Kuwentong Musmos Author Interview: Mark Norman Boquiren

Norman and Angela at the book and press launch 

This week, the blog's featured Kuwentong Musmos Author from Team Lampara is Mark Norman Boquiren. Norman wrote Ang Batang Papet, a story of control and juvenile justice. Angela Taguiang.illustrated the book.

1. Bakit ka nagsusulat para sa mga bata/kabtaan?  

Una sa lahat, nagsusulat ako para sa kabataang Pilipino. Para saan pa’t binigyan ako ng kakayahang makapagsulat kung hindi ko ito iaalay sa aking kababayan? Nais kong itampok ang mga karanasan ng mga batang Pilipino na maaari ring maisalin at danasin ng mga bata sa ibang bayan/bansa. May natatanging lasa ang mga kuwentong Pinoy na nararapat na maitampok sa mga mambabasa. Nariyan siyempre ang mga kuwento tungkol sa kasaysayan, paniniwala, kultura, politika, at maging ang mga bagong kaalaman sa nagbabagong panahon na kailangan din nating makiakma. Magandang kasabay ng pagmumulat sa mga bata ay ang makabasa ng mga kuwentong malapit sa kanilang karanasan. Ganoon din, maging malay sila na may mga ganitong uri ng babasahin na isinulat para sa kanila.

Higit pa sa mailathala, nais ko kasing makapag-ambag sa Panitikan ng Pilipinas (wow), partikular sa koleksyon ng mga akdang pambata. Bagaman may mga nauna na sa ating mahuhusay na manunulat, itinuturing na ‘bata’ pa ang pagsusulat ng mga kuwentong pambata sa ating bansa, ayon na rin sa ibang pag-aaral. Nakita ko ang pagkakataong ito upang makiisa sa pagpapayaman at pagpapayabong nito.

Nais ko ring sabihing nagsusulat ako para sa mga guro, magulang, at tagapangalaga ng mga bata . Nais ko silang bigyan ng mga alternatibong materyal sa pagtuturo at sa mga kuwentong binabasa at ibinabahagi nila sa mga bata.

Noong bata pa ako’y babad ako sa pagbabasa ng mga kuwentong pambata sa teksbuk, sa mga librong banyaga, at pati na rin sa mga komiks. Siguro’y naimbak ang karanasang ito sa aking pagkatao kaya’t isang araw sa aking buhay ay bigla ko na lamang naramdaman na gusto ko ring magsulat ng mga kuwentong kagaya nito. Naisip kong kung ang pagkatao ko nga ay nahubog ng mga akdang nabasa ko noo’y paano pa kaya kung may mga batang makababasa ng mga naisulat at maisusulat ko pa – na maaaring makadagdag din sa kanilang pag-unlad bilang isang tao.

2. Paano ka nagsimula sa pagsusulat ng mga kuwentong pambata? Ano ang iyong origin story?

Hindi ko naman talaga inasam na maging isang manunulat ng mga kuwentong pambata. Nagsimula siguro ang lahat sa karanasan ko bilang isang artista-mag-aaral mula noong hayskul hanggang noong kolehiyo nang maging miyembro ako ng University of the East Drama Company, ang opisyal na grupong pantanghalan ng aming pamantasan. Naging babad ako sa pag-aaral ng paraan ng pagkukuwento at pagbabahagi ng karanasan sa kapuwa.

Hindi nagtagal, naging aktibo akong volunteer storyteller para sa Alitaptap Storytellers at sa Museo Pambata. Dito, kinailangan kong isa-isahin ang mga librong pambatang nababagay na ikuwento nang patanghal. Aabot sa higit sa isandaang librong pambata ang nabasa ko para lamang kilalanin ang mga ito.  Na-absorb ko ang mga paraan ng pagkakasulat sa mga kuwentong nabasa ko. Hindi rin ako tumigil sa pagiging storyteller, kabilang ako ngayon sa Ang Pinoy Storytellers.

Hindi nagtagal, nagkaroon ng mga panawagan para sa patimpalak sa pagsulat ng mga kuwentong pambata. Sumubok ako. At natalo. Heartbreaking para sa akin ang bawat pagkatalo pero naisip kong dapat ay ituloy lamang ang pagsusulat, may patimpalak man o wala, dahil ang layunin dapat ng pagsusulat ay mabasa ng mga batang Pilipino.

