Passion for Libraries: Hubs and Hugs

Update as of 16 September 2007: I missed another more recent article: "How to Build a Library Hub" by Neni Sta. Romana Cruz (Philippine Daily Inquirer, 14 September 2007). The title says it all =)

"Raising Filipino literacy" by Blooey Singson (Manila Bulletin, 13 September 2007) is an ok article, but I don't know that anyone, after reading the article, would be moved to do anything about the fact that, "About one in every 10 Filipinos cannot read or write." Facts, quotes and statistics are abundant, but the author probably should have kept in mind this saying: "Do your homework and know your facts, but remember it's passion that persuades."

In contrast, "Library Hugs" by Neni Sta. Romana Cruz (Philippine Daily Inquirer, 3 July 2007)—which I missed when it first came out—has an intriguing title (and not just because it has the word "library" in it) and very few facts, quotes and statistics. (Note: The online version's title is different from the printed version's.)

True, Cruz was writing an opinion column, but Singson's article appeared in the "Youth & Campus" section, which I guess means it's for younger readers. Then again, maybe the difference lies in the fact that the authors are writing for different newspapers with different editorial policies. Whatever the case may be, I'll just leave it up to readers to decide which one is more effective—based on their understanding of the two writers' objectives.

What can librarians learn from these two articles? Please don't get me wrong. Facts, quotes and statistics are important, too, but they need to be used appropriately.

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Music and Scholarship

Naku... Kenkoy!
Titik: Romualdo Ramos
Musika: Nicanor Abelardo
Koro: Mary the Queen Children's Choir
Pianista: Raul Navarro

The video above was taken at the book launch for Kolonyal na Patakaran at ang Nagbabagong Kamalayang Pilipino: Musika sa Pampublikong Paaralan sa Pilipinas, 1898–1935 [Colonial Policy and the Changing Filipino Consciousness: Music in Philippine Public Schools, 1898-1935] by Raul C. Navarro.

What I really liked about the whole event was that it was "ecumenical," for lack of a better word, because the author is from the University of the Philippines and the event was held at UP's College of Music, even though the book was published by the Ateneo de Manila University Press. This was emphasized further by the college dean, a La Salle alumnus, who joked that he thought of canceling the book launch when Ateneo's basketball team beat La Salle's (for the second time this year!) the previous night.

But it wasn't really just the unusual lack of academic rivalry at the event that was impressive, it was, in the words of Maricor Baytion, director of the Ateneo Press, the "gift of music and scholarship" displayed by the author Raul Navarro, who not only played the piano for the students who performed on his birthday (!), but also wrote a book that illuminates the important role played by music in the "Americanization" of the Philippines, and the creative ways by which Filipinos resisted colonialization.

The song "Naku... Kenkoy!" is an example of the latter. Navarro writes: "Si Kenkoy ay karikatura ng mga Filipinong sa halip na magmahal sa sariling wika at ipagmalaki ito ay kabaligtaran ang kanilang nararamdaman at ginagawa" [Kenkoy is a caricature of Filipinos who instead of using and promoting their native language, feel and do the opposite]. I did not understand the lyrics while the song was being sung—through no fault of the singers—but it is helpful to read them while listening to the song:

Kahit saan ka naroon,
Sa bayan man o nayon
Ang lagi mong kasalubong
Ay ang maharot na Kenkoy

Hayan siya umuugong,
Ang maluang na pantalon
At hayan parang ulol
Habang daa'y umuungol
Aruy! Naku! Kenkoy!
Hoy! Hey! Sh!

Pati noo'y inahit na
Kilos, lakad ay nag-iba
Habang daa'y kumakanta
Ng Ingles na walang letra

Batiin mo "Kamusta ka?"
At ang sagot tingnan mo ba
"Hey! Tagalog, mi no habla!"
Ay, naku, naku, Kenkoy!

At si Kenkoy ay popular
Sa lahat ng handaan
Ukulele'y tangan-tangan
Handa mo'y inaawitan

Hayan siya sumasayaw
Katawa'y anong gaslaw
Sumasabog and laway
Walang tigil sa pag-ungal
Aruy! Naku! Kenkoy!

