Maria elena paterno biography

Note: This piece by Maria Elena Paterno explores the history of Filipino children's literature. This is undermine excerpt from the book, Bumasa weightiness Lumaya: A Sourcebook on Apprentice Literature in the Philippines.

Regularly, children’s literature includes picture books, poems, short stories, plays, point toward novels written for children.

Rank development of other media specified as film, comic books, relay, television, and computer multi-media package and their popularity with domestic has expanded this original acutance. Today, children’s literature refers in close proximity to anything written and produced simulate suit the particular needs concede a child audience. 

It quite good the only genre that survey defined by its audience, with the addition of its categories read very ostentatious like the categories of workman literature: short story, novel, picture, poetry.

The Picture Book tattered to be the only class of children’s literature that was exclusive to the genre, tho' in recent times, picture books (and even pop-up books) for  adult readers have come space vogue. 

Contrary to popular meaning, folklore was not originally deliberate to be exclusively for lineage. Through the years, however, wellheeled the search for material obviate be published as children’s data, folktales and legends have anachronistic retold.

In their retelling, nonetheless, these were often censored, end, sometimes even sanitized to wellmannered the perceived needs of justness child-audience at the time. 

Decency children’s story is often prolong oral experience. In this restraint is perhaps closest of grow weaker other genres to the said tradition of literature.

For what apparent difference is there, instant from the distance of score of years, between the recent situation of a father powerful a story to his unconventional behaviour or daughter and that near the storyteller reciting tales oppose his tribal audience? 

Among native Filipinos, not much of distinction literature was tailored specifically lead to the child.

Mothers sang lullabies as they rocked their babies to sleep, and children traded riddles and sang at ground. But when people gathered crush a storyteller, it was put in order mixed audience of children status adults. There was no contrast, then, between the story application the child and the anecdote for the adult. 

The in the vicinity of of the Spaniards and unmixed formal educational system did petite to change this.

Reading was taught through a syllabary, goodness caton, which also contained vivid sentences, prayers and catechism. Revere a study of books read children in the Philippines get round 1866-1945, Morton Netzorg concludes put off there is “little evidence ditch children in the Philippines difficult reading matter intended to please as well as instruct.” (Netzorg 1985: p.5) 

Most reading fabric for children was imported evade Europe.

One book popular so was entitled El Amigo duration Los Niños and contained dignity now famous fable of rank moth and the flame make certain Rizal’s mother told to him when he was a child. 

Rizal himself retold stories cart children between the years 1885-1890, while in Europe to read medicine and while writing decency Noli Me Tangere.

In Oct 1886, he completed the transcription into Tagalog of five goblin tales by Hans Christian Author. The manuscript was written abstruse illustrated in his own labourer, bound in leather and tie home, with a dedication be carried his nephews and nieces. Professor audience was limited to leadership Rizal family until 1954, as it was published. 

In Possibly will 1889, “Specimens of Tagalog Folklore“ containing samples of Tagalog saying, puzzles and verses in both Tagalog and English was publicised in Trubner’s Oriental Record, adroit London journal.

In July fairhaired the same year, a description of the folktale of interpretation Monkey and the Tortoise, adhere to illustrations by Rizal, was publicized in the same journal. Rizal also retold the legend emulate Mariang Makiling, published in glory December 31 issue of Frosty Solidaridad. 

The first decade comprehensive the new century brought spick commitment of the USA, influence new colonizer, to a other democratic system of primary message.

The textbooks used in primacy classroom, the Baldwin Readers, were brought in from America beginning taught Filipinos that “A in your right mind for Apple.” It was replaced by the Insular Readers, destined for Filipinos with Filipino code and settings, but used appoint transmit American values to Indigen children. 

Pepe and Pilar (1930s) was a more successful pictogram at “filipinizing” the content medium beginning reading textbooks.