Dumaan ang mga panahon, inimbitahan akong magsulat at magpasa ng manuskrito para sa Lampara Books. Sinubukan kong i-polish ang mga naisulat ko na hanggang sa matanggap ito para sa publikasyon. Sunod nama’y hinikayat na magsulat para sa Chikiting Books ng Vibal. Ganoon din, natanggap para sa publikasyon. Pero gusto ko lamang i-highlight, bago ang magagandang balita ng pagkatanggap para sa publikasyon, nariyan ang kabi-kabilang rejection, revision, isa pang revision, at isa pa, at pati na rin ang paghihintay.

At the Lampara Workshop Hall last December 16, 2019, Team Lampara was happy to see sample copies of the books.

3. Magbigay ng tatlong salita upang mailarawan ang karanasan mo bilang isang fellow ng Kuwentong Musmos Workshop?

NAKAKANERBYOS

Nakakatawa ang unang bahagi ng karanasan ko sa Kuwentong Musmos Workshop. Nasarhan kasi ako ng gate ng airport dahil naging kampante akong maaga akong nakapag-check-in at may oras pa para magkape. Sa madaling salita, hindi ako nakasakay ng eroplano, pero masuwerte pa ring nakakuha ng slot sa susunod na flight schedule. Hindi ko alam kung nakadagdag ng nerbyos ang pagkakape pero hindi naman ‘yon ang punto ko rito.

Nakakanerbyos ang karanasan bilang isa akong baguhang manunulat na makakasama ang mga premyado at hinahangaang manunulat. Ano na lamang ba ang panama ko sa kanila, ang sabi ko sa sarili. Inisip kong baka malait-lait lang ang kuwentong maisusulat ko. Baka mapag-iwanan ako? Isa ba itong pagpapatiwakal? Ganoon pa man, kahit nininerbyos ako sa mga susunod na magaganap, na wala akong ideya, nagpatuloy lang ako sa pagsulat at pag-inom ng kape.

BACK-TO-ZERO

Sa Kuwentong Musmos Workshop nabura ang lahat ng nalalaman ko. Joke. Pero parang ganoon na rin. Una kasi rito’y nasanay kasi akong magsulat ng mahahabang akda kaya naging isang malaking pagsubok ang pagbuo ng kuwento na may 80-120 words lamang. Ibang disiplina at pamamaraan ang kinailangan para makabuo ng dalawang kuwentong pambata para sa palihang ito. Isa nga rito ang kuwentong “Ang Batang Papet”.

Ang Batang Papet (Lampara Books, 2019)

PROUD(ABLE) AND THANKFUL

Isa nga itong hindi malilimutang karanasan. Maipagmamalaki at nagpapasalamat akong naging bahagi ako ng proyektong ito kung saan nagsama-sama at nagsanib-puwersa ang mga manunulat, ilustrador, at ang apat na malalaking local publisher ng mga librong pambata sa pagsasakatuparan nito sa pangunguna siyempre ng Room-To-Read. Thankful din sa nakatrabaho kong ilustrador na si ANGELA TAGUIANG, na nagbigay ng istilo at interpretasyong bumagay sa isinulat kong kuwento. Masaya akong ang mga kopya ng “Ang Batang Papet” ay mailalathala at  maipamimigay sa mga batang walang gaanong access sa mga librong pambata. Shoutout siyempre sa LAMPARA BOOKS! J #BatangMatalino #BatangMasigla #BatangLampara

4. Anong aklat ang sana ay ikaw ang nagsulat?

Mahirap itong sagutin dahil maraming libro ang naisip kong sana’y naisulat ko. Pero magbibigay ako ng dalawa; isang lokal at isang banyaga. Sana’y ako ang nakapagsulat ng “Bugtong ng Buwan at Iba pang Kuwento” ni Will Ortiz na inilathala ng UP Press. Nabighani ako sa mga kuwentong narito, naghahalo ang totoong karanasan at kuwento at misteryo. Mahilig din kasi ako sa mga supernatural stories. Maganda rin ang pagkakagamit ditto ng wika. Sa librong banyaga, sana’y ako ang nakapagsulat ng “Bridge to Terabithia” ni Katherine Paterson. Gusto ko ang katahimikan at sakit na nakapaloob sa kuwento. Nawa’y makasulat din ako ng mga librong kagaya nito sa takdang panahon.

5.  Magbigay ng 5 tips o payo para sa mga gustong magsulat ng kuwentong pambata.

1.  1. Kagaya ng nasabi ko sa simula pa lamang, MAGSULAT PARA SA KABATAANG PILIPINO. Ilapit natin sa karanasan nila ang ating mga isusulat na kuwento.

2.    2. MAGSULAT TAYO NG MGA KUWENTO GAMIT ANG ATING MGA WIKANG KATUTUBO. Mahalaga ito para sa mga manunulat sa iba’t ibang rehiyon. Walang ibang makapagkukuwento ng inyong karanasan sa rehiyon kundi kayo.

