Akong Bugsay sails to schools

Storytelling is a traditional art form that can be used as an effective communication tool in schools. The technique creates a connection between the teller and listeners through the power of the spoken word and the story’s message.

Last November, a storytelling activity was conducted among grade six students of Labangon Elementary School using Akong Bugsay, which created an engagement between the students’ personal experiences and the book’s story. The activity was facilitated by Minerva Epe and Daphne Bacus.

Akong Bugsay, which literally translates to English as “my paddle,” is an illustrated bilingual children’s book written by Amaya C. Aboitiz that teaches the famous Bugsay principle of her father and Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) President Roberto “Bobby” E. Aboitiz.

Minerva Epe facilitates the reading of the Akong Bugsay story to grade 6 students.

The book follows the story of young Andoy who, one day, goes on a fishing trip with his father, a fisherman. Along their way, they encountered challenges that tested Andoy’s aim to catch fish for his family. He then learns valuable lessons on planning and working hard to achieve a goal.

The facilitators used problem-solution values chart, visualization, and Paint Me A Picture strategies in order for the students to share their insights and learnings from the story. For the extension activities, they prepared newspapers and worksheets for the visualization exercise.

The activity started with the discussion on the importance of storytelling, especially among young children, and what storytellers can do to engage students.

Students sang in chorus a line from a Cebuano song, “Bugsay, bugsay, kiling-kiling diotay, Bugsay, bugsay sa barotong gamay”. After reading the book, the Reserva class was given a brainstorming and concept designing activity wherein they were split into groups to play Paint Me a Picture and reenact favorite scenes from the book.

For the visualization activity, students drew their favorite part of the story with an explanation on why they chose the scene.

On the other hand, the Rosales class worked with the Problem-Solution-Values chart. The class was split into four groups to work on the Cebuano version of the sheet. After doing so, the volunteers from the class read the story’s Cebuano translation.

Both Reserva and Rosales classes were gathered in a room. Two groups from Reserva presented their Paint Me a Picture from the scenes of the book.

The first group performed the scene wherein Andoy and his father were in the middle of the sea trying their luck in catching fish. The group used newspaper as sea, boat, and the oar.

Grade 6 students of Labangon Elementary School pore through Akong Bugsay before doing a variety of interactive activities.

The group that followed also acted out a scene where Andoy and his father were trying to catch fish. Their boat was made of newspaper with strings attached on the edges. Everybody sang again, “Bugsay, bugsay, kiling-kiling diotay, Bugsay, bugsay sa barotong gamay”.

During the open discussion about dreams and life’s aspirations, Epe shared that a bugsay symbolizes one’s talents, skills, and abilities. If there is hard work, these goals will be achieved and one will succeed, she said.

The book can be also be used to emphasize the value of perseverance, positive attitude, and self-awareness, among others and with story telling activities, students are enabled to recognize their strengths and abilities.

The book was also introduced to second year Education students major in Preschool education in Asian College of Technology (ACT) and to kindergarten students in Labangon Elementary.