I’ve been living in this country for some years now and there are still things about it that I don’t know. So, I got this cute book called “100 Questions That Filipino Kids Ask” Volume 2. I bought it as a reference for my children’s homeschooling but deep down inside I really got it because I liked it.
Don’t tell my kids…
The book has lots of information about the world in general but it was really local tidbits that got my attention. Today, that tidbit was Tomas Pinpin.
It says he was the first Filipino printer (I gather that means publisher) and the first Filipino published writer. The book doesn’t say how he published his books, but I can imagine it was a lot harder then than it is now.
As a publisher he printed Father Blancas de San Jose’s “Arte y reglas de la lengua Tagala” (Art and Rules of the Tagalog Language). Mr. Pinpin’s book was called “Librong Pag-aaralan nang mga Tagalog ng Wicang Castila”.
Tough books to read, and not meant for bedtime reading from the sound of those titles.
He published all these in 1610.
Well, how’s that for getting to know a little more about my tropical home?
Reference:
100 Questions Filipino Kids Ask Volume 2. Published by Adarna House, Inc. and Liwayway Marketing Corporation, 2011, Philippines
