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Waitng to be Read

Rich in local color and written in the language they know best, story tellers for this project were pupils from grades 5 and 6 and first year high school students

"Children writing for Children" is a book writing project conducted by Save the Children, an international developmental organization working the Philippines that last 25 years.

A total of 15 stories from a heap of 199 entries coming from 116 young writers from 70 public schools of Iloilo, Antique and Guimaras. They were chosen by a panel of professional writers and language experts.

While the storylines are themed along population health and environment issues, the children writers were encouraged to draw out stories from day to day happenings around them and tell these in a way that other children would understand.

Rich in local color and written in the language they know best, story tellers for this project were pupils from grades 5 and 6 and first year high school students. Their stories were further brought to life through illustrations done by children artists.

The story books are intended primarily for the pupils participating in the Basa Pasa sa Bara (Reading for Kids) Program in the elementary grades and can also be used as storybooks for pre-school children. These books can likewise be used as reference materials for secondary schools.

"Children Writing for Children" is not only an advocacy to bring the young minds the value of caring for their environment and staying healthy. It is also a project that hopes to contribute in developing the reading skills and comprehension of children. As such, it strongly supports the finding, that learning is facilitated better if children read in their own mother tongue thus, these story books were done in Filipino, Hiligaynon and kinaray-a, the major languages of Western Visayas.

These books are waiting to be read by children.

For donations and other forms of support, please contact Norma Chan Pongan, National Program Coordinator for Population Health and Environment at the Following address:

npongan@savechildren.org; ncpongan@yahoo.com; Save the Children-Philippine Country Office, No. 1 Encarnacion St,m cor Lapu-lapu, Magallanes Village, Makati City, Tel. Nos. (02) 852-54-08; West Visayas Program Office, "M" Bldg. JBLCF Cmpd., M.H. Del Pilar St., Molo, Iloilo City, Tel. Nos. (033) 337-12-88 loc 23.

The Children's Stories

ANG MGA BALABAW

Story by Krilen andoque, 12, Grade VI, Malublub, Sinuagan Elementary School, Badiangan, Iloilo

Illustrations by Judy Ann Hope Palacios, 11, Grade V, Odiong Elementary School, Sibalom, Antique

'Ang Mga Balabaw' may be a story about rats and mice ut is no disneyland's Mickey Mouse. It is about Mimaros, a mother rat with many children.

It is a moving story about population, a big world translated into a child's perception.

SI KABOG KAG SI UL-UL

Story by Lance Mesa, 12, Grade VI, Badiangan Central Elementary School, Badiangan, Iloilo

Illustration by Ainch Dave Hinayon, 13, 1st Year High School, Maasin national High School, Iloilo

Si Kabog kag si Ul-Ul is a story about environmental protection as it relates to human health.

Written in Kinaray-a, the young writer used birds as a medium to relate his message. In the local dialect, Kabog is a bat while Ul-Ul is a bird that predominates the island of Panay.

BOOM!

Story by Jared Pedrosa, 12, Grade VI, Tina Elementary School, Badiangan, Iloilo

Illustrations by Aya Ma. Deca malaga, 12, Grade VI, Maasin Central Elementary School, Iloilo

Boom! Is a story written in Hiligaynon that echoes the weeping of the seas subjected to dynamite fishing.

Using sound as anchor, the author moved on to tell his story of how a father learned from his son in conserving the bounty of the seas.

BRAD TAMAD

Story by Helen palomo, 14, 2nd Year high School, Maasin National High School, Iloilo

Illustrations by Jayson Cartagena, 13, 2nd Yr. High School, San Rafael National High School, Iloilo

More than a story about keeping the surroundings clean so as not to get sick, 'Brad Tamad' also highlights the negative effect of too much television viewing.

Helen Palomo wrote the story in rich kinaray-a language.

MAY MABULIG BALA AKO

story by Samuel Mediana, Jr., 12, Grade VI, Quiling Elementary School, Maasin, Iloilo

Illustrations by Maria Donna Soriano, 12, Grade VI, Odiong Elementary School, Sibalom, Antique

Can I be of Help? The writer asked this in his storybook, 'May Mabulig Bala Ako?' and the characteristics in his story offered an answer by opting not to slash and burn trees for charcoal.

The story is written in Kinaray-a.

PEPE BULATE

Story by Clifford Abrico Vadilla, Valderrama Central Elementary School, Antique

Illustrations by Janelle Awe Portillo, 11, Grade V, Massin Central Elementary School, Iloilo

Stay clean, Stay Healthy. This is the message of the story 'Pepe Bulate'.

Written in Kinaray-a, it richly describes the entry and exit of soil transmitted helminths into the human body in a style that makes use of good characterization and dialogue.

