All the books below are available on amazon.com They are wonderful books for anyone who would like to learn the Filipino language.

Tuttle Publishing: Unparalleled Marketplace for Filipino Children’s Books & Educational Tagalog Language Materials

Editorial Note: Award-winning author Norma Olizon-Chikiamco is available for media interviews.

January 25, 2010

NORTH CLARENDON, Vt. — (U.S. ASIAN WIRE) — Tuttle Publishing, a leader in English language books on and about Asia for over 60 years, is proud to present children’s books and language materials depicting the rich, cultural diversity of the Filipino heritage. Tuttle Publishing’s unparalleled marketplace offers an extensive catalogue with an array of delightful Filipino stories and titles for children of all ages featuring award-winning Filipino authors and illustrators.

“Tuttle Publishing recognizes the importance of reaching out to the millions of Filipino heritage learners in this country, and maintains a commitment to producing quality, authentic books to serve their needs. Through children’s books, cookbooks, language learning books and many others, Tuttle continues to celebrate and support the strengths that the Filipino American community brings to us all.”-Christopher Johns, Sales and Marketing Director, Tuttle Publishing.

Pan de Sal Saves the Day, an inspiring tale written by award-winning author Norma Olizon-Chikiamco with colorful illustrations by Mark Salvatus, tells the story of a shy girl with very low self-esteem but when an unexpected event occurs Pan de Sal greatly triumphs, winning the admiration of her classmates and most importantly herself. Pan de Sal Saves the Day took first place in the most prestigious literary competition in the Philippines, the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature.
Price: $12.95
Illustrations: Full-color

In the age-old tradition of teaching language through rhyme and verse, author Liana Romulo presents My First Book of Tagalog Words and introduces the National language of the Philippines and culture to preschool children in a playful and non-intimidating way. Bold and bright illustrations by award-winning artist Jaime Laurel are featured.
Price: $12.95
Illustrations: Full-color

Filipino Friends, written by Liana Romulo with illustrations by artist Corazon Dandan-Albano, is a delightful story told through the eyes of Sam, a Filipino-American boy visiting the Philippines for the very first time. Soft, whimsical watercolors labeled with English words and Filipino translations bring to light the differences between western and Philippine lifestyles.
Price: $15.95
Illustrations: Full-color

Filipino Children’s Favorite Stories is a must-have collection of beloved tales retold by author Liana Romulo and beautifully illustrated by award-winning artist Joanne De Leon. This wonderful compilation of classic myths from the Philippines captivates the hearts of children of all ages worldwide. From “The Prince’s Bride” to “The Magic Lake” to “The Deer and the Snail” the classic Filipino children�s stories have amused, inspired, and taught millions of children throughout the centuries with poignant, universal life lessons.
Price: $18.95
Illustrations: Full-Color

In addition to Tuttle’s outstanding catalogue of fine children�s books, Tuttle offers supplemental Tagalog language-learning materials perfect for home or classroom use.Tagalog for Kids Flash Cards by Imelda Fines Gasmen is an excellent way to introduce young children to the National language of the Philippines, and the most commonly used Southeast Asian language in the U.S. Kids build their vocabulary by learning everyday, commonly used words, sentences and songs. Tagalog for Kids Flash Cards comes complete with 64 flash cards, audio CD, wall chart and educational guide for parents and teachers, a fun and kid-friendly way to learn!
Price: $19.95
Illustrations: 64 cards; audio CD; 16-pp. booklet & color wall chart

These books, and all titles available from Tuttle Publishing, can be purchased online at our website, www.tuttlepublishing.com, www.amazon.com and at fine retailers everywhere.

About Tuttle Publishing

Tuttle Publishing, a member of the Periplus Publishing Group, was founded by Charles E. Tuttle (1915-1993) in Tokyo in 1948. His mission was to publish “books to span the East and West.” With offices in North Clarendon, Vermont; Singapore; Tokyo and Jakarta, Tuttle Publishing has become the largest English-language book publishing and distribution company in Asia.

