Back in Bangkok for the Pre-CONSAL Workshop on School Library Development in the ASEAN

Faculty of Humanities, Srinakharinwirot University

Being in Bangkok once more fills me with nostalgia. The experience is like going full circle one more time. I was here back in 2003 for a three day workshop on School Library Services in the ASEAN. This workshop was an IFLA and UNESCO sponsored event. At the time, I was with Susan Torres, Hermie Salazar, Ma'am Lou David and Madame Elizabeth Peralejo. We were the small contingent representing the Philippines.

I have fond memories of that workshop. During fellowship night, we danced the tinikling and tried to sing together a folk song. It took us a while to decide what song to sing, not for the lack of songs but for the reason of song choice. Bahay Kubo? Leron Leron Sinta? Dahil Sa Iyo? Yes, we were that bad. Hahaha!

Our group also had the opportunity to watch a puppet show by a Thai puppetry group. The name of the group escapes me now as well as the place. The show, I remember it vividly. It was Rama and Sita! What made it memorable was the puppeteers performance. Puppeteers were on stage holding the puppets, like marionettes but with sticks. The puppeteers animate the puppets and they dance with the puppets. Three to four puppeteers held one big puppet and as a group, they move together as one. It was amazing!

My second time in Bangkok was as speaker in the TK Reading Conference. This was in 2012. For stories of my adventures in the TK Conference, click these links: visiting TK Park, my plenary presentation on the Role of School Libraries and School Librarians in the Digital Age, where the Five Principles of the ASEAN was discussed. On the last day of the conference, we had dinner in Cabbages and Condoms.

Dinner with Dr. Diljit Singh, IASL President and our very good fried. Beside me is Waldet Cueto, librarian of Rizal Library

And now, third time is the charm.

I will be presenting a status report on Philippine School Libraries. I have focused on highlights and sustainability measures that groups in the government and NGO people are tirelessly working on. I look forward to today's workshop. Yes, I promise to blog, to share and post photos. Like I usually do.

School Library Brochure

Whipped up this brochure in a rush. This is for the workshop I am attending on School Library Development in the ASEAN on Wednesday, June 9, 2015 in Bangkok, Thailand.

I realized three things: 1) I need to upgrade my desktop publishing skills (Gosh! Even my term is dated!); 2) I must really  pursue further studies that has something to do with the development and advocacy of school libraries; and 3) I should do better next time. This translates to spending more time to imagine and developing the idea before plunging into design.

The Philippine Children's Book Summit 2015

Here is another awesome poster by Aaron Asis rendered for the Philippine Children's Book Summit of 2015.

Salanga Prize and Alcala Prize Winners of 2015

A few months back, PBBY declared the story The Missing Blanket by Cheeno Marlo Del Mundo as the 2015 Honorable Mention winner of the Salanga Prize. By way of tradition, here now is good news on the Alacala Prize.

Two Artists Declared as Honorable Mention Winners in the 2015 PBBY-Alcala Prize

The Philippine Board on Books for Young People awards Joffrey Z. Atienza and Maria Sabrina P. Palmares as Honorable Mention winners for the 2015 PBBY-Alcala Prize. No one was declared Grand Prize winner for the contest this year.

This year’s PBBY-Alcala called for entries based on the 2015 PBBY-Salanga Honorable Mention winner, “The Missing Blanket,” written by Cheeno Marlo Del Mundo Sayuno, a story set in the province of Kalinga. The Alcala winners were chosen based on their creative approach to Sayuno’s story along with their respect for cultural authenticity.

Atienza, a motion graphic designer from Quezon, and Palmares, a freelance artist from Rizal, will be awarded during the celebration of National Children's Book Day on July 21, 2015.

For inquiries about the contest, contact the PBBY Secretariat at telephone number 352-6765 loc. 203 or e-mail pbby@adarna.com.ph.

Art work by Joffrey Z. Atienza

Art work by Sabrina P. Palmares

 

A Filipino Librarian in the Roster of IASL Awardees

The IASL board of directors is pleased to announced the winners of the 2015 IASL Awards.  The winners are: 

Jean Lowrie Leadership Development Grant – Netta Bali, Kasiga School, India

Ken Haycock Leadership Development Grant – Hosea Tokwe, Midlands State University,  Zimbabwe

Takeshi Murofushi Research Award – “The Digital School Librarian”, Jennifer Wood,  Florida State University, USA

IASL/LinksPlus Library Commendation Award – Libraries for Labour Camps, Virgilio G. Medina Jr., Brighton College, United Arab Emirates

IASL Books for Children Project – Matenda School Library, Hosea Tokwe, Midlands State University, Zimbabwe

IASL Best Conference Paper Award (L. Anne Clyde Memorial Research Award) – “Ethical Dilemmas for Researches Working in International Contexts”, Ray Doiron, Ph.D., University of Prince Edward Island, Canada; and Marlene Asselin, Pd.D., University of British Columbia, Canada   

Congratulations to all award winners. The IASL 2015 Awards Ceremony will be held on Monday, June 29, 2015 at the 44^th Annual Conference of the International Association of School Librarianship at the Maastricht Exhibition and Conference Center in Maastricht, The Netherlands, June 28-July 2, 2015.

