Dinner with Dianne de Las Casas

International storyteller and writer, Dianne de Las Casas was in town last March 10-12, 2008. I had the honor and the pleasure to have had dinner with her last Wednesday. I missed her workshops in the Development Academy of the Philippines and Lourdes School, Mandaluyong, but I was able to touch base with her Wednesday night.

She is more beautiful than ever; still the vivacious and warm person I met in 2006. She has a lot of love to give and it endeared her to the many Filipino teachers and librarians she met in her workshops.

Visit her website, The Story Connection.

The Pasig City Library

It was last year when I met public librarians from the Pasig City Library. I had a seminar-workshop for the Filipinas Heritage Library and the National Book Development Board in June 2007 and it was for public librarians.

I promised myself that I will visit the new library. I pass by the building every morning when I go to work. The good thing about it is that, the public library is just beside the Pasig Central Elementary Scool. This means that the city government considered the location of the library as a means for easy access to children who are learning to read. It turns out that it was being renovated. It will not open until May 2008 which means, I will have to wait three more months to check it out with my kids.

The public library in Pasig City was a popular students' destination in the 80's and early 90's. Through the leadership of the great Pilar Perez, the public library in Pasig became a research and learning center for chidlren and teens. I remember my teachers in Pateros Catholic School encouragng us to go and do our research there. I did use the resources of the Pasig City Library once or twice, but I never saw or met Pilar Perez. She will remain in my memory though as one librarian leader in the field of Children's and Young Adult Library Services.

The public library, at that time, was used to be housed in the villa very near the Pasig Cathedral. That villa is now the city's museum. But, before that, a strange looking warehouse along A. Mabini St. carries a sign that reads " Rizal Provincial ---ary". We can only speculate if it was indeed the first location of the Pasig City Library.

A Reply from "The Man of Many Stories"

Kenneth Yu, Xavier Alumnus and editor of the Philippine Genre Stories replied to my post via email. I know it will embarass Kyu once again, but I just could not help posting parts of his email here in SLIA simply because, it is a testimony to the wonderful influence that a school library could give a young boy growing up reading.

So, Kyu, I beg your pardon if I have violated your privacy. Accept that you've become a celebrity in your own right. As a Xaverian, you're meant to shine!

Here are some snippets of Kyu's remembrances on the school library he grew up loving so much --

...in your last paragraph you said something about the library. I loved that place, and not just for the aircon (though that played a big part). I could get lost among the books for hours with my friends. Thinking of that place always makes me smile, and I think that early love still shows itself today whenever I go to any library, or any bookstore, or any place where there's a large collection of books... I hope you have boys who like spending time there too. Be patient with them, please, no matter how crazy they become. I have a feeling (that) that's exactly how we were a long time ago. (Just make sure that they're not crazy for craziness' sake, but are also borrowing books to read.)

Thanks for this, Kyu! You made my work sound so significant.

specta-KYu-lar

It happens all the time. When a teacher learns that his/her former student achieved something, be it big or small, he/she is bound to bask in the glory of the accomplishment. So I was not surprised when Mr. Paco Maramag (who taught English and is now Prefect of Discipline) came to the library one morning looking for a very “old” book.

The book he was looking for was a project made by his former grade 4 students way back in 1980. It was an anthology of Greek Myths written and compiled by Francisco Benitez, Mark Escaler, Joel Trinidad and Kenneth Yu. What prompted him to go to the library was the article written by Ruey de Vera in the Sunday Inquirer about a Man of Many Stories. It so happened that the man featured in De Vera's article was Mr. Maramag's student. He is none other than Kenneth Yu (otherwise known in the LitCritters Open as KYu), publisher/editor of the Philippine Genre Stories.

What's more amazing is that, Kenneth Yu is remembered fondly by one of our GS Librarians. Mrs. Rosario "Baby" Alfonso, back then she was Ms. Cahanding to Kenneth and his friends, could attest to KYU's addiction to books and reading. Such boys with an appetite for reading are never forgotten. At that time, Xavier School was still following the Individualized Instruction Approach and Methodology. Students could chart their own learning through the facilitation of the teacher. Mr. Maramag had given KYu's group the liberty to come up with the anthology of Greek Myths.

