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Mary Ann San Juan — Filipino Librarian

Mary Ann Salcedo San Juan — Filipino Librarian
Mary Ann San Juan is the only Filipino librarian who can claim to have worked for more than 33 years in public libraries in what is now known as the City of Toronto. She is currently Library Service Manager responsible for four branches of the Toronto Public Library. She immigrated to Canada in 1972 as Mary Ann Salcedo, her maiden name, with an undergraduate degree in foreign service from the University of the Philippines, and obtained her master's degree in library science at the University of Toronto in 1976.

She turned 60 this year, but she doesn't look like she's slowing down. She is a dragon boater who has competed in local, national and international races, including the last three World Dragon Boat Racing Championships. At the 2009 championship, held in Racice, Czech Republic, she was part of the Canadian women's team that won gold in all its races.

The photo above was taken at the Filipino Centre Toronto. For more about Filipino librarians in Canada, see "Filipino Librarians in Vancouver" and "Filipino Librarians in Toronto."

Christmas 2009

Click on the play button below to listen to my favorite Christmas song:



I played this song for my students during the one year that I was a religion teacher (!) at an all-boys high school. At the end I asked them, "What was the one word that was never mentioned, but we all know that's what the song is about?" Can you figure it out? =)

An Evening in December
Artist: First Call

As I wait here on this evening in December,
I remember how it felt to be a child.
This old house still feels the same,
All the family will be here in just a while.

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National Book Awards 2008

National Book Awards 2009Are you thinking of giving books as Christmas gifts? Or maybe you're a librarian who's been assigned to an unfamiliar subject area and you need to know what are considered the newest and best books in that discipline? Well, the list of this year's National Book Award winners and finalists can be very helpful in choosing gift books or learning more about the best books in a subject area. If you're interested in previous winners, take a look at the National Book Development Board's searchable list of award-winning books published from 1980 to 2008. You can also check out the Manila Critics Circle website, which lists winners by category and in chronological order until 2005.

LLE 2009: Results

Congratulations to the new librarians!

The passing rate for the Librarians' Licensure Examination went up from 24 percent in 2008 to 30 percent in 2009 (284 out of 947).

UPDATED 19 November 2009 to include the list of Top 11 examinees and the table detailing the passing rates for all the schools (pdf) represented at the exam. Both were taken from the official website of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

Top 11

AUGUSTUS RUBEN CASTILLO SARMIENTO 87.35
PERSEUS REX MANZANO MOLINA 87.15
PATRICIA BANDOLA CASTILLO 86.55
ROMEL RAFOR JAIME 86.55
LOREZL REVILLOZA GARCIA 86.50
LUIS EZRA DANGANAN CRUZ 86.25
IME AMOR ADORNA MORTEL 86.15
ANNA GEFRELIZ REYES PEÑARANDA 86.10
RICO MARCO BARRINUEVO REYES 85.95
DARYL LUSTRACION SUPERIO 85.70
DONNA LYN GLORIANE LABANGON 85.65
Performance of Schools in Alphabetical Order

Below is the list of successful examinees as published in the Philippine Star. If you're one of the new librarians looking for a job, you may want to check out Job Openings and Career Development.

Comments are always welcome, of course, but I would especially like to hear from those who just passed the exam and were one of my students during the only semester that I taught at UP's SLIS (then ILIS). Don't forget to input your email address in the appropriate box =)

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Book Development Month 2009

"Galing Pinoy, Basahin!" is the theme of this year's celebration of Philippine Book Development Month (PBDM). The Tagalog word "galing" may be pronounced two ways and has two different meanings. The first may be translated as "talent," while the second, "from." Thus, the theme could be "Read Pinoy Talent!" or "Read [Books] From Pinoys!" There's more information about the different activities being held, including the awarding ceremonies for the National Book Awards, on the website of the National Book Development Board (NBDB).

But actually, PBDM is not the only thing happening in November. Long before PBDM was moved from June to November to coincide with National Book Week (NBW), it was already Library and Information Services Month (LISM). Unlike PBDM, however, there doesn't really seem to be any central location where information about NBW or LISM can be found easily. The National Library's website has been down more than it's been up since I first thought of becoming a librarian in 2002, and while the fact that it has a wiki is encouraging, it doesn't really provide much useful information beyond address, contact numbers and library hours. Is it really that hard to get a website to work or update a wiki? The Quezon City Public Library, in contrast, provides a list of events for all its branches, branch locations with maps, and even regular newsletters.