Librarian as Storyteller and Writer

Grateful to Prof. Igor Cabbab for these slides. I suddenly felt old and wizened but, flattered nonetheless.

The Philippine Children's Book Summit Program

I will be taking on Concurrent Session 1: Children's Literature 101 for Librarians. I hope to see you there!

Live Blogging: Teaching with the Web

My workshop on Web Enhanced Teaching is on going. It is sponsored by Phoenix Educational Systems Inc. to further assists subscribing clients in the use of World Book Online. Participants are teachers and librarians from private schools. But, I am pleasantly surprised that seven librarians from the Quezon City Public Library are likewise here!

Right now, teachers and librarians are working on the tasks I gave them. Each group is involved not only in exploring World Book Online but in the discussions in their groups. Earlier, I moved around to see how each group is doing, working and exploring web channels in World Book Online (WBO). Some encountered connection problems; others had difficulty navigating the web channels; a good number of the teachers have gone beyond the given task and explored the contents, activities and interactive feature of WBO.

I am looking forward to the sharing of each group. This is where feedback, insight and an awareness of processes the group underwent are revealed. Completing the task is important, but knowing the steps and evaluating if the steps led to a good product is a practice of information literacy skills.

For this workshop, I designed it in such a way that inquiry and discussion are fused together. The questions came from me for each task assigned and participants discuss it among themselves. In the big group discussion, participants are will be encouraged to express insights and ask more questions.

Think with Me! Write with Me!

Congratulations to the Philippine Association of Teachers of Library Science (PATLS) as it celebrates its 5oth year this 2015!

How apt that this year's batch of officers kicked off the organization's golden year with a summit focusing on research in Library and Information Science discipline. It is a great honor to be one of its esteemed speakers. For this, I thank the PATLS Officers for the opportunity to speak about topics and an issues that are close to my heart: school librarianship, children and young adult literature, storytelling, reading advocacy and Information Literacy. Though I was a resource speaker, I was also a participant who learned from my peers and mentors in the LIS profession.

I learned that there are many brilliant and passionate Filipino librarians alive today! I learned that the task of advocating for the growth of the profession is an unending cycle. I am affirmed once more on the importance of collaboration; that while there are differences that divide us, we are all one in the goal of improving LIS education in the country today. I felt hopeful!

And so, my take away from yesterday's session is to look for co-writers. Check my photo of the research agenda. Tell me what moves you. Are you willing to think and write with me? Send me a PM on FB or comment on this blog post!

Children's Book Summit on the 32nd National Children's Book Day

Adarna House Brings Books Closer to Young Readers

Books bring people together!

Adarna House celebrates its 35th year anniversary with a slew of activities for kids of all ages. One activity I was fortunate to partake in was the Reading Camp in Brgy. Janusa, Talim Island, Binangonan, Rizal. Read on the press release of the activity by heading on to the Adarna House blog.

Needless to say, Darrel Marco and I had loads of fun telling stories with the kids, playing games with them and helping them write stories about their families. Seeing them read books was like seeing them open gifts on Christmas Day. What I find remarkable about the experience was the look of wonder painted on their faces when they saw the Adarna books all splayed out for their choosing. And when they started reading, some did picture reading, a few merely looked at the illustrations, there was engagement and connection. The kids' eyes would narrow and widen; some would smile; a few would stare at drawings and touch the pages with hands dirty from play. What joy to hear them read aloud!

My only hope is that a repeat of such an experience would happen soon. Access to books is the first step to literacy and reading development. As a librarian, I am humbled to be a part of this development in the community at Talim Island.

Book Spine Poetry Winner 2015

This year, we had two judges for our Book Spine Poetry Contest. MJ Tumamac and Beverly Wico Siy graciously accepted the judging duties. Here are their notes and reviews on the winning poem.

Beverly Wico Siy's review:

Napakahusay bilang description ang tulang ito. Matatakot ka sa nilalang na ipinakikilala bilang mamamatay-tao hindi lang dahil sa itsura nito (Big mouth and ugly/Freaky green eyes) kundi maging sa ugali at espiritwal nitong katangian 

(Unclean/Unholy/Wicked). Ang big mouth ay maaaring mangahulugan ng pagiging madaldal, maingay, buka nang buka ang bibig dahil sa pagsasalita. Maaari din itong ipakahulugan bilang matakaw, lamon nang lamon, kinakain ang lahat ng makita. Gahaman, sa maikling salita. 

