Salaysayan 2018: A Reading Aloud and Storytelling Festival Post Script

These librarians performed The Old Taylor in Readers' Theatre 

The 2018 Salaysayan Reading Aloud and Storytelling Festival came to pass at the Museo Pambata last July 29, 2018 after being postponed due to bad weather last July 18, 2018.

There are really moments when all you needed to do is to trust the divine forces of the universe to put things in place. What I feared to be a Salaysayan of poor attendance turned out as the opposite!

Museo Pambata came in full support, as well as the storytellers who volunteered. Rey Bufi, Melai Ramirez and the National Library of the Philippines' Storytelling and Puppetry Troupe, Kuya Rich, Teacher Psalm, Teacher Mars and the UP Diliman Librarians of the Filipiniana Department headed by Roel Randilla, thank you to all of you for sharing your time and takents! You made 100 plus kids happier with your stories. To Teacher Motie Andal, we hope to have you again next time for a more intensive workshop on books, reading and supporting teachers and parents in their journey as literacy teachers to their kids in school and at home.

Our local book publishers didn't sell as much, but I thank you for ever supporting PBBY in all its endeavours!

Dear friends in the profession, Audrey Anday and Darrel Marco, with Eleanor Llave coming in as a surprise volunteer, your presence and friendship weigh more precious than gold. The PBBY ladies, Tarie Sabido, Fran Ong and Ani Almario who were with me from start to finish of the Salaysayan.

We can always do better next year!

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