Graphic Novels

Because we're going to have graphic novels in our library, we're going to have these as promotional posters and bookmarks to give away! (Well, I hope my boss agrees.)



Coolness! Here is another one!



Why graphic novels? Why not?

Michael Lavin of Lockwood Memorial Library enumerates seven good reasons. The first four are good enough reasons to convince a literacy advocate(like yours truly).

Assist Poor Readers. Comics and graphic novels are excellent tools for use with children and young adults with poor reading skills.

Connect with Visual Learners. As educators become increasingly aware of the importance of different learning styles, it is clear that comic books can be a powerful tool for reaching visual learners.

Develop Strong Language Arts Skills. Several studies have shown that students who read comic books regularly have better vocabularies and are more likely to read above grade-level.

Encourage Unmotivated and "Dormant" Readers. Teachers often use non-book materials to encourage reading. Comic books are an ideal medium to spark interest, equate reading with enjoyment, and develop the reading habit.

And then there is visual litearcy to consider. Graphic novels help young learners understand visual representations in a highly graphic environment.

See for yourself the wide array of graphic novel genres to choose from. There are plenty of foreign and US made graphic novels in the market, but very few Filipiniana material. So far, I've recommended SIGLO : Freedom to my boss and our acquisitions librarian. We're still on the look out for Pinoy produced grahic novels...the kind that media induced kids will READ.

Image is EVERYTHING (2 of 3)

I was at that part of my session where I was encouraging my co-teachers to learn the software that the school has institutionalized. It took me two days to learn it. I was emphasizing on the importance of time as one investment in e-learning. That's when I heard the comment.

It was meant as a joke. However, it made me look at it's meaning beyond the lines. It seems that teachers with full teaching load will not find it easy to squeeze in their time to learn the software. On the other hand, librarians, have the luxury of time to learn the software because they have nothing "heavy" to do. No kids to supervise. No regular lesson plans to make. No quiz tests to check and grade. Librarians just arrange books, conduct book fairs, tell stories, surf the WWW. Librarians lead easy lives and "stress" free work. That is the image most teachers have of librarians. My poor co-teacher could not see this new emerging role of school librarians as collaborators for teaching and instruction.

Most people are stuck with that image of school librarians. Even school principals and school directors percieve librarians in the traditional light. Middle level coordinators find it strange how librarians can enrich their curriculum. It is an alien idea for subject coordinators to find a school librarian who can recommend learning resources for their teachers, more so, a school librarian who has a general grasp of the subscribed curriculum and its pedagogical practices.

The sad thing is, most of us still hold that traditional image. Nothing wrong with holding on to tradition, but librarianship is as dynamic as education. If we keep to ourselves and do the library practices we are accustomed to then we'll never grow; we'll never improve. We stale. We die.

I have a lot of images of school librarians in particular, but there is one that is recently my favorite. This came upon our school library's move to acquire graphic novels.



Batgirl is Barbara Gordon. Barbara is a librarian by profession. She was inspired by Batman, the caped crusader, to be the Batgirl of Gotham. When the Joker crippled her to a life confined in a wheel chair, Barbara's spirit was still standing on two firm legs. She took on another image.

She became Oracle, an information specialist and broker for all the superheroes of Gotham. With her skills in technology and the management of information, superheroes depend on her for valueable knowledge. Along with these superheroes, Oracle, librarian and information broker, saves Gotham from crime and the villains that terrorize its citizens.

---TO BE CONTINUED---

Image is EVERYTHING (1 of 3)

I'm not supposed to post this yet. I have scheduled a selection criteria for school librarians to use when picking websites for basic education learners for posting today. But, two situations prompted me to step away from my schedule of postings and come up with something more "controversial". Yes, again a controversial issue but not as dramatic as the dog metaphor/simile of Cristobal.

So you think librarians lead boring lives? Think again. Our profession is teeming with exciting and intriguing issues all the time. Must be hidden behind stacks and stack of shelves, so to speak. Anyhoo, I credit Von, for always stirring things up in the profession. I admire his courage for turning over stones and encouraging people to go see what lies under the rock. My blogging life would be a tad bit monotonous without his scholarly, humorous, and sometimes naughty take on Philippine librarianship today.

