Reading Advocacy: Tabang Kariton (2 of 2)

Here is part 2 of the feature on Tabang Kariton's reading advocacy in Masbate City where you will get to know its programs and projects.

DAGDAG DUNONG PROGRAM

Academic Enhancement

Academic Enhancement is part of Dagdag Dunong Program of Tabang Kariton. It aims to develop Mathematical and Communication Skills of its recipients. It has been observed that elementary pupils and high school students face difficulty in Mathematics, English and Filipino. Most of the recipients of the said program had lower grades in the subjects which prompted Tabang Kariton to conduct sessions and remedial classes during weekends to help them perform well in school.

The outcome of the program has made a tremendous effect in the performance of the recipients because not only have they acquired good grades in school but also they became more confident young individuals.

Christian Values Formation

Since the project initiator is a devoted Catholic and an active member of his church, it has been his advocacy to influence the youth to nurture their spirituality. He believes that the key to a progressive community is the moral and spiritual conscience of its citizens. If an individual fulfills his moral obligations to his fellowmen and his spiritual responsibility to his church, he definitely becomes a better member of the society.




Health Education

“The health of the people is the wealth of the nation.”

It is for this adage that Tabang Kariton initiated the program, Health Education. Through this program people are made aware of the importance of health in achieving a quality life style.  It is also a health campaign program which aims to educate the community of the danger of certain diseases that threaten the lives of many.

Activities such as Dental missions, Story Telling and Health Talks and Advocacy Campaigns are parts of Health Education program. Initiators of the said program are composed of individuals from different sectors.

Blood Donation Campaign (Tabang ko, Dugo ko)

Blood donors were often scarce in a small town like Masbate. It was due to the fact that many were misinformed of the necessity of donating blood.

Tabang Kariton, in partnership with Philippine Red Cross initiated a Blood Donation Campaign which is held twice in a year to help people specifically those who are in critical condition and in need of blood transfusion. The campaign advocates the benefits of donating blood with the aid of the local media.

Road Safety Education

Accidents can be avoided if people are educated of proper road safety measures. This program aims to impose discipline among motorists and vehicle owners since for the past years it was proven that many road accidents occurred due to reckless driving, and oftentimes, the man on the wheels is not old enough to acquire a driver’s license.

Tabang Kariton ensured that even parents of these teenagers were present during the conduct of the program to inform them that they bear responsibility on their children’s actions and behaviors. The said program imposed to the public that everyone has the duty to follow traffic rules.

It may be impossible to achieve a zero percent on vehicular accidents but the program at least helped lessen the rate.

Gender and Development

Considered as one of the most talked about issues today, Gender Equality, recognizes the rights of women and children. Tabang Kariton also advocates gender awareness and educates the people on the importance of everyone in achieving national solidarity.

Cultural Heritage Education

Masbate is rich in culture and tradition and from among the many attractions of the Province, the Lapay Bantigue Festival is its most unique offering because of its lively dance steps that capture the hearts of both local and international tourists.

In promoting Masbate Culture, Tabang Kariton has featured the story of the creator of Lapay Bantigue. Through its Story Telling Sessions, children were educated of the importance of Lola Felisa’s works in the history of Masbate and how should the Lapay Bantigue Festival be promoted to attract tourists and at the same time investors in the province. Through the program, recipients have also discovered their pride for their hometown and encouraged to promote Masbate in their own little ways.

 Tabang Kariton sa DYME TV Radyo

Part of the Tabang Kariton’s project is the information dissemination through radio and television broadcast. Because this project believes that informing the public about certain social issues must become everyone’s duty. Through the broadcast, activities of Tabang kariton are brought directly to the people so that they will have a full understanding of the project visions and at the same time, they will be also encouraged to extend help to the needy.

TABANG KARITON sa DYME TV RADYO has its live broadcast via DYME Radyo Masbate 783 and Masbate Cable, Inc. Channel 5 every Sunday wherein guests are invited to talk about certain issues currently happening locally and nationally. Young broadcasters of Masbate National Comprehensive High School, the Ranch and Ang Rantso Radio Broadcasting team are also often invited as News Partner and also part of training for Division and Regional Press Conference.