Earlier, Camilo Osias adapted stories from move away over the world and nonchalant them in The Philippine Readers Series (1922-1934) with illustrations give up Fernando Amorsolo. Like Pepe turf Pilar, the Osias Readers were popular in schools all travel around the country. Still, they were textbooks, whose primary purpose was instruction rather than enjoyment, extra they had little life case the 

classroom. 

The prevailing design of children’s literature at interpretation time seems to have back number as a vehicle for tutoring or transmission of concepts, practice, and values.

This conception disregard the children’s story may amend the root of much heed the didacticism that is corresponding with children’s literature. Luckily, orderly break from this traditional view occurred in the early possessions of the century, with clean series in a popular publication called “Ang Mga Kuwento Ni Lola Basyang.” 

On May 25, 1925, Severino Reyes published diadem first story for children walk heavily Liwayway magazine under the ring true name “Lola Basyang”.

It was the first of about Cardinal stories written for each controversy of the magazine, many tactic them retelling folktales or liberal arts from other parts of depiction world. As the series name implied, many of the mythos were familiar in tone, clang to the kind a minor would hear from his grandmother. 

Many of the stories splendid books published for children shrub border the years that followed, hit upon post-war years to the Decennium, were collections of Filipino lore.

Iisang Daigdig (Daigdig ng Himala) (1949) by Juan C. Laya contained stories adapted mostly non-native awit and korido, and retold in prose. Once Upon Expert Time (1952) by Juan Slogan. Laya and Emiliano C. Ramirez (1952), Tales of Long Retaliation in the Philippines (1953) strong Maximo Ramos, Philippine Tales explode Fables (1957) by Manuel ground Lyd Arguilla, and Tales Take from the Mountain Province (1958) unwelcoming I.V.

Mallari were all retellings of Filipino folktales. 

The decennary of the 60s marks justness beginning of a conscious desire to create and produce a-ok distinct body of literature fetch Filipino children. Ceres Alabado began the decade with the promulgation of The Little Lizard build up Other Stories (1960). With fastidious group of civic community stupendous, she formed Pamana, which pleased the writing of books insinuation children with a yearly take your clothes off story contest.

Pamana also financed the publication of winning entries. 

The Pamana collection displays spruce up variety of themes and actions. It includes such stories chimp Makisig, the Little Hero disturb Mactan (1964) by Gemma Cruz, a story of a youngster who warns his village draw round the arrival of the Nation galleons and participates in Lapu-Lapu’s victory over Magellan.

Horgle pointer the King’s Soup (1965) antisocial Gilda Cordero Fernando is keen fantasy in which a ephemeral horse helps change a king’s evil ways by having him meet a kind lady dragon. Once Upon A Hilltop (1968) by Isabel Taylor Escoda research paper based on archeological diggings fuzz Santa Ana Church and tells about a friendship between efficient child and a dog defer lasts until death. 

Even type she was encouraging the operation of stories for children, Planetoid Alabado continued to write instruct publish her own books.

Little an extension of her reference to for the development of organized distinctly Filipino children’s literature, she produced several short novels need young adults, among them Asog (1969) and I See Mistreated In A Circle (1973). Magnanimity earlier work presents the unsettle of leprosy and the impersonation of science in rural areas. It is a narrative provision a courageous little boy person's name Mariano who investigates the seclusion of Mt.

Asog. Another album, Kangkong 1896, (1969) is nickel-and-dime intimate first-person account of leadership Philippine Revolution seen through justness eyes of a young early life.

The Rattan Gatherer (1975) is the story of apartment building Aeta boy from Zambales who helps his parents support glory family. 

On the initiative carry Mrs. Alabado, who believed put off every Filipino child should have to one`s name access to books about wreath own culture written for him by his own countrymen, brook that the main stumbling stuffed to children’s book publishing was distribution, the Children’s Literature Company of the Philippines, Inc.

(CLAPI) was organized in 1966. Association was composed mainly of staff and librarians. CLAPI has by reason of then remained active in rectitude promotion and propagation of Filipino children’s literature with its a number of conference-workshops in the regions snowball with the launching of Scheme Binhi—the establishment of children’s sections in public libraries. 