Other events taking place in November are the following:

National Conference, Philippine Association of Academic and Research Librarians - Pasig City, 11-13 November 2009

National Conference, Reading Association of the Philippines - Dagupan City, Pangasinan, 12-14 November 2009 [postponed]

National Congress, Philippine Librarians Association - Pasay City, 25-27 November 2009
It seems rather odd that while the sponsor of the first event actually has its own website and wiki, information about the event is circulating only via email, and so questions get asked and requests are made over and over again. The sponsors of the other two events, meanwhile, do not even seem to have their own websites, and details are just disseminated through the kindness of interested parties.

This post was really just supposed to be an announcement about important events taking place in November, but I just couldn't help letting out some of the disappointment I'm feeling about the way these events are being publicized. NBDB has gotten much savvier at promoting its activities since I first blogged about its website, but all the others seem to be pretty much where they were before. Finally, there's what I wrote last year in Book Development Month 2008: "It is rather unfortunate, however, that there does not seem to be much evidence of synergy or cooperation between the different groups behind PBDM and NBW/LISM." Not much, it seems, has changed since then.

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Vilma Santos, In My Life and Librarians

I was finally able to watch In My Life, in which Vilma Santos plays a librarian, and about which I've already blogged in "'Losyang' Librarian?" Perhaps the significance of this film to Filipino librarians may be seen in the fact that my post has already attracted 32 comments, a number which very few of my posts about Filipino librarians have ever reached.

This post will not really be a review of the film, but I do have to say that In My Life, though it is the usual sigawan-iyakan-sampalan (shouting-crying-slapping) Filipino film, was not quite as formulaic as others I've seen in the past. The most striking non-formulaic element was the no-big-deal treatment of the homosexual relationship between the character played by Santos' real-life son, Luis Manzano, and his boyfriend, portrayed by John Lloyd Cruz. There is some tension, of course, that arises because of their relationship, but the film itself is not primarily about the mother coping with her son's sexual orientation.

It must also be said that the movie is not about librarians. The scenes that show Santos as a librarian in a library come and go in five minutes, probably less. Very little is said about her occupation later in the film. Perhaps the most prominent reference to her being a librarian—which most viewers probably missed—was when she actually shushed her co-workers at a restaurant.

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Thanksgiving 2009

Thanksgiving is known as an American holiday, and is still a few weeks away, but Canadians have their own day for thanksgiving, today. I'd be celebrating this holiday with Canadians in their own country, except I'm now on a bus on my way to Chicago to do even more research... and meet a friend =)

I'd like to thank my loyal and occasional readers for inspiring me to keep this blog going. What do I get out of it? Well, I do earn some money from those who click on the ads, but more importantly, blogging forces me to keep up with what's going on in Philippine librarianship. There's also the added satisfaction of seeing a comment every now and then thanking me for a post that I wrote... or even having a post cited on GMA News!

And then there are Filipino librarians like Jay dela Cruz, who surprised me recently by sending a new header for my blog out of the blue. Yes, it's the one up right now. Thanks, Jay!

Update as of 14 October 2009:

In case some of you are interested in seeing the evolution of this blog's header, here are all of them:

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Vote for Filipino Librarian
at the 2009 Philippine Blog Awards

This blog is a finalist at the 2009 Philippine Blog Awards. It's up for a special award for "Best Filipiniana Blog," as well as a sponsor award for "Chikka Media and PBA Readers’ Choice – Luzon." The former recognizes "the blog that has focused and consistently blogged about the Philippines whether it be social, political, historical and cultural. Everything Filipino: Everything Filipiniana," which is pretty much what this blog has been all about from the beginning, especially the posts on Filipiniana Online. The reason for this blog's inclusion in the latter category, however, is not so clear. In any case, it would be nice—and perhaps appropriate?—if the blog Filipino Librarian emerged as the reader's choice =)

And so, assuming that you'll be voting for this blog because you're reading this now, you have three options:

  1. Vote online by selecting the blog of your choice (hint: its initials are FL), providing your name and email address on or before 3 October 2009, 10 am. It's not clear if the deadline is tied to Manila time, but I would recommend that my friends in North America vote NOW or before 2 October, 10 pm =)
  2. Send "CHIKKARC L3" as a text message to 2929 (presumably only for those with Philippine prepaid or postpaid plans). You can vote until 7 October 2009. Note that each text message will cost P2.50 and is equivalent to TWO votes.
  3. Do both.
I have no idea whether any cash prizes will be given away, but if this blog wins in either category, I promise to donate any cash award in full to one of the funds set up for the victims of Typhoon Ondoy. And don't worry, I have a track record when it comes to keeping my promise to give money away (see "Katas ng 'Kapamilya Deal or No Deal'").

