Writing, Roots, and Resilience: The Story Behind Tales from the 7,000 Isles: Filipino Folk Stories

I am the featured author of the Pamana Children's Library in Chicago, Illinois!

“For the month of March, we are also honored to feature Zarah Gagatiga, the author of Tales from the 7,000 Isles: Filipino Folk Stories, now available in the Pamana Children’s Library. In her heartfelt article, “Writing, Roots, and Resilience”, Zarah reflects on the personal journey that led to the creation of this treasured collection of Filipino folk tales. She shares how this project, born from a deep connection to heritage, became a source of strength and healing during a time of personal challenges. Zarah also pays tribute to her late collaborator, Dianne de Las Casas, whose dream of preserving Filipino stories lives on through their joint work. Join us in celebrating the enduring power of storytelling and its ability to foster resilience, connection, and remembrance.”

Because it's National Women's Month, here is an excerpt where I fondly remember my co-author, Dianne delas Casas and Bernie Solina-Wolf.

Dianne has since passed on in 2018, and the artist who created the book’s cover, Bernadette Solina-Wolf, has also crossed this realm unto the next. In my imagination, they are together, creating stories and beautiful art in a place where everything is at peace. Their stories live on here on Earth, and while I miss them so much, our friendship continues through the book we lovingly collaborated on. 

Full article -> https://tinyurl.com/mse8vnac

They even included a plug and a promo of our forthcoming book, Filipino Folk Tales for Children: Stories of Wisdom and Wonder (Tuttle Publishing). Thank you, Pamana Children’s Library!

Read about Pamana Children’s Library story and our mission by visiting our page on the Rizal Center website: https://rizalcenter.org/programs/pamana-childrens-library/

Alamin Natin: Ang Pagkukuwento at Pagsusulat ng Alamat at Kuwentong Bayan

 

Alamin Natin! by ZarahG

New Book Project: Philippine Folktales Reimagined

In April, I began a new adventure. 

A new door has opened. 

Although I will be traversing a familiar road, I am traveling this route ten years after my first book published in the US was released to the global market. 

Who is the me I will be meeting along the way? How will familiar stories, tales as old as time, will shape the me that I am today?

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Zarah Gagatiga (@teetahzee)

The 2017 Picture Book Month Celebration Is On!

Last weekend, I made an announcement of the 2017 Picture Book Month Champions.

I could not help but remember Dianne De Las Casas, founder of Picture Book Month. I have written about her passing in the blog two months ago, more or less. But here is another piece I put together for a supposed feature on people who have inspired me.

Working on Picture Book Month this year is not the same without her.

Dianne De Las Casas is one of the many inspiring people who made a great difference in my life. Dianne believed in me and gave me the courage to write. She trusted me to be her co-author in writing a collection of Filipino Folk Tales. We worked together on the book for two years and Tales From the 7,000 Isles: Filipino Folk Stories (ABC CLIO) was published in 2011. It is my first book published in the US. The book won the World Storytelling Resource Award given by the National Storytelling Network, Tennessee USA in 2015.

It was a big break and if not for Dianne's confidence in me, it wouldn't be possible. She showed me how to be brave. How writing can set the self free of all possible fears. In 2011, she started an international campaign, Picture Book Month. It is aimed at celebrating books, literacy and reading.

Every year since 2011, 30 Picture Book Champions share their essay on the importance of picture books. I am one of the champions in 2013 and this fueled my passion to continue telling stories and creating picture books. Last year, she made me the administrator of Picture Book Month (picturebookmonth.com).


More than a mentor, Dianne is also my "big sister" as she helped me restore my own confidence and belief in myself as a woman. I dedicated my picture book, Big Sister (Lampara Books), to her. Like her, I hope to inspire others too.


Dianne died last August 21, 2017 in a house fire. She was 47 years old.