The book is still in our Filipiniana Collection. It stands proud among the classics written and produced by Filipino writers. Anyone of course can come up with such a project. But teachers and librarians consider this as a milestone in a student's literacy development.

I meet Kyu once in a while during Open Sessions of LitCritters. The last time we met, I mentioned to him his little project in grade school. He was embarassed to bits when I told him about Mr. Maramag's quest. Then again, the Man of Many Stories had to start somewhere. And like his former English teacher and GS librarian, I'm proud that his early beginnings at writing, editing and publishing began in school and nourished in the library.

Back to Teaching

Not many know this, but I taught preschool before becoming a librarian. Bosom friends know that I really wanted to major in English back in college to teach grammar and literature in basic education. Naks! As if my skills in grammar is supercalifragelisticexpialedocious! But, as destiny would have it, I ended up in the Department of Library Science to my mother's great joy. I don't regret the decision, though deep in my heart lies the passion to teach in the classroom.

This coming school year, SY 08-09, I am looking forwrad to going back to the classroom as a Reading teacher. Finally, I can now put into practice the theories I learned from my Reading mentors and professors from UP REGALE. Wink! Wink! to Teacher Portia, Teacher Vic and Dr. H :-) As a librarian, I was able to do collaborative projects and activities on Reading and Information Literacy. In June, I shall be given the chance to stretch my reach further and continue to make connections between students and the love for reading.

I am sure that the adjustment period will not be a walk in the park. There will be great challenges and obstacles to hurdle. Then again, what's teaching without risks? That is the beauty of it all. Teaching is both a science and an art. I feel most significant when I am able to put theory into practice.

It does not mean that I will no longer be a school librarian. I still am. And I think, I will always be.

PNU LISAA: Keepers of the Flame*

Good morning!

I stand before you today, humbled to be speaking in behalf of the PNU-LISAA, Inc. Among the many qualified and more respected alumni, the association chose someone like me to represent it in this momentous occasion.

The PNU Library Science Department can boast of so many sons and daughters who are more accomplished than I am. In its 50 years of educating and forming future librarians of the nation, it has produced an armada of alumni who are wiser in years of experience. It can be proud of its recent graduates who are sturdier and more resilient in the face of professional challenges and personal trials. Compared to them, I am merely a beginner who is carving a niche in the ever-changing landscape of library and information science. I did not graduate with honors. Nor did I make it to the top 10 of the Librarians’ Licensure Examination. But here I am, nevertheless, tasked to give an inspirational message. Indeed, to be doing this in front of my former mentors and teachers is an honor. I feel that I am now a colleague. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for this recognition. So I take this great opportunity as a way of giving back to PNU in general and to remember the glory, golden and shinning, of the PNU LIS Department in particular.

By looking back and remembering, we can define the future. After all, the past, the present and the future exist in one plane. To lose the connection between the three would mean a loss of direction.

Allow me now to look back. And, I invite you to do the same. Get a pen and a piece of paper and together, let us chart our past so it can propel us to set directions for the future.

Divide your paper in four columns. Each column represents a year in college – Freshman Year; Sophomore Year; Junior Year; and Senior Year. Write them down.

Now, fold your paper lengthwise. On the first row, write the “highs” that you experienced as a student of LIS in PNU. On the second row, write the “lows” that you encountered as a student of LIS in PNU. Your highs and lows can be about the curriculum, the teachers, the class activities and projects, extra-curricular activities, practicum, support from friends and classmates, etc. Let us work on our paper for five to seven minutes and then we will have small buzz groups.

(After five-seven minutes…)

Turn to a seatmate and share. You can also form a group of three people.

(After five minutes…)

Let us now generalize. Try to go back to your paper. Recall things that struck you in your buzz group. At the back of your paper, write down insights you’ve derived from our short activity.

