Pamana Children's Library

As we look back on 2025, we’re celebrating the incredible writers who shared their stories with the Pamana Children’s Library community. From picture books to folk tales and histories, these featured authors brought Filipino and Filipino American voices to young readers and families through stories of culture, imagination, and heart. We’re grateful for each author who helped make this year so special. Take a moment to revisit their work and discover the full list of our 2025 featured authors through the links below.

SUPER MAYA by Ms. Bambi Rodriguez: https://rizalcenter.org/2024/12/30/pamana-childrens-library-from-the-authors-desk/

BALLESTEROS ON MY MIND: My Hometown in the Philippines by Dr. Rey E. de la Cruz: https://rizalcenter.org/2025/02/01/pamana-childrens-library-from-the-authors-desk-2/

IGOROTAK SERIES by Tor Sagud: https://rizalcenter.org/2025/03/03/pamana-childrens-library-from-the-authors-desk-4/

TALES FROM THE 7000 ISLES: FILIPINO FOLK STORIES by Ms. Zarah Gagatiga: https://rizalcenter.org/2025/03/03/pamana-childrens-library-from-the-authors-desk-3/

THE ABC’S OF PINOY BASKETBALL by Co-Author Jon Carlos Rodriguez: https://rizalcenter.org/2025/04/01/pamana-childrens-library-from-the-authors-desk-5/

CORA COOKS PANCIT by Ms. Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young: https://rizalcenter.org/2025/04/01/pamana-childrens-library-from-the-authors-desk-6/

TOO LOUD by Ms. Bambi Eloriaga-Amago: https://rizalcenter.org/2025/04/29/pamana-childrens-library-from-the-authors-desk-7/

PITONG TSINELAS by Ms. Divine Gil Reyes: https://rizalcenter.org/2025/06/03/pamana-childrens-library-from-the-authors-desk-9/

EVERY SUNDAY by Ms. Och Gonzalez: https://rizalcenter.org/2025/06/03/pamana-childrens-library-from-the-authors-desk-8/

IT’S TIME TO SHINE by Ms. Stephanie Vivit Lehmann and illustrated by Ms. Gerri Martinez-Benz: https://rizalcenter.org/2025/06/03/shining-soon-at-the-rizal-center-time-to-shine-by-stephanie-vivit-lehmann-a-new-story-for-filipino-american-families/

THE HORSE SOLDIER A WARTIME SECRET by Ms. Sandie Oreta Gillis: https://rizalcenter.org/2025/07/01/pamana-childrens-library-from-the-authors-desk-10/

BROTHER BIRD BY MS. RAYNIE CHAN:
https://rizalcenter.org/2025/12/07/pamana-childrens-library-from-the-authors-desk-12/

HALO-HALO HISTORIES: STIRRING UP THE PAST FOR A NEW GENERATION by Michelline Suarez, Joonee Garcia, Divine Gil Reyes, and Benjor Catindig: https://rizalcenter.org/2025/12/07/pamana-childrens-library-from-the-authors-desk-11/

This December at Pamana Library Corner, we celebrate Rizal Month by highlighting Halo-Halo Histories, a refreshing contribution to Filipino children’s literature published by Tahanan Books that shows history can be fun, colorful, and engaging. Created by talented writers and artists, the series presents important moments from the past in a friendly way, helping young readers, including Fil-Am children, see history as real stories connected to their identity and roots. As we honor José Rizal this month, Pamana Children’s Library invites you to explore these joyful and meaningful books and share our heritage with the next generation.

Read full article: https://rizalcenter.org/2025/12/07/pamana-childrens-library-from-the-authors-desk-11/

Tahanan Books Halo Halo Histories Divine Gil Reyes

The Horse Soldier: A Wartime Secret by Sandie Oreta Gillis

This year, one of the stories that deeply resonated with our Pamana Children’s Library community was The Horse Soldier: A Wartime Secret by Sandie Oreta Gillis. Inspired by real events from the Japanese occupation of the Philippines, this powerful narrative follows Alice, a young schoolgirl who discovers that her family is quietly sheltering an American soldier. Through her perspective, readers are invited to reflect on courage, compassion, and the moral choices that shape lives during difficult times.