Dianne De Las Casas and John Couret, authors of Captain Deadeye and the Bully Shark (Write Hook Media, LLC 2016)




Illustrator of the Month: Bernadette Solina-Wolf (1 of 2)

The blog's illustrator of the month is Bernadette Solina-Wolf. She was voted as Most Favorite Illustrator in the Aklat Awards 2016 of Lampara Books and Precious Pages Group of Companies.

Bernadette, a dear friend and creative partner, agreed to answers these questions for the blog. This feature is divided in two parts. In this first interview, she shares with us her approach and creative vision in pursuing an art project. In the second interview, we will get to know more of Bernadette's contribution to the development of children's book illustration in the country.

Bernie is humble and a quiet worker. But there is more to her than meets the eye. I am honored to have been afforded this interview.

What is your feeling now, having won an award by readers of Lampara Books?

The first time I read your post about the award, I thought I was reading it wrong! I had to read it again. Haha! I'm not used to such things like awards. But after I told my husband about it, I realized that it's actually so nice to be appreciated! 

 

Bernie's cover art for Tales from the 7,000 Isles: Filipino Fol Stories (ABC CLIO, 2011)

 What has been the most challenging work you have finished or worked on?

Whenever I am told that the manuscript has a few words or no words at all, THAT will be challenging! The first challenging children's book I did was Ms Lina Diaz de Rivera's "The Rain is Here" because a) it had one sentence per spread and b) it was about how rain falls on every part of the earth. In the STARs Series I had a lot of studies for "Sparrow Makes A Home" as well as "The Library Cat." The images are usually wonderful when they play in my head but to put it as magically on paper is another thing. 

Do you experience a drought in vision and in creating art? How do you deal?

I don't have any problem with visualizing when I read the manuscript.  I'm usually at awe with how the writer would come up and develop the story in a very efficient yet imaginative way. My problem is usually filtering what would be important and what would just mess up the composition between text and illustration. When I get too confused, I either do some cleaning up of the house or do some mending...anything that would take my mind off the problem.  I also get great solutions while I meditate.

In the bigger world, how do you see your relevance as a visual artist?

This is a very existentialist question. When I see the bigger picture or world, I see my relevance more in terms of "documenting" what comes into my path be it places, animals, people or moments. When I see a little girl trudge to school, I often wonder if she will finish her schooling or not. Then I keep her image in my mind to put her into one story I will illustrate. I observe people (especially, children) and look at their kind sides. I put my core values into the illustrations I do and that is the power I am given when I illustrate stories. 

 

Here are links to previous posts about Bernadette Solina-Wolf.

A Public Library Grows in Mindoro

A Tale of Dreams Studies by Bernadette Solina Wolf

The Monkey and the Tortoise by Bernadette Solina Wolf

 

Letters that Inspire Me to Keep Writing

The grades one and two students of the ELC of Brent International School Manila wrote me letters! I will reply to them as soon as possible. Sharing with you some of the letters of the kids.

Lettersto Ms. Zarah from Zarah Gagatiga

Thank you Ms. Tamayao for sending these letters! Thank you for being the bridge between my books  to your children in Brent!

An Award for Tales From the 7,000 Isles: Filipino Folk Stories

The book I co-wrote with Dianne de Las Casas, Tales From the 7,000 Isles: Filipino Folk Stories (Libraries Unlimited, USA 2011) won The Storytelling World Resource Award 2015 for Category 6: Storytelling Resources. The full list of winners can be viewed in the  Storytelling World website where you will find winners and honor books in different categories. I am amazed reading the titles of books included in the list because it shows diversity, global mindedness and multicultural perspective. For our work to be recognized by a host of credible judges and experts in the field is a great honor.

I am still reeling from this surprising news weeks after I learned about it. The book project came at a time when my family and I lost almost everything to typhoon Ondoy (2009). Working on the book with Dianne was a cathartic experience. Stories, indeed, have a way of healing the spirit.

The Storytelling World Resource Award is meant to help storytellers, librarians, teachers and parents choose stories to read aloud and perform in schools and libraries or simply be told in the comfort of one's home.

Filipino Friday 2014 #2: Have You Ever Wanted to Write a Book?