Can we have one or two brave souls to share his or her insight in the big group?

Volunteer 1 –
Volunteer 2 –

(At this point speaker can share her highs and lows…)

Thank you for your generosity and openness in participating in our little activity this morning. The highs and the lows that you wrote on your piece of paper is a constructed meaning of what the PNU LIS was, is and will be. Some of these experiences maybe delightful, relevant, earth- shaking, painful, frustrating, stressful, elating, humbling and life affirming. Whatever these highs and lows are, it should be enough to move the PNU LIS Department into the next 10 to 50 years.

To channel new directions and to establish new paradigms can not be done by one entity alone. It would take a communal effort to achieve this – support from the university administration, a competent faculty and staff (combination of the young and the seasoned), updated and relevant learning resources, a curriculum that empowers and answers the needs of the learner and his environment, the political will and inner strength to change for the better – these are but some of the ingredients necessary to chart pathways for the PNU LIS Department in the next three or five decades. In the process, there will be discussions, discourse, dialogues and even debates. There are factors both internal and external that will affect the structuring or realigning of things. There will be roadblocks too, for how can we face the realities of change when, as Filipinos, we take things always, on a personal matter. Then again, we are Filipinos, and we will endure.

Like many of you, I hope to see the torch light burning bright as the PNU LIS Department continues to guide aspiring librarians to a promising tomorrow. It does not end with hoping and seeing though. As an alumnus, it is my personal responsibility to carry the torch, ablaze and aflame. PNU LISAA as an alumni organization is a keeper of the flame. We all have a part to play. We all have a contribution to make. We all need tough love and sacrifice to nurture the torch’s fire.

I ask you now, how do you keep the torch’s flame from flickering? How can we all keep the torch’s flame alive?

To end, I would like to sing PNU’s Alma Mater song – I will sing it once, but on the second round, please join me.

Oh Alma Mater ko
Sa Mga Guro’y Ina
Dalay Ilaw
Sadyang Tanglaw
Lagi Kang Patnubay
Ng Bayan Ko Kailan Pa man
Lualhati’y suma iyo
Oh Alma Mater ko

*The above speech was delivered during the 50the anniversary of the PNU LIS Department held last Saturday, February 16, 2008 at the PNU Library.

50 Years of PNU LIS

I deliverd an inspirational message during the 50th year anniversary of the Philippine Normal University Library and Information Science Department last February 16, 2008, Saturday at the PNU Library. Madame Cora Nera of the BFL graced the occassion. Mrs. Elnora Conti was awarded Outstanding Alumni while Peachy Limpin, who is based in Australia, was recognized as being the first PNU alumnus to make it to the Top 10 of the Licensure Exam for Librarians.

Here are some pictures from the said event. As usual, I have no photo because I was busy taking pictures using my cell phone. I will post my speech soon.

Summer Events for Librarians

This early, trips, study tours and summer workshops for librarians are being advertised in the egroups. Here are several of them that I have lifted from my inbox.

FROM THE PLAI -
The Philippine Librarians Association,Inc (PLAI) in cooperation with the
CONSAL XIV Executive Board Members from the Philippines is sponsoring
a four(4) day three (3) night Study Visit of libraries, museums and tourist spots
in Ho ChiMinh, Vietnam on April 22-25, 2008. This will coincide with the Second Meeting
of the CONSAL XIV Executive Board hosted by Vietnam

Details of the tour will be furnished to those interested starting second
week of February. Meanwhile,you can call our coordinators, Marianne and Armie
of the National Library, Tel No.5251748 or Malou of PLAI at Tel No.5259401 or
Jeng of Esquire Travel Corporation at Tel Nos. 5256298,5212907,5214193.