Ang Green Eyes naman ay puwedeng ituring na reference sa dayuhan, partikular na sa mga taga-Kanluran. Kaya masasabing ang tulang ito ay isang epektibong babala: may naghihintay sa dilim, mga nilalang na walang sinasanto na maaaring magmalupit sa iyo at magdulot ng kamatayan. Sa anong dahilan? Sa kawalan nito ng kakontentuhan at matinding kagutuman.

MJ Tumamac's review:

Sa pag-aayos ng mga linya, hindi lang mahalaga na tunog matulain ang bawat linya; mahalaga rin kung may nabubuo itong diwa. Una, diwa sa literal na nibel. Tulad ng nabanggit ko na dati, hindi palabuan ang pagtula. Una kong tinitingnan kung maayos ang pagkakalahad, lalo na ang gramatika nito. Mula sa maayos na pagkakalahad ng ideya, tiyak na lilitaw na may talinghaga ang tula. Tulad ng tula sa ibaba, malinaw ang paglilista ng mga katangian muna.

Summer Reading Program 2015

Here is the guideline of our library's Summer Reading Program. I will post the progress of the activity in the blog in the coming days.

Summer Reading Program Guidelines

1. Books from the BA Library collection can be borrowed over the summer. There is no limit to the number of books that can be borrowed. This is open to all members of the BA community. Book borrowing begins on May 22, 2015. All books borrowed during the summer must be returned on August 4, 2015.

2. Students, teachers and staff can sign up for a Summer Reading Passport. Registration begins on May 22, 2015. Those who sign up will be given a reading passport.

3. How does the Summer Reading Passport work?

1. A minimum of 10 books is required to join in this summer reading activity.
2. Upon signing up, you will be asked to define your reading goal.
3. Choose at least 5 books from the recommended list found in the Summer Reading Program brochure and 5 books of your own choice from the BA library’s collection.
4. Use the reading passport to record and log insights, reflections and responses on the books you have read.
5. Take a photo of the top 3 best books you have read from the 10 books and post it on IG using #booklove, #bestreadsofsummer and #griffinsread.
6. On August 4, 2015, return your completed reading passport to Mr. Flynn for a token or a reading award. Completed reading passports qualify as raffle tickets to the Back to School Book Giveaway Raffle Draw. The winner will be announced during the assembly.

Important reminder: Your reading goal must help you choose the books you will pick out from the recommended reading list and from the library’s collection.

Summer Reading Program (SRP) Schedule

May 18, 2015 Announcement of SRP via email

May 20, 2015 SRP Brochure distribution

May 22 - 28, 2015 Sign up days for Summer Reading Passport 2015

May 22, 2015 - August 3, 2015 READING TIME 

August 4, 2015 Return all books borrowed to the library

Book Spine Poetry Contest 2015 Part 2

Here are the rest of the poems that were entered in the Book Spine Poetry Contest.

Book Spine Poetry Contest 2015

Last March, I opened the Book Spine Poetry Contest to the student body. By mid-April, there were ten entries to the contest. I will be posting five poems today, then the second five tomorrow. Judges' comments and feedback will follow after the poems are all posted in the blog.

Behind the Scene at the Creative Reading Activities Workshop

Here are some wonderful stories I encountered during my week long stay in Naga City, CamSur for the Educo and Adarna House sponsored teacher training workshop.

Mr. Peralta proves himself a leader and mentor.

1. I met the teachers I had trained for the Sa Aklat Sisikat (SAS) Read-athon Teacher Training Workshop in Donsol, Sorsogon (2009) in the Creative Reading Activities Workshop (EDUCO and Adarna House). Mr. Arnold Peralta was then a principal in Donsol. He is now a district supervisor. He is still the same jolly guy I met six years ago who asked all the silly questions and joked through the Pinoy Henyo game we had. In this workshop, he proved himself a trooper once more. He worked with his groups mates, he created a mini-book with a partner, and read the story out loud for everyone to hear. In a short personal conversation I had with him, we both agree how transformational the SAS workshops were to his teachers. He was transferred to another school after the SAS workshop but he recognized and saw the impact it had on his teachers who attended the Gurong Kaakbay Conference in the Ateneo De Manila Univeristy in 2012. It was the last Gurong Kaakbay Conference.

With Teacher Irish of Donsol, Sorsogon

One of Mr. Peralta's teachers, Teacher Irish, who was also a SAS Workshop participant in Donsol, is now a master's degree holder. She has a specialization in Music Education. She completed her MA from the Bicol University. Her thesis is a compilation of Bicol and Donsol folk songs for children.

I met school leaders from Nabua, CamSur who know my grandaunt. This prompts me to think of visiting the region once again. This would mean planning a trip to may parents' provinces: Tuguegaro, Iriga and Nabua sooner and not later.

