CANVAS Joins the 40th National Children’s Book Day
Pasay, Metro Manila — The Philippine Board on Books for Young People, in partnership with the Cultural Center of the Philippines Intertextual Division, celebrated the 40th National Children’s Book Day last July 18, 2023 morning at Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez (Black Box Theater) in the CCP Complex.
National Children’s Book Day is held every third Tuesday of July in remembrance of Dr. Jose Rizal’s retelling of The Monkey and The Turtle, published in Trubner’s Oriental Record July 1889 issue in London.
This year, the event championed the power of stories in shaping future generations with its theme, “Basa. Bayan. Bukas.”
The program included a keynote address by genealogist Mighty Magulang, also known as Mona Veluz. She talked about how children’s books were a crucial part of her origin story and how they also shape the origin stories of kids today and the generations ahead. Kabataang Gitarista also graced the event with their acoustic tunes.
The Center for Art, New Ventures and Sustainable Development joined the first face-to-face ceremony since the pandemic. We celebrated multiple milestones that day, including the oathtaking of Liza Flores as the new PBBY Sectoral Representative for Illustrators. She is also a member of CANVAS’ Board of Trustees and past president of Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan (Ang INK). The awarding of PBBY Wordless Book, Salanga, and Alcala Book Prize from 2020-2023 also took place. Our very own Art Director, Angela Taguiang, bagged the 2023 Wordless Book Prize and 2021 Alcala Prize as an Honorable Mention.
This year’s National Children’s Book Day also supported the Girl Scouts of the Philippines’ Literacy Program. Attendees brought books that were donated to these efforts. GSP is also a beneficiary and partner of our One Million Books for One Million Children Campaign. We had the opportunity to meet some of the Girl Scouts and show them the books that would belong to the shelves of their 96 councils all over the Philippines.
A non-profit that works with the creative community to promote literacy and explore national identity, CANVAS publishes its award-winning children's stories and donates their books to benefit children in public schools and poor communities throughout the Philippines. Its “One Million Books for One Million Filipino Children Campaign” promotes independent reading and creative thinking in Filipino children, while also exposing them to the best of contemporary Filipino art and literature.