Angela and Norman look like they are proud parents of their baby - a book!

3.    3. MATUTO MUNANG MAGBASA NG MARAMING AKDANG PAMBATA. Magbasa ng lokal at banyagang mga aklat. Magbasa ng mga kuwento, tula, dula, at iba pang isinulat para sa mga bata. Siyasatin kung paano ito isinulat. Alamin kung ano pa ang dapat na isulat.

4.   4. MAGSULAT AT IPABASA SA IBA ang inyong mga naisulat na akda. Nakakakaba at nakasasama sa loob ang mga maaaring matanggap na komento sa inyong naisulat pero magagamit ang mga ito upang mapabuti pa ang inyong naisulat na kuwento. Huwag din tayong maging mayabang at ma-pride, bilang manunulat at bilang tao.

5.   5. TUMINGIN SA PALIGID, BUKSAN ANG KAISIPAN. Nasaan ang mga bata? Ano ang dinaranas nila sa ngayon? Paano sila naaapektuhan ng kabi-kabilang nangyayari sa ating lipunan? Paano ang mga bata sa panahon ng war on drugs, ng EJK, ng militarisasyon, ng pagpapababa ng edad ng criminal liability, ng pagbabakwit, ng pagpapalaganap ng kamangmangan, ng rebisyon sa ating kasaysayan, at iba pa? Ihanda at gabayan natin sila sa mundong kakaharapin nila gamit ang mga isusulat nating mga kuwento. Huwag nating maliitin ang mga bata, makakaya rin nila itong maunawaan at pahalagahan.

Kung nais n’yong makakuwentuhan pa si Norman ay maaari ninyo siyang padalhan ng mensahe sa kaniyang Facebook page - @iamnormanboquiren.  

The Lighthouse Diary #20: A Vital Support System

Sharing with you, my dear blog readers, my message of love to my learning community in the Beacon Academy.

As we are all easing our way into online learning, leadership providing the framework and protocols for a smooth, if not easy transition and colleagues helping each other out, the BA Library will continue to provide access to online resources and support for teachers. Information in the form of curated content (Pathfinders, online directories, etc.) will be shared in Workplace.

By Monday, March 16, 2020, updates in Resource Center for Students in Managebac will be reactivated. I am requesting your help to refer students to this group. It has the basic guide in accessing our online subscriptions.The Resource Center was set up last August 2019. It was presented to students during the orientation. Updates were made every library session I had with MYP students and scheduled consultations with DP students during the 1st term.

The experiences shared by colleagues during the Google Classroom walk-through was both a challenging and inspiring experience. To reference John Dewey, it is in doing that we learn.

To carry on learning Google Classroom and other learning management systems, here are links to MOOCS and webinars, some materials for further reading and tech tips for teachers and students. Send over your feedback and comments. It will develop and enrich what we are co-creating now. Experienced practitioners in edtech and instructional tech have witnessed, timely, meaningful and appropriate feedback makes a big difference in learning online.

So, here we go!

UP Open University Webinar on Google Classroom - you will need to register and make sure your laptop or PC has good speakers for listening to audio-video recordings.

Ateneo Salt Institute 3 Step Guide for Setting Up a Virtual Classroom - the recommended LMS or platforms are Facebook and Schoology. I have tried both and the later is more appropriate for academics. It is more teacher friendly too. Well, the former is more popular and easier to access but, why not try something new once in a while.

Ateneo Salt Institute Guide for Online Learners - if there is a guide for teachers, a student guide is not far behind. This is for reference and a model to look at for building students' confidence, accountability and integrity while learning in a virtual environment.

DoF sent good materials (an article and a checklist) to condition and start us off in online learning over at Academic Team. Here now is a practical guide and tips for instructors transitioning to teaching online. Intended for higher education, the content is applicable for teachers in basic education.

This is all for now. Have a restful weekend. Stay protected. See you online!

Learning in the Time of COVID-19: Where is Teaching in Online Learning?

As of writing, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that COVID-19 is a pandemic. Countries have locked down. Celebrities and public figures have been tested. Here in the Philippines we scramble for meaning amidst an incomprehensible mandate from the president of a community quarantine. What a wonderful time it is to live and to learn!

One of the many things we can all learn from all these is the transition to online learning. I am proud to say that our learning community has dealt with this change in a well thought out manner. More on that in another blog post. For now, I am sharing a Facebook exchange I had with friends from the Edtech and Instructional Tech disciplines.

I posted the question, where is teaching in online learning? 