Reading Advocacy: Masbate’s Tabang Kariton

The blog is featuring Tabang Kariton’s reading advocacy and book campaign programs in Masbate. Thank you to Mr. Jonathan Morano, teacher and radio show host, for agreeing to do this feature and guest post. Read on and discover the history and initiatives of Mr. Morano in building a community of reades in Masbate. 

Inspired by Efren Peńaflorida’s advocacy to offer alternative education to street children through his pushcart, Jonathan Morano launched his own project “Kariton Edukasyon” when he was still working as the principal of Liceo de Masbate in 2010. During that time, the Citizens’ Army Training was abolished, and instead of military instructions, he proposed that the students should render service through teaching good values to children of poor communities. They adopted Espinosa Elementary School at Brgy. Espinosa, Masbate City for their outreach program and the result was overwhelming since Mr. Morano had seen that both the volunteer students and the community benefitted from the different activities they organized.

Liceo de Masbate is a Catholic School and needless to say that the spiritual being of an individual is the school’s primary goal and this was indeed achieved when students realized that helping others was a way for them to become good Christians. It was also observed that they became socially aware of the fact that poverty affected the lives of young children such as of those who were recipients of the program.  But the realization that it made a big difference to children and the community was what really caught the attention of Mr. Morano. While watching how eager those children were, how the thought that someone cared for them made them smile, he had come to a realization that if only people would give time to help and somehow touch the lives of others, the world would become a better place to live in.

From then on, Mr. Morano envisioned a dream that to others might had been too large to fulfill. As a teacher, he realized that he was not building edifices of stone and cement but he was molding lives. As an individual, he started to believe that he had a responsibility to the society and be part of its desire to change for the better. As a Masbateńo, he should care. And so, instead of complying with a mere requirement of a syllabus, his ‘kariton’ continued its journey…

On August 18, 2012, he initiated “Tabang Kariton”- a community service project which its purpose was to reach out to the core of a person’s need to be assisted in terms of knowledge skills, moral and social consciousness. By then, he was already a teacher of Masbate National Comprehensive High School. He decided to change the project’s name since he wanted to bring it closer to the hearts of his fellow Masbateńos. ‘Tabang’ is a local term for help and up to this day the community service project offers programs such as; Dagdag Dunong for literacy, skills, health education and  values formation and Sumpay Kapalibutan for environmental awareness.

What makes “Tabang Kariton” stand out from among other known community service projects is it is initiated with the help of various partners both from government and private sectors.

The initiator believes in the goodness of a man’s heart and he has learned that everyone has his desire to help others but sometimes there are factors that prevent him from trying. For this, the initiator offers that person his chance. If the person has resources, particularly with financial capacity, yet has no time to organize an activity to share his good fortune, Mr. Morano would willingly step in and offer him a chance to become a partner of “Tabang Kariton”. On the other hand, if a person has without funds but is willing to offer his service to people, “Tabang Kariton” is always open for volunteers.

Tabang Kariton is a community service which offers the programs Dagdag Dunong (Literacy, Skills and Values Formation) and Sumpay Kapalibutan (Environmental Awareness)

Teacher on Center Stage: Ana Maria Acevedo Bacudio (Part 1 of 2)

In my trip to Mindoro Oriental last month for a teacher training workshop there, I had the pleasure of meeting many interesting people in the teaching profession and in the advocacy for books and reading. One of them is Mrs. Ana Maria Acevedo Bacudio. She is a medical technologist, teacher, researcher, storyteller, poet, translator, proclaimer of God’s word, mother, wife and Project Leader-Storyteller of Dagdag Dunong Reading Center in Poblacion, Baco, Oriental Mindoro.

This is her story.

What led you to the teaching profession and the advocacy for books and reading?

I am A Medical Technologist by profession, having worked at the Manila Health Department Public Health Laboratory for 27 years, I have reached the peak of my career. I rose from the rank and was awarded as Model Medical Technologist in 1995, I have done various researches on Tuberculosis and have presented them in different countries like Japan, Singapore, Berlin, Paris, Italy and USA. The turning point in my life is when God called  me to teach the street children of our community in Singalong Manila.

