News and Events

10th Dee The Bee Book Launching at MIBF

The Manila International Book Fair is going online this year due to the pandemic, and a new Dee, The Bee Book, will have its book launching on November 30, 2020, at 1 pm. The tenth book from the book series is entitled " Bee Brave," written by Joyce Piap-Go and illustrated by yours truly, published by Hiyas. The new book is already available at manilabookfair.com, shop.omflit.com, also available at Shopee and Lazada.

#OMFLit
#Hiyas
#DeeThe Bee

New Dee the Bee book " Bee Thankful"
9/15/2019

This year at the 40th Manila International Book Fair, another Dee the Bee book had its book launching entitled "Bee Thankful" written by Joyce Piap-Go and illustrated by yours truly and published by HIYAS, OMF Lit's imprint for children's books. It is the 9th book
from the Dee the Bee book series. I had the opportunity to have a meet and greet with
pre-schools from different schools and sign
their Bee book copies.
We had storytelling and some question and answer portion about the new book. It was unfortunate that the author could not join us due to a prior commitment. But she is very well updated with the happenings.
The book will soon be available nationwide.
It is now available at OMF Lit bookshops and
their online store passagesbooks.com
for just one hundred pesos ( P100 ).
The Dee the Bee book series is also available in
Lazada and Shopee, in Amazon and Kindle.

#BeeThankful
#DeetheBee
#ReadMoreLiveMore
#OMFLitMIBF2019

New Dee the Bee book for 2019
09/05/2019

It 's that time of the year once more for the 40th Manila International Book Fair. It will be on September 11-15 2019 at the SMX Convention Center Manila, Philippines. I am happy to share the new Bee book entitled " Bee Thankful " will have its book launching at the MIBF. It's the ninth book from the Dee the Bee series. On behalf of the author Joyce Piap -Go and Hiyas, we would like to invite you to come and join the fun on its book launch on September 12, 2019. Hope to see you all there! For more details and for other new books that will have its book launching under OMF Lit and Hiyas please click on this link https://omflit.com/mibf2019

#BeeThankful
#DeetheBee
#ReadMoreLiveMore
#OMFLitMIBF2019

Meet and greet with preschoolers
and grade schoolers
10/19/2018

Recently, last October 16, I had the chance to share my experience and work as an illustrator for children's books to kids of Toddlers Unlimited and Thinkers Unlimited at Alabang. It would not have been possible if not for the invitation of Pumplepie Books & Happiness's Alexine Parreno. She has arranged the activity, and alongside with it, Pumplepie has installed a small booth wherein kids could buy the Bee books I have illustrated and written by Joyce Piap Go, published by Hiyas, plus other local published children's books. I had a wonderful time talking and interacting with the kids, also signing their Bee books. I was thrilled to know that they love the Bee books. It makes me happy and cherishes more my work as an illustrator for children's books. I hope that I would be able to do more children's book illustration in the future and share the joy of illustrating.

For more information about Pumplepie Books & Happiness, please visit pumplepie.com. You can order local children's books online and have it delivered to your doorstep!

Book launching of "Bee Kind" at the
39th Manila International Book Fair

At the recently concluded Manila International Book Fair, numerous new published books by different publishers had its book launching including the book I illustrated which is " Bee Kind," by HIYAS, OMF Lit’s imprint for children’s books. Bee Kind written by Joyce Piap-Go is the eighth book from the Dee The Bee book series. It aims to help young children learn how to be kind at home, in school, and during play. The book will soon be available nationwide. It is now available at OMF Lit bookshops, Luzon area, and their online store passagesbooks.com for just one hundred pesos ( P100 ). You'll get a 25% discount if you buy the book until September 30. Please click on this link OMF Lit to know more about the details.

Please do watch a short video I made featuring the book launching and also some of the other booths at the book fair. Click the image on the right to see the video.

New Dee The Bee book at the 39th Manila International Book Fair

It's Manila International Book Fair once again, and I am happy to share the new book I illustrated from the Dee The Bee Series " Bee Kind" will have its book launching on the said book fair on Sept 14 at the OMF Lit booth at Aisle I, and Hiyas booth located at the 2nd floor of SMX. It is the eight book from the series, and on behalf of the author Joyce Piap-Go and Hiyas, we wish that you could join us to the book launching. Hope to see you all there!
#HiyasBooks
#OMFLitMIBF2018
#TurntotheWord

Dee The Bee Series
continues to be a bestseller

I am happy to share that the Dee The Bee Series
continues to be an all-time Pumplepie Book's
bestseller to kids and even to parents. On behalf
of the author Joyce-Piap Go and the publisher Hiyas,
we are truly grateful for the love and support.