The story offers children an accessible way to understand resilience and the quiet heroism of ordinary Filipinos. It is a touching reminder that kindness and bravery often begin in simple, everyday moments.

This December at Pamana Library Corner, in recognition of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we’re featuring a heartfelt Filipino children’s book: Brother Bird by Raynie Chan. Inspired by her own experiences growing up with a brother on the autism spectrum, the book tells a story about love, understanding, and the beauty of being different.

Brother Bird invites young readers and their families to celebrate empathy, kindness, and the unique ways each person experiences the world. It reminds us that being different is not being less. Everyone’s journey is valuable and deserves respect.

Pamana Children’s Library welcomes you to discover Brother Bird and share its message of compassion and connection with the next generation.

https://rizalcenter.org/2025/12/07/pamana-childrens-library-from-the-authors-desk-12/

rayniechanbooks

Pamana at Two: A Growing Legacy of Filipino Culture for Our Children

Rizal Center’s Pamana Library celebrated its two year anniversary on December 9! Let’s take a look back at some of the ways Pamana has shared the love of Filipino culture with kids since then:

• We hosted our Spring Fun day
• We launched monthly storytime events for kids
• We began our featured author series in the Bayanihan newsletter
• The Tara, Kain Tayo event at the Consulate general of the Philippines was a grand success!

We look back with gratitude on the many people who made our December 9, 2023 ribbon-cutting festival possible. Consul Ella Mitra of the Consulate General of the Philippines Chicago, Christine Murphy, and Dr. Almira Astudillo Gilles honored us as ribbon cutters. We are deeply thankful to authors such as Dr. Gilles, Dr. Karen Su, Dr. Rey de la Cruz, and Ms. Bambi Rodriguez, who generously donated their own works and, in Ms. Rodriguez’s case, also shared copies of books by her author friends, reflecting a deep commitment to Filipino literature and community.

The May 2024 Spring Fun Day was brought to life by the efforts of many. Ms. Ginger Leopoldo offered fun and meaningful storytelling, Abby Mendoza led the Arts Workshop, and Little Miss Ann Torralba delighted children and adults alike with her musical talent.

Later in 2024, the Tara, Kain Tayo event at the Consulate General of the Philippines, Chicago was a grand success. Ms. Ginger Leopoldo again contributed her storytelling talents, Cultural Officer Mary Joy Duran-Mortel led the Philippine Consulate General team during the collaboration, and Ms. Nina Lahaliyed of Brou’ne Desserts concluded the program with a delightful culinary experience, allowing children to create cake jars infused with traditional Philippine flavors such as ube, mango, and pandan.

We are especially grateful to Carla Navoa, Christine Cuartero, and Christine Peralta of the Filipino School of Chicago, who helped organize the Monthly Storytime series at Pamana Library when it was running.

We are also grateful to the many volunteers who helped prepare the Pamana Library from the very beginning, including those who cleaned the room assigned to us, painted the walls, decorated the space, and arranged the books and materials that make up our collection. We thank the volunteers who assisted during opening day and at every activity we have held since then. We also extend our heartfelt appreciation to the parents and families who participated in our past events and graced them with their presence, encouragement, and love.

It takes more than one person to turn something like Pamana from an idea to the living cultural archive and educational resource it is today. So, it’s appropriate that our children’s library is named for the Filipino word for “heritage.”

A people’s heritage is not decided by one person, but passed down from generation to generation by those who love to tell stories about themselves and those who came before. At a time when people in power want to erase the things that make us different from each other and ignore history when it is inconvenient for them, this becomes even more important.

If you are reading this, you almost certainly played a role in Pamana’s creation and continued growth. Whether you gave a monetary donation without knowing for certain what it would lead to, gave of your time at one of your events, parted ways with a book you love so that the next generation could be blessed by it, or brought your child to one of our storytime events because you wanted them to know more about their cultural heritage, we thank you with all of our hearts. You have done more for Pamana than you will ever know.

And more than that, you have planted a seed that might bear fruit you could have never imagined. Our vision is that every child who walks through the doors of Pamana will walk out with a love for the history, languages, and people of the Philippines, and that they will be inspired to use their gifts to inspire the next generation of Filipino cultural storytellers in turn.