I let my hair down during the cultural night. Teacher Pam, Teacher Michelle and myself sang "Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko", with matching choreography. There is a video of this "amazing" number that brought the house down. As of writing, it is an exclusive property of Adarna House. Until Teacher Pam gives her consent to have it on public viewing, for now, a picture of us three will have to do.

Workshop facilitators by day, performers by night: Lower photo: L-R Lea S. Eugene Domingo and Jennylyn Mercado

Creative Reading Activities

The three day workshop on Creative Reading Activities sponsored by Educo and Adarna House in Naga City, CamSur ended yesterday. There were two batches of teachers who attended the workshop. Along with these teachers are their school leaders: reading coordinators, division and district supervisors, and regional supervisors. The three day workshop consisted of topics on Creative Play and Movement, Developing Creative Connections (which focus on literacy and thinking skills) and Library Improvement. Apart from myself, Teacher Pam Razon and Teacher Michelle Agas were the two workshop facilitators.

In my workshop, participants recalled their reading history and identified their reading beliefs. I had an input on library concepts and the role of books on national development. In the afternoon, I conducted a workshop that allowed teachers to create books and assemble a classroom resource center. Since the theme of the workshop is creativity and connections, I instructed the teachers to save their output from Teacher Pam's and Teacher Michelle's workshops since these will be place in the classroom resource centers that they will set up.

The participants had a working knowledge of the topics I covered thus, the different groups of teachers produced wonderful outputs. What I enjoyed doing the most with them was the book making activity. Teachers made mini-books. They wrote, illustrated and read aloud their stories. Using story prompts, they were all able to finish one after an hour and a half of work. Teachers who read aloud their stories were very proud of their work. Indeed, reading, writing, speaking and listening are empowering skills to have!

I then reminded the teachers to keep their books since they can build a collection of mini-books in their classrooms. They can do this project with their students. So, the concept of the process of creation is an experience that both teacher and students experience. Keeping these "self published" books in the classroom as a collection is one way to CREATE a LIBRARY. After this activity, the groups of teachers assembled a classroom library where, apart from the books available in their school library, can have the self published books, and visual aids made by the teacher.

In this time of budget cuts and limited resources, creative ways to set up libraries as literacy centers must be thought about. The how-to can come easily, but it is the concepts and principles that would hold the steps and process in creating libraries as literacy centers together.

In a lock-in session I had with the school leaders during the workshop, I learned how they cope and survive with the challenges of limited resources. Activities and programs like, mobile libraries, reading marathons, volunteer storytellers visiting their schools came up as sustainable projects. Sadly, there was no mention of the library hub in the region. Though the presence of the library hub is recognized, it does not seem to make an impact on the identified recipients. I see this as an opportunity to study the operational model and socio-cultural factors that affect its success, to some communities, and its failure in others.

For now, it is good to know that there are committed school leaders who will try their best to supervise and mentor teachers in developing creative literacy activities by bridging books to children through programs, working with the DepEd and making linkages with NGOs.

Live Blogging: Book Making Activity

I am in Naga City, Camarines Sur running a workshop on Library Improvement. This workshop is part of Educo's three day Training Session for teachers in schools where they have set up libraries and reading centers. Creative Play, Movement and Creating Connections are the other two workshops that are part of the training program. Working with Adarna House, Educo was able to assemble 150 teachers from the CamSur region for this training program.

Right now, I am facilitating a book making activity with the second batch of teachers. The room is quiet as everyone is busy writing their stories and drawing illustrations. In a few minutes, we will have a read aloud of the stories they wrote. Their mini-books will be put on display at the end of the day.

Blog Contest: Mother's Day Special

It's Mother's Day on May 10!

Make Nanay feel extra special on Mother's Day. Send me a letter via email or PM over on FB, or post a comment on this blog post on how you plan to celebrate Mother's Day with your dear mom. The first five letters recieved, replies or posts made on this blog will get an authographed FREE copy of my book, Dear Nanay.

This contest is open to all. It starts tomorrow, May 5, 2015 at 12MN and ends on May 9, 2015 at 12NN.

Email: zarah.gagatiga@gmail.com

Dear Nanay is illustrated by Liza Flores and is published by Lampara Books.

Storytelling Wonders!

Here is another email I am sharing. This came from Cyril Llerin, a school principal and participant in the DepEd's National Training of Trainors last March 2015. I had a half day session with the trainors on storytelling. The email contains feedback and a request.

I am thankful for the feedback. I replied to her request. I am happy that Ms. Llerin is sharing what she got from my workshop. Feedback like hers inspire me to continue doing the little contribution I can do for the K-12 program.

Hello Teacher Zarah G. Good morning po.

Thank you very much for the very memorable, enjoyable and FRUITFUL EXPERIENCE we had with you in our Storytelling 101 at Tanza, Cavite. We learned a lot. I personally enjoyed it, especially when I was given the chance to play as the HIGANTE in the "patikim portion" of the workshop. Nagenjoy din kami nang husto doon sa  biyahe ni JUAN...lakad, lakad na Juan.... Pumatak nang todo sa mga utak namin ang session mo dahil pinayagan mo kaming ma-experience ang STORYTELLING.