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A FOR ADOBO: An alphabetical, gastronomic journey to Filipino food

Being a self-proclaimed, self-taught cook (and not too well at that) and food fanatic, I almost always go to the cookbook / food section of a bookstore first. And always, Ilook at the pictures first. Iguess Ihave this (secret) obsession about food photography that aside from taste, visual has to be also a priority. This is why Iwas more than excited to help writer, photographer and graphic designer Nelson Agustin in his quest to find some yemas (those sweet and milky delicacy wrapped in colorful cellophanes) for his newest photography book, A for Adobo.
Based in Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada, Nelson graduated with honors from the University of the Philippines-College of Fine Arts and has published several photography books, most notably Bare Essentials (2007) and Edible Landscapes (2007) under his publishing house, Helios Media. However, A for Adobo is his first photography book for children.
In his book’s Introduction, Nelson tries to explain what Filipino food is all about. “One is hard put to say what it is,” he writes and added, “Perhaps the halo-halo’s tall glass of mixed sweets where East meets West in a happy rainbow of taste and color is an apt metaphor for what Philippine cooking is about.’
He also tells the truth about Filipinos, wherever they may be in the world, is likely to have rice and adobo on the stove, as well as patis (fermented fish sauce) in their pantry. Filipino food, as he simply (but truthfully) puts, “is more than just comfort food.” It is, he writes, “a celebration of who we are, as well as a survival tool for immigrants adjusting to an unfamiliar culture and environment.”
It took me five days, four Filipino stores, four taste tests, my mom, my sister and a friend to find the perfect yemas (which will survive the trip to Canada) for Nelson. When the package was finally sent, Iactually felt a weird sense of achievement knowing that in a small way, Iwas able to help.
A for Adobo is based on the modern Filipino alphabet instituted by the Philippine government in 1987, consisting of 28 letters—20 from native Filipino and eight from the Spanish alphabet. The letters C, F, J, N, Q, V, X and Z are used only in proper names and nouns, scientific and technical terms and words native to languages other than Filipino. The book also has a more detailed description of each entry that can be found in the Foodnotes section. The Filipino-English bilingual text is for the benefit of acquainting younger generations of readers with the mother tongue.

L for Lumpia

A for Adobo will have its book launching in Manila on July 19, Monday, in Seattle, Washington on July 22, Thursday at the Filipino-American National Historical Society, Seattle University from 5:30 to 8pm; and Vancouver on August 14, Saturday at St. Patrick Ground on Main Street from 9am to 4pm and a booksigning at the Manila International Bookfair from September 15-22.

For more information about A for Adobo, log on to adobo.tahananbooks.com or e-mail info@tahananbooks.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

*Photographs by Nelson Agustin

All images are from A for Adobo, (C) 2010 by Tahanan Books. Reproduced by permission from the publisher.

( www.asianjournal.com )

( Published July 9, 2010 in Something Filipino Magazine p. 2 )

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Camp Mabuhay Indiana

Kokomo, Indiana

June 10, 2010

This is a one-day Filipino culture camp to be held in Kokomo, Indiana on June 12, 2010. Since 2004, parents and with Filipino volunteers from the Barangay Club of Indiana have worked together to prepare a fun-filled Filipino culture camp for families called Camp Mabuhay. Participants primarily come from Indiana, Illinois, Ohio and Kentucky. Although the camp is primarily designed for children of Filipino descent, all children are welcome to join in the fun. No prior knowledge of the Philippines is required of children or their parents. An interest in discovering Filipino culture is all that you need to have a great time at Camp Mabuhay Indiana, Inc. Activities for the day include: Traditional Dances,  Music Activities,  Language Activities,  Museum,  Art Projects,  A Filipino Meal, Cooking Lessons,  History of the Philippines, Games, Camp T-Shirt.  To learn more and to register, click on brochure.

Filipino Heritage Camp

Winter Park Mountain Lodge, Colorado

July 15-17, 2010

” NO history, NO self, KNOW history, KNOW self: Honoring Filipino Americans”

2010 is a U.S. Census year and the Filipino American community is anticipated to become the first largest Asian American group, surpassing the Chinese Americans. The U.S. Census reported in 2007 that 3.1 million Filipinos reside in America and 80% of Filipino Americans are U.S. citizens. Also in 2007, the U.S. Census reported the Filipino American community to be 4 million or 1.5% of the U.S. population.

