Agay Llanera-Reyes, Dang Bagas at Liwa Malabed: Mga Alaala ni A

Si Agay Llanera-Reyes, Dang Bagas at Liwa Malabed ay mga ka-kaladkarin ni Astrid sa mga lakad, gimik, "adventures", at kung ano-ano pa ay may mga senti at nakakatuwang Astrid moments.

Ang kay Agay --
a. Favorite ko yung essay niya na binasa ko sa eulogy niya. Kasi mailap si astrid pag nagkukuwento tungkol sa karamdaman niya. So through that essay, mas naintindihan ko siya. and to think i only got to read after she passed away. I'll never forget the last phrase "like wings unfurling."

b. Si Astrid ay isang energizer bunny. She just keeps going and going and going. n'ung una, napapagod ako sa boundless energy niya pero later on, natutunan ko na 'tong sakyan, and even be inspired by it.

c.Siguro yung 30th birthday party niya wherein she wore a low- cut red dress. Oh wow! May cleavage pala si Astrid! Con todo make up, strappy red sandals with heels, and kikay bag. She looked radiant that night. And extremely giddy and happy and beautiful.

Ang kay Liwa --
a. Ano ang paborito ninyong kwento ni Astrid? At bakit?

Nagustuhan ko ang Flares and Remissions at Bayong ng Kuting. pinapakita ng dalawang likha ang two sides ni astrid. ang pagiging kitikiti, masayahin at makulay na alam ng lahat. at ang pagiging matapang sa harap ng kanyang karamdaman. pero kahit kailan, di niya ito trinato na balakid. dahil si A ay miss the-glass-is-half-full at palaging positibo.

b. Bigyan mo siya ng metapora bilang manunulat, halimbawa, si astrid ay isang bumubulusok na kometa

Si astrid bilang manunulat ay isang paruparo. parang effortless sa kanya ang lumipad! pero alam ko, pinaghihirapan din niya ang bawat salita. at katulad ng paruparu, ay dumaan muna sa paghuhunos.

d. Ano ang ala-ala ni astrid na habang buhay mong dadalhin?

Naging malapit kami ni astrid noong panahong nangangapa ako at nagsisimula muli. di ko makalimutan na sinalo nya ako at nasa tabi ko siya kahit di namin pinag-uusapan (dahil noong una, ayaw kong pag-usapan). pero noong ready na ako, nagulat ako na maging siya, may pinagdadaanan din. at parang yin yang ang problema namin! Di ko rin makalimutan na nakatagpo ako ng katapat--mas makati pa ang paa ni astrid! kaladkarin naman ako kaya kung saan saan kami nakakarating. huling plano ay dapitan, kasi nasundan na niya sa europa ang trail ni rizal pero di pa niya nakikita ang dapitan. kaya pumunta ako sa dapitan (kakarating ko lang) at kasama ko ang alaala niya.

Ang kay Dang --
A. Ang paborito kong kuwento ni Astrid ay ang Flares and Remissions. Doon ko kasi mas nakilala si Astrid, kung ano ang totoong nasa loob niya, 'yung nararamdaman na hindi niya ipinapakita, 'yung tapang at lakas ng loob sa kabila ng karamdaman niya.

B. Metapora bilang manunulat? Naalala n'yo 'yung commercial ng energizer battery, 'yung rabbit. Sa'kin, 'yun si Astrid. Go ng go ng go ng go.

C. Ang nakatatak na sa isipan ko na ala-ala ni Astrid ay isang imahe. Doon sa dati kong apartment na naging tambayan niya minsan, may banig kami sa sahig malapit sa pinto. Naaalala ko siyang nakaupo doon, nakatanaw sa labas. Hindi niya napansin na nakatingin ako sa kanya. Pensive siya noon, malalim ang iniisip na hindi ko alam, may bahagyang lungkot sa mukha. 'Yun 'yung isa sa mga sandaling kung puwede ko lang balikan, babalikan ko at tatanungin ko siya, ano ang iniisip mo? Ano ang magagawa ko? Ano ang maitutulong ko? O kahit man lang sana tinabihan ko siya doon ng upo at sabay kaming mag-isip at magmuni-muni kung anuman 'yun.

Haha. Naalala ko lang na 'yung isang housemate ko, ginalaw ang sala namin, pinaikot-ikot ang puwesto ng mga gamit. Binalik ko lahat ulit sa dati dahil sabi ko doon ang puwesto ni Astrid, di puwedeng galawin.

Liwliwa Malabed: Books I Read When I was a Teenager

Liwliwa Malabed shares her reading list. Liwa is a friend from KUTING (Kwentista ng mga Tsikiting), the premiere organization of children's book writers in the Philippines. She is currently its Vice President. Busy with KUTING work, as the organization os scouting for new members and inking writing projects left and write, Liwa does freelance writing for TV, magazines and the likes.

1.The Hobbit - Tolkien
2. The Thief of Always/Imajica- Barker
3. Walk Two Moons- Creech
4. Hope for the flowers-Paulus
5. Calvin and Hobbes-Watterson
6. Wasted-Alanguilan
7. Kitchen-Yoshimoto
8. Dance dance dance- Murakami
9. Of Love and Other Demons- Márquez
10. Alchemist-Coelho
and of course, pugad baboy, agatha christie and sweet valley (haha)

Most are books my brother (Jong) lent me. Everytime my kuya comes home to Ilocos, he would bring me a book or two. Just so i'll stop reading Sweet Valley.

Batang Bayani Books Launched @ Museo Pambata

Last May 29, 2010, the Old Manila section of Museo Pambata was full of kids and grown ups who are kids at heart. It was the launching of the Batang Bayani Series, a book project by Museo Pambata and KUTING. The series has four stories: Song of the Ifugao by Agay C. Llanera; Hands that Bridge by Perpi Tiongson; Palette of Dreams by Liwa Malabed; and A Reader's Story by Bong Oris. Photographs were done by Jaime Unson. Carla Pacis and Augie Rivera lent their editing expertise. Daniel Tayona worked on the book design.

In a nutshell, the books tell about children and their heroic image. Despite limitations in resources and opportunities, they rise above these challenges to pursue their dreams and make a difference in the way they know how.


Nina Lim-Yuson, president of Museo Pambata proudly presented the four titles in the series. If not for the generosity of sponsors, the book series would not have seen publication. Nonetheless, Museo Pambata and KUTING are looking forward to the next batch of stories on kids and their heroic deeds.



Perpi Alipon-Tiongson signs as a storyteller from the Alitaptap Storytellers Philippines read excerpts from the books. Seated at the back are (L-R) Maricel Montero, Museo Pambata ED, Liwa Malabed, Bong Oris, Agay Llanera and Jaime Unson.



Percy Gapas of Alitaptap reads from Liwa Malabed's story, Pallete of Dreams where a young lad overcomes poverty to develop his talents in the visual arts. Apart from Percy and two more Alitaptap tellers, Tricia Mae Kitong, the twelve year old Hudhud chanter from Lagawe performed a stanza from the Ifugao epic. Her performance impressed everyone!



The books are a great read! I had tears in my eyes reading all four one after the other. Book reviews to follow!