SALAMAT GYUD KAAYO sa bisaya.

I am a school principal in Aalaska elementary school and I am planning to share your session with my 33 teachers in grade s1 - gr. 3 on April 22, 23 and 24. Gusto ko sanang gawing first activity ko ang kwento ni Juan... Hihingi sana ako ng kopya sa story ni Juan. Gusto kong gawin exactly how we did it in NTOT kaya may I have the copy of the text of the story? It is still vivid, very vivid pa talaga in my mind that activity. Sobra akong nagenjoy! Lahat kami parang kasali na sa story though mga boys lang ang naging mga hayop (participants in the storytelling)

SALAMAT TEACHER ZG. May your tribe INCREASE. GOD BLESS YOUR HOLY WEEK po. AMPING KANUNAY (take care always)

And yes, I do wish that in the process of sharing stories, telling and creating them, our tribe may increas.

IASL 2015 Online Conference

This information came from Lourense Das who is one of the people in-charge of the IASL 2015 Conference in Maastricht. 

Online Conference

For the 1^st time in the Annual IASL Conference history an Online Conference will be part of the total event. The Online Conference includes a selection of Papers with the highest score from the review process. The Online Conference will live-stream 5 keynotes, 23 papers, the Poster Elevator Pitch session and snapshots of conference happenings. Besides following the live stream, you will also be able to view the keynotes and the sessions afterwards (till at least a month after the end of the conference). The Online Conference programme is now available on the website.

So, if you are really, really not able to join us live in Maastricht, please do consider to join us virtually in the Online Conference. Registration for the Online Conference is now open! http://iasl2015.org/online-conference/

Head on to the link. A conference fee of 75 euros is pegged for participants from Zone C countries.

ILN Discussion: Prove your worth!

I have been thinking through these questions:

•    How do you measure success in your library?
•  Are library statistics gathered? How are they used, and what do they tell you about the library?
 •    Who makes funding decisions about your library? How are those decisions made? Is funding very difficult to get?

 •    What is one story you can tell about a positive outcome that was achieved by your library?

These are the questions I need to answer for the ILN's topic of discussion. It cuts across library advocacy and knowing the roles that librarians play in the community he or she works with. I will get back to answering these questions before the weekend comes to a close. For now, follow these links since ILN participants have written about proving the library's worth and library advocacy.

What will you do to prove the worth of your library?

SLA Success Stories

The Elevator Pitch

Return on Investments

Library Measurement and Metrics

Filipino Librarian of the Month: Alex Lunar

Alex Lunar is this month's Filipino Librarian. He is currently the media librarian at the University of Batangas, Batangas City.

What's your lib story?

I am an accidental Librarian.

Never in my wildest dream that I saw myself doing library work. One thing I like doing that is somewhat related to library work is organizing things around me. I like to see things neatly arrange, from my room, to the things I use, to my garden. After graduation, the same school that gave me a scholarship in college called me because they needed an encoder in the library department. I applied for the position and got hired. My first degree was Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. I do some computer programming and trouble shooting. While working in the library, I felt I need additional job so I enrolled professional subjects in BSED because I feel I can teach. I choose TLE as my major because it was related to computer education and eventually I got my teacher’s license. I work as an encoder, computer trouble shooter and binder. As part of professional development the school obliged me to enroll in library science subjects for me to have background of the field. I went to Philippine Normal University to enroll in their specialization program. The very first day I set foot on PNU grounds especially the library, I knew changes will come to me. I met brilliant professors in the likes of Sir. Cobaria, Sir. Marasigan, Mam. Joven, Ma'am Orendain and Ma'am Tayona.

I think I didn’t choose LIS, it was a gift to me. I met different students taking up LS Specialization, some are young but mostly are older, most of us were graduates of other fields. When I finished my specialization program I thought PRC would allow taking LLE because I already have 18 units in LS and already a LET passer but they did not allow me. It took them sometime to decide but in the end, I was not able to get the exam. That was the first challenge I encountered.  I enrolled in the graduate program MAEd-LS in the same school, thinking it was my last option to be qualified for LLE, I have to do well. I met a lot of good people, I learned a lot, I’ve known PNU well and the thought of qualifying for exam just became a consolation price, the learning and experience became my motivation. I finished the program, it was year 2008, the last year non-LIS and non-MLIS graduates can take the exam, I have to nail it one time, thankfully I got it. 

The only guy in the group is none other than Alex Lunar, male Filipino Librarian.

What has been the greatest challenge you've faced so far as a licensed and working librarian?

The greatest challenge I encountered so far as a licensed and working librarian was teaching future librarians. It was the time that I am the one demonstrating and showing them how to become the best librarian they could be. It was challenging because they saw you as a mentor and model just like what my professors did to me. I have to make them see what I saw, the beauty of books and reading, research and service.