If you go to his blog, he's featured three links about librarians baring enough skin to tease the imagination and arouse interest. Now I clap my hands for these librarians who did a Calendar Girls gimmick to change their image. It must be a PR technique that will be accepted and appreciated in their culture. If these librarians think it is one way to make clients stop and take notice and if it's proven effective, congratulations. It isn't porn, people. While others are beginning to abhor the idea (I've read the links and some are offended), I do not. I say, they're creative.

As for the image issue, the Camden librarians' gimmick, simply tells me that they're a passionate lot. Can you bare for your profession? Can you be that intimate to your job - taking off your clothes, your sense of security? Are you brave enough to show your other side? That you as a librarian is as normal as any human being. That it is about time to break the mold and do something different. That going left when everybody goes right is OK.

That's fine by me...but really, I can think of other ways to show how passionate I am to my profession. I can jazz up my image and still keep my clothes on. Can I shed them for a worthy cause for librarianship? I'm a school librarian. My clients are children. They may have a different impression of the image I wish to to convey to them. Thank you (then again...).

And as far as image goes, it's about time librarians gather up in arms and do some age old image busting.

The second situation that prompted me to write about image was a co-teacher's side comment from yesterday's E-Learning session that I conducted with them. I am a tech savy librarian and this co-teacher quipped, "Why not? She spends her day sitting in front of the PC!"

Image is indeed everything!

---TO BE CONTINUED---

International Literacy Week in Photos

A picture paints a thousand words. Here are photos from our celebartion of International Literacy Week. We had a pajama party in the library that we dubbed as "Evening With Readers and Storytellers". It's been four years since and we first had the activity and we just never tire of doing it every year.

Sally Labanda visited Xavier School for a parenting talk and the Scholastic Book Fair this year is a definite SUCCESS! Congrats to 4B St. Peter who won this year's Book Contest. They won a book hanger filled with books in each pocket! Way to go 4B!

Here I am telling Anansi Gets Into Trouble using the Storykniffing technique


Marni Lapus-Mendoza tells a story with Geronimo Stilton. The kids just loved her!


Ladies of Power. Flora Alfonso GS Reading/LA Dept. Coordinator; Sally Labanda (PBBY Sectoral Rep for Educators) and Estrelle Nabua, GS Asst. Principal


Gr. 6 Reading Teacher Cecily Tiu as a grandmother, telling a story about Ms. Pridget's Prize.


Storytellers - Stotyteachers!

Pajama Party at the GS LRC! The boys were ready to hear lots of stories before bedtime.


Schalistic Book Fair 2005. Would you believe we earned 1.2 million Php this year!?


Now this is a worthy buy...hmmm...Interesting!


Nursery boy, Paolo Abadam picks his book from the book fair.


Kudos to the men and women of the Reading and LA Departments, the GS LRC and Scholastic Inc. for yet another successful ILW! Photos are courtesy of Oyet Concepcion, GS LRC Librarian.

Online Newspapers & Magazines for Kids

My Information Literacy Skills lesson for the 2nd quarter is all about Reference Sources and Periodicals. With the proliferation of online references and periodicals in the WWW, it is inevitable to discuss these resources in class. Years of teaching Information Literacy has taught me to strike the balance between print and digital formats. They must co-exist in the library as well as the tools that basic education learners can use. It is important that students see the importance of using these resources, each has a different feature and provides specific information to an information question or problem.

As I was preparing for my class a few days ago, I stumbled upon these "child-friendly" online newspapers and magazines. They are specifically constructed and maintained for kids. What's more, some of these sites welcome contributions for kids from stories to poems, photos to artworks, news and feature articles. Now I'm all the more motivated to share these with teachers. I've picked five from the many directories available online.

