“Akong Bugsay”

CEBU, Philippines - Everyone has a paddle. But it is the choice of the person whether to pick up his paddle or not. Simple tool as it is, the oar serves as the best metaphor to note how each one of us is given that power to make important decisions.

That’s why Amaya C. Aboitiz, author of a bilingual illustrated children’s book entitled “Akong Bugsay,” has taken up her paddle to get closer to her dream – to become an early childhood educator. She is currently working at the Dolores Aboitiz Children’s Fund, Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.’s program focused on early childhood care and development.

Amaya never learned how to fish. In fact, she issues a disclaimer during her speech on the book launch that her recent work should be pardoned for her lack of fishing experience. The reason why her current project deals about fishing is because the paddle best represents what it is to be “purpose-driven and confident.”

According to her, everyone has a paddle and that it is the choice of each person whether to paddle forward by working on one’s potentials and taking on opportunities, or remain motionless, or move in circles without any focus or direction. Amaya is just so glad and thankful nobody questioned her direction to paddle towards becoming an educator. She finished school at Boston College and taught young children in Boston, Manila and Madrid. She completed a master’s degree in International Education Policy at Harvard University to learn more about how education can contribute to a country’s development.

Last February 19, she launched her first children’s book which tells the story of a boy named Andoy who goes on a fishing trip with his father. Along the way, Andoy learns valuable lessons on planning and working hard to achieve a goal. This story is based on the Bugsay principle of her father, Roberto “Bobby” E. Aboitiz, president of RAFI.

The FREEMAN (TF): It’s pretty interesting to find an Aboitiz scion like you writing a children’s book in Cebuano. Tell us how you also took up your “bugsay” for this project?

AMAYA C. ABOITIZ (ACA): I’m one of those who believe that teaching is never a second-rate profession. Education is essential to a country’s development. But I’ve noted that there rarely are books devoted to the teaching of heritage and the mother tongue. You see, language is the first thing that a child learns. So if I would get his attention to learn about heritage, I would use his first language to draw him to read a book about heritage that he can share in.

TF: In the bugsay philosophy, it was made clear it is important to have a destination/goal in life, broken down into daily activities. You did have a noble plan. However, are you really that prepared for the setbacks knowing how our schools are English-driven?

ACA: I’m very glad we have partner-schools and the literacy advocates are present during the book launch. It was demonstrated by a group of Grade 6 pupils that they can read English aloud but would rather read Cebuano silently kay maglisod og litok. However, it should not be an issue. I mean I am from Cebu. I studied here. I grew up here. But I only recently realized how hard it is for me still to understand some words. As always, our journey will teach us to exert effort and persist, and have the right attitude and plan to succeed. The most important thing for us to develop now would be the learning modules so supplementation would be easy and fun for the learners.

TF: It’s cool that Andoy’s father, in this story, never showed fear despite experiencing a squall on Andoy’s first journey out to sea. Great storytelling!

ACA: I worked with teachers and even a community of fishermen for this project and I learned that it is how a father-fisherman would normally respond to an unos. I mean, they are already used to it, so you can see that composure in there. If you ask them how they feel about their jobs, they would tell you they are not really that big in the world. But I tell them that they are far more educated than most people. You can just imagine the elements they have to go through, and their survival skills. Amazing people!

TF: You have great visuals in there, too.

ACA: The illustrator Karmina Cuzon blows life to the book. She gives Andoy his face, and the fish their pink lips (laughs). I could not have imagined the book in any other way. She’s a product of the pioneering batch of RAFI’s Young Minds Academy and part of the first Young Minds on Xplore delegation to The Netherlands.

To get a copy of the book at P150, you may visit RAFI’s Casa Gorordo Museum. You may also buy the book and get more information about “Akong Bugsay” at www.rafi.org.ph/publications/akong-bugsay. — Maria Eleanor E. Valeros

AMAYA C. ABOITIZ, early childhood educator working for the Dolores Aboitiz Children’s Fund, shows her first bilingual (English and Cebuano) illustrated children’s book entitled “Akong Bugsay” during its February 19 launch. (FREEMAN)