Catching up on some blog posts. I'm beginning with Filipino Friday #2 that was scheduled last October 24, 2014.

• As a reader, have you ever thought about writing a book? What kind of books/stories do you want to write? Or are you now a published author, and what compelled you to go fulfil this dream? How was your journey from reader to writer? How did you go about getting your book out there?

My desire to write my own books began in high school. I read S.E. Hinton and Judy Blume and dreamed of putting into words my own stories, getting published and seeing my name after the "by" line. It didn't happen until 2011 when a book I co-authored with Dianne de Las Casas was published, Tales of the 7,000 Isles: Filipino Folk Stories, by ABC CLIO in the US. It is not a novel for young adult, but a collection of folk tales. The proposal for the book project came in 2009 after my traumatic experience with Ondoy The book and my experience of writing this along side Dianne de Las Casas is a given grace. I am forever grateful.

By 2013 and 2014, I have published two illustrated storybooks under Lampara Books: Tale of Two Dreams with Bernadette Solina Wolf, My Daddy, My One and Only with Jomike Tejido and Dear Nanay with Liza Flores. Last September, Lampara Books launched my first series for early readers, Start Right Reading Series, Kindergarten Level. Again, I collaborated with Bernadette Wolf on the illustrations and design of the series.

My journey from reader to writer is a long one. I think the journey will never end. Readers will forever read. Writers will always write. The reading and writing connection continues. I have to thank my friends in KUTING (Kwentista ng mga Tsikiting) for accompanying me in the journey.  Other than my writer friends, I remember with fondness the critiquing sessions I spent with the LitCritters, a group of working writers led by Dean Francis Alfar. Writing may be an isolated act, but it should be a social and cultural endeavor as well.

I suppose it is the same with reading. When we talk about the books we read, we develop a deeper understanding of the reading experience.

WRAD 2014: Raising Our Voices Blogging Challenge Week 2

Week 2: February 17 - 23
Adult & Child
Answering the following questions with a child. The child can be a student or your own. Age does not matter. Make sure to exchange and enjoy answers with one another before sharing them with us.

1. I think everyone in the world should read…
Me:
Child:
(repeat this format for the remaining questions)
2. If I could listen to anyone in the world read aloud to me it would be…
3. When I read aloud, my favorite character to impersonate is…
4. The genre or author that takes up the most room on my bookshelf (or e-reader) is…
5. My favorite part about reading aloud or being read to is...

This blog activity for WRAD 2014: Raising Our Voices Blogging Challenge was fun to do. I had my two kids, Nico (16 years old) and Zoe (13 years old), join me in the interview. Here's the transcript below. 

1. I think everyone in the world should read:  

Me: My books, especially Tales From the 7,000 Isles (De Las Casas and Gagatiga, ABC CLIO 2011)! Hahahaha! 

Zoe: Dictionary, the Bible and Harry Potter

Nico: The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

2. If I could listen to anyone in the world read aloud to me it would be:

Me: Harry Potter in British accent

Zoe:  Sandosenang Sapatos (OMF Hiyas) by Dr. Luis Gatmaitan

Nico: The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss and Alamat ng Ampalaya (Adarna House) by Augie Rivera
 
3. When I read aloud, my favorite character to impersonate is: 

Me: I can't think of a favorite character right now, but when I read aloud I make sure I give my own rendition to the book's characters.

Zoe: Alexandra Trese by Budjette Tan.

Nico: A from Every Day by David Levithan
 
4. The genre or author that takes up the most room on my bookshelf (or e-reader) is:

Me: Gaiman and Rowling

Zoe: Roald Dahl

Nico: ...
 
5. My favorite part about reading aloud or being read to is:

Me: I like hearing the words. It's like giving life to inanimate objects. The words come alive when one reads aloud.

Zoe: I feel the person reading aloud to me is being kind. I like reading aloud myself because I can express my self. I like listening to myself when I read aloud.

Nico: There is a bond between the person reading aloud and the listener during read aloud sessions. Creating this bond is special.