Who are the Notable Filipino Americans? What have been their contributions?

This year’s Filipino Heritage Camp, you will learn about the rich history of Filipinos in America that date as far back as 1587 to present day. The workshops and activities will focus on prominent Filipino Americans in the various industries such as entertainment, science, education, sports, medicine and arts. There will also be educational and fun workshops that will look at music, art, dance, history and games that celebrate our Filipino American heritage.

The elementary workshops will include sessions on:
• Filipino/American history
• Craft projects
• discovering love of Filipino music, and dance,
• entertainment and games!

There is specialized programming for our middle and high school aged campers, including:
• Learning about our Filipino American history
• “Survivor Philippines”
• Filipinos in the music industry
• Babayin – the ancient Filipino sanskrit
• “More than Me” project, partner organization to be announced. For more on this trademark Colorado Heritage Camps project, click here:

Workshops for Parents will include;
• The popular cooking classes,
• Adoptee panel,
• An overview of the history of Filipinos in America
• Parent run workshops

The Filipino-American Community of Colorado (FACC) will be celebrating their 10th year volunteering with FHC. The members have had an invaluable role with the camp over the years providing a connection to our Filipino culture by teaching us about culture, cuisine, dance, music and history of the Philippines.

For more information contact: filipino.h.camp@gmail.com or visit the FHC site

Camp Mabuhay North 2010

Friday, September 24 to Sunday, September 26th

Camp Woodstock, a YMCA camp – Woodstock Valley, Connecticut.

http://www.afteryouadopt.org/campmabuhaynorth/

The theme of this year’s camp will be: “Beautiful People, Beautiful Islands: the Philippines.”  It will feature some families who have recently returned to the Philippines for their children to visit and tour their homeland: The Lewis and Andrews families went over in February, another family is there right now, for the second time, and  2 other families are currently making plans to go over this summer. So, you will hear from the parents and children all about their exciting experiences!

We have reserved the weekend of September 24-26, 2010 at Camp Woodstock. Camp would start on Friday night (6:30p.m.) and run through Sunday afternoon(2:00). The cost would be @ $100 per person. This cost includes 2 nights of lodging, 6 meals, full use of the camp facilities, equipment, activities: kayaking, canoeing, hiking, swimming, fishing, basketball courts, climbing walls, etc. YMCA staff would run some of the activities, CMN volunteers would do the cooking and run other activities.

Please let us know if this is a possibility for your family. We hope you can make it.

For additional information, please contact Bunny Lewis at bunnylew@comcast.net (860) 219-9573.

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Reprinted from OURS Magazine, May/June 1992 www.adoptivefamilies.com
Positive Adoption Language
The way we talk—and the words we choose—say a lot about what we think and value.  When we use
positive adoption language, we say that adoption is a way to build a family just as birth is.  Both are important, but one is not more important than the other. Choose the following positive adoption language instead of the negative talk that helps perpetuate the myth that adoption is second best.  By using positive adoption language, you’ll reflect the true nature of adoption, free of innuendo.

Words not only convey facts, they also evoke feelings.  When a TV movie talks about a “custody battle” between “real parents” and “other parents,” society gets the wrong impression that only birthparents are real parents and that adoptive parents aren’t real parents.  Members of society may also wrongly conclude that all adoptions are “battles.”

Positive adoption language can stop the spread of misconceptions such as these.  By using positive adoption language, we educate others about adoption.  We choose emotionally “correct” words over emotionally-laden words.  We speak and write in positive adoption language with the hopes of impacting others so that this language will someday become the norm.

