My 2016 In Retrospect: My Life as A Storyteller

One of the amazing things that happened to me last year was the recognition and appreciation I received from peers in the culture and the arts. Museo Pambata included my work and the advocacy I do on literacy development and reading in the Paglaki Ko Room: Gusto Ko Maging Kuwentista. I owe it to Museo Pambata since they gave me the opportunity to be a storyteller. I started out as a volunteer storyteller in their afternoon storytelling sessions back in the 90s. Padayon!

Here is a bit of history about the building of the Paglaki Ko Room told in blog links:

Letter of Invitation: Paglaki ko, gusto ko maging kuwentista - It was in August 2015 when I got the letter from Museo Pambata. Of course, I was shocked first. Then, elated. The reality that I am old hit me last.

The Ang Paglaki Ko Room in Museo Pambata - The Kuwentista Room is part of the Ang Paglaki Ko Exhibit that showcases the writing, illustrating and telling of stories to children and the young at heart. Visit the room in Museo Pambata! It is an interactive room where kids can actually write, draw, listen and view recorded videos of storytellers. It is so cool!

Kuwentista Room Launching Day - Here's how we celebrated the launching of the Kuwentista Room. All storytellers featured in the exhibit told stories, live!

There was a time when I thought of giving up on telling stories. But, Philip Pullman reminded me that stories and storytelling are the things we need most in the world.

Museo Pambata News: Launch of the Paglaki Ko, Gusto Ko Maging Kuwentista Room

Kuya Jay plays the flute to start us off in storytelling.

Last July 26, 2016, Museo Pambata launched a new exhibit room that completes and complements its literacy and creative development advocacy among children and the young at heart. The Paglaki Ko, Gusto Ko Maging Kuwentista Room was finally unveiled after a year of fundraising, grant seeking, designing the area and planning of activities for it to come alive. Thanks to the ever hopeful and persistent President of Museo Pambata, Nina Lim-Yuson, who did not give up on seeing this exhibit into existence. Her team of intrepid young dreamers followed through: Maricel "Mamu" Montero, Noreen "Tich" Parafina, Conrad Raquel and the rest of the Museo Pambata Museum Guides worked hard to make the room an accessible and attractive feature of the Paglaki Ko Room.

With the launch of the storytelling area, children will know the many uses of language and why books, have an interesting role in creative play and imagination. Writers write stories. Illustrators draw the visuals to shape the narrative into palpable possibilities that lead to the understanding of the stories. Storytellers open up avenues of exploring these two art forms further on. The cycle of creative production comes full circle and the promise of new creative pursuits begins.

Melay Ramirez Abad participates in the storytelling with gusto!

I am honored and humbled to be a part of the six storytellers featured in the exhibit. My work as a school librarian has extended beyond the four walls of the library and into places where more children can access, not just books and stories, but opportunities to dream, to wonder and to take flight. It takes a village to raise a child and greater determination to see them become creative and productive citizens of the world.

L-R: Tich Noreen, Mamu Montero, JK Anicoche, Rey Bufi, Charlot Cachuela,
Teacher Mars, Kuya Bodjie, me and Nina Lim-Yuson

Visit Museo Pambata! Let your children imagine, play and wonder! Bring out the inner child in you!

Paglaki Ko, Gusto Ko Maging Kwentista Room in Museo Pambata

A week ago, I received an email from Museo Pambata President, Nina Lim Yuson, informing me that the Paglaki Ko, Gusto Ko Maging Kuwentista Room will soon be open to the public. Here's a snippet of Ms. Yuson's letter that really made my day.

Museo Pambata is very happy and excited to finally launch/open the exhibit on the Storyteller or Kwentista. This will be on July 26, Tuesday at 2 pm in the Career Options/Paglaki Ko Gusto Kong Maging..theme room at Museo Pambata.

This interactive area was designed by Conrad Raquel in collaboration with Museo Pambata's Exhibit Department.

All six of you were chosen for your love for storytelling, children and books. We hope to inspire kids and adults to be good storytellers, like you through the exhibits.

In a previous post, I wrote about being chosen as one of the storytellers who is featured in the exhibit. It was in August 2015 when I received the letter.  Apart from myself, the featured storytellers are: Kuya Rey Bufi, JK Anicoche, Mars Mercado, Charlot Cachuela and Kuya Bodjie Pascua.

Despite challenges in funding, Museo Pambata was able to successfully push the project through. They are amazing! Talk about tenacity and commitment!

Here now is the e-invite of the launch. Consider it as my invitation to you! If you are not free to join us, then visit Museo Pambata when you are free or when you are in Manila.