FROM THE PAARL

The Philippine Association of Academic and Research Librarians (PAARL) is honored to invite you to its Summer Conference on "Finding the Library's Place in the 2.0 Environment: Providing for interactive, collaborative and web-based technologies, resources and services" to be held on April 23-25, 2008 at the St. Ezekiel Moreno Spirituality & Development Center, San Jose, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

This Summer Conference has the following objectives:

1. To take a second look at the trends that will better prepare librarians and other information professionals in the next wave of societal, cultural and technological changes in providing services in libraries and information centers.
2. Make the present day information professional recognize that information culture is changing fast and that there is a need to respond positively to these changes by providing resources and services that users need and want.
3. To present the library as a partner in providing for a socially and emotionally engaging center for learning and experience and the librarian as "strategy guide" for helping users find information and gather new knowledge to create new contents.

This invitation is extended to both professional and library support staff, library managers, information specialists, information managers and researchers who recognize the importance of understanding the ideas of the changing universe of information and the context of collaborative and interactive web based services for libraries and information centers.

Registration fee is PHP 4,500.00 (live-in). This entitles the participant to a 3 days/2 nights stay at the Center with meals and snacks, conference kit, certificates of participation, certificate of attendance, if so required and a half-day tour. For those who will prefer to make arrangements for their accommodations (live-out), fee is PHP 4,000.00 inclusive of the abovementioned entitlements except breakfast and dinner. Payments can be made in cash, check or Postal Money Order payable to Philippine Association of Academic and Research Librarians (PAARL) or deposit to any BPI
Family Bank Branches near you with Savings Account No. 5951-0782-06.

Your favorable response to this invitation will be greatly appreciated. It is of utmost importance that you confirm your
reservation on or before April 15, 2008.

We shall be looking forward to welcoming you in Palawan!

FROM THE SMI-IC

The South Manila Inter-Institutional Consortium (SMI-IC) comprised of twelve (12) member academic libraries along Taft Avenue, Manila is
pleased to invite you to a Seminar-Workshop on Archives Management: Principles and Techniques, to be held on March 26-28, 2008, at the College of Public Health Auditorium, UP Manila, Pedro Gil St., Ermita, Manila.

The objectives of the seminar are as follows: (1) to have a greater understanding of the role of archives in fulfilling the mission of an
institution; (2) to introduce basic archival principles and techniques which will guide the librarians/archivists/information professionals in establishing their respective institutional archives, particularly on the organization and arrangement of archival materials; (3) to enable participants to develop and implement an archival collection development program

A seminar fee of Php3, 000.00 to cover registration fee, conference meals and snacks, seminar kits & handouts, and certificate of participation will be charged to the participants.

For inquiries/reservation please contact any of the following:

Erlinda B. Gonzalez
Adamson University
Telefax : 524-8038; 524-2011 loc. 131; Mobile Phone: 0906-4796345
Email: ebgonzalez@adamson.edu.ph

Ana Maria B. Fresnido
De La Salle University-Manila
Telefax.: 524-8835 ; 536-0244
Mobile Phone: 0918-7172959
Email: fresnidoa@dlsu.edu.ph

Rowena R. Pascual
Philippine Christian University
Tel. No.: 523-2186; 524-6671 loc.111
Mobile Phone: 0921-4644358
Email: rwnpscl@yahoo.com

Maria A. Orendain
Philippine Normal University
Tel No.: 302-7717

Marilou S. Salting
Saint Paul University-Manila
Tel No.: 524-5687 loc. 220
Mobile Phone: 0927-3299811
Email: mhallous@yahoo.com

Simeona C. Delfin
St. Scholastica's College-Manila
Tel: 524-7686 loc. 252
Mobile Phone: 0906-2271615

Celedonia Cayaban
De La Salle – College of St. Benilde
Tel No.: 526-7741 loc. 133

Gloria E. Ruzgal
Emilio Aguinaldo College
Tel No.: 521-2710 loc. 5355
Mobile Phone: 0916-2319481
Email: angelo_ray92090@yahoo.com

Corazon M. Nera
Lyceum of the Philippines University
Tel: 527-8251 loc. 129
Email: cmnera@yahoo.com

Dionisia M. Angeles
Philippine Women's University
Tel: 339-2589
Mobile Phone: 0917-8718815

Olga Ong
Technological University of the Philippines

Theresa P. Dugenia
University of the Philippines-Manila
Tel No.:526-4253; 526-5847

PAASCU Visit @ SFNPS Library

It was such a pleasant meeting. Ms. Brinas, GS Librarian of the San Felipe Neri Parochial School Library was one of the many reviewers at the librarian licensure review class given by UP SLIS last September 2007. Since I gave the review session for School Library Management, Ms. Brinas remembered me well.

