2022 PBBY-Salanga Prize: Call for Entries

 2022 PBBY-Salanga Prize: Call for Entries

The Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY) is now accepting entries for the 2022 PBBY-Salanga Prize. The winner shall be given a cash prize of P25,000.00, a medal, and an opportunity to be published. Prizes will be awarded in a ceremony to be held during the celebration of National Children’s Book Day on July 19, 2022.

DEADLINE: Entries must be sent to secretariat@pbby.org.ph, with the subject SALANGA2022, by November 5, 2021.

The contest rules are as follows:

1. Open to all Filipino citizens except those who are related to any PBBY member up to the third degree of consanguinity.

2. Content should be intended for children aged 6–12 years old. The content and sequence must be capable of sustaining an illustrated book of 28 to 32 pages.

3. Entries may be in Filipino or English.

4. Entries must be in PDF, double-spaced. Each entry must be 2,000–5,000 words long. The PDF file name should follow the format: 2022SALANGA_YourPenName.

5. A contestant may send in more than one (1) entry.

6. Each entry must be signed by a pen name only.

7. Together with each entry, contestants must submit a document containing the contestant’s full name, address, contact numbers, and a short literary background, as well as a statement from the author, vouching for the originality of the entry and for the freedom of the organizers from any liability arising from the infringement of copyright in case of publication, and affirming that the entry or any variant thereof has (a) never been published nor (b) won any other contest i.e. that it has never won 1st, 2nd, 3rd, honorable mention in any other contest or otherwise been awarded a medal, a citation, or included in a publicized list of meritorious entries to a literary contest.

The file name should follow the format:

Your Name_Bio and Your Name_Statement Of Originality.

8. All entries must be sent to secretariat@pbby.org.ph by November 5, 2021.

9. Winners will be announced no later than January 17, 2022.

Grand prize and honorable mention winners shall be subject to a bidding process to be facilitated by PBBY, to determine which publisher/s will publish their winning stories.

The winning story will be the basis for the 2022 PBBY-Alcala Prize.

For more details, interested parties may contact the Philippine Board on Books for Young People, at secretariat@pbby.org.ph.

PBBY Dalisayan 2021: An Online Storytelling and Arts Festival for Children

 As we are celebrating the 38th National Children's Book Day (NCBD) and the Children's Book Summit (CBS) this July, I am proud to share with you these links to PBBY's Dalisayan 2021. 

The Dalisayan 2021 is an online festival of stories where in storytellers and publishers collaborated in telling selected award winning books to children with arts and craft activities. For the past four Saturdays the PBBY hosted these online events for families, schools and learning communities on quarantine. The fight against COVID-19 and its mutating variants is not over yet but our resiliency to live and hope for a better tomorrow is eternal. May the Dalisayan 2021 fuel you and your children's resolve to face each day with a smile in the midst of challenges both personal and external. 

PBBY stands for The Philippine Board in Books for Young People, a non-profit organization spearheading the celebration of the NCBD and CBS partnered with the National Book Development Board to make this year's Dalisayan a reality.

Araw sa Palengke (Tobias and Roxas, Adarna House 2010) - Storytelling by Kuya Rich with art and enrichment activity in making your own nutritious basket!

Habulan (Dandan-Albano and Parrocha, Anvil 2017) - Storytelling by Kuya Yong with art and enrichment activity on the basics of drawing and illustrating.

Pitong Sinelas (Reyes and Catindig, Tahanan Books 2019) - Storytelling by Kuya Yong with art and enrichment activity on making foam slippers.

Ang Sampung Bukitkit (Evasco and Crisostomo, Chikiting Books 2014) - Storytelling by Kuya Rich with art and enrichment activity on Flip Cards.

Visit the PBBY FB Page for more details on the Children's Book Summit on Saturday, July 31, 2021.

Book Review: My Story: When I Was Three and Noriga-San: The Doctor Who Loved to Learn

My friend, Ched Magaspar is a Peace volunteer. The volunteer group she belongs to is The Sunday Peace Volunteer of the Horoshima Peace Park Initiative. Their group has been at work with peace talks, storytelling and sharing of peace projects with volunteers, NGOs and educators from all over the globe. 

