Author of the Month: Yeng Remulla

Yeng Remulla, Pinoy entrepreneur and book author of Productive Pinoy, is the blog's author of the month. Remulla writes with humor and wit. Extracting real life experiences as a young entrepreneur, he shares life lessons gained along the tough path of building and sustaining a business. What I like about his book is the way he tells these real life experiences in bits of stories, like vignettes that pinches the heart and punches the gut. In the end, Remulla puts family on top of the list and how important it is to take care of one's well being. Indeed, one can only share what he's got. At the end of the day, it's not work or career who would warp its arms around you.

Read on Remulla's back story in writing Productive Pinoy.

What inspired or motivated you to write Productive Pinoy?
It's a compilation of what I've learned throughout the years. I became a dad at 19. I didn't know how to raise a family. All I knew was the typical advice you'd usually get, 'Study hard and work hard'.

At that time, I also started a business. I experienced it first hand how difficult it was to run a business and at the same time raise a family. I wanted to do my work remarkably well, but I also wanted to go home to my family still smiling.

I learned it the hard way.

Now, the reason why I wrote this book, is that I believe, many Pinoys are in the same dilemma. They want to excel in what they do, but at the same time, they don't want 'WORK' to suck the life out of them!

Can you describe your creative process in writing the book
It's a combination of discipline and inspiration.

1. Inspiration

a. I asked myself the following questions:

"How can I help my Kababayans change for the better?"
"How can I inspire change without putting the reader down?"
"How can I help them find the work their gifted to do?"
"What are negative mindsets that needs to be flipped into positive ones"

b. I used my day-to-day experiences to trigger ideas.
Ex.
– Waiting for someone late
– Financial behaviors of some people I know
– "Takaw Mata"
– "Freepuchino"

2. Discipline

a. I sat down and wrote at least one page a day – with or without inspiration. I basically wrote the book while in Starbucks or Seatle's Best.

b. I realized that writing is editing. I didn't stop rewriting until I got the exact words or phrases that will make the ideas clear.

c. I asked my friends to read my work before I published it, they gave me their 'honest' opinions, and revised from there.

d. I asked my editor to comment and point out areas of my writing that needs improvement. That took a lot of 'pride swallowing', but I trust my editor.

Where do you go from here -- after Productive Pinoy?
There's another book that I'm currently writing. It's the continuation – It's designed to help Pinoys start and finish the work their good at. But for today, my goal is to be able to spread out the ideas written on the book.

We are searching for ways and looking for partners who will help us give away the book to our fellow Pinoys in need of support.

Email Yeng Remulla at productivepinoy@gmail.com. He blogs too at www.productivepinoy.com.

Do you blog? iBlog!

It's the 6th iBlog Summit on April 16 and 17, 2010 at Malcolm Theater, UP College of Law, UP Diliman. It will run from 8AM to 5PM.



Memories of my attendance to the 1st and 2nd iBlog Summits come rushing back. Enter sentimental music.

SLIA's Unforgettable Posts of 2009

2009 was a breakthrough year for me as a blogger. After four years of blogging, SLIA finally earned revenues! It's not so big that I could afford quitting work. At the end of a blogging day, it's the content that matters really. The earning is icing on the cake.

So here's a list of some unforgettable posts I made in 2009. Note that the choices are all mine and it does not make the BESTs of the year. That would be harder to decide on so I'm giving myself time for that. Meanwhile, let's journey back to SLIA's 2009.

January
The QuestVon and Peachy were in town for a brief homecoming. It was also the month when Von joined Deal or No Deal and won some big cash!

February
The Butterfly Award SLIA's second blog award! Another one came around in September of 2008 where SLIA won an honest 2nd place.

March
Write An Essay Get a Gift CheckSLIA's first writing contest as inspired by a talk I had at the UP FLIPP congress.

April
SLIA Essay Writing Contest WinnerAnd yes, there was a winner! Thanks to Arnold Zafra for sponsoring the prize.

May
All In The Name of ReadingThe Great Book Blockade of 2009 began as an email bomb. Like wild fire it spread through Pinoy blogosphere and beyond. The result of which was a lifting of book duties.