Here we are inside her cute little library at San Felipe Neri Parochial School. Ms. Brinas is an alumni of the Philippine Normal University. She was recepient of the Trinidad Albaraccin Scholarship. She recently passed the Licensure Exam for Librarians.

Book Trip

Last Friday January 18, 2008, Baby Alfonso (Acquisitions Librarian) and I went out on official business to Fullybooked Bonifacio High Street. There we selected books for our boys (from preschool to Gr. 7) and DVDs for the content areas. It was Baby's first time to see the 4 storey bookstore while it was my third time around. Being there reminded me of my visit to Singapore's Kinokinuya.

If only Philippine libraries are are as spacious and well stocked as bookstores like Fullybooked and Kinokinuya, then, it will attract readers by the hundreds. But who will risk investing millions on libraries? Wanted: Philantropist!

Pinoy Edublog Awards

Awards and recognitions are feel good instruments that either blow the ego or humble the spirit to continue doing a job well done. In the Pinoy blogosphere there is the Pinoy Blog Awards, an anual event recognizing the best and the brazen bloggers in the country. Then there is WikiPilipinas who honored some bloggers who made waves and caused an impact in the realm of Pinoy blogopshere last year. And are we (Filipino Blograrians) not proud of Von Totanes whose blog was named as the best in the catageroy of "communities" by WikiPilipinas? Of course we are. But the thing is, Von is still baffled.

What baffles me, on the other hand, is the exclusion of education as a category in the list. Could it be that every blog out there has educational value depending on who the reader/user of the blog is? Or is it because blogs for education, on teaching and instruction and about the academe are complicated to judge since judges would require, in the first place, theoretical knowledge on pedagogy and instructional technology? Blogs for teaching goes beyond the design factor. Besides, blogs used as teaching tools are not set up as popularity portals. Does the education sector have to set up its own blog awards to acknowledge the effective and eficient use of blogs in teaching and instruction?

Such musings led me to check some links via the IASL blog. There I found the edublog awards! The categories range from best teacher blog to best librarian/library blog; best educational wiki to best educational use of social netwroking services. From the list of categories, I have the impression that in the US, bloggers and educators alike have a progressive and advanced perspective on the utility of blogs as educational tools. Can the Pinoy blogsophere come up with something like it?

Sta. Maria & Kelly (SMK) Inc.

There is a new book company in town.

Sta. Maria & Kelly , Inc. was launched last December 14, 2007 carrying a variety of tiltes for preschool children to college students and professionals. Librarians were present to grace the occassion and the grand dame of the Board for Librarians, Madame Cora Nera, was there to lend an inspirational message to Mr. Mario St. Maria, the president-owner of SMK, Inc. His family was there to support him in this momentous event.

Mario Sta. Maria started out as an agent of various books, journals and periodicals to schools and libraries. With patience and perseverance, he was able to establish a niche as manager of Library Journal Solutions, Inc. As head honcho of SMK, Inc. he envisions a meaningful partnership with clients. In the future, he plans to help libraries in the province grow into vital learning centers. This initiative to give back is fueled by his humble beginnings as a student of Library Science at the University of the East.

ANINO Shadowplay Collective

Here's an add from Nono Pardalis, KUTING and writer for ANINO, who sent it via email.

ANINO Shadowplay Collective will be performing at the UP Film Institute (in Diliman) on 25 January 2008, 7 pm.