According to the story judges, Vadillo has strong writer sense and his story lends well to illustration as what children's books should be.

ANG MGA SUTIL

Story by Joey Baui, Grade VI, Pangpang, Elementary School, Brgy. Pangpang, Sibalom, Antique

Illustrations by Kenneth Joy Jabagat, 12, Grade VI, Villar Elementary School, Sibalom, Antique.

Set in the tradition that make up children's books are like fairies and goblins, 'Ang mga Sutil' moves ahead to weave its own fairy tale by introducing the very Filipino 'engkantada' in a story that emphasizes the need to protect the environment and conserve its natural resources.

Penned by Joey Baui, it tells of the transformation of three young boys from destructive individuals to the ones who grew a heart for the environment ofter being transported in their own version of 'never, never land.'

The story is written with strong Kinaray-a flavor.

KAG NAGHARI ANG KALINONG

Story by Nikko Gabiano, 14, 2nd Yr Hiogh School, Maasin National High School, Iloilo

Illustrations by Joe Erick Davao, 13, 1st Yr. High School, Maasin National High School, Iloilo

If only to empahsize and impress upon its young readers the need to preserve and conserve the environment, "Kag Naghari ang Kalinong' is a children's book that went for an unhappy ending.

But, as most good books are, it drives home a moral lesson.

MIMAS ANG PATATAS

Story by Aiken Micah Jay Posadas, Valderrama Central Elementary School, Antique

Illustrations by Nikko Gabiano, 14, 2nd year High School, Massin National High School

"Mimas ang Patatas' is a first lesson in nutrition. Here, writer Aiken Micah jay Posadas will engage the young reader into vegetable talk in a style that would soup up an otherwise bland appetite for veggies.

Aiken Micah appropriately gave nicknames to vegetables that would well be remembered by her young readers particularly Mimas, and what carbohydrates can do for kids. The story is written in Kinaray-a.

TUWING TAG-ULAN

Story by Mary Queency Esposo, 12, Grade VI, Fornier Elementary School, Sibalom, Antique

Illustrations by Melvin Aranga, 11, Grade V, San Rafael Elementary School, Iloilo

'Tuwing Tag-Ulan', is story that introduces the relationship between floods and trees.

The story, written in Filipino, is enhanced by a child's happy thoughts about playing in the rain without fear of floods that threaten the environment.

ANG PINURUTAN NI PEPE

Story by Cris Villa, 14, 2nd Yr. High School, Maasin National High School, Iloilo

Illustrations by James Earvin Lasafin, 12, Grade VI, Maasin Central Elementary School, Iloilo

'Ang Pinurutan ni pepe' is anchored on something ordinary like gathering tin cans and empty plastic containers and bottles from the garbage heap.

Far from being a story on garbage segregation, the storyline pursued a different angle to end up as a story on where dengue causing mosquitoes breed, told through an informative storytelling fashion.

KALIKASAN

Story by Lona Jean Entrina, 12, Grade VI, Sinibaan Elementary School, Dingle, Iloilo

Illustrations by Paul Sumagaysay, 12, 1st Yr. High School, Pangpang National High School, Sibalom, Antique

'Kalikasan' is a tree story just as Joyce Kilmer's poem is about 'Trees'.

The writer simplified for the young readers terminologies such as landslide and how trees help to protect and preserve the environment.

The strory is written in Filipino.

NA ILO?

Described by the panel of judges to have an authentic voice, 'Na Ilo?" is a story based on the writer's real life experience as an orphan.

Using a first person account directly addressing the readers, she wrote about how air pollution can endanger, even take away the lives of people and how life becomes hard for those left behind. The story is written in Kinaray-a.

ANG MAPINSALANG LAMOK

Story by Mariz Vilchez, Grade VI, Sebate Bubog Elementary School, Guimaras

Illustrations by Jason Sapanza, 11, Grade V, Ilabas Elementary School, Sibalom, Antique

Sixth Grader Mariz Vilchez imparts lessons in health and sanitation in her story by introducing Amok – aptly described by the book's title as 'Ang Mapinsalang Lamok'.

The work of this young story teller made full use of imagery backed by clear coherent writing to carry across her message. In its simplest form, it educates the young readers about dengue. The story is written in Filipino.

ANG SAPA MATINLO?

Story by Fritz Estante, 12, Grade VI, Tina Elementary School, Badiangan, Iloilo

Illustrations by Kollen Cassandra Lorque, 14, 2nd Yr High School, Maasin National High School, Iloilo

Engaging with its share of dramatic moments just like a story being told to a child—this is how professional writers and language experts described the story 'Ang Sapa Matinlo?'