This blog activity for the 2nd week of WRAD 2014: Raising Our Voices Blogging Challenge inspires me to keep talking about books my "teens" have read and guiding them on further to make well informed reading choices. More reading aloud insights next week!  

International Book Giving Day 2014: Books Given Away

Because it was International Book Giving Day last February 14, 2014, I gave away two of my books: My Daddy! My One and Only! (Lampara Books, 2013) and Tales From the 7,000 Isles: Filipino Folk Stories (De Las Casas and Gagatiga, ABC CLIO, 2011).

Here's a photo of the first book given away --

This is Mr. Joseph De Santo, my co-teacher and friend. He is married to a Filipina and they have a daughter whom they named Mayumi.

International Book Giving Day 2014

Who will get these books?

Book Promo: Tales from the 7,000 Isles: Filipino Folk Stories

Tales flyer from Zarah Gagatiga

Puppets for Storytelling: Making Stick Puppets

In my storytelling sessions, I love doing read aloud from well chosen picture books and illustrated story books. I also do participative telling from the oral tradition.

Since storytelling is also a visual art, I make use of flashcards/kamishibai, cultural artifacts like gangsa, rainmaker, malong and tubao. I use puppets as well. These various devices and tools keep the storytelling encounter exciting. It drives boredom away. Props and puppets aid in extending the imaginative power a notch further leading young listeners to a clearer understanding and enjoyment of the story.

Here's a simple step by step procedure in making a stick puppet. The needed materials are as follows: bond papers, patterns or cut outs, coloring materials, scissors, adhesive tape, chopsticks or barbecue sticks.

 a. Draw on a clean sheet of paper the chosen animal, plant or object, person or thing for puppet making.

b. Free downloadable or reproducible art or graphics may also be used. For this purpose, I used a set of animal patterns from the book Best of Dr. Jean Puppets and Storytime.

c. Color the patterns using crayons, oil pastel/craypas, markers or color pencils.

d. Cut the patterns. Be careful! Very young children may need assistance or a blunt pair of scissors when cutting.

e. Get some chopsticks. Paste or stick the cut animal patterns on the chopstick using adhesive tape.

That's it! Ready for story time!

I use these puppets for the folk story, Father Rat Finds a Midwife from Tales From the 7,000 Isles: Filipino Folk Stories (de Las Casas and Gagatiga, 2011). Click the link for a story script that can be used for a puppet show.

Have fun!

Tandem Telling: Juan Tamad and The Rice Pot

The Regional Conference on School Librarianship: Directions for the Future of School Libraries in Bacolod was, indeed, a memorable conference. I had a great time with friends, old and new, from the profession. Presenting a paper and a workshop was a good breather for me now that I keep a full time job.

When school librarians go out of their schools to see the bigger learning community, horizons are broadened and linkages are fortified. This help in establishing professional learning

network (PLN) that is essential for continuing professional education. In an industry that changes so fast, thanks to technology, a support system via PLN is a compass for the school librarian who navigates a library in a sea of constant influx. PLNs also offer collaborative opportunities to further strengthen programs and services.

The thing with collaboration is that, it can be done in many ways from the simplest to the most complex of tasks. Take for example the storytelling workshop I had in the conference.

In my storytelling workshop, I took the opportunity to tandem tell with another librarian who hails from Bacolod. Mr. Melquiades "Milky" Alipo-on graciously said yes and together we told the story of Juan Tamad and the Rice Pot. This folk tale is from Batangas and is found in the collection Tales From the 7,000 Isles (de Las Casas and Gagatiga, 2011). Batangas is a province in the Southern Tagalog Region of the Philippines. The tandem telling was impromptu. Milky Alipo-on translated into Hiligaynon the Tagalog version I told. And he was awesome! He even sang a lullaby in his mother tongue, the Dandansoy, to add in the story a Negrense flavor. A link of a video clip can be viewed here.