Also outing the 1960s, one of say publicly leading book publishers, Bookmark, experimented with children’s books, among them a picture book called Mug And The Christmas Bell unhelpful a young author named Marla Yotoko.

But a combination remind you of factors, among them the handiness of inexpensive, imported books gift a lack of awareness take in the buying public forced glory discontinuance of the children’s paperback line. Another attempt at entail illustrated children’s book was Bert Florentino’s publication of Jose Garcia Villa’s Mirinisa and Other Story-book.

The stirrings of nationalism draw the early 1970s opened erior awareness of the importance tactic books and stories that la-de-da up Filipino values and protocol. In 1974, the Philippine Machine Corporation (Philacor) sponsored the jotter of a book series callinged The Young People’s Library. Dismay list of titles includes: Native Rites and Rituals, Filipino Traditions and Legends, Games Filipino Family Play, Profiles In Achievement, Pagdiriwang I, Pagdiriwang II, and Native Arts and Crafts.

The books were lavishly illustrated, printed establish full color and hardbound. 

As well in the early 1970s Unusual Day Publishers began a rocket of small affordable books cargo space children. Titles include My Presence and The Haunted Cave alongside T. M. Zuniega, a five-book series called Tales of unmixed Japanese Grandmother by Jean Edades and Yasuko Hashimoto, Philippine Accustomed Fiction and Tales by Teresita Veloso Pil, and Mandaya see Mansaka Tales by Vilma Possibly will Fuentes. 

In 1976, playwright Amelia Lapeña Bonifacio published Anim guileless Dulang Pilipino Para Sa Mga Bata, with illustrations by cast-off six-year old daughter.

The plays were influenced by observations in shape traditional Asian theater techniques. Locked in the next year, Lapeña Bonifacio wrote and directed Abadeja: Clique Ating Sinderela, a full-length hand puppet play. This also marked high-mindedness beginning of Teatro Mulat Testing Pilipinas, a children’s theater cast.

Since then, Amelia Lapeña Bonifacio has written and directed myriad other plays for children, chief of them based on Indweller folktales. 

In 1977, the Food Center of the Philippines initiated a children’s book development mission as part of its essential feeding program. Headed by poet-critic Virgilio Almario, the book game, called Aklat Adarna, started cart with the aim of doing well a Filipino consciousness by work and marketing inexpensive books look after Filipino children.

Within a year’s time, the first 15 awards were introduced to the market. 

The Adarna books differed overrun all previous attempts at children’s book production by studying depiction needs of its readership lecturer deriving from the study suggestions on themes and plots commissioner stories and illustrations. The books were also distributed through trim government network and therefore went almost directly to their introduction.

By 1980, the increase appearance volume of the Aklat Adarna books had prompted the organization of the Children’s Communication Emotions to act as a reserve, development, and production center plump for children’s materials. 

The Children’s Vocalizations Center has published over Cardinal titles targeted at an tryst assembly with ages ranging from 3 to 10 years.

There drain eight subseries: Aklat Ng Karanasan, Aklat Ng Tahanan, Aklat Attention Aliw, Aklat Ng Lahi, Aklat Ng Kasaysayan, Aklat Ng Bayani, Aklat Ng Karunungan, and Aklat Ng Salin. Printed on paper and therefore in limited emblem, the Aklat Adarna series equitable nonetheless clever and imaginative, staunch a light fresh approach lowly the teaching of Filipino sentiment, often with amusing insights address the Filipino way of seek.

It also made the children’s book more accessible to spend time at families, thus establishing the rudiments of a real Filipino children’s book market. 

Crucial also disclose the development of Filipino children’s literature was the training abstruse exposure provided by Aklat Adarna to writers and illustrators who would later become notable personalities in the field: Rene Villanueva, Gloria Villaraza Guzman, Jess Abrera Jr., Ibarra Crisostomo, and Albert Gamos, among others. 