By the way, the following are the other finalists for the categories for which this blog has been nominated:

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Wet Books: Do's and Don'ts

Did your books get wet? Here are some tips from the PAARL yahoogroup:

DO NOT

* open or close books
* separate single sheets
* press water out of wet books - the paper is too fragile when wet
* wipe off mud or dirt
* remove book covers or separate materials
* disturb wet file boxes, prints, drawings or photographs

"Such handling may result in extensive and irreparable damage to materials that otherwise might be salvaged" (Peter Waters)
DO
* stand books on their heads (or use support to keep them standing)
* interleave absorbent paper every 50 pages (toilet/tissue, paper towels, or blotting paper will do; just replace every now and then)
* use fan to keep air circulating, never expose books to dry under the sun
* keep temperature below 65 degrees F (approx. 18 degrees C)
* when completely dry, lay books flat but not stacked together

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Typhoon Ondoy and Libraries

Despite the high literacy rate in the Philippines, the number of Filipinos who read books that aren't assigned reading in school isn't very high. One of the reasons is that many Filipinos are more concerned about when they're going to eat again, and don't really have the time or the money to spend on books. What about libraries? Well, what about them? The provision of library service to Filipinos hasn't been a priority in a very long time. (See "Reading and Barangay Libraries" and "Amending the Law on Public Libraries.")

And that's why I'm not all that surprised that not much has been posted online regarding the damage wrought by Typhoon Ondoy on libraries. It makes perfect sense, after all, that food and shelter for those affected by the flooding should be the first priority. But I do wonder, however, why librarians haven't been more active in spreading the word about what happened to their libraries. The only library-related photo I've found, for instance, is the one above—and it was posted by a non-librarian.

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Librarian as Cover Boy


No, this is not one of those fake magazine covers where your photo gets added to a template, along with an outrageous headline. The individual and group photos taken at the Library of Congress, we were told, were to be kept as stock photos and used in the pages of Information Outlook when appropriate. This particular photo was supposed to be just a remembrance for all those who participated. No mention was made of putting it on the cover! But I'm not complaining =)

Thanks to my friend David McBee for scanning the cover and posting it online.

Amending the Law on Public Libraries

House Bill No. 6770, filed by blogger-turned-legislator Mong Palatino on 2 September 2009, seeks to amend Republic Act No. 7743, which provides for the establishment of "public libraries in every congressional district, city and municipality, and reading centers in every barangay throughout the Philippines." Senate Bill No. 1387, filed by Loren Legarda on 26 July 2007, is much older and shorter than HB 6770, but is not really all that different.

I am, of course, grateful that such bills have been filed and applaud their proponents, but as I wrote four years ago in "Reading and Barangay Libraries," I will wait until I see more concrete plans before I start jumping up and down. I am concerned about the fact that the word "librarian" is never mentioned in the draft bills. A building full of books and computers with no librarian is a warehouse, not a library. Someone has to manage these resources and promote their use to the community. But is there any provision for the hiring of librarians in the bills? Nope. Here are the relevant passages:

HB 6770: IN ORDER TO PROVIDE FUNDS NECESSARY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ELECTRONIC LIBRARY SYSTEM, THE BUDGET OF THE NATIONAL LIBRARY SHALL BE INCREASED IN THE AMOUNT OF TWENTY MILLION PESOS (P20,000,000.00) PER YEAR UNTIL ALL CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES IN THE PHILIPPINES ARE PROVIDED FOR AND HAVE ACCESS TO FULLY ELECTRONIC LIBRARY FACILITIES.

SB 1387: IN ORDER TO PROVIDE FUNDS NECESSARY FOR THE ELECTRONIC LIBRARY SYSTEM TO BE IMPLEMENTED, THE BUDGET OF THE NATIONAL LIBRARY SHALL BE INCREASED IN THE AMOUNT OF FIVE MILLION PESOS (P5,000,000.00) PER YEAR UNTIL ALL CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES IN THE PHILIPPINES ARE PROVIDED AND HAVE ACCESS TO FULL ELECTRONIC LIBRARY FACILITIES.
There are some differences in phrasing and the amount, but it is clear that the increase in budget is intended for the implementation of the electronic library system. I'm not quite sure how the system works, but I hope it is still possible to revise these drafts with input from librarians.