Positive Language                           Negative Language
Birthparent                                       Real parent
Biological parent                             Natural parent
Birth child                                        Own child
My child Adopted child;                Own child
Born to unmarried parents           Illegitimate
Terminate parental rights             Give up
Make an adoption plan                  Give away
To parent                                          To keep
Waiting child                                   Adoptable child; available child
Biological or birthfather               Real father
Making contact with                      Reunion
Parent                                               Adoptive parent
Intercountry adoption                  Foreign adoption
Adoption triad                                Adoption triangle
Permission to sign a release        Disclosure
Search                                              Track down parents
Child placed for adoption            An unwanted child
Court termination                         Child taken away
Child with special needs              Handicapped child
Child from abroad                         Foreign child
Was adopted                                   Is adopted

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Please join FAN at the Teen Connections: My Family, My World, My Self – A Conference for Foster and Adopted Teens and Parents

hosted by Adoption Rhode Island and ACONE-RI

May 22, 2010

11:00am-2:30pm

@ Adoption Rhode Island

Workshop title: Guess Who?! – Public Figures that have been Adopted and in Foster Care

They walk among us, we see them on t.v., we hear them on the radio and some are huge pop icons. Who are these people? What are they best known for?

This workshops aims to give an educational and fun twist to identify and explore which people have been adopted (international/domestic) or been in foster care. We will play a guessing game to test your knowledge. You may be surprised by some of the names and hopefully will walk away from the workshop realizing the impact adoption and foster care has had with many blended families in the U.S.!

We will also discuss the importance of having positive role models in our lives and brain storm what makes a good role model.

——————————————————————————————————————

Join us for a powerful workshop as industry professionals lead us for a day of reflection, introspection and sharing. ACONE-RI and Adoption Rhode Island offering this conference on Saturday, May 22nd from 11:00am-2:30pm, at Adoption Rhode Island. Registration is required and all teens attending must have an adult present for the entire event. For more information and/or to register please click here.

Teen Conference – “My Family, My World, My Self ” brochure

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Filipino Ties program is one of 12 Motherland programs provided by the Ties Program. The emphasis of the program is to encourage the adoptees to visit their birth country in the company of their primary giver, in order to provide the needed support, to make the decision based on the need of the family. The decision to visit the birth country should be based on the needs of the family and if the time is right. Traveling in a group setting involves many family members, such as grandparents, siblings and other extended family. Another component of the Tie Program is the professional that accompanies the group to facilitate group discussions or support for folks who wish to talk about their adoption experience or travel experience to their birth country.

FILIPINO TIES

July 3 – 17, 2010

Watch Filipino Ties come to life on video!

Highlights:

• Visit people and places important in your life or that of your child*
• Ties Program  “Connect & Chat” for the kids and “Talk Times” for the adults
• Child Friendly and “Adoption Aware”
• Humanitarian Aid via Project Kindness-The Philippines

Filipino Ties begins in Manila and continues into the countryside. Witness the beauty of Lake Taal, experience one of the world’s smallest active volcanoes, and learn how a Jeepney is made.  Enjoy a day at Villa Escudero where Filipino culture and history come to life.  Journey to Cebu, the oldest city in The Philippines, where you will visit a school and the Cebu Children’s Shelter.  And, of course, time will be be available to relax on the beautiful beaches of this idyllic island.  Let the hospitality and graciousness of the Filipino people embrace you and the sound of children’s laughter at Samaritan’s Place and  House of Refuge captivate your heart.

The centerpiece of each family’s journey* will be a visit to your (or your child’s) orphanage. Members of the Intercountry Adoption Board (ICAB) anticipate your visit and look forward to welcoming the children, young adults (and their families) to the county where they were born.  With ICAB’s assistance, we will request permission for you to visit your (or your child’s) orphanage, meet caregivers and foster families, and travel to the place of  birth or founding.

The Ties program provides an adoption professional to facilitate optional discussion on all of our programs.  These discussions provide the group with an opportunity to process and understand what they are experiencing and how it relates to adoption.  These discussions and the friendships that are created along the way is what makes this kind of trip truly unforgettable.

WHAT FAMILIES HAVE TO SAY

“I think that the healthiest outcome of the trip for my daughter is that going with a large group ‘normalized’ her situation and her adoption story.”
~ Bonnie MacAdam
“A fabulous way for adoptive families to develop an understanding of the reasons and circumstances that resulted in their becoming a family.”
~David Johnson

“Your sensitivity to the needs of the children was so evident throughout the trip.  Tina came away with such a warm feeling for her heritage and a special bond with the kids who traveled with us.”
~Nan Gray

“For the first time in my life, I felt complete and at peace with who I am.”
~Landy Hancock, 18

“I got to see that my birth place is good and better understood the struggles my birth family went through.”
~Matt Ouellette, 14
“As a grandma, it was so great to see the full circle of adoption.”
~Barb Boersma (Grandma)

For more information, contact The Ties Program or Request an Informational Packet.