In light of this experience, I could not help but think about the issue on developing resources and materials on the mother tongue. Language is learned orally. To listen and to speak the language leads one into acquiring and learning from it and about it. I will make it a point to always include a tandem telling using the mother tongue in all my workshops.

Now I have to thank Margaret Read McDonald, Dr. Wagupta Tosaa of Thailand for demonstrating this technique way back in 2002  at the Singapore Storytelling Carnival; and to EthnoTec for performing in tandem at the 1st Manila International Storytelling Festival. It was inspirational to watch you all, fantastic storytellers! My gratitude goes out as well to Dean Dina Ocampo of the UP Diliman, College of Education for giving me the opportunity to run a storytelling workshop during the Mother Tongue Instruction Institute in 2009 where in I asked participants to do tandem telling of their favorite folk tale in Filipino and their mother tongue. Such experiences would not have led me to continue on experimenting ways to use tandem telling.

If we all work together and collaborate, surely, we are effectively using our time and putting our talents into good use.

Live Blogging: Day 1 of the IASL Regional Conference

 Day 1 of the IASL Regional Conference commences.

Opening ceremonies ended with welcome addresses of organizers: Dir. Lou David of the Rizal Library; Pastor Ezekiel Guanzon of the PRISAAP, Bacolod City; Jude Gorospe of PASLI; and Dr. Diljit Singh of the University of Malaya and the IASL.

Enoy Ferriol of Scholastic gave a short spiel as sponsor and shared with the participants the many freebies and perks available for participants.

There are sixteen speakers and presenters in all, majority are Filipino librarians from Manila and the regions. Topics are grouped according the following topics for Day 1: Reading and the School Library; Storytelling workshop; Library Space and Planning and Teacher Librarian Partnerships.

Book exhibits are displayed outside the conference hall. At the Scholastic booth, copies of Tales of the 7,000 Isles: Filipino Folk Stories are displayed.

In my workshop after lunch, I will be doing two storytelling demos from the anthology. My co-author, Dianne de Las Casas may not be here, but I keep her presence by adopting and adapting storytelling strategies learned from her.

I miss you, Dianne!

Story Theater and Puppet Show Script: Father Rat Finds a Midwife

Father Rat Finds a Midwife
A Filipino Folk story
Taken from: Tales From the 7,000 Ilses: Filipino Folk Stories, ABC CLIO 2011
By Dianne de Las Casas & Zarah C. Gagatiga

Story Theater and Puppet Show Script*

Storyteller: Mother Rat was pregnant. She called for her husband. Father Rat came
running to her side.

Mother Rat: Get me a midwife! It’s going to be quadruplets!

Father Rat: What does a midwife look like?

Mother Rat: A midwife has a gentle face and a tender voice. She would not a hurt a mother like me.

Storyteller: Father Rat searched for a midwife. Down the road, he met Dog.

Dog: Mr. Rat, how may I help you?

Father Rat: I am looking for a midwife. My wife will give birth soon.

Dog: I may be able to help. Arf! Arf!

Storyteller: Mr. Rat listened to Dog and looked at his floppy ears and big nose. Father Rat knew Dog was not the midwife he was looking for. So, he ran down the road and in a corner, met Cow.

Cow: Mr. Rat, how may I help you?

Father Rat: I am looking for a midwife. My wife will give birth soon.

Cow: I may be able to help. Mooo! Mooo!

Storyteller: Mr. Rat listened at Cow’s deep bellowing voice and looked at his horns and huge belly. Father Rat knew Cow was not the midwife he was looking for. So, he ran down the road and in a corner, met Cat.

Cat: Mr. Rat, how may I help you?

Mr. Rat: I am looking for a midwife. My wife will give birth soon.

Cat: I may be able to help. Meow! Meow!

Storyteller: Mr. Rat listened at Cat’s tender mewing. She had a gentle smile in her face and Father Rat knew Cat was the midwife he was looking for. So, he brought Cat to Mother Rat. She was a gentle and tender midwife indeed. She helped her give birth to four little baby rats.

