New Guidelines of the Bureau of Customs

On the importation of books, the Bureau of Customs has issued new guidelines for the duty and free tax importation of books. Here's an introductory paragraph from the website of the National Book Development Board (NBDB) --

The Bureau of Customs recently issued Customs Memorandum Order No. 25-2011 or the Guidelines for the Duty and Tax Free Importation of Books. The said memorandum contains guidelines on the coverage and operational provisions of the duty and tax free importation of books under Section 105 of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines for uniformity in the treatment of book importations.

The full article can be read here. Copy of the Customs Memorandum Order No. 25-2011 is downloadable form the NBDB website.

The 32nd Manila International Book fair

The day the book fair comes to town. Website is here.

The 32nd Manila International Book Fair: Words Without Borders

Growing Wings: St. La Salle Preschool Lending Library

Last February, Carla Pacis set up a storytelling workshop for parents of St. La Salle Preschool. Thanks to Chichi Ferrer for allowing Carla and I to meet the parents of the school. Early June of this year, I got an email from Carla bearing good news from Chichi --

Just wanted to let you know that we have set up a lending library in the preschool out of the books that Zarah had donated. We placed a bookcase inside the school, so that the parents can look at the books. We are all excited about this and we are hoping that the parents will use it and read to their children at home. We are hoping to build on this lending library with the donated books from previous years that we don't really use as it is for elementary children. For now, we are starting with a small collection to see the parents' response to it.

Apparently, one of Chichi's former students in De La Salle University-Taft, Anna Bella Yu, got wind of the activity and scheduled a similar workshop for parents of Brgy. Corazon de Jesus, San Juan. Anna Bella is part of a non-government organization whose work involves child care and feeding program in the community. After some email exchanges, Carla and I were ate the barangay hall giving a talk to parents of the community. Anna Bella and her group has donated 300 books for the reading center of the barangay and our presence there that Saturday in July helped parents realize the importance of reading.

Parents shared their dreams and ambitions for their children. They talked about challenges that they face every day. They read the books and gave short, substantial book talks. Typical of every activity in the Philippines, it ended with merienda and "picture-picture".

We definitely look forward to news, good or otherwise, of this barangay's progress in creating a reading center and parents read to their children.

Rizal's Many Loves

Book Donation Project

I have registered in JustGiving for my Books for My Birthday project. Click the badge below to see what JustGiving is all about.



This fundraising is for the school library project of Sambat Trust. The UK based charity's current project is the development of the Pantay Bata Elementary School library. As of writing, the library needs more books! So I'm pitching in a book donation effort.

There are two ways to help. One, you can donate old books and we can meet for pick up. I can also send a drop box address for this purpose. Two, go to my page in JustGiving and donate a few bucks. Your donation will go along way!

Why We Need The (Public) Library

Books for My Birthday

August is my birthday month. I'll be turning 37 on the 15th. To celebrate, I've decided to come up with a book donation project that will benefit Sambat Trust.

Sambat Trust is a charity based in the UK but establishes school libraries in Tanauan, Batangas. It also runs a scholarship program for grade school, high school and college students of the locality. It started in 2007 and so far, it has set up five libraries in the area.

Visit the website of Sambat Trust. I'll be posting procedures on how books can be donated beginning today until the end of the month.

Zoe's Booktalk: I Spy

My ten year old daughter, Zoe, recorded a video of one of her favorite book and talks (and walks) you through it! She did say one time that she wants to be a librarian in the future.



She's an ESL (English as a Second Language) learner. Her errors are music to my ears.

Mercado Rizal

Picture! Picture!

Author of the Month: Eugene Evasco Part 2

Bago pa humaba ang pasasalamat na ito, nais kong ibahagi ang pagkakasulat ng kuwentong "Rizaldy." Hinamon ako noon ng mga kasamang guro na sumulat ng kuwentong naiiba sa hulma ng Kanluran. Tunay, unibersal naman ang pagkabata. Lahat ng lipunan ay may kinikilalang yugto ng pagkabata, ngunit magkakaiba ang kultura't tradisyon upang kilalanin, ipagdiwang, at pausbungin ito. Ang hamon nila: Bakit hindi ako sumulat ng kuwento kaugnay sa pagmamahal sa bansa at pagpapahalaga sa pagka-Pilipino?

Produkto rin ang kuwentong Rizaldy ng halos isanlibong aklat pambata na nabasa ko noong taong 2010 upang muli’t muling makilala ang anyo ng kuwento para sa picture book. Proyekto ko ang pagbabasang ito pagkaraang mapanood ng "Julie & Julia" na may 500 recipe na kailangang matupad sa isang taon sa maliit niyang apartment. Buhat sa paglangoy sa karagatan ng mga aklat, naisip ko, paano maiiba ang isang kuwento na may tatak-Filipino?