Pre-Register now for a future year, so that we can hold your spot!

*Possibilities for visiting people and places important in the life of your child

Bahay Kalinga Orphanage
Cebu Hope Center
Charisma Bethel Children’s Home
Children’s Shelter of Cebu
Concordia Children’s Home
Easter Village Orphanage
Haven of Hope Orphanage
House of Mary Villa
House of Refuge
InterCountry Adoption Board Offices (ICAB)
Jireh Children’s Home
Kalinga ng Ama Shelter for Children
Love The Children Foundation
Mount Zion Orphanages
Nehemiah House for Girls
Norfil Foundation
Orphanage House of Joy
Philippine Vision Ministry
Precious Heritage Children’s Home
Sacred Portion Children’s Outreach
Samaritan’s Place
Sampaloc Tany Rizal Children’s Home
Shalom Bata Rescue Centre
Shepherds Arms Children’s Home
Spirit and Life Mission House, Inc.
St. Joseph House
Subic’s Bay Children’s Home
See something missing above? Or, are there other people or places on your “dream list?”    Please email us. We are always open to helping you with other connections.

The Ties Program does not endorse any of the places listed above, but rather offers them as places families have indicated they may want to visit.

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Washington deputy mayor a Filipina
By Jose Katigbak, STAR Washington bureau (The Philippine Star) Updated April 24, 2010 12:00 AM

Santos

WASHINGTON – Valerie Santos is a Filipina in a hurry.

She wants to make a difference as Washington’s deputy mayor for planning and economic development and frets there are not enough hours in a day to get things done to bring growth and prosperity to the district.

Appointed in June 2009, she is one of the most visible and highest ranking Filipino Americans in public office.

Santos, 36, is responsible for implementing Mayor Adrian Fenty’s economic development vision and managing a development pipeline worth more than $13 billion comprising public-private housing, retail, office and parks projects throughout the district.

It’s a big job and she describes it variously as exhilarating, exciting, humbling and, for some perverse reason, fun.

In an interview with The STAR, she said her father Dante Santos was the eldest of nine children, all of whom grew up in a one-bedroom apartment in Pasig with their parents.

The Santoses had a small 10 x 10 ft. shop in a local market which sold sewing, quilting and embroidery supplies, buttons and clasps and threads.

“My grandparents raised the family in a sewing notions store in a local palenke (market),” she said. “That’s how they put their children to school.”

She said her father, originally from Bulacan, emigrated to the United States in the 1960s after college in search of a better life and received his MBA at Santa Clara University in California.

Her mother Milagros was born and raised in Zamboanga, the eldest of five children. She also emigrated to the US in the 1960s, first to Cincinnati and later to California.

“Among the things I learned from my parents is the value of education and hard work,” Santos said.

Like many Filipinos who come to America, she said her parents worked hard to be able to send money home to help their families.

Her mother paid for the education of several of her siblings.

“She put off her life and didn’t get married until she was 40 to be able to help her family,” she said.

Valerie, born and raised in San Francisco, is an only child.

She is a graduate of Santa Clara University and earned her MBA at Harvard Business School and a Masters in Public Policy at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

After finishing college in 1994 at the age of 20 she went to the Philippines for one year to get to know the rest of her family – she has 22 first cousins on her father’s side and 15 first cousins on her mother’s side – and to give back to the community.

She joined the Jesuit Volunteers Philippines (JVP) Foundation, Inc., a volunteer organization that sends fresh graduates and young professionals to under-resourced communities nationwide for one year.

Volunteers are prepared and assisted by the foundation in developing the skills necessary to address basic community needs whether as teachers, campus ministers, parish or community development workers.

Santos was sent to Ateneo de Zamboanga where she taught three classes of freshmen English and one class of senior literature. She lived in a dorm and received a stipend equivalent to $120 a month.

“I have always been passionate about public service and about using my many privileges in life, whether they be the privilege of education or the privilege of being born in the US to help people,” she said.

