Filipino Friday Week 4: On Filipiniana

In my previous post, I daydreamed of coercing my friends to tell us about their favorite locally-published books. I asked them to answer these questions:

A. What's your favorite book from written by a Filipino (textbooks are not allowed.hehe)? You know, that one book you never got tired of reading (over and over and over...) - or hearing. The one book you still remember vividly to this day.

B.Describe a character in the book that reminds you of someone you know.

C.To whom would you recommend this book? Why?

Thank heavens for there's one friend who took heed of my plea. Haha. But before I give you her answer, let me share with you my thoughts about this week's topic. 

 I guess I have established , in this blog, the fact that I am a children's lit fan. (Thank you T. Portia for giving me that make-or-break UNO. Look where it has brought me.) But one thing that I haven't really worked hard on is the task of giving you the impression that I am a children's lit patriot. Believe me.I know and love and take pride in our country's children's literature.

Proofs? Don't get me started. Visit my future book blog na lang.

Anyway, back to this meme's questions:

Do you read Filipino literature? If you do, tell us your favorite books by Filipino authors and name a few that you’d like to recommend to fellow readers? If you don’t read much Filipino lit, then tell us why.

Tuwing Sabado, written by Russel Molina and illustrated by Serj Bumatay is a staple read in all classes that I handle. I will never get tired of reading this heart-pinching/warming, tear-jerking  tale of fatherhood. And my pupils just love this book. (Random sharing: I was there when the author read the manuscript of this story, months before the book was launched.)

Pambihirang Buhok ni Raquel. This is one of my first children's lit reads. And it's the book that made me want for more Tito Dok books. (Fast fact: Tito Doc is the nickname of the author.) The illustrations are fantastic. They enriched the story. I love the spreads in which Raquel wore those totally out-of-this-world wigs. (Random sharing: I have an autographed copy of this one--both author and illustrator)

Unang Baboy sa Langit. Butsiki is the name if you're wondering who that lucky saintly pig is.. Very witty story. I first heard of this story in the radio show Wan Dey Isan Araw aired over 702 DZAS. Then I fell in love with the Rene Villanueva brainchild. I used it in our storytelling project and made a chant to accompany the telling. I just wish that a new edition of the book would come out (asap) because the illustrations are not that appealing. (Random sharing: I met Sir Rene in 2007 and whispered to him, while we were on stage, that I'm in love with his book. True story.)

There's a plethora of good Philippine children's literature out there. How I wish I am that linguistically-gifted to convince you to read these:

• Tall Story by Candy Gourlay
• Grace Chong books
• Jomike Tejido creations
• Papel De Liha by Ompong Remigio
• and a whole lot more.

Ooops! I almost forgot to mention some YA fiction and general fiction that I've perused over the years.

• Titser by Liwayway Arceo
• Bob Ong books (which should be read in moderation)
• Arnold Arre's Mythology Class and After Eden

Oh my! I haven't been reading Filipino novels lately! Wake up my dear old self.

And on that note, I give you my friend, Bb.CJ Aguila, Filipino professor and lover of Philippine literature. Here are her answers to the questions posted above.

A.Bilang guro sa panitikan, babalik-balikan ko ang KUWENTO NG MGA KWENTISTA! Para sa lahat ng henerasyon...hindi nagbabago ang mensahe... kuwentong may PUSO....

B. Isa sa karakter na narito ang batang si Fe na muling nagkaroon ng positibong pananaw sa buhay matapos mabatid ang mga pinagdadaan ng mga tao sa lipunan na mas pinagkaitan ng tadhana, ngunit kailanman ay hindi naging hadlang upang tumigil sa pangangarap. Minsan akong nagkaroon ng estudyante, na aking nakilala sa ikalawang taon ng aking pagtuturo (na kagayani Fe)....

C. Ang aklat na ito ay mairerekomenda ko sa lahat ng mga Pilipinong may pagmamahal sa Literatura... at mga taong nagnanais ding maging iinspirasyon sa iba.

Thank you so much CJ for sharing your thoughts on this week's meme. When you're done with your thesis about children's literature, you should, if not must, start blogging about Philippine Literature.