National Children's Book Day is Children's Day

A friend from work, Mayen Lopez sent me a photo of a newspaper clipping from the Inquirer circa 2006. It is an article written by Neni Sta. Romana Cruz on the 2006 National Children's Book Day (NCBD). 

The article narrates the program of the NCBD that year as spearheded by the Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY). As far back as I can remember, children are always given the time to shine during NCBD. Back then, we had children perform songs, dances and storytelling presenttaions or excerpts from school musicals. Mayen's daughter, Amy Nayve beloned to a group of grade school students from St, Scholastica's College who perfomed an excerpt of the musical May Alaga Akong Puno at the NCBD that year. 

At the time, I was the librarian in Xavier School and nurturing a writing career with the help of friends and fellows in KUTING. Who would have thought that years later, Mayen and I would cross paths in the Beacon Academy without the knowledge of being at one place in one event years ago? The discovery of the article clipping is proof. This is history and it is not chismis. What a pleasant surprise!

Now here's the more amazing news. Amy Nayve is now all grown up and is a professional artist and paper engineer. I interviewed her in the blog. Read about her paper craft and paper engineering projects in School Librarian In Action.

Over the years, the PBBY has pursued the cause for literacy, development of children's books and the right of each and every child to read and have access to books and reading materials. One program to make this a reality is the Kids' Choice Award. Children read books that were published in a period of two years and they pick the best among the rest. 

This year, the PBBY in partenrship with the National Book Development Board (NBDB) will be awarding the Kids Choice Award and the National Children's Book Award on National Children's Book Day, Tuesday, July 19, 2022. 

I am excited to be this year's emcee and witness to the awarding of winners!

NCBD 2017 Aftershocks 2 of 2

The 1st Storytelling Festival

It's been two weeks since the celebration of the National Children's Book Day (NCBD) at the Cultural Center of the Philippines last July 18, 2017 and the 2nd Philippine Children's Book Summit (PCBS) at the GT Toyota Asian Center in UP Diliman last July 22, 2017. I wrote about these two events and NCBD related activities in the blog and you can read all about it in NCBD 2017 Aftershocks 1 of 2.

Friends from the industry who attended the PCBS also wrote about the event. ICYMI, here's a link to an article about Children's Literature in the regions published in Vera Files. The take off point is the panel on Children's Literature in the Regions where Padma Perez, Noel Galan De Leon and MJ "Xi Zuq" Tumamac were the resource speakers. Cebu writer and journalist, Cris Evert Lato-Ruffalo wrote about the PCBS, particularly the session on library development in Cebu Daily News Inquirer. National Book Development Board of the Philippines Chairperson, Neni Sta. Romana Cruz had an article in the Inquirer not only of the PCBS but also about children's literature events and activities in Davao and in San Francisco USA.

I wouldn't be surprised if in the following years, the NCBD will be celebrated in Iloilo, Baguio, Cagayan Valley, Cebu or General Santos City.

Happy students from La Huerta Elementary School

As the first week of August folds into a new one, I keep this wonderful thought that the Storytelling Festival during the PCBS had been a great success as well as the Illustrator's Fair. Kudos to the team of Ms. Anne Rosette Crelencia for conducting a book repair and mending workshop during the PCBS. Many teachers and librarians learned from their session.

To the 30 volunteers of the Storytelling Festival, teachers, librarians and reading advocates, I extend my appreciation to all your hard work! It would not have been a success if not for your selfless participation. You made many children happy! Even parents and teachers enjoyed the Festival too!

We sure did offer our child audience different storytelling techniques and varied stories that even the young at heart came out of the storytelling hall inspired and motivated to tell stories to their children. This, I think, is one way to gauge our impact to the adults who take care of kids and young people. I get news from some of the volunteers that the program and flow of the Storytelling Festival is being replicated in other learning communities in the metro. It only goes to show that our work is not over yet.

We take a long breather from all these, gather our strengths and reflect a bit. We shall look at ways to improve the Festival and definitely, we will see each other again next NCBD!

