Ibong Adarna was one of the books I enjoyed reading for school. Brothers Don Juan, Don Pedro and Don Diego searched for the mystical adarna whose song can heal their sick father King Fernando. I wish I had kept that book from Filipino class, with its frayed edges, dog-eared pages and all. If I want to reread it today though, I can do it in a more hi-tech way. Ibong Adarna is available as an interactive e-book!
It’s the first of its kind here in the Philippines. Produced by Vibal Foundation’s Vee Press, it has a “read-to-me” feature that makes it play like an audiobook, complemented by full-color illustrations and animations with Filipino motifs.
I’m big on reading, especially classics taken up in school. Back then I felt like some of the required reading were being rammed down our throats by teachers. Encouraging students to read required classics should be, I think, done in the most engaging way possible. If an interactive e-book will encourage this generation to read more, I’m all for it.
Ibong Adarna is just the beginning of many children’s books that Vibal and Vee Press will soon publish in print and digital media. You can read the book via Amazon Kindle, Sony E-Reader, Nook, BlackBerry, iPhones, Macs, PCs, and tablet computers like the iPad.
This will be available at the Apple iBookstore on January 25, so watch out for it. Here’s the trailer:
Ibong Adarna e-book trailer
I wonder what’s next. Florante at Laura? Noli Me Tangere? El Filibusterismo? This is a very exciting new journey in making the classics even more engaging for this generation.
Hi! I'm Toni Tiu,
and I've been blogging at
at Wifely Steps since 2003. This started as a blog to help newly weds adjust to married life. It has evolved into a home and parenting blog. I write about things close to my heart -- good eats, good reads, family, marriage, and the little things that make everyday happy.
Kay
January 23, 2011 at 2:19 am (12 years ago)Now that is simply cool. I love the idea … I hope more kids would get into this so that they would realize how rich our heritage is.
Kay´s last blog post ..my Dad totally rocks!
Gay
January 25, 2011 at 6:20 pm (12 years ago)That’s great! I can’t wait for the books to get publish. Now, I only have to get the Kindle!
Jofell S. Gallardo
February 1, 2011 at 2:10 pm (12 years ago)@Miss Kay – When our team at VF heard about the project, we were excited and nervous at the same time (thinking we may not be able to pull off something like this). We’re just happy we are able to translate Adarna into something kids of this generation will enjoy.
@Miss Gay – The Ibong Adarna ebook can be downloaded for free at the iTunes App Store.
Jofell S. Gallardo´s last blog post ..Apple updates iTunes and other Apple ramblings
Engel
February 3, 2011 at 9:05 pm (12 years ago)Just finished checking the book. Dude, it’s really nice!!! Winner pre! hope to see more of your work!
Maria
April 3, 2014 at 3:07 pm (9 years ago)Hi, I tried to find your ebook on itunes and the appstore but none appeared. Is there a website where I can purchase/download it. Please help!! Thanks
Toni
April 4, 2014 at 9:41 am (9 years ago)Hi! I got a prompt that it’s not available at the Philippines iTunes store, but in the US store. :/
Maria
April 7, 2014 at 4:46 pm (9 years ago)Ahhhh. Anyway, thank you for replying
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