Firsts

When I have almost abandoned my dream to take writing seriously (and have a published work, at the very least), these came.

A write up for UP JMA's Bakit Masayang Tumambay sa UP?

I've already missed the last day for submission, but I sent my story anyway. I wrote this piece for a Creative Writing class--a course I've dropped once.

Volunteered to edit this story for an environmental NGO

All glory to the master storyteller! We may have doubts about our skills, gifts and talents, but just keep trusting Him.

Philippians 1:6 (CEB)

⁶ I’m sure about this: the one who started a good work in you will stay with you to complete the job by the day of Christ Jesus.

Project Pass-a-book

The Big Os

The project aims

·         To instill a love for reading among Filipino children

·         To build a community of children who can and will read

·         To make the Filipino children appreciate our children's literature

·         To provide marginalized Filipino children opportunities to read authentic Philippine children's literature

The Mission (I'm) Possible

Project Pass-a-book is  a collective effort of literacy advocates, non-government organizations (NGOs) and private institutions to provide children in Magsaysay, Misamis Oriental opportunities to read and enjoy locally-published children's books.

The people backing this project strongly believe that reading, as an important life skill, should be developed and nurtured inside and outside the school.  The proponents of this project believe in the power of reading to tickle one's imagination, to quench a person's thirst for knowledge and to transform people's lives. Thus, creating an opportunity to read is a must.

The Challenge

Project Pass-a-book aims to distribute new picture story/books to school-aged children in a far-flung place where buying a book (and reading) is a luxury. The picture storybooks would be coming from the different individual or group donors. Each new picture storybook to be donated must

a.       be covered with clear plastic to ensure its durability,

b.      have the donor's message/dedication to the child who will receive the book to make the experience more personal . The message could be in Cebuano, Filipino, and English (with Filipino translation).

Other ways to make the gift-giving more personal are highly-encouraged (e.g. attaching a picture).

The Setting

After 14 years, I'm gonna see again this mountain.

The heart of Cabalawan.

Project Pass-a-book aims to distribute new picture story/books to school-aged children in Cabalawan, Magsaysay, Misamis Oriental on the third week of December 2011.  Cabalawan is a small barrio that is almost nine kilometres away from the main road/high-way. It houses an elementary school that has 4 teachers and a number of students (no sufficient data as of today). Magsaysay is a fourth class municipality. (Keep posted for the pictures of the place and school profile written by one of the school officials.)

The Mission (I'm) Possible II

The project would also like to tap volunteers from the beneficiary barangay, preferably the teachers   to facilitate "literary circle" activities. A literary circle is an unorthodox way (for lack of a better term) of grouping the children for book talks and other enrichment activities. Activities include discussion about the book (e.g. plot, illustration, genre, etc.), enrichment activities (arts and crafts, music). The literary circle could be formed based on the reader-child's interest, reading ability, instructional needs and the book's literary genre. Thus, generic literary circle activities (e.g. lesson plans/ideas, graphic organizers) would also be given to the teachers during the short project orientation. (You may also share your 'photocopy-able' teacher resources/materials.

The said volunteers will also smooth the progress of the ‘passing of the book’ from one child to another. The project aims to introduce to the children the wealth of children’s literature that this country has, in doing so, the books that they have should be shared to other children in the literary circle. It’s the volunteer-teacher’s job to monitor the rotation of the books in the literature circle. This explains the need for the books to be plastic-covered.

The Possible FAQs

1.       What kind of books should I give?

a.       New picture books/picture storybooks in English with a Filipino or Cebuano translation published in the Philippines  (Know your local children's literature.)

                                       i.            Adarna House books

                                     ii.            OMF Lit-Hiyas books

                                    iii.            Anvilbooks

                                   iv.            LG&M-Vibalbooks

                                     v.            Lamparabooks

                                   vi.            Tahananbooks

                                  vii.            Others

2.       Where are the 'drop-off' points?

a.       School of Saint LaSalle of QC in North Olympus Subdivision, Zabarte Road, Novaliches. Look for T. Jerson or leave it/them to the guard on duty.

b.      TBA. (If you want to volunteer your office/place as a drop-off point, send an email or SMS to brojersrc@gmail.com / 0906-204-5044)

3.       Is there a way for me to know that the book has really reached its new owner?

a.       All activities will be documented through photos and some written documents. A blog post in www.misterserendipity.blogspot.com will serve as the "State of the Donation Address' or SODA before 2011 ends.