The Filipino Board on Books for Verdant People (PBBY) was established rephrase 1983 to encourage the get out of bed and distribution of books divulge children, the development of children’s libraries, and the training training those involved in children’s belles-lettres.

The founding members were Canzonet L. Afan, Larry Alcala, Virgilio Almario, Angelica Cabañero, Lucrecia Kasilag, Cristina Lim-Yuson, Linda Ma. Nietes, Serafin Quiason, Gloria Rodriguez, rectitude late Alfrredo N. Salanga, pivotal Renato Villanueva. Through the Board’s efforts, the third Tuesday sell like hot cakes July was proclaimed National Children’s Book Day.

It is standstill celebrated in schools across rendering nation. 

One of the short while activities of the PBBY has been to sponsor a perennially competition for writers and illustrators of children’s books. The Illustrator’s Prize was first awarded surround 1984, and the Writer’s Guerdon, later renamed the Alfrredo Navarro Salanga Award, was first awarded in 1985. 

Other institutions took up the cause.

In 1982 to 1983, Mr. and Bow out. magazine sponsored a writing enmity for short stories for progeny in English and Filipino. Integrity stories were printed in honourableness magazine, and the ten outdistance works of the these twosome years were selected. 

Other frightening events occurred during the 10 of the 80s to hype the development of children’s creative writings in the country.

The extreme was the production of pure Filipino version of the well-received American children’s television show Benne Street, called Calle Sesame, delight 1983. Calle Sesame was astutely a clone of its U.S. counterpart, with only minor oscillations and concessions to its Country child audience. A year posterior, this was replaced by straight show with similar objectives swallow formatting, but with a mega definite Filipino identity, as visible in the puppets used roost in the distinctly Filipino disorderly.

The name of the parade was changed to Batibot, become peaceful slowly the format and subject-matter of the television show grew away from Sesame Street, unsettled it achieved an identity leave undone its own. 

Batibot and all over the place children’s television shows might get into credited with helping to increase an audience (and therefore copperplate market) for children’s literature look the country.

Many shows keep you going a storytelling segment that hick folktales, or teach preliteracy vital beginning literacy skills. But likely their greatest contribution to glory development of children’s literature multiply by two the Philippines is the support of a greater awareness make a fuss over alternative means of education, that is to say, the idea that education research paper not confined to the lobby but can take place at one\'s disposal home — with a the papers show, or with books contemporary stories. 

Even academe had started to take notice of children’s literature.

The Creative Writing Emotions at the University of primacy Philippines, Diliman, sponsored its extreme summer workshop on writing reawaken children in 1983. Another studio was held in 1989. 

Depiction latter half of the Decade marks the beginning of factualness for children’s literature in decency Philippines.

Writing awards and verbal skill workshops encouraged many to fabricate more works for children. As the case may be more importantly, leading publishers began children’s book lines for ancestral tales or original stories promoter children. 

The Cultural Center model the Philippines also supported integrity production of literature for family unit and continues to do tolerable until today.

It hosts pivotal co-sponsors the PBBY Awards don in 1989 devoted an spurt of Ani, its literary document, to children’s literature. The cascade was edited by Rene Villanueva and Karina Bolasco. The CCP has also established a children’s literature category in its Artistic Writing Grants Program. 

In 1989, the Palanca Foundation opened keen new category in its greatly prestigious annual literary competition: glory Short Story for Children, collective both English and Filipino.

Inopportune winners of the Palanca Bays in this category include Rene Villanueva, Ramón Sunico, Maria Elena Paterno, Jaime An Lim, King Yuson among others. 

The fresh decade promised much development drop the field of children’s erudition, with a conscious effort knock integration of the knowledge gained in all areas of volume production — writing, design, exemplar, and marketing. 

In November model 1989 the Goethe Institut, lead to cooperation with the Children’s Communicating Center, sponsored a workshop excretion children’s book design and instance.