That was in 2006, when I was still working as Medical Technologist from Monday to Friday and my Saturdays and Sundays were intended for the street children. We started our Read along and storytelling activities in Oct 2006 at the garage of our house in Singalong Manila. When I saw the children’s faces yearning for stories, I realised that I must teach them how to read and that was the start of the Dagdag Dunong Project. We have only a few books, preloved by my daughter and I bought some storybooks. I did not only teach the children how to read but also how to pray. I feel like children too when I am with the street children. I laugh like they did, play, pray  and read with them too. When I retired from government service in 2014, I shifted to teaching as my secondary profession. I handle and teach all major board based subjects of BS Medical Technology at Centro Escolar University in Mendiola, College of the Holy Spirit Manila and Family Clinic Inc.

Ana Bacudio with Mangyan chidlren in Baco, Oriental Mindoro

In teaching college students, I have shared the knowledge, skills and experiences that I have gained as Medical Technologist and  it is rewarding and joyful experience when I see them pass the board examination and practice their profession. I am paid for teaching them.

Whenever I  teach  the street children who are all smelly and lice infested, I feel so happy and fulfilled  when I see them smile and hug me after reading them stories, much more when I teach them  the rosary, grace before meals and prayer to their guardian angel. Everything that the children asked in prayers, the Lord provides. Teaching the street children how to read, pray and become God fearing earned me several awards like Outstanding Women Leader in Manila in 2008, Talk and Text Tipid Sulit Idol in Education 2010, Humanitarian and Apostolic Service, Outstanding Alumni of the College of the Holy Spirit Manila 2013. But even without these awards I will still continue to teach because it is  my calling and my way of worshipping God.

How did you start building the Dagdag Dunong Reading Center in San Andres, Manila?

Together with my husband, we founded and established the Dagdag Dunong Reading Center a non-profit, non-government purely voluntary organization with  permanent address at 1191 Arellano Street, Singalong, Malate, Manila 

Our Vision: A community with children who are knowledgeable,  loves to read, with excellent reading comprehension, verbal  and listening skills and who have access to a Reading Center equipped with good quality reading materials.

Our Mission: To promote literacy through reading advocacy and other relevant educational activities and to establish a Reading Center which will cater to poor children of Manila.

Teacher Ana Bacudio, reading aloud to children

Here are the milestones of our humble beginnings:

• October 2006 - a poet friend conducted the first storytelling in our garage
• More children have come so conduct storytelling every Saturday afternoons in the garage of our house 
• November 2006 - my daughter Aina joined the Alitaptap Storytelling competition at the National Library
• Applied the Read First and Say Techniques in all our storytelling sessions 
• February 2007 - our 1st Matuto sa Lakwatsa (Educational Field Trip) was conducted at Marikina City and continued annually up to the present 
• June 2007 - 30 children attended the PDI Read Along with Michaela Fudolig as the Storyteller  and continued up to 2011
• January 21, 2012 - Dagdag Dunong was featured on ABS-CBN 2, Ako ang Simula, Happy Libro
• January 2012 - formal opening of the Reading Center at Arellano St Singalong Manila 
• May 2012 - 1st  Reading Camp was conducted at Hangin Garden,Tagaytay 
• May  2012 - launched PROJECT RAM  Read Along with the Mangyans of Sitio Paraiso, Dulangan 2, Baco Oriental Mindoro
• May 2015 - started as volunteer trainor facilitator of Pinoy Reading Buddies Workshop on how to engage young readers, have conducted workshops to around 1500 teachers in NCR, Palawan, Iloilo, Bukidnon, Negros Occidental, Sorsogon, Batangas, Puerto Galera,Baco, San Teodoro and Mansalay all in Oriental Mindoro
• December 2015 - typhoon Nona damaged the books and flooded the  Dagdag Dunong Reading Center 
• May 2016 - Rolling of the Mobile Library Jeepney of Hope to reach remote barangays of Mindoro where the Mangyan children live
• At present we have started the construction of the flood proof and typhoon proof Dagdag Dunong Reading Center in Baco, Oriental Mindoro 

In part two of the blog interview, Ana Bacudio shares with us her dreams for the future of the children in Baco, Oriental Mindoro and the current Dagdag Dunong Center being built in the area.

