Author: christina

  • The Meranaw Children’s Storywriting Contest

    Have you ever wished for a children’s story about the sarimanok? Or a story with a kulintang player, or okkir carver, or another Meranaw theme? Have you ever wanted to write such a story yourself? Sari-Sari Storybooks is holding a writing contest for a Meranaw children’s picture book. Contestants can…

  • Literacy and Love: the PBBY Children’s Book Summit in Manila

    Literacy and Love: the PBBY Children’s Book Summit in Manila

    Last week, the Philippine Board on Books for Young People held its 32nd annual Book Summit for children’s literature in Manila. It was an inspiration to see the dedication of the industry to moving Philippine children’s literature forward, to be in the same room with so many publishers, librarians, speakers,…

  • Balay Sugidanun (House of Storytelling)

    Balay Sugidanun (House of Storytelling)

    Genevieve Asenjo, of indie Hiligaynon publisher Balay Sugidanun (House of Storytelling). She published a beautifully illustrated children’s book, “Si Bulan, Si Adlaw, kag Si Estrelya” by Early Sol Gadong in Hiligaynon (a Visayan language).If you’d like to order a copy, you can contact Genevieve at vvasenjo(at)gmail(dot)com. The book sells for…

  • Cebuano Poetry: Marlinda Angbetic Tan Reads “Bomba”

    Over a year ago, I met Marlinda Angbetic Tan in Cebu. I had “met” her via email, intially, and whe was, sight unseen, incredibly warm and supportive of this Sari-Sari Storybooks venture. It was wonderful to meet her in person then.Marlinda is a writer, and the former Lifestyle Editor of…

  • Sneak Peek: “Melo the Umang-Boy”

    Sneak Peek: “Melo the Umang-Boy”

    I’ve just returned to urban Manila after 10 days with the blue skies and sun-drenched (read: HOT) cliffs of Batanes (a cluster of small islands near Taiwan). Batanes is the most remote northern corner of the Philippines. It was a gathering of loose ends for the Ivatan children’s story, including…

  • Waray Poetry: Janis Salvacion Reads “Kahayag” / “Light”

    Waray Poetry: Janis Salvacion Reads “Kahayag” / “Light”

    Next up in the Poetry Wednesdays series is Janis Salvacion, reading her luminous poem about her grandmother, “Kahayag.” It’s not evident in this recording, but Janis carried on through the sound of trikes and motorcycles revving past her bookstore (where we snuck in this recording).Janis opened Bookstorm about a year ago…