June
Aklatan ni MikaMy first storytelling session in a halfway house for kids afflicted with cancer. This experience has to be the most unforgettable so far.

July
PBBY Luncheon for South African StorytellerGcina Mhlope-Becker is a miracle on two legs! Her visit and performances were truly amazing!

August
Three posts made it to the list for the month of August. Carlo Caparas made quite a stir accepting the award as National Artist for Visual Arts. In Qualifying the Unqualified I made a stand for what I believed was a mockery. Good thing that Philippine Chidlren's Literature is a buzz with new books being launched left and right. It got featured in One Shot while I wrote about Dr. Luis Gatmaitan's contribution to the industry in the said blog program.

By the end of the month,The Manila International Storytelling Festivalcommenced. I was enthralled. Thus I realized, as a storyteller, I have so much to learn!

September
SLIA has shown its age as it was mentioned in a news article,Good PR for Filipino Librarians", along side Von Totanes' esteemed and high brow Filipino Librarian.

October
2009 was a trying year since it gave us Ondoy to contend with. But I survived and got by with a lot of help from friendsMany Thanks to everyone who sent their prayers, financial help and moral support.

And of course, the Collaboration With Dianne de Las Casaswas a pleasant surprise! Life is indeed a roller coaster ride.

November
Two months before 2009 folded up, I came full circle. InCompleting Life CyclesI touched based with a former student and made connections with my Alma Mater.

December
To close the year, I gladly accepted PAASCU'sThe Fr. James Meany Award. One of the many things to remind me that I have done something right.

Now on to doing more!

PBBY's Fave Books for the Filipino Child Reader (3 of 3)

MY TOP 3 CHILDREN’S BOOK WRITERS


Rene Villanueva
Contribution to Philippine Children's Literature: He was able to write literature for kids in four formats – book, poetry, play,(theatre), TV.

Kept a journal for possible stories; Used a Pilot pen for writing because it has an easy slide on paper; Claimed that writing is the only thing he was good at, so he wrote and wrote and wrote and wrote; Was nominated for the Hans Christian Award of the IBBY.

Augie Rivera
Contribution to Philippine Children's Literature: Alamat ng Ampalaya – CLASSIC!

Augie is a disciplined writer. He works to write and his writing works!
He values research as a relevant part of the writing process. His approach towards crafting a story is always well thought of. He is a thinking writer. Alamat ng Ampalaya was a product of the 1995 UP Writer's Workshop where it earned praises and very good feedback from the panelists.

Dr. Luis Gatmaitan
Contribution to Philippine Children's Literature: Health and hygiene books for kids – Tito Dok Series. The series is a very accessible reading material for children on health and hygiene issues; Wan Dey Isang Araw – his radio program that reaches far flung areas of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The show features Filipino stories written by Filipino writers for children.

Luis may be known for his Tito Dok series, but he is an excellent essayist as well. He read Funny Komiks as a child and was greatly influenced by it. Has an uncanny talent in listening to kids and their conversations and uses them as spring board for his stories. He uses the “what if” technique in writing.

MY TOP 3 CHILDREN’S BOOK ILLUSTRATOR

Albert Gamos
Mentored and inspired the many children's book illustrators we admire today.
No personal info, but I love his classic style of illustration. There's something very old and antiquated about his drawings, yet it looks so new and fresh!


Totet de Jesus
I like the texturing of his drawings. It's like something I can touch and uncover layer over layer.

Jomike Tejido
He knows how to have fun. He is unafraid to break conventions and visually “teases” the reader through his illustrations. His works offer new perspectives and insights.

Rehabilitation Process

Rico Blanco has a new song, BANGON, for all of us who went through Ondoy.

So he says --

Countless Filipinos have heroically gone out of their way to help our brothers and sisters in this time of need. This is just my humble contribution as a singer and musician. I hope, in my own little way, I can help raise additional funds for our countrymen affected by the typhoons, and perhaps give a little boost to their morale to help them get back on their feet again.

Now, the rehabilitation process begins. Bangon, Pilipinas Kong Mahal!