Salaysayan Storytelling Contest 2008

Application forms are now available for this year’s PBBY-NBDB Salaysayan, a nationwide storytelling contest. Organized by the Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY) and the National Book Development Board (NBDB), Salaysayan 2008 is a project that encourages a love for reading and children’s books through the celebration of the Filipino’s talent for storytelling.

The contest is open to both amateurs and professionals aged 21 and above. Only those whose duly accomplished Application Forms are officially received by PBBY by August 31, 2008 will be accepted as contestants. Before the actual competition, interested parties must attend the orientation sessions on the rules of the competition, as well as accepted storytelling methods.

Only 10 contestants shall make it to the finals on September 16, 2008 at the Manila International Book Fair. Judges for both the eliminations and grand finals shall be designated by the PBBY. There will be two categories: English and Filipino. Prizes for the winners of each category shall be: P15,000 for the First Prize; P7,000 for the Second Prize; and, P3,000 for the Third Prize.

Application forms may be downloaded at http://www.pbby.org.ph/.

Only books published from 2005-2008 are allowed as contest pieces for the NBDB-PBBY Salaysayan 2008. However, 2005-2008 titles which have been used in previous storytelling competitions under PBBY and Alitaptap Storytellers are no longer qualified. A list of these titles may also be downloaded at http://www.pbby.org.ph/.

Contestants will undergo a whole day orientation/ training with Alitaptap Storytellers on any of the following dates: Aug 16 and 30 at The National Library of the Philippines.