Welcoming 2018 with a good news

What a way to welcome the new year. The latest book from the Bee book series has been included in the Top 20 Filipino Children's Books of 2017. Thank you, Smart Parenting and Pumplepie Books! There is so much to be thankful and the last year has been indeed a good year. On behalf of the author Joyce Piap-Go and the publisher, Hiyas we thank all who have given their love to the Bee book series. If you want to grab copies of the Bee book series, they are available online through passages.com.ph and Pumplepie Books. Also available on Amazon Kindle Edition, just search for the book titles. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Click on the image to go to the link

Teaching Book Illustration

It was an honor and a privilege to teach for the second time the art of book illustration to the students of Top Peg Institute of Animation and Design. We show them not only to improve their skills but also the right attitude and work ethics to prepare them when they are out ready to work and accept jobs, making themselves successful artists at work. I wish them good luck and I am grateful for the opportunity. I hope to continue sharing the gift of art to others. Thank you Ma'am Grace Dimaranan!😊 #artschool #artteacher #teachart #toppeganimation

Bee Helpful Meet and Greet with creators

The 38th Manila International Book Fair was as exciting as the past book fairs, but the only difference was it had taken the 2nd floor of SMX Convention Center. The 2nd floor houses an extensive range of children's books both local and imported. Here are a few images from the meet and greet last September 15, 2017, of the newest book from the Dee The Bee series "Bee Helpful." We also had a storytelling session. I had the opportunity once again to witness how much the book was well loved and received by kids as well as their parents and teachers. I am very grateful I get to illustrate such an entertaining book that teaches good values to children. In the pictures are of course the author of the book series Joyce Piap-Go, Publications Director of OMF Literature Yna Reyes and Editorial Supervisor and Hiyas Team Leader Joanna Nicolas-Na. Grab your copies now! If you still don't have the other books, grab all seven books! These books are perfect gifts for young children. Happy reading!

Manila International Book Fair Book Launching

It's the 38th Manila International Book Fair, and the newest addition to the Dee The Bee book series "Bee Helpful" will have its book launching at the booth of OMF Lit at the 2nd floor of SMX Convention Center on September 15, 2 pm. I will be present at the meet and greet with the author, Joyce Piap-Go. There will also be storytelling for kids. So come and join us and have fun at the book fair!

New book available!

I'm so happy the book I illustrated months ago is now available on Amazon Kindle and also iTunes. The title of the book is "I've Got Spiders In My Socks." I am very thankful for the authors Thomas and Aubrey Maynard for entrusting me the visuals. It is a good read, especially that it helps kids realize the importance of making their room clean and organize. Get your copies NOW! Here are the links to Amazon @AmazonKindle and iTunes http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1270271539

Cosplaying Dee The Bee

I felt joy and fulfillment upon reading this post by "Pumplepie Books & Happiness." It is indeed very heart warming to see Ian cosplaying Dee The Bee. All the more I love and treasure my work as a children's book illustrator. Thank you for loving the Bee books, and I am grateful for Hiyas and Joyce Piap Go for the opportunity. Another Bee book is coming out very soon! I will keep you posted, so please watch out for it.

Mommy @mtantmd, IKAW NA! □ #pumplepiebooks #bestsellers #childrensbooksph #booksforkidsph #deethebee #omflit #hiyas #momph #pagmamahal #sipagattiyaga #kidsph #bookwormph #bookstagram #motherhood #preschoolph #kidbookstagram #Repost @mtantmd (@get_repost) ・・・ For Ian's Character Book Parade costume, Irewin and I suggested The Very Hungry Caterpillar or Chicka Chicka Boom Boom or Walter the Baker---some of his favorites when he was little. But he INSISTED on dressing up as Dee the Bee. Na-challenge ako sa pakpak (na sabi ni Irewin ay mukhang dahon □), but I was happy that he chose to be a character from a book written by a Filipino author, also one of his favorites □ Ayan, feel na feel ko na ang pagiging nanay. I think this was my idea of motherhood, ang paggawa ng mga costumes at projects (I mean PAGTULONG sa paggawa ng projects) ng mga anak □ Hanggang dito, cramming pa rin (thank God for double-sided tape, I didn't have to SEW those red bands! □). I missed doing this--getting creative, working with my hands. Already looking forward to the next challenge! □□ #raisingareader #deethebee #deethebeeseries #lovelocal #characterbookparade #careerkungcareer

A post shared by Pumplepie Books & Happiness (@pumplepiebooks) on Jul 16, 2017 at 10:08pm PDT

Tattooed
I am happy to share the design I made has finally become a tattoo. I was requested to make a simple and cute owl tattoo design. The amazing part is the tattoo artist is none other than " the father " of Filipino tattoo artists, Nero Nievo. You can reach him through his Facebook page Octopushink Tattoo Studio.

