Last week was probably the most memorable week of my life!
Here’s one reason why.
I got to launch a new children’s book at the Manila International Book Fair!!!
Dreams do come true
It was my first time to have a children’s book published in print by a local publisher. Chikiting Books, an imprint of Vibal Publishing chose to publish my story Maliit na ang Palda ni Isay. This was a dream come true!
It was also my first time to launch a book at the Manila International Book Fair (MIBF). I usually visit the book fair almost every year to shop for books. But this year, I went to the book fair mainly to launch and promote my latest book. It felt surreal! Another dream come true!
Me at the Chikiting Books booth last Friday, September 14, 2018.
What made it extra special was that most of the characters in my story were able to attend my book launch last Friday morning at the MOA SMX in Pasay. My mom, my best friend in elementary and another close friend were there. Of course, my husband and my kids were also present during the book launch.
From left to right: Jun (one of my classmates and closest friends in elementary, my mom, me and my best friend in elementary, Raquel. The character of Aling Tess, Isay’s mother was inspired by my mom and the character of Isay’s classmate, Keng, was inspired by my real-life classmate and BFF.
With my husband and 3 kids during my book launch last September 14, 2018.
You can watch the video of our book launch here. My book was among the 10 new titles launched by Chikiting Books this year at the MIBF.
I also had a Meet & Greet with the Author and Book Signing at the book fair, together with the illustrator of my children’s book. This was my first time to do that also! I used to dream of that as well. I enjoyed attending these activities with my kids yearly at the book fair. I loved meeting fellow authors and illustrators. I also wondered and dreamed when it would be my turn. Last Saturday, that dream came true!
The illustrator of my children’s book, Abi Gabriel, and I signing copies of our book at the Chikiting Books booth at the recent Manila International Book Fair during our Meet & Greet activity and Book Signing.
My second son was so curious that he wanted to be beside me while I autographed books.
It was indeed a week of many firsts!
Last week was hectic for my family and I but I was ecstatic. It was exhausting but definitely worth it! It didn’t feel much like work because it was so much fun!
Around 4 PM last Saturday, there was also a storytelling session with an art activity for the kids. The art activity reinforced one of the lessons in the story, which is to reuse and recycle.
The kids who joined the storytelling and art activity last Saturday with the Vibal staff, my illustrator and me.
My kids also enjoyed being at the book fair with me. While I was busy signing copies of my children’s book, my eldest (who is also a bookworm like me) was busy reading the books displayed at the Chikiting Books booth. When he had read the books on the shelves, he asked permission to go to the neighboring booth to read some more. My mom accompanied him.
My eldest son dreams of becoming an author and illustrator someday. He has started his 10,000 hours of training years ago by watching me work, by writing his own stories, by going with me to the book fair almost every year and meeting authors and illustrators. He has also attended a couple of workshops. I did not tell him that he should be an author like me. One day, he just told me that he wants to be an author also. When will he publish his first book? Only God knows.
My other two children were busy also playing, reading, drawing and writing. He and his younger brother also drew a lot. Abi (the illustrator of my book) taught them how. Before we left, my 6-year-old even wrote a thank you card/note for Abi.
My kids took over after Abi and I had our book signing activity.
My second child who is only 6 years old was inspired to write his own stories. He wrote two and our stay at the Chikiting Books booth became an instant opportunity for our English lessons and on how to write a story! Will he write his own book also? I don’t know. But God knows. I was happy to inspire him.
My second child and I holding the stories he wrote while at the Chikiting Books booth.
My heart was filled with so much joy last week! I still could not contain my joy up to this day. It keeps on growing as I learn of stories of more kids being inspired by my life and my book.
One of the stories that made me happy was from my elementary best friend Raquel so shared with me her youngest son’s response after they read my book Maliit na ang Palda ni Isay. She said that her son opened his closet and told his mom that he still has a lot of things he can use for the next school year. Thus, they don’t need to buy new things. He also said that he will be more careful in using his pencils so he could use them longer.
This sharing affirmed me that I made the right decision to write this story.
What inspired me to write this story?
This story of Isay was inspired by my own childhood experiences. I came from a poor family. But my parents did their best to give me the best education they could afford to provide for me. I did my best to reciprocate their hard work and sacrifices by striving to be a good student. My efforts paid off because I was always at the top of my class each year from the very start. I also graduated Valedictorian.
Early on, my parents taught me not to be materialistic. They taught me that having an education is important and that it is more important than having brand new things for school each year.
My mom was a practical, resourceful and creative woman. I learned from her example.
Meet Aling Tess, Isay’s mother, my mother! =) Get to know more about her and how she raised me when you buy a copy of my book Maliit na ang Palda ni Isay!
She was her first teacher. She helped me cultivate my love for books and writing.
I thank the Lord for my mother. When I was a little girl, she bought me a diary to encourage me to write my thoughts. From then on, I developed the habit of journaling.
last Friday, I could not help but feel super blessed that I got to launch my first printed children’s book with my mom present to witness this milestone. Isay’s story would not be complete without her.
What the characters in my story did (Isay and Aling Tess) were the same things my own mother and I did as we prepared for each new school year.
I really want to inspire and encourage many poor children through this book. I want them to know the backstory that inspired this children’s book.
I want them to know that dreams do come true with a lot of hard work and a lot of grace from God! It doesn’t matter if their circumstances are not ideal now or far from what they dream to achieve.
They only need to look at me now. I was once a poor little girl with big dreams. Now, I keep on dreaming of new and bigger dreams because most of my dreams have already come true.
You may now buy a copy of this inspiring book with many moral lessons from our online shop. It’s only P100 per copy. Simply click here. You can also PM us through our Facebook page, Hands-On Parent while Earning.
You can also get a FREE COPY by supporting the Book Donation Drive I recently started. You may read more details here.
What are some of your biggest dreams? Do you also dream of writing a children’s book? Did you also shop at the Manila International Book Fair this year? Feel free to share in the comments.
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