The Creation and Production of Mother Tongue Books

One of my friends in the publishing industry has taken interest on the Bulilit Books-Project LEARN Series. I have these questions answered as requested. Sharing it here in the blog, because, sharing is caring!

1. Could you tell me more about the NCPPC? What prompted them to revive this series in Filipino and translate them into Cebuano and Hiligaynon? 

The NCPPC is a foundation and has two main thrusts: nutrition and health education. For more than four decades, they have been publishing materials and teaching resources to help parents, teachers, daycare workers and social workers in the nutrition and health education of children. They have bread products too that are packed with micronutrients. They have adopted public schools in Luzon and Visayas. While feeding kids age 3 - 10 years old, they provide training and instruction on good nutrition, health and hygiene to parents, teachers and community workers (daycare and social workers). In conducting the training, they have modules, reading materials and resources designed and published by their teams, staff and commissioned professionals.

Because health and well being is developmental and systemic, they thought of reviving the Bulilit Books, circa 1976-1982, to address the mental, moral/ethical and values development of children. Thus, they planned PROJECT LEARN.

PROJECT LEARN is a project that is aimed at creating books for k-3 learners addressing reading skills and comprehension development and the MTB MLE program of the DepEd. It has three phases: research and development; writing, editing and revising; and post-production.

The adopted or recipient schools of NCPPC were the first to acquire the books as part of the foundation's programs on good nutrition and health education. They are also selling the books in different markets.

2. How are they being distributed? Retail? Government purchases and donations? School adoption?

The adopted or recipient schools of NCPPC were the first to acquire the books as part of the foundation's programs on good nutrition and health education. They are also selling the books in different markets.

3. Now that the books have been produced, what challenges do you face in terms of sales and distribution?

NCPPC does not have a marketing team that sells in the open market like Lampara. Since it is a foundation, they have limited budget for this kind of distribution. The most that they can do is to have DepEd approve the books as supplementary materials so that schools, public and private alike, can buy them. News is, the Bulilit Books-Project LEARN Series is on the second review by the DepEd. Hopefully, it gets approved!

Librarian Authors at the 9th PILF

And so it came to pass. 

The 9th Philippine International Literary Festival commenced last Apri 19 and ended on April 20, 2018. Held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, AUTHORities, was well attended by Filipinos from all walks of life and from different members of the book industry. From tne literati to the academics, teachers to students, aspiring authors and veterans, art enthusiasts to the curious, book nerds and gamers, the Natioal Book Development Board and the Cultural Center of the Philippines deserved praise and congratulations. It was no mean feat! A fitting celebration to Buwan ng Panitikan.

As for me, it was one memorable literary event because, as a librarian I was there to present a book project with friends, Darrel Marco and MJ Cagumbay Tumamac. I also ran a workshop on storytelling at the Little Theatre. That’s a first for me and a tick of my bucket list.

There were interesting coversations about book history after our panel presentation especially from the wonderful ladies at Ilaw ng Tahanan Books. Dr. Ina Castro, Vice President of the Nutrition Center of the Philippines came to support us too. Librarian friends, Audrey Anday and Ann Grace Bansig, had fun attending talks and watched a movie at the Festival. But most of all, they were present at our panel to cheer us on.

I hope that we have inspired more librarians to write, not just books about Library and Information Science, but also explore allied topics and subject related to the discipline. 

Full Paper: Project LEARN Revisiting History and Creating New Narratives for Young Filipino Readers

Revisiting History and Creating Narratives for Young Filipino Readers from Zarah Gagatiga

PPT: Project LEARN @ the 7th Rizal Library International Conference

Project LEARN @ the 7thRILC from Zarah Gagatiga

Joining Rizal Library's 50th Next Month

November 16-18, 2017 is the 7th Rizal Library International Conference. This year, I am presenting a paper I co-wrote with Darrel Marco and MJ "Xi Zuq" Tumamac. Our paper, “Project LEARN: Revisiting History and Creating New Narratives for Young Filipino Readers” has been accepted for presentation under the sub-theme “Culture and History: Philippine Studies and Libraries, Jose Rizal and Libraries, Evolution of Cultures in Literary Texts, Reading Customs and Practices”.

Below is the abstract:

Project LEARN: Revisiting History and Creating New Narratives for Young Filipino Readers

This paper describes the creative process that went through in revising a thirty-year-old series of illustrated children’s books by the Nutrition Council of the Philippines Publishing Corporation (NCPPC), the Bulilit Books. It is a series of books written in English and in Filipino for children age 0 - 12. The series tackles issues and concepts on physical and mental development, home and family life, art and culture, including stories from Philippine folklore and mythology.