One of their more successful projects is the publication of a children's book, My Story: When I Was Three, a collaborative book project by Kunihiko Ida, Naomi Nakagoshi, Almira Raymundo and Ched Magaspar. It tells the story of Kunihiko Ida who is an atomic bomb survivor. His story, though very tragic, is filled with resilience and inspiration. War is never a pretty topic to explore but the beauty of the human spirit to survive is always at its core. Apart from this compelling book, Ched has written another one, Norinaga San: The Doctor Who Loved to Learn. Through this picture-story book, young children are informed about the folk hero of Matsusaka, Motoori Norinaaga. The narrative is honest and direct to the point. The illustrations are beautifully crafted capturing the nostalgia and the simple, but noble beauty of Noringa-san's life. 

 It is a joy to have these books for my personal library. A precious gift from one storyteller to another!

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Happy National Children's Book Day!

Philippine Children's Book Summit: Inclusivity & Diversity in Children's Literature

 

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Journeys Into Reading: Top Ten Takeaways From the Author Visit of Ms. Cyan Abad Jugo

 

It is not everyday that young readers get to meet an author. My reading club over at The Learning Library was blessed to have a chat with Ms. Cyan Abad Jugo, teacher and author of Letters From Crispin (Anvil, 2016). Here are our top ten takeaways from her visit.

1. Stories take time to grow and develop. Letters to Crispin took three years to write and a few more before it was published.

2. Sometimes, a story has a life or a direction of its own. What was intended to be a sad, romantic story for a magazine/newspaper turned into something else - a ghost story that is connected to Philippine history.

3. Writing a story involves a process. 

4.  Writers often ask a friend or a colleague to read his/her story before submitting the manuscript to the publisher. It is good to listen to their feedback.

5. A manuscript is not always accepted for publication. This is a part of the creative process. 

6. Book making involves a lot of collaborative work. The author and illustrator are partners in creating a book.

7. Memory connects us to our past and present in some magical way.

8.  Look for the fantastic. For example, a person to live a hundred years and to witness two historical revolutions in his/her lifetime is  fantastic. This is the stuff of stories.

9. Exchange stories with your parents. Share and compare childhood stories with each other.  

10. Keep a journal.

As the teacher and facilitator of the reading club, I am still star struck from meeting Ms. Abad Jugo. She has such a comforting presence. Many thanks to Anvil Publishing for making this Author Visit possible.

Re-stories: On Our Path to Peace

 

Author Interview: KM Levis

KM Levis, author of The Girl Between Two Worlds, was one of the panelist in the 2021 Asian Festival of Children's Content (AFCC) held last May in Singapore. The AFCC, like the previous one, was conducted online. In her panel, she talked about writing for young people in an age that is more complex and interconnected. 

She grants my invitation for an interview in the blog. And so, here she is!

What or who is your inspiration for writing We Have It All?

I wrote We Have It All as a tribute to my childhood in the Philippines. I thought I could share my stories with my daughter and others like her who will never grow up with that kind of childhood. I wanted them to know that even though we didn’t have all the technology then, we still had a great time.

Briefly describe the publishing scene or children’s book industry in Australia. You can share something about opportunities and limitations for authors of color.

Over the years, I’ve seen a shift in the publishing industry here in Australia to reflect the multicultural nature of the society. There is still a long way to go though. For instance, there aren’t many Fil-Aus books and Fil- Aus authors in the industry. I hope to be able to contribute to the diversity of the publishing industry here with my own work.

In the AFCC, you talked about The Girl Between Two Worlds that is rich with Filipino myths and folklore. Can you please share the challenges and breakthroughs you had in writing the book?

It was a bittersweet experience writing about creatures from my childhood. I really wanted the book to be published so my daughter could read about them and experience that part of her heritage. When I received such amazing feedback from readers, about how they enjoyed the creatures as well, I felt that I’ve done my job preserving some part of our Filipino mythology.

What is the YA novel you wish you had written?

This is a good question, but when I read a really great book I don’t really end up wishing I’ve written it because it would have been written differently. I would wish that the author would write more books because I enjoyed the previous books. I take inspiration from their works and learn from them.

Please recommend books for the aspiring YA or children’s book writer.

These were the books I read while I was learning how to write fiction. They all helped in different ways. 

