Delight and Innocence in Filipino Children’s Books

Liza Flores is one of the leading children’s book illustrators in the Philippines. Her books, “The Secret is in the Soil” (2012) and “Ang Maliit na Kalabaw” (2021), were included in the National Children’s Book Award Best Reads for 2012-2013 and 2020-2021 respectively. She has also written two books, “Sungit” (2020) and “Hiya” (2023). She mentors illustrators from different countries through Room to Read, an international nonprofit organization.

She is a member of Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan (Ang INK), the Philippines’ first and only organization of illustrators for children. She serves as the sectoral representative for illustrators at the Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY).

Liza is also a graphic designer. She art directed and designed “Karapat Dapat” (2018) and “The Amazing Beasts of Philippine Mythology” (2023), which were included in The White Ravens list in 2020 and 2024.

Beth Parrocha is a Children’s Picture Book Illustrator with a Bachelor’s Degree in fine Arts, major in Visual Communication, University of the Philippines, QC.

Founding member of Ang INK – Ang illustrador ng Kabataan, the Philippines’ first and only organization of artists dedicated to Children’s illustration.

She has illustrated more than a hundred picture books and is in the process of doing more.

A number of her works has been translated into several languages and has been given national and international awards. In the last five years her works has been recognized, awarded and has been engaged in the following:

• 2021 International Indie Children’s Book Cover Award in the USA for the Pencil Who Would Not Write, published by ABC Educational Development Center
• 7th National Children’s Book Awards Best Reads, 2001-2021 for “BULUL”, together with Mary Ann Ordinario, published by ABC Educational Center
• 7th National Children’s Book Awards Best Reads 2000-2001 for “Ako ay may Kiki”, together with Glenda Oris, published by Lampara Books.
• AFCC Singapore BIGG Curator, 2023
• Key Visual Artist Philippine Book Fair, 2024
• Key Visual Artist for AFCC Singapore, 2024
• 2024 Winner, CMMA Catholic Mass Media Awards for “titser Nanay” with Genaro Gojo Cruz, published by Lampara Books

Danielle Florendo is an illustrator, picture book author, and visual artist based in Baguio City. After earning her Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, she pursued a career in children’s book and media illustration.
She was one of the key illustrators for the Baybayin LRT Train Project by Turo Guro in 2019 and debuted in children’s picture books with Balitanay’s Laktob by Dr. Analyn Ikin Amores and Renalyn Albert (CordiText Project) and Pong Pong Ginatbong edited by Dr. Felicidad Prudente (Ilaw ng Tahanan Publishing Inc.) in 2020.
Her works have earned both local and international recognition. Maselan ang Tanong ng Batang si Usman (The Tricky Question of Young Usman) by Palanca awardee Doc Luis Gatmaitan (OMFLIT Hiyas Publishing, 2022) was a finalist at the 16th Cardinal Sin Book Awards for Children’s Book Category and received a Finalist Medal at the 1st Severino Reyes Medal in 2024. The Perfect Tree by Glory Moralidad (Oh Kids!) and Ang Bahay na Maraming Klasrum (The House with Many Classrooms) by Eugene Evasco (Johnny and Hansel Publishing) also earned Finalist medals at the 1st Severino Reyes Medal. The Perfect Tree was additionally recognized as a finalist at the 9th National Children’s Book Awards and featured in the 2023 White Ravens Catalogue. Her book A Whale in Prison by Mary Ann Ordinario won the 18th Cardinal Sin Book Award for Children’s Short Story.

Her latest book, Kaub-Ofuden Shin Lijang Uta (The Legend of Uta Cave), a collaboration with the Indigenous People of Balbalan, Kalinga, received the 2024 Translation Grant from the National Book Development Board. It will be featured at the 2025 Bologna Children’s Book Fair in Italy as part of the Illustrators Exhibition.

Danielle also served as a National Judge and Workshop facilitator for the 2023 and 2024 Gawad Teodora Alonso Story Writing Competition by the Department of Education. She was a Philippine delegate and key speaker at the 2024 Asian Festival for Children’s Content (AFCC) in Singapore, where she delivered multiple lectures on culture-focused children’s books during the Philippines’ Country of Focus showcase. She was the key visual illustrator for the AFCC-Philippine Circle under IBBY-Philippines and one of the lead illustrators for the 2025 Philippine Book Festival under the National Book Development Board. She is currently working as the lead illustrator for the Philippines’ publication materials for the upcoming 2025 Geneva Convention under the Department of Science and Technology–Technology Application and Promotion Institute.

Today, Danielle is a lecturer at the University of the Philippines Baguio. She is an advocate for promoting culture in children’s books and education. When not illustrating or teaching, she pursues research and writes stories inspired by communities across the country.

Aldy is a Filipino visual artist, illustrator, and educator. Some of his works have been awarded and recognized by the Philippine Board on Books for the Young People, National Book Development Board, and abroad by ILUSTRARTE in Castelo Branco, Portugal and Sharjah Exhibition for Children’s Book Illustrations. His book with CANVAS, “Hanapin ang Sagot: Ano ang Batas Militar?” won as one of the Best Reads at the 8th National Children’s Books Award, and the 2025 Gintong Aklat Award. His illustrations for the book, “Papuntang Community Pantry” were chosen as a finalist in the 2022 Bologna Children’s Book Fair Illustrators competition; and the book “Si Kian” has been included in the White Ravens Catalog by the International Youth Library in Munich, Germany.