4.       What if I'm 'tinatamad' na 'mag-plastic cover?

a.       Think again if you really want to donate. If the answer is still a yes, get the book, plastic, scissors and tape. This activity doesn't happen every day, so your katamaran (e.g. going to the bookstore, writing a message) is not a valid excuse.

5.       What if I want to share my old books?

a.       Sharing your old books is good but only new books are accepted. The children in Cabalawan are so used to receiving old textbooks from the Department of Education. I think they deserve new ones too.

6.       What if I want to share other stuff like bags and pencils?

a.       Great! Then we can have another outreach activity in April or May.

7.       What do I get from this?

a.       A reward from God (well, if you have the right motives)

b.      A hope for a better Philippines

c.       A million thank-yous from the children of Cabalawan

So what are you waiting for?

a.       Go to the bookstore. Share this very-demanding project to your friends. Make a pledge. Start saving  for that Php 70-book. Give because you have something to give.

b.      Shrug it off. Make excuses. Wallow in apathy.

NCBD Dreams

July, next to December, is my second  much loved month of the school year. I know the teachers reading this are bobbing their heads as I put December on top of my list.  But, golly! July is just a few points behind the gift-giving month.

I started loving July when I learned about the National Children's Book Day or NCBD.

 I've heard about it in my Children's Literature class circa 2007 (Thanks to Teacher Portia!) Back then, for a number of imaginable reasons, I didn't appreciate it as much as I do now. One, we never had any NCBD celebration when I was in grade school and high school, given that the NCBD is a 28-year-old fete, and I'm only 23. Two, our librarian-slash-guidance counsellor didn't know that such celebration exists nor did I know that she was the librarian in that textbook-full room. Three, I wasn't yet hooked on children's  books then (the lamest excuse I could think of).

In the traditional school calendar, July is dubbed as the Nutrition Month. I think our Department of Health (DOH) is the instigator, rather, brain behind this nationwide event which the Department of Education (DepEd) adapts and implements on a nationwide scale. 

(Thank you DOH! I believe, with all my heart, that in your theme-brainstorming meetings, there are other topics aside from breastfeeding. So why be fixated on breast-

feeding alone?

And DepEd, please do not copy everything. I think you have the power to change/modify the theme.  Make it something more relevant, meaningful and developmentally-appropriate. I am not in the position to give you a lecture on this.)

Unlike the highly-celebrated nutrition month, the NCBD is just like a drizzle quenching the thirst of teachers, librarian and students for books. I'm guessing that the DepEd annually  releases a memorandum advising, if not requiring, schools to have modest NCBD activities. I'm sure that the Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY), the one spearheading this affair,  never forgets to inform the education bureau the impact of this event to the lives of the Filipino children and to the history of Philippine literature.  For a number of years, NCBD posters, sponsored by Jollibee and, I guess, Adarna Publishing House, in coordination with the PBBY, are issued to different institutions.

Of course, for free.  But how come that out of the 10 teachers that I asked about their school's NCBD event/s, only one excitedly said yes, they are having an NCBD school program? And the others texted back with "Anong NCBD?"  True story. Epic fail.

Children's Lit advocates, WE still have so much work to do.

Yes, I agree with the great Ma'am LDR (Lina Diaz de-Rivera), teacher of teachers of children's literature in UP Diliman, that we are in the Golden Age of Philippine Children's Literature . There are more companies now that are publishing high-quality books for kids. Okay, there are some books that need to be sent back to their editors or to their FGD groups. The number of writers and illustrators for children is growing  __________. a) fast; b) faster than my toe nails: c)period. Different NGOs who are big on children's literature like PBBY, Alitaptap Storytellers, Kuwentista ng mga Tsikiting (Kuting), Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan (Ang InK) are gaining more members and volunteers. These are just some of the signs that the state of Philippine children's literature has gotten better.

But why do  I feel that something is missing in that measure of success?

In one of my daydreams, I pictured a festive  third Tuesday of July in almost all Philippine schools. Students are swelling with joy as they read stories written for them by their fellowmen. Teachers are busy choosing locally-published  books to be included in their class reading list. Authors and illustrators are touring different schools for book talks--signing copies of their books as their fans giggle in excitement. And the most ambitious of all, for the first time in Philippine television, the president is reading a Rene Villanueva or an Almario story and ending the storytelling with this:

"Mga kababayan, lalo na sa mga kabataan, Happy National Children's Book Day!"