Here are the interesting replies:

Johann Frederick A. Cabbab I'd say in the constantly provided feedback towards the outcome initially set.
Johann Frederick A. Cabbab Which is why whether synchronous or asynchronous means easily understood and applicable feedback must be given.

Jamie Bautista Johann Frederick A. Cabbab Agree. Also, if doing a live stream or even a video lecture, the ability for students to give immediate feedback as well (similar to how we react in social media to content) may allow teachers to also adjust their content for better comprehension or more engagement either mid-lecture or for the next session. Difference is this can be done discreetly and simultaneously, unlike in a live class where someone would have to raise their hand and can just be addressed one at a time. Watching how YouTubers do love streams with live chats is enlightening in this regard.

Galvin Radley L. Ngo I think it can be in a couple of things: The careful curation and creation of resources, the design of activities to process the resources and make meaning/ and the sequence of activities (most specially for novice learners), and yes, I agree, in the feedback that students get in both synchronous and asynchronous environments. However, the assumption here (most specially in asynchronous activities) is that the learner themselves would be able to "teach" themselves - so the learner plays a new role - and I think that's quite crucial. If in case it helps, we wrote an article to help guide students :) Hope this helps! https://ateneosalt.org/a-quick-guide-for-first-time.../

Jamie Bautista Imagine also a class discussion, but done as a chat or message thread. It would be a discussion untethered by time where every question can be addressed even a day after it was asked, where the pressure of having to speak in public doesn’t hold back students from asking questions, and visual aids are not fleeting and can be returned to by students without having the whole class stop. The teaching comes in the facilitation of the online discussion.


Maria Criselda Santos Ang plano ko po ay gamitin ang existing FB group namin para doon maglabas ng lecture, in script format, para accessible kahit sa walang data. Q&A sa comments. Worksheets uploaded at pwedeng i-email for submission.

This is going to be a running post given the rise and the demand for online learning methods, pedagogy and resources. Other than COVID-19, I have another series to maintain. Yay! The reason to keep blogging in the time of social media goes on.

Kuwentong Musmos Author Interview: Lauren Macaraeg

In the succeeding days and weeks, the blog will have interviews of authors and illustrators of Room to Read's Kuwentong Musmos Book Project. Get to know them! Be inspired! I hope that by reading their stories and their creative journeys, you will be moved to create something beautiful and wonderful for children of all ages.

I have asked all four of the authors published by Lampara Books to this interview, as well as the four illustrators. To start the ball rolling, as they say, here is Lauren Macaraeg's interview. Her book in the Kuwentong Musmos project is Kiko Kitikiti illustrated by Luis "ito" Chua.

1. Why are you writing for children?

I love writing stories for children for three main reasons: a love for children's books, a desire for creative expression, and a wish to give kids hope.

First, I've been an enthusiastic reader of kid's books myself, since I was a child up to now that I'm an adult (but still a kid-at-heart!). It was only a natural outcome that I wished to create children's books myself.

Second, children's literature is the perfect outlet for a creative person like me. I'm free to make flights of fantasy when writing stories for young readers because there is no limit to the genre in terms of imagination.

Last but not least, I wish to give hope to kids by writing children's books in the same way that reading books gave me hope when I was a kid. The books I've read have been instrumental to my mental health recovery and healing, especially when I was an adolescent struggling with depression. Now, all the books I write, even if they have different topics, have one thing in common: they are all about hope and creativity in the midst of challenging situations.

For instance, my latest book, KIKO KITIKITI (Author: Lauren V. Macaraeg. Illustrator: Ito/Luis Chua), is about an energetic young boy who proves to the world that he is a superhero even if he has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). KIKO KITIKITI, is one of the 20 children's books recently published by Room to Read, an international NGO that promotes reading among young readers, in partnership with our publisher Lampara Books, and other local publishers, Adarna House, Anvil Publishing and OMF Literature/Hiyas.

2. How did you break out into the children's book industry?

While I've been creating my own books for fun since I was a kid, I was able to officially break out into the children's book industry after I joined and won the grand prize award at the 1st Annual Lampara Books Children’s Story Writing Contest in 2011. SINEMADYIKA, my story entry for that contest, got published as my first book by Lampara Books in 2013. And last February 2020, my fourth book, KIKO KITIKITI, was also published by Lampara Books, along with four other amazing books by Lampara writers and illustrators, under Room to Read's Kuwentong Musmos book project.

