Malditang Librarian

For 350 pesos, you can get this beautiful eBook and also help our frontliners who are working amidst COVID-19. Firt there were rocks, then there was the world: a book for our times, for our frontliners is a collection of art and writings selected by Fund the Forest, an organization for the reforestation efforts in Zambales. The proceeds from the sales will be fully donated to frontliners such as healthcare workers, security personnel, farmers, and fisherfolk. The book is also dedicated to the frontline healthcare workers who have passed away due to COVID-19. The works of 23 different creators are featured in the book. The theme is "Rocks" - according to the description, "The rocks are the hindrances, the unjust systems, and the ignorance that prevents us from creating meaningful change. How do we overcome the hurdles? And what kind of world do we want to come back to?" The book is available to buy in .ePub and PDF formats at the  Where to Next? website...

From the cover of Ang Kuring ni Mayin , illustrated by Gil Montinola Due to COVID-19, many writers and artists from all forms of art are making their works available for free. With lockdowns and community quarantine placed to prevent the spread of the virus, we are encouraged to stay at home. I love that artists and writers share their work for free, for people to use to spend their free time on. Kasingkasing Press, an independent press based in Guimaras and specializes in Western Visayas literature, is giving away some of their titles as free downloads. They also publish children's literature in Kinaray-a and Hiligaynon. The kids' coloring book "Ang Kuring in Mayin" ("Mayin's Cat") is available for free download in PDF format. It is printable and ideal as an art activity for children and a learning material for Hiligaynon. It is also a good storybook to read to children. The illustrations are also great. The story is about a girl named Ma...

The second issue of the Philippine Journal of Librarianship and Information Studies (PhJLIS) is now available online through their website, https://phjlis.org . The PhJLIS was formerly the Journal of Philippine Librarianship. This is an open-access journal  which means that it is free and available online for anyone interested in reading it. This issue contains the following papers: Editorial - Bridging Stronger Connections Between LIS Research and Practice by Iyra S. Buenrostro Online Intercampus collaborative database of Library and Information Science theses: Design and needs analysis by Dridge Paul A. Reyes Transitioning to RDA: the Philippine Experience by Ana Maria B. Fresnido, Marita G. Valerio Assess, Calculate, Re-evaluate, Educate (ACRE): a risk assessment framework for UST Miguel de Benavides Library by  Jennylyn G. Cabbuag, Sonia M. Pascua A Study on the Perception of Filipino Librarians on Innovation by Dan Anthony D. Dorado "The PhJLIS pub...

Photo by  Allie Smith  on  Unsplash Globe joins forces with digital learning experts to discuss the future of education amid COVID-19 pandemic With schools closed for the duration of the Enhanced Community Quarantine in Luzon, many educators deem it as the perfect time to harness the power of communications technology so that students can still learn while in the comfort and safety of their homes. Globe MyBusiness supports this idea and is encouraging an in-depth discussion through a webinar that is open to educational institutions, with experts offering insights on the right tools and techniques for utilizing and maximizing digital learning. The E-Skwela webinar, which will be held on March 31 (Tuesday, 10:00 AM)  will discuss the possibilities of current learning technologies and their integration in the school system during the time of the COVID-19 crisis. The webinar will help school owners and educators understand digital learning and how it can ...

Due to many families and children encouraged to stay at home to prevent the spread of COVID-19, many organizations are making educational tools free to be used and enjoyed by the public. The National Library of the Philippines "NLP Kwentistas" is conducting online free storytelling, puppet shows, arts and crafts, and read-aloud through Facebook Live. Videos are uploaded every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 8:00 AM and 3:00 PM. To access the videos, follow their Facebook page: facebook.com/NLP1901 I think that this program is good for kids and parents that have to stay at home. Filipinos are avid users of Facebook and is already widely available. Children can learn and be entertained while at home. Here are some videos from March 27: Caption: "Makinig naman tayo sa kwento ni Kuya Tom na may pamagat na: Ang Lola kong mahilig mag-utos, Kuwento ni Luis P. Gataitan, M.D. at guhit ni Zeus Bascon. Kwentuhan na!" Caption: "Samahan natin si ...