Meet and greet with preschoolers

My first activity for the year 2017 involving children's book illustration was last February 13 at Explorer's Preschool located in Mandaluyong City, Philippines. I got an invitation from their teacher if I could do a presentation about illustrating a children's book. Most of the kids are four years old, and they have read two books from the Dee The Bee Series, Bee Safe and Bee Polite. After the presentation, the kids requested me to read them a story, and I've chosen of course the latest from the series which is " Bee Active. " It was a very rewarding experience presenting to the kids. One of the joys of making illustrations for children's book is to see these kids appreciate and to catch their interest in doing what you love to do.

TESDA Validation of Training Regulations for Animation and Visual Graphics Design Qualifications

Last December 15, 2016, I was invited to be part of the validating team of the revised training regulation of 3D Animation NC ( National Certificate ) III at TESDA. TESDA is a government agency that provides direction, policies, programs and standards towards quality technical education and skills development. It was a grueling and brain draining day, but it was a humbling experience to be in the company of some of the industry key players.

My 4th ink work for the month of INKtober. I rarely do animals as the subject of my artwork. Honestly, I am not very good at animal anatomy. For me, the animal structure is more complicated since they vary in shapes and sizes. But this time, I made an exception. I have always been fascinated by wolves. I enjoyed working on this and perhaps might do more animal drawings in the future. Constant practice is very much needed.

My third ink artwork for Inktober. The character is known as the
Green woman. Green woman and Green man are often related to natural vegetative deities. They are interpreted as a symbol
of rebirth, representing the cycle of growth
each spring.

Here is my second ink art for the Inktober fest. I have always been fascinated with English cottages. I've never seen an actual one but hoping someday I can visit the British Isles and be marveled by its beauty.

It's Inktober! It's that time of year in the month of October wherein artists takes the challenge of doing ink artworks every day. The Inktober challenge came to being to improve inking skill and develop positive drawing habits. As for me, I'll do my best to create ink works in the coming days. So here is my first ink art.

The Manila International Bookfair was held last September 14 -18. The newest addition to the Dee the Bee Series, " Bee Active " had its book launching at the bookfair, Sept 15 at the SMX Convention Center.

In celebration of the organization Ang INK or Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan's ( Illustrator for Children ) 25 years, members participated in an exhibit held last September 12 at the Ayala Museum, entitled Tinker Tales. All illustrations were based on the stories made by kids through the Story Stones artworks, ( another activity of the organization, before the Tinker Tales exhibit).

The Bee Series book featured in Manila Bulletin's travel magazine, Cruising Going Places this month of August, year 2016.

Here is a sneak peek of the artwork I made for our organizations upcoming exhibit this September 12, 2016. Ang INK or Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan ( Children's Illustrator ) is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, and we are going to have an exhibit at the Ayala Museum. For more information here is a link to the event's poster Ang INK25

artwork sample for INK25 exhibit

In the recent celebration of the 33rd National Children's
Book Day last July 20, 2016, I had the opportunity to
be featured as Hiyas Artist in Focus for the month of July.
I have been illustrating their book series Dee the Bee,
written by Joyce Piap-Go. It is also in time with the release
of the new book from the series which is entitled "Bee Active."
The new book will have it's official book launching this September at the Manila International Book Fair.

Click on the image for the full article

In time for the celebration of the 25th year of Ang INK this 2016, the Philippines' first and only organization of illustrators for children has come up with two coloring books published by ANVIL. Each illustrator-member of the organization has contributed works for the two coloring books. The coloring books are available in all National Bookstore branches and at ANVILPublishing Inc. online store.

My complimentary copies of the coloring books with my works, one for each coloring book.

Last year I was offered by Top Peg Institute of Animation and Design to teach book illustration for one semester. The class ended March 2016. I was hesitant at first but decided to take on the challenge. It was an enjoyable learning experience for me. It was fulfilling to impart to the students the knowledge of the art and business of illustration.

A simple ad to promote the book illustration class