Finally, while the draft bills seem to be an improvement on RA 7743 because the National Library's budget is to be increased by specific amounts, I am not optimistic that the amended republic act, if it is ever signed into law, will ever be implemented. Why? It is not clear where the money is supposed to come from. In contrast, Republic Act No. 9521 or the "National Book Development Trust Fund Act" states that the funds required will be taken from a specific source and how it will be managed. Without such provisions, those drafting the annual appropriations bill can choose to ignore it. Just as RA 7743 has been ignored since 1994.

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In My Life Screenings in Canada

In My Life Screenings in CanadaReviews of In My Life have already begun appearing in newspapers and blogs. While most mention that Vilma Santos plays a librarian, very few actually comment on it except to say that she's strict. Fortunately, there's "They’re called the net generation librarians" by Ronald Lim (Manila Bulletin, 19 September 2009), which I hope will be read by a few people who watched In My Life (and not just because my name is mentioned!).

Unfortunately, it will take a few weeks before I get to watch the film here. There will be a premiere in Toronto, but I won't be around because I'll be in Ann Arbor, MI, conducting research in connection with the fellowship grant I received. Besides, it's too expensive! Anyway, below are the schedules for the premieres and regular screenings in Canada:

October 3
Calgary, AB
Calgary Telus Convention Centre

October 4
Toronto, ON
Queen Elizabeth Theatre, CNE Grounds
Regular Screening
Ontario
October 9-22: Scarborough Town Center
October 16-22: Square One, Mississauga

Quebec
October 9-15: Plaza Cote des Neiges

British Columbia
October 10-11: Denman Theaters

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"Losyang" Librarian?

In My Life, which stars Vilma Santos as a librarian, opens on September 16 and, predictably enough, articles about the film are beginning to appear. In "Direk Olive's 'In My Life' is bold and fresh," by Walden Sadiri (Manila Bulletin, 2009), its director Olive Lamasan is quoted as saying that she helped Santos "rehearse how a librarian walks and looks 'losyang.'" If this were an article for a scholarly journal, I suppose some questions that could be asked are: Is there such a thing as a "librarian walk"? Are all librarians losyang (Tagalog slang for unglamorous)? But it probably isn't fair to ask such questions of an article that only seeks to promote the release of a soon-to-be shown film.

We can't just leave it to others to tell the people who we are; that's why the stereotypes about librarians continue to flourish. We have to be the ones to go out there and tell people who we are. It's not enough to complain about inaccurate images of librarians; we must be able to present alternative, positive images in movies, books and, yes, blogs =)
An article entitled "It's hip to be a librarian" appeared in the same newspaper last month. A few weeks before that, the influence of Reynaldo G. Alejandro as a librarian on a young boy was specifically mentioned by the grown journalist who benefited from his guidance. It is my hope that more journalists will consider doing more stories about non-stereotypical librarians on TV and in print. And that librarians will be more conscious about promoting their profession as well.

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Dinig Sana Kita (If I Knew What You Said)

The last time I reviewed a film that I saw at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), I wrote that, "Maybe next year, with more money, I'll be able to watch more movies, including non-Filipino ones." Well, that was three years ago, when I saw Kubrador and Twilight Dancers. I still don't have enough money to watch more than the two Filipino films at TIFF this year (and I'm still thinking real hard about watching Independencia), but I'm very happy that I saw If I Knew What You Said at its international premiere.

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Dean Vyva Aguirre on CPE and Board Exam Issues

I know that I just said that I'm "too busy to blog," but this is too important not to blog. The letter below is self-explanatory. Its author is Atty. Vyva Aguirre, Dean, School of Library and Information Studies, University of the Philippines.

Dear Von,

This is in response to the many queries that I personally get concerning two issues which have been the subject of your own postings in filipinolibrarian.blogspot: (1) the CPE, and (2) who are qualified to take the licensure examinations for librarians. I thought that I might as well give my two-cents worth.

RE the CPE

There is much confusion regarding its nature as an obligation. My opinion is that it is only a "moral obligation" but not yet a "legal obligation". The mandatory character of the CPE was deleted by Congress from the new PRC law. It was not merely forgotten but was subjected to discussions on the floor. The fact that it no longer appears in the PRC law is an indication of legislative intent. The PRC as an agency of the Executive Branch cannot substitute its own judgment by a Resolution that effectively amends the law. That is why, the PRC resolution emphasized that CPE is (only) a "moral obligation".

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Too Busy to Blog 2009


No need to worry. This has happened before. See "Too Busy to Blog" and "Too Busy to Blog... Again."

