2020 NCBD Activities

Rhandee Garlitos on LGBTQIA+ Stories for Children

May panayam ang blog kay Rhandee Garlitos, manunulat, makata at bonggang-bonggang nilalang tungkol sa panitikan para sa kabtaan na may tenant LGBTQA+.

1. Kamusta ang reception at readership ng LGBTQ book mo na Bonggang-bonggang Batang Beki? 

Since it was first published in 2013, it has made milestones in both children’s book publishing and in LGBTQIA+-friendly books.  As the very first Southeast Asian children’s picture book to discuss about sexual orientation and gender identity and expression (SOGIE) way before the term was even invented, it blazed the trail for other SOGIE books in the Philippines to be published and read by a wider audience of not only children but also grown-ups who now recognize what used to be a “taboo” topic that is too unsafe to be published in a country that has strong religious traditions and its prevailing biases or homophobia. 

2. Sa observation mo, ano ang status ng LGBTQ stories for children sa context at environment natin? Excluding provinces and rural areas.

Unti-unti nang namumulat ang ating mga mambabasa na may ganitong klaseng babasahin o mga aklat na maaari na ring basahin o ipabasa sa mga bata.  This would not have happened a few years ago. It also pays that the Internet, social media and mass media like TV and newspapers/news websites now feature LGBTQ stories and experiences.  One aspect that has become mainstream are stories like boys’ love dramas in very recent times or the Batang Poz series that tackle HIV-positive teenagers. Hindi na lamang ito para sa mga mambabasa sa  highly-urbanized areas kundi maging sa mga rural areas.

Of course, may initial shock ito noong unang lumabas. May iba na nagsasabing hindi ito inaakala given the situation of those times. May nagsasabi ring di dapat lumabas ito dahil it would encourage children to become gay, etc. o na hindi pa handa ang audiences sa ganitong mga paksa.  Still, a good majority welcomed the book because they thought it is time for children to get exposed to this kind of literature with proper guidance from the adults that rear them.

Hindi pa rin mawawala ang homophobia sa panahon ngayon at dapat nating gawin ang lahat para tuluyan itong mawala. Maganda siguro na ang lipunan, sa pamumuno ng mga religious institutions, ay maipaunawa na bahagi ng ating komunidad ang mga miyembro ng LGBTQIA+ community. 

3. Ano-ano pa ang dapat gawin ng book industry para mabigyan ng boses ang mas maraming authors and illustrators na gustong lumikha ng mga LGBTQ stories for kids? 

Simple lang – mag-publish lang nang mag-publish hanggang may magagandang mga kuwento na may ganitong paksa. Mas maging open-minded ang mga publisher at editor sa paglathala ng ganitong mga kuwento. Also, makakatulong din kung mas maraming independent presses hindi lamang sa Manila kundi maging sa iba’t ibang lugar sa bansa na maglalakas ng loob na maglathala. Maganda rin kung may mga kuwentong nasusulat sa iba’t ibang wika sa Filipinas. 

Ang kuwento ng kasarian at kalayaang maipahayag sa mundo ang ninanais ng kanilang puso ay hindi lamang personal; ito rin ay kuwento ng mundong ating ginagalawan. Bawat miyembro ng LGBTQIA+ ay ating kapamilya, kaibigan, katrabaho, kapanalig, katuwang sa lipunan.

4. Your top 5 LGBTQ stories for kids

   In no particular ranking or order:

a.    Dalawa ang Daddy ni Billy (Tahanan Books, 2018), written by Michael P. De Guzman and illustrated by Daniel Palma Tayona

b.    Ang Ikaklit sa Aming Hardin (Publikasyong Twamkittens, 2012), written by Bernadette Neri and illustrated by CJ de Silva

c.    Mga Batang POZ (Lampara Books, 2018), written by Segundo Matias Jr.

d.    My Princess Boy (Simon and Schuster, 2009), written by Cheryl Kilodavis and illustrated by Suzanne DeSimone 

e.    Sanctuary (Scribner Books, 1997), written by Paul Monette

PBBY Forum 2020: The Creative Life

2020 Call for Entries : the PBBY Chapter Book Prize

The Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY) is now accepting entries for the 2020 PBBY-Salanga Chapter Book Prize. The winner shall be given a cash prize of P25,000.00, a gold medal, and an opportunity to be published. Prizes will be awarded in an appropriate ceremony to be held during the celebration of National Children’s Book Day on July 21, 2020.

DEADLINE: Entries must be received by the PBBY Secretariat and time-stamped no later than 5:00 p.m. on November 8, 2019.

