Sulataktakan Quotable Quotes

I promised to post about the recently concluded Sulataktakan: Conversations on Children's Literature forum of the PBBY at the MIBF 2011. Suffice it to say that the panelists, Maillin Paterno Locsin, Dr. Luis Gatmaitan, Rusell Molina, Jomike Tejido and Beth Parrocha Doctolero, were all fantastic that day. They were candid and smart; brutally honest but modest; witty and entertaining at the same time.

They shared their writing styles and thoughts about winning awards. It was Rusell Molina who said the most outrageous quote(see below).

Here are more quotable quotes from the forum:

"Kung sasali ka sa mga contest, siguraduhin mong may self-worth ka." (Your self-worth must be intact if you want to join writing contests.)
- Beth Parrocha Doctolero

"Push your ideas!"
- Rusell Molina

"Experiment."
- Jomike Tejido

"Stories are everywhere."
- Mailin Paterno Locsin

"Exercise your writing muscles."
- Dr. Luis Gatmaitan

The questions asked of the panelists escapes me now since their answers were all in big ideas I need to cut in pieces. Perhaps when the transcriber has finished with the work, then PBBY can share what fully transpired in the forum. Having said this, I end with an insight I gained from the forum. Writing is not an easy task. It takes a lot of thinking; a lot of time; a lot of love. If writing is a passion, pursue it then. Life may just give you what you deserve.

Mabuhay ang Panitikang Pambata!

My Second Day @ the MIBF 2011

Day 2 at the MIBF started with a brief guest appearance on air. Thanks to Dr. Luis Gatmaitan who pulled some strings at the 702 DZAS on-site radio booth, I was able to promote the PBBY forum scheduled that afternoon. Tita Carmen was a gracious host. It was not my first time on radio but she made the five minute chat enjoyable. From there on, Luis and I were companions until 2PM for the PBBY forum on Children's Literature.

At lunch, I met Blooey Singson of Something Blue. She gave me a big bag of books! It was her donation for my call on book donations last August. I still have yet to go over the donations and sort them out. Definitely, who ever receives them are lucky readers. The books are all in good condition. Thanks so much, Blooey!

An hour before 2PM, Luis and I headed to SMX Meeting Room 3 for the PBBY forum, Sulataktakan: Conversations on Children's Literature. Esteemed panelists that afternoon included Mailin Paterno Locsin, Dr. Luis Gatmaitan, Russell Molina, Jomike Tejido and Beth Parocha-Doctolero. Attendance was good. The panelists' input was excellent. KUTINGs and Ang INKies were present as well as friends and literacy advocates in the industry. For details of the forum, I will have to wait a few more days to flesh it out. I moderated the forum and I am still, star struck. Here are some photos from the even forum.

 

The PBBY Board: Totet de Jesus, Rayvi Sunico, Zarah Gagatiga, Ani Almario, Luis Gatmaitan and Neni SR Cruz

KUTINGs L-R Becky Bravo, MJ Tumamac, Augie Rivera, May Tobias-Papa, Heidi Abad, Zarah Gagatiga, Luis Gatmaitan, Lalaine Aquino and Jerson Capuyan

My First Day @ the MIBF 20 11

I went to the Manila International Book Fair (MIBF) last Friday (16 September) and Saturday (17 September). My first visit was job related. I dropped by the Anvil showroom to select exam copies of Filipiniana and foreign titles which they carry via Megatext. Then I was off to the Scholastic and Adarna booths.

At the Scholastic booth, I met John Kwong from the Book fairs department. He was so proud to invite me over at the Scholastic Warehouse in Pasig to visit their library showroom. Turns out that Scholastic Book Fairs is focusing on helping school libraries develop a reader friendly collection that offers fiction and non-fiction titles. This is something I would be interested to look at.

With Clifford at the Scholastic booth

I had my chance of meeting Clifford, the big red dog. Here in the photo, I was whisked back to my storytelling days for National Book Store. At the time, Scholastic did not operate on book fairs and educational trade. They were sole distributors of books to books stores in Manila. One promotional activity they had then was to celebrate book parties with Clifford, the Berenstain Bears, Arthur the aardvark and many more events that drummed up reading books as well. To this day, Clifford remains a favorite among preschool and primary grades readers.

Before leaving the Scholastic booth, I had a conversation with Joyce Bautista who was, at the time, organizing a web chat with Rachel Ward, author of the book, Numbers. The web chat is scheduled today at 4PM.

Finally, I had my picture taken with one of the staff dressed in space alien costume. I love her headband! I might come dressed in one some time in the future for spirit week in school Who knows?

When I came to the Adarna House to check their new titles, I was happily surprised to see Dr. Luis Gatmaitan making chit-chats with the staff. Familiar faces all! It's like meeting friends I've not seen in a long while.

This year, Adarna House has one new title and four reprints launched at the fair. Glenda Oris' Whuush!, Gatmaitan's Ang Ambisyosong Istetoskop, Almario's Si Hinlalaki and Rosa Albina and Desausido's Dalawang Dagang Bulag. Good titles indeed. But what piqued my interest is Adarna House's Wikahon. It's a reading inventory and skills development module for learners of the Filipino language. It's pretty impressive so I will devote one blog post about it next week. For the meantime, it is enough that a glimpse of this product is given to readers of the blog.

My day at the fair was also a day of meeting friends in the industry - Ed Marananan, Jay Menes, Portia Padilla, Nhyl Elada, Sam Cudiamat, Teacher Anding of Kumon, friends from World Book and Phoenix Educational Systems and some celebrities too like Dulce, the power house singer who has recently been active in the Christian renewal movement. It had been an exciting day at the fair!

Sulataktakan: Conversations on Children’s Literature