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Bloggers' Kapihan

The photo above was taken not at the official Bloggers’ Kapihan held at Philippine Science High School yesterday, but at the unofficial one after the event, where I reconnected with the owners of Yugatech (or Abe Olandres, one of the speakers) and The Journal of the Jester-in-Exile, and made new connections with the bloggers who write at Temporary Madness, AWBHoldings.com, and Chickenmafia.com. If you want to match the faces with the blogs, the links actually correspond to the faces from left to right =)

I also ran into Manolo Quezon (speaker), Jove Francisco (journalist) and Noel Feria (LIS student). These were the people I already knew personally. Those I met for the first time were: Victor Villanueva (aka Bikoy, speaker), Noemi Dado (participant), and the organizers Mong Palatino, Ederic Eder and Martin Perez. Among the sponsors, it was Kenneth Yu whom I found most interesting, especially after he forgot to mention—at a blogging event—that
Philippine Genre Stories has a blog =)

Well, now that I've taken care of the obligatory link love, what did I think of the event itself? Here goes:

It was an opportunity to feel, once again, that I am truly part of the Pinoy blogosphere, which I merely observed—when I could—from across an ocean for more than a year.

It also reminded me that I need to get back to Yan ang Pinay, which has been renamed "Yan ang Filipina," and participate in the "Filipina" Writing Project and Filipina Images.

But the most interesting thing for me was to interact once again with bloggers who have encountered the same problems and difficulties I've had as a blogger, and who do not think blogging is merely a fad, or worse, a useless exercise.

I should add, though, that most of the audience was composed of high school students. Appropriately enough, the first speaker was Bikoy, who started blogging as a student and is, in fact, still a student. His emphasis on writing for an audience other than classmates and friends, and going beyond what-I-did-today stories, reminded me that I've never been a typical blogger. From the very beginning, this blog has had an agenda. I even thought I could get away with writing in the third person.

Manolo was very quotable: "Everything is political, and it all begins with sex" and "You're either a voyeur or an exhibitionist." He was talking about blogging, of course. Abe, on the other hand, cannot be quoted because much of what he said during and after the event was "off the record." This, incidentally, was not unusual among the bloggers I talked to at the event. It seems that there are a lot of bloggers' stories, especially about Pinoy blogosphere controversies, that don't make it online anymore. Hmmm... maybe that's why they came up with Bloggers’ Kapihan, so that stories-that-cannot-be-told about bloggers-who-must-not-be-named can be discussed freely =)

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Lost Libraries

The history of Philippine libraries has been told a few times, but either the accounts went unpublished, appeared in obscure journals, or were printed in such limited quantities that they are now out of print. Fortunately, Ambeth Ocampo occasionally mentions what happened to Philippine libraries in the past. From "Lost Books" (Philippine Daily Inquirer, 2007):

The Philippine Library and Museum that boasted the finest collection of Filipiniana in its time was one of the casualties of the Battle for Manila in 1945. The late historian Teodoro Agoncillo related how he had packed his most important books and brought them to the University of the Philippines Library at the outbreak of the war, assuming that the enemy would respect an academic institution. Many other scholars and collectors, like Jaime C. de Veyra and E. Arsenio Manuel, felt the same way and deposited their precious libraries in UP, only to watch helplessly as the Japanese made a bonfire from their books.

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Pinoy Big Biblioblogosphere:Eyeball on 15 September 2007

Update as of 12 September 2007: Time has been moved to 4:00 pm to accommodate more people, but I will be at the venue from 3:00 pm onward in case there are people who missed this update.

In Pinoy Big Biblioblogosphere: July 2007, I invited "members of the Pinoy biblioblogosphere" to state their preferences regarding the place and time of our first—but not last, I hope—eyeball (EB), which I suppose needed to be stated explicitly (sorry, Zarah).

Well, based on the comments and the few people to whom I've mentioned the idea, it looks like this is what will work best:

Place: a different bookstore (adb), Serendra
Date: Saturday, 15 September 2007
Time: 3:00 pm

Agenda:
Meet, greet and discuss the future of the Pinoy biblioblogosphere =)

Who should attend:
Anyone whose blog I've ever linked to in my Pinoy Big Biblioblogosphere posts, plus bloggers who care about books and libraries, whether librarian or not.

Please leave a message below to confirm your attendance, so I can inform Chito, adb's marketing manager, who is looking forward to hosting our small group.