The contest rules are as follows:

1. Open to all Filipino citizens, as well as non-Filipino residents with dual citizenship, except those who are related to any PBBY member up to the third degree of consanguinity. For foreigners, they must have spent at least six months (can be accumulated) in the Philippines for the past six (6) years.

2. Stories should be intended for children aged 8–12, with not less than 15,000 words and not more than 30,000 words.

3. Entries may be in English or Filipino.

4. Plot may be anything that relates to a Filipino child’s experience.

5. Entries must be in hard copy, 1.5 space, Times New Roman 12 with 1-inch margins on short bond paper. 

6. On a separate sheet, contestant must identify the target grade level, number of words, and the synopsis of the story.  Contestant may also include suggestions to teachers for enrichment activities.

7. A contestant may send in more than one (1) entry.

8. Each entry must be signed by a pen name only. Five (5) copies of each entry should be placed in an envelope, on the face of which only the pen name of the contestant should appear.

9. Together with each entry, contestants must submit a second envelope, on the face of which the pen name shall appear. This must contain the contestant’s full name, address, contact numbers, a short literary background, and a notarized certification from the author, vouching for the originality of the entry and for the freedom of the organizers from any liability arising from the infringement of copyright in case of publication, and affirming that the entry or any variant thereof has (a) never been published nor (b) won any other contest i.e. that it has never won 1st, 2nd, 3rd, honorable mention in any other contest or otherwise been awarded a medal, a citation, or included in a publicized list of meritorious entries to a literary contest.

10. All entries must be sent through snail mail or personally dropped off at the PBBY Secretariat, c/o Adarna House, Inc., Scout Torillo cor. Scout Fernandez Sts., Barangay Sacred Heart, Quezon City.

11. All entries must be received by the PBBY Secretariat no later than 5:00 p.m., November 8, 2019.

12. Winners will be announced no later than November 29, 2019. Non-winning entries will be disposed of by the PBBY Secretariat.

Grand prize and honorable mention winners shall be subject to a bidding process to be facilitated by PBBY, to determine which publisher/s will publish their winning stories.

The winning story will be the basis for the 2020 PBBY-Alcala Prize.

For more details, interested parties may contact the Philippine Board on Books for Young People, at (02) 8352 6765 local 203 or email pbby@adarna.com.ph.

MIBF 2019 Moments

And so the 40th Manila International Book Fair came to pass. My new book didn’t make it to the launching date because of constraints in the printing schedule but I had fun nonetheless. I went there as a reader and storyteller.

I  cued in line for Trese 7. Picked up books for young adult and intermediate readers at Adarna House. Bought books for the library at the Ateneo de Manila University Press and UP Press booths. Bumped into old friends in the book industry and for the first time, heard mass in SMX. I met new authors in Kahel Press and chatted for a bit with their staff. As of writing, they are going through issues of infringement but Ruth “Wowie” Catabijan is making sure they learn from the mistake.

I judged the Lampara Batang Kuwentista Storytelling Contest. How can I say no to my publisher? All the while, Jun Matias and I have identified gaps in the children’s book publishing industry. Needless to say, he and I have more book projects to do!

Recommended Reads: My List of Must Have Children's Books at the MIBF 2019 (Batch 2 of 4)

The Manila Intetnational Book Fair 2019 will open and welcome readers of all ages from all walks of life next week, September 11, 2019. For the next five days, the SMX in Pasay City will host and witness once again the crowds and hoards of people who are eager buyers of books and fans of authors, artists and content creators. MIBF, here we come!

I have my own list of books to buy and booths to visit, of course. I mean to share them with you here in the blog. In August, I posted a list of 

MIBF Must Have Children’s Books. In the next days leading to the MIBF, I will post on the blog my recommendations for parents, teachers, librarians and young readers. So, here we go.

Mang Adong’s Jeepney by Tippy Kintanar; illustrated by Jose Maria Tristan V. Yuvienco. Published by Bookmark, 2018.

A couple of years ago, the news about the Jeepney Phase out disturbed many Filipino commuters, jeepney operators and drivers. The issue affected individuals and communities who own and run jeepney transport businesses as well as, the national consciousness. The jeepney is a symbol of Filipino identity, history and culture. Removing the jeepneys from the streets is like ceasing to be Filipino. 

In Mang Adong’s Jeepney, Kintanar helps us remember the humble beginnings of Salvador Sarao, the man who dared innovate the jeep. This is a story of  a man who changed the transport business and innovated the technology to build one. Man — and woman, love their machines because it is an object of creative expression. The book is part of Bookmark’s Modern Day Heroes series.

Marami Land of the Brave written by Melissa Salva; translated into Maranan by Lawambae Basaula-Lumna; illustrated by Kathleen Sareena Dagum. Bookmark, 2018.