Videos, live shadowplay and free ice tea and ensaimada while supply lasts ! Admission - P50.00

I've included the link to the website and it will give the reader a comprehensive profile of the group. What struck me was the list of places and venues they have performed so far. They have been to schools, museums, malls, plazas and cafes but not to a school or public library yet. So, librarians in schools and communities, any takers? Check the website now for the group's contact numbers. There are videos to watch and other downloadable stuff for your perusal.

Filipino Librarians In The News

I found this while reading Ruel De Vera's review of Kenneth Yu's Philippine Genre Stories in the PDI. Follow the links to read the names of the Filipino Librarians who will be getting some awards from PAARL.

I hope next time, the press release would include what the awards are for and what accomplishments the awardees have contributed to Philippine and International librarianship. Young librarians like me need models to look up to. Besides, non-librarian readers would be informed of the work that librarians truly do in the academe, in research and in government service. I do not like to think that the motive for giving awards, either in the field of librarianship or another, is given with a political agenda.

But this is the Philippines. We're Filipinos. We're either political or personal.

The Future of Reading

I am culling out memorable and relevant posts I made in 2006 and 2007 to file them under the BEST of SLIA - an annual compedium of blog posts that, I deem, contain valuable information for me and my readers. But it seems that going over 200 plus posts for two years could not be done in a week. So here is a reprieve from my scouring -- an editorial by Shiela Williams on Harry Potter and the Future of Reading.

In the article, Williams mentioned of a lovely librarian (envy! envy! envy!) who accepted the Hugo Award on behalf of JK Rowling. Why would a librarian, and take note that she was described as lovely (images of loveliness come to mind- no thick intimidating glasses; gone are the dagger like stares; hair in a bun? go away!), accept the Hugo for JK Rowling? Ah. I am inundated by so many assumptions. But, I must say that I'm contented to think that indeed, librarians are not mere custodians of books. See, they attend events like book awards and book launchings where their presence is very much appreciated. Librarians do have a role on everything books and reading and not just the keeping of such.

The most thrilling bit of information I got from Williams' editorial though, is her belief that the printed word will never die. And proof of this is the phenomenal reception of kids and adults to JK Rowling's seventh Harry Potter. If you think otherwise, I challenge you to shrug off your snottiness on the HP books and read it.

SLIA: Remembering 2007's First Posts

The celebration of the holidays, Christmas and the New Year, is steeped with traditions. For this, I am keeping in line with traditional blog posts in review of the year that was. Here are the first twelve posts I made per month for the year 2007. It's time to look back with expectations straight ahead for 2008. This month of is after all named after Janus, the god of gates and doorways, of endings and beginnings.

December 2007: The Passing of a Magic Weaver
Rene O. Villanueva, writer and playwright passed away last December 5, 2007.

November 2007: A Day With Weavers of Magic (The Repeat!)
“A Day with Weavers of Magic”(The Repeat!)
(Writing, Illustrating, and Telling Stories for Children)
November 24, 2007(Saturday)
Benitez Theater College of Education, UP Diliman

October 2007: On the Blog Trail of Filipino Librarian
Whew! I finally get to squeeze this in or else, be stuck in September. I have several blog posts in line for this week, but Von's recent posts are just too delicious to follow.

September 2007: With Filipino Librarian
There were a good number of Filipino Librarians in my panel discussion last August 30, 2007, Thursday at the Manila International Book Fair.

August 2007: Philippine Publishers Roster of 2007 Books for Children
Ah yes, life goes on after Hary Potter.

July 2007: The State of Philippine Children's Literature
There is this article in PCIJ on the state of children's literature in the country.

June 2007: Misplaced Librarians
There were many insights and issues that surfaced from my seminar-workshop with public and barangay librarians yesterday at the Filipinas Heritage Library.

May 2007: Hudhud Epic for Kids
Two new children's books have been published by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) to teach children about the Ifugao epic, Hudhud.

April 2007: Mentor vs. Supervisor
One of the many adjustments I made upon assuming the role of Library Coordinator, was that of a supervisor in charge of evaluating the library staff.