Philippine Ambassador Willie Gaa called on her two weeks ago and found her to be a “very decisive and personable lady.”

She is also “substantantive and supportive” and willing to be more active in the Filipino-American community in the area, Gaa said.

Maurice Owens said she and about a dozen other Filipino-American community leaders in the Washington area also met with Santos in October soon after her confirmation as deputy mayor, and described her as “approachable, welcoming, charming and vivacious.”

“It’s nice to see a smart Filipina up there,” Owens said.

Prior to becoming deputy mayor, Santos served as the Planning and Economic Development Office’s chief operating officer. Before joining the district government she worked with real estate groups where she specialized in urban public-private development.

According to the official District of Colombia website, the Office of the Deputy Mayor is charged with bringing federal, nonprofit and private and community partners together to expand the district’s economic base, attract and retain businesses, bring good-paying jobs for residents and promote the city as a competitive, welcoming place to do business.

“The scope of what I do is what gets me excited – developing affordable housing for people, looking to improve our waterfront, finding more jobs for our work force – there is such a breath of issues and diversity across the city that we have an opportunity to touch all aspects of life while advancing the mayor’s core mission of increasing tax revenue and promoting growth,” she said.

Santos visits the Philippines regularly.

“I was there in 2003 and 2006 and it’s definitely time to pay a visit again,” she said.

Her paternal grandmother, Iluminada or Lola Luming as she calls her, still lives in Pasig on Lopez Jaena street.

Santos speaks emotionally of the sacrifices her grandparents and parents went through to improve the lot of the family and says that “even when I am having the worst possible day, I know how fortunate I am compared with those who came before me.”

“People tell me it’s exciting to see a Filipino-American doing well because of hard work and all that. I feel honored but don’t consciously try to see myself as a role model,” she said.

It is unfortunate Filipinos have to go overseas to make their mark because “with so much energy and intellect in the Philippines all one needs there is a chance,” she said.

Asked what her normal day was like, she replied, “I don’t know if I have one. I typically work 14 hours a day and I find the work fun.”

“But I do make time for friends, for other things that are important to me.”

She relaxes by reading, spending time with friends and cooking for them and hanging out with her dog and her cat.

She says she is a good cook but cooks Filipino food only when her parents visit her.

With White House executive chef Cristeta Comerford and Deputy Mayor Valerie Santos leading the way, Filipinas are making inroads in the capital city of the world’s only superpower.

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Brillante Mendoza’s “Lola” screens at Tribeca Film Festival on April 22-24

Cannes-winning Filipino Director Brillante Mendoza (“Kinatay”, 2009) returns with a powerful drama of struggle and redemption. After premiering in last year’s Venice Film Festival, “Lola” (Tagalog for “Grandmother”) has won major prizes at the Dubai and Miami international fests.

Two elderly matriarchs bear the consequences of a crime involving their grandsons: One is murdered, the other is the suspect. As the intense financial strains of a burial and legal case weigh on both women, they individually traipse around the prisons, funeral homes, and courtrooms of Manila amidst torrents of rain, while simultaneously struggling to maintain their families’ lives in the makeshift shacks built along the city’s rising waterways. Face-to-face with each other, they work together to reach a common, if compromised, resolution.

Capturing the desperate and frantically beautiful texture of the urban Manila landscape, Lola confirms the depth and range of Filipino director Brillante Mendoza’s vision. Anita Linda and Rustica Carpio deliver incisive performances as the two determined leads in writer Linda Casimiro’s penetrating critique of the criminal justice system, its accompanying bureaucracy, and the incomplete quest for justice and reconciliation. (From the program notes of the Tribeca Film Festival.)

Buy tickets now to screenings of “Lola” at the Tribeca Film Festival HERE.

Or visit this URL: http://www.tribecafilm.com/filmguide/lola-film27264.html

Primary Cast: Anita Linda, Rustica Carpio, Tanya Gomez, Jhong Hilario, Ketchup Eusebio
Director: Brillante Mendoza
Screenwriter: Linda Casimiro
Producer: Didier Costet
Editor: Kats Serraon
Director of Photography: Odyssey Flores
Production Designer: Dante Mendoza
Composer: Teresa Barrozo

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