𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐀𝐬𝐢𝐚’𝐬 𝐛𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧’𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫

Philippine children’s stories will be the highlight at one of Asia’s biggest celebrations of children’s books and content, as the National Book Development Board (NBDB) brings award-winning Philippine children’s book authors and artists to the 2024 Asian Festival for Children’s Content (AFCC), which will be held at the National Library Building, Singapore from May 23 to 26, 2024. 

After their first-ever showcase at the recent Bologna Children’s Book Fair last April, the Philippines returns to the global stage, this time as the Country of Focus at the AFCC, where children’s books—its most widely translated genre—will be showcased via a series of programs, exhibits, and a country stand designed by award-winning Philippine artists Beth Parrocha, Liza Flores, and Mavs Soriano.

“The upcoming AFCC, which puts Philippine children’s content at the fore, is a time not just for showcasing Philippine culture, but to use our children’s books as a way to reach out to our diaspora. The Philippines as Country of Focus at the AFCC is an invitation to our beloved Philippine communities in Singapore—we cannot wait to bring you stories from home,” said NBDB Chair Dante Francis Ang II, who will be delivering the opening keynote for the COF program through Weaving the SEA: Championing Southeast Asian Cultures, a panel featuring NBDB Executive Director Charisse Aquino-Tugade, and Philippine publishing veterans Atty. Dominador Buhain (REX Publishing), Atty. Andrea Pasion-Flores (Milflores Publishing), and Kristine Mandigma (International Board on Books for Young People - Philippines).

The recent boom in Philippine creative content—as evidenced by a significant increase in local book production in the past five years, as well as an increase in revenue in the country’s print and publishing media sector¹—will be brought to the fore at the AFCC stage through the following: the Book Illustrators Gallery, an exhibit of the best picture book illustrations including the work of Filipino artists Aldy Aguirre and Abigail Goy; a co-translation program between the Philippines and Singapore, which shall each translate and print five books or stories from the other country. 

“We crave more Southeast Asian stories—which necessitates more translation projects, and more platforms for reintroducing our country’s stories. As Country of Focus, we are excited to introduce trends and insights into the children’s book industry in the Philippines, a sector that is as rich and diverse as the hundreds of languages that make up our archipelago,” said Aquino-Tugade. 

Together with Ang, Aquino-Tugade leads the Philippine delegation that includes prolific children’s book author Dr. Luis Gatmaitan, award-winning artists Jamie Bauza (Anything Grows), Rommel Joson (Isang Harding Papel), Dominic Agsaway (Dancing Boy), as well as authors Mae Coyiuto (Chloe and the Kaishao Boys), Joel Donato Ching Jacob (Wing of the Locust), Liwliwa Malabed (100 Questions Filipino Kids Ask), and MJ Tumamac (Ngumiti si Andoy).

Some of the highlight programs that the Philippine contingent will be holding include:  Let’s Paint a World Together!, a basic watercolor workshop with artist Danielle Florendo and author Bea Mandapat (May 23); Reclaiming our Narrative: Decolonizing Content and Community, a talk on decolonizing narratives and creating child-friendly content by Aquino-Tugade and Dr. Gatmaitan (May 24); Country of Focus Night, and Draw with Beth, a drawing workshop with illustrator Beth Parrocha, who created the 2024 AFCC key visual (May 25); Pamana: The Storytelling Tradition in the Lives of Filipino Children in the Diaspora, a panel discussion on Filipino diaspora stories featuring Pinoy Singapore-based writers Migs Bravo Dutt, Camille Faylona, and Claire Betita de Guzman (May 26).

The 2024 COF selection notably marks 55 years of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Singapore, serving as an apt platform for cross-cultural projects and collaborations with Philippine communities in Singapore.

To attend the 2024 AFCC, visit their website to purchase tickets: https://afcc.com.sg/2024/page/tickets. The complete list of programs and workshops can also be found on the AFCC’s official website: https://afcc.com.sg/2024.