"It's hip to be a librarian"

From "It's hip to be a librarian" by Rachel Barawid (Manila Bulletin, 27 August 2009):

Librarians are old-fashioned boring nerds, unapproachable old maids or widowers -- not!

Today's new breed of librarians have broken free from those dank and dusty school libraries, the century-old stereotypes, and have evolved into dynamic, progressive and most-sought after career people employed by large corporations, IT companies, hospitals and law firms.
We need more articles like this. Maybe publicity efforts can be stepped up in time for the showing of In My Life...

One Million Dollars for Your Library 2010

Does your library "provide free public access to information through the use of computers and the Internet"? If so, you may want to apply for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s annual Access to Learning Award (ATLA), which gives US$1 million to the awardee. Previous winners include libraries from Colombia, Mexico and Nepal.

Please note that "organizations [not just libraries] that reach out to underserved groups, such as poor or disabled patrons, or those from minority communities" are encouraged to apply, that the award is given to "recognize services that are currently being provided" (i.e., not for proposed projects or activities) and that the deadline is 31 October 2009.

A grant writing workshop specifically designed for those who intend to apply for the ATLA will be held at the Ortigas Foundation Library, 10 September 2009, 9:30am–5:00pm. John Silva will conduct the workshop. Registration fee is P7,500.


Adapted from my 2006 post on "One Million Dollars for Your Library."

Vilma Santos — "Librarian"

Vilma Santos — 'Librarian'
Vilma Santos plays a stereotypical librarian in In My Life, which will begin its run in the Philippines on September 16. Santos describes her character as "“irascible and rather comic—isang masungit na librarian who feels na hindi siya mahal ng mundo [a cranky librarian who feels the world doesn't love her]."

Shirley, the character played by Santos, apparently has two distinct facets – the traditional and old-fashioned librarian and the modern and transformed one in New York City. According to Santos, "The old Shirley doesn’t like computers. She doesn’t even like her library computerized." Her eventual transformation, courtesy of her gay son and his partner, seems to imply a correlation between her acceptance of her son's lifestyle and the new technology she learns to embrace.

I will reserve judgment on the impact her portrayal might have on the image of Filipino librarians until after I've seen the movie, but the trailer below looks very promising.

BLIS, MLIS and "Equivalent" Degrees?

It seems that the answer to my question on whether "PRC is Allowing Non-BLIS, Non-MLIS to Take Exam?" is No. Then again, it looks like there is still some wiggle room. According to R.A. 9246, an applicant must be "a graduate of Bachelor’s degree in Library Science and Information Science (BLIS) [or] a holder of a master’s degree in Library and Information Science (MLIS)."

The reply below, however, indicates that "equivalent" degrees, such as BSLS, MSLS, MALIS, and MALS are acceptable. If this is true, then it still looks like a back door to me because the law clearly states, for example, that degree holders in "Master of Arts in Library Science or Library and Information Science" (MALS and MALIS, respectively) can only take the exam within five years of the law's date of effectivity.

Anyway, maybe I'm just imagining things. Here's the reply from Board for Librarians chair Corazon Nera to a query sent by Fe Angela Verzosa:

Dear Angela:

Thank you for helping us answer queries about the licensure examination for librarians. Yes you are correct, that while we have issued guidelines in accepting and processing of applications to the PRC and the regional offices, all applications received must be forwarded to us for further evaluation and scrutiny. Hence, the final approval of who are qualified to take the board exam rests with the board and all applications whether qualified or not will bear the signatures of the three members to attest that they have really seen the application. As of this writing, we have not approved of any application because nothing has been forwarded to us yet.

Now, who may qualify to take the licensure examination for librarians on November 10-11, 2009?

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Talumpati: Manuel L. Quezon —
Wikang Pambansa

On August 19, the birth of Manuel L. Quezon—former President of the Philippines and acknowledged "Father of the National Language"—will once again be remembered in "Buwan ng Wika" celebrations throughout the country, but this time with the added dimension that this year's theme is "Wikang Filipino: Mula Baler Hanggang Buong Pilipinas" (The Filipino Language: From Baler to the Rest of the Philippines). Baler was Quezon's birth place.

The speech below is my translation of excerpts from "Manuel Quezon on the National Language." It is being shared here for the benefit of students looking for a speech to recite in class. It may not be reproduced, whether in print or online, without my permission.