Two leading newspapers in the US (and in the world) came up with a kids' version of their dailies. The New York Times Learning Network (NKT-LN) and Time for Kids (TFK) features local and world news that bridges these to possible classroom activities. NYT-LN specifically has something for students, teachers and parents to learn and enjoy while TFK sticks with kids and classroom activities and homework helpers.

The Weekly Reader Online leans on the language and communication arts. It also has news from everywhere but it's literary features stand out. An interactive blog of Read and Write Magazine allows readers to continue the story, an activity that teachers can engage their students to do. Weekly Reader online is also a commercial arm of current print magazines in the US today.

The Bear Essential News for Kids is another site that fosters reading and writing skills. It also has interesting articles on the environment and nature. If you're kids are looking for educational games, lead them to Cyberkids. It has tons of interactive games for kids and kids at heart.

You may be wondering what guidelines I employ in selecting these websites for children. I'll save that for next post!

Ten Reasons to Invest in Children's Literature

I owe this to my participants last Saturday at the Phoenix Eductaional Systems sponsored workshop on Creative Use of School Libraries. Now I'm redeemed.

1. Children's literature affords delight and a sense of wonder.
2. It extends the imaginative power of childhood.
3. It develop's the child's appreciation of beauty.
4. It contributes to the growth of a more compassionate human being.
5. It opens to the wonderland of words and ways of using them.
6. It offers a vast storehouse of information.
7. It contributes to art appreciation.
8. It has the potential for raising the self-concept of a child who has a poor picture of himself.
9. It forms a foundation for more difficult adolescent novels, poems and drama.
10. It gives a heroic image to childhood.

Thanks to LDR. I learned all these stuff about kid's lit in her graduate class at UP Diliman. I'm passing it on, Ma'am LDR, in the hope that "our" tribe may increase.

International Literacy Week

We kicked off the celebartion of International Literacy Week with an appearance of Clifford, the Big Red Dog, in this morning's asembly to highlight the Scholastic Book Fair. Together with the Reading and Language Arts Department, the GS LRC will run a week long literacy program and activities in the different grade levels. The event will culminate on Friday, 16 September with a pajama party dubbed as "Evening with Readers and Storytellers".



Collaborators all.Me, Maricel of Scholastic, Flora Alfonso (Reading/LA Coordinator), Mrs. Ditas Dairo (School Principal) and Meinard of Scholastic. My boss, Chit Olivares missed the launching as she is at home with a flu. Get well soon, Chit!



Storytelling for Parents.The Eearly Education Department's timing couldn't have been better. They organized a storytelling orientation for parent volunteers who will tell stories on Thursday, 15 September, 2005. I hope I gave them realistic and useful tips (kaba! kaba!)

Author Visit Program

I'm posting the full text of the article I wrote for our school website about Ms. Mae Astrid Tobias' visit to Xavier School. Let's support our Pinoy Children's Literature writers! Let's campaign for readership of books written for Pinoy children by our very own Pinoy writers!

Behind every written story, either retold or adapted, is a writer. For the longest time, they have been weaving words to make a tapestry of stories for readers to enjoy. Often, we get curios as to who they are. We wonder what kind of lives they lead and how awesomely they can conjure images and convey complex emotions through the characters and stories they create. While biographies and feature articles can feed the curiosity to know the writer behind the book, real life interaction with one living writer is a rarity.

If such is the case, then grade school Xaverians are a lucky lot. The doors of Xavier Grade School are always welcome to visiting Filipino writers (and illustrators) to meet and talk to grade school students. Last August 26, 2005, Hoofprint staff members had an enriching session with visiting writer, Ms. Mae Astrid Tobias. The GS LRC and the GS Student Activities Program collaborated to make this Author Visit program possible.



Ms. Tobias is currently connected with the University of the Philippines Information Office. She is a contributor to the Junior Inquirer, director and writer for Kids News Network (KNN), Manila Bureau and the President of Kwentista ng mga Tsikiting (KUTING), the premier organization of writers of Philippine Children’s Literature.

This was Ms. Tobias’ first time to visit Xavier School and she was very impressed with the school environment as well as the Xaverians she met that afternoon. She described members of the Hoofprint staff as active, engaging and full of questions. Her talk was brief, but substantial.

