anday and Darrel Marco, with Eleanor Llave coming in as a surprise volunteer, your presence and friendship weigh more precious than gold. The PBBY ladies, Tarie Sabido, Fran Ong and Ani Almario who were with me from start to finish of the Salaysayan.

We can always do better next year!

My 2016 In Retrospect: My Life as A Storyteller

One of the amazing things that happened to me last year was the recognition and appreciation I received from peers in the culture and the arts. Museo Pambata included my work and the advocacy I do on literacy development and reading in the Paglaki Ko Room: Gusto Ko Maging Kuwentista. I owe it to Museo Pambata since they gave me the opportunity to be a storyteller. I started out as a volunteer storyteller in their afternoon storytelling sessions back in the 90s. Padayon!

Here is a bit of history about the building of the Paglaki Ko Room told in blog links:

Letter of Invitation: Paglaki ko, gusto ko maging kuwentista - It was in August 2015 when I got the letter from Museo Pambata. Of course, I was shocked first. Then, elated. The reality that I am old hit me last.

The Ang Paglaki Ko Room in Museo Pambata - The Kuwentista Room is part of the Ang Paglaki Ko Exhibit that showcases the writing, illustrating and telling of stories to children and the young at heart. Visit the room in Museo Pambata! It is an interactive room where kids can actually write, draw, listen and view recorded videos of storytellers. It is so cool!

Kuwentista Room Launching Day - Here's how we celebrated the launching of the Kuwentista Room. All storytellers featured in the exhibit told stories, live!

There was a time when I thought of giving up on telling stories. But, Philip Pullman reminded me that stories and storytelling are the things we need most in the world.

Museo Pambata News: Launch of the Paglaki Ko, Gusto Ko Maging Kuwentista Room

Kuya Jay plays the flute to start us off in storytelling.

Last July 26, 2016, Museo Pambata launched a new exhibit room that completes and complements its literacy and creative development advocacy among children and the young at heart. The Paglaki Ko, Gusto Ko Maging Kuwentista Room was finally unveiled after a year of fundraising, grant seeking, designing the area and planning of activities for it to come alive. Thanks to the ever hopeful and persistent President of Museo Pambata, Nina Lim-Yuson, who did not give up on seeing this exhibit into existence. Her team of intrepid young dreamers followed through: Maricel "Mamu" Montero, Noreen "Tich" Parafina, Conrad Raquel and the rest of the Museo Pambata Museum Guides worked hard to make the room an accessible and attractive feature of the Paglaki Ko Room.

With the launch of the storytelling area, children will know the many uses of language and why books, have an interesting role in creative play and imagination. Writers write stories. Illustrators draw the visuals to shape the narrative into palpable possibilities that lead to the understanding of the stories. Storytellers open up avenues of exploring these two art forms further on. The cycle of creative production comes full circle and the promise of new creative pursuits begins.

Melay Ramirez Abad participates in the storytelling with gusto!

I am honored and humbled to be a part of the six storytellers featured in the exhibit. My work as a school librarian has extended beyond the four walls of the library and into places where more children can access, not just books and stories, but opportunities to dream, to wonder and to take flight. It takes a village to raise a child and greater determination to see them become creative and productive citizens of the world.

L-R: Tich Noreen, Mamu Montero, JK Anicoche, Rey Bufi, Charlot Cachuela,
Teacher Mars, Kuya Bodjie, me and Nina Lim-Yuson

Visit Museo Pambata! Let your children imagine, play and wonder! Bring out the inner child in you!

Paglaki Ko, Gusto Ko Maging Kwentista Room in Museo Pambata

A week ago, I received an email from Museo Pambata President, Nina Lim Yuson, informing me that the Paglaki Ko, Gusto Ko Maging Kuwentista Room will soon be open to the public. Here's a snippet of Ms. Yuson's letter that really made my day.

Museo Pambata is very happy and excited to finally launch/open the exhibit on the Storyteller or Kwentista. This will be on July 26, Tuesday at 2 pm in the Career Options/Paglaki Ko Gusto Kong Maging..theme room at Museo Pambata.

This interactive area was designed by Conrad Raquel in collaboration with Museo Pambata's Exhibit Department.

All six of you were chosen for your love for storytelling, children and books. We hope to inspire kids and adults to be good storytellers, like you through the exhibits.

In a previous post, I wrote about being chosen as one of the storytellers who is featured in the exhibit. It was in August 2015 when I received the letter.  Apart from myself, the featured storytellers are: Kuya Rey Bufi, JK Anicoche, Mars Mercado, Charlot Cachuela and Kuya Bodjie Pascua.

Despite challenges in funding, Museo Pambata was able to successfully push the project through. They are amazing! Talk about tenacity and commitment!

Here now is the e-invite of the launch. Consider it as my invitation to you! If you are not free to join us, then visit Museo Pambata when you are free or when you are in Manila.