3. Give three words or phrase to describe your Kuwentong Musmos Workshop experience?

Big Honor. “Kasali ba talaga ako diyan?!” I wondered when I first saw the powerhouse list of the authors from Adarna House, Anvil Publishing, OMF Literature and Lampara Books who would be participating in Room to Read's writers' workshop in Bohol last September 29-October 4, 2019. Na-starstruck ako! It's a big honor to be able to work and collaborate with brilliant and talented people from the Philippine children's publishing industry: all the writers, illustrators, publishers, editors, designers, mentors and organizers with a heart for Filipino children. Special mention to our Team Lampara who played a huge role in shaping my story, to Ito Chua whose beautiful illustrations brought KIKO KITIKITI to life, and to Sir Segundo “Jun” Matias and Ms. Aiko Salazar for inviting me to participate in the project. And of course, it's a great honor to partner with Room to Read, whose vision and generosity made this book project possible in the first place.

Big Challenge. “Pupunta kaya ako?” I asked myself as I decided if I should go to the workshop or not. My grandmother went home to be with the Lord a day before I received the invitation to the writer's workshop so I was still grieving at that time. While I finally chose to go in the end, I continued to face my own personal challenges at the Bohol workshop, including grief and health struggles, so I had to make an extra effort to act and work like my usual bubbly self. And of course, there were also general challenges that most of us writers faced, such as the tight writing deadlines, nerve-wracking selection process and word count limits (at dahil wordy ang karamihan sa amin, hirap na hirap kaming magbawas ng salita sa kuwento lol). Still, the unexpected miracle of being able to complete and publish a book in spite of all the challenges of 2019 and 2020 made the fruit of our labor so much sweeter.

Big Blessing. “Some of the kids who will receive your books will be holding and owning a book for the very first time,” shared Sir Al Santos, Room to Read's Book Publishing Manager for Southeast Asia, during our writers' workshop. I got goosebumps! Like most of my fellow authors and illustrators, I also wish to be able to encourage Pinoy kids to read books. Yet there is only so much I can do as an individual person, given my limited resources and energy. That's why it was a heaven-sent opportunity to be part of Room to Read's Kuwentong Musmos book project, which aims to promote literacy among less privileged Filipino children all over the country. It's a big blessing from the Lord Jesus to be able to be part of this book project!

4. What is the book you wish you had written and why?

I really wish I wrote the Percy Jackson book series by Rick Riordan! Aside from creating witty, relatable young characters, Riordan was able to write captivating stories that seamlessly combine ancient Greek mythology and modern-day fun. I hope I could also write similar YA books someday that will help Filipino children appreciate and enjoy Philippine mythology.

5. Your 5 tips for aspiring children's book writers.

1) Read! Read! Read! The best inspiration to write children's books is to read children's books.

2) Just write. Don't wait for the perfect time, mood or circumstances before you start writing. Just do it.

3) Be a storyteller, not a preacher. Don't preach moral lessons. Just write a good story. Your kiddie readers will get your message. They're smarter than we give them credit for.

4) Be your own editor. Proofread your own work again and again.

5) Write about the things that are close to your heart. The only way to inflame young readers with your passion is if you yourself are passionate about what you write.

Lauren loves to dance and is currently enjoying Zumba sessions. Visit her blog and website http://laurenmacaraeg.com.

The Picture Book as an Art Form

During the press launch of Room to Read's Kuwentong Musmos at the Museo Pambata, someone from DepEd raised a concern regarding "unrealistic" drawings in children's books and if this is appropriate for children. The host of the launch, Robert Alejandro, called on Liza Flores to answer the question. 

I remember Liza saying that she keeps in mind the audience she is illustrating for, in this case, the children who will read the books. It is innate in children to imagine, to play and to wonder. Unrealistic drawings are therefore allowed in children's books. 

A few days after, on Facebook -- because everyone involved in the project was still in cloud nine, Liza replied to Joanna Nicolas-Na's photo of her where she was replying to Madame DepEd's question.  This was her reply:

May mga akda na mahalaga maging acurate at realistic ang pag guhit. Pero hindi mali ang hindi realistic na drawing. May mga kuwento na binabagayan ng ibang estilo. Minsan mas epektibo nitong naikukuwento ang kuwento. Mahalaga din ma-expose ang mga bata sa iba't ibang klaseng guhit o art. This is how they discover what they like and don't like, and develop their own taste.  

There are works that need accurate and realistic drawings and interpretations. But it is not wrong to make unrealistic drawings. There are stories that need to be drawn and rendered using a style of art that is different from the conventional. Most often, this is more effective in the visual storytelling or narrative flow. It is also important for children to be exposed to different art forms (through books).  This is how they discover what they like and don't like, and develop their own taste.  

Many replied to her. It made for an interesting discussion. 

