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UP prof says VP Duterte's book needs to be improved

Vice President and outgoing Education Secretary Sara Z. Duterte plants a tree during the Department of Education Turnover Ceremony at the Bulwagan ng Karunungan, Department of Education Central Office in Pasig City on July 18, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

DepEd Turnover Ceremony

Joyce Balancio

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Writing and publishing a children&#x27;s book to make it effective to young readers is not a walk in the park. University of the Philippines (UP) Professor Dr. Jayson Petras, who is also the current Director of UP Diliman Sentro ng Wikang Filipino said many elements matter in creating children&#x27;s books. The theme, proper use of the language, writing style and simplicity of words and sentences, are just few of them, he noted. Commenting on Duterte&#x27;s self-authored book , &quot;Isang Kaibigan,&quot; Petras found some parts of the story or elements that need to be revised or improved so it can be better understood by young learners. Launched in November 2023, &quot;Isang Kaibigan,&quot; that tells a story of an owl that was abandoned by almost all of his bird friends after a storm destroyed his home. When he grew lonely and hungry, a parrot offered to help him rebuild his nest and provided him shelter, showing that true friends do not leave each other in times of need. Petras lauded the book&#x27;s intention to teach children the values of friendship and kindness, but he also said that &quot;personification&quot; of characters could have been done better. &quot;Mahalaga rin na sasaliksik ano&#x27;ng klaseng ibon ang tinatampok mo na karakter. Halimbawa, kung kwago siya kadalasan ang mga kwago o karamihan ng species ng kwago ay nocturnal, baka kailangan ang setting dito ay gabi. Isa pa, ang mga kwago nakatira iyan kaladasan sa mga butas ng mga puno at hindi doon sa ibabaw ng mga dahon,&quot; Petras explained.&quot;Kahit sabihin natin na siya ay kwentong magical, pero gusto pa rin natin na makapagturo, makapagbahagi sa mga bata. May iniiwan ka pa rin na substantial o factual na mga bagay patungkol sa mga pinakikilala mong mga hayop,&quot; he added.  The story should also be written in short and simple sentences for easier understanding of children, he said. &quot;Kung mas bata ang magbabasa nito, dapat hindi siya maraming salita na bago, lalo na iisipin mo na limitado rin ang salita na alam ng bata at iyong bigat ng mga salita,&quot; he said. &quot;Halimbawa, makikita natin dito iyong mga salitang &#x27;kagutuman&#x27;, medyo mas mabigat na mga salita ito. Akala natin sa atin simple lang itong mga salita pero lagi&#x27;t laging titingnan siya dapat sa punto de vista noong isang batang magbabasa,&quot; he added.&quot;Halimbawa iyong salitang &#x27;sila&#x27;, na panghalip noong inisa-isa na mga ibon, so dapat iyon ay pantukoy na &#x27;sina.&#x27; Siyempre dapat maingat din doon sa mga paggamit din ng wika,&quot; he also explained. The book should also clearly indicate what age group is appropriate to use it. To avoid mistakes, books commonly go through a lengthy process of editing, proofreading, and even workshops to make sure it is properly written and free of errors, he said. &quot;Iyong mismong pagsulat ay hindi siya simpleng gawain. Akala natin basta marunong ka ng wika, mayroon kang kwentong gustong sabihin ay pwede ka na lang magsulat at tapos na. Dumadaan siya minsan ang isang manunulat sa proseso ng workshop para mabigyan pansin niya, malinis niya iyong kanyang wika, pinakaimportante paano siya magkukwento sa pamamagitan ng wika, iyong literary devices,&quot; he said. Duterte&#x27;s book has received criticisms over alleged grammatical and factual errors, as well as issues of plagiarism, which the Vice President addressed in a statement. &quot;Napakadaling sumulat ng maikling kwento batay sa sariling karanasan, hindi na kailangang mangopya pa. Ang proyekto ay para mahikayat ang mga bata na mahalin ang pagbabasa at sumulat ng sarili nilang kwento,&quot; she said Wednesday.  <div>ANOTHER BOOK? </div>Petras also advised Duterte to be mindful of the process of writing and publishing as she allegedly intends to make another book about a friend&#x27;s betrayal.&quot;Maganda naman iyong ganoong intensyon na makapagsulat para sa mga bata, but again hindi lamang ito usapin ng gusto mong mensahe na ibigay, maganda rin na matutuhan natin iyong mismong proseso ng pagsulat para mas maging epektibo iyong paghahatid ng mensahe na gusto mo&quot; Petras said.&quot;Kung pag-uusapan natin ang isang tema na gaya ng pagtataksil ng kaibigan, baka masyadong mabigat na ang tema na ito para sa isang bata, pero pwede pa rin maging tema pero magandang mapag-isapan kung paano siya higit na magiging epektibo na mai-deliver,&quot; he said.Petras is also professor at UP Diliman Department of Filipino and Philippine Literature at the College of Arts and Letters. He is also the editor of &#x27;Aklatang Bayan&#x27; publication of UP Sentro ng Wikang Filipino.

Duterte's book has received criticisms over alleged grammatical and factual errors, as well as issues of plagiarism.

Duterte's book has received criticisms over alleged grammatical and factual errors, as well as issues of plagiarism.