Cat: Go get me some water, Mr. Rat. The little rats need some washing.

Storyteller: Father Rat did what he was told but when he came back, his wife and four babies were gone. There was only the faint smell of a well-fed Cat. Since then, cats and rats have become mortal enemies.

*This storytelling script for story theater and puppetry is inspired by storytelling performances of Dianne de Las Casas

Storytelling Guide: The Legend of the Cashew Nut

This storytelling guide is prepared for librarians and storytellers who will use the story The Legend of the Cashew Nut taken from the book, Tales From the 7,000 Isles: Filipino Folk Stories by Dianne de Las Casas and Zarah Gagatiga.

Library Storytelling Guide for Legend of the Cashew Nut

I. Storytelling links: Science: Plants and the elements / Social Studies: Relationships; Philippine province: Palawan / Values Ed: patience and discernment

Suggested grade levels: Grades 3-5

Objective: Understand cause and effect relationships

Time and schedule: Two-three meetings with the librarian. First session is Pre-activity and storytelling proper. Second and third sessions are for Post-activity and class presentations.

II. Storytelling Technique

a. Pre-activity

- Librarian shows a pack of cashew nuts and a photo of a cashew tree and its fruits, and a map of Palawan, Philippines.

- Librarian explains that cashew trees abound in Palawan and its city, Puerto Princesa has an industry of planting and harvesting cashew trees and fruits. Palawan is popular for its tourism business but one of its many industries is the production of cashew nuts.

- Librarian introduces the story, The Legend of the Cashew Nut as a folk tale that explains the origin of the cashew fruit, how it looks like and why its seed is found outside its flesh.

b. Storytelling using Flashcards**

During storytelling questions:
- Why did the Cashew Seed wish to see the world outside its flesh?
- How did Mother Cashew Tree feel about Cashew Seed's transformation?
- Describe in a word or two the experience of Cashew Seed when it was outsideits flesh. Have you had an experience where in you felt happy at first and then sad the next?

c. Post-activity
- Librarian divides the big group in three small groups.
Different group activities:
Group 1 - Using the flashcards, retell in your own words the Legend of the Cashew Nut. You may need notes and writing materials. Be ready for a presentation to the class.
Group 2 - Cause and Effect: Make a table that identifies before and after experiences of Cashew Nut. What good things happened to Cashew Nut after his seed grew out of its flesh/fruit? Be ready for presentation in class.
Group 3 - Pick out your group's favorite part of the legend, preferably the one where you find a lot of excitement, and role play this part or scene in class.

**Instructions on making a storytelling flashcard will follow in the next blog post

Mga Libro Lang Yan (Those are just books)

So here's how I got my copies of Tales From the 7,000 Isles.

I presented my parcel's receipt. Followed the line to the receiving area. Paid forty pesos and waited until the clerk brought the box out. One guy examined my parcel note.

Guy 1: Naka-adress sa school (Parcel note is addressed to the school).

Guy 2 examined the box. Looked at me and took the parcel note from Guy 1.

Guy 2: Ibigay mo na. Mga libro lang yan (Release the parcel. Those are just books).

I lifted my box of books and went out the post office happy that I didn't pay a big amount of tax but a bit dismissed at the clerk's reaction.

Book Order for Tales From the 7,000 Isles

Tales From the 7,000 Isles Filipino Folk Stories is already published!

It's available in the US and orders for the book can be made online. Visit ABC-CLIO's website for more information. In Manila, Scholastic Book Fairs Philippines shall be the official distributor. If you know a Scholastic Book agent, you may place advance orders from him/her.

I have been in touch with my friend and co-author, Dianne de Las Casas, brainstorming and planning for a possible launching of the book in Manila sometime next year. For the meantime, keep checking out the blog and my FB page for info on pre-launch activities and book parties.

Tales from the 7,000 Isles

It's in ABC-CLIO's catalog along with a feature on Dianne de las Casas' marvelous work in storytelling and training librarians in the art and craft of tale telling.

Excited to get copies of the book!