She focused on the importance of research in any given writing assignment or endeavor. As examples, she presented her books, namely, Guardians of Tradition: An Informational Book on the Gawad Manlilikha ng Bayan Awardees and My Forest Friends. She spent a great deal of information gathering to complete and finish both books. She further explained that either writing fiction or non-fiction, having a good grasp of the subject matter one is writing about spells a lot of difference. The content of any writing piece should be whole and credible.

Ms. Tobias believes that research is a productive way of learning. Writing the researched information is a means to communicate it. Research is not merely a part of the writing process, but also a responsibility that writers, young and old, must take to heart. This brought her to emphasize on the importance of knowing the variety of resources that writers can use. A good knowledge of these resources and references helps the writer save time when writing. To access and locate it intelligently is another skill to master. She adds that aside from books, newspapers and Internet websites, personal interviews are also sources of inofrmation for writing.

The rest of the period was given to question and answer time. The boys enjoyed this part of the session with Ms. Tobias. When asked to give her “parting” words for Hoofprint staffers, she advised them to continue learning and to never get tired of reading. It is in reading all sorts of materials that fuels her to write, even the ones she dislikes and is not too keen to know about.

Through the GS LRC’s Author Visit Program, students are provided with the opportunity to discover how books and stories come to be; how writers shape their stories and understand the disciplined art of writing. In a way, the experience led students to appreciate reading and writing, two skills that they must master to survive and excel in an era where information, facts, the truths and the values we hold true are concealed and distorted by media and technology.


Ms. Tobias supports many advocacies, one of these is children in mass media. She won 2nd place for her story "Bayong ng Kuting" in the 2003 Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature, Filipino Division of the Children's Story Category. She is currently finishing her MA in Comparative Literature at the University of the Philippines, Diliman. Her email address is pinktikbalang@yahoo.com

Call for Entries for the 2006 PBBY-SALANGA PRIZE

The Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY) is now accepting entries for the 2005 PBBY-Salanga Prize. The contest is co-sponsored by the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and The National Library. The winner will be given 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 18, 2006.

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. Stories should be intended for children aged 6 to 12 years old. The plot and the sequence must be capable of sustaining an illustrated book of 28 to 32 pages.
3. Entries may be in Filipino or English.
4. Entries must be in hard copy, double-spaced, on short bond paper. Maximum length is five (5) pages.
5. A contestant may send in more than one (1) entry.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. All entries must be sent through snail mail to the PBBY Secretariat, c/o Adarna House, Inc., Room 102, JGS Building, 30 Scout Tuazon St., Quezon City.
9. All entries must be received by the PBBY Secretariat no later than 5:00 p.m., October 28, 2005.
10. Winners will be announced no later than November 25, 2005. Non-winning entries may be claimed at the PBBY Secretariat until December 16, 2005.


The winning story will be the basis for the 2005 PBBY-Alcala Prize. For more details, interested parties may contact the Philippine Board on Books for Young People, at Room 102, JGS Building, 30 Scout Tuazon St., Quezon City, Telefax 372-3548 or email pbby@adarna.com.

Librarian's Diet

The Manila Book Fair looked better and more improved this year. There are enough spaces for guests, visitors and bibliophiles to sit around when the feet gets too tired from walking. The fair offered the usual program of activities for the librarian's eclectic palate. What strikes me as unusual this year are the activities for children to enjoy. In the past, quizzes and contests abound for students to do and join in. This year, however, "fun" activities other than storytelling are scheduled.

Thanks to Ang INK. They prepared creative and enjoyable activities for kids visiting the fair. Aside from their Haribon exhibit, they had an engaging art activities with kids yesterday. Robert Alejandro facilitated the mini-art workshop. If going around from stall to stall looking for books and resources for possible acquisition is tiring you out, go view their excellent illustrations. It's awesome! Kudos to our Pinoy illustrators for kids!

