BASA Books: Si Kontra, Si Bida, at si Big Boy Buwaya

ABOUT THE WRITER

Christine Bersola-Babao from her early teens until now has been documenting her life’s journey and travels through her journals. In high school, her passion for writing poems and short stories expressed itself when she contributed to the high school organ called Facets.

She also loves to write thank-you notes to people she works with and meets along the way, and writes long, affectionate letters to people she loves.

Christine, or Tintin, as she is fondly called, graduated grade school valedictorian at OB Montessori Greenhills and was given Community Excellence Awards in Assumption San Lorenzo High School for her charity work among poor communities as a member of the Auxiliary Missionaries of the Assumption. She graduated with cum laude honors from the University of the Philippines-Diliman, where she took up AB Mass Communication.

Today, Tintin, the four-time Anak TV Seal Top Awardee, is an award-winning TV host and radio anchor, a children’s book author, a volunteer and advocate of several humanitarian, educational, literacy, health, and environmental causes. Her books include Bryan Learns His Lesson (2004), Basura Monster (2007), and The Story of Christine (2007).

She is married to broadcast journalist Julius Caesar Babao and a doting mother to three-year-old Antonia.

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR

Martin Malabanan completed a degree in AB Communications at the Ateneo de Manila University. There, he met the multi-awarded illustrator Frances “Panch” Alcaraz, who has become his mentor and adviser in the field of illustration. Martin’s works have appeared in the Untitled Folio 2008 and in the magazine Windhover. Si Kontra, Si Bida at si Big Boy Buwaya is his first book.

__

Nagtapos si Martin ng kursong AB Communication sa Ateneo De Manila. Doon niya nakilala ang premyadong ilustrador na si Frances “Panch” Alcaraz, na nagsilbing gabay at tagapayo niya sa larangan ng paglikha ng larawan. Naging bahagi siya ng Untitled Folio 2008 at ilang ulit na ring gumuhit para sa magasing The Windhover. Ito ang una niyang aklat.

ABOUT THE EDITOR

Christine Bellen has already written 22 children’s books and 2 children’s musicals. A large part of her work is the re-telling of the beloved Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang (The Stories of Lola Basyang), which was awarded the Special Citation by the Manila Critics Circle in 2005. Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang TV also received the Catholic Mass Media Awards for Best Children’s TV Progran in 2007.

Christine is currently an Associate Professor at the Filipino Department, Ateneo de Manila University.

__

Nakapagsulat na si Christine ng 22 aklat-pambata at 2 dulang musical para rin sa mga bata. Malaking bahagi nito ay ang kanyang mga muling pagsasalaysay ng Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang, na ginawaran ng Special Citation ng Manila Critics Circle noong 2005. Nakatanggay din ng Catholic Mass Media Awards for Best Children’s TV program and Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang TV noong 2007.

Si Christine ay Assistant Professor sa Kagawaran ng Filipino, Ateneo de Manila University.