Author of the Month: Yeng Remulla

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

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

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

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

I learned it the hard way.

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

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

1. Inspiration

a. I asked myself the following questions:

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

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

2. Discipline

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tales From the 7,000 Isles: Filipino Folk Stories

This greeted me in my FB account this morning. Apparently, author copies were sent to Dianne de Las Casas, my co-author in New Orleans, Louisiana. I await to get mine anytime soon.

Cover design by Bernadette Wolf. Photography by Yumi Pitargue. Published by Libraries Unlimited, an imprint of ABC-CLIO.

The photo is courtesy of Dianne de Las Casas, storyteller diva and fantabulous writer!

19th Children's Month

I'll be doing the lecture on 3 October. My topic is Effective Storytelling. See yoou there! And if you're a reader of the blog, don't be shy. Say Hi!

Librarian as Calendar Model

Dear me... I just have to post this!

Von Totanes just landed on a calendar, Men of the Stacks along with eleven male librarians or guys who work in the LIS profession! Von is calendar boy for June 2012. Ikaw na, Von!

See the full gallery here.

Some Blogging Success

Just a note to share with my readers.

This September, the blog has been presented with opportunities for growth and networking. Neal-Schuman sent a press release of a new book on 21st Century Literacy which found its way in the blog. Artspace of New Haven Connecticut has invited me to contribute in an online exhibit on personal libraries and top shelf reads. More on that in the coming months. Yeng Remulla, writer of Productive Pinoy has sent me a copy of his book for review. I am reading it at the moment and, of course, will blog about it before the month ends.

Lastly, the blog got another paid link ad. Check the Network and Connection feature at the left and there you'll find the link!

Some indicators of blogging success. I'm one little happy blograrian these days!

Wikahon

Adarna House, the country's leading publisher of Filipino and bilingual picture books and storybooks for children introduced Wikahon to the public last 14 September 2011 during the five long Manila International Book Fair. Wikahon is a conjoined word in Filipino. Wika, meaning language and kahon, meaning box. As the name implies, the kit contains books and activity sheets arranged in reading levels in one box. The kit is a learning module designed for students in the grade school to learn language competencies in Filipino.

The whole concept reminds me of the SRA of old. This time though, reading assessment is done through the aid of a software or, in today's tech lingo, apps. The result of the assessment would assist teachers in placing the students reading level in Filipino. From there, intervention is applied to better improve or reinforce skills. More than anything else, Wikahon is one answer to the many problems that has befallen Filipino language learning in the country.

For details and queries, contact Adarna House via these numbers: Office Address

Scout Torillo corner Scout Fernandez Streets, Barangay Sacred Heart, Quezon City 1103 Philippines

Trunkline: (632) 352-6765
Fax: (632) 352-6765 local 125

Email Address: adarnahouse@adarna.com.ph

Picture! Picture!

L-R Jolad of DLSU-Taft, Peachy Limpin Balikbayan from Aussie, Igor Cabbab Dean of SLIS UP Diliman, and Zarah Gagatiga Blograrian

Tales from the 7,000 Isles

It's in ABC-CLIO's catalog along with a feature on Dianne de las Casas' marvelous work in storytelling and training librarians in the art and craft of tale telling.

Excited to get copies of the book!

21st Century Literacy

Here's a new resource book for school librarians who plan and implement curricular programs in the library. Developing 21st Century Literacies: A K-12 School Library Curriculum Blueprint with Sample Lessons by Mary Jo Langhorne, Denise Rehmke and the Iowa City Community School District presents a blueprint of a library instructional program and the curriculum developed by the Iowa City Community School District. Follow the link of the book here and get a preview of its contents.

The book is published by Neal Schuman Publishers Inc. that has a concentration on Library and Information Science. Browsing the site, I found out more interesting titles on Information Literacy and Inquiry Learning.

Check out the links and visit the site!

Sulataktakan Quotable Quotes

I promised to post about the recently concluded Sulataktakan: Conversations on Children's Literature forum of the PBBY at the MIBF 2011. Suffice it to say that the panelists, Maillin Paterno Locsin, Dr. Luis Gatmaitan, Rusell Molina, Jomike Tejido and Beth Parrocha Doctolero, were all fantastic that day. They were candid and smart; brutally honest but modest; witty and entertaining at the same time.