Aside from these, there is also a play area for kids where parents can leave them as they shop and window shop around. Beside it is the balloon sculpture booth. Don't hesitate bringing your kids along, either your student or your own. They've lots of things to do in the fair and you, the adult can enjoy as well.

That day I went to the fair, two librarians' group sponsored a forum. I can tell that both fora were successful and were well attended. The topics they cooked up for their client, members and intended audience were well thought of. The speakers they invited were excellent professionals. It is also good to see students present in the both forum.

I sat in the PATLS forum but attended ASLP's lecture forum from start to finish. Dir. Lou David was quite surprised to see me there. There is always something new to learn from her. I guess I miss being her student. Then again, I will always be her student and she will always be my teacher. Her lecture was impeccably clear and easy to grasp. No pretense and direct to the point. There are risks in investing on technology and innovations carry a high price, but librarians must make a choice. It's the responsibility of making the choice and taking the risks that matter. Librarians must indeed have leadership skills to make things happen for their library.

On a lighter note, Dir. David made mention of being congenially happy. Now this is a characteristic that every librarian must try to achieve or develop. I know that our profession is a "challenged" profession and being happy takes a healthy state of mind and body, nevertheless it can be done. Start with your diet.

You read me right. Diet. Eat happiness inducing food - tomatoes, cheese, chocolates, grapes, apples, to name a few. These food release chemicals in your hormones that stimulate a warm, secure and happy feeling. If you know other food that make librarians happy, leave a comment or tag!

Echoes from Hong Kong

It's the last day of August. As a way of bidding adieu to my "favorite" month, I am posting an "echo" of my IASL Hong Kong experience. It is the same presentation I shared with my colleagues in Xavier School last August 15, 2005. Funny how every time I leave the country for a conference or convention, I see the many ills that ails the profession but it made me love and appreciate it all the more. I hold the same disposition towards my motherland. My well spring of hope must be very deep and overflowing.

Highlights and Insights

* The conference is very scholarly and academic in nature. The research papers and project papers presented in the conference were very impressive. It reflects the standard of academic research that school librarians and allied professionals put forth to improve the practice of the discipline.

* ItÂ’s an opportunity to establish networks and collaborations with other school librarians.

* The experience is a glimpse to how school libraries in the world are coping, surviving and succeeding in this age of IT with in thepervadingg culture of change.

* In particular to the Philippine setting, attending the conference is a chance for participants to gauge the status of school librarianship in the country.

* The conference is a bowl of ideas where school librarians can pick the ones that are applicable in their context and appropriate in their culture.

From the many sessions I attended, I picked two presentations that may appeal to us as school librarians and professionals working with children. I hope that these may further help us in establishing better pedagogical practices for our students and in improving our services to teachers, our natural allies.

Reading Strategies of Hong Kong Primary School Students by Dana Dukic

Here are some characteristics and findings of the study that struck me:

Electronic environment vs. Print environment – students must be taught how to understand both environments; ILS lessons must be intensified; school libraries must function well to help students become life long learners.

Strategies that students employ in choosing books to borrow and read: specific book feature – cover, design, physical appearance
information source- author; series; genres social interaction – choices are affected by peers; top 3 influential people -mothers, teachers and librarians


Catching Slippery Eels by Dianne McKenzie

Dianne McKenzie compared the dynamic characteristic of online resources to slippery eels that are difficult to catch. But school librarians are trained to manage diverse resources. She provided her participants with a variety of resources available online to manage them. Let's go to her website and see what she has for school librarians.

Next year, the IASL Conference will be in Portugal. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Passing It On

A blogger friend from Sydney sent me this via email. Pass it on to every Pinoy you know, please.

"Twelve (12) Little Things Every Filipino Can Do To
Help Our Country," by Alexander Ledesma Lacson, may be a "voice inthe
wilderness"; but as Fr. Ruben Tanseco, S.J. puts it,
what Alex proposes are "very concrete, practical and doable"
actions for us ordinary Filipinos.

A simple enumeration of these "twelve little things"
will not do justice to the work of Alex. You've got to read the
whole text, but I shall try to compress a few lines for some of the
items mentioned.

