Yan Ang Pinay: Lara Saguisag

Posting this for three reasons: 1. Ms. Lara Saguisag is Filipina. 2. Her research is about children and comic strips. 3. A librarian from the Library of Congress, Martha Kennedy, helped Ms. Saguisag finish her research.

Lara Saguisag: Mga Alaala ni A

Isasara ni Lara Saguisag ang tribute na ito para kay Astrid. Si Lara ay nasa US at nagtatapos ng graduate studies sa panitikang pambata.

Ako din, Bayong ng Kuting.

Metaphor for Astrid? Hmm. Pwedeng description na lang? I know that we tend to idealize some people as "child-like," as living their life full of wondrous innocence, vigor, imagination, openness, fearlessness. But I saw all of these qualities in Astrid. Di ko sya masyadong nakilala. Ang taray ko kasi, medyo aloof ako sa mga "newbies." Pero Astrid tolerated my katarayan! Kahit na nagsusungit-sungitan ako, Astrid remained friendly and sincerely interested about my life and ideas.

Astrid is (was :-( ) so full of heart. I think she can be easily dismissed as makulit. Pero actually, I envied her for her "kakulitan" -- she was so inquisitive and persistent. Talagang determined sya to live life.

The 39th Annual Children’s Literature Association Conference

This one came in from Lara Saguisag via Facebook --

Call for Papers:
Philippine Children’s Literature

39th Annual Children’s Literature Association Conference
Simmons College, Boston, Massachusetts
June 14-16, 2012

The International Committee of the Children’s Literature Association is planning a special country focus panel on the Philippines, to be presented at the 39th Children’s Literature Association Conference, to be held at Simmons College, Boston, Massachusetts from June 14 to 16, 2012. The committee invites paper proposals that focus on any aspect of Philippine children’s literature. Papers may focus on the origins of and/or developments in Philippine children’s texts; issues of regionalism and nationalism; Philippine folklore as children’s texts; Philippine children’s literature in the diaspora; or the state of children’s literature studies in the Philippines. Preference will be given to proposals with the potential to inspire American and international scholars to develop active interest in Philippine children’s literature and to integrate it into their own research.

The authors of two papers selected for the panel to accompany a presentation by a Philippine Distinguished Scholar (invited by the committee) will be awarded a $500 travel grant each. Up to four other proposals may be selected as well, pending the approval of the additional panel by the conference paper selection committee. The papers must be presented in English and must not exceed the twenty-minute reading time. The committee strongly encourages ChLA members and other scholars with an interest in Philippine children’s literature to submit paper proposals for the session. Send 500-word abstracts accompanied by up to 250-word bios to the International Committee, Children’s Literature Association, P.O. Box 138, Battle Creek, MI 49016-0138, USA; fax +269-965-3568; or electronically to info@childlitassn.org . The deadline for submissions is November 30, 2011.

Lara Saguisag At Rutgers University

Lara Saguisag poet, children's book writer and of course, Filipina, is featured in Rutgers University's website. Hers is a story of dreams fulfilled.

Lara is the author of There's a Dewende in My Brother's Soup(Lampara Books), a book about a girl coping with the pressures of having an autistic sibling. Her book of poetry, Children of Two Seasons (Anvil Publishing) is a well received collection of poetry for kids by critics here and abroad.

She is currently working on several book projects. We hope to read more of her poetry and books for children.