The revision project is named Project LEARN: Linguahe ni Juan Para sa Kabataan and has three phases: (1) research and development; (2) production stage; and (3) post production, publishing, distribution, and marketing of the books. The project is already in stage 3 having published all three titles in Filipino, Cebuano and Hiligaynon in July 2017. Plans for distribution and marketing strategies are on-going.

The goal of the Bulilit Books was to improve the health and well-being of the child, however, the language use, prevailing political thought and socio-cultural climate of the 70s were evident in the stories. To simply reprint the originals would prove out of context for the young readers of the 21st century. Significant revisions include changing some elements of the story to create a narrative that is relevant to the experience of the new target readers; adding a guide for teachers and parents that address pedagogical methods; updating the language register and orthography and translating into other languages to cater to a larger audience of parents, educators, and learning communities; and providing new illustrations and design to reflect new trends and methods in illustrating and producing books for children.

Authors: Zarah C. Gagatiga, Darrel Marco, Michael Jude Tumamac

Topics: Culture and History: evolution of cultures in literary texts; reading customs and practices

 

 

Author of the Month: Darrel Manuel Marco

Telling stories! Reading aloud! Doing what he loves!

The blog's Author of the Month is Darrel Marco. He is a librarian, storyteller, reading advocate and an adventure-seeker. He goes around the country to tell stories and spread the love of reading. He also has presented papers about libraries and children's literature in Finland and Japan. A lover of life, long adventures and literacy!

The three books in the Bulilit Books series are his first books to be published by the Nutrition Council of the Philippines Publishing Corporation (NCPPC). I am proud to have worked with him on this project. I wouldn't be surprised if one day, we get to see more books from Darrel!

1. Describe the experience of writing your first books

I have been told a million times that it is hard to write children's books. 'Children's stories are more challenging because you have to think of the appropriate language!' 'You always have to consider the contexts of your readers, especially if they're children, it's hard to write stories with sensitive topics.' Thru writing Bulilit Books, my first-ever books soon to be published and read by many, it is true. Writing children's books, or any book, or writing in general are never a walk in the park.

When I was invited to become one of the writers for Bulilit Books, I immediately threw in my blue chip and shouted "I'M IN!" without considering the odds. After all, I have big trust in my writing team, who mostly have experience in writing children's stories (both have won writing awards). Joining a writing team proved to have advantages -- two heads are better than one (!!!) -- and that much of brilliant grey matters give birth to a lot of ideas. Now this is where collaboration, teamwork, and compromise come into play. I appreciate the open communication between our team -- from the storyboards, to the illustrator's studies, revisions back-and-forth, back-and-forth, back-and-forth, and I learned to love Google docs, where we got to collaborate and share ideas.

Darrel in his element: sun, sand and sea!

My favorite part in the whole process got to be the Kid Test. I am not new to the world of children's literature as I have been a librarian and storyteller for a time now, but during this part of the writing process, I took a step back and used my writer's point-of-view. It was a big realization for me that the kids are very critical of what they hear and what they read. They are also very particular with details up to the smallest dot and a misplaced pot. Kids can really tell and they tell it to you bluntly, point-blank without batting an eyelash, nary a smile. Alongside these comments from the kids are the feedback and reviews from the many focus group discussions we have conducted with the teachers and other stakeholders. Indeed, it was a walk in the park. THE. JURASSIC. PARK. But all of those deemed to be very helpful in all our revisions and notes for future projects. After all, it is when we make mistakes that we truly learn [thru feedback, mentoring and constructive criticism, of course.]

As a storyteller, I am used to telling stories from books made by different writers. This time I believe as a writer, it is my stories that will tell who I am.

2. Where do you draw inspiration in writing stories?

It is always the innocent look in a kid's eyes whenever they hear me tell stories that continues to inspire me to tell and eventually write my own stories. Stories are magic. It's the ooohs and aaaahs, the laughter and sadness, the excitement in a kid's eyes that tell me -- Yeah! Push! Go Go Go Para sa Bayan! It is also our vision to inspire more Filipinos, children and adults alike, to read and love reading, and eventually, to write their own stories. Each of us has a story to tell, and these stories can conjure magic. Magic that can teach us compassion, empathy, and love (always!)

 Bulilit Books 2017

3. What are you most excited about the Bulilit Books?

How our kid partners from the Kid Test will react when we show them the before and after of the books. Plus the fact that it will be read and told in Hiligaynon and Cebuano! How exciting!

4. Five books that inspired you to become a writer

I'll make this short:

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman - I was Bod, lost and did not know where to belong until I found a family.