What is your area of expertise in LIS?

I could say that my areas of expertise are information technology and indexing, but I also do things other than that. If being funny and humorous is some sort of expertise in LIS, I would be the first in line. I could be a friend to anyone.

What do you think are the requirements and preparations necessary for becoming a LIS professional?

For me to become LIS professional, one should have a deeper understanding of things around them and be able to appreciate their importance. One should understand the importance of being informed and be able to share the information to others. You have to be positive and optimistic enough that the things you are doing will bring positive results. One should love to discover from basic sampling to complicated scientific research.

What rewards have you reaped from being a LIS professional?

Rewards, I was given a chance to teach young people about libraries, books and the beauty of reading. I was able to serve different type of clients belonging to different walks of life. I met a lot of bright people and I was able to learn from them. It was rewarding to belong to organizations doing good things to other people to make the world a better one. I was able to talk and share my knowledge to my colleagues. I was awarded several times for being good (daw) in practicing my profession which I cannot achieve without being one. I became known and popular somehow, elected in several positions in different library organization, maybe because I gathered more votes because I’m talkative and friendly. Lastly I can say, it was financially rewarding, not that much but it pays better being a librarian.  

ARC: The Navy SEAL's Email Order Bride/Red Hot Beginnings Anthology

My affair with contemporary romance novels hit an all time high when I started reading Cora Seton, particularly The Cowboys of Chance Creek series. I have read all eight books in the series and was very much amused at the quirky characters, loveable female leads and the swoon worthy cowboys that are matched with them. It was a lot of fun reading the romance stories of Ethan and Autumn, Jaime and Claire, Cab and Rose, Rob and Morgan, and the rest of the Matheson brothers.

When I learned about The Heroes of Chance Creek series, I immediately purchased the first book The Navy SEAL's Email Order Bride. When I finished reading this, I bought the second one, The Soldier's Email Order Bride and the third, The Marine's Email Order Bride. I am patiently waiting for the fourth installment in the series, The Airman's Email Order Bride, to see how the Halls' quest to reclaim their home and ranch will end. Of course, it will end happily ever after, like most romance novels do. But the adventure, the relationships, the sense of community, along with its complications are elements in the series I want to see unfold and come to a conclusion.

What worked

I love Mason Hall because he loves his brothers, his family's heritage and the land he grew up in. Apparently, this SEAL has a strong and well balanced mental faculty that he does not suffer any post war trauma. Nope. He is not the dark and brooding hero. He is prideful, handsome, a gentleman and knows where his head and heart should be. He is your romance hero whom you can depend on. Ah, but his pride would get in the way some times and this is where Regan Anderson comes in to temper and put Mason into rights.

This is what I love about the book. How the author mixes and matches her characters to bring home the message that, despite differences, man and woman can live together. The stuff of fiction, some would say. An escape from reality, a few may add. But, I have seen real life relationships endure that makes me a believer in this conceit.

What about the sex? Of course there is plenty. But Regan knows what she wants and how to get it. Mason gives what he can and takes, in all sincerity and respect, what Regan is capable of giving.

What did not work

It's too short. I would have wanted to see more complications between the leads but, Cora Seton reserved that for the second book in the series.

As for the anthology, the Red Hot Beginnings, it is a sizzling read; a good reading companion these hot summer days. I've finished the second book, Life Blood  by V.M. Black and it can stand strong, enough for me to suspend my disbelief. Though it is not a finished novella, I can say that this is the better vampire romance novel I have read in a while. There is a series to the initial offering, Cora's Choice, so I might check it out soon as well. I am on the third novella now, Beauty Touched the Beast by Sky Warren, another promising read that touches on a May-December affair.

I will leave this review here but with a promise that I will come back to finish it. Until next post!

The Binan Public Library and Museum

The stained glass reminds me of my lola's house.

I made the visit to the public library of Binan, Laguna last week. Thanks to Dr. Merlene Alon who accommodated me that afternoon. Dr. Alon is a proud Binanense who volunteered to help develop the library and the museum. The public library is housed in the old municipal hall which is flanked by the public market on the left and the church on the right. There is an azotea overlooking the town plaza and the skeleton of the old Alberto House. That afternoon of my visit, I was given an application form for a library card!

The library has a spacious reading room; a viewing room; an Internet station; and a working area for its staff and volunteers. That afternoon, the reading area was empty but there were teenagers who were using the computers for research and, yes, Facebook.

This poster about Rogelio Limaco is found in a room dedicated for Binan's World War II hero.

There is also a museum on the second floor. It was impressive since it has a gallery of photographs that show Binan's industry and trade since the time of the Spanish conquest. There is a room dedicated for Roger Limaco, one of Binan's local hero as well as past mayors and the memorabilia that are marked by each's term of office. I learned from Dr. Alon that more and more, family members of past mayors have contacted her to donate more memorabilia from their collection. This is good news indeed and the local government unit better take good care of these archival and historical objects, documents and donations.