On Writing, Stephen King

Bird by Bird, Anne Lamott

How to write a novel, 2nd edition, Nathan Bransford

Links to KM Levis' online spaces

https://kristynmlevis.com/

Photos: https://kristynmlevis.com/index.php/photos/

Where to buy: https://kristynmlevis.com/index.php/buy-your-copy-now/

https://www.facebook.com/KMLevisWriter/

https://www.instagram.com/k.m.levis/

Dear Ms. Z: Answers on Library Management System (2 of 2)

And so, here is my reply to the questions I got from an academic coordinator who is up for developing their school's library during this time of the pandemic.

What a joy to hear from you! Happy to help you with your questions and concerns. 

So, to answer your questions here goes -

1. Library Management System - I am recommending that you get in touch with Mr. Manny Tamayao of Tulong Aklatan (tulongaklatan@gmail.com) or Mr. Romy Sebastian of Platonix LMS (rej2k2@gmail.com). They offer services for libraries on the automation of library services and development of databases. 

2. Ebook Lending System - We are subscribed to EBSCO Ebooks right now. Students and faculty can borrow ebooks through EBSCO. You can get in touch with Mr. Josef Halos (09178550491).

3. Internet Archive and Open Library - Another way to access and read ebooks is through the Internet Archive (https://archive.org/index.php) / Open Library (https://openlibrary.org/). All you need is an email address to register and sign-in. Make sure that your laptop/PC has a PDF reader to allow downloads. Some books can be borrowed for an hour or more. Most can be borrowed by a week or two. Take note that big publishers in the US have a legal issue on the Internet Archive. But the Internet Archive is very strong on its belief regarding the right to access information, especially during the pandemic. I leave it to your institution to decide. As for local books, The National Library of the Philippines has an open database of Filipiniana (NLP Digital Collection).

4. Access to these e-resources should be easy with a web app. EBSCO has its own platform and it is web based as well. You may also want to explore Open Access Journals and Open Educational Resources. The information and resources are out there actually. It is a matter of knowing how to find them and deciding on what specific information a reader or user needs that makes the difference in using online materials. This is why many schools and institutions have developed modules on research and information and media literacy. 

I hope this helps. 

Thank you once again!

          ~ Ms. Zee~ 

Dear Ms. Z: Questions About Library Management Systems (1 of 1)

Here is an email I received from an academic coordinator asking about Library Management Systems. I will post my reply in a few days. 

Hi Ms. Zarah!

I attended the webinar for librarians sponsored by Scholastic where you were the invited speaker last April. I was inspired by your talk and how you make your school library still very much functional even during this time of pandemic.

Admittedly, this is one issue our school still has to address. I'm not sure if you'd be able to read my e-mail and have the time to respond, but I'm truly hoping you'd be able to give us a few tips. Also, if it's not much to ask, would you give us any referrals of library management system providers? We would also like to open our own version of your Library Drive-Thru. You have mentioned about preparing an online database for borrowing books. Could you also give suggestions how to do this, like do you use any web2.0 apps for the online catalog and borrowing of books?

I really hope you'd be able to help us in this endeavor.

Sending thoughts of health and peace!

Filipino Pride Books 2021

 This tag I received from Darrel Marco, friend and kindred spirit is pretty special. I am an ally. And don't you forget it!

PASLI's Top 5 School Library Programs in the New-Normal

 And here's another "little project" I am very much proud of. This one is with the Philippine Association of School Libraries, Inc. (PASLI).

Run BTS Episode 143 and Teaching Character Development

Episode 143 of Run BTS is such a delight! The Bangtan Boys wrote stories for children and they told/read them aloud after. Needless to say, it pushed me farther on to the BTS rabbit hole. 

Since Suga was recuperating at the time of the shoot, there were only six members present. They were grouped in two but later on became three groups. RM and Jimin worked together on a story about a super cloud. Jin and JK wrote and drew a story of a man with a single strand of hair. V and Jhope finished the story of a fairy who gave out special stars of emotions. The boys were natural storytellers!

Of the three stories, I pulled out JinKook's to use it as an example for character development for my creative writing class this summer. My students are elementary school aged children and yes, they are ARMY. Just like their creative writing teacher!