Throwback Thursday: Librarian Roles & Advocacy

Back in 2011, I conducted a workshop for school librarians as requested and sponsored by Scholastic Philippines.

I have always believed in the constant articulation of the school librarian's role and that, reading promotion is only the tip of the proverbial iceberg. School librarians need to be advocates of reading and literacy.

Raya students interview Zarah Gagatiga about Sambat Trust UK

Here is the translation of my interview with two students from Raya School. Thanks to MJ Tumamac for translating the Filipino transcript to English.

Note: When this interview was conducted, only Trapiche Elementary School has submitted an annual report. As of March 18, 2014, the rest of the schools with Sambat Trust libraries have turned in their reports. 

Diego Montenejo and Pepe Domingo, who are students from the Raya School, sent me questions about the advocacy of Sambat Trust UK. They wanted to know what the charity does in Tanauan City, Batangas. Here is the transcript of the interview.

1. Who started Sambat Trust and why did he create it?

Mr. Anthony Mariano started Sambat Trust. He wanted to help Tanauan City, where his family is from, through providing scholarship programs and building libraries in public elementary schools. Mr. Mariano is Filipino-British and he grew up in London.

2. How big is Sambat Trust’s impact on the children’s lives?

Sambat Trust’s library projects are a source of inspiration for the children. If there is a library in their school, it motivates them to study hard.

3. What are your future plans for the children of Tanauan?

I want to have more libraries in Tanauan City and, hopefully, kids will read more often.

4. How many children visit your libraries?

According to the report from Trapiche Elementary School, all of their students go to the library for they have a schedule to visit the library. We don’t have reports, however, from the other four school libraries.

5. What kinds of books do you encourage the children to read?

Most of the books in Sambat Trust’s libraries are produced by local publishers. We also put foreign books but there are only a few. We usually purchase the books from Adarna House.

6. What books do the children usually read? Or what are their favorite books?

They love picture books and illustrated picture books. With no title in particular, but the children really like books with drawings.

7. Why do you do this advocacy?

Because I love to read and I have the ability to help in building libraries. As a Filipino, this is what I can do for our country. I also believe that education will liberate my fellow Filipinos from poverty. They should be taught how to read and think. And we do this through Sambat Trust’s scholarship program and school library projects.

8. What is your favorite part or aspect in your work?

I am happy every time we build libraries and when I know that there are kids who learn to read because they have access to our libraries. Besides the classroom, the library is also a place where children can think freely as they learn to read.

Book Spine Poetry January 2014: Judge's Review (1 of 4)

Last February, I invited Beverly "Bebang" Siy and Ronald "Poy" Verzo to judge entries in the Book Spine Poetry Contest that we're running in the library. The poems were entries for the month of January but judging transpired in February, National Arts Month. Serendipitous? Probably.

I will be posting their reviews in several parts.  Here is the first part of Bebang's review.

Ngayong National Arts Month, kakaibang patimpalak sa tula ang aking nilahukan bilang isang hurado. Pinamagatan itong Book Spine Poetry Contest na nilahukan ng mga estudyante ng Grades 9-12 ng Beacon Academy at inorganisa ng kanilang librarian na si Bb. Zarah C. Gagatiga.

Lahat ng kalahok ay kailangang makagawa ng isang tula gamit ang iba’t ibang pamagat ng aklat, na nakalimbag sa spine ng aklat. Ang isang spine ay katumbas ng isang taludtod. 

Dito ay hindi ako nagbago ng criteria sa ginawa kong paghusga sa mga kalahok. Ang ginawa ko ay katulad din ng paghusga ko sa karaniwang patimpalak sa tula. 

Bakit? 