This book is part of the Marawi Book Series, a project of the Gift of Reading Project of the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) The goal of the project is to use literature that  heals  and inspires children and  young people who were survivors of the 2017 Marawi conflict. The Bookmark collaborated with PBSP and the Department of Education Marawi to publish the books. 

The author, Melissa Salva, makes use of folk stories and legends that amplify the bravery of the Marawi people. A young boy narrates the stories to his younger brother with hope and belief, that the legacy of the heroes of the Maranao legends live on in the heart and soul of their people. Dagum’s watercolors evoke nostalgia and in some pages, render a tender picture of the loss the boys experienced. I cannot help but take pity on the child narrator and ask myself, what can I do? What can I do to help?

Lakay Billy: Defender of Indigenuos People by Luz B. Maranan; illustrated by Duday Ysabel Maranan. Bookmark, 2018. 

August 9 is Indigenous Peoples Day. This book, Lakay Billy, is a fitting read to celebrate the diversity and uniqueness of Philippine indigenous groups. Maranan narrates the life of William Funa-ay Claver, lawyer and elected Igorot delegate to the 1971 Constitutional Convention and his fight for representation and human rights. A year after, Martial Law was declared. Lakay Billy’s battle becomes more relevant to read and think about in this time and day when fascism and authoritarianism resurges.

Theses are all for now. I will be posting batch 3 of my MIBF Must Haves any day this week. Read and grow, everyone! 

When Books Bring People Together

I often say, and I write it here in the blog, that books bring people together. This has become my mantra. It was up in our library’s bulletin board last year latched on the themes of inclusivity and diversity. 

This weekend, the mantra became real to me as one of my friends in PASLI (Philippine Association of School Librarians) Alma Singian, sent me a photo of a book by Jesl Xena Rae Cruz,  Ang Mata ni Migoy (Adarna House 2018) with a dedication meant for me. Here is the photo which Alma sent via Messenger.

I was touched, of course. I did not realize that another person would remember me in such ways. And to be given a book for free is a pleasant surprise, indeed!

Jesl Cruz and I worked in the Early Education Department (EED) of Xavier School in the early 2000s. I was the librarian in the department and she was one of the Nursery teachers. A book lover, she frequented the library asking and requesting for books to put in the reading corner of her classroom. This kind of teacher is a librarian’s natural ally. We were graduate students in the same university then. Her teachers were my teachers. Apparently, life has something else planned for Teacher Jesl that she left Xavier School. I had my turn in 2009.

But we meet again! Not in person but through books and within a community of readers and book lovers. 

Let’s all keep the book love alive!

Gabriela Lee, Salanga Prize Winner 2019 (2 of 2)

Gabriela Lee, Salanga Prize Winner 2019, reveals to us her five favorite children’s books, what makes them special and the story she wished she had written. 

4. What are your Top 5 children’s books? What makes them special?

Sarimanok and Ibong Adarna by Nick Joaquin

- This book was part of the set Pop Stories for Groovy Kids that was published by Mr. & Mrs. in the 1970s. They are fantastic big books with amazing illustrations and crazy stories written by our National Artist for Literature. In particular, this story was a retelling and reinvention of “Ang Ibong Adarna” but updated for a modern audience, and I loved that both protagonists were girls who were impetuous and brave and adventurous. 

I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen

- I am a big, big fan of Jon Klassen but this is my favorite book in The Hat Trilogy. The pacing is hilarious and the ending is both macabre but at the same time it just kills you with laughter.

Leo the Late Bloomer by Jose Aruego

- This is another book that came out in the 1980s, I think, and I remember reading this and thinking that I am like Leo, that I liked observing things and thinking about things and watching other people do things before I did something. I could relate to Leo’s feelings of being inadequate, and I was also very lucky that I had supportive parents who allowed me to find my own way.

Outside Over There by Maurice Sendak

- This is a gorgeously-illustrated book that is reminiscent of the film “The Labyrinth” with David Bowie, except that there was no Elf King in this story. It follows the same pattern, with a child kidnapped by goblins and an older sister trying to find him. The drawings are exquisite and detailed and quite uncanny, if you think about it, and very unlike the Maurice Sendak we see in other books. I think I also liked this book because there were times when I was wondering if my baby brother was kidnapped, which was why he was so noisy. 🙂 

We Are in a Book! by Mo Willems

- This is one of the Elephant and Piggy books, but what I love about this particular volume is its use of metafictive techniques in order to show the child reader the value of reading as well as the physicality of a book. It’s a great little tribute to stories and oral storytelling, and I love using this book for storytelling sessions because it’s so much fun.