On Bourgeoisie and Selfishness

I had a memorable conversation with a former professor about career, life and other people last Tuesday.

It was the afternoon when she asked me to come over and put some order on her piles/tons of children's books. (She has more children's books than our college library's Childre's Book Section.) Good thing another former student assistant of her came by and helped me.

At five, we called it a day of tiresome sorting, shelving and sorting again (I had to devise a system). Of course, it wasn't for free (haha), 'though I would still have done it without getting anything in return. Teacher gave me her copy of

(an earlier edition of this one)

which I think every Reading teacher/major should have.

Then we headed to in

Katipunan for their first Super Panalo meals. They (Teacher and ex-co-SA) didn't know that that promo exists. There was something in the carbonara spaghetti and caesar salad that made me more comfortable chit-chatting with them. Way back then, I was this reserved, tight-lipped guy who'd seldom enter into any kind of banter. Some call it insecurity. Others label it as politeness.

But that afternoon, I was a certified FC. Feeling close.
I heard my self talk, not just listen. I listen to their personal accounts on teaching, career and life.

Since I know that they are so incline to children's lit,just as i am, I asked them if they've read

. I was expecting for a vigorous YES to be followed by a series of exchanges about the book's elements. But to no avail.

My teacher, who I look up to in terms of oozing passion for children's lit, mentioned the word BURGIS in her explanation. She doesn't want to go with the flow. The bandwagon failed. I got her point.

I have a very limited mind map of the word BURGIS. I almost equate it to selfishness. Then that afternoon I was pointed back to my

Oo nga naman. Unti-unti nang nadodomina ng mga foreign writers ang Reading list ko.

"Nabasa nga nila ang Hunger Games, e' ang

, nabasa na ba nila?", she quipped.

Then a sudden realization dawned on me.
Gosh, for the past two years how many times have I worn my volunteer's hat? How many stories have I read to less fortunate kababayan? How many locally-published books have I bought? How many times have I ignored the laments of

Then, they started suggesting ways on how to lessen the BURGIS in me; how to reach out to our kapwa-Pilipino. Then we sounded too idealistic.

Oh well, better have some ideals than have nothing at all.

SCBWI-CCP Conference

Hear ye! Hear ye! All Children's book authors, illustrators, librarians, children's literature advocates, educators, readers, publishers,fans, professional stalkers of published authors and/or illustrators, budding writers and illustrators! Your attendance in the event below is required by the request of this blogger.

To those published authors and/or illustrators,please inform me beforehand if you can come, so I know which books I need to bring/buy. Hooray! See you there!

For more info about the conference, do visit this site.

Mag Show Suggestions

Yey! 2011 is here.

Out muna sa mga work-related posts (as if meron) at in sa mga kung anu-anong topics. Feeling ko kasi last 2010,masyado akong trying hard na magpost tungkol sa mga bagay na feeling ko ay magugustuhan ng 2 o 3 kong followers. Ngayon, post lang nang post. Huwag hayaang may idea na hindi naii-share sa iba.

Like kanina,habang nanonood ng Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho, bumalik sa aking alaala ang pangarap na maging part ng isang documentary/magazine show. Tutal mahilig din naman ako sa mga istorya,magbasa,magnet,magtanong, why not maging writer o researcher sa isang show tulad no’n.

Mukhang malabo lang mangyari kasi di naman ako mass com graduate. Pero anyway,pwede pa rin naman akong maging part ng show by sending stories or possible topics to them,ayon sa show mismo.

Hmmm,anong topic kaya ang di pa nila nai-feature? Na magugustuhan ng marami at the same time,makakarelate sila. Ladies and gentlemen,presenting Jerson’s random thoughts:



One

I-feature kaya nila ang mga Filipinos or half-Filipinos na mahilig at magaling gumawa ng cover ng mga kanta ng mga kilalang singers? One good subject is Gabe Bondoc na nakakaraming hits na sa youtube dahil sa napaka-swabe nitong boses,samahan pa ng superb na pagplay ng kanyang acoustic guitar. Sikat ang kanyang version ng Love Story (the guy’s perspective) at kanta ng mgasikat na gaya ni Colbie Caillat, Adele, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, etc.. May mga duets pa siya with other artists like former AI finalist Ramiele Malubay.

Pasok din sa topic na yan sina JR Aquino at AJ Rafael na kaibigan din ng another AI finalist na si Andrew Garcia. Mga US-based ang mga kababayan nating ‘to. Pwede rin siguro si Darren Criss (siya si Blaine sa Glee) na may mga covers ng Katy Perry songs. For sure, sisikat ‘tong mga to. Sana, hindi lang sa youtube.



