Narrated by a five-year-old child, Papa’s House, Mama’s House by Jean Lee C. Patindol and illustrated by Mark Salvatus (Adarna House, 2004) delves into the pros and cons of dividing the week between the homes of separated parents – and ensuring that, despite there being different rules and routines in each, both are also the happy, welcoming homes of the children.

The narrative is beautifully attuned to a child’s perspective and the striking red background to the highly dynamic illustrations increases the story’s impact, especially as the depictions of the narrator and her two sisters are endearingly pixie-like. Because the only clue to the narrator’s identity is through these abstract illustrations, in which she is in fact a girl, this story can feel relevant to both girls and boys. Having said that, though, looking at the publisher’s page about the book, it refers to the narrator as “he”… and, this being a bilingual book, it may be that this ambiguity is only in the English and not in the Filipino, which I don’t read…

When the inevitable question comes up: why can’t her parents live together in the same house, both Mama and Papa give imaginative and comprehensible answers – and at the end, they come together to share in their child’s sixth-birthday celebrations.

This is a beautifully reassuring book, both for children trying to make sense of their parents’ separation; and for children who may be trying to understand what is happening in their friends’ lives – and not forgetting parents who are striving to provide security in the aftermath of such a situation. In an end-note, author Jean Lee C. Patindol explains how the story came into being following some insensitive remarks from neigbours to her five-year-old-son after her own separation: and how she struggled “to find a way to explain to my children that, even with our unusual family setup, they are still very much loved.” Through this story she has certainly succeeded in doing so, not only for her own children but universally.

Papa’s House, Mama’s House was the 2004 Grand Winner of both the PBBY Salanga Prize (for writers) and the PBBY Alcala Prize (for illustrators). You can read a full review here, as part of our current focus on the Philippines. And I must just point you towards the latest post on Jean a.k.a. Jeanette’s blog, in which she relates a conversation with her nine-year-old daughter…

The Philippine Board on Books for Young People has released the schedule for their 26th Annual National Children’s Book Day celebrations. Events will take place throughout the week of July 20-25 with the awarding of the prestigious PBBY Salanga (Writer) and Alcala (Illustrator) Prizes taking place on July 21st.

2009 Salanga Prize winners:
* Raymund Garlitos, Ang Higante sa Loob ng Aming Bahay (The Giant Inside Our House) (grand prize);
* Perry Mangilaya, Di Ko Man Kamukha sina Inay at Itay (honorable mention);
* Victoria Bravo, Lola-Lola (honorable mention).

Raymund Garlitos’ story, Ang Higante sa Loob ng Aming Bahay revolves around a young child’s feelings and reactions to his OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker) father’s homecoming. Garlitos is a teacher of English as a Second Language, as well as a freelance journalist, and has three children’s books to his name. One of these, Chenelyn! Chenelyn!, won an honorable mention in the same contest, back in 1997.

2009 Alcala Prize winners:

* Ferdinand Guevara (grand prize),
* Jomar G. Rivera (honorable mention),
* Maurice Oliver B. Risulmi (honorable mention),
* Christian Oliver Ang Cruz (honorable mention).

Ferdinand Guevara is awarded the 2009 Alcala Prize for his digital-3D interpretation of Ang Higante Sa Loob ng Aming Bahay (see photo, right). Currently working as a 3D animator Guevarra gave a contemporary edge to his illustrations by rendering them in 3D. With his use of applications such as Maya and Zbrush, he merged the digital world with the printed word.

Ferdinand Guevara is no newcomer to the PBBY-Alcala Prize nor indeed to children’s book illustration. In 1996, he won the award for his illustrations for Ang Itim na Kuting, by Natasha Vizcarra. He also illustrated Ang Makapangyarihang Kyutiks ni Mama by Rene Villanueva in 2002.

Check out incoming PBBY chairman Zarah Gagatiga’s blog to read about the National Children’s Day celebrations. You can also read about PBBY’s recent luncheon for South African storyteller Gcina Mhlope-Becker.

School librarian, teacher and incoming PBBY chairman Zarah Gagatiga has passed along the following information on two exciting events taking place in July in the Philippines:

The 2nd National Conference on Children’s Literature – July 16 & 17

The Pilandokan (National Research Society for Children’s Literature) and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts will be sponsoring the Second National Conference on Children’s Literature with the theme “Panitikang Pambata sa Edukasyon” (Children’s Literature in Education) on July 16-17 at the University of the Philippines – Diliman.

This national conference will feature paper presentations and workshops by scholars, creative writers, artists, and children’s right advocates. Topics include the Filipino concept of child and childhood; the state of children’s literature in the Philippines; book piracy; literacy programs for urban poor children and the deaf; and the formation of Filipino childhood identity. The Keynote Speaker will be the Pilandokan Founding President Dr. Rosario Torres-Yu.

For further information, please contact Dr. Eugene Y. Evasco and/or Prof. Will P. Ortiz (pagongatmatsing (at) yahoo(dot)com).

26th National Children’s Book Day – 3rd week of July

For the first time ever, the Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY) will hold the celebration of NCBD (National Children’s Book Day) outside Manila in Marikina City. This year’s themes focus on leadership and readership with the slogan Readers Make Good Leaders!

The whole month of July promises to be a fun-filled month of reading, writing and interactive activities for children and literacy advocates. The Salanga and Alcala Prizes will be awarded during the opening ceremonies on July 21, 2009 at the Marikina Convention Center.

You can read about the preparations in Zarah’s post here and I’ll post more information on the Children’s Book Day festivities in the coming weeks.

Earlier this year while searching the web for children’s literature events, I came across Zarah Gagatiga’s blog School Librarian in Action. Zarah lives in the Philippines so I immediately emailed her and asked her if there were any children’s literature events happening there that we could share with our PaperTigers readers. She quickly emailed back with a resounding YES! – the Philippines’ 25th National Children’s Book Day would be celebrated July 15. Zarah then put me in touch with Ani Almario, Secretary-General for the Philippines Board on Books for Young People, who was pleased to send me the details for the upcoming celebration:

The annual ceremonies celebrating National Children’s Book Day, in commemoration of the publication of Jose Rizal’s Monkey and the Turtle, shall once again happen at the Cultural Center of the Philippines on July 15th. The ceremonies include the announcement of new books coming out in 2008, courtesy of the country’s leading children’s book publishers; the awarding of this year’s Salanga (Writer) and Alcala (Illustrator) prizes; and the induction of new PBBY members.

From July 15 -22 an exhibit entitled the 25 Best-Loved Children’s Book Characters Exhibit will be held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. After surveying hundreds of Filipino children, this is an exhibit of life-size sculptures of the 25 best-loved children’s book characters. The sculptures are done by members Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan.

During July, 25 schools will be visited by their favorite children’s book authors. The visits are a joint project between PBBY and the members of Kuwentista ng mga Tsikiting (Kuting), a group of Filipino children’s book authors.

Museo Pambata, the Philippines premier children’s museum, will be celebrating the silver anniversary of National Children’s Book Day throughout July with the following activities: Pop Stories Exhibit, an opinion corner for child visitors; a book donation corner; and a special day when people can dress up at their favorite children’s book characters!

Thanks to Zarah and Ani for providing this information so that we could share it with you. When I first contacted Zarah she posted this on her blog:

This goes to show how blogs and the Internet can help people from different places bridge gaps and get information. The world is indeed becoming smaller, but all the more richer it’s been. Barriers are broken down; new meaning and world views are constructed.

How true! If you know of an event happening in your country, we would love to share it with our readers. Please leave a comment or send me an email.