As a librarian, visiting this library is already a treat. As a member of the community, I feel I need to do more. So, the extra books we have identified for donation in our school library will be having a new home in this public library inside a heritage house. More photos on my next post!

DIY School Library Bulletin Board

Here is a sneak peak on a handout and content on my forth coming workshop for Adarna House and Intervida next month. I will be giving a session on library improvement for teachers, librarians and cultural workers in Bicol.

A Visit From Librarians of Lipa City Colleges

The visit of eight librarians from the Lipa City Colleges in our library was one event I was thrilled to host. They were the first group to see us at The Academy for benchmarking purposes. To prepare for their visit, my staff and I showed them the basic library functions we have set up, the activities and programs we have conducted, so far, gave them a tour of the campus and had a round table discussion at the end of the tour. We also served them the fabled puto Binan and brewed coffee.

The team from Lipa City Colleges was led by Ms. Belle De la Cruz. From this post in FB by Marianne Diesta, I think we had all a wonderful time. Here's hoping we can establish stronger networking ties with our colleagues in Batangas.

SLIA: A Decade of Blogging

The blog turned ten years old yesterday! There is reason to celebrate! So, from here on, I'll be posting throwback posts that consists of Top Ten lists about the blog and topics I have written about the past decade.

For the meantime, here is a screen shot of my first post in 2005.

Von Totanes greatly figured in my blogging life. He remains an inspiration.

At the time I started out, my agenda  was to promote school librarianship; the work I do as a school librarian; advocate reading and literacy; and use the online space as a way to address topics and issues relevant to the profession. Along the way, I realized that blogging helps me learn new things. I am still learning new things. SLIA opened opportunities for me to grow professionally by being a main platform for my own personal and professional learning network. Blogging gave me avenues to be creative.

It has been an exciting ride. It is one where I had encountered bumps along the way and where I was able to pause, to reflect and pick myself up to move on. I've reached a decade of blogging and, perhaps, a "dot com" website is inevitable.

Japan Trip 2015: Haiku Writing Workshop

Candy May Schijf and I composed a haiku during the workshop.

I like haiku. You can say so much, and more, in three lines and in very few words. Back in 2009, I wrote twelve haiku, one for each month to capture a moment. In my poetry workshop for kids, I always put in a unit on haiku writing. Imagine my delight to learn about a Haiku Writing Workshop in the IAFOR LibrAsia 2015!

It was the last session of the conference for Day 1. I was on cloud nine to have had my photo taken with haiku master, Emiko Yamashita. In our brief conversation before the start of her workshop, she told me that she is a poet, and that poets are bubbles. She smiled and excused herself as she had to prepare for her workshop. Just like that, she disappeared from my sight like a bubble. Upon entering the workshop venue, we discovered stuff on top of each chair. At close inspection, it was a crocheted bookmark and a one page handout for the writing workshop. The crocheted bookmarks were done by Ms. Yamashita's mother who is over 90 years old.

With haiku master, Emiko Yamashita. Bubble personified.

During the workshop, Ms. Yamashita and her co-facilitator, gave inputs on the basics of writing a haiku, a brief origin story about it and the form of a traditional Japanese haiku in 5-7-5 syllables. They showed samples of haiku by Issa, Basho as well as western ones. What followed next was an on-the-spot haiku writing workshop where feedback was given immediately to the brave souls who stood up and delivered. At the end of the workshop, I was lucky to get a book on a collection of haiku written by children from all over the world.

As in all art forms, writing must be practiced. It is something done everyday to sharpen one's skill, perceptions and feelings. So, I committed to writing 100 haiku. What I do is to select photos I have taken from my travels or from simple things I see around me. Like what Ms. Yamashita said in the workshop, a haiku is about moments. It is not about the passing of time. I started last April 6, 2015. I am on day eleven now. I post my haiku on Instagram. Check these hastags: #haiku / #humahaiku / #The100DayProject #iaforLibrAsia2015results.

Japan Trip 2015: Comparative Librarianship

The OICC - Osaka Internattional Convention Center

One of the new things I learned from the 5th LibrAsia Conference was about comparative librarianship. I have read and participated in international librarianship, but it was my first time to encounter the term, comparative librarianship. Turns out, it has been around since the 70s and that, my engagement with IASL since 2005 is part and parcel of ICL, International and Comparative Librarianship.

Here are links to ICL websites:

ICL Definitions
IFLA - Interest Group: ICL
Peter Johan Lor on ICL

Thinking through this experience, I realized that my current involvement in the International Librarians Network's peer mentoring and partnership program is an ICL activity. I have been exchanging emails and blog entries with my Polish friend, Wanda Sliwowska, a school librarian in Poland, for over a month now. You can read the ILN introduction I wrote in this link. Wanda has made a blog since our "convo" and email exchanges. I also learned from her that they have a school librarian association in Poland. Our last topic of discussion in the ILN program was about games in the school library. While Wanda has started organizing a game board collection, I still have to study and explore this possibility in our school library.