Two

Gawa rin sila ng episode about Dyslexia. Feeling ko kasi,maraming tao na hindi pa naiinform or misinform about this learning disability. Very common kasi ang dyslexia sa grade school (well, sa experience ko). At pwede nilang i-feature ang mga teachers or schools like Wordlab School na nag-e-specialize sa mga ganitong LD. Di ko lang sure kung nag-air na sila ng ganitong istorya.

Three

Papanoorin ko rin ang episode kung saan ifi-feature nila ang lahat ng bodies na related sa Phil. Children’s Lit like Kuting (writers), Ang INK (illustrators), Alitaptap (storytellers), mga publishers, PBBY,NBDB. Pwede ring imention ang mga awards na pwedeng makuha ng isang children’s book (e.g. palanca,PBBY, NBA,NCBA). Most parents want their kids to read on their own, kaya sana magka-idea sila about the children’s book industry para hindi lang coloring books at gasgas na mga fairybtales ang bininili nila sa bookstore.



Four

Related sa no.3. Gusto kong malaman kung paano nakukuha ng mga second-hand bookstores ang mga libro nila. Like itong Booksale Booksale.Yong ibang mga libro nila minsan may tatak ng US School Library. Pwede ring ikonek ang napakamahal na tax kapag umorder ka ng libro from other countries. At i-contrast ito sa napaka-budget friendly na books sa Booksale. Pwede ring mag-feature ng iba pang stores like Bookay-ukay sa Teacher’s Village. Kung ayaw ng second-hand bookstores, e’ di yung mga pang-mayamang bookshops.

Scoop din kapag na-explain kung saan nakukuha ng mga tindera sa Morayta at Recto ang sandamakmak na public school textbooks nila, to think na may shortage tayo sa textbooks sa mga public schools.



Five

In ring maituturing angmga nagsusulputang churches sa mga malls, especially sa mga Robinson malls. Sikat ang Every Nation Ministries (Victory) kung saan maraming artista ang umaatend. Punta kayo sa Rob Nova pag Sunday at magugulat kayo sa dami ng churches sa 3rd floor. Usually mga Born Again churches ‘to. Pasok ang topic na ‘to dahil ang mga Pilipino ay likas na maka-Diyos. Obvious ang reason kung bakit sa mall naisip ng mga church leaders. Pero ano kaya ang mga pros and cons? Magkano kaya ang rent? Anu-ano kaya ang mga gimik para mas maging cool ang pagsisimba?

Pwedeng i-konek dito ang mga campus ministries. Usually sa mga universities to. Like sa UP Diliman, sobrang daming religious orgs.



Six

Last na muna ‘to. Bilang mahilig silang mag-feature ngmga taong may odd jobs, gawa pa sila ng marami pang stories. Interbyuhin nila ang mga signboard makers along Regalado Ave. or kung saan pa mang kalsada. One interesting subject ay ang isang nanay na gumagawa ng sign board. Naging cover pa ng isang book ang isang work niya.



Pwede ring pasikatin ang mga nagpi-paint ng white lines sa mga kalsada. Nakaka-curious lang kung kailan at paano nila to ginagawa. For sure,marami pang oddjobs ang di pa naifi-feature.

That’s it.

Yey. Nakapagsulat din. Sana makatulong ang mga ideas na ‘to. Pag may naisip ako, post ko rin dahil ang motto ko for this year:

Walang ideyang masasayang.

Si Ondoy, Leslie at Eric

Habang isinusulat ko ito sa isang computer shop ay pinapatugtog ang How to Save a Life ng bandang The Fray. Kakabasa ko lamang ng mga walls at blog posts ng mga kaibigan tungkol sa matinding pananalasa ng bagyong Ondoy. May ilang bagay na agad pumapasok sa isip ko gaya na lamang ng libro at pelikulang Bridge to Terabithia. OST ng pelikulang yon ang tugtog na naririnig ko ngayon. Bigla kong naalala na sa palabas na nabanggit ay nagkaroon din ng matinding pag-ulan na nagdulot sa pagiging marupok ng lubid. At ito naman ay naging sanhi ng pagkamatay ng bidang batang babae na si Leslie. At kung ikokonekta natin sa kasalukuyang kalagayan ng bansa, partikular sa Luzon, marami rin ang nasaw dahil sa bagyo. May mga natangay ng agos ng baha, nakulong sa kanilang tahanan at may ibang nawawala pa rin hanggang sa ngayon.



