Mae Astrid Tobias (1979-2009)
Author, Explorer, and My All-Around "Go go go" Girl
I met Astrid when were both writers for a DepEd-sponsored children's show back in 2002. While thinking of ways how to creatively explain to kiddie viewers the technicalities of Filipino language such as the "parirala," "kataga" and "karaniwan at 'di pangkaraniwang ayos ng pangungusap," we bonded over our love for children's literature, along with writers from the other shows.
Two years later, I joined KUTING, an organization of writers for children, of which Astrid became a president for two years. Under her leadership, there came an influx of promotional projects and publishing opportunities. And it was because of her "powers of negotiation" that I was able to publish my first ever book via the environmental NGO, Haribon.
As the years passed, my friendship with Astrid, along with my two other KUTING-mates Dang and Liwliwa,
grew. This led to a series of pajama parties, wherein we had massages, and basically gabbed about our writerly and travel (both of equal importance) plans. We pegged Astrid as the "go go go girl" because that was her favorite expression. If you'd say you want to go to Europe, win a Palanca, or go swimming in the ADMU GS pool next week, she'd get all excited for you and say, "Go, go, go!"
Even when it came to planning our group trips, she had this sense of urgency--she wanted to do everything right away. The rest of us would just sit back, marvel at her endless enthusiasm and energy, and would reply (a bit condescendingly): Relax lang, Astrid. Marami pa tayong oras.
Little did we know that Astrid was right to urge us on, to force us to get off our butts to do things with her. She didn't know it herself either, but a year later after our first barkada trip to Bohol, she succumbed to lupus.
It was a shock, yes, but also a wake up call. A year after her demise, Liwliwa, Dang and I hiked up Mount Pulag (included in Astrid's travel wish list) and upon reaching the summit, shouted her name as a glorious sunrise unfurled before us.
Even after she had left, Astrid still moved us to start achieving things. She had left an unfinished children's book in her wake, and I volunteered to continue writing it. My byline's right there on the cover, but really, I merely continued the work she started.
And so now, I am more than happy to talk about another wonderful work of hers that perfectly melds her two advocacies: empowering children and championing our Filipino-ness.
Who are the indigenous and folk artists of the
Philippines? Guardians of Tradition is full of facts about 11 of Philippine
master weavers, folk musicians, performing artists, mat weavers and metal
smiths whose talents and skills have earned them the title Manlilikha ng Bayan.
Designed to help children recognize native Filipino ingenuity and creativity,
the book includes fun activities to promote appreciation for culture and arts.
Guardians of Tradition has a fun and colorful design that appeals to young
readers.
For the duration of the Guardians of Tradition Blog
Tour, Guardians of Tradition is available at discounted prize at the Adarna
showroom in Quezon City. For international readers and Filipinos abroad, an
ebook version is coming soon.
Here's an excerpt from the section, Blanket of Dreams:
"Lang Dulay of
Lake Sebu, South Cotabato has been weaving t’nalak
since she was twelve years old. T’nalak
is what the T’boli call the
three-colored cloth made from fine abaca fiber. The three colors of the t’nalak represent the three places where
the T’boli believe the soul goes when one dies. Hitem (black) is for people who died because of natural causes. Hulo (red) for those who died violently
like by a bullet or a blade. Bukay
(white) is for those who take taken their lives and those whose deaths were
untimely.
The T’boli weavers, like Lang Dulay, get the designs for
their t’nalak from their dreams. They
believe that when Fu Dalu, the spirit of the abaca, shows them the design in
their dreams, they must immediately weave it into cloth or else they might fall
ill and soon forget the pattern. Sometimes, the designs are passed on from
generation to generation, from grandmother to grandchild. Lang Dulay knows a
hundred designs like the bulinglangit
(clouds), the bangkiring (hair
bangs), and the kabangi (butterfly).
When Lang Dulay became a Gawad
sa Manlilikha ng Bayan awardee, she was able to build a traditional long
house where she teaches younger women how to weave."
Interested? Well, go ahead and join the raffle (Astrid would love this part) with the following as giveaways:
One $25 Amazon Gift Card + signed copy of Guardians of Tradition from
Adarna + 1 CD of National Living Treasure Bayan Sumaon Sulaiman from NCCA
3 $10 Amazon Gift Card + signed copy of Guardians of Tradition from
Adarna + 1 CD of National Living Treasure Bayan Sumaon Sulaiman from NCCA
6 signed copies of Guardians of Tradition from Adarna + 6 CDs of
National Living Treasure Bayan Sumaon Sulaiman from NCCA
Just join the rafflecopter below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Finally, I leave you with Astrid's official bio that screams "Go, go, go!" from start to finish.
Mae Astrid Tobias (1979-2009) was
a Palanca-award winning author of children's books. In addition to Guardians of
Tradition, her books include Blue Bananas (Crucible), Bayong ng Kuting
(Lampara Books), My Forest Friends (Haribon), Bakawan (Adarna Books)
and two books retelling the Ifugao traditional chant, hudhud. These are Halikpon: A Retelling of an Ancient
Ifugao Chant and Pumbakhayon: An Origin Myth of the Ifugao Hudhud. Both
are finalists for children’s literature and best design in the 2006
National Book Awards of the Manila Critics Circle.
She also spent several years in
the field of children’s television. She served as the Manila Bureau
Manager of Kabataan News Network, a project of UNICEF and Probe
Media Foundation that trains young people nationwide how to produce their
own broadcast quality documentaries. She also also wrote episodes for
children shows like Sirit!, and ABS-CBN and Eskuwela ng Bayan, as well as
worked for Philippine Junior Inquirer and Shell Foundation. She was a member
of Kuwentista ng mga Tsikiting (KUTING), an organization of Filipino
writers for children.
I'm so proud of you, pinktikbalang. We miss you very much.