Kuya Rey's Five Fantastic Storytelling Tips

Kuya Rey in his child like persona.

Last Saturday, the blog featured storyteller Rey "Kuya Rey" Bufi and his storytelling in varied communities. In this blog post, he shares five tips for young and aspiring storytellers.

A. Know Your Audience.  Always know the profile of your audience, their age, background, number of participants, venue and etc. These will help you identify your story for the activity and yoru strategy. But always bring several storybooks so you could easliy adjust if there are changes in the profile of your audience. For example, it is not advisable to tell a long story to pre-schoolers because small children have short attention span.

B. Be creative.  You should be quick in assessing your audience during the storytelling session. If your planned strategy doesnt work, then think of other ways to present the story. Storytelling is all about improvisation. Learn to improvise. Decide based on the behavior and reaction of your audience. This is difficult but the only way to learn it is to do frequent storytelling sessions. It is your exposure and experience to different types of audiences that will help you become a versatile storyteller. Every storytelling activity is a unique experience.

C. Connect to your audience. Build connections by finding common ground. You may do this by asking questions relatable to them or you may approach and talk to your audience before the storytelling starts. Make your audience comfortable so that they would open up and participate. Remember that storytelling is a shared experience. It is a conversation between you and your audience. The story is your connection with each other and in the end, your goal is to make that story a shared experience.

D. Start with your own stlye. Start with your own storytelling style. In this way, you will be comfortable in your first storytelling activity. This will help you gain your confidence and as you do it frequently, you could try different styles.

E. Know the story. This means that you should learn the sequence of the story by heart. This will guide you in making the right pauses, emotions and questions. If you forget the words, it would be easier for you to adlib.

Rey Bufi is the founder of the The Storytelling Project. Get in touch with Kuya Rey via reysbufi@gmail.com.

Pinoy Kuwentista: Rey Bufi

Mr. Rey Bufi is the new board member of the Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY) representing storytellers. He is the founder of the The Storytelling Project, a non-government organization that sets up reading centers and promote storytelling as a means to develop a lifelong love for books and reading. Get to know him more in this interview.

1. Why tell stories? 

I tell stories to help children see the joy of reading and to help them create a habit of reading. By incorporating fun with learning in telling stories, children realize that reading is not just an academic activity but rather an enjoyable task. I also believe that telling or sharing stories woul help to inspire people.

2. When did you realize that storytelling is something you need to do?

I started to realize this when I became a volunteer of an employee organization in my previous work. It was a decade ago when I started as a volunteer of that organization and I saw how happy the kids were during our storytelling activities. Children love stories and making each activity a fun learning experience is a great way to educate children.

3. What is your favorite story to tell? 

I have several favorite children stories but my choice always depends on my audience. Ang Pambihirang Sobrero ni Mia by Mike Tejido is a favorite when i have a huge crowd of small children. Papel de Liha by Ompong Remigio is also a classic favorite. I use it when the audience is a mix of children who are in the middle grades, young adults and even adults. Another one of my favorites is Super Labandera by Jim Mark Carolino and Mary Grace Soriano. It is a story about his mother who does laundry to help their family. Jim Mark is one of our learners in The Storytelling Project. I tell this story when I am invited to share TSP's story and I find that it inspires people to know that a child was able to create his own story and see it published.

4. How do you choose stories to tell? 

I choose stories based on the profile of my audience. I always ask for information from the people who invite me such as who my audience are, their age, the crowd size, the venue setup, the event theme, the goal of the storytelling session among other things. These will help me determine the story to choose. When i have a book in mind, I ask myself if that book would be relatable for the intended audience. In case the organizer has chosen a book for the storytelling session and it doesn't fit the considerations, then I just have to find ways to make it relatable to my audience through other strategies.

5. What defines a successful storytelling session? 

A successful storytelling session for me is when the audience is happy and engaged during the session and when the audience could retell the story.

For more information on The Storytelling Project, visit their FB page https://www.facebook.com/TheStorytellingProject/ or get in touch with Rey Bufi via this email, reysbufi@gmail.com.

Teacher Storyteller: Michelle Agas

I was with Teacher Michelle Agas last May 2015 for a week long workshop in Bicol. We had a wonderful time working together along side Teacher Pam Razon in the literacy training of EDUCO and Adarna House. Last MIBF, she was at the Lampara Writing Workshop as participant. During the A Day with Weavers of Magic, she was one of the lead storytellers in the workshop.

Was it only yesterday when Teacher Michelle was a college student in Teacher Portia Padilla's class? It was there, in Prof. Padilla's class where I met her, an "Eduk" student of UP Diliman and I was the class's guest resource person on storytelling.

A few years after, Michelle joined the PBBY Salaysayan 2008 , a storytelling competition, where she won first place in the English Division. Read the link on the PBBY Salaysayan 2008 where I happened to be  judge. I was impressed at Teacher Michelle's performance. She was a revelation.  