Receiving my certificate from Dr. Patrick Lo

In my introduction, this is what I said on my purpose for joining ILN: I joined ILN because I know little of the world. I wish to expand my worldview in the context of my work as a school librarian. I am excited to know more about my peer mentor hoping that I can also contribute or give back a little of what I know. It has been an enjoyable and enriching experience. There are times when I do feel alone in the work place. No offense meant to my learning community. But being with one's kin or kind inspires and uplifts me to do more; to push myself; and to look at my small self in a bigger world. Such experiences affirm that the little things I do matter.  To quote June Carter, "I just want to matter."

Going back to the 5th LibrAsia Conference where comparative librarianship was a topic of presentation, Dr. Patrick Lo shared his research on librarians in Hong Kong, Japan and Taiwan. It covered librarians working in schools, academia and universities. In a nutshell, there is work to be done in school librarianship across Asia. 

We can start rolling our sleeves and go to work by answering this survey:

 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/philippinesschoollib - Where we can mull over on our roles and feel good afterwards.

https://surveymonkey.com/r/hkcomics - Where we can think about comics and how it can change our services to readers.

These are all for now on the IAFOR / 5th LibrAsia Conference.

Library Visit and Benchmarking

On April 16, I will play host to eight librarians from Lipa City Colleges. I am preparing a song and dance number for our visitors. And yes, there will be food!

Japan Trip 2015: IAFOR ACAH & LibrAsia 2015

Crossing the river towards the OICC

Let me first spell out these acronyms: IAFOR stands for International Academic Forum. ACAH means Annual Conference on the Arts and Humanities. LibrAsia is a coined word for Librarians in Asia or Libraries in Asia. Put together, these are the three reasons why I was in Japan in the first week of April this year.

I attended the IAFOR ACAH LibrAsia Conference (April 3-5, 2015), presented a paper, learned loads and had a good time. This last bit is the icing on the cake. A lot of work went into research and writing the paper. Now here's what happened in the conference.

The plenary sessions began in day 1 where academics from the arts and humanities presented their research papers. I came late on the first day so I only had the chance to listen to Mr. Jared Baxter talk about Van Gogh's Starry Night and the influences it has on different disciplines as well as its impact in the political, cultural and historical milieu of the artist, past and present. This was already in mid-morning. A session before the morning break. I met Filipino academics and presenters too. There was a good number of Filipino participants and paper presenters from Luzon and the Visayas. Somehow, the atmosphere did not feel so foreign at all.

The Pinoy Continget at the IAFOR 2015

Before lunch break, we were all treated to songs and dances of the Taiko Drum Perfomers. I was impressed by their youthful exuberance performing their traditional songs and dances that I wrote a haiku.
   
"Thunder in the flesh
Proud, powerful and unafraid
Taiko drum performers"

Candy receiving her certificate from Dr. Lo

Breakout session began at 1.30PM. I presented my paper on school librarians and leadership in the library session with Candy May Schijf and Mr. Wilson Chu of the Hong Kong Design Institute presenting too. Candy's paper was about Information Literacy and assessment while Mr. Chu's paper was on attitudes and perceptions of students on the library and how this can help librarians create the space, services and programs of the library. The session was chaired by Dr. Patrick Lo of Tsukuba University.

Discussion during our session thrived. The audience were interested to know about the government's guidelines on school libraries in the Philippines. Dr. Lo was particularly eager to know the school library landscape in the country. This led to an exchange of calling cards, more conversations and sharing of future research projects after our presentation. Right after, Candy and I rushed to Willian San Andres Frias' presentation. We didn't see her present her paper on collection development and research data, but a physicist and librarian from Vienna was giving her accolades for her paper, even encouraging her to have it published in an academic, refereed journal.

What were Cristina, Grace and Darrel doing all the time?

A haiku is about a moment.

Cristina chaired a session and presented her paper too. Grace and Darrel sat in sessions in the literature strand. During the afternoon break, I met Dr. Grace V.S. Chin from the Univeristi of Brunei Darusalam. She wrote a paper on Jose "Butch" Dalisay's novel, Soledad and Her Sisters, and the OFW experience seen through the lens of the matriarchal archetype. I was introduced to her by Grace Bansig (ye, another Grace), since she listened to her present her paper.

The last session we all attended was the Haiku Writing Workshop by haiku master, Emiko Yamashita. I will devout one post for that workshop since it is one of the more memorable sessions in IAFOR LibrAsia 2015. Well, at least, for me.

This is Day 2 of my Japan Trip of 2015. My post on Day 3 is next.