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Schedule of Remaining PRC Exams for 2007

More than a year after the last exam results were released by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), new exam results have begun to be posted again. And it's almost as if no one passed any of the exams given between 19 June 2006 and 26 August 2007—because the lists for different professions have still not been updated. That only goes to show just how important it is that nurses stay clean =)

On a happier note, the PRC has, in fact, updated its hard-to-find list of upcoming exam dates. Would-be librarians will be taking their exams on 26-27 November 2007 in Manila, Davao and Legaspi. Deadline for filing applications is on November 6. For more information on how to apply, prepare for the exam, etc., see my previous posts on the Librarians' Licensure Examination.

For the benefit of anyone interested—and all search engine spiders LOL!—here are the details of the remaining exams this year as listed in the Schedule of Licensure Examinations for Year 2007 (pdf):

The information below is arranged in the following order:

Name of Examination
DATE/S OF EXAMINATION (All caps)
Place/s
Deadline in Filing of Applications

* No changes have been made except for capitalization and the addition of this clarification: [No deadline indicated].


Naval Architects & Marine Engineers
SEPTEMBER 11, 12 & 13
Manila
August 22, 2007

Registered Electrical Engineers
SEPTEMBER 15, 16
Manila, Baguio, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Legaspi, Tuguegarao, & Zamboanga
August 27, 2007

Registered Master Electricians
SEPTEMBER 17
Manila, Baguio, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Legaspi, Tuguegarao, Zamboanga, & Tacloban
August 28, 2007

Sanitary Engineers
SEPTEMBER 18, 19 & 20
Manila
August 29, 2007

Marine Engineer Officers (Written)
SEPTEMBER 22 & 23
Manila
Sept. 3, 2007

Geodetic Engineers
SEPTEMBER 25 & 26
Manila
Sept. 5, 2007

Fishery Technologists
OCTOBER 1 & 2
Manila, Davao, Iloilo, & Legaspi
Sept. 20, 2007

Interior Designers
OCTOBER 3, 4 & 5
Manila
Sept. 13, 2007

Customs Brokers
OCTOBER 9, 10 & 11
Manila, Cebu, & Davao
Sept. 19, 2007

Certified Public Accountants
OCTOBER 13, 14, 20 & 21
Manila, Baguio, Cag de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Legaspi, & Tacloban
Sept. 24, 2007

Mechanical Engineers & C.P.M.
OCTOBER 16 & 17
Manila, Cebu, Davao, & Legaspi
Sept. 26, 2007

Marine Engineer Officers (Practical)
OCTOBER 19
Manila
[No deadline indicated]

Criminologists
OCTOBER 23, 24 & 25
Manila, All Regional Offices
October 3, 2007

Electronics & Communications Engrs.
NOVEMBER 3 & 4
Manila, Baguio, Cag de Oro, Davao, Cebu, Iloilo, Lucena, & Tuguegarao
October 15, 2007

Midwives
NOVEMBER 6 & 7
Manila, Baguio, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Legaspi, Tacloban, Tuguegarao, & Zamboanga
October 17, 2007

Marine Deck Officers (Written)
NOVEMBER 10 & 11
Manila
October 22, 2007

Chemical Engineers
NOVEMBER 13, 14 & 15
Manila & Cebu
October 24, 2007

Civil Engineers
NOVEMBER 17 & 18
Manila, Baguio, Cag de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Legaspi, & Tacloban
October 29, 2007

Aeronautical Engineers
NOVEMBER 20, 21 & 22
Manila
October 31, 2007

Librarians
NOVEMBER 26 & 27
Manila, Davao, & Legaspi
November 6, 2007

Nurses
DECEMBER 1 & 2
Manila, All Regional Offices
November 2, 2007

Marine Deck Officers (Practical)
DECEMBER 3
Manila
[No deadline indicated]

Dentists (Written)
DECEMBER 4, 5 & 6
Manila
November 14, 2007

Dentists (Practical)
DECEMBER 14 – 21
Manila
[No deadline indicated]

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92 New Licensed Librarians

Congratulations to the 92 new licensed librarians!

Since they did not have to take the licensure exam, all this means is that the Professional Regulation Commission recognizes their previous experience and education as equivalent to passing the exam. At least, that's how I understand it =)

Incidentally, based on my understanding of Republic Act 9246 and "The Professional Librarian: Who and How" by V.V.M. Aguirre, these new licensed librarians will be the last ones who will be able to avail of the law's provision for "registration without examination."

