The Art of Storytelling: A Fun-filled Day with Words
A WORKSHOP FOR EVERYONE. People of all ages come together for a fun-filled day with books and stories.
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Philippine Primer is loaded with stories to tell after going last Friday (May 29, 2015) to The Art of Storytelling held at Spaces by Babyland, organized by Manila Workshops, and part of the Parenting Pals Workshop Series. Hosted by storytelling teacher Luisito Pascua, known for his iconic role “Kuya Bodjie” in the television show Batibot, it was a day of creative storytelling and activities with an audience composed of primarily of storytelling enthusiasts, prep and elementary teachers, and most especially mothers.
The workshop is divided into two sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, each with discussions and activities enhancing storytelling techniques for the younger audience.
Kuya Bodjie turns to the rules of Keith Johnstone, a British-Canadian improvisation theater expert, when delivering his lecture about how to be an effective storyteller. He emphasizes that storytelling is “a building of a relationship”, a “sensorial communication of human experiences” and a “building process”. He also raised the concept of “polices in our heads”, or voices that hold back the creative expression of a storyteller.
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THE CHARM THAT IS KUYA BODJIE. Throughout the day, the workshop participants are kept engaged in the activities in the syllabus prepared by Kuya Bodjie.
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During the break, one could explore the venue and see children’s books being sold. Also, if one brings their children with them, they could stay in the built-in play area.
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CHILDREN’S BOOKS are available and are sold for the kids.
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THE VENUE. The Babyland play area is definitely well-loved by the children.
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Faber Castell is present as a sponsor at the event, providing pencils and pens for the participants to use in their note-taking during Kuya Bodjie’s storytelling discussions.
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FABER-CASTELL’S BOOTH during the event
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At the end of the day, Kuya Bodjie demonstrated how storytelling is done with the children’s story Papel de Liha. He also had all of the participants experience storytelling, capped with a critique from the storytelling master himself.
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WITNESSING THE MAGIC FIRSTHAND. Kuya Bodjie animatedly tells the story Papel de Liha (Sandpaper) by Ompong Remigio and illustrated by Beth Parrocha-Doctolero.
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NO HARM IN TRYING. The workshop participants try their hand at storytelling.
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WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS together with Kuya Bodjie
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Article by Arvee Gomez
Photos by Arvee Gomez
Additional photos by Francine Castillo
