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

Behind the Scene at the Creative Reading Activities Workshop

Here are some wonderful stories I encountered during my week long stay in Naga City, CamSur for the Educo and Adarna House sponsored teacher training workshop.

Mr. Peralta proves himself a leader and mentor.

1. I met the teachers I had trained for the Sa Aklat Sisikat (SAS) Read-athon Teacher Training Workshop in Donsol, Sorsogon (2009) in the Creative Reading Activities Workshop (EDUCO and Adarna House). Mr. Arnold Peralta was then a principal in Donsol. He is now a district supervisor. He is still the same jolly guy I met six years ago who asked all the silly questions and joked through the Pinoy Henyo game we had. In this workshop, he proved himself a trooper once more. He worked with his groups mates, he created a mini-book with a partner, and read the story out loud for everyone to hear. In a short personal conversation I had with him, we both agree how transformational the SAS workshops were to his teachers. He was transferred to another school after the SAS workshop but he recognized and saw the impact it had on his teachers who attended the Gurong Kaakbay Conference in the Ateneo De Manila Univeristy in 2012. It was the last Gurong Kaakbay Conference.

With Teacher Irish of Donsol, Sorsogon

One of Mr. Peralta's teachers, Teacher Irish, who was also a SAS Workshop participant in Donsol, is now a master's degree holder. She has a specialization in Music Education. She completed her MA from the Bicol University. Her thesis is a compilation of Bicol and Donsol folk songs for children.

I met school leaders from Nabua, CamSur who know my grandaunt. This prompts me to think of visiting the region once again. This would mean planning a trip to may parents' provinces: Tuguegaro, Iriga and Nabua sooner and not later.

I let my hair down during the cultural night. Teacher Pam, Teacher Michelle and myself sang "Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko", with matching choreography. There is a video of this "amazing" number that brought the house down. As of writing, it is an exclusive property of Adarna House. Until Teacher Pam gives her consent to have it on public viewing, for now, a picture of us three will have to do.

Workshop facilitators by day, performers by night: Lower photo: L-R Lea S. Eugene Domingo and Jennylyn Mercado

Books Are Phenomenal

Last night, I was a guest resource person in Teacher Portia's class. The class, composed of twenty, more or less, graduate students studying Children's Literature are on the topic of book and literature evaluation. Much talked about were the award giving bodies locally and abroad. Together with Totet de Jesus (illustrator), Dr. Luis Gatmaitan (writer) and Michelle Agas (storyteller) we shared our ideas, insights and experiences in evaluating children's and young adult literature and books for them.

The indefatigable Totet de Jesus showed off his dummies and sketches, book samples and illustrator's portfolio. As always, it enthralled the listening audience. Luis shared the cross-overs that his works have covered so far. Meaning, from books, his stories has been translated into movies, plays and translated into Japanese and Thai. Duglit, Ang Dugong Makulit is now a Department of Health and DepEd material for health and hygiene lessons. Sandosenang Sapatos, his Palanca winning story, has been a staged in Valenzuela City for a play intended for families and children. The same storybook was translated into Thai and distributed in Singapore.

Since three of us from PBBY were present, talks of the NCBA, Salanga and Alcala Prizes were a plenty. Their questions focused on criteria for judging and basis for selecting and evaluating winners of such awards.

Of course, the Palanca Awards was just around the corner. There were suggestions from the class to come up with a set criteria for the Palancas similar to what the Newberry has done. First of, the Newberry is an award given by the American Library Association. In the spirit of transparency and equal access to information, librarians will and should make information public and accessible. Such is not the case for the literati who treats the judging of a manuscript as a work of art. Art is subjective. It's boundaries and limitations vary from one expert to another.

Before the night closed, Michelle Agas regalled everyone with her winning rendition of The Lazy Bug by Lina Diaz de Rivera. I hope that this happens again as I enjoy talking about literature for children and young adult to kindred spirits. My parting shot for the night, libraries are part of the book phenomenon among its writer, illustrator, publisher and reader. A librarian's role as a reading promoter must evolved into a reading advocacy, offering to readers a diverse and balanced book selection.

Happy International Literacy Day!