Paano ako makatutulong upang maiipakilala ang isang bayani? Halimbawa ay ang kaso ng aking pamangkin. Sa mura niyang gulang, kaybilis niyang makilala ang mga mascot at logo ng fastfood. Mula sa malayo, alam na niyang tukuyin ang pulang higanteng bubuyog, ang tila-masayahing payasong naka-dilaw at pula, at ang batang babaeng naka-pigtail ang pulang buhok. Kung lilikha ako ng eksperimento sa mga bata, at ipapakita’t ipapakilala ang mga larawan ng mascot, bayani ng bansa, at mga popular na tauhan sa panitikan, hindi na ako magugulantang sa magiging resulta.


Ito ang agenda ko sa pagsulat noon pa man—ang ipakilala ang mga bayani ng epiko, mito, alamat, at ngayon: ang pambansang bayani ng bansa.

Likas na sa mga Pilipino ang maglaan ng tatak at kuwento sa pangalan. Tulad ko, ipinangalan sa chess grandmaster na si Eugene Torre. Ilang kakilala kong bata noon, may pangalang John Paul sa pagbisita ng Santo Papa sa bansa noong 1981. Ang mga kaibigan kong guro’t anak ng manunulat ay may malilikhaing pangalan: Haraya, Mithi, Patnubay, Tala, Alon, Laya, Tagumpay, Daniw, Daan, Sanyata, Sining. Ang mga pinsan ko'y nagkaroon ng kakaibang pangalan dahil sa pagsasama ng pangalan ng kanyang magulang.

Ngunit ang pinakainspirasyon sa kuwento ay ang aking kaklase sa kolehiyo na may pangalang Rizaldy. Kakaibang pangalan. Binusisi namin namin ang kasaysayan nito at napag-alamang ipinanganak siya sa Dec. 30, Rizal Day. Sa aking pananaliksik, nalaman kong marami pa siyang kapangala: isang artista (Jose Rizaldy Zshornack), basketball player, manunulat, guro, at ayoko sa sanang banggitin ang kontrobersiyal na gobernador sa Maguindanao. Isang search sa facebook: maraming lilitaw na Rizaldy, mga Pilipinong ikinabit ang pangalan kay Jose Rizal, ang dahilan kung bakit tayo magkakasama ngayong umaga.

Sa pagtatapos, mag-iiwan sana ng isang hamon. Tulad ni Rizaldy, nawa'y ikarangal natin hindi lamang ang pangalan na ibinigay sa atin ng ating mga magulang o ang pangalan na nais nating ipamana sa magiging anak. Higit pa rito, sana'y ikarangal natin ang pagkabayani ni Rizal, ang giting ng ating mga ninuno, ang identidad ng ating bansa, at ang ating lahi bilang Pilipino.

Maraming salamat at maligayang araw ng mga aklat pambata!

Rizal and the 2011 NCBD

And so the 2011 National Children's Book Day came to pass. Every year, it brings forth new insights and old delights. Listening to Prof. Ambeth R. Ocampo last Tuesday, 19 July 2011 at the UST Museum affirmed what a friend told me so many years ago. This country needs historians who tell stories.

Prof. Ocampo prepared an impressive keynote, a lecture really, on Rizal. Indeed, he has spent a great investment studying about Rizal. His keynote-lecture is the longest in PBBY-NCBD history I have heard yet. Here are some of the insights I gathered from his keynote-lecture --

a. Rizal read and translated stories, folktales really, for his family especially his nephews and nieces. He did not create new stories for them but translated five folktales from the collection of Hans Christian Andersen. I could only remember three of the five titles Prof. Ocampo mentioned: The Little Match Girl; The Fir Tree; and The Ugly Duckling. Rizal also translated William Tell on top of these. It is obvious that his choice of stories reflect the values he wanted his family and country men to know and live out. This prompted me to think about the themes of the stories I choose and tell for my children, friends, family and community members.

b. Rizal was a teacher and he dreamed of setting up a school in Dapitan. He was a hopeful man, keeping in mind his vision despite the imminent possibility of execution.

c. Rizal believed in fraternities and initiations as a test of mental stamina and strength of character. In Dapitan, Rizal conducted classes for youngsters. He would walk a new student through the forest, leave him there and have the older students spook the newbie. The later would run back to safety only to discover a welcome party awaiting him.

