I would usually listen to my mother’s preaching as I was growing up. She would give lessons based on her experiences. With her words, my mother guided me in my life. She has taught me the importance of humility, education, keeping faith and perseverance.
As children, listening to our parents and stories like fairy tales makes our imagination soar. Stories make us think and it leads us to realize our hopes and dreams. They make us play our roles better because stories have lessons and, vicariously, we learn from them.
Growing up, although there were no many fairy tales told to me, my mother’s teachings guided me to be what I am now. The success I found in my Binibining Pilipinas stint opened to me great opportunities. It landed me a hosting job and made me part of the media industry. Now, I often come across more inspiring stories of significant people. My chosen career enables me to talk to them and ask them about their journey and how they became what they are now. I can ask them their humble beginnings and what inspired them to go to the path that would eventually make them successful and recognized in their chosen field. Most importantly, I can share their stories and messages to an audience.
Like my scholarship grantor and founder of the Francis Padua Papica Foundation Inc., lawyer Francis Papica, I met a man who is part of my Umagang Kay Ganda family who also supports the cause of the importance of reading to children.
Bimbo Papasin is one of ABS-CBN associate producers and in-charge of our Barangay Bida segment in UKG. When I learned that he is writing children’s books I asked him if he could show me his works because I support a related advocacy. I was really amazed when he told me that what inspired him to write stories are his own children. He shared that his eldest son always wants to hear bedtime stories. He told those stories he learned as a child, and when he had no more stories left to tell, that was when he started to make up his own stories where he makes sure he includes moral at the end of each story.
His stories are easy and enjoyable explanations of complex concern to children. His first book At Muling Ngumiti si Haring Araw, aims to promote environmental awareness to kids and to help support global warming, while Grandpa Tree is a tribute to Typhoon Ondoy victims in 2009. His second book, Ang Batang Nangarap ng Kapayapaan has won the Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA) Best Story for Children.
His fourth book, Nasaan si Nanay? Nasaan si Tatay?, is a story of a young girl named Nallah who woke up one morning and learned that her parents have gone abroad. They went without saying goodbye to make it easy for them to leave. It is about a dilemma overseas Filipino workers’ children face being left in the care of relatives.
I find it very important that as early as now, children would care about Mother Earth and stories told to them is something relevant to what is happening in the community. What are instilled in their minds they will eventually apply in their lives.
Bimbo’s bedtime stories, once brought to a larger audience are something that would affect society in a very good way. This goes back to what our national hero Dr. Jose Rizal said that the youth is the hope of our nation. Moreover, the youth needs guidance to mold them as good sons and daughters, and responsible citizens of the country.
I wish to encourage the parents and others to support the books of Filipino authors like Bimbo. Read these stories to children and make every bedtime story an opportunity to inspire and guide them to be what they can be. Bimbo’s books are available in some bookstores nationwide.