SAN JOSE, Antique – An Antiqueña currently based in Busan, South Korea has written a book for children in Kinaray-a language teaching good Filipino values.
A special nursery rhyme, “Pag-amlig sa COVID”, is included in the book as a reminder for children to protect themselves against the coronavirus disease 2019.
Linda Arnaez-Lee’s “Juan Huwaran Sinanto Pangbata” is a collection of 15 nursery rhymes that won first prize during the Bantugan sa Panulatan Kinaray-a 2020, a Kinaray-a writing competition organized by St. Anthony’s College here.
The collection promotes respect, kindness, helpfulness, honesty, forgiveness, cleanliness, and worship of God.
“I believe these values are important to developing a strong citizenry and a progressive country,” said Arnaez-Lee, a native of Barangay Pantao, Sibalom, Antique and a teacher by profession.
In titling the book “Juan Huwaran”, she said, “I put my faith in the children who will read and even sing the rhymes, that they will all become good and productive citizens, and that they will all look at each other with the love of God.”
To make reading more enjoyable for the children, the book contains colorful illustrations by Antiqueña visual artist Marienell Veñegas.
The Kinaray-a nursery rhymes also have translations in English and have renditions in Kinaray-a music by Sammy Rubido which can be heard by playing the book’s accompanying compact disc.
This is Arnaez-Lee’s second book for children. Her first was “Ang Dulse nga Pula” (The Red Candy) which came out in 2019./PN