This is my take. A picture book is an art form. As a form of art, it follows a function. The purpose of a picture book is for children to enjoy it. For aesthetics. For beauty. For all that is good in this world. For a child who cannot visit a museum or an art gallery, the picture book is an art experience. And sometimes, a picture book can be more than a gallery or a room full of paintings. As Eric Ode said in his essay, Why Picture Books Are Important "Picture book illustration styles run the gamut, representing as much diversity as the art found in any national gallery or museum. But whether elaborately detailed and richly colored or spare with a bare-bones pallet, a picture book’s illustrations want to be explored and enjoyed up-close and with others. They are waiting to be pored over, puzzled over, and pointed at, page turn by page turn."

So, as an author, I like it that Tere, our character in Masaya Maging Ako has yellow skin. It is the happy kind of yellow, like sunlight in the early morning. I do not mind at all if her limbs and legs are long and curving. She loves movement and the long and curved lines suggest grace. I love the purplish mauve color of our book's cover because this implies power and daring. Tere is a kid who was bullied. It was the quiet and sneaky kind of verbal bullying. Jamie Bauza's illustrations explicitly showed that aspect of bullying through size, shape and color. Furthermore, she allowed Tere to shine in her own unique way.

See what unrealistic drawings can do?

Now, I wonder what kids will say or how kids will respond to our book. That is another story!

Illustrator of the Month: Jamie Bauza

I am so happy that Jamie Bauza, illustrator of Masaya Maging Ako, is the blog’s featured illustrator of the month. I am honored that Lampara Books picked her to interpret my manuscript. Jamie is unafraid in her use of colors. Her lines and spacing are neat and clean. She was able to breathe life to Tere, our main character, who is funny, spunky, kind, ”galawgaw” and leans on the queer side.  I cried when I first saw the studies.

I have mentioned Jamie's name in previous posts on the Kuwentong Musmos Workshop and the Room to Read book project. Now it is time to hear from her! 

1. What is your creative process for Masaya Maging Ako?

After reading the manuscript, I worked on some sketches of the character, in different situations. I wanted to get to know her, see what she was like, and imagine her in different situations. Once I felt like I had a good grasp of the character, I made thumbnails (or small sketches) of the different pages in the book. After consulting with our workshop mentors, there were some changes to the initial manuscript / flow. We tweaked it a bit to make it feel more organic. Once all the sketches and artwork samples were approved, I had two weeks to render the final artwork. Finally, I scanned the illustrations (which were done with colored pencils) for cleaning/retouching on the computer. It was a really, really tight deadline, and that was certainly challenging, but I'm really happy with how the book turned out.

2. What is the picture book/children’s book you wish you had created or illustrated?

I really love Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crocket Johnson. It's so simple and beautiful, and so creative! I wish I had a magic crayon too.

I am also a really big fan of Oliver Jeffers, and I love all his books!

3. What are your 5 tips for aspiring illustrators?

- Practice, practice, practice!

- Let your illustrations tell a story.

- Don't worry about "style" -- that will develop organically. Instead, focus on what you want to say.

- Don't compare yourself to other (maybe more successful) illustrators. It's not a race! Everyone is on their own path.

- Stretch! Take breaks! Go outside! If you want to have a successful career, you have to take care of your health.

4. Recommend 5 books for young artists or anyone who wishes to break out into picture book illustration.

Children's Picturebooks by Martin Salisbury and Morag Styles

Ways of Telling by Leonard S. Marcus

Picture This by Molly Bang

How to be an Illustrator by Darrel Rees

Duck, Death, and the Tulip by Wolf Erlbruch

My Best Friend by Julie Fogliano and Jillian Tamaki

5. What part in Masaya Maging Ako did you enjoy drawing the most or proved challenging to draw?

I really enjoyed drawing Tere in different dance poses! I love drawing movement and silliness, and I used myself as a reference for the different positions (haha).

Most challenging was the part where Tere was being bullied, and she was asking herself why. I wanted to show that she was sad/doubtful, but not in a cliche way.

Visit Jaime’s website at https://jamiebauza.com

Online Resource Center for Art and Bibliotherapy

Rehabilitation and rebuilding efforts continue in Batangas as well as initiatives to reach out and help children in evacuation centers especially in Ibaan, Batangas. Volunteers go on  conducting art and Bibliotherapy sessions. One way to support volunteers who are still engaging with children there, is to create an information structure that will provide them with resources and materials that they can use for their sessions and activities. 

Here is a link to a form where you can fill in titles of books and resources for art and Bibliotherapy sessions. If you have books in mind which can be used in art and storytelling for confidence building and the restoration of hope, please do not hesitate to recommend them. 