1. Follow traffic rules -- Why is that the most
important? The answer is simple. Traffic rules are the simplest of our laws.
If we learn to follow them, it will be the lowest form of national
discipline that we can develop. Since it is totally
without monetary cost, it should be easy for us to comply with, and
therefore should provide a good start.

2. Whenever you buy or pay for anything, always ask
for an official receipt. -- If a seller does not issue an official
receipt when you buy a product, the seller may or may not remit the tax
to the government. Without an O.R., there is no record of the sale
transaction, and the tax that you paid may not be remitted to the Bureau of
Internal Revenue.

3. Do not buy smuggled goods. Buy local, buy
Filipino. -- It may not be good economics to buy 100 percent local products.
What I suggest is for us to take a "50-50" buying attitude. Thismeans
that we must develop the attitude of using 50 percent of our budget for
local products and the other 50 percent for imported choices.

4. When you talk to others, especially foreigners,
speak positively of our race and our country -- this is best addressed
to the rich and the middle class in our country, who have contact with
the outside world. It is they who talk to, dine or deal with foreigners
either here or abroad. It is what they say and do which creates impressions
about us among foreigners.

5. Respect your traffic officer, policeman, soldier
and other public servants -- There is nothing like the power of
respect. It makes a person proud. It makes one feel honorable. At the
same time, courtesy to others is good manners. It is class and elegance and
kindness. It is seeing the value and dignity in the other man. It
is, in fact, a mark of a most profound education.

6. Do not litter. Dispose your garbage properly.
Segregate. Recycle. Conserve. -- As Louis Armstrong says in his
song: "I see trees of green, red roses, too, I see them bloom for me
and you and I think to myself, what a wonderful world."

7. Support your church. (or charitable/ civic
organizations -- :-)

8. During elections, do your solemn duty. --
Honesty, more than a masteral or doctorate degree, is what gives
credibility. And credibility is essential because it is a leader's link to the
people. It is what makes the people look to one direction, follow a
common vision, and perform a uniform act. In short, credibility is what
makes people follow the leader.

9. Pay your employees well. -- No exercise is better
for the human heart than to reach down and lift someone else up. This
truly defines a successful life. For success is the sum, not of our
earthly possessions, but of how many times we have shown love and
kindness to others.

10. Pay your taxes. -- In 2003, P83 billion was
collected from individual income taxes. But 91 percent of this
amount came from salaried workers from the government and private
sector, people who had no choice since their income taxes were withheld
mandatorily. Only P7 billion of the P83 billion came from businessmen and
professionals like doctors, lawyers, accountants and architects, among
others.

11. Adopt a scholar or adopt a poor child. -- You
can make a difference in the future of our country by making a difference
in the world of children.

12. Be a good parent. Teach your kids to follow the
law and to love our country. -- Today's children will someday rule and
lead this world. But whether they will be bad rulers or good leaders will
depend largely on how we raise them today. Our future is in
the hearts and minds of our children.

Book launching of Ngalang Pinoy : A Primer on Filipino Word Play

Neni SR Cruz, writer, teacher, book reviewer and PBBY sectoral representative, will have a book launching today at Jaymi's Grill, The Fort, Makati City. The event will start at 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm.

Ngalang Pinoy is published by Tahanan Books, is another interesting book that celebrates the unique talent of Filipinos on word play. From the flier that she attached in the email, the book is an interesting showcase of the many puns and compound words that we make up to form new contexts and meaning that is very Pinoy. This implicates how well we use (and missuse?) the English and Filipino languages. Either that or the Pinoy is really a creative bilingual whose wit and humor sets him apart from the rest of his Asian kin.

Check out the book at the Book Fair this Wednesday. I'm getting a copy of my own.

A note for my regular readers

Regular postings will resume next week. We're undergoing some crisis.

Thanks for the visit.

