Zie's got you high...

The Gawad Panitikang Pangkalusugan is a NATIONWIDE children’s storybook writing competition with HEALTH as its main theme. Entries written in English are geared to bring into light health issues and concepts to Filipino children aged 5 to 10 years. It challenges participants to break away from a clinical, straightforward and sanitized presentation of health and to mold it in a form that is enjoyable and of interest for its young audience.

The project not only seeks to raise relevant health issues to the national consciousness, it also carries an advocacy for literacy and education, even as it celebrates Filipino ingenuity and culture. After its successful pilot year, which carried the theme “Tabi-tabi Po: Exploring Philippine Health Myths” and donated more than 10,000 books to institutions nationwide, it now focuses on child safety and health. This year, it carries the theme“Luksong Tinik: Kwentong Kaligtasan para sa Kabataan” and attempts to advocate creating safe and caring environments for children through education.Child safety is likened to the children’s game, luksong tinik, wherein you have to use skill to jump over obstacles to get to the other side. With our books, we hope to provide children with the skills and knowledge to jump over dangers and into safety.

For more information regarding contest mechanics and the like, please email Zie Verzosa at z.verzosa@gmail.com, or visit our website at http://www.gawadpanitikan.com. You can also visit and like the Gawad Panitikang Pangkalusugan FB page for updates and more information! Thank you very much!