Luis and the Enchanted Creatures by Marcy Dans-Lee

- I know, this is an extra one, but I need to mention my mom’s book because otherwise she’ll strangle me. 😀 But truly, this is probably one of the first children’s stories that focused on modernizing and reconfiguring our perception of some of the better-known creatures of Philippine lower mythology, and I love this book for it. 

5. What is a story you wish you had written?

I have two books that I wish I wrote: Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire and Coraline by Neil Gaiman. Both of them capture the alienation and wonder of childhood in a truthful and recognizable manner. They don’t shy away from the complexities and strangeness of being a child - rather, they explore it bravely, and show us the magic and resilience of childhood.

Visit Ms. Lee’s official author website, 

Sometimes Sunlight for more of her adventures, stories and essays.

Gabriela Lee, Salanga Prize Winner 2019 (1 of 2)

Gabriela Lee is the winner of the 2019 Salanga Prize for her story, A Delicate Strength: The Story and Art of Araceli Limcaco Dans. She was awarded the PBBY-Salanga medal and cash prize last July 16, 2019 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines during the 36th National Children’s Book Day celebration. In this two-part interview, Ms. Gabriela Lee shares with us her thoughts about awards, tips for the aspiring writer and the crocodile that lived in her great grandfather’s pool!

1. How real was the crocodile?

The crocodile was real! Apparently, my great-grandfather had a tendency to bring back all sorts of animals back to the Manila house when he came back after travelling the Philippines. As far as Lola remembers, their house was a veritable zoo at that time. 

2. What do you think of winning or losing in writing awards?

This is my first time winning a proper writing award, aside from scholastic things in high school and college, so it feels great. But I have a rather laid-back attitude towards writing awards - I think that they’re nice, if you get them, but ultimately you have to direct your art towards a purpose beyond just getting a medal and seeing your name in lights. For me, I joined the PBBY-Salanga this year because of the limitations of the topic, which is the biography. I wanted the world to know about my grandmother, who is a pretty awesome woman in her own right, and who promoted art education and visual literacy - something that I think is very important in this day and age. So it wasn’t about winning, but about Lola and her work. 

L-R: PBBY President Tarie Sabido, Araceli Limaco Dans, Gabriela Lee and Cris Millado, Vice Chairman of CCP

In general, I think that it’s great for a new or beginning writer to test their mettle against others in a friendly competition, but it should never be the center of your writing life. Winning is great, but your writing should not be about just winning, but about other aspirations beyond the competition. And that’s a difficult thing to think about.

3. What tips can you share to the aspiring writer of children’s stories?

First of all, READ! You can’t write anything if you don’t read anything. Read things that you think will help you write - genres and authors and stories that share a kinship with your creative process. If you don’t read stories, it becomes very difficult to know what’s out there, and how your stories contribute to the bigger world.

Second, you need DISCIPLINE! Writing isn’t about talent or inspiration. It’s about showing up to the blank page and banging out words. The words might not be good at first, or they might be slow to come, but you just need to put one letter in front of the other until you find yourself building a story. Writing isn’t just about talent. It’s about doing the work and keeping yourself accountable.

Finally, FIND A READER! Preferably someone you trust and someone who is capable of providing concise and helpful criticism. It can be a friend, a teacher, a colleague, someone you meet over the Internet. Make sure it’s someone who you can rely on who will give you honest advice for revisions, and someone who knows enough about the field you’re writing within that they are also familiar with the conventions and techniques you are using.

Are you interested and inspired to read more of Ms. Gabriela Lee’s stories and essays? Visit her website at 

Sometimes Sunlight. She is the granddaughter of Araceli Limcaco Dans.

Interview: A Database of Philippine Children’s Literature

Here is part 2 of my interview on building a database of Philippine Children’s Literature.

7.. What do you think can be improved about children’s picture books in the country?

To answer this question, one has to look at the book industry as an ecosystem and as an enterprise of knowledge creation and management. There are role players and communities that contribute to its growth and development. These are the content creators, the readers, distributors, researchers and educators, stakeholders and policy makers. Each has to play an active role in the improvement of children’s books. There are different agencies and institutions in government and the private sector that are assigned or do specific roles like the PBBY, the NBDB, the Book Development Association of the PH, the DepEd, the National Library of the Philippines, the CCP, NCCA and a host of NGOs. 

If you ask each role player, each agency and institution you will get a different answer. But their answers need to be connected and woven together. Or else, who will read the books? How can content creators continue creating if not for the readers and the system that support their art? For example, if I say that books in the mother tongue as developed in the regions is a potential area of growth, who do you think would be involved in its development and improvements? 

To quote Ramon Sunico, poet and teacher, a book is a dream dreamed by a team. 