Ms. Kayla Juanzo as one of the segment hosts for a radio station in Palawan I started #Humans of the Library  to inspire people. I hope that in featuring different librarians and what they do, readers and non-librarians would realize that there is more to librarians than the common stereotypes we have of them. For Women's Month, we have our first female guest! I'm aware that the first four librarians featured here are male. Compared to female librarians, there is a small percentage of male librarians. I also wanted to show that the librarianship field is open for all genders, not just one. Our featured librarian Kayla Erika Juanzo. She graduated from her LIS degree in 2013 from the University of Santo Tomas, Manila. She is currently pursuing her Master's degree in the same field in the University of the Philippines Diliman. She is working as a librarian in LifeCollege, Puerto Princesa, Palawan. She is also a part-time teacher at Palawan Technological College, Inc. ...

Photo from Balangiga Press Balangiga Press: Critical Discourses on Narratives, Nationalism, and Liberation Movements and Ideologies Balangiga Press Manila is an independent publisher that started in 2015. They specialize in books the subjects of "nationalism, ethnicity, resistance movements, Islamic studies, critical theories, postcolonial discourses, and other creative works." Due to the COVID-19 crisis affecting the country and the world, the Press is offering free downloads of three books by Filipino author Rogelio Braga. It is free to share with others as well. Rogelio Braga is a playwright, essayist, and novelist. His plays had been performed in the annual Virgin Labfest of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. The books available for download as PDF files are: Colon: Isang Nobela (2015) May Rush Hour ba sa Third World Country?: mga katha (2016?) Ang Lihim ng Nakasimangot na Maskara: si Betchay at and Sacred Circle, nobela (2017) Link to dow...

COVID-19 outbreak jumpstarts adoption of telecommuting, increases demand for telecom services The sudden rise in COVID-19 cases in the Philippines has jumpstarted the adoption of telecommuting among businesses in the country, thereby, further raising the demand for mobile data and broadband connectivity. “Given the present-day realities with enterprises deciding to adopt flexible work arrangements, employees need to be able to collaborate and be productive anywhere they may be and in real-time, for businesses to continue to operate efficiently. That is why we are doing our best to provide our clients with the tools to help them optimize the way they do business,” said Peter Maquera, Senior Vice President for Globe Business. He mentioned that cloud-based software will allow employees to easily work together on a project in real-time even if they are in different locations. For instance, through G Suite, members of the workforce can easily store, access, edit, and share the...

Photo by  Bill Oxford  on  Unsplash A number of online databases, publishers, and libraries have opened their resources on Coronavirus research for free . COVID-19 is an ongoing global crisis. Publishers have opted to make their resources free for a temporary period to aid researchers and health workers in the fight against the virus. Usually, these databases need paid access, but the information is currently free as it is vital at this time. This post will be constantly updated as I see more resources. Cambridge University Press: https://www.cambridge.org/core/browse-subjects/medicine/coronavirus-free-access-collection Coronavirus Free Access Collection Cochrane Library:  https://www.cochranelibrary.com/collections/doi/SC000039/full "This Special Collection has been created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and is regularly updated. It aims to ensure immediate access to systematic reviews most directly relevant to the management of p...

Library Journal is a magazine for librarians published in the United States. It was started in 1876 by the inventor of the Dewey Decimal System, Melvil Dewey. It is said to be the most circulated librarianship journal. Library Journal is also known for their book reviews and is often used as a reference by librarians to select books. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Library Journal is offering free temporary access to all their digital content online. This also includes digitized versions of LJ issues. In their website, Library Journals states that "Our goal is to provide timely, accurate updates related to COVID-19 as it pertains to libraries and the communities you serve, as well as to better enable you to engage with the challenges ahead from wherever you are working by making sure you can access the news, reviews, and information Library Journal provides every day."  To access, they have a full-access pass for all, which was only available for premium subsc...