There are still five more months to go till December 2011 and the whole nation will culminate Rizal's 150th birth year in a myriad of homages. I have ticked a number of Rizal events in my list. To mention a few, there's the Mercato Rizal of PBBY where everything Rizal related will be sold. This will open mid-August and I will post updates in the blog.

On the same day, Eugene Evasco and Yasmin Doctor were awarded the Salanga and Alacala respectively. Eighty new children's books were presented and launched. The UST was a gracious host and CCP provided good food. Friends from KUTING, Ang INK and Alitaptap came as well as comrades in literacy advocacy. The most surprising for me was to have met a former co-teacher and godmother of my eldest, Becky Santos-Gerodias, now a published author of LG and M Publishing House. Congrats, Teacher Becky!

Indeed it was an NCBD peppered with new insights and flavored with old delights. Until next year! Maligayang Araw ng Panitikang Pambata!

Author of the Month: Eugene Evasco Part 1

Eugene Evasco shares with us his "acceptance" speech for the Salanga Prize awarded to him last 19 July 2010 at the UST Museum during the 28th National Children's Book Day. Written in Filipino, Mr. Evasco emphasizes his motives and agenda in writing for children. This is his second Salanga Prize having won in 1998 for his story, Federico, a story about a boy with Down Syndrome.

Magandang umaga at pagbati sa ating lahat—sa mga ilustrador, tagapaglimbag, kapwa manunulat, guro, tagapagsalaysay.

Lubos akong nagagalak sa pagdiriwang at sa pagkilalang ito sa larangan ng aklat pambata. Nakagagalak dahil karangalan ang makatanggap ng premyo mula sa mga tunay na tagapagtaguyod ng panitikang pambata. Pagkaraan ng 14 na taon, muli na naman akong naparangalan ng Salanga Writer's Prize. Medyo matagal-tagal na paghihintay, pero isang kaiga-igayang paghihintay.

Kung totoong tao si Federico, ang karakter na may Down’s Syndrome sa kauna-unahan kong aklat, siya'y isa nang clerk sa post office, naghahardin, nagpipinta, volunteer sa pangangalaga ng ligaw na pusa't aso, at nagagalak sa pag-aaral ng internet. Sa palagay ko, magiging kaibigan niya si Rizaldy, isang batang nais kilalanin ang katukayong bayani at ang diwa ng pagkabansa.

Ngayong umaga, nais kong pasalamatan ang PBBY, na unang kumilala sa aking panulat. Ang pagkilala na nagsimula pa noong 1996 ang nagsilbing hudyat, pahiwatig, at motibasyon sa kung ano ang aking magiging karera pagkatapos ng kolehiyo. Ngayo'y nagtuturo na ako ng pagsusulat, nakapaglathala na ng mga aklat, kolektor at mag-aaral ng mga aklat pambata sa Pilipinas at ng daigdig.

Maraming salamat sa pagtukoy ng landas na aking tatahakin.

Nais ko ring pasalamatan ang mga tagapaglathala ng mga aklat pambata na bumubuhay sa mga tekstong aagapay sa pag-unlad ng kabataan. Ang pagdami ng mga publisher at ang pagbabagong-bihis ng aklat mula pa noong 1996 ay indikasyon sa makabuluhang pamumuhunan sa kabataan at sa pagbabasa.

Posts on Potter

Thank you, JK Rowling for allowing Harry Potter to live...and live some more!

Harry Potter Phenomenon

The Life and Love of Severus Snape

In Memoriam

Harry Potter Moments

SLIA's Reply on Continuing Professional Education

Before I begin, I would like to thank Ms. Angelic Bautista for asking about activities, seminars and fora on school librarianship. Thanks to Dmarco for enumerating different ways in which school librarians can update their knowledge and upgrade their skills. Let me just add a few insights on this matter.

Dear Angelic -

While strategies towards continuing professional education are a plenty, and opportunities to grow professionally are in place, I deem it important that we practice a degree of reflection before, during and after attending professional growth activities.

We need to know skills and competencies that are strong and weak. It is necessary that we are aware of the learning and responses we have while attending and participating in a workshop, fora or seminar. Lastly, we should identify ways in which the theories learned and relearned from the professional activity could be put in practice. It does not end there. A constant assessment and evaluation of LIS skills and competencies applied to library work is essential. This would further help the librarian in developing and growing in the profession, thus, enriching the practice of LIS as well.

For example, a seminar on Information Literacy may prompt a school librarian to review and revise the existing library skills instruction program. In a given time frame, say one school year, the librarian conducts the review and revision project of the program and evaluates the process as well. Then, the librarian can move on to implementation and yes, evaluate again. The product of the evaluation should be documented and thus, the record and documents can be used for future projects and for posterity.