We are excited to find out what the next two years hold for Pamana. We warmly invite parents, families, teachers, and their students, including young children, teens, young adults, and adults, to visit Pamana Library at 1332 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60613, United States. Come explore and immerse yourselves in the stories, history, and culture of the Philippines and spark a lifelong love of reading and connection to heritage. We hope to see you when you come by. Our Rizal Center family is excited to share the gift of reading with you through our very own Pamana Children’s Library.

Pamana Children’s Library Turns 2!

Yesterday marked a special milestone for Pamana Children’s Library as we celebrated two years of inspiring young readers and their families. Over these years, Pamana has grown into a welcoming space where stories spark curiosity, imagination, and a deeper connection to Filipino culture.

We are grateful to everyone who has supported the library along the way. We warmly invite parents, families, teachers, and students of all ages to visit us at the Rizal Center, explore our collection, and discover the stories, history, and culture of the Philippines. Here’s to many more years of reading, learning, and community!

Pamana at Two: A Growing Legacy of Filipino Culture for Our Children - Rizal Center Rizal Center’s Pamana Library will celebrate its two year anniversary on December 9! Let’s take a look back at some of the ways Pamana has shared the love of Filipino […]

In a heartwarming celebration of culture, identity, and family, Time to Shine: A Filipino American Family Story invites readers young and old to rediscover the beauty of Filipino heritage through the eyes of a spirited little girl named Tala. Written by Chicago-born Filipina author Stephanie Vivit Lehmann and illustrated by Chicago-based Filipina artist Gerri Martinez-Benz of Sinag Chicago Art, this upcoming picture book offers a powerful message of healing, belonging, and appreciation for one's roots.

The book will launch later this year at the Rizal Center in Chicago, a beloved home away from home for many Filipino Americans and a vibrant community and cultural space in the city’s Lakeview neighborhood.

Read on to discover what inspired Stephanie to write Time to Shine and how her light is helping others find their own. https://rizalcenter.org/2025/06/03/shining-soon-at-the-rizal-center-time-to-shine-by-stephanie-vivit-lehmann-a-new-story-for-filipino-american-families/

This June, Rizal Center Pamana Children's Library in Chicago is excited to feature another remarkable story and its author. Every Sunday: A Story on Learning Sign Language by Och Gonzalez is a heartwarming story about friendship, communication, and understanding.

Inspired by her experience as a teacher and her own journey with hearing loss, Och shares the story of a young girl who forms a meaningful connection with a deaf ice cream vendor. Through their shared efforts, they learn to connect in ways that go beyond spoken words.

The book has been translated into Spanish as Cada Domingo and was recently selected for the 2025 IBBY Outstanding Books for Young People with Disabilities.

Och Gonzalez is an award-winning writer and advocate whose work encourages empathy and connection through the power of storytelling.

Read the full feature here: https://rizalcenter.org/2025/06/03/pamana-childrens-library-from-the-authors-desk-8/
Learn more about Och in the comment section below.

This June at Pamana Children’s Library Corner, we are excited to spotlight Divine Gil Reyes, the award-winning author of Pitong Tsinelas, a heartwarming board book that celebrates friendship, inclusion, and the joy of childhood play.

Created in partnership with Save the Children Philippines and Tahanan Books, the story draws from Divine’s memories of growing up in a close-knit neighborhood, where simple games sparked laughter, learning, and a sense of community. With vibrant illustrations by Benjor Catindig, Pitong Tsinelas gently introduces young readers to important values like empathy, cooperation, and appreciating differences.

Through her storytelling, Divine continues to inspire children across communities and encourages kindness and understanding with every page she writes.

Read the full feature here: https://rizalcenter.org/2025/06/03/pamana-childrens-library-from-the-authors-desk-9/
Learn more about Divine — read her bio in the comment section below.

Today is National Flag Day! 🇵🇭

The national flag is the most important symbol of any country, an emblem of freedom, patriotism, and nationhood. For Filipinos, it stands as the greatest symbol of the people’s unrelenting quest for independence and deep love for the Philippines.