Rosang Taba : The Pinay in Pinoy Children's Literature

What is your idea of a Filipina hero? Most of us may resurrect a variety of image of the Pinay hero from history. Some may have a picture of a sword wielding Pinay on horseback. Perhaps others have this perception of an old woman curing the Katipunan's the sick and the wounded. Then there is this portrait of the docile Pinays (well to me they looked it) who just finished an embroidery on the national flag.

Aside from history, legends and stories of Pinay heroes abound. Mariang Makiling. Mariang Sinukuan. Ellang Uling. These Pinays are all illustrated with dark skinned but with strikingly beautiful Asian features. Some, like Mariang Makiling and Sinukuan are depicted having fair skin and long wavy hair. Except for Tandang Sora, they are often described as youthful or at the prime of their lives. Indeed, the Pinay heroes that our culture and history boast of are characterized with qualities that are worthy of emulating. Our young girls will never run out of female heroes to look up to. Now what if our images and perceptions of the heroic Pinay's charism are challenged? Well and good! Whoever said that heroism, pride and the love for one's culture and identity only rest in the young and the beautiful?

Dean Alfar's Rosang Taba is made from the same heroic mould but with a fiesty and "weighty" difference. Like Gabriela Silang, Rosang Taba is brave and unrelenting. Her loyalty and determination rivals that of Tandang Sora. Her inner strength and wit is reminiscent of Josefa Llanes Escoda. But Rosang Taba greatly amazed me because of her courage to openly speak of her beliefs to her father. Add to that is her guts to challenge a Spanish commander in the face of her señor and señora. True enough, heroes must first wrestle with their own demons and prove to those around them that there are battles in life worth fighting for.

Alfar's fiction is set in colonial Philippines. Rosang Taba, a servant to the guvernador-heneral challeneged the arrogant Ser Jaime Alonzo Pietrado ei Villareal to a foot race after the later insulted and intimidated the "katao". What happened next is a series of fortunate (and fun) events. Rosa, the fat servidora, who proved to the Ispaniola that given the same opportunities, the "katao" can rise and defeat it's colonial masters. With permission from Alfar, I have links to his story so you may enjoy it as much as I did.

His writing is exquisite. His knowledge of history and legend added a bigger-than-life element to Rosang Taba. It maybe written in English, but it's very Pinoy in color and flavor.

Introduction

Challenge and Wager

Rosang Taba

Rosang Taba and Her Father Converse

At Plaza Binondo

Street of Lost Hope

The Race

The Drinking Song

Denoument

Recommendation: For readers age 13 and up; can be used or integrated in a lesson on Philippine History

Storytelling Workshop

This is happening today. Should you have more questions about storytelling workshops by Alitaptap, by all means, email your querries to the email add bellow.

The National Library of the Philippines in partnership with Alitaptap Storytellers Philippines, the volunteer storytelling group of the country whose mission is to promote literacy through the art of storytelling will conduct the Acting and Reading Techniques (ART) of Book ・Based Storytelling Workshop on August 20-21, 2005, Saturday and Sunday from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm at the Executive Lounge, 6th Floor, The National Library of the Philippines, T. M. Kalaw Ave., Ermita, Manila, Philippines

Workshop Fee: Php. 500. 00 for confirmation and more details, please contact

Email us at alitaptap_storytellers@yahoo.com

Visit our website: www.storytellersphilippines.com for other schedules

Ang INK and Haribon Exhibit

If there is an association for Pinoy Writers of Kid's Lit, an organization of Pinoy Storytellers, there is a group of Pinoy artist who illustrates for Pinoy kids -Ang INK

They tied up with Haribon this year for an exhibit that packs in load of activities for kids and the young at heart. Read on!

How do wild animals feel about being pets? What do crocodiles have to say about the disappearing forests and wetlands? What do birds think about deforestation?

Haribon Foundation, a membership organization dedicated to nature conservation with the people--for the people, together with Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan (Ang I.n.K.), the country's first and only organization of illustrators for children, will try to answer these questions--from the animals' point of view.