March 2007: The Maningning Miclat Poetry Awards
2007 MANINGNING MICLAT POETRY AWARDS CALL FOR ENTRIES

February 2007: Tahanan Books Launch Greek Myths



January 2007: 2006 In Retrospect
Happy New Year to you all!

Blogs & Networking

I delight in knowing that people outside the Philippine borders are discovering my blog. Once in a while I would get emails from people telling me of their discovery of SLIA via the blogosphere. This morning, I got an email from Corrine Robson who runs the Paper Tiger Blog.

She has great interest on multicultural books and events on children's literature in the Philippines that she asked of these in her email. PBBY will be celebrating the 25th National Children's Book Day this July so I made mention about it when I emailed her back. This goes to show how blogs and the Internet can help people from different places bridge gaps and get information. The world is indeed becoming smaller, but all the more richer it's been. Barriers are broken down; new meaning and world views are constructed.

Cheers to an exciting blogging year ahead!

New Year Greetings!

Of course, greetings and wishes of a happy and prosperous New Year filled my inbox, in email and in mobile phone, yesterday and the other day. Text messages from friends and family were a plenty. Most SMS I got from them contain names of kids and spouse, so I was amused when writer-friends, Augie & Mike Rivera, sent me a New Year greeting bearing the name of all their storybook characters from Benito to Elias, Sibuyan to Ampalaya, Segunda to Lea.

Another amusing SMS came from my mother. It goes like this:

May the fleas of a million dogs infest the butt of the person who spoils your year and may his arms grow too short to scratch his back.

You don't my mom, but I do so the context of the message is beyond humor and a few good laughs. I have always found her to be wielding a magic all her own. Receiving the SMS gave me goosebumps upon complete comprehension of it all. Speaking of magic, Neni SR Cruz, PBBY co-member, sent one fantatsic SMS that she got from writer Neil Gaiman --

May your year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness; I hope you read some fine books; and kiss someone who thinks you are wonderful; and don't forget to make some art - write or draw, or build or sing or live; And I hope, somewhere this year, you surprise yourself!"

I think I will just do all of that for 2008 and the years to come. I never know, really, I might just surprise myself this time around.

Cited @ Filipina Soul

Being cited in another blog or website is like a pat on the back, well, if the citation is followed by kind and generous words. SLIA is mentioned in Filipina Soul and it validates the very reason for this blog's being.

I should put back Jonas Diego's YAN ANG PINAY logo.

The Filipino Child and Filipino Children's Literature

SCBWI Philasis presents --
Lara Saguisag on "The Filipino Child and Filipino Children's Literature"
When : 6 to 8 pm Monday 2008 January 7
Where : Fully Booked, Bonifacio HIgh Street, The Fort At The Forum on the 4th level, right on top of Starbucks
Host : Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators

Lara Saguisag will explore notions of childhood and "Filipino-ness" in Philippine literature for children, and will focus on locally published books. She will talk about different elements of the book, such as style, subject choice, book covers, and even cost of books, and see how texts and illustrations reveal our conception of children as subjects and readers.

Bio : Lara Saguisag's most recent book is Children of Two Seasons: Poems for Young People (Anvil). She
also co-edited Nine Supernatural Stories (UP Press) with April Yap. Her poems for children received the 2006 New School Writing Program Chapbook Series Award. She is a Presidential Fellow at Rutgers University, where she is completing her PhD in Childhood Studies. She is a founding member of KUTING (Kwentista ng Mga Tsikiting), a group of writers for children.

This event is open to SCBWI members and non-members, published or unpublished writers or illustrators for children or young adults, and those who have a keen interest in children's literature.

Fee : P100, for SCBWI members P80. Limited seats, first come first served. Come early, browse through the store and immerse yourself in books beforehand!

For details, contact :
Beaulah Taguiwalo or
Dominique Torres (Nikki) < nikkigtorres@ yahoo.com>