Teachers, librarians and reading advocates worked together to conduct the 1st Storytelling Festival.

Bumasa at Lumaya Blog Tour

I am inviting interested book bloggers to join in the Bumasa at Lumaya 2 Blog Tour. Feel free to download the letter of invitation. Comment on this post or send me an email/PM over at Messenger on your interest to join. I will send you collaterals, link to the registration form, a copy of the book and blog materials for the blog tour.

We will be needing ten book bloggers for the blog tour so it's a first come, first serve basis.

Super thanks to MJ "Xi Zuq" Tumamac who made the banner and collated all materials for the Bumasa at Lumaya Blog Tour. Thank you to Anvil Publishing for sending over 10 copies of the book for the book bloggers to read, review and enjoy.

This blog tour is in conjunction with the celebration of the 33rd National Children's Book Day. Bumasa at Lumaya 2 will be launched on July 23, 2016 during the National Chidlren's Book Day Book Fair in Xavier School. See you all, friends and reading advocates!

Read and Take Flight

This year’s NCBD theme is Bumasa at Lumaya (Read and Take Flight).

When we read books, we take flight. Our imagination is set free. Our sense of wonder soars. Our ability to play around and think outside the box is activated. When we read, we can look at another person’s place in the world and discover that our humanity is mirrored in them. Our world view expands and we realize, despite our color, culture and creed, that we are not any different from each other at all.

To drum up this theme, volunteers are encouraged to:

1. Post on their social media accounts (FB, Twitter, IG, Tumblr) photos of Filipino children’s books and/or Filipino YA books that

1. Have set their imagination free
2. Allowed their sense of wonder to soar
3. Moved them to take a proactive action for one’s self and others too
4. Encouraged and fostered play and recreation
5. Expanded their world views
6. Made them realize the importance of compassion, empathy and kindness
7. Made them proud of their culture: regional and national
8. Gave them an AHA moment (self knowledge or a solution to problems)

B. When posting, include the bibliographic data: title, author, illustrator, publisher, copyright

C. Set the posting this way:

Week 1 - This book sets my imagination free!

Title:

Author:

Illustrator:

Publisher:

Copyright year:

HASHTAGS to use:

#bumasaatlumaya

#ncbd2016

#PinoyLibrarian4PHkidslit

#GurongPinoy4PHKidsLit

#PHKidsLit

#PHYALit (if it is a YA book)    

       

D. Schedule of posts:

Week 1 - July 3 - 9: Books that set my imagination free and my sense of wonder to soar.

Week 2 - July 10 - 16: Books that moved me to take action, to be proactive and encouraged me to play and have fun.

Week 3 - July 17 - 23: Books that expanded my world view and stirred in me kindness, empathy and compassion.

Week 4 - July 24 - 30: Books that made me proud being Pinoy and books that gave me AHA moments

You may also blog about this, but be sure to connect or link to any of your social media accounts. Thanks and have fun!

Banner for blog post and social media postings:

The 28th National Children's Book Day

A Literacy Packed July

The National Children's Book Day (NCBD) celebration and the awarding of the National Chidlren's Book Awards (NCBA) last month are highlights for the reading and children's literature advocate. "Winners" are still in cloud nine. I can tell from their Facebook statuses. Among the 131 entries, only six were proclaimed as BEST READS. This only goes to show that there is still a big room for growth and development in the book production of the industry we call as Philippine Children's Literature. But I'm smiling a big one since it's a BIG one!

Apart from the NCBA and NCBD, other notable literacy events spiced up the busy month of July.

Candy Gourlay launched her book, Tall Story, at Powerbooks last July 21. Fans, family and friends were all present to celebrate the success of its publication abroad and in the country. I've read the book and it's a joy ride of laughter and tears. Will post a review soon.