The Percy Jackson series! by Rick Riordan - I would love to write a Filipino version of this

Oh The Places You'll Go! (or everything) by Dr. Seuss - play with words! The Filipino language has a lot!

Love you forever by Robert Munsch - heartwarming and heart-wrenching

Sandosenang Sapatos / Papel de Liha - books where Filipino traits are being highlighted

Illustrator of the Month: Tinsley Garanchon

The blog's Illustrator of the Month is Tinsley Garanchon. She is the illustrator of our upcoming books, the Bulilit Books, published by the Nutrition Council of the Philippines Publishing Corporation (NCPPC). 

1. How did you approach the illustrations for the Bulilit Books?

Since these are revised versions, the challenge was to create a modern approach yet retain something familiar to all the readers, local touches such as landscapes and interiors. Also, keeping the art in continuity. Timeless in a way.

2. What medium are you most comfortable using when illustrating books for kids?

Digital. If given an opportunity for art’s sake, I'd like to try traditional sometime.

3. As an Inkie, how does the organization help you grow as artist and as a person?

The profession of an illustrator leads you towards a solitary lifestyle but there are times, it's also helpful to have a set of like minds who share the same dreams and goals that can help and support you.

The organization’s direction is to keep this presence known that there is a group gearing towards the progress of children's book illustrators in the local and international scene.

4. Five art works that inspired you to illustrate for kids.

  

Nila Aye

An illustrator, hailing from the UK. Nila is the epitome of  retro.  Her bright, graphic illustrations which appear in various magazine and publications gives a nod to colorful, retro works.

 

Lorelay Bove

Found her works by chance online. Not only she works in the animation industry, she also worked with book illustrations where I was drawn into her works. Bright, colorful, flat and retro.

She also has an interesting background story. Lorelay comes from Spain, her dream was to work in Disney Animation and guess what, she did! Her personal story also inspired me to believe.

 

Neysa Bove

Her works have some similarities with her sister, Lorelay. But what draws the line to distinguish hers is the focal point of her works is the character in the artwork which has a feminine and more whimsical approach to it.

 

Dric

Found an illustration of Dric’s in an art book which featured illustrators from South Korea, China and Japan. What had me look up to his work was his choice of colors and before, I wasn’t as adventurous in exploring various palettes from vivid hues or pastel tones. Unlike now, I would try to try different color combinations and  see how would it set a tone for an illustration.

 

Mary Blair

As a child, I had childrens’ books from Disney. When I got older I was able to learn more about this one illustrator that stood out as an influence. Mary Blair did a lot of visual development during the earlier years of Disney films, she also designed the look of an amusement ride in Disneyland which we know as Small World aside from taking in other illustration jobs in publishing and advertising.

Websites of Artists and Sources of Images:

Nila Aye - http://www.nilaaye.com/#/brownlow/
Lorelay Bove - http://www.lorelaybove.com/
Neysa Bove - http://neysabove.blogspot.com/
Dric - https://www.instagram.com/dric/
Mary Blair - http://magicofmaryblair.com/maryscorner

Update on Book Project: Bulilit Books 2017

I posted on the blog last April 2017 a slide presentation on a new book project with the Nutrition Center of the Philippines Publishing Corporation (NCPPC). Click the link to recall and view the cover pages again.

The project, dubbed by NCPPC as Project LEARN, is aimed at rewriting and revising the Bulilit Books, a series of books for children and their parents, that were published back in the late 70s and early 80s. There are more than a dozen books in the series that cover themes of good nutrition, Filipino values, arts, culture and history. For this installment, three books from the series were picked for revision, namely: Beybi Bibe; Miyawing Kuting; and Magbilang Tayo. 

Three things make this book project special.

1. The new series include books translated in Cebuano and Hilgaynon by the award winning author, MJ "Xi Zuq" Tumamac.

2. All three books went through a process of research and development, consultations and Focused Group Discussions with readers and the intended audience of the series. That is why, there are activities included in each book for teachers and parents. These activities are applicable to the classroom setting and homeschooling learning experiences.

3. The new series is a collaborative effort by the creative team of writers, illustrator and NCPPC. Working with Darrel Marco on this book project has been a delight as he lent new perspectives to the revision process.  NCPPC has been very supportive of the project too. Respecting our creative and artistic freedom and trusting our working styles for the success of the project. Tinsley Garanchon is the illustrator of this installment of the series.

As lead of the creative team, I have seen the proofs and the dummy books. Beautiful! They are off to the printer now and we hope to see the books launched in July. And personally, I hope the children we wrote it for would love the books as much as we put our love into making it.

Book Preview: Bulilit Books 2017

Book Preview: Bulilit Books 2017 from Zarah Gagatiga