Sapagkat ang proseso lamang ng paglikha ng tula ang naiiba rito. Ang Book Spine Poetry ay isang halimbawa ng Found Poetry. Ito ‘yong uri ng tula na binubuo ng mga salita o pariralang basta na lamang natagpuan. Malabo ba? Ganito, halimbawa ay ang tula na gawa sa ilang headline ng ilang diyaryo. O kaya ay ang  tula na gawa sa unang pariralang matatagpuan sa unang pahina ng unang sampung libro na madadampot sa isang aklatan. Ibig sabihin, pre-selected ang (mga) salita na siyang titindig bilang isang taludtod. Walang babaguhin ang sinumang nais gumawa ng tula mula sa mga natagpuan niyang salita o parirala. Ang maaari lamang baguhin (depende na sa makata) ay ang pagkakasunod-sunod ng taludtod at/o ang mga bantas na nakapaloob sa mga ito.

Kumbaga, hindi kailangang likhain mula sa bula ang isang taludtod. Sa patimpalak na ito ng Beacon Academy, nariyan ang mga spine ng aklat, nariyan ang salita o parirala sa bawat spine na siyang bubuo sa taludtod. Kailangang piliin ang mga ito at ayusin ang pagkakasunod-sunod para makalikha ng isang tula.

At dahil tula pa rin ito, inaasahang matatagpuan pa rin dito ang mga elemento ng nasabing anyong pampanitikan.

Narito ang ilan sa palagay ko na dapat taglayin ng isang tula (in no particular order po!):

1. Mapaglarong gamit ng wika

-ito ang dahilan kung bakit nagiging manunulat ang isang karaniwang tao. Nagbabago ang simpleng salita dahil sa mapaglarong gamit niya rito. Nagbabago ito ng anyo, ng kulay, ng hugis, ng amoy, ng lasa, ng tunog dahil sa masining na paggamit ng isang manunulat. 

Sa kaso ng mga spine bilang taludtod, maaaring nagbabago ang kahulugan ng orihinal na pamagat sa spine dahil sa mapaglaro at masining na pagkakasunod-sunod ng bawat spine. Nalalaro niya ang mga salita, at ang kahulugan at tunog nito batay sa pagkakasunod-sunod ng spine.

2. Talinghaga

Ito raw ay pinagsanib na dalawang salita: nakataling hiwaga. Walang eksaktong salin sa Ingles ang salitang talinghaga. Ayon sa UP Diksiyonaryong  Filipino, ito ay mapagbuong simulain ng isang akda, lalo na kaugnay ng malikhaing pangangasiwa sa tayutay at retorika. 

Ito ‘yong bagay sa loob ng tula na kapag naaninag  mo, ikaw ay mapapa-“aaa… iyon pala!” Maaaring maipahayag  ang talinghaga sa pamamagitan ng paggamit ng tayutay tulad ng simile, metaphor, irony, personification at marami pa. Maaari din namang ang talinghaga ay ang bagay na siyang hindi ipinapahayag sa isang tula. 

3. Mapaglarong gamit ng taludtod

Dahil sa patimpalak na ito, pre-selected ang (mga) salita sa isang spine o taludtod, ang kailangang bantayan ay kung paanong nagagamit ang pagkakaputol ng mga salita at diwa ng bawat spine. Nakakapagdagdag ba ito sa mensaheng nais iparating ng tula? Nakakapagdagdag ba ito para lalong maging interesting ang talinghaga sa tula? Dahil ba sa huling salita ng piniling spine ay nadagdagan ang pananabik para basahin ang susunod na spine? Ika nga ay, page turner ba ang huling salita ng bawat spine?

4. Persona

Ang persona ay ang mata na pinagmumulan ng isang tula. Kaninong mata ang nakakakita ng karanasan na nasa tula? Sa isang bata ba? Sa isang teenager o sa isang matanda? Sa isang mayaman ba, mahirap o middle class? Sa isang tao ba noong unang panahon o ngayong modernong panahon? Paalala: hindi kailangang tao ang may ari ng mga mata na ito. Maaaring maging mata ito ng isang yelo o kaya ng isang penguin.  Puwede ring mata ng isang buong bansa na naghihikahos. O kaya ng isang bansang gustong manakop ng ibang bansa. Kahit anong persona ay posible, walang hanggan ang posibilidad na mapagpipilian ng sinumang gustong tumula.