Another writer launched a book too last month. Rica Bolipata-Santos, teacher and essayist, unraveled to her avid readers (I'm one of them!) Lost and Found, a new collection of essays, ruminations and reflections on parenting, motherhood and the mundane. Though I did not make it to the launch at the Ateneo De Manila University, she shared excerpts from the book when we met in a training workshop. It's a perfect gift for all my girl friends this Christmas!

In the art scene, Totet de Jesus opened his second one man exhibit at the Filipinas Heritage Library. News is that, nearly all of his art works were already sold! Congrats to Totet, Rica and Candy!



And of course, I conducted a series of workshops on Storytelling at De La Salle Taft, St. Theresa's College Quezon City and Miriam College. August has unfolded and yes, I still have a manuscript to finish. This early, my calendar is filling up but the book with Dianne de Las Casas must be done -- SOON!

NCBD 2010 Post Partum

I'm still high from the celebration of NCBD yetserday. Tarie Sabido did a great cover of the event. Read her blog! Thanks so much, Tarie! And then there's Teacher Jerson who didn't make it but he blogged about setting up NCBD activities in school. Galing! (Great!)


The PBBY Board (L-R Back row)Karina Bolasco; Zarah Gagatiga; Dr. Nina Lim-Yuson; Rayvi Sunico; Roseette Crelencia; Hermie Beltran (L-R Front row) Ani Almario; Dr. Luis Gatmaitan; Sally Labanda; Candy Gourlay (Guest Speaker); Emily Abrera; Totet de Jesus

The 2010 NCBD Fever

Invites have been sent to friends and affiliates of PBBY for this year's NCBD celebration. PaperTigers has run a blog post on this year's NCBD. Many thanks to Corrine Robson and the many dedicated individuals who make the core of Pacific Rim Voices. They continue to lend support in spreading the news, and the love, on Philippine Children's Literature.



At the home front, Tarie Sabido will be covering this year's NCBD and a host of blogger-writers too!

Celebrate National Children's Book Day (NCBD) 2010

On 20 July, 2010 PBBY will once again commence the celebration of National Children's Book Day. This year, we're awarding the Salanga to Raymond Falgui for his beautiful poetry and the Alacala to Aldy Aguirre for his dreamy and whimsical illustrations of Falgui's poems. Ms. Candy Gourlay, fresh from the successful publication of her Young Adult novel,Tall Story, in the UK, will deliver the keynote address. The opening of the Albert Gamos Retrospective and the presentation of published children's books and YA novels are part of this year's NCBD as well. Three days after, PBBY and the National Book Development Board (NBDB) will announce the Best Reads of 2008 and 2009 at the Mandarin Hotel in Makati.

The NCBD is a one day event that will transpire at the Museo Pambata (for 2010). This, however, does not stop schools, learning communities, libraries and families from celebrating NCBD. This July, a host of NCBD related activities can be organized by individuals and groups of people who love books and the children who read them.

Here is my top ten NCBD activities for schools and libraries:

1. Conduct storytelling sessions in the classrooms and in the library

2. Organize a Filipino book characters on parade

3. Invite a Filipino Author and/or Illustrator to speak to kids

4. Display winners of the Salanga and the Alcala winners in the library with their accompanying authors and illustrators. The PBBY website has the list of winners

5. Stage your own Best Reads by parents, teachers and students. Remember to focus on Filipino books for children and young adults

6. Drum up the theme by showcasing Filipino books that carry this year's slogan: Ang Nagbabasa Ng Libro Laging Panalo! (A Book Reader Is A Winner!)

7. Hold contests on story writing and illustrating. This can be a follow-up activity from the author and illustrator visit

8. Publish or display reviews of Filipino story books by students online or in the school paper

9. Invite parents, school officials, teachers and other members of the learning community to talk about books they grew up with

10. Read a Filipino children's book or YA novel.

The NCBD celebration is not exclusive to PBBY. Bring it to your schools and families. After all, we are all here to celebrate reading, books and the Filipino young reader.

