When Stories and Storytelling Heal

My recent workshop on bibiotherapy, Storytelling for Growth and Healing at the Lampara Office in JRich Corporate Center, was a casual and intimate session that explored the reader’s response to stories. It was an introduction to bibliotherapy, its process and practice, an encounter with stories both personal and universal, and the value of the arts to one’s mental health. I had the wonderful opportunity to meet new people, mostly teachers and professionals in the education sector. To my surprise, we had a senior high shool student who was there and was a very engaged participant.

Everyone settled into the workshop easily since we had the Penthouse all to ourselves. Being there established the mood and the tone of openess, a willingness to learn and the courage to try out new things. Of the many activities we had, it was the story writing and zine making activity that allowed the participants to be brave and to step out of their comfort zones. 

Here is a feedback by Ma. Roselle Luzuriaga Cajucom which she posted on her Facebook Page a few hours after the workshop.

“It was a dream come true meeting Ms. Zarah Gagatiga... It’s been a day full of fun, activity, realizations, inspirations and learnings. And I brought back home a one step more confident me by taking the courage to speak and narrate my piece infront of her ( I was shaking cold but felt kilig too). 

Looking forward for another workshop with you Ms. Zarah! Thank you and GOD Bless!”

Getting feedback like this inspires me more to improve the design of the workshop. I too learn from the participants. I thank my publisher, Lampara Books and its hardworking  staff, most especially Aiko Salazar, for always giving me the opportunity to further expand my knowlegde and build on new skills. I am looking at a follow-up workshop and if you are up for it, I hope to see you again soon before 2019 ends!

Happy reading and keep telling stories!

Book Project Update: Cover of My Daddy! My One and Only!

Jomike Tejido has consistenly blogged about our book project with Lampara Publishing House. Last Friday, he released a teaser illustration on the book's cover, front and back.

Jomike's post touches on a personal experience because he finished illustrating the book at the wake of his father's death. My condolences to Jomike and the Tejido family. I could not help but admire Jomike's creative spirit and his tenacity for churning out a beautiful work of art in the midst of grief.

As for my back story on My Daddy! My One and Only, I remember that I wrote the story when my son was in first grade. It was actually a poem first published in the The Junior Inquirer. At the time, my husband was a stay-at-home Dad and I marveled at how our eldest adored him. For my son, it was a time of hero worship and he saw his father's acts of love as heroism. Over the course of time, his image of his father being a hero changed and evolved into something real and palpable.

There came a point when he learned that his childhood hero has flaws, a wounded soul who continues to love despite his limitations and shortcomings. Then he realized how wonderful it was to be not just his father's son, but his father's friend too. But that, my friends, is for another story. A young adult novella, perhaps?

Storytelling @ St. Theresa's College Quezon City

The theme for English Week at St. Theresa's College was Care for the Environment.

I told stories to grade six students and they were an attentive audience. The experience reminds me of my storytelling at St. Paul's Pasig last year. Both being an all-girls' school, I conclude that the affinity for stories, sitting down and listening are natural qualities among females. At the end of the two storytelling sessions, I was given tokens. See the bee I'm holding? That's another prop I can use for future gigs!

And then there were the flowers. It was only later that I realized the reason for the flowers.

Healing and The Handkerchief Man

Among the many wonderful stories found in Dianne De Las Casas' Handmade Tales, it is the Handkerchief Man that I feel so confident in telling. It has everything every Preschool and K-2 student would love -- a handkerchief that can be turned into a puppet, songs, actions and a little bit of dancing on the side.

Last August 19, 2009, the preschoolers of Ridgefield had a blast with Handkerchief Man. They sang along and danced with him. I was enthralled with their enthusiasm!

I remember some telling gigs ago, I told the same story to a group of grade two students. The kids wondered what happened to the spunky and spritely Handkerchief Man next. Thus, a prolonged session on the many what-ifs and adventures the Handkerchief Man encountered. Some believed he fell in a well and drowned. Others thought that the Old Woman ran after him and caught up eventually. A few were convinced that the Handkerchief Man was smart enough to squeeze himself out of any trouble.

Such is the power of stories! My jaded heart slowly heals as I begin to find hope once more among the people I meet and mingle with. One of these days, I will record and document the healing qualities of stories. Beginning from my own experiences, in every performance I do from one school to another, I will write them down. I will research and further explore the therapeutic claims of stories and storytelling. Then, perhaps, I shall be ready to go back to Singapore and share how stories and storytelling can heal the soul and enrich a life.