Entitled as A Single Strand, the man with a single strand of hair searched for ways to enhance the single strand of hair. All his efforts were futile, of course. Until, he realized that the best thing to do is to accept his single strand of hair. Yes, the story stays so true to the theme of love yourself. 

After showing my students several samples of stories where the characters experience different trials and problems, JinKook's One Single Strand of hair was my last example because of the very simple problem-solution structure and yet, the character is at the very heart of the story. My students are making character studies this week and I am excited to read their story concepts.

Philippine Children's Book Summit 2021: Inclusivity & Diversity in Children's Literature

 

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Learning Reading and Writing With My Students: The Introductory Paragraph, Body of the Essay and BTS (2 of 3)

Here is an update on the essay I am writing alongside my students. For context, go to part 1 of the post. 

Introduction

Hitman Bang recognized the immense talent inherent in each member of BTS that he employed an unorthodox management style that is uniquely different from the existing system in the Kpop industry. 

Who would have thought that a small time Kpop agency and label, Big Hit Entertainment, would one day become a global success? Bang Si Hyuk discovered, trained and developed the seven members of BTS into global pop icons when everyone in the Kpop industry thought as impossible. This essay will argue the manner in which Bang Si Hyuk recognized the immense talent inherent in each member of BTS employing an unorthodox management style that is uniquely different from the existing system in the Kpop industry. The paper will present a short history and profile of Bang Si Hyuk and Big Hit Entertainment, the unique management system he implemented, and a discussion on the effective ways in which talents and artists can become collaborators in creating music and art. In the end, it will emphasize the belief system of co-creation and artistic equity that makes a band, musician and even its label agency achieve unparalleled success.

Body Paragraph 1

-       Topic sentence: Hitman Bang recognized the immense talent of each member of BTS. (rephrase)

-        He takes his role as manager and producer as sense of duty.

-        He does not perceive and treat the members as mere commodity.

 When Hitman Bang started Big Hit Entertainment, his goal is to make music and art for healing. He takes his role as manager and producer as a sense of duty. This means, he is a mentor and guide for his young talents. He did not perceive and treat the members as mere commodity. For Hitman Bang, he is not only doing business in the creative industry. He is also, breaking barriers and creating new paths for managing artists specifically in the Kpop industry. This way, his artist and talents will grow in their chosen craft.

 Body Paragraph 2

 Topic sentence - II.     By employing unorthodox management and support system for BTS, he was able to achieve success in growing the talents and skills of the group.

a.            Each member is allowed to write and create their own songs and music.

b.           RM and Suga for that matter have their own studio since both are the song writers, lyricist and composers in the band.

c.            Big Hit also provided continuous training for each members’ talents and skills.

Body Paragraph 3

When managers of artists provide their talents with the necessary support needed for them to grow, the result is an authentic production of art and performances.

a.            It is this organic brand of storytelling and communicating their talents and artistry to fans and spectators that make BTS a tremendous success.

Conclusion: Hitman Bang prioritized his artists over earnings and revenues through a participatory and progressive style of management. This unorthodox approach to the management of the creative industries is one factor that spells great success for Big Hit Entertainment, now recognized as HYBE.

Book Review: We Have It All

We Have It All

By Kristyn Maslog-Levis

Illustrated by Angela Taguiang

Createspace, 2015

Last month, I had the pleasure and the honor of attending the 2021 Asian Festival of Children's Content AFCC. The program has a rich array of talks, webinars and mini-workshops. This is my second attendance in the AFCC and I feel well fed. In fact, I still have some sessions in my watch list for viewing since there were talks that overlapped. 

One of the many things I appreciate about the AFCC is the availability of books to acquire. This year, there are many titles to choose from. Yes... my AFCC watch list is as long as my to read and buy list. Since our summer has begun, I had the time to review them. My first pick is Kristyn Malsog-Levis' illustrated story book, We Have It All. 

It is written in two languages, Filipino and Bisaya. Angela Taguiang's collage evokes nostalgia. Her illustrations fit perfectly in my reading of the story. I saw my childhood in the pages of the book. I know what it was like not to own material things and this was something I grappled with in my growing up years. 