I am proud at how far Teacher Michelle has grown as a storyteller since her college days. Aside from teacher training and reading tutorials, Teacher Michelle runs ReadingReady where storytelling services for schools, events and parties can be availed.

Cheers to you, Teacher Michelle! I look forward to more meet ups and workshops with you in the future. I still dream of doing a tandem telling performance with you!

Teacher Mich in action at the A Day with Weavers of Magic

TV Guesting: Iba Ang Pinoy at Good Morning Kuya, UNTV

Where I talked about storytelling, Tales From the 7,000 Isles: Filipino Stories and the picture books I wrote and published by Lampara Books. I also did a short storytelling demo. On August 30, 2015, I will be elaborating on the use of storytelling and reading aloud for early literacy learning. This workshop is in line with the Philippine Literary Festival 2015 at the Raffles, Makati.

Pinoy Kwentista: Dyali Justo

With Dyali Justo at DepEd Laoag

Last November 13, 2015, I had the sheer joy of being with Dyali Justo, teacher and storyteller, in the Booklatan sa Laoag workshop of the National Book Development Board. She answers a few questions about storytelling, an art she is so passionate about.

1.  Kailan at paano mo nalaman na isa kang storyteller?
Grade school- volunteer sa Home for the Aged, I wrote a poem for the grans, then I delivered it. From then on, I was invited to do storytelling. 

2. Ano ang paborito mong ikwento at bakit?
Ang mahiyaing manok- poem form kase ang dating ng rhythm, fun,very interactive. Yun tema makatotohanan. Maraming mahiyain at insecure dahil sa maling pakiramdam sa mga tao sa paligid.at may true friend na magsasabi ng totoong sitwasyon. May nanay na supportive na ina-aasess ang kakayahan ng anak. Yung dulong part na ng kwento, may desire to help others so they can overcome their own weaknesses. So real. 

Dyali in action. Telling the story, The Monkey and the Turtle

3.  Magbigay ka ng isang karanasan sa pagkukwento na hindi mo makakalimutan.
Marami, lalo sa mga out of town trips: sa Masbate, umakyat kami ng bundok, ang mga bata dumating nakasakay sa kabayo o di kaya sa mga hinihilang sasakyan ng kalabaw, para lang makakinig ng kwento. May language barrier, pero naging fun kase pareho ang tilaok ng manok sa maynila at sa masbate. Sa Palawan, nagtanong ako: "ano ang iyong wish? (Ang kwento ay Wishing Well) may isang boy na sumagot lutu lutuan. Nagtawanan ang mga kakklase at tinatawag na bakla. Pagkakataon un para maituro ang konsepto ng wala sa gawain ang gender preference. My mga tatayna naglalaba, nagluluto, may mga nanay na nagpapalit ng bumbilya o sirang gripo. 

4.  Ano ang isang "tip" o payo na maibibigay mo sa kwentistang nag sisimula pa lamang
Know your purpose why are you a storytelling.

Are you a Storyteller?

For details go to the Adarna House blog.

NCBD Countdown Day 28: I owe it to PBBY

Reading Aloud and Storytelling

When I got the invite to judge in the Inquirer Read Along Contest, I knew I had to break a personal belief and a promise. And once more, I was confronted with an issue many teachers and Filipino storytellers grapple with -- reading aloud and storytelling.

I will not discuss what it is and what it is not. Rather, I'll post links of videos on reading aloud and storytelling as well as videos of Mr. Jay Menes' read aloud session. Now here's a link to Just Stories an online place where storytellers gather just to tell stories. No fanfare. Stories are the stars of the show and the teller is the willing medium who keeps them alive.

My read aloud video of Lizard's Song, by George Shannon and illustrations by Jose Aruego and Arianne Dewey.

Story Knifing Sampler

Jay Menes reading aloud to preschoolers during Read Aloud Day 2011. He read aloud an Adarna book classic, When Color Comes to Town

Since storytelling is an art form and reading aloud is reeking of educative values, as well as literacy development merits, the two can be combined. The result is a hybrid technique known as book-based storytelling. Is this right? Is this wrong? Is there a proper way of delivery? There really are no answers to the questions. Art is subjective but an artist need to constantly practice his or her craft to grow and continuously develop. One needs to be a reflective artist too to see areas of improvement in choice of stories, in technique and purpose. Why tell stories? Why reading aloud? What stories to tell for Filipino children to enjoy and learn from? What cultural legacies can surface in the process of telling or reading aloud?

Sometimes, contests hamper this growth and development as it focus on the 1st, the 2nd and the 3rd prize winners and not at stories shared and the audience who listened to the stories read or told.

I did enjoy my time at the Inquirer Read Along last month and I send them my congratulations for a meaningful and well thought out advocacy and CRS activity. But, I'm hoping to see and hear news of more storytelling and read aloud festivals instead of contests.