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Mongol Pencils and National Book Store, 2007.
A conversation with Nanay Coving
Coving, “ This bookmark is for you, please keep it.” Me, ' Thank you, the sunflowers are beautiful. '
“ Yes, it is the work of Vincent van Gogh, a great artist, you can find his books on the self. What is your name ? ” ' Paulyn, you ? '
“ You may call me Nanay Coving.” ' Why are you in National Book Store ? '
“ Buy books. Do you like reading ? ” ' Yes, what about you ? '
“ Reading has been my hobby since I was your age, 60 years already, at my time Brothers Grimm were the most popular. ” ' I know, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, I have read all. '
“ Now may be J.K. Rowling, do you know her Harry Potter ? ” ' Yes, but too hard for me.'
“So, what do you like ? ” ' Strawberry Shortcake. '
“ Who is she ? ” ' There is her comic on the self, let me show you. She wears a big strawberry hat, lives in Strawberryland. Honey, the horse was hurt, Strawberry and friends made Honey feel better. The boy, Huck; black girl Orange Blossom, blue hat girl Ginger Snap are good children. '
“ Lovely, you read good children story, you are a good child too. Paulyn, tell me what is the most difficult subject in school ?” ' Science, sometimes I don't know what the teacher is talking about.'
“You should read What's in the Sky ? An QEB Publishing. ” ' It is beautiful, the Sun is big, it warms my hands from millions of miles away. The side of the Earth that faces the Sun has daytime. Science is interesting, '
“ Yes, there are a lot of beautiful science books here, learning science is not difficult any more. So, Paulyn, which subject you love the best ?” ' Art. '
“Try this Trace and Color. ” ' No, my pencils were always broken. '
“ You better use Mongol pencil, the lead inside is strong not easily broken. Tracing is art training, I am sure Vincent van Gogh did the same in your age. Then color your trace by Crayola, it will look as good as his sunflowers. ” ' Thank you, how can we meet again ? Nanay Coving. '
“Come to National Book store, AGAIN ! ” ' NEXT week, teacher told us, “Our field trip is Laguna, we will visit the Rizal Shrine and Mongol factory. '
In Rizal Shrine, I knew Dr. Jose Rizal loved reading in my age, and he was an artist too. The Mongol factory was big and clean, my shoe lace loose, a pretty young woman gave me help, her name was Miss Locsin, she showed us a video how to make pencil and crayon. Then she said, “ You will see the real thing in the factory, you are good children, you should follow me, don't run, don't touch anything.” I saw machines cutting wood into pencil size, inserting lead, putting an eraser at the head of a pencil.
We went outside, Miss Locsin said, “ You draw something for me, I shall give the best a gift.” The boys drew Spiderman; girls drew flowers.
I drew the Earth and the Sun. I used Mongol pencil to mark the outline, orange Crayola crayon as sunlight, black Crayola crayon as night time, the side of the Earth that faces the Sun has daytime.
I was the best, Miss Locsin gave me a big basket full of pencils and crayons, she told me,“ I hope you would be a good artist, as good as Vincent van Gogh.”
Awarding, SM Batangas photo by Stephen Wong
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