How strong is the book development team and the ecosystem to which this team operates in so that it can continuously create?

8. Do you think it’s necessary to create an online database for children’s picture books in the Philippines? Who would it benefit, what are its values? Would it elevate the status of children’s illustration as an art form/create more visibility for it?

Librarians and libraries create databases for a number of reasons  namely, for organization of knowledge, for access to information, for memory and remembering, for posterity, to sustain culture and art, to curate what is valuable to specific groups of thinkers and learners, to strengthen the knowledge infrastructure of specific disciplines.

A database is not the only factor that can elevate the art of a book maker, a writer, an artist and a reader. Also, there are many ways to make art and book making more visible. There is no one solution, really, because art, in general does not grow and develop ina straight line.

9. Should the database actually store .pdf files of the children’s picture books, or should it simply just contain the picture book titles, authors, illustrators, summaries and the places where people can purchase or view the books?

Who are the end users of the database? Consider first the learning community or the group of artists who will benefit from the database. How do they create art? How can their art be preserved, restored and archived? What about copyright and intellectual property? How can he database be sustained?

For all you know, there is already an existing database of children’s books in the country in the

big universities, museums and the National Library. Maybe what we need is a “union” catalog or a centralized database where in, libraries and institutions with databases of children’s books and literature can pool all of these resources in a unified database.

10. Would orgs like CANVAS/PBBY/INK find this database helpful? 11. How can CANVAS/PBBY/INK contribute in the creation of this database?

They can be a part of the development, but a committee or a commission must be the lead agency to do this. Right now, I don’t who can. 

12. Do you have any recommendation/suggestions related to creating a database like this? Is it better to create a directory or database, etc.

I think I have some suggestions already in previous questions.

13. Do you know any other related source material I can look into?

Visit schools, colleges and universities offering Children’s Literature courses. They may have a wealth of research and resources already. All we need is to find and mine it!

Adrian Panadero, Alcala Prize Winner 2019

This year’s Alcala Prize winner, Adrian Panadero, graciously agreed for an interview. It was a pleasure to have met him last week at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. He was awarded a medal and cash prize while his mother beams with pride in the audience.

Read on and know more about his works, style and approach in illustrating for books for kids.

1. How did you approach illustrating A Delicate Strength?

This is interesting because when I was illustrating A Delicate Strength, there was a question that loomed at the back of my head. Should I stay true to Mrs. Dans’ realist style or should I make it more fantastical or whimsical? In the end, I brought my approach back to the story’s title. I wanted my illustrations to have a very graceful, delicate, and whimsical quality, yet still look grounded in realism. It’s a big theme throughout the story - finding beauty and strength in delicate, sometimes mundane objects - so I really wanted it to show in the illustrations. 

Also, I was a fan of Mrs. Dans’ work. Many people say that my illustrations can be very mabusisi or detailed. That’s also something that I wanted to show, so I added the callados Mrs. Dans is famous for. Actually, a part of why I chose to enter this year was that I just really wanted to illustrate callados. Hehe. 

2. What is your advice to kids who are thinking of pursuing a career in the arts?

I’d like to tell them to not be afraid of making mistakes and letting their minds and hands wander. Nobody starts out perfect. Don’t be discouraged when you end up making something you’re not proud of. Be excited about it! Because that’s when self-improvement and discovery comes. I feel like with social media, it’s very easy to compare your work with others. However, you’re the only one who can do you, so focus on your craft and enjoy creating. 

Panadero at the National Children’s Book Day awarding ceremonies in CCP last July 16, 2019.

3. What are your top 5 children’s books and why?

1. Alamat ng Ampalaya - This was my first vivid memory of a Filipino children’s book, so this book occupies a special place in my heart. To be honest, I didn’t have a lot of Filipino children’s books growing up - many of the books on my list, I discovered while lingering in bookstores. However, for this book, I remember being so fascinated with the Ampalaya wearing the colourful costume it made by stealing from the other vegetables. 
2. Isang Harding Papel - I love how this book tells the story of Martial Law in a very personal, intimate, and even heart-wrenching way. The storytelling device of the paper flowers was so beautiful.
3. And Ambisyosong Istetoskop - I love how the story of Jose Rizal is told endearingly through this book. I also love how the book ends, with the stethoscope being proud that it’s displayed in a museum honouring its owner. 
4. What Kids Should Know About Filipino Food - As a kid, I was into encyclopedic books which would share facts on different topics accompanied with varied illustrations. This book reminds me of an encyclopedia, only that it focuses on food, is more engaging, and with adorable and vivid illustrations. 
5. Alice in Wonderland - Pop-up Book by Robert Sabuda - I am into paper engineering, so I just have to mention this book. It’s a retelling of the fairy tale brought to life by amazing pop-ups by master paper engineer Robert Sabuda. I find myself being speechless whenever I get to open this book. 

