Textiles, Cultures, Narratives: Representing the Philippine Culture through Storybooks
Presentation Cheeno Marlo Sayuno, Danielle Florendo, Liwliwa Malabed | Moderator: Joel Donato Ching Jacob
Every story is woven with universal truths and child-like wonder. In the Philippines, there are endeavours to rejuvenate an interest in traditional weaving.
In this session, Dr Cheeno Marlo Sayuno discusses the issues of representation, authenticity, and voice in crafting indigenous narratives for children, while Liwliwa Malabed talks about the Corditex Project and the Agabel Tayo! (Let’s Weave!), a collection of five children’s storybooks that aim to spark curiosity about the craft of weaving among young people.
Meanwhile, illustrator Danielle Florendo shares experiences in representing the colourful textiles and traditions of indigenous communities through illustrations.
Cheeno Marlo Sayuno (Philippines)
Cheeno Marlo M. Sayuno is an Associate Professor of Communication, Research, and Children’s Literature from the University of the Philippines (UP) Los Baños. He has received recognition from the prestigious Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature, the Philippine Board on Books for Young People’s Salanga Prize, and the Normal Awards for Gender-Inclusive Literature by Philippine Normal University for his stories for children. He has published storybooks with Adarna House, Lampara Books, Anvil Publishing, Chikiting Books, and Save the Children Philippines, as well as various textbooks, research articles, and book chapters in children’s literature, media, and culture.
Danielle Florendo (Philippines)
Danielle “Dani” Florendo is a Baguio-based exhibiting visual artist and illustrator who specialises in children’s book illustrations. Dani currently holds 12 published titles from notable authors from prominent publishers such as Ilaw ng Tahanan Publishing, OMFLIT Hiyas, Lampara and the University of the Philippines Baguio under Corditext Project. She has received multiple recognitions as an illustrator including the 2023 International White Ravens Catalogue and the Catholic Mass Media Awards Finalist for The Perfect Tree written by Glory Moralidad, Children's Choice for Doc Luis Gatmaitan's Palanca awardee story Maselan Ang Tanong ng Batang si Usman (2020) and more.
Liwliwa Malabed (Philippines)
Liwliwa Malabed has been writing for children for over two decades. She is the author of A Bunch of Flowers, a wordless book illustrated by Saumya Oberoi and published by Singapore Book Council Limited. The book was created as a part of the Asian Festival for Children's Content Build Your Book Hackathon in 2022. She is an Assistant Professor at the University of the Philippines, Los Baños. She is also currently taking her PhD in Creative Writing in UP Diliman.
Moderator Joel Donato Ching Jacob (Philippines)
Joel is a novelist, poet, and translator based in Bay, Laguna in the Philippines. His novel, Wing of the Locust, is the 2018 Scholastic Asian Book Award winner and a 2021 Singapore Book Award finalist. His short story, Artifacts from the Parent, is an Editor's Choice awardee for Best Asian Short Stories in 2019. He was awarded by the Philippine National Commission on Culture and the Arts with the Ani ng Dangal for Literature in 2021.
Programme dates and times are subject to change.