Wikang Pambansa
Manuel L. Quezon

Hindi ko nais na Kastila o Ingles ang maging wika ng Pamahalaan. Kailangan magkaroon ng sariling wika ang Pilipinas, isang wikang nakabatay sa isa sa mga katutubong wika.

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Alejandro, Reynaldo G., 1941-2009

Reynaldo G. Alejandro was better known as the author of lavishly-illustrated coffee table books on Filipino culture—from cooking to dance to parols to stamps. But what many do not know is that he was a librarian, and was one of the very first to graduate with a master's degree in library science at the University of the Philippines in 1966. (See "The San Juan Municipal Library: a proposal.")

Updates

October 25: Added "In Memoriam" card above (courtesy of Michael Tan)
August 17: "NY-based Fil-Am writer Ronnie Alejandro dies" by Joseph Lariosa
August 20: "A full life" by Michael Tan

September 8:

I thought of blogging about him after reading "Catholic education" by Michael Tan (Philippine Daily Inquirer, 9 June 2006):

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PRC is Allowing Non-BLIS, Non-MLIS to Take Exam?

ng try ako apply dito sa PRC in my place last july , eventough i knew already that non BLIS can no longer take the exam...I just submited all the requirements together with other docs.Tinangap nila application ko pero FOR THE BOARD pa nga lang...i hope, i just really hope pwede pa...but i didnt expect that PRC didnt knew about it.zipped nalang mouth ko..

That's a comment left on "Non-BLIS, Non-MLIS Can't Take Exam — PRC." The law (R.A. 9246) is clear, only graduates with degrees in library and information science, whether bachelor’s (BLIS) or master’s (MLIS), should be taking the exam this November 2009. The recent PRC legal opinion on the request to extend the deadline affirms this. It seems, however, that a back door is still open.

IF it is still open, then those who missed passing through the front door have another chance. But I would suggest that these graduates also work on getting their BLIS or MLIS. It would be interesting to find out if their respective schools will be willing to shoulder the tuition of those who were accepted into their programs even though the administrators were aware that any graduates would be unable to take the board exam. I also hope there are no more prospective librarians currently enrolled in non-BLIS and non-MLIS programs.

Librarian Buttons and Shirt

I just thought I'd share some of the library stuff I've received in the past few years. There's the "Love Your Librarian" button, which I got from the Office Movers booth at SLA 2005, and UPLSAA's "100 Percent Pinoy Librarian" button, which Elvie Lapuz gave me the last time I was in Manila. Both are now permanently pinned to my cap. And then there's the "Librarians Rock" shirt, which I was given at the Plunkett Research booth at SLA 2009, which I still haven't blogged here.

Why did I feel the need to post this? Well, aside from hoping some of my readers turn green with envy (LOL!), I thought it would be another way of answering a recent comment on one of my photos in Facebook: "your being a librarian is by chance or by choice?kasi parang di yun ang choice mo eh.. [it seems it wasn't your choice.]" This was my initial reply: "I am a librarian by choice and proud to be one."

Sabayang Bigkas: Buntong-hibik ng Anakpawis

I first thought of posting this poem a few years ago because of a wrongly remembered first line, which I thought was "Pinag-aaralan na naman nila kami" (They're studying us again), an appropriate reminder for PhD students like me and other researchers that conducting research involving real people is very different from working with test tubes and mice.

The actual first line is a bit different, evoking both academic and colloquial readings. But the fact that the text is laid out on the page in the shape of a microscope in Albert Alejo's Sanayan Lang ang Pagpatay (1993) suggests that what I remembered was not too far off the mark. I cannot, unfortunately, reproduce the poem's format in this blog.

Anyway, I've been getting requests for pieces that can be used in group oratorical contests (or timpalak sabayang bigkas, in Tagalog) usually held during Buwan ng Wika, so here's a poem whose title is difficult to translate literally, but may be understood as the "complaint of the masses."


Buntong-hibik ng Anakpawis
Albert E. Alejo, SJ

Pinag-uusapan na naman nila kami.
Pinagpupulungan. Pinapupurihan. Pinagpapasyahan.
Pinag-aaralan. Pinagkakakitaan. Pinararangalan.
Inuunawa. Iniluluha. Iniluluwa.
Ipinipinta. Ikinakanta. Pinakakasta.
Isinusulat. Iniuulat. Pinagbubulatlat.
Itinutula. Idinudula. Pinatitihaya.
Ibinabalita. Binabata. Pinagbababatuta.
Ginagabayan. Binabagayan. Binabayagan.
Inaaliw. Ginigiliw. Binabaliw.

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