4. Apart from finishing the illustrations for A Delicate Strength, what other art projects are you busy with and would need support and promotion?

I have 1 book out entitled Intramuros: The Walled City, a cut and build book which readers can take apart to build a paper model of Intramuros. I’m currently working on the follow-up to this book, so hopefully we get to release it next year. 

Other than that, I am a graphic designer by profession. I work at a branding studio called And  A Half. We work on different brands ranging from restaurants to real estate, skin clinics to schools. We’re looking into working on higher impact projects for audiences that need it most, so if anyone knows of a cause which thinks would need help design wise, they can send us a message at collaborate@and-a-half.ph :)

Interview: A Database of Philippine Children’s Literature (1 of 2)

I received a request from a student for an interview on children’s literature in the country and the need for a database that content creators, teachers, librarians and parents can use. Ms. Bella Abuel is an AB Arts Management student at the De La Salle College of St. Benilde. Here is part one.

1. Why are you in this field? What led you to work with children’s picture books/children’s illustration?

As a school librarian, it is part of my job to know the history, trends and developments in children’s literature.

2. What is your experience working in this field?

As a school librarian, I am at the distribution, promotion, documentation and communication of children’s books and literature for children. I work with kids and teens, helping them in research, delivering readers advisory and reading guidance, assisting teachers in their use of varied learning materials for learners.

I was once president of a writing group for kids. I am a published children’s book author so I have worked with various illustrators and publishers. As past PBBY president and now, board member, I have been involved in projects that fill gaps in children’s literature in the country. These roles enable me to work with key people and groups of professionals in the children’s book industry in the country.

As an academic researcher, I have written articles, papers and research on children’s literature,  its distribution, study, critique and teaching.

3. Why do you think children’s picture books are important? (or developments for children’s literature?)  Do you think children’s picture books can help with children’s cognitive skills, emotional literacy, etc.?

Please visit this link to read essays  of writers, illustrators, teachers and librarians, literacy advocates of picture books:  https://picturebookmonth.com/

4. Do you know anything about the history of children’s picture books in the Philippines?

Good references on the history of PH Kids Lit are, Bumasa at Lumaya: A Spurce Book of PH Kids Lit Vols. 1 and 2, published by Anvil Publishing. And, the new CCP Encyclopedia has a good chapter on PH Kids Lit written by Mailin Paterno and Neni Sta. Romana Cruz. Virgilio Almario also written a critique of PH Kids Lit trends and production in 2009, published by Anvil.

Go find these books as the history and documentation of PH Kids Lit have been written already and continuously being updated.

5. Are you aware of any physical or online database related to children’s picture books/children literature?

There used to be the International Children’s Literature Database, but it has ceased. 

The Philippines needs a database on Children’s Literature and the reasons for it are plenty. Many will benefit from it, not just the content creators.

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Illustrator of the Month: Jonathan Rañola

Jonathan Rañola and I had our book launched last Septemeber 2018 during the Manila International Book Fair. However, it is only now that I am featuring this interview with him in the blog. He shares with us his approach and style in illustrating Ino the Invincible (Lampara Books, 2018) and works of artists he admires. He also has tips for aspiring artists who dream of breaking into children’s book illustration.

1. What was your approach (creative process) in illustrating the story, Ino the Invincible? 

When  I was given the transcript and read the story of Ino,  I was visualizing a book that has lots of touches of nostalgia.  Coming from an all-boys school,  I can definitely identify with Ino’s school life, like hanging out in the library or doing school projects and activities with the whole class.  I intentionally made my images with touches of monotone to project the image of nostalgia in every scene.   I also applied the idea of spot-color,  that is why, page after page,  Ino is the only character that is in full color.  This is to stress that he is the main character and  to focus and  highlight   his uniqueness and importance in the story.  Proper research using books, the internet and videos were used and reviewed to add accuracy in the representations.  I also used my favorite medium in illustration, pen and ink with watercolor so that I  could translate my ideas to actual images.  

2. What challenges did you encounter in illustrating the story? How did you overcome or break these challenges? 

To tell you the truth,  doing Ino the Invincible was a breeze. Maybe because, as I said earlier,  I could  identify  and see the commonness of the situations and surroundings of Ino.   I really enjoyed doing the different scenes in the book, and being  the illustrator,  I try to add and create different stories in every scene.  The only actual challenge of illustrating Ino is that I have to be totally faithful with the written text and accurately illustrate the basketball moves that are being described in the narrative. The solution is to do a lot of research on the different basketball uniforms from the past to the present and the plays and moves of the game.  Also, some scenes require a lot of characters, and I have to show the  different personalities of each.  There are also some group or crowd scenes, which are quite difficult to illustrate.  But overall,  I am satisfied with the end-result of my illustrations.  