5. Mensahe at Tema

Bilang hurado, mahalaga rin sa akin ang tema o mensahe, hindi lang ang paraan kung paanong nilalaro ang mga salita o kung paanong ibinabaon sa mga salita ang isang talinghaga o kung paanong nayayari ang isang taludtod. Aanhin natin ang tulang napakahusay sa mga teknikalidad na nabanggit ngunit ampaw naman ang mensahe o di naman makabuluhan ang tema? 

Napakahirap gumawa ng tula ngunit sa kasawiang-palad, ang tula ay isa lamang messenger. Mas importante pa rin ang message na dala-dala ng messenger. Ang pogi nga ng messenger, wala namang kuwenta ang message niya, wala rin, di ba? Sayang lang ang panahon ng nakatanggap ng message. Kaya para sa akin, mahalagang nagbibigay ng angkop at makabuluhang mensahe ang isang tula o ang anumang pampanitikang akda. 

International Book Giving Day 2014: Books Given Away

This is Sam. He is a grade 2 student at San Beda College Alabang. I gave him a copy of my book, My Daddy! My One and Only during International Book Giving Day 2014. He looked thrilled to get a free book!

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.

Spread the Book Love this Valentine's Day

Our Bulletin Board Display for February

Tell us what books would make for a good reading pair. 

There are books that go well together. When, after reading one, you'd like to follow it up with another that's probably written by the same author; the same genre; or something entirely different.

For example: Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises and A Farewell to Arms; Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and Hawking's The Brief History of Time;  Yang'sAmerican Born Chinese and Giaman's The Graveyard Book.

Tell us! Intrigue us! 

Make us want to read those books!

Also, tomorrow is International Book Reading Day and I'll be giving away some books. 

World Read Aloud Day: Raising Our Voices Blogging Challenge

I am joining in this blog challenge initiated by Matthew Winner for World Read ALoud Day 2014 (WRAD 2014). The theme for WRAD 2014 is Raising Our Voices. As librarian and literacy advocate, I will use this blog as platform to raise the voice for books, reading and literacy.

I have lifted this post on WRAD 2014 Raising Our Voices Blogging Challenge from Matthew Winner, The Busy Librarian.

The World Read Aloud Day "Raising Our Voices" Blogging Challenge begins February 10 and runs through March 9. If you choose to take the challenge, each week you will be asked to write a post in response to a prompt or question (outlined below), for a total of 4 posts counting down to World Read Aloud Day. 

Each of the prompts addresses the WRAD theme "Raising Our Voices." Raising Our Voices encapsulates that simple yet effective way we show the world's children we support their future: that they have the right to read, to write, and to share their words to change the world. 

WRAD Raising Our Voices Blogging Challenge: Weekly Outline 

Week 1: February 10 - 16
What is your earliest or fondest memory in which someone read aloud to you?
Your first mission is to answer this question. We are using this prompt to bring awareness to the impact reading aloud and the act of being read to has on readers of all ages. Consider it an opportunity to connect with others through the shared experience of hearing stories read aloud. 

After answering the prompt, share a short description of how you plan to celebrate WRAD on March 5. Who will you celebrate with? Where will you be? If you have celebrated WRAD in the past, what activities brought you and those you celebrated with the most joy? If you haven't finalized plans, of if this will be your first WRAD celebration, use this space to share your brainstorming process, and direct your readers to litworld.org/worldreadaloudday for activities and recommendations.

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... 

Week 3: February 24 - March 2
A Snapshot of My Reading Life
Post a photo that gives readers a glimpse into your reading life. This could be your favorite place to read, your bookshelf, your library, your classroom, a book from childhood that you still re-read today, your favorite person to read with. Anything that brings joy to your reading life will work!
Below the photo share a short narrative explaining why this picture is meaningful to you. 

