MANDALUYONG CITY ─ In line with the celebration of the 164th birth anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) in partnership with SM Cares, Book Nook, and SM The Podium will launch the children’s book ‘Ang Batang Babaeng Nagtitinda ng Posporo’ on 19 June at Book Nook, 5th Floor, The Podium, Mandaluyong City, 1:30 p.m.
‘Ang Batang Babaeng Nagtitinda ng Posporo’ was translated by Rizal into Tagalog as ‘Ang Batang Babaing Mai Dalang Sakafuego’ from Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Match Girl. He also translated other Andersen fairytales from German, such as The Fir Tree (Ang Punong Pino), Thumbelina (Ang Gahinlalaki), The Ugly Duckling (Ang Pangit na Sisiu o Sisiw ng Pato) and The Angel (Ang Sugu o Sugo). Rizal completed these translations in 1886 and sent it back to the Philippines as a gift to his nieces and nephews.
In the July 1889 issue of Trubner’s Oriental Record in England, Rizal published in English, ‘The Monkey and the Turtle,’ considered the first children’s folktale in the Philippines. This story has been passed on for generations in the country and its author is unknown. Most history books often highlight Rizal’s more scholarly works such as El Filibusterismo and Noli Me Tangere but Rizal wrote and translated for children believing that they are indeed ‘the hope of the motherland.’, thus cementing himself as not only a reformist and intellectual, but also as a storyteller for the youth.
A storytelling session by the ‘NLP (National Library of the Philippines) Kuwentistas’ is also part of the program.
The NHCP is the national government agency mandated to promote Philippine history through its museums, research, and publications, and to preserve historical heritage through conservation and the marking of historic sites and structures.