Karamihan sa mga ito ay mga kapus-palad nating kababayan. Sila 'yong mga nakatira sa mga estero, sa ilalim ng tulay, sa tabi ng maduduming ilog o sabihin nating sa squatter's area. Mga bahay nila ay gawa sa pinagtagpi-tagping kinakalawang na yero at mga piraso ng kahoy. Mga bubong ay may pabigat na gulong ng sasakyan o kaya naman ilang piraso ng basag na hollow blocks. Habang nakasakay ako sa aircon na bus kanina, natanaw ko sa daan ang mga kapwa ko na natutulog sa daan, bitbit ang ilang piraso ng gamit. Ganun na ganun ang naiisip ko sa tuwing babasahin ko ang kuwentong His Friend Eric ni Dina Ocampo. Sana, mga muwebles, yero, kahoy lang ang nawala. Sana mga halaman at puno lang ang nalunod. Ngunit sa kuwento, namatay ang batang si Eric dahil natangay ito ng baha. Sana, walang Eric sa kuwento ng bagyong Ondoy.



Gaya ng mensahe ng awiting How to Save a Life, sana kaya nating iligtas ang mga buhay na nasa alanganin. Sana, may maayos na tirahan ang mga Pilipino. Sana, mabasa ng mga nakupo sa gobyerno ang kuwento ni Eric.

30th manila international book fair

september 20, 2009

smx convention center, mall of asia



after a very relaxing retreat in don bosco batulao (except for the ride), i hurried to the mibf, afraid that i might miss it. the visit to the fair is worth the long walk/stroll along the crowded corners of the venue. i had a direction, i knew what to find--and those were the booths of publishers who publish books for kids. and luckily, i found them.



Adarna house, where Rhandee Garlitos, author of Chenelyn! Chenelyn!,was signing his so popular books. I grabbed the opportunity to ask some questions and relay stories of a plagiarism case involving his work.



Nanoy Rafael, author of Naku Naku--the PBBY Silver anniversary grand prize winner. I found out that he is from the PHAN, that he manages a website and that he is very calm. I bought his book Grand Parade, which he co-authored with Carla Pacis. Ooops, he's comfortable writing in verse form.



In Lampara Books, M. Conoza, author of Imbisibol Man, which is part of my students' reading list, was there with his kids. Tatay na tatay ang dating. James Abalos, who looked very ordinary, was there. He has illustrated four books. All in Lampara. He's from UP FA, which made me more comfortable to chit-chat with him. While I was grilling him with my "children's-lit-advocate-questions, Serge Bumatay arrived. Then they talked and we had pur pictures taken. Barkada yata sila, pati ni Leo Alvarado ng Pilong Patagu-tago.



Of my 3 MIBF trips, this one is the most memorable so far. I had enough money to buy the books that I want. I had the camera to document everything (well at least, the things I want). And I had the courage to approach authors and illustrators, and tell them that i support children's lit. And by that, I somehow display a message to those who see me going crazy over books, authors and illustrators, that there's a magic in books.



(visit my multiply site for the pictures)

i can't live without books

whew, i cant help but to buy a book/books every time book sale is going on.
just like last sunday and monday.

sunday, before attending church, i dropped by my favorite tambayan--booksale bookslae at the ground flr of rob nova. impulse alert. i ended up buying 9 beautiful books including Fatherhood by Bill Crosby.

monday, i visited booksale booksale in philcoa. i havent been there for almost 3 months. the ending, i went out with 12 new second-hand books (bago sila para sa akin) which i shared to my tutees that afternoon.

so guys, if you're gonna give me a gift (someday), dont hesitate to ask me first what books i already have.

and mind you, it doesnt matter if the book is expensive or if you just dug it up from booksale booksale or peek-a-book. what's important, is that the books areworth-reading, and worth-keeping. (my mini-library starts to expand)

lastly, im not yet that rich. i just love books. so i try to include them in my budget. i only spent P120.00 for the 21 books i bought this week.



P.S. I have a vision of opening a public lib (mostly children's books), so donate a book now.

Ako sa mundo ng Panitikang Pambata

Noong pangalawang araw ng pagkikita sa klase kong CW 140, pinadala kami ng bagay na para sa amin ay interesante.