3. What tips or advise can you give aspiring artists?

For young and aspiring artists,  my best advice is to follow their dreams; do not be influenced  by peer-pressure or be dictated by  people that surrounds you.  Create an impressive portfolio of works.   Draw a lot and make things that you like or that inspire you.  It is also important to create your own style that will be your branding in the field of illustration.   Making your own mark by creating images that will be identified and established as yours.    Furthermore, never be insecure with the works of others.  

In the world of illustration,  clients approach you for the style and aesthetics of your works.  When they come to you, mostly are already familiar with the style of your work.  Besides, there will always be a lot of narratives to illustrate.

4. Give three picture books/story books you wish you had illustrated and Why? 

First is “Where The Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak.   He is one of my favorite book illustrator and I have always been fascinated with his charming works.  Like Maurice, my favorite medium to use for illustrating is pen and ink with watercolor.  

Second is “Dick Whittington and His Cat” by Marcia Brown.  How I wish I could also make  a book using Linocut as medium.  Linocut is a technique in printing which uses a sheet of linoleum.  A design is cut in the surface  using carving  tools, then inked and printed on paper. Her works are very graphic and I am fascinated with lines that are manually carved that creates highlights and depth in the figures of her illustration.   

Lastly my favorite book is “Columbus” by Ingri d'Aulaire and Edgar Parin d'Aulaire.   I have never heard of this husband and wife illustrators before.  I just discovered their book in a thrift shop.  The book was really old, but when I saw their work,  I instantly fell in love with their aesthetics and how contemporary their vision in creating children’s book.  They are great inspirations for my work in book illustration as well as in my works in painting.

Pista ng Kumperensiya ng Panitikang Pambata

The 2019 PBBY Salanga Prize: Call for Entries

The Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY) is now accepting entries for the 2019 PBBY-Salanga Prize. The winner shall be given a cash prize of P25,000.00, a gold medal, and an opportunity to be published. Prizes will be awarded in an appropriate ceremony to be held during the celebration of National Children’s Book Day on July 16, 2019. This year’s theme is narrative nonfiction.

DEADLINE: Entries must be received by the PBBY Secretariat and time-stamped no later than 5:00 p.m. on January 11, 2019.

The contest rules are as follows:

1. Open to all Filipino citizens except those who are related to any PBBY member up to the third degree of consanguinity.
   
2. Content should be intended for children aged 8–12. The content must be capable of sustaining an illustrated book.
   
3. Topic must be about narrative nonfiction (e.g. historical nonfiction, biographies).
   
4. Citing of sources and research materials used is a must. Citations should include the name of the author, the title of the resource, the publisher and the year of publications. URLs for online sources should be cited as well.
   
5. Entries may be in Filipino or English.
   
6. Entries must be in hard copy, double-spaced, on short bond paper. Each entry must be 2,000-5,000 words long.
   
7. A contestant may send in up to three (3) entries.
   
8. Contestants who envision their works to come with special features (e.g. photos, maps, timelines, infographics) should include a write-up on these special features. The write-up should be 1,000 words or less.
   
9. Each entry must be signed by a pen name only. Five (5) copies of each entry should be placed in an envelope, on the face of which only the pen name of the contestant should appear.
   
10. Together with each entry, contestants must submit a second envelope, on the face of which the pen name shall appear. This must contain the contestant’s full name, address, contact numbers, a short literary background, and a notarized certification from the author, vouching for the originality of the entry and for the freedom of the organizers from any liability arising from the infringement of copyright in case of publication, and affirming that the entry or any variant thereof has (a) never been published nor (b) won any other contest i.e. that it has never won 1st, 2nd, 3rd, honorable mention in any other contest or otherwise been awarded a medal, a citation, or included in a publicized list of meritorious entries to a literary contest.
    
11. All entries must be sent through snail mail to the PBBY Secretariat, c/o Adarna House, Inc., Scout Torillo cor. Scout Fernandez Sts., Barangay Sacred Heart, Quezon City.
    
12. All entries must be received by the PBBY Secretariat no later than 5:00 p.m., January 11, 2019.
    
13. Winners will be announced no later than February 2, 2019. Non-winning entries will be disposed of by the PBBY Secretariat.

The 2019 PBBY Wordless Book Prize: Call for Entries

The Philippine Board on Books for Young People is now accepting entries for the 2019 PBBY Wordless Book Prize. 