Below is the announcement and the list of new librarians posted on the website of the Philippine Star, which I am posting in full only because links tend to "die" on their site. Thanks to Grace Tabiendo for the heads-up!

PRC grants 92 librarians for registration without examination
Thursday, September 6, 2007

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announces that 92 applicants were approved for registration without examination as Librarians per Board Resolution No. 01 and 02 Series of 2007 in accordance with the provisions of Sec. 19 of R.A. No. 9246, otherwise known as the "Philippine Librarianship Act of 2003".

Registration for the issuance of Certificate of Registration and Professional Identification Card will start on September 12, 2007 but not later than September 21, 2007. Those who will register are required to bring the following: Duly accomplished Oath Form or Panunumpa ng Propesyonal, current Community Tax Certificate (cedula), 2 pieces passport size picture (colored with background and complete nametag), 2 sets of metered documentary stamps, and one brown envelope with name and profession; and to pay the following: Examination Fee of 900.00; Registration Fee of P600.00 and Annual Registration Fee of P450.00 for 2007-2010; and to personally register and sign the Roster of Librarians. The oathtaking ceremonies of the registrants as well as the previous ones who have not taken their Oath of Professionals will be held before the Board on Thursday, September 27, 2007 at 1:30 in the afternoon at the Manila Hotel, One Rizal Park, Manila.

Following is the list of Successful Applicants:

ABENIDO, CIRILA SABANAL
ADECIR, CARMEN CAYON
ADLAWAN, ELEANORE LEPITEN
AGBAY, TERESITA MIGUEL
ALEJANDRINO, ELVIRA SANTOS
ALVEYRA, LEONILA PAEZ
AMIANIT, MERLY SADANG
AMISOLA, HERMINIA MORCOLO
AMORES, SUSANA PLAZA
ARCOS, MILDRED ENANO
ARUITA, MAGDALENA PADILLA
ASUNCION, ELSA STA. MARIA
BALLARES, CARLITA GUIBAO
BAWAG, SALOME BAWAR
BERMUNDO, AURORA REANTASO
BERNARDO, FE SUMBILLO
BITO-ONON, LUCERNE LUCERO
BOKINGKITO, MARIA FELICRIS RAMIREZ
BONDAL, OLGA PAGADOR
BORGONIA, LEONORA BANZON
BRAVO, JULIETA DELA VEGA
BRIONES, JUSTINA JUANITA LAZARTE
CABALLERO, ZENAIDA LATOJA
CALUB, TERESITA JUAN
CASTRO, LILIAN DURANTE
CONTEMPLO, LIDA ARCENAS
CORPUZ, LAURA AQUINO
DALIGDIG, DELIA FLORES
DALIT, GILDA FLORES
DALOGDOG, MILAGROS MOSCOSA
DE GUIA, ESTELITA PADERE
DELA CRUZ, ESTELA IGNACIO
DELOS SANTOS, NOEMI SAMSON
DUHAYLUNGSOD, ANITA ENCARNACION QUIMNO
ELLOVIDO, ROMAN VALENZUELA
ESPINEDA, MA. FLORDELIZA EVELYN PINEDA
ESTACIO, CORAZON NANGIT
FLORES, ERLINDA FABIA
GALABIT, WINIFREDO GALINDEZ
GALANG, NENITA BALITAOSAN
GARCIA, ALICIA FLORES
GOMEZ, TERESITA CANALETA
GRUYAL, NENITA MAHINAY
GUILLEM, TERESITA BERMEJO
HAEL, JOSEFINA TABAY
HATAYNA, LILIANITA ALAMPAYAN
HERNANDEZ, FREDESWINDA CALLANG
JACINTO, TERESITA CAPADOZA
JANAYON, LYNNIE BAÑAS
LACSON, MARIA ANTONIETA CORDERO
LEAÑO, ANSELMO JR. VASQUEZ
LOGATIMAN, JOSEFINA DUCA
MARTIN, LETICIA TALABUCON
MELECIO, MAXIMA GOCOTANO
MERCADER, ESTELITA DIMAUNAHAN
MERELOS, NENA LIPORADA
MINA, LILIA GUDMALIN
MOZOL, MARILOU MORAN
NACIONALES, NENA FERNANDEZ
NAGTALON, MARIA THELMA SAMBRANO
NERI, YOLANDA JEBONE
NOVELA, DALMACIO CLEMEÑA
PABLEO, EPIFANIA YOSORES
PACULBA, LUCITA ALLERA
PADILLA, BELEN GOMEZ
PAESTE, LOLITA NOCETE
PALMA, PURITA CASTRO
PAZ, ZENAIDA DE LA ROSA
PEREZ, MERCEDES ORTIGUERA
PEREZ, NATIVIDAD LEGASPI
PRESA, ADELAIDA SUSANA
PROTACIO, IRENE MACOROL
QUIBALLO, EDNA CAYABYAB
RAMOS, ROSE SITA SINGH
REOVOCA, MARLENE TELLA-IN
REQUINTO, CONSUELO PLATON
REYES, MARY ANNE DE GUZMAN
ROBLES, JUDITH CONCEPCION
RODRIGUEZ, LOURDES LORNA FERNANDEZ
ROMAN, ANDRES PAULE
ROMAN, EDNA PANTALEON
ROMERO, IMELDA DIMACALI
SAILE, TERESITA CHAVEZ
SAN JUAN, DIVINA ZAPATA
SANTOS, DOLORES QUINTERO
SEÑERES, MARIA TERESA ARES
SUMAWAY, ZENAIDA CAPILI
TAMINE, NELIDA BONILLA
TANDOC, HERMA ALANO
TUCAY, MYRNA DE GUZMAN
VARGAS, FE BEATRIZ
ZAMBRANO, FLORITA UBALDE