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) recently announced that all expiring licenses of Professional Identification Cards (PICs) will still be considered valid until the end of the community quarantine period. This is to follow Presidential Proclamation No. 9 of March 8, 2020, declaring a Public Health emergency in the country. ( Source ) According to PRC, professionals are advised to file online applications for ID renewal after the extension period. They can renew without any penalties or surcharges if the applications are filed within 30 days after the extension. If you have a confirmed appointment for renewal during the quarantine period, you will be accommodated once PRC resumes operations. Keep yourself updated with PRC Facebook pag e and the official PRC website . For your queries, you can send them by e-mail. The image below shows their contact details:

Bantayan Island in Cebu is known for its fine, white-sand beaches and clear waters, and also for  buwad , or sun-dried salted fish, better known as  daing  or  tuyo  in other parts of the Philippines.  Fishing is the main livelihood in Bantayan, and  buwad -making is a corollary industry. The process is simple, with the fish split open, de-gutted and smothered in salt to prevent bacteria from forming. The fish is then sun-dried and stored for a certain period before distribution to markets. It is eaten fried and also used as a condiment in food preparations.  The village itself has a history as rich as its marine resources. The community is said to be the first parish established in the Visayas-Mindanao, in 1580, according to a Catholic news site. It is known today as the Saints Peter and Paul parish. During Holy Week villagers, even today, give priority to observing traditional rites and thus are unable to fish. W...

Photo by  Allie Smith  on  Unsplash Ensuring connectivity for its customers during the COVID-19 quarantine period, Globe recognizes the local government units who supported its efforts to build more cell sites to meet the resurging demand for telecom services.  The company's efforts to invest in building more cell sites relies on the cooperation of local government units (LGUs), barangays, and other stakeholders, which grant permits to jumpstart the construction. “LGUs play a vital role in building the necessary ICT infrastructure to improve the internet and mobile experience of our customers.  Now with the sudden changes in work arrangements, there is an urgent need to build more cellular towers to serve the current data traffic that continuously grows exponentially.  We need more cell sites to keep up with the demand but deployment is only the final step to a long permitting process,” Globe General Counsel Froilan M. Castelo said. “This is th...

#COVIBOOK: Supporting and reassuring children around the world In the light of recent events regarding COVID-19, it's understandable that people in the world today are having feelings of fear, panic, stress, and uncertainty. Children's book author Manuel Molina created a short illustrated book intended to educate children 7 years old and below about the novel coronavirus. The author designed the book as a tool to process children's emotions regarding our current situation. The author recommends printing the soft copy to be used by children. Some pages are designed to be colored and drawn on. "It is important to point out that this resource does not seek to be a source of scientific information, but rather a tool based on fantasy," said the author on his website . "Remember that emotions are processed through repetitive play and stories read multiple times. Share COVIBOOK and help ease kiddo's anxiety all over the world." The book was ...

We are living in a very unique time in human history. Last week, we were all just strolling about, the threat of COVID-19 something faraway. Now it is here and the best thing we can do now is follow what our government and leaders say. Right now, Iloilo City is on lockdown. Transportation is prohibited, and only essential stores are open. Residents are encouraged to stay home to prevent the virus from spreading. For those who are privileged to stay at home at this time, the common problem is boredom. Good thing that electricity and internet connection is still available. However, it can be really tiring and stressful to constantly check the news and social media. Here are some scary books you can read during this waiting season.  These books are titles I have personally read except the one by Dean Koontz. The themes are plagues and apocalypse. I don't mean to scare you, but reading these books could show us the thin line between fiction and reality. What is happening r...

Leverage digital technology to reduce the risk of viral transmission -GCash  Filipinos are now scrambling to keep their home supplies at bay, as the deadly novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has spread in various parts of the country, and a community quarantine has been ordered in certain areas of the archipelago. In Metro Manila alone, some grocery stores have seen their shelves almost wiped out of stocks, as people stockpile their homes with food and other grocery items to prepare their families for more stringent quarantine measures. This means that the exchange of paper money is faster than ever, and money is circulating from one hand to another without prejudice to whoever handled the banknotes before people and merchants ultimately keep them in their wallets or cash registers. Paper money, according to various studies, can harbor the viruses and bacteria that they contract with for several days. This may include the deadly novel virus that has forced the world into...