Aptly titled "Animalaya", the Ang I.n.K.-Haribon exhibit presents the plight of the country's endemic and endangered animals and the message they have been longing to tell humans. A touring exhibit, it will be on view at the Riverbanks Mall, Marikina City from August 23 to 28, at the Manila International Book Fair, World Trade Center from August 31 to September 4, and selected schools nationwide.

Aside from a showcase of more than 40 artworks by Ang I.n.K. members, fun-filled and educational activities will also be held, such as Meet-the-book-illustrator, Story telling, Art workshops, On-the-spot art contest, and the Haribon HATCH Kids membership launch, all of which are geared towards making children and adults understand the reality the environmental situation and encouraging them on how to take action.

"Animalaya" is made possible with support from the Royal Netherlands Embassy through the A NEST Project for Biodiversity Conservation in the Philippines, and our friends from Riverbanks Center Mall, Oishi, Manila International Book Fair, Adarna House, Anvil Publishing, Star Paper, Mindgate Systems Inc., and Granny Goose.

Thanks to Astrid Tobias for forwarding this press release via email.

Plays, Seminars and Call for Papers

I was checking my calendar this morning and noticed that the remaining weeks of August offer interesting events for school librarians, teachers and literacy advocates. Let me share with you these "going ons". You might want to attend any of these.

Lola Basyang Play


PETA will be presenting Christine Bellen's Mga Kwento ni Lola Basyang, a series of stories adapted from the original by Severino Reyes , on August 25, 26 and 27 2005 at the Cinema 5 of SM Centerpoint. Play starts at 10:00 a.m. with an afternoon matinee at 3:00 p.m. Call or send SMS 639163063878


Creative Use of Libraries for Preschool


Seminar-workshop for school librarians and teachers working with very young children.
August 27, 2005 Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Phoenix Educational Systems Inc. 5th floor Robinson's Galleria
Call or send SMS 639178405669

Call for Papers
Eugene Evasco has a current book project on a collection of essays on Children's Philippine Literature. If you have professional papers and research about the growth, development and critical analysis of the different genres in Philippine Children's Literature you may email evasco@yahoo.com.

This is one of them quick posts so watch out for more details on Eugene Evasco's book project. I will be including details in my next post.

The 26th Manila International Book Fair

The 26th Manila International Book Fair
August 31 - September 4, 2005
World Trade Center Metro Manila
Financial Center Area,Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue
corner Roxas Blvd., Pasay City

Theme : ...it's hip to read!
... so cool to learn IT!

Events and Activities of Interest to Librarians


Aug. 31, 2005
Wednesday, 1 pm - 3 pm Function Room A
Symposium on the State of Filipiniana Indigenous Materials
PAARL

Sept. 1, 2005
Thursday, 10 am - 12 noon Function Room B
Forum on Promoting Effective Reading Skills : A Challenge to Librarians,
Teachers & Students
PATLS & BTSP

1 pm - 3 pm, Function Room A
Innovations & Strategy: The Risk & Choice in Shaping User-Centered Libraries
Guest Speaker : Dir. Lou David, Rizal Library Ateneo de Manila Univeristy
ASLP

Sept. 2, 2005
Friday, 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Introduction to Singapore's Early Education Curriculum & Textbook
Edcrisch International

* There are a number of Book Launchings by OMF, Word & Life, the CCP and C&E Pulications. Activities for kids also like storytelling, origami and arts & crafts also abound. Other interesting hobby and leisure activities will be presented to viistors and guests of the fair.

Potential Librarian Blogger

Here's what I got from my inbox tonight:

I want you also to know that I always visit your
blogspot. I’ve learned a lot and I enjoyed reading all
your posts. I am just wondering on how to access
that site and post things/happenings/activities about
the library like you and Von Totanes have been doing.
Would you mind sharing some info? I would really,
really appreciate it.

It came from Grace Albarida, school librarian from Esteban Abada Elementary School Calumpit St. Veterans Village Project 7 QC

I already replied to her via email, however, you may have more valuable pointers and tips to give her so just comment on this post. She often visits and I'm sure she'll get to read your suggestions. Come on, blograrians! Lend a hand!

And if you're a blogger too, you're welcome to chip in!