2010 Alcala Prize Winner

Congratulations to Aldy Aguirre for winning this year's Alcala Prize! Aguirre rendered playful and whimsical illustrations for Raymond Falgui's poetry.

Zeus Bascon, Serge Bumatay III and Rommel Joson made it as honorable mention. See you at the NCBD 2010, Museo Pambata!

National Children's Book Day 2010

Buklat Bulilit 2009

Should you miss the week long book fair in Marikina City's Convention Center, you can catch it up at the TriNoma on July 29 - August 1.

The National Book Development Board (NBDB), Filipinas Heritage Library, and the Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY) invite kids and kids-at-heart to take part in Buklat Bulilit, a children’s book festival showcasing the best of Philippine children’s literature at the TriNoma Mall from July 29 to August 1.

Buklat Bulilit features a series of events that promote the love of reading and books among the young. Storytelling, cooking demos, book fairs, and mascot appearance await kids of all ages at the Cinema Lobby, 4th Level of the TriNoma in celebration of Children’s Book Month.

Buklat Bulilit is presented by Filipinas Heritage Library, Philippine Board on Books for Young People, National Book Development Board, and TriNoma, in partnership with Anvil Publishing, Adarna House, Jollibee, and Oishi.

Photos of the 26th NCBD

Thanks to Rayvi Sunico, PBBY Teasrurer, for sharing these NCBD photos he took with his very handsome camera. Where shall the 27th National Children's Book Day (NCBD) be?

And while guesses are ripe in the PBBY e-group as to where the next NCBD venue will be, in behalf of the PBBY officers and board members, I thank all the wonderful people of Marikina for joining hands with PBBY in launching and celebrating this year's NCBD. Next year, the Salanga Prize will be awarded to the best poetry, in English and in Filipino, written for the child reader.

Sulat na! Start writing!

NCBD @ The Podium

Storytellers Melody Remorca and JK Anicoche regale kids at The Podium with the story, Si Bolet Bulate. This activity is inline with the NCBD celebration.

Butch Dalisay @ National Chidlren's Book Day 2007

The National Children's Book Day was held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines yesterday, July 17, 2007. The usual ceremony of awarding the Salanga and Alcala prizes were, of course, the highlight of the day. New titles of books by eight publishing houses were presented to the interest and delight of the audience. There were more than twenty titles released and some will be launched in 2007, so people in the industry are happy about this continued, if not, rapid growth of children's book publishing today.

It was Butch Dalisay who graced the occasion. Sharing his reading experiences as a child, he attributed a well stocked library and a very good reading program to his life long love for books and reading.

He remembers with fondness, the Rizal Provincial Library, the public library that satiated his reading appetite. That library is still alive today and can be found in a relatively new building in Pasig City's local government area.

With books and reading, Mr. Dalisay saw a world that is bigger and grander than his own. This prompted him to know more, to learn more and to become more of the boy he used to be. He is continuously learning, even to this day when he has received all possible literary award in the country and overseas.

At the end of his speech, he encouraged schools and libraries for more reading contests other than talent and sports contest that seem to be all too popular to the growing Filipino child. For writers and publishers, stories that matter and help readers become better Filipinos. What exactly is "Filipino" means so much in this day and age. Indeed, this is a far greater challenge.

Reading Idols

As a way of celebrating National Children's Book Day on Tuesday, July 17, 2007, our GS LRC launched an activity that would promote and model the reading habit among our students. Dubbed as the READING IDOL, we would feature members of the school community and their reading habits.

The first to take center stage is none other than our school director, Fr. Johnny Go SJ. His reading habits and choice of reading materials are as dynamic as his personality. Read the full interview from our school website here.

The PBBY-Alcala Prize for 2007

Sergio Bumatay III won the PBBY-Alcala Prize for this year's winning Salanga piece, Tight Times by Jean Lee-Patindol.

The Alcala is awarded to the best illustrated story for children based on the Salanga Prize. Bumatay and Patindol will be granted cash and trophy this coming July 2007 during the celebration of the National Children's Book Day.