PRESCHOOLERS lightened up the mood of what could’ve been just another book launch when they sang “bugsay bugsay, kilingkiling diyutay” to the familiar tune of nursery rhyme “sit down, you’re rocking the boat” during a storytelling of the new book launched by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI).

The book launch was held at the Eduardo Aboitiz Hall of the Eduardo Aboitiz Development Studies Center on Tuesday morning.

Akong Bugsay, which literally translates to “my paddle,” is an illustrated bilingual children’s book written by Amaya C. Aboitiz that teaches the famous Bugsay principle of her father and RAFI President Roberto “Bobby” E. Aboitiz.

Bugsay Principle is about having a goal, planning well, and working hard to achieve one’s goal.

“Bugsay” is the Visayan word for paddle or oar. In the Bugsay Philosophy, everyone has a paddle and it is the choice of each person whether to pick up his paddle and paddle forward through working on one’s potentials and taking opportunities, or remain motionless or move in circles without any focus or direction.

The book tells the story of Andoy and how he learned life’s lessons when he went fishing one day with his fisherman father.

The book also has a part where children can sing “Bugsay, bugsay, kilingkiling diyutay, Bugsay, bugsay sa barotong gamay” during a storytelling.

In his speech during the book launch, Bobby Aboitiz said the bugsay represents a small simple tool that each one possesses. It also represents the capacity for each to act.

“Leadership is when we recognize the power within us to act. When we begin to take charge of our own destiny, we become self-driven leaders,” Aboitiz said.

For her part, author Amaya Aboitiz said the book can be used in multiple ways.

“Just as the bugsay philosophy inspired individuals and groups in business and government, we believe that it can be used and shared with children,” the younger Aboitiz said.

“Like Andoy (the character in the book), young children have goals – they are excited, energetic, curious, and are constantly wanting to learn new things. Just like his father, we as teachers, adults, parents can guide them, help them to plan, encourage them, and model ways to face new challenge,” she said.

She said the book can be used to emphasize aspects of personal leadership, self-awareness, perseverance, and positive attitude. It can be used as a jump-off point for activities where students set goals for themselves and plan where they will achieve them. It can be linked to other subject areas and used to talk about our water, our culture, our fishermen, heritage, language, family values, the list goes on.

Amaya also thanked those who helped develop the book to make it more readable and appealing, including illustrator Karmina Cuzon, preschool teachers, and Dr. Erlinda Alburo for the Cebuano translation.

She also called on those interested to take part in their initiative that would help teachers unlock the power of the book, and the power that resides in each and every child.

“We at RAFI believed that with the community’s support and guidance, each child has the capacity to lead himself or community and our country towards a bright future,” Amaya said.

Members from the department of education, the academe, media, teachers and teacher educators, librarians, mothers, and literacy advocates attended the event.

Copies of the book were sold at the venue at P150 each while the coloring book costs P50. For every book sold during the launch, a copy of the coloring book will be given to RAFI Dolores Aboitiz Children’s Fund’s day care centers.

To purchase the book, you may visit RAFI’s Casa Gorordo Museum shop, or contact 255-5630 and look for Joem Gracia.

You may also buy the book and get more information about Akong Bugsay at www.rafi.org.ph/publications/akong-bugsay. (Buen Josef Andrade/With PR/Sunnex)