The long and short of it, continuing professional education is a scholarly endeavor. It is not a mere social gathering where one can meet friends and get information on the surface.

Ms. Zarah

Information Literacy Video

Web 2.0 and Cataloging Basics for Lib Hub Teacher Librarians

Last July 2, I gave a training for teachers and librarians assigned in the Library Hubs of the national capitol region. The training consisted of Web 2.0 technology for school libraries and Cataloging Basics for non-librarians. As expected, the morning began with the usual politics, songs and dances. The pride of Commonwealth Elementary School, grade school children who are members of the dance troupe, were fantastic in their rendition of traditional folk dances. The principal of the school, Dr. Modelo, welcomed the participants of the training session.

Despite the technological problems -- WIFI and Internet connection -- I survived the morning session, giving a lecture the traditional way. We resorted to moving to another venue for better WIFI and Internet connection. Thanks to the school principal for extending himself and making sure that the staff helped in making us all comfortable.

The afternoon session assaulted us with humidity and a down pour. But we were all smiles as we went through the process of basic cataloging. Classification and Cataloging is a two course offering in library school. I had to compress basic theories and procedures for a training session of three hours with workshop. I focused on principles and process of cataloging using the Dewey Decimal System as classification scheme.

The workshop that followed was a no-sweat, no-brainer classification and cataloging session. The participants worked on basic bibliographic entries with subject assignments for each book. Thanks to Adarna House for making this workshop possible! Ms. Genia Santos, Regional Director of Library Hub - NCR, has been very cooperative showing commitment to the goals of the library hub project. Here's hoping that, in the future, more functional library hubs will be set up.

The 28th National Children's Book Day

Web 2.0 Technology in Teaching and Library Services

Today, I am at the Commonwealth Elementary School in Quezon City to conduct a workshop for library hub teachers and librarians in the national capital region. Adarna House is the sponsor helping the DepEd Library Hub project for this workshop.

This is the second time for me to speak and do a workshop for Klasrum Adarna. Last year, I did a library promo activity workshop for the participants. The organizers have requested me to focus on the use of technology in teaching and library services.

For this purpose, I recalled the modules I've done in the past and recalled the PowerPoint presentations I've made.

Social Networking to Promote the Library and its Services

Reading Technology

The Impact of Blogs in Library Services and Instruction

Blogs as Teaching Tools

Now here's a pretty old PowerPoint presentation I have resurrected from four years ago! Thanks for blogging and Slideshare. I was able to document and archive the information for my workshop.

The Role of Blogs in the Library

View more presentations from Zarah Gagatiga

Lolo Jose: Nagbabasa, Binabasa

It is July and the PBBY will spearhead the celebration of National Children's Book Day on 19 July 2011. The theme this year is Lolo Jose: Nagbabasa, Binabasa.

Yes, PBBY is taking a full Rizaliana themed celebration this year. With the Salanga Prize and Alcala Prize going to Eugene Evasco and Yasmin Doctor respectively on their laudable story and illustrations that is Rizal inspired, expect that PBBY will raise Rizal from the dead. Prof. Ambeth Ocampo, already a personal friend of the PBBY, said yes to the invite to do the keynote speeh. Venue of the NCBD this year is in the University of Santo Tomas. Rizal themed activities by the Museo Pambata, the CCP and the National Library (all are PBBY institutional members) are lined up till December 2011.

As told in the PBBY annals, the third Tuesday of July is the National Children’s Book Day because it is on this day that Jose Rizal’s retelling of the Monkey and the Turtle got published in London. Is Rizal the first Filipino writer to write and retell for Filipino children? History has it that he wrote and retold folk tales for his nieces and nephews while he was studying in Europe. Whatever is the case, Rizal’s love for books and the written word spills over time and generations.

It is not surprising then that Rizal had a personal library comprising of 2,000 volumes. What titles were there? How did he organize his collection? Where are those books now? In Europe, he frequented the libraries in London and Paris. He was impressed when he discovered that the ship he boarded for Europe had a “good and pretty library” (Ocampo, 1960). He dreamt of forming an organization whose purpose, among other things Filipino, was to set up a library and museum of Filipino objects. He had planned of putting up a school in Calamba with Blumentritt as the school director. Rizal was confident that he had developed a library collection large enough to support such a learning center (Ocampo, 1960). What a school leader! Don’t you wish school administrators would do a Rizal?

Indeed, Rizal is a true bibliophile. Rizal, you are my hero!