I, with the help of librarian friends, am building an online library of art and Bibliotherapy resources, not only for children in evacuation centers in Batangas, but for those who take care of them. It is our hope to grow this online library for the benefit of communities beyond Batangas and CALABARZON. 

Please help and support our art and Bibliotherapy project! Besides, it is World Book Day (UK) today! 

Looking forward to your recommendations!

Masaya Maging Ako! Masaya Maging Tayo!

Finally! 

Na-launch na rin ang Masaya Maging Ako, ang aming aklat pambata ni Jamie Bauza. Ito ay binuo, nilikha at ginawang espesyal na handog para sa mga bata na walang aklatan at salat sa babasahing akma sa kanilang kultura at konteksto. Kasama namin sa proseso ng paglikha ng aklat ang mga bumubuo sa komunidad ng Panitikang Pambata ng Pilipinas. Mula sa Ang Illustrador ng Kabataan, kasama ang apat na publishers ng mga aklat pambata, Adarna House, Lampara Books, Hiyas-OMF at Anvil Publishing hangang sa staff ng Room to Read, nagsanib puwersa ang lahat upang makapaglimbag ng 20 aklat sa ilalim ng Kuwentong Musmos Book Project ng Room to Read. Ang paglulunsad ay ginanap sa Museo Pambata noong Huwebes, February 27, 2020.

Congratulations sa lahat! 

It was a joyous occasion to witness the culmination of four months of hard work and genuine camaraderie among Filipino authors, illustrators, publishers, Adarna House staff and Room to Read. Kudos to Sir Al Santos of Room to Read for leading the project, to Liza Flores and Robert Alejandro for the mentorship, to my publisher, Jun Matias of Lampara Books. I appreciated working with Team Lampara in Bohol and with Jamie and Aiko over chat and phone call from Baguio. We have created and published a book, but there is a community who helped make it a dream come true!

How true is the quote I heard from a friend in PBBY, ”a book is a dream, dreamed by a team”. To have experienced this dream making and team building is something I will be grateful for the rest of my life. 

Masaya Maging Ako! Masaya Maging Tayo!

Room to Read Unveils Its First Children’s Books in Filipino Language

20 new books created by local authors and illustrators launched at Manila event

Room to Read, a global nonprofit focused on children’s literacy and girls’ education, has partnered with Philippine publishers Adarna House, Anvil Publishing, Lampara Books and OMF-Hiyas Publishing to launch its first children’s books in the Filipino language.

 

The 20 new children’s books were unveiled at Museo Pambata, Manila, at an event yesterday (Thursday, 27th February) attended by the Department of Education, publishers, authors, illustrators, NGOs and media.

 

The books, created by local authors and illustrators, all share the theme of inclusion and portray children with disabilities or living in diverse and often difficult circumstances. Topics included in the books range from living with grief and loneliness to issues surrounding special needs and gender equality. The stories will encourage Filipino children to both build reading skills and build confidence to confront challenges in their own lives.

 

Filipino marks the 36th language Room to Read’s books have been published in. Room to Read’s focus on encouraging life-long learners and ending illiteracy has  resulted in the distribution of over 26 million copies of its books around the world. The global education organization conducts workshops for authors and illustrators to create children’s books, helping to strengthen children’s books publishing industries in countries.

 

The new stories include:

“Paalam, Puti, (Goodbye, Whitey)” – a 9-year-old girl gives her beloved dog a burial, allowing children to understand mourning and loss.

“Sayaw ng mga Kamay, (Dancing Hands)” – Filipino sign language is introduced as a way of building friendship and understanding between two children.

“Ang Nanay Kong Drayber, (My Mother, the Driver)” – a child learns about gender equality as observed in his mother’s job and their everyday life.

“Sakto Lang, (Just Enough)” – a simple story of how siblings learn to be generous and to make decisions in coping with poverty.

Geetha Murali, CEO of Room to Read, welcomed the new language book launch:

 

“These exciting new books will give children in the Philippines a chance to improve their literacy skills while learning about themselves and the world around them.

 

“Children’s love of books develops faster when they can read in their local language and see characters they can relate to. That is why it’s critical we forge new children’s book publishing industries, to spread the joy of reading and learning.

 

“The new books in Filipino will be shared with children for years to come and we hope this will be the start of a long-term partnership with local publishers, authors, and illustrators. We are grateful for all the support received by the Department Education and local book publishers in making this book launch a success.”

