VP SARA DUTERTE’S CHILDREN’S BOOK ‘ISANG KAIBIGAN’, CRITICIZED

“Isang Kaibigan” written by Vice President Sara Duterte needed P10 million from the 2025 national budget for publishing and distribution f(Photo courtesy of Rappler)

After Vice President Sara Duterte requested for P10 million allocation in the 2025 national budget so her children’s book could be distributed to learners, which plans to print out 200,000 copies, costing P50 each; has become the topic of heated discussions and some social media users have speculated.

VP Sara Duterte’s children’s book “Isang Kaibigan” is about friendship featuring an owl as the main character who was abandoned by almost all of his friends after a storm destroyed his home. When he grew lonely and hungry, a parrot offered to help him rebuild his nest and provided him shelter, showing that true friends do not leave each other in times of need. 

According to Duterte this project “aims to encourage the children to love reading and to write their own stories.” The book is part of OVP’s flagship program “PagbaBAGo Campaign” that involves the distribution of one million bags containing the book itself.

Meanwhile, social media users have criticized VP Duterte’s book saying it was plagiarized and similar to ‘Owly’, a children’s book authored by American writer Andy Runton. Netizens also pointed out the similarity between the main character of “Isang Kaibigan” to one Canva’s (a graphic design platform) graphics.

But according to OVP Spokesperson Michael Poa, the book secured a copyright registration a month after it was launched during the National Reading Month in November 2023 when she was the Education Secretary.

Senator Risa Hontiveros and VP Sara Duterte had a heated argument when discussing the budget allocation for the book. Hontiveros said the budget for the “duplicating” items in the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) proposed funding for 2025, including the “improper” P10-million allocation for the distribution of the children’s book will be realigned.

“I would also insert amendments to the P10-million item that would be used to distribute copies of Isang Kaibigan. That’s the purpose of interpellation in a hearing, to explore. That’s a request. Because if you wrote a book, if you are the one who wrote it, government funds and taxpayers’ money should not be used to distribute it,” Hontiveros said. 

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer 

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