KUTING produces quality literary works for children, promotes awareness and appreciation for Philippine children’s literature, and seeks to uphold the rights of writers for children.
Born out of a 1995 UP Writers’ Workshop, KUTING has since embarked on several
successful publishing projects and accomplished remarkable achievements, including:
In 1996, KUTING founding members Perpi Alipon, Carla Pacis, Lara Saguisag and
May Tobias were featured in the Adarna House anthology “All from the Same Tree”,
edited by Carla Pacis.
In 1996, “Water in the Ring of Fire”, an anthology of folktales from the APEC-member
countries was edited by Carla Pacis and featured KUTING members, with guest
writers. The book was nominated in the children’s literature category of the National
Book Awards.
In 1996, the KUTING mother-anddaughter team of Lin Acacio-Flores and Annette Flores-Garcia published their story collection “A Child’s Treasury of Christmas Stories” with Tahanan Books.
Since 1996, KUTING has been an active ally of the Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY), eagerly sharing its resources by giving free creative writing workshops for kids and participating in the annual national Children’s Book Day celebrations.
In 1997, Palanca award-winning works in English by KUTING founding members Carla Pacis and Marivi Soliven-Blanco were featured in an anthology entitled“The Golden Loom.”
In 1988, Palanca award-winning works in Filipino by KUTING members Susie Borrero, Luis Gatmaitan, Ma. Corazon Remigio, Augie Rivera and Natasha Vizcarra were featured in “Ang Gintong Habihan.” Both books, published by Tahanan Books, were nominated for the National Book Awards.
In 2000, the group was cited by the Reading Association of the Philippines (RAP) “for having professionalised writing for children, raising it to the level of art, and for ensuring the emergence of the Golden Age of children’s literature.”
In 2003, KUTING recognized as honorary members literary greats in the children’s literature industry: Mailin Paterno- Locsin, Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio, Rene Villanueva and National Artist Virgilio Almario. Also this year, the group held its very first culminating writing workshop for applicants.
In 2005 KUTING ties up with Haribon Foundation to create the Happy to be Free book series to raise the awareness among children the value of caring for the environment.
