2004 April 30
Focus on Picture Books
By Beaulah Pedregosa Taguiwalo
Regional Advisor, Philippines & Asia-Pacific
"There's an overwhelming love of books in the room!" said Liza Flores, illustrator and
website designer. "I think that's the real thing. You see it in the faces and how the speakers
talked about books, its authors and illustrators." I guess we can definitely conclude: our
seminar last April 30, 2004 in Makati, Metro Manila went well.
(Above, clockwise from top left: Speakers Karina Africa Bolasco and Neni Sta. Romana
Cruz. The very engrossed audience that includes Noreen del Rosario, Liza Flores, Ani Rosa
Almario, Emily Abrera, Yna Reyes, Panch Alcaraz, Butch Pang, Abi Goy.)
(Above, clockwise from top left: Speakers Panch Alcaraz, Ani Rosa Almario, and Beaulah
Pedregosa Taguiwalo. More of the audience, including Merlene Alon, Nina Lim Yuson, Roseanne
Garcia, Gidget Jimenez, Teri Gutierrez, Lin Acacio Flores.) (More photos at the bottom.)All of the forty people who pre-registered came. Except for one, whose place was filled by
another registrant who sent his replacement because he thought he couldn't make it, and
then showed up as well at the last minute! Of the 40 who were there, 8 were SCBWI
members, 7 illustrators, 8 writers, 3 publishers, 1 a book reviewer, 10 elementary and
preschool teachers, 3 college teachers. Everyone appreciated all the information, the
sharing of personal experiences and insights related to picture books, the hobnobbing among
the participants. We had a display table with heaps of picture books for people to browse
through, and the presentations and discussions were all about picture books the whole day.
We started with my introduction of the speakers -- all of them SCBWI members -- and an
overview of picture books. This covered definitions, a brief history of illustrated children's
books, a quick look at formats and genres, and what's new and exciting and inspiring --
among them celebrity authors, the latest New York Times bestseller list, Mordicai Gerstein.
Illustrator Panch Alcaraz showed her translated books, talked about her Japan-based publisher
Shinseken Limited, and shared what it's like to be published in Asia and Latin America.
Ani Rosa Almario of Adarna House, the country's oldest children's book publisher, gave a very
insightful glimpse into a young publishing executive's unique strategy and vision when it
comes to publishing, marketing, and pushing certain books and in commissioning writers and
illustrators. Veteran and award-winning publisher Karina Africa Bolasco discussed the art in
picture books that are not usually seen in the US-dominated Philippine market: from the
illustrators exhibition at the Bologna Book Fair, and from the IBBY Honor List. Author and
book reviewer Neni Sta. Romana Cruz capped it all with a discussion of three prominent picture
book awards: the US' Caldecott Medal, the UK's Kate Greenaway Medal, and Australia's
CBCA Picture Book of the Year Award. "What about my other favorites, the Honor books?"
she lamented at the end. So much to talk about, so little time! Especially since as organizers,
we also took pride in being very professional by starting and ending on the dot.When the last hour scheduled for an overall Q&A came around, no questions remained. We
concluded that everyone must have had their fill, not just from the five presentations, but
also from the spirited discussion that went on throughout the day among the participants and
the speakers. Before giving away some books as door prizes, we gathered written comments.
"Make it more than a one day seminar to avoid information overload," said Lissa Lesaca of
World Wildlife Fund Philippines. Many of the other remarks were very postive and helpful.
"I especially liked the insights and the appreciation of the speakers for the work of an
illustrator in the making of a picture book. It's refresing and encouraging to spend an entire
day with people in the industry who understand our work and are working towards the education
of others who are unaware of it," said Abi Goy, an illustrator and package designer. Preschool
teacher Isa Saplala said she liked the "rich sharing of information, personal experiences,
recent readings, lists of books, trivia, titles, illustrators, writers, insights...This seminar
has made me more reflective and 'in love' with picture books."
Almost everyone spent time examining and discusing the picture books on display. Some
especially appreciated the broad collection of books discussed. " It made me aware of what's
out there and which ones are getting the awards," said Butch Pang, a book editor at OMF
Literature. "Knowing that a lot of people have the same opinions and views I have regarding
children's books and what I want to see out there" is one of the best things about the
seminar, he added.
La Salle Bacolod Chair for Interdisciplinary Studies and newly awarded picture book author
Jean Patindol said she liked best the opportunity to meet people in the children's book
publishing industry: "The detailed inside look...both formally from the lectures and
informally from meeting other participants." Others saw it as a chance to meet people who
have the same passions, interests, quirks. "The seminar felt like a reunion, a coming home,
even though the participants hadn't known each other," summed up Bong Oris, an instructor
at the Ateneo de Manila University.
For one of our handouts, US-based SCBWI members Susan Bartoletti and Lisa Rowe
Fraustino gave permission to use their HDIGP Quiz. The HDIGP stands for How Do I
Get It Published. It was a fun way of including a reality check, especially for some of us
who are always enthusiastic in our response to anything that has to do with children's
books but are not fully aware of the nature of the business and the amount of hard work,
persistence, industry research, and faith (!) that are needed to break into the market.
(Above, clockwise from top left: Nina Lim Yuson and Lin Acacio Flores browsing through the
picture books at the display table, Abi Goy enjoying a laugh with a seatmate.)
(Above, clockwise from top left: Jean Patindol, who flew in all the way from Bacolod for the
event, joins the others -- writers, illustrators, teachers, publishers, a librarian -- in taking
advantage of the chance to get to know each other.)
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Copyright Scbwiphilasia and the contributors. Please do not copy without permission.
Photographs by Mark Taguiwalo. To contact us e-mail [email protected] Back to the Contents page.