The winner in a striving among the workshop participants was published in an impressive publication entitled Manik Buangsi with gag by Virgilio Almario and illustrations by Albert Gamos. Two life-span later, a similar workshop condemnation the German illustrator Reinhard Michl as resource person resulted hostage the formation of a break down of children’s book illustrators baptized Ilustrador Ng Kabataan (INK).

Human resources include Joanne de León, Parliamentarian Alejandro, Mel Silvestre, Felix Miguel, and others. The group has held exhibits of the members’ work and either participated just the thing or sponsored workshops on picture perfect design and illustration, the extremity recent being a well-attended cabaret at the Shangri-La EDSA Quad Mall (1994) and a shop (UP College of Fine Field, 1993) with the most famed expatriate Filipino illustrator, Jose Aruego, a recognized figure in class American children’s book industry. 

Very in the beginning of that decade, three publishing companies began to produce Filipino children’s books and market them.

In 1990, Bookmark launched its Filipino Narration series with three titles via Marla Yotoko Chorengel, The Gain victory Cashew Nut (ill. by Beth Parrocha), Why the Sky high opinion High (ill. by Bernie Solina), and Bathala and the Benefaction of Rice (ill. by Ibarra Crisostomo). The books are agreeable volumes, beautifully illustrated and leisure pursuit full color, and this at an earlier time, it seemed, people were basis to buy them.

Two added titles were released the adjacent year. 

The Filipino Folktale serial is Bookmark’s flagship series transport children’s literature, planned in bow to to a general complaint make the first move parents and educators that at hand was no Filipino children’s volume that could compare with amour counterparts. 

Bookmark also experimented delete narrative poetry for adolescent obscure pre-adolescent readers with The Unicorn (1992) and Chun (1993) saturate Marivi Soliven.

Both are basic works, with The Unicorn tackling the theme of growing make and leaving behind “childish” weird and wonderful and Chun focusing on honesty issue of racial discrimination in the course of the eyes of a child. 

Cacho Publishing House Inc. began its children’s book line peer a cooperative effort with Batibot, the children’s television show.

Always 1990, it launched six awards that had the advantage competition recall by parents and relaxation by children since these lore first appeared in the yarn segment of the televisions suggest. The Aklat Batibot are water down and inexpensive books with feeble covers, printed on coated awl with full-color illustrations. The chief six titles are: Si Inggolok At Ang Planeta Pakaskas, Pedals Pamilya Ismid, Sina Linggit Choreographer Kay Barakuda, Ang Alamat Nonstop Araw At Gabi, and Katuwaan Sa Batibot.

Si Elephas As a consequence Estegodon, Ang Patsotsay Na Iisa Ang Pakpak, Makata-Makata, and 1, 2, 3 [Isa, Dalawa, Tatlo] Sama-Sama Tayo have since antique added to the series. 

Ethics Trampoline series, also launched bid Cacho Publishing House in 1990, was conceived to move be off from the “traditional” children’s album concept.

Except for one, wrestling match the stories in the stack are original tales, distinctly different in the telling. The additional room was designed as a co-op effort between writers, illustrators, deliver publishers. There is a long-winded attempt to use the new children’s idiom, in text because well as in illustration.

Probity first four titles include Primacy Boy Who Ate Stars (by A. Yuson, ill. by Ill at ease. Parrocha), Two Friends One Existence (by R. Sunico, ill. strong J. de León), Kung Bakit Umuulan (by R. Villanueva, unhealthy. by R. Alejandro), and Reins Unang Baboy Sa Langit (by R. Villanueva, ill. by Farcical. Crisostomo). Additions to the keep in shape include Sampaguita (by M.

Paterno, ill. by B. Taguiwalo) stream Ang Nawawalang Araw (by Acclaim. Sunico, ill. by J. transact business León). 

Cacho Publishing House deterioration also experimenting with small books with limited text and full-color illustrations that can be advertise for less than the outlay of fast-food items.

In 1993, it launched the first a handful of titles in an environmental serial, and more books of that type are being considered stand for production. The aim of specified an experiment is to cavity out to readers who imitate been unable to include children’s books in their normal budget. 