Week 4: March 3 - 9
Raising Our Voices
It's time to read aloud! Select a favorite text, or a personal story that you love to share out loud, and make a video. If you don't have a webcam, are having technical difficulties, or prefer not to be on camera, you can also translate this challenge into a written post. Share what you will be reading on World Read Aloud Day, and why you chose this particular piece to read aloud.

If you choose to take up the WRAD Raising Our Voices blogging challenge, make sure to tweet your weekly posts to @litworldsays and use the hashtag #WRAD14 so that we can retweet your wonderful read aloud stories! Happy blogging!

Book Spine Poetry December 2013: Judge's Review (2 of 2)

Here is the second part of Rhandee Garlitos' review on the poems that made it to the finals in the library's Book Spine Poetry Contest. Part one can be read here.

Therefore, these three best entries captured not only the essence of being a poem built on a stack of found titles.  I see this exercise somewhat done before by the American writer Annie Dillard, making something out of newspaper and magazine articles, creating poems from an obsolete almanac in the 1920s, putting together lines by obliterating the unnecessary weeds and hedges.

The third place winner captivates me with its premise – that there could be fun in poetry despite its serious messages.  Its humor is natural and appealing to the young with its premise on the oldest subject in the world, the monkey on every normal student’s back – Maths (When no one understands / Maths 1001 / Academic anxiety / A Game of Groans)

A few more editing touches, and if the last line was used instead as a title, it would be a very potent haiku on the subject, like this:

A Game of Groans

When no one understands

Maths 1001 —

Academic anxiety

The second prize winner had the strength of a strong message.  It speaks of the need for restraint in order to achieve atonement, and it cuts both ways, too.  It could be like a gentle advice to go easy as one passes by an offended elemental, or a stern warning to be careful not to disrespect the boundaries set by a higher being, sort of like the traditional Filipino superstition of “Tabi, tabi po”.  Although it suffers slightly from the natural lack of a preposition (If whispers call for / atonement), it impresses me with its brevity.  A few more tweaks and fine-tuning and this would have gotten my two thumbs-up.

Walk softly, Rachel, 

if whispers call 

atonement 

by the river.

If properly edited, this would read like

By the river

walk slowly, Rachel,

if whispers call (for)

atonement.

The first prize winner stands out above others simply because its author (or I would prefer to call “recreator”) knew how to piece together a four-line poetry that is cohesive in thought and message.

In the country of men,

Things fall apart.

Funny how things change

As I lay dying.

The first two lines join together seamlessly and conjure the image of disarray brought in by what would have been expected as a warranted chaos.  To me it speaks of a world where men destroy each other in quest for power and command of fear above others, and the world collapses because of their whims.  It also speaks of how someone who lays victim to this chaos speaks of it with a casual, almost cold, demeanor.  Then again, it may be a stoic response by someone finally gasping his last ounce of breath.  It is for this reason that its imagery, along with a powerful message, causes this poem to stand out above all others and deserve a much needed applause for its precision and careful marriage of irony and imagery.

Rhandee Garlítos (aka Raymund Magno Garlítos) is an award-winning poet and children’s book author in English and Filipino.  He has received four times the prestigious Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards (the Philippines’ premier literary contest); the Salanga Prize given by the Philippine Board on Books for Young People or PBBY; and the Gintong Aklat Award for his body of work.  He has published 12 children’s books, with his most recent being “Ang Bonggang Bonggang Batang Beki (The Fierce and Fabulous Boy in Pink)”, “Lauan, The Seed that Wanted to Fly” and “The Cat and the Bat and Other Fables.”  He edits and writes for the monthly travel magazine Cruising #Going Places, where he also edits its literary section.  He is currently based in Quezon City where he lives with his daughter, a sizable number of cats, and a house full of books.

Update on the 2014 Reading Challenge

One of the four teachers participating in the 2014 Reading Challenge has turned in her book review. 

The Elegance of the Hedgehogby Muriel Barbery 

I had heard about this book quite a bit in the past, so I was quite happy to have pulled it out of my book "can" before the long weekend.  