Agad na pumasok sa isip ko ang aking mga librong pambata. May kakaibang kasiyahang idinudulot sa akin ang mga aklat na iyon. Dinala ko si Pilong Patagu-tago ni Kristine Canon. Kinakabahan ako habang ipinapaliwanag kung bakit ito ang dala ko. Matapos ang pautal-utal na pag-i-Ingles ay pinilit nila akong magkuwento. Ginawa ko naman.

Sa pamamalagi ko sa Kolehiyo ng Edukasyon, partikular na sa Dept. of Reading Education, hindi ko na namalayan na unti-unti na pala akong nangongolekta ng librong pambata.

Nagsimula ang paglalakbay ko sa mundo ng Panitikang Pambata noong makapakinig ako ng mga pagkukuwento ng Alitaptap Storytellers sa programang Wan Dey, Isang Araw na ibino-broadcast sa 702 DZAS.

Wala pa ako sa kolehiyo nang una kong marinig si Dr. Luis Gatmaitan bilang host ng programa. Sinabi ko sa sarili ko noon, na gusto ko ring magpasaya ng mga bata sa paraan ng malikhaing pagkukuwento.

Sa pangalawang taon ko sa kolehiyo, nagpalit ako ng kurso. Mula secondary education patungong elementary education. Naimpluwensyahan ako ng mga Reading majors mula sa UP Educators' Circle at syempre pa sinusugan ito ng umuusbong na pagkahilig ko sa panitikang pambata.

Mas naging makulay ang paglalakbay ko nang kunin ko ang kursong EDR 121-Children's Literature ni Prof. Portia P. Padilla. Dagdag pa ang EDR 110 at EDLR 101 na siya rin ang guro. 4 na oras at 30 minutong siya ang kasama namin (4 kaming PPP majors nung semestrong yon.)

Sa EDR 121 ko nakilala sina John Newbery, R. Caldecott, Tito Doc, Tuko, Pilo, at kung sino-sino pa. Nakapasok ako sa mundong walang kasing tingkad ang kulay. Dito, napaigting pa lalo ang pagnanasa kong maging "advocate" ng panitikang pambata.

Bukod pa sa mataas na marka (na sobrang nagpapasalamat ako) na nakuha ko, isa sa 'di ko malilimutang karanasan sa mundo ng panitikang pambata ay ang pagsali ko sa 3rd Alitaptap Inter-College Storytelling Competition.

Sa patimpalak na iyon ay unti-unting nalupig at nilulupig nina Pilo at ng kanyang mga kaibigan ang takot ko sa pagharap sa maraming tao. Laking pasasalamat ko sa paggabay ng mga taga-Alitaptap at syempre nina Ate Michelle (na siyang nagkampeon), Kuya Miko at syempre ni T. Portia.

Noong nasa workshop kami bago ang kompetisyon, nagtanong si Sir Nolo Silayan, pangulo ng Alitaptap, kung ano bang meron kami na magpapanalo sa amin. Karaniwang sagot ng iba ay--may background ako sa theater, naging parte na ako ng mga productions...yada yada.

Samantalang ako, "advocacy lang po yung sa akin". Naks! Galing sa puso ang sagot ko. Walang pag-iimbot at may buong katapatan. Pero sabi ni Sir Nolo, hindi sapat ang "passion", dahil isa yung kompetisyon. Tama naman siya. Pero, "passion" pa rin ang namamayaning motibasyon ko.

Hindi naman ako binigo ng "passion" ko. Kahit papaano ay naiuwi ko ang ikalawang puwesto.
May iba pang nakakatawa at nakakatuwang kuwento noong araw ng kompetisyon sa World Trade Center. (Abangan na lamang sa susunod kong post.)

Matapos ang patimpalak, nadagdagan ang tiwala ko sa sarili--na kaya ko ring maging magaling na kwentista sa mga bata. Hindi ko na hinihindian ang mga imbitasyon ng pagkukuwento gaya na lamang ng mga seminar sa aming kolehiyo. Naging estratehiya ko na rin ito sa pagsisimula ng ulat sa klase. At isang libangan ko na ang pagbabahagi ng kuwento sa mga pinsan ko na walang sawang pinapaulit-ulit ang kuwento ni Pilo, Tuko, Raquel, Og at ng mga kabarkada nila.

Noong araw na dinala ko si Pilo sa CW 140 class ko, naging madamdamin ang pagpapaliwanag ko kung bakit mahalaga sa akin ang mga kinokolekta kong libro. May mas malalim pa na pinag-uugatan ang pagkahilig ko sa kanila.