 

About Room to Read

Founded in 2000 on the belief that World Change Starts with Educated Children®, Room to Read’s innovative model focuses on deep, systemic transformation within schools in communities during two time periods that are most critical in a child’s schooling: early primary school for literacy acquisition and secondary school for girls’ education. We work in collaboration with local communities, partner organizations, and governments to develop literacy skills and a habit of reading among primary school children and ensure girls can complete secondary school with the skills necessary to negotiate key life decisions. Room to Read has benefited over 18 million children across more than 37,000 communities in 16 countries. Learn more at www.roomtoread.org.  

Update on Pathfinder: 2019 n-COV19 + COVID

Top three publishers of science research journals, Wiley Online, Elsevier and Springer Nature, brought down their pay walls and opened access to relevant studies on the Coronavirus. Click each photo to view the link and web page.

Elsevier

Link to access: https://www.elsevier.com/connect/coronavirus-information-center

The interactive global map of experts looks impressive. Check the inks to educational products that teachers and HR Offices can use to educate students and the work force.

Springer Nature

Link to access: https://www.springernature.com/gp/researchers/campaigns/coronavirus

For an academic reading of the health issue, go to the curated research and studies. For a more practical perspective on the virus and the state of the world, go to the Our Blog section. Blog articles and postings are written by resident scholars and scientists. The language is accessible; the content is valuable and relevant, and statistics, graphs and images are included to further help readers understand this health issue.

Wiley Online

Link to access: https://novel-coronavirus.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/

Includes a list of CDCs (Center for Disease Control) from all over, and a live Twitter coverage on #COVID19 and #SCARSCOV2 by @wileyinresearch and @DrEricDing.

My Life as a Librarian: Valentine's Day Love Note

This is my job description in two sentences. 

Dear Librarian: How do I make a 21st Century Library? (1 of 2)

Here is a question I received from one of my blog readers last year:

Good evening po  

Gusto ko lang po sana mag ask ng opinion niyo po or suggestion on what else can I do to make our library more like 21st century? Technology aside po, are there any other ways po kaya para maaddress yung 21st century needs ng patrons?

There are two concerns in the message namely, how to create a 21st century library and how can librarians address the 21st century needs of patrons. These are valid concerns and very relevant. Any well meaning librarian would be thinking of these concerns. There are many ways to innovate and reform library programs and services to fit the times and to meet the needs of readers. Strategic planning is essential and the support of the school leadership towards the changes can make a big difference.

Specifically, here is my advice to the blog reader.

I suggest you do research on 21st century skills and 21st century learning. There’s an entire new educational philosophy about it and how this philosophy translates to pedagogy. The next thing you can do is to understand them and connect them to school library services and programming. Find out if you can see or develop criteria, or draft questions to use as basis for assessing and evaluating current library services and programs that you have whether these are 20th century or 21st century skills/learning. 

You may be surprised to find out that what research tells us about 21st century learning/skills has been thought about, discovered and created by philosophers of long ago.

Do not follow trends to easily.  

Once you have done your research, present your findings to the head of school, including your recommendations. Another good resource to use is the IFLA Library Report of 2017-2018 where directions and prospects, focus and pathways are identified. These are presented in broad strokes so you would have to contextualize them for the school library. 

Understand what 21st century learning/skills are, how your school actualizes these skills in curriculum and pedagogy. Then, use all these elements to assess and evaluate existing library services and programs.  

Show your school head that you are taking careful and well thought out steps to manage the change. Communicate to her your research plus, recommendations for new projects or programs in the library.

Where is the Bata in Batang Mujahideen?

February is love month and arts month. That is why, the hubby and I found ourselves at the Cultural Center of the Philippines yesterday for the premiere of Batang Mujahideen. Super thanks to Teacher Ana Bacudio for making this Saturdate possible. 

Here now are my thoughts on the play.

It was my first time to watch experimental theatre. It was a new experience for me and I liked it. Batang Mujahideen is a play by Malou Jacob and Guelan Valera-Luarca directs and added text to the ten year old script. 

Tanghalang Pilipino’s staging of Batang Mujahideen brings in the new format of storytelling and fuses it with the old. It begins with a ritual and an oral telling of a Yakan folk story and moves on to a narrative of the lives of the characters like a documentary. There is mimicry and play through the use of puppets instead of real children. This, however, diffused the emotional weight of the issue on child soldiers. What could have been a compelling story of a child warrior became a cognitive and intellectual piece challenging the audience to ponder on the history of religious wars between Muslims and Christians. 

Overall, I admire and recognise the art and the well thought out production of Batang Mujahideen. Kudos to Tanghalang Pilipino for bravely and courageously portraying the lives of Filipinos caught in the continuing conflict in Mindanao particularly the Indigenous Peoples, Christians and Muslims alike.