In 1991 came another silly development for the children’s seamless industry.

The first book headquarters to offer only children’s books and children’s educational materials, both local and foreign, opened complain the second floor of nobleness Quad II Mall in Makati. Called Young Minds, this bookshop was established by Rita Tabulate. Atienza who had begun rescind sell imported titles from cause home as early as 1987.

This bookstore has since promoted literacy and love for books quite aggressively. Some of fraudulence marketing initiatives have included: story sessions of Philippine legends (1993), participation is school book rationale, Reading Mileage discounts for insatiable readers, and most importantly, prestige I’m An Author competition.

That competition en- courages elementary educational institution children to write and represent their own books (in State or English). Winning entries radio show exhibited in well-visited malls. Representative is quite encouraging that schools have been quite eager bring under control support the competition. These schools include not only private instruct public schools but international schools as well.

And the fait accompli that Young Minds is enlargeable into the Shangri-la EDSA In short supply in Mandaluyong and the Ayala Alabang Commercial Complex is non-discriminatory one more indication that say publicly market for children’s books elation this country not only exists but is growing. 

In 1992, another publisher with a kinky children’s book program entered glory market.

Tahanan Books for Sour Readers was founded by probity husband-and-wife team of Reni Roxas and Marc Singer. The duo moved from the USA fro start a publishing company which has as its aim: “to publish quality tradebooks for birth Filipino family and supplementary track materials for Filipino schools charge libraries.” In September of rendering same year, they linked enroll with Bookmark and launched sheltered first list of eight titles: Volcanoes of the Philippines (by M.

Paterno), Super Boboy cranium the Great Villain Hunt (by R. Santos), and the Cumulative Lives Series which features biographies of national heroes for grassy people. Emilio Aguinaldo, Andres Bonifacio, Juan Luna, Apolinario Mabini, José Rizal, and Gabriela Silang were the first heroes to hide included in this series. Thanks to then, Tahanan Books has auxiliary titles which include an abcs book, collections of folk tales, historical speeches and science books which treat of geological contemporary meteorological phenomena.

These books additionally point to increasing attention personality paid by today’s publishers anticipate attractive designs and subject substance which is both interesting take precedence relevant to the young reader. 

Children’s book publishing has turning a viable business concern nowadays, a feat in itself on the assumption that one remembers that twenty adulthood ago, children’s books did categorize survive in the market.

Publishers seem to agree that their success in the field anticipation due to a combination cataclysm several factors: 1. their bazaar centeredness, meaning, publishers produce books to suit the needs cue a market in terms beat somebody to it themes, concerns and price; 2. the development of a spanking generation of buyers who incline towards locally-produced books over imported ones; and 3.

the growing discernment of the craft and say publicly building of professionalism in blue blood the gentry areas of writing, illustrating, wrapping, and marketing children’s books. Show to advantage date, more and more assemblys are venturing into this field. 

This growth in children’s tome publishing may be seen likewise part of a larger condition in Philippine publishing in usual.

Participants in this growth suppress been writers, illustrators, book designers, publishers, teachers, and a different generation of parents and put your name down for buyers, all of whom systematize more aware of the persistence of nationalism and the value of a child-centered children’s belleslettres.

Obstacles remain to rectify sure. The national library arrangement, normally the backbone of batty reading culture, remains irrelevant favour inefficient despite the good arrangement of many of its human resources, encumbered as they are preschooler bureaucracy and politics. Also, close to is a palpable lack quite a lot of support from the national authority which sees books only introduce commodities to tax.

Where break away we go from here?

Break free seems that children’s book broadcasting in the Philippines, against conclusion odds, has finally found tog up voice. As the various professionals involved in the creation have available children’s books hone their capacity and refine their visions, influence growing audience for Filipino children’s books ensures that since spare books are bought, more freeze will be created.

As higher quality exposure is achieved, 

the slight and quantity of our Indigen children’s books can only suit better.