PASAY CITY -- The Cultural Center of the Philippines, in partnership with the Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY), celebrates the National Children’s Book Day (NCBD) on July 20, 2021 from 10:00 am onwards.

Held every third Tuesday of July, the NCBD commemorates the date of the publication of National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal's “The Monkey and the Turtle” in Trubner's Oriental Record in London.

Aside from championing the importance of nurturing our young readers’ curiosity and imagination, the CCP and PBBY focus on recognizing the best work of children’s book writers, illustrators, and publishers through the awarding of the PBBY-Salanga and PBBY-Alcala Prizes.  PBBY will also name this year’s winners of the National Children's Book Awards (NCBA).

The program includes launching of the e-book, titled “Magkaiba? Magkaisa! Magbasa.”  Ang Danas ng Nagkakaisang Sektor para sa Librong Pambata sa Panahon ng COVID.” Edited by Ani Rosa Almario, the book features nine written works detailing how the community of creators and advocates of Filipino children’s books is coping with the repercussions of the pandemic. Here are the titles and authors: “Kumbaga Sa Lugaw: Kung Bakit ‘Essential’ Ang Aklat-Pambata Sa Panahon ng Pandemya at Bakuna (O Kung Bakit Kailangang Patuloy na Magsulat sa Gitna ng Pandemya)” by Dr. Luis P. Gatmaitan; “Mga Munting Tugon Sa Hamon” by Ruben de Jesus; “Keep Safe and Healthy: The Challenges of Publishing During the Pandemic” by Frances A. Ong; “Alternatibo at Independiyenteng Paglalathala ng mga Akdang Pambata sa Gitna ng Pandemya” by M.J. Cagumbay Tumamac; “Maluwalhating Pagtulay sa Pandemya” by Gerardo V. Cabochan Jr.; “Librarians and Libraries: On Shifts and Pivots During the Pandemic Era” by Zarah Gagatiga; “Going the Distance: Learning in the Time of COVID-19” by Twinkle Caro Sicat; “Igniting a Love for Reading in the Time of Pandemic” by Rey Bufi; and “Ang Sentro para sa Batang Filipino sa Panahon ng Krisis” by Beverly Siy.

The e-book cover was designed by illustrator Abi Goy.  Completing the team behind the publication are: managing editor Erika Antuerfia, layout artist Ronie Chua Padao, coordinator Geraldin B. Villarin and the CCP Intertextual Division.

The link to the free e-book will be available after the launch.

During the virtual launch, executives and officials of the CCP, PBBY, and the National Book Development Board (NBDB) will deliver their messages. The keynote for this year’s NCBD will be delivered by guest speaker, Joel Donato Ching Jacob, winner of the 2018 Scholastic Asian Book Award (SABA) for his novel Wing of the Locust, a young adult fantasy set in precolonial Philippines and published by Scholastic Asia in 2020.

The program will end with an opening of an art exhibition entitled “Bagong Pahina” curated by the group Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan (INK).  To see their artworks, visit their website at www.ang-ink.org.

For more information regarding NCBD, check out the CCP, CCP Intertextual, and PBBY Facebook pages.  Follow the CCP official accounts on Twitter @The CCPofficial and Instagram @culturalcenterph.  (CCP)