Today, the Cultural Center of the Philippines, in partnership with the Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY), celebrates the 40th National Children’s Book Day (NCBD).
The event, held every 3rd Tuesday of July to commemorate the anniversary of the publication of Jose Rizal’s rendition of the folktale The Monkey and the Turtle (July 1889 issue of Trubner’s Oriental Record in London), started at 9 AM and will end at 3 PM.
And I am home celebrating this special day in the quiet corner of my writing room.
With thanksgiving to the Giver of grace, I look back to that time, over 20 years ago, when I started writing books for children—and never stopped since. These are the published ones.
I have many more drafts hiding in my drawer. Whether they will be published or not does not depend on me. The decision rests upon publishers.
After my exit from the corporate world, I did not set out to be a children’s book writer. All I wanted to do was write. And write I did and have been doing, non-stop—seesawing from fiction (children’s books) and non-fiction (faith-based books for adult readers).
Knowing when I started does not mean I also know when I will stop. Again, it is not my decision. It’s a date I leave to the One who made writing my calling.
To all children’s books authors, this is our day. Let’s pause to celebrate it.
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