They shared their writing styles and thoughts about winning awards. It was Rusell Molina who said the most outrageous quote(see below).

Here are more quotable quotes from the forum:

"Kung sasali ka sa mga contest, siguraduhin mong may self-worth ka." (Your self-worth must be intact if you want to join writing contests.)
- Beth Parrocha Doctolero

"Push your ideas!"
- Rusell Molina

"Experiment."
- Jomike Tejido

"Stories are everywhere."
- Mailin Paterno Locsin

"Exercise your writing muscles."
- Dr. Luis Gatmaitan

The questions asked of the panelists escapes me now since their answers were all in big ideas I need to cut in pieces. Perhaps when the transcriber has finished with the work, then PBBY can share what fully transpired in the forum. Having said this, I end with an insight I gained from the forum. Writing is not an easy task. It takes a lot of thinking; a lot of time; a lot of love. If writing is a passion, pursue it then. Life may just give you what you deserve.

Mabuhay ang Panitikang Pambata!

Call for Papers: Regional Conference on School Librarianship

What a pleasant news!

The Ateneo de Manila University-Rizal Library, Ateneo High School Educational Media Center, and the Private Secondary School Administrators Association of the Philippines (PRISSAAP), in collaboration with the International Association of School Librarianship (IASL), are seeking papers for the Regional Conference on School Librarianship with the theme: “Directions for the Future of School Libraries”. The conference will be held on April 26-27, 2012 at the Bacolod Pavillion Hotel, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines. It aims to bring together school librarians in the region to establish and strengthen relationships and support regional cooperation of school librarians.

Papers for this conference should belong to the following subthemes:
1. Information literacy/21st century skills
2. Reading and the school library
3. School library space and place planning
4. Innovative projects and services
5. Teacher-librarian partnerships
6. School libraries/librarians of the future

Interested individuals may submit abstracts (not exceeding 300 words, in word or pdf format) to ltdavid@ateneo.edu / fdizon@ateneo.edu / ksagun@ateneo.edu. Deadline for submission is on October 31, 2011.

For more information, you may contact the following: Mrs. Lourdes T. David Director Rizal Library Ateneo de Manila University +(632) 4266001 ext. 5550 ltdavid@ateneo.edu

Mr. Fernan R. Dizon Head, Reference and Information Services Section Rizal Library Ateneo de Manila University +(632) 4266001 ext. 5559 fdizon@ateneo.edu

Ms. Karryl Kim A. Sagun Assistant to the Director for Special Programs and Events Rizal Library Ateneo de Manila University +(632) 4266001 ext. 5581 ksagun@ateneo.edu

Venue Information: Bacolod Pavillon Resort Hotel Address: Burgos Street Ext., Reclamation Area Bacolod City, Negros Occidental 6100 Philippines URL: http://www.bacolodpavillon.com/ Phone: (63-34) 434-6391 to 93 / 433-9620 / 433-9562 Fax: (63-34) 433-9598 E-mail: info@bacolodpavillon.com About Bacolod City: For more information on Bacolod City, please visit this link: http://www.bacolodcity.gov.ph/bacolod_city.htm

Freinds @ the Fair

My Second Day @ the MIBF 2011

Day 2 at the MIBF started with a brief guest appearance on air. Thanks to Dr. Luis Gatmaitan who pulled some strings at the 702 DZAS on-site radio booth, I was able to promote the PBBY forum scheduled that afternoon. Tita Carmen was a gracious host. It was not my first time on radio but she made the five minute chat enjoyable. From there on, Luis and I were companions until 2PM for the PBBY forum on Children's Literature.

At lunch, I met Blooey Singson of Something Blue. She gave me a big bag of books! It was her donation for my call on book donations last August. I still have yet to go over the donations and sort them out. Definitely, who ever receives them are lucky readers. The books are all in good condition. Thanks so much, Blooey!

An hour before 2PM, Luis and I headed to SMX Meeting Room 3 for the PBBY forum, Sulataktakan: Conversations on Children's Literature. Esteemed panelists that afternoon included Mailin Paterno Locsin, Dr. Luis Gatmaitan, Russell Molina, Jomike Tejido and Beth Parocha-Doctolero. Attendance was good. The panelists' input was excellent. KUTINGs and Ang INKies were present as well as friends and literacy advocates in the industry. For details of the forum, I will have to wait a few more days to flesh it out. I moderated the forum and I am still, star struck. Here are some photos from the even forum.