But now, I know better. There is a line in the book that goes, "sabi ni ina malaki ang aming imahinsayon." I heard my mother say that to me many times. My maternal grandmother, Nanay Leony, made sure that I recognize it every way she can. 

She told stories. She cooked meals that fed my soul. She healed me when I was sick before my mother could bring me to the doctor. She allowed me to play under the sun and in the rain. She grew and tended a garden and sang songs. She talked to plants which fascinated me. She had a sari-sari store where I learned basic math and reading. How can I forget Zuma and Galema when she bought komiks for me to read which later on were rented out to readers young and old.

Yes. Growing up, I had it all. Thank you, Ms. Levis for this wonderful story.

4 Bookmarks

July is Children's Book Month in the Philipines!

 

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Learning Reading and Writing With My Students (1 of 3): Position Statement, Outlining and BTS

This summer, I am conducting workshops on writing and reading with middle grade and high school students. One workshop where I am the literacy coach of high school students have us discussing position statements. From this, we develop an outline so that we can write an essay. 

I say "we" because, I write with them. I show and model the process as well as the struggle I go through in thinking and in constructing ideas to write about. This is part of my coaching strategy and so far, my students find it helpful that they have a companion in the writing experience.

Here is my work so far. My topic is about BTS and the management style of Hitman Bang. It all began with a question: Who do you consider a living legend and hero of today?

Position Statement: Hitman Bang recognized the immense talent inherent in each member of BTS that he employed an unorthodox management style that is uniquely different from the existing system in the Kpop industry.

I. Hitman Bang recognized the immense talent of each member of BTS

a.      He takes his role as manager and producer as sense of duty.

b.     He does not perceive and treat the members as mere commodity.

II.               By employing unorthodox management and support system for BTS, he was able to achieve success in growing the talents and skills of the group.

a.      Each member is allowed to write and create their own songs and music.

b.     RM and Suga for that matter have their own studio since both are the song writers, lyricist and composers in the band.

c.      Big Hit also provided continuous training for each members’ talents and skills.

III.            When managers of artists provide their talents with the necessary support needed for them to grow, the result is an authentic production of art and performances.

a.      It is this organic brand of storytelling and communicating their talents and artistry to fans and spectators that make BTS a tremendous success.

Conclusion: Hitman Bang prioritized his artists over earnings and revenues through a participatory and progressive style of management. This unorthodox approach to the management of the creative industries is one factor that spells great success for Big Hit Entertainment, now recognized as HYBE.

The outline will change since we are in the process of researching for facts and information. That, in itself is an exciting part of the writing journey!

Book Party with Teacher Mocs of Of Stories and Play

 I had my first book party at Of Stories and Play today. It was fun! 

 It is Father's Day so the book I read aloud was My Daddy My One and Only (Gagatiga and Tejido, Lampara Books 2013). There were around ten kids in the Zoom Meeting room with their parents eagerly listening in and watching too. I hope that this activity would be the beginning of a regular reading habit at home.

Thanks to Teacher Mocs for organizing this online event for kids. School Libraries and schools can get in touch with her by clicking on the link to her website and Facebook Page. She can organize book events online that libraries and teachers can use with their students learning from home. 

Look at the wonderful Book Mail she put together! Parents can buy these boxed set of craft activities, plushie, book and reading log. 

Authors who wish to have a Book Mail can inquire from Teacher Mocs. As an author, I truly appreciate this book event. Our book was published in 2013. Eight years and counting, we still have content to create new things out of it.

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Celebrate Father's Day! Read and Play with My Daddy! My One and Only + Plushie

 

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Ang Aklatan Ay Kanlungan: Usap-usapan Ng Mga Children's Librarian

From the Philippine Board on Books for Young People. You are cordially invited.

The pandemic has changed the way libraries organize programs for children and their families. One thing hasn’t changed — the dedication of librarians to serve the children and families in their community. The Ang Aklatan Ay Kanlungan: Usap-usapan Ng Mga Children’s Librarian aims to gather library organizations and its representatives, school librarians and public librarians, to talk about methods they find effective during this new-normal. Despite the challenges, libraries are able to provide a safe space for all to read and grow. This round-table discussion can contribute to an action plan for librarians and data for policy development among library organizations.

Interested librarians may register at: bit.ly/AklatanKanlungan