Last April 3, 2018 at the Quezon City Public Library the book “Much More than an Archipelago.. Tales from the Philippines” was formally launched

 

This collection of folklores is a cooperation project between the University of Valencia, Little Free Library Philippines, the TALIS project and Bulacan State University with support from UNESCO. Funds from donations collected from the book will be used for Little Free Library Philippine’s projects in promoting literacy and reading throughout the Philippines.

 

Several leading figures attended the launch,

including the Director of the Cervantes Institute in Manila and the Director of the Chamber of Commerce

 

 

The book is a multilingual collection of stories, with the main languages being English and Spanish with other Philippine languages also being used. Apart from the written tales, the audiobooks of the different stories are also available free of charge through the online TALIS iVoox channel. The book aims to promote intercultural education and languages learning.

Stories in this book are collected from folktales in the Philippines, adapted from Project Gutenberg electronic books, reprinted stories from the Batanes Heritage foundation Inc. and the Ivatan collection of folktales ‘The Charms of Mount Iraya’

The book is filled with illustrations and was created using traditional and digital media to depict the central theme of the stories.

The project is led by University of Valencia. The University is the outcome of more than five centuries of history that have led to the accumulation of knowledge and unique documentary treasures.

Representing the University in the book launch is Dr. Ana Sevilla-Pavon, an international specialist in applied linguistics. She is an assistant professor at the University and researcher for various government funded projects. She gave an overview of the UNESCO-funded TALIS project ‘Tales of the Philippines’: Intercultural Education through Language and Literature.

Bulacan State University was represented by Professor Maria Jenina A. Tongol, the Research director for the university. She said of the book “This collection is the ideal of what a seamless cooperation of institutions with the common aim to promote cultural pride and a strong sense of identity among people should yield…This undertaking has seen its completion through the commitment of the project coordinators, the creativity of the students and teachers and the support of the agency administrators. Gratitude goes out to everyone who generously shared their time, effort, energy and expertise. This is for the future of humanity. May the magic and wonder of Philippine folklore inspire creativity to all those who read them.”

Little Free Library Philippines’ Program director, Jean Karl Gaverza who also authored some stories appearing in the book gave the perspectives on the role of Little Free Library Philippines in the project. He said of the project “We have tried to capture that fusion of old and new in the stories we have written, giving readers a glimpse into Philippine folklore through more familiar settings. It is our hope that readers will look through this collection with an open mind to be filled with inspiration from the Philippines.”

Teacher Julie Weygan-Aparato, head of Little Free Library’s “I Can Finally Read” project explained where part of the funds collected from the donations will go. Little Free Library will use the funds to put up libraries in urban poor communities and to give seminars on how to properly teach reading and literacy to the literacy deprived.

Rounding out the program were Mark Quinn of the Max Quinn Memorial institution, Dr. Carlos Madrid Alvarez-Piner, Director of Instituto de Cervantes de Manila and Jose Luis Yulo, Jr., President of the Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands.

The closing statement was given by Lila Ramos Shahani Secretary General of the Philippine National Commission for UNESCO who pointed out the relevance of the folkltales of the past to our modern situations especially concerning the youth. How can young people help preserve culture if they themselves don’t know it.

The book is now open for preorders with a recommended donation of 20 Euros. Interested parties may order through the TALIS webpage: www.proyectotalis.com or the Little Free Library Philippine’s Facebook page or emailing: maria.alcantud@uv.es, ana.m.sevilla @ uv.es or mpatolotlittlefreelibrary @ gmail.com

Miguel Patolot, Little Free Library Philippines

 

Being a part of this project is life-changing. It has opened a lot of doors for BSU. It is the start of many wonderful things that are yet to happen.

Gratitude goes out to my very good friend and the Communications Coordinator of BSU, Dr. Jho Bayonito for allowing this collaboration to happen; my very talented and hard-working researchers, Son H. Peñalba, Tales Collection In-Charge, and אמנם נכון‎ (Real M Cabuyaban), Creative Team In-Charge. Thanks to the Meneses Campus researchers and CICT Creative Team. We thank our President, Dr. Cecilia N. Gascon for giving us the support and encouragement to pursue this.

Thank you Dr. Ana Sevilla and Dr. Maria Alcantud Diaz for choosing BSU to be your worthwhile partner in this endeavour.

We toiled since November 2017 and we were able to provide all that Universitat de Valencia needed by February 2018. All of 78 tales, translated and illustrated, with the generous contributions of Karl Gaverza of Little Free Library.

We are the crazy, beautiful people who want to change the world.

Ms. Jenina Tongol, Research Director, Bulacan State University, Philippines