Highlights
- Matagal ng may interes si Glaiza de Leon sa mga young adult novels at picture books.
- Hirap ang kanyang anak na si Abigail makipag-usap sa iba.
- Natulungan ng libro ni Glaiza si Abigail na magkaroon ng lakas ng loob na magsalita.
"It was heart-breaking seeing her not be able to talk with other kids properly. It's usually the quiet ones who struggle with getting picked on...so as a mum, I worried. I wanted to protect her."
Sa kagustuhan niyang protektahan ang kanyang anak na si Abigail, nahanap ni Glaiza de Leon ang kanyang mga salita nang hindi mahanap ni Abigail ang kanyang boses.
Ang nanay
Galing Bataan, naiintindihan ni Glaiza ang mga hamon na hinaharap ng mga batang mula sa migrant families sa paaralan.
"We moved to Western Sydney when I was one. My sister just started kindy then and she said she remembers only knowing FIlipino and that she couldn't understand Aussie slang. She was one of the quiet kids in class.
"What I find in going to school in Australia, a lot of Filipino kids - whether or not they grew up here - tend to be quiet. They tend to be more reserved. They're seen as quiet achievers."
Tahimik din noon si Glaiza pagdating sa kanyang kagustuhang maging manunulat ng mapunta siya sa ibang landas.
Glaiza as a young child and with siblings: She understood the struggles kids from migrant families face in school. Source: Glaiza de Leon
"I wanted to take up journalism but I ended up in HR in finance until I took maternity leave. Things changed after that and I began my own business in 2018 to be at home with the kids.
"I took an interest in the marketing side of writing when I did online content, but my focus wasn't really just that."
Nag-iba ang pokus niya noong umuwi ang kanyang anak mula eskwela na umiiyak.
"She told me about her worries in school, about not being able to speak loudly. She cried and I cried with her.
Glaiza de Leon and her daughter Abigail Source: Glaiza de Leon
"For outspoken kids, speaking loudly comes naturally. It's easy. For Abigail, it's more challenging; but I wanted her to find her voice so she can speak up during the times she needs to."
Ang libro
Tinulungan ni Glaiza ang kanyang anak sa pamamagitan ng isang libro.
Aminado si Glaiza na noon pa may interesado na siyang magsulat ng children's book.
"What I like about young adult novels and children's books is their relatability for me. The stories seem simple, but you can immediately see yourself in the characters.
"But while I loved reading them, it took having children to get the inspiration to write one myself."
"But while I loved reading children's books, it took having children to get the inspiration to write one myself." Source: Glaiza de Leon
Ang librong kanyang sinulat ay ang "Mummy, I Can't Find My Loud Voice".
Mabilis niyang natapos ang unang draft.
Umiikot ang kwento kay Abigail at sa guro at mga kaklaseng tumutulong sa kanyang mahanap ang kanyang boses.
"Abigail loved the story and she said we should turn it into a real book so that other kids can read it too."
"Abigail loved the story and she said we should turn it into a real book so that other kids can read it too." Source: Glaiza de Leon
Upang mailabas niya ang libro kaagad, pinili ni Glaiza ang ruta ng assisted self-publishing.
"A lot of picture books now rely on digital illustrations. I still like the look of traditional watercolour drawings and luckily I found an illustrator who could do that for me."
Nailabas ni Glaiza ang pisikal na libro sa loob ng siyam na buwan.
"I still like the look of traditional watercolour drawings and luckily I found an illustrator who could do that for me." Source: Glaiza de Leon
Malaki ang pasasalamat ni Glaiza sa suporta ng kanyang mga followers, speech pathologists, local library pati na rin ang mga guro at kaklase ni Abigail.
Bahagi ng kita ng libro ay napupunta sa Indigenous Literacy Foundation.
Ang anak
"Abigail's teacher told me that she noticed a change in her when the book got printed. She's still quiet, but she's more confident speaking in front of people now," saad ni Glaiza.
Isang milestone ni Abigail ay ang pagbasa ng libro sa harapan ng kanyang klase.
"The teacher was going to read it, but she volunteered. She was so proud."
A milestone was Abigail reading the book in front of the class. Source: Glaiza de Leon
Habang patuloy na sinusuporta ni Glaiza ang kanyang anak, saad niya na walang masama sa pagiging mahiyain o introvert.
"It's important not to make your child feel bad, like there's something wrong with them if they're quiet. What's important is for you to help them with their struggles - whatever they may be. Make them aware they are not alone.
"Stay with them at their own pace. With Abigail, what we do is write a list of the words she says every single day - even if it's just a 'hello'. We celebrate her wins. Whether it takes her five days or five years, she'll get there."
Glaiza's three children Source: Glaiza de Leon
BASAHIN / PAKINGGAN DIN
