San Jose, Antique – The Department of Education (DepEd) here welcomed the latest book for children written in local language – the Kinaray-a.
The book “Ang Dulse Nga Pula” (The Red Candy) was self-published by author Linda Arnaez-Lee, an Antiqueña based in Busan, South Korea.
It is a 12-page book that comes with colorful illustrations by Antiqueña visual artist Marienell Venegas.
The book was printed on October 2019 by Central Book Supply Inc. in Quezon City.
During its launching on Oct. 19, DepEd-Antique Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Felisa Beriong said it was a big help not just for the mother-tongue-based-learning, but also for parents living outside the province who want to teach their children how to appreciate their roots and speak the local language.
“I myself struggled to teach my kids the language of their roots when we are away in Antique then. But now, with this book, Antiqueño parents can easily teach their kids to value Kinaray-a,” she added.
Meanwhile, Celestino Dalumpines IV, regional coordinator of DepEd’s mother tongue-based multilingual education, said the book was not limited to the mother-tongue-based-learning, it can also be used in other subjects like Health and Values Education.
“The DepEd admits that we do not have enough materials for our mother-tongue-based learning and this book of Arnaez-Lee is a big blessing and we fully support this,” Dalumpines added, saying he will help promote the book to other provinces in the region.
The book has an English translation because according to Arnaez-Lee, she also wanted to share her story to other kids.
The author also said that her book was the product of her own childhood experiences and her experiences as a mother.
“What inspired me to write are my readers who are my fellow Antiqueños. I want to share stories which could impart moral lessons at the same time entertain both children and adult readers,” she said.
The book was Arnaez-Lee’s third published book and her first book for children. It comes in hard-bound and paper-bound copies with the first 100 copies already sold. With the God’s help, she said, she will be writing more stories for the children in the future./PN