 

The PBBY Board: Totet de Jesus, Rayvi Sunico, Zarah Gagatiga, Ani Almario, Luis Gatmaitan and Neni SR Cruz

KUTINGs L-R Becky Bravo, MJ Tumamac, Augie Rivera, May Tobias-Papa, Heidi Abad, Zarah Gagatiga, Luis Gatmaitan, Lalaine Aquino and Jerson Capuyan

My First Day @ the MIBF 20 11

I went to the Manila International Book Fair (MIBF) last Friday (16 September) and Saturday (17 September). My first visit was job related. I dropped by the Anvil showroom to select exam copies of Filipiniana and foreign titles which they carry via Megatext. Then I was off to the Scholastic and Adarna booths.

At the Scholastic booth, I met John Kwong from the Book fairs department. He was so proud to invite me over at the Scholastic Warehouse in Pasig to visit their library showroom. Turns out that Scholastic Book Fairs is focusing on helping school libraries develop a reader friendly collection that offers fiction and non-fiction titles. This is something I would be interested to look at.

With Clifford at the Scholastic booth

I had my chance of meeting Clifford, the big red dog. Here in the photo, I was whisked back to my storytelling days for National Book Store. At the time, Scholastic did not operate on book fairs and educational trade. They were sole distributors of books to books stores in Manila. One promotional activity they had then was to celebrate book parties with Clifford, the Berenstain Bears, Arthur the aardvark and many more events that drummed up reading books as well. To this day, Clifford remains a favorite among preschool and primary grades readers.

Before leaving the Scholastic booth, I had a conversation with Joyce Bautista who was, at the time, organizing a web chat with Rachel Ward, author of the book, Numbers. The web chat is scheduled today at 4PM.

Finally, I had my picture taken with one of the staff dressed in space alien costume. I love her headband! I might come dressed in one some time in the future for spirit week in school Who knows?

When I came to the Adarna House to check their new titles, I was happily surprised to see Dr. Luis Gatmaitan making chit-chats with the staff. Familiar faces all! It's like meeting friends I've not seen in a long while.

This year, Adarna House has one new title and four reprints launched at the fair. Glenda Oris' Whuush!, Gatmaitan's Ang Ambisyosong Istetoskop, Almario's Si Hinlalaki and Rosa Albina and Desausido's Dalawang Dagang Bulag. Good titles indeed. But what piqued my interest is Adarna House's Wikahon. It's a reading inventory and skills development module for learners of the Filipino language. It's pretty impressive so I will devote one blog post about it next week. For the meantime, it is enough that a glimpse of this product is given to readers of the blog.

My day at the fair was also a day of meeting friends in the industry - Ed Marananan, Jay Menes, Portia Padilla, Nhyl Elada, Sam Cudiamat, Teacher Anding of Kumon, friends from World Book and Phoenix Educational Systems and some celebrities too like Dulce, the power house singer who has recently been active in the Christian renewal movement. It had been an exciting day at the fair!

Unsanitary Reads

A student borrowed a magazine from the library.

Boy: Miss, I'll read this magazine in the bathroom (silly grin).

Me: Ok. Be sure it's clean when you return it. No missing pages.

Boy chuckles.

Boy: Yes miss!

Girl 1: Miss, you allowed him to do that?

Girl 2: That is so gross!

Another boy rushes in the library.

Boy 2: Miss, I saw Boy in the boy's comfort room with a magazine in hand. May I borrow an issue of NatGeo? And can you hurry a bit, Miss? Thanks!

Girls: Yuck! Miss, why do you allow that?

Me: Reading is a right. Information access for all.

Book Review: Numbers

This book review contains some spoilers. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Rachel Ward's first novel for young adult, Numbers, is a quick and accessible read. It begins with an apathetic and detached main character, Jem who could see the death dates of people. The book, for me at least, begins a bit slow but builds up pace in the middle. In the end, it packs an emotional wallop that made me speculate on life, love and loss. Indeed, this generation's YA novels have come a long way since Richard Peck, Judy Blume and SE Hinton.