The winner shall receive Twenty Thousand Pesos and a medal. Prizes shall be awarded at an appropriate ceremony to be held on National Children’s Book Day, July 17, 2019.

DEADLINE: Entries must be received by the PBBY Secretariat and time-stamped no later than 5:00 p.m. on February 19, 2019.

CONTEST RULES:

1. The contest is open to all Filipino citizens except those who are related to any PBBY member up to the third degree of consanguinity.
   
2. All entries must be e-mailed to pbbywordless@gmail.com. For this contest, all submissions must be in digital form, with each file clearly identifiable by a filename that is actually the pen name of the contestant.
   
3. Entries may be in color or in black and white. They may be digitally rendered or traditionally done artwork that may or may not have been digitally enhanced. The submission format should be pdf. Entries should use the CMYK color space and should be at actual size format with resolution at 300dpi.
   
4. Each entry should comprise the following:
   
5. One clean comprehensive artwork of the cover spread design (includes both the front and back covers).
   
6. Filenames for this file should include the initials CS. Example: PenName_CS.pdf
   
7. Two clear comprehensive artworks of two spreads, rendered in the intended style and medium, and in the actual size format. The recommended spread size for a board book is 13 x 6.5 inches while the recommended size for a picture book is 14 x 9 inches.
   
8. Filename should include SP01 for the first spread, and SP02 for the second spread. Example: PenName_SP01.pdf and PenName_SP02.pdf
   
9. A detailed storyboard in line drawing (grayscale).
   
10. Filename should include the initials SB. Example: PenName_SB.pdf
    
11. The contestant also has the option to submit all files already collected in a 4-page pdf. Filename should be Penname_ALL.pdf.
    
12. Entries should not contain any words, just the title and subtitles (if any) on the Cover spread (CS).
    
13. Failure to observe file naming rules may affect judgment of entry.
    
14. A contestant may send in more than one (1) entry.
    
15. Entries may be collaborative, meaning a visual artist may collaborate with a writer to come up with the narrative for the entry.
    
16. Each contestant should also email two documents:
    
1. The first document should indicate the contestant’s full name, address, telephone/cell phone numbers, and email address.
2. The second document should be a scan of a notarized certification from the contestant. (Download the format for the certification).
17. If the entry is collaborative, there should be complete information for both contestants.
    
18. The PBBY reserves the right of first refusal for the publication of all winning entries.

The 2020 PBBY Salanga Chapter Book Prize: Call for Entries

The Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY) is now accepting entries for the 2019 PBBY-Salanga Chapter Book Prize. 

The winner shall be given a cash prize of P25,000.00, a gold medal, and an opportunity to be published. Prizes will be awarded in an appropriate ceremony to be held during the celebration of National Children’s Book Day on July 21, 2020. This year’s theme is narrative nonfiction.

DEADLINE: Entries must be received by the PBBY Secretariat and time-stamped no later than 5:00 p.m. on October 18, 2019.

The contest rules are as follows:

1. Open to all Filipino citizens, as well as non-Filipino residents with dual citizenship, except those who are related to any PBBY member up to the third degree of consanguinity. For foreigners, they must have spent at least six months (can be accumulated) in the Philippines for the past six (6) years
   
2. Stories should be intended for children aged 8–12, with not less than 15,000 words and not more than 30,000 words.
   
3. Entries may be in English or Filipino.
   
4. Plot may be anything that relates to a Filipino child’s experience.
   
5. Entries must be in hard copy, 1.5 space, Times New Roman 12 with 1-inch margins on short bond paper. 
   
6. On a separate sheet, contestant must identify the target grade level, number of words, and the synopsis of the story.  Contestant may also include suggestions to teachers for enrichment activities.
   
7. A contestant may send in more than one (1) entry.
   
8. Each entry must be signed by a pen name only. Five (5) copies of each entry should be placed in an envelope, on the face of which only the pen name of the contestant should appear.
   
9. Together with each entry, contestants must submit a second envelope, on the face of which the pen name shall appear. This must contain the contestant’s full name, address, contact numbers, a short literary background, and a notarized certification from the author, vouching for the originality of the entry and for the freedom of the organizers from any liability arising from the infringement of copyright in case of publication, and affirming that the entry or any variant thereof has (a) never been published nor (b) won any other contest i.e. that it has never won 1st, 2nd, 3rd, honorable mention in any other contest or otherwise been awarded a medal, a citation, or included in a publicized list of meritorious entries to a literary contest.
   
10. All entries must be sent through snail mail or personally dropped off at the PBBY Secretariat, c/o Adarna House, Inc., Scout Torillo cor. Scout Fernandez Sts., Barangay Sacred Heart, Quezon City by October 18, 2019.