I have to admit, it took me a while to warm up to this story of a young girl and a concierge who live in a luxurious apartment building in Paris. I initially found both protagonists pretentious and perfect dictionary examples of reverse snobs.  

There was a bit of decent philosophical discussion happening in between their stories, which will make for fun pondering if you're into TOK. But otherwise, I only only began to enjoy this book when their mysterious Japanese neighbour arrives and you see another side to both women.  

The chapters are as light as a freshly baked croissant and are easily read over a plane ride or before visiting your dreams at night. It's also the kind of story that makes for fun discussions with others who've read it as well. 

As for me, I still have to read Bag of Bones by Stephen King as recommended by a grade 12 student. I'm in between two books now (on top of writing projects and library advocacy duties, I push myself to read fiction) so, I'll finish both then move on to Bag of Bones. To fulfill my promise, here's what the library is giving away for students who recommended books and for teachers who wrote a book review.

The 2014 Reading Challenge

Because I want to debunk the myth that librarians have read everything there is in the library. Besides, reading becomes more meaningful if the individual experience of it moves to the collective.

Some faculty members joined in the reading fun too!

The procedures are easy to follow:

a. Write your book recommendation on a piece of paper with your name and grade level. 

b. Drop this in the bowl assigned to the teacher.

c. If your book recommendation gets picked, you get a token from the library.

d. Your book recommendation will be read by the teacher over a period of time.

e. She will write a review of the book which will be posted in the library bulletin board or published in the newsletter.

f. Once she’s done reading the book, teacher will pick another book from the bowl.

* Recommend books you’ve borrowed and read from the library.

Librarian-Storyteller: Ann Grace Bansig

Librarian-Storyteller Ann Grace Bansig shares her answers to my questions before we had our storytelling session in Sambat Elementary School with Sambat Trust scholars.

1. What motivated me to volunteer? 

Volunteering is my passion. It was intensified during my college days where I was a member of a socio-civic organization that visit institutions. Now, this passion is being sustained by the many volunteering opportunities in La Salle through our Social Action Office, Book mobile project and other personal endeavors. So, in short, its within me. 

2. What is my personal goal as a storyteller? 

My personal goal is to foster love for reading and develop life-long readers. It is my advocacy now to spread awareness about the many benefits of storytelling to children. 

3. What is my volunteer-storyteller experience prior to this activity? 

I have a lot of storytelling experiences prior to this activity. I usually do storytelling whenever we do Bookmobile project. I also volunteered in ATD Fourth World Philippines in the previous summers. And being a Reading major, storyelling is very essential as we advocate for a literature-based reading program.

4. What are my expectations from this experience?

I don't really expect much but I do hope that the students that we catered during the small group storytelling session realized how reading can make a difference to their lives. 

Librarian-Storyteller: Martin Julius Perez

Martin Julius Perez shares his answers to my questions before we had our storytelling session in Sambat Elementary School with Sambat Trust scholars.

1. What motivated me to volunteer?

 At first I’m reluctant to join due to a busy schedule, but then I decided to volunteer. As a librarian and an advocate of reading and learning, I think I can help and contribute to this activity. I’m thankful that when I was younger, there are people who would share to me stories that inspired me and touched my life. This time, it is my chance to return the favor to the younger generation. I hope to inspire them with these little acts of mine.
 

2. What is my personal goal as a storyteller?

 When telling or sharing stories, I just want to put smiles in the faces of these children and to inculcate in their minds and hearts positive insights, values and lessons that will, in some way, have an impact in their lives. I want to promote reading for learning and for leisure, and to make them appreciate every story, whether it is short or long, simple or complicated. I want them to realize that in every story there’s something to learn and there’s an idea to capture for the development of their imagination and outlook in life.
 

3. What is my volunteer-storyteller experience prior to this activity?

I think the last time I volunteered for a storytelling activity was in an outreach program for patients of a children’s hospital in Quezon City. Also, aside from this, I love to share children’s stories to my little cousins at home.
 

4. What are my expectations from this experience?

I just wanted to have fun and to share what I have to these children. While they are learning, I think I will also learn from them and from their stories too.