Back then, a dysfunctional family is an issue dealt with sensitivity and nuanced writing (e.g The Unfinished Portrait of Jessica by Richard Peck). Now, it's a reality that teenagers have come to painfully accept. It finds its way in novels like Numbers and I am not complaining. There was a time when sex (e.g. Forever by Judy Blume) and violence (e.g. The Outsiders by SE Hinton) were described with so much care, its treatment is direct but cushioned. In this day and age, sex and violence exist side by side that to sugar coat its existence would be a disservice to teens and young adult readers. For these points, I am giving Ward's debut novel four book marks over five book marks!

What worked
I like it that Numbers has a good balance of adult characters who care and who do not care at all. Karen and Val, Anne, the vicar's wife and Simon are my champions. Karen and Val stood by Jem. They helped see her through the confusion and loss. Simon fought for her sanctuary at the abbey reminding the vicar of God's magnanimity. Anne, though brief in appearance and did not affect Jem the way Karen and Val did, was a window of faith. I sort of predicted the book's end. I was comforted.

I have to press the like button for Rachel Ward for throwing in solid and compassionate adult characters to look after the teenage character. This is what our teen readers need to see. Out there are people who care for them despite their resistance and stubborn nature.

I also like the way Ward described and maneuvered the sex scenes between Jem and Spider. It was sweet and tender, and yes, it was all about love. Not just pent up libido. It is essential to the trilogy. No wonder, Ward gave Jem, and me as its reader, fond memories of Spider's spawn. Now I will be rooting for Adam in the next book!

What did not work
I just wish Spider didn't die the way he died. It was pretty stupid. I was reminded of Romeo and Juliet. Then again, like Shakespeare, Ward is British. Tragic end, yes, but it leaves me wondering on life's moments and how these little events matter more than the big accomplishments we so dream of achieving.

Filipino Children’s Book Writer Lives beyond Her Demise

Last 2009, children’s book writer Mae Astrid Tobias succumbed to lupus just months after celebrating her 30th birthday. Her early death came as a shock to her family and friends, but her well-lived life, however brief, became a source of inspiration.

In her writing career, Astrid has written television scripts, feature articles, and children’s books acclaimed by the Palanca Awards for Literature and the National Book Award. An active member and past president of KUTING (Kuwentista ng mga Tsikiting), the premier organization of Filipino writers for children, Astrid spearheaded several projects enriching the local literary scene.

Today, her family continues her legacy by sponsoring the 1st Mae Astrid Tobias Writing Workshop for Children, a three-day seminar mentoring ten young fellows from the UP Integrated School, or UPIS, of which Astrid is an alumnus. With the help of KUTING members, also seasoned writers, students are given the basics of writing for children, as well as individual, constant consultations with their mentors.

At the end of the seminar, students are expected to submit their polished short stories or poems, which will be submitted to Astrid’s family, who reserves the right to publish their works.

With the workshop, Astrid’s passionate advocacy for children’s literature lives on, carried on by the country’s future breed of writers.

Picture! Picture!

Reading Advocacy for School Librarians

My last session for Scholastic Philippines' school librarians training on reading advocacy ended today with thirty participants from private schools in Bulacan, Batangas and the greater Metro Manila area. They shared books they've read; worked in groups to identify existing activities and strategies leading to literacy and reading advocacy; and listened to my input on school library standards and the changing roles of school librarians. One jarring reality -- standards are worlds apart between schools who have and schools who have a few.

Over all, it was a good workshop. I was flattered to know that most participants were former attendees of previous workshops I conducted. Thus, there were familiar faces and good friends from the field present at the workshop. Consultants form Scholastic Philippines told me how, some of them were eager and excited to attend my workshop once again. I guess I have a few good fans out there.

I wish to thank Roselle Masirag and her team of consultants in Scholastic Philippines for making the training a success, indeed. I hope to hear feedback, news that is good and otherwise, and any suggestion from them. I wish them good luck in all their work and reading advocacy.

Ans super thanks for the books! I'm reading Rachel Ward's Numbers at the moment. It's pretty good.

The 1st Filipino ReaderCon: Filipino Readers Make it Social