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"Filipino Librarian" Among Top 25 Librarian Blogs

According to the Online Education Database (OEDb), this blog is among the "Top 25 Librarian Bloggers (By the Numbers)." To be more specific, No. 9. That's not among Asian or Filipino blograrians, but in the world. Plus, as far as I can tell, mine is the only non-North American blog on the list.

But no, this does not mean that I'm totally convinced this blog should be on the list. I have a problem with the fact that Library Stuff and other more influential blogs did not make it to the list (i.e., OEDb probably should have cast a wider net), and even with the title (i.e., they're measuring blog numbers, not the bloggers), but hey, recognition is still recognition =)

If you'd like to find out more about the state of the biblioblogosphere, check out the "2007 Survey of the Biblioblogosphere" by Meredith Farkas.

Thanks to Arnold for the heads-up!

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Bookfair 2007: 100% Pinoy Librarian

Eight librarians were there for the Filipino Librarians Googlegroup meet-and-greet. One did not stay long enough for me to get her name, and only Zarah Gagatiga and I went out for coffee. But I did give away the buttons and stress ball. Those in the photo above are Zarah, Rene Manlangit, Mercedita Menes, Rosario Campo, Jenefher Sulit, and Shiela Avila.

The shirt I was wearing on that day was bought from the UP Library Science Alumni Association (UPLSAA). The sentence in front states, "Ang isip, tulad ng aklat, ay mainam kung bukas" [The mind, like a book, is better when open]. The slogan on the back reads, "100% Pinoy Librarian." Igor has photos of the black version. If you would like to buy a shirt for yourself, please click on the UPLSAA link above.

Zarah posted the photo she took with her Macbook (!) on her blog. I think I look pretty good in the photo, but I do have a problem with the post's title: "With The Filipino Librarian." As I have kept saying from the very beginning, I do not claim to be the Filipino Librarian. I think Zarah has her reasons for referring to me that way, but really, I am just one of many =)

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Bookfair 2007: OMF Lit Package

The photos above are of the package I was given by Yna Reyes, publication director of OMF Literature. I'm not quite sure why she gave me the package—maybe she liked my presentation the previous day at the Books Across Southeast Asia conference or maybe because I asked her about their publications later during the day at the Manila International Bookfair—but what I liked most about the package was that it was addressed to:

Vernon Totanes
Filipino Librarian

I suppose she could have put just my name on the package, or my name and the name of the school I'm affiliated with, but I do like the idea that she associated me with my blog. In fact, I'm getting introduced more often as "Filipino Librarian" now than before. Whether that's good or bad remains to be seen =)

Incidentally, if any of you out there still think that blogs are just personal diaries, check out OMF Lit's website, which is actually a very slick blog.

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