THE NEW BACKSPACE

We are proud to announce that the 'rebranding' iniative for BACKSPACE has started. First, we have moved to a new site with a new URL designed to foster easier memory recall. Second, we have a adopted a cleaner template - easier to navigate and easy to the eyes (Yes, 'easy' is the operative word here!). Third, we will be adopting the Stencil font for the headings and Verdana for text.

Also, the photos below, photographed last November, will be used alternately for the banner to properly situate the blog - that SPi is its home; the SPi employees, it's target audience. Shirts and related paraphernalia will soon be made available to further perpetuate & propagate the BACKSPACE name within the SPi Philippines system, with eventual marketing to other sites outside Manila. This is also in line with our preparations for the Guild's 5th year anniversary in 2008.

Welcome to the new BACKSPACE!

The Guild wishes to thank Perps Poblador for the great work on the new site. Photos were by Dylan Gozum.

SUPER STORYTELLERS!

The first batch of Writers Guild-sponsored storytellers had their level-up Certification Training with the Alitaptap Storytellers Club, the country's premier storytelling group, last October 21-22 at The National Library on T.M. Kalaw, Manila.

All of them, except Alev Mañiago of CIS, came from Healthcare Documentation (HDI). The rest are Lisa Austria, Dr. Rosemarie Teleron, Kathyleen Nogrado, Maria Lea Torres and Regina Bongat. Training was handled by Alitaptap's current President, Charlyn Chua. The 2-day training composed of storytelling basics, audience assessment, theatre basics, and actual storytelling sessions.

On the second day, the group had a live storytelling activity with children at the Luneta, the national park. Pretty soon, they'd be telling stories at the Museong Pambata and The National Library too.

The art of storytelling goes beyond the mere mouthing and acting of children's stories. It also brings to fore a person's acting abilities, proving their mettle and gift at gathering a crowd and keeping their attention during the entire session. Storytelling is also staging a comeback in the Philippines as a Golden Age is currently being experienced by Filipino writers in the childrens' books genre. Storytelling also engages a child's imagination and encourages him/her to read more books.

The group had their first storytelling session in SPi last October 28 during the SPi Family Day (Trick or Treat).

Hundreds of stories are waiting to be told and read. Will you help?

A statue of Manuel L. Quezon, former President of the Philippine Commonwealth and "Father of the Filipino Language" sits outside the library.

Reg and Posh introduce themselves using a comical skit.

Our future storytellers watch an actual session at the National Library Playroom.

Ate Posh of Alitaptap amuses the kids with a story about a good witch.

Guest storytellers like this lady from Iran also get to mingle with Filipino children who regularly visit The National Library.

When was the last time you visited a real library?

A stunning view of the Manila City Hall clock tower from the 6/F training room.

There are 5 historical structures in this photo. Can you idenify them? There are 6 if you include the building from which the photo was taken. Go on, give it a try. :-)

WHAT'S NEW WITH THE WRITERS GUILD?

Click on photo to enlarge!


* Sponsorships: The Guild is sending eight (8) employees from HDI and SPS to be certified as storytellers by the Alitaptap Storytellers Club. This will be on October 21-22 at the National Library, T. Kalaw Avenue, Manila. They will do their "finals" in front of children visiting the Museong Pambata, Roxas Boulevard, Manila.

They will do their launching act at the SPi Family Day on October 28 at the 5th Level, SPi Building.

* SPipol. Your lives. Our stories.: The Guild will be featuring stories of people in our journal starting September. We already started with Sunrise Gourmet's Christian Umali. Guess who's next in line? Klieg lights, please...

* TX2LA: No, no more of those kinds of poetry, but this one is guaranteed to be a hit! Designed to create a mass base of contributors among finger-happy texters in SPi, a nationwide contest will be launched in November for 3-liner poetry that reflects life, love, and living. The winning entries will be read during the Poetry Festival in February and published in our poetry journal, Caught in the Act! Entries will be received from Manila, Laguna, Cebu and Dumaguete offices.

* Project R.E.A.D.: This is a project designed to promote reading among SPi employees. This early, a lot of people have already borrowed our books despite the lack of a mobile bookcase. Soon, our mobile library will visit your SBU for a month and you can read our books to your heart's content - without having to pay anything! Watch out for that Red Box coming your way!

O, saan ka pa?! Dito ka na sa Writers Guild!

The wall clock featured in the photo is by Film director / Artist Bong Salaveria of Vintage Pop. His quaint store can be found at the Marikina Shoe Expo, Cubao, Q.C. We will feature it here soon when we are able.