Children's Book on Kian Delos Santos Bags National Award

(SPOT.ph) Kian Delos Santos was a "17-year-old student killed by three policemen in Caloocan City on the night of August 16, 2017." His story was beautifully yet hauntingly told through a children's book, Si Kian, produced by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism in September 2017. During the National Children's Book Awards at the Cultural Center of the Philippines on July 17, it was chosen as one of the nine Best Reads for Kids for 2016 and 2017.

Si Kian is a 15-page illustrated book released online through The PCIJ Story Project's Facebook page and sold for a limited time at select establishments. It was written in English and Filipino by Weng Cahiles and illustrated by Aldy Aguirre. The two worked with Kimberly Dela Cruz, a journalist who interviewed about 30 people and compiled documents from the police and the Public Attorney's Office to put together a factual report on the case. 

It is the only children's story with a political theme. The other winning titles are: Takbo! by Auri Asuncion Yambao; Habulan by Kora Dandan-Albano and Beth Parrocha-Doctolero; May Gulong na Bahay by Genaro Gojo Cruz and Paul Imbong; A Long Long Time Ago by Michelline Suarez, Joonee Garcia, and Divine Reyes, and Benjor Catindig; Si Janus Silang at ang Pitumpu’t Pitong Pusong by Edgar Calabia Samar; Hari ng Komyut by